CHICKENS IN THE GARDEN

     The chickens await late October when I open the garden gate. They do a fantastic job of tilling the soil and eating the fallen harvest.

  There are only allowed in for a short time, otherwise they will scratch down deep and find all the beneficials who are readying for their winter slumber.

It seems they thoroughly enjoyed the collard and chard that were still growing strong!

Note to self: Plant a CHICKEN GARDEN next year with  collards, chards, kale, dandelions, clover and other greens!



                                      happy day!

"The wild gander leads his flock through the cool night,

Ya-honk! he says, and sounds it down to me like an invitation:

The pert may suppose it meaningless, but I listen closer,

I find its purpose and place up there toward the November sky."

- Walt Whitman,

  Leaves of Grass, 1855, I Celebrate Myself, Line 238


happy day!

NATURE ART

Nature Art is something that can be done in all seasons, in all places with all ages. Just use what is in your area. We are in New England and love to make Nature Art with the greening of the earth in spring and the changing of colors in autumn. 

                                                                  artist - age 14 years

                                                                    artist - age 5.5 years

The most fun is exploring in the outdoors and collecting what you need.  I usually ask the children if they have an idea in mind before we go: a scene, a mandala , a creature or person , or a collage. That way they can look for the necessary shapes. Some children like to collect whatever they like and find the inspiration later.

Supplies needed: 
~ clear (or translucent) contact paper
~ scissors
~ marker
~ a circle shape if making a mandala. I use a dinner plate upside down to trace a circle
~ masking tape

If you are making a mandala, trace a circle onto the contact paper to use as a guide. You can also use a circle for a scene too.
Peel contact paper and place on table sticky side up. Use masking tape to anchor the corners.
Create your Nature Art!
Peel the same size (or a bit bigger) contact paper and very gently cover the creation so it is sandwiched in between. I like to start at the middle top and go down the middle pressing out to the edges.
You can leave it as is ( a square or rectangle) or cut the circle out.
Hang in a sunny or light-filled window.
enJOY!
                                                     

                                                       AUTUMN 2012
                                           GALLERY of NATURE ART 

Ages 5.5 - 7

                                                     A man

                                                 Friends

                                             A Puppy     

                                            Butterfly collage

                                                                        Creature

                                                                      Girl

                                                                     mandala

 Ages 7-10

                                                           
      
     Ages 10-15

                                        Perhaps YOU would like to try Nature Art !      
                                        When you do, please share. I would love to see it!
                                           
                                                  happy day, happy creating!  

                                              

SPIDER

We found a spider on the outside of the window. 

It's a Black and Yellow Argiope, a COMMON ORB WEB SPIDER.

Look closely and you will see TWO webs. The female makes the big circular web and the male makes the zig zag web.

We have also found these spiders among our grasses this summer. I love their coloring.

What kinds of spiders have you seen in your area?

happy day!

WORDS

A quote for Monday. . . 

"I alone cannot change the world, but I can cast a stone across the waters to create many ripples." 

                        
                                                              ~Mother Teresa of Calcutta




                             happy day!

YOU KNOW IT'S SPRINGTIME WHEN. . .

    The mallards are back at our pond . . .

    The Vinca blooms. . . 

    The turtles bask in the sun . . .

    The daffodils  grow taller . . . 

    The Phoebe sings atop the Hemlock tree . . . 

    The Pussy Willows  emerge . . . 

   The Lilies poke through the earth. . .

    And our horses lie down in the sun.


The greening of the earth is upon us . . .  a time for new beginnings. I begin again with my blog. I feel refreshed from my winter's rest.:)


Happy day! Happy almost Spring!

NEST HELPER

Have you made a NEST HELPER for the bird's yet? It's not too late!

 We recycled chicken wire this year, cut it into squares and formed different shapes. 


Next we went on a nature walk and collected dried grasses, feathers, leaves, small twigs and pine needles. We also added angora rabbit fur, horse hair, and two inch pieces of yarn. 


 We attached a longer string to hang it from a branch outside so the birds can take what they need for their nest.

    See what we made last year here, and the year before here.


 It is fun to watch to see what the birds choose. Give it a try!


                                  happy day!

STUMP ART

I brought a stump inside for the children at my Nest. I didn't have a real purpose in mind, but I thought perhaps they would use it  to *cook* on or use with the assorted animals. 


Instead, they had other plans.
It became a canvas for colored chalk.

I was taken by surprise when I first saw it and gasped inwardly. But what's the big deal! It's only chalk. And the stump IS for the children.


It reminds us all to *look to the Children. . they know what to do*. 
We just need to be there to provide the environment, love them, and keep them free from harm.


happy day!