Artwork from School

Oliver's watercolor painting

Oliver's woven pouch

Molly's bay wreath
The children have been busy crafting and such at school these last couple weeks. Those vibrant watercolors just jump off the page! Molly's class had a bazaar in their room yesterday and sold little things they had made either at home or in school. What a great way to teach the children money and math! Molly had a blast and came home with the beautiful bay wreath. All classes have handwork every week and Oliver just completed his woven pouch which, of course, he was immensely proud of. For anyone interested in the Stockmar crayons, watercolors or beeswax, you can find it on "My Wish List Store".

The Winter Spiral

Last night, was the winter spiral at the Davis Waldorf School. A room filled with the scent of pine that was carefully laid into a spiral for the children to walk. The only light, coming from a single candle in the center set on a stump and decorated with red berries. Each child is given an apple with a candle in the middle and while a man played quiet, reflective music on the piano, the child would take the walk alone. Everyone quietly watched as each child made there way to the solitary candle. Once in the center, they would light there own candle and choose a place along the spiral to light one of the candles that was placed along the path. Watching these children grow each year, you get a glimpse of their little spirits, as they hold the candle so carefully and the glow seeps through their fingers and lights up their faces. It's so symbolic for this time of year. We're going into the darkest days of winter and we either spiral too far inward and get depressed, or we spiral too far out with all the crazy holiday plans. Then, also there is all the darkness. Alone we bring a little light but as a community we are quite a force. What was once a dark path, now glows strong. A beautiful spiral of light.

Shhh, the Gnome is Sleeping

Cleaning up Molly's room today was quite a task. She's my little clutter bug and each corner and crevice is filled with trinkets. All very important, of course. While she's sick in bed, I am finally able to try to untangle the ball of twine. I'm almost done when I notice another corner she has set up. Over by the door, sitting on top of a little box and encircled with stones and lace, is a basket covered with a neatly folded blanket. I look over at Michael and gently lift the blanket. Inside the basket, tucked in on his side , is a little gnome she made. He's sleeping so sweetly and we both are nearly in tears. How much longer will we get to experience this wonder? Not much longer, I fear. So the sleeping gnome shall stay in his castle by her door and I get to enjoy this world a little longer.

Martinmas

"Often goes the Christ in the stranger's guise." Although I lean more towards nature based beliefs, I love this celebration of bringing light to darkness. Tonight, the kindergarten does their lantern walk at the school and they've been working hard on the lanterns they will carry. Each child bringing their own little light out into a cold, dark night. Crunching over leaves, they are apart of a collective glow. What a powerful symbol, to fill what was once a dark space with such brightness and warmth. To see that together we are a powerful force of love and light. The story of St. Martin has wonderful imagery. It's said that while passing under a bridge, Martin came upon a cold beggar. Martin took his cloak from his own back and tore it in two, sharing it with the man. The man later appeared in a dream, I believe, as Christ. What an important lesson to teach our children, to give love and light. Somehow, bring your own light to the darkness today.

All School Morning Verse

I use to speak this verse every morning with Oliver and Molly while we home schooled. I'm missing it, so I think I'll use it for myself now.

To wonder at beauty
stand guard over truth
look up to the noble
resolve on the good
this leadeth us truly
to purpose in living
to right in our doing
to light in our thinking
and teaches us trust
in the workings of creation
in all that there is
in width of the world
in the dept of the soul

Field Trip to a Rice Farm

Molly in the cut fields

Loading up the trucks

Beautiful grains.

Rice fields as far as the eye can see.
Both Molly and Oliver's class had a field trip to a local rice farm last Friday. The farmer spoke with everyone and alowed the children to run in the fields. They had so much fun falling down, disappearing beneath the tall stalks and pulling the grains loose. It was so nice to be able to be on a field trip for both my children at once!

Speaking of Snail-io

Across from the third grade garden stands the kindergarten gate.

And watching the gate, is the new Snail-io oven! Working with bare feet in mud and straw, the third grade children, Molly included, built this beautiful outdoor oven for the garden. Next week, they'll fire it up to make homemade pizzas! Michael was able to assist Brian Baker and Mrs. Toy construct this incredible oven. What started out as clay bricks, made by Oliver's class last year, to a mound of sand and finally ended as an amazing sculpture. The children will be so excited to begin using it this week! Check out Brian's web site at http://www.bohemianearthbuilding.com/

This Morning's Ride

What a beautiful morning! Passing the peach orchard, we notice the leaves beginning to change to that vibrant yellow. The tops of other trees have begun to transition from the tops turning a deep magenta. A haunting mist hangs over large green fields. An older man on his walk moves slowly, each exhale turning to vapor in the cold air. Then we are at the school, parents helping to plant the many donations from a local herb farm. Hands in the soil, their children watching and playing, our resident herbalist bends down to taste one of the green leaves. If there is a healthier place for a young child to flourish, I am not aware. Once again, I am grateful.

Weekend Festivities

Why no pesticides? Because then you can find cool creatures like this in your garden!

Oliver as a hunch back and Molly as skeleton last night at the festival

Penelope, Serafina and Molly decorate Halloween cookies. The goulash is bubbling and another pie sits upon the table. On the altar we have a gin and tonic for grandma and grandpa, some hard candies for my gran and Michael's grandfather, some sweet smelling rose petals strewn about and some mini pumpkins Oliver carved little faces into to light up the sacred space. The children have had a fun weekend thus far carving out many pumpkins and eating many sweets. I'm going as a witch and so is Molly while Oliver has chosen the skeleton for tonight's pumpkin lit walk through the Shire. It's so magical, even as an adult to walk these paths at night. All the trees, fallen leaves and crisp air. The smell of pumpkins lit by candles and knocking on the doors of friends, family and neighbors in the anticipation of yummy treats. Costumes can be so creative, especially the Little ones on their first trick-or-treat outing. Happy Samhain/Halloween to all!

Plans for the Weekend

Pumpkin carving contest over at aunt Denises' house, Halloween festival at the Waldorf School, dinner before trick-or-treating in the Shire: goulash with noodles and sour cream, pumpkin pie, Halloween sugar cookies, mulled cider and little lady apples. Pictures of delicious food to follow!

Halloween Festival

Michael is off to the pumpkin patch, with Oliver's class, to get 200 pumpkins that were donated to the school for the Halloween festival on Saturday. Tomorrow, each child will carve a pumpkin that will illuminate a path. Guided by angels, the younger children of the school are led on a journey through beautifully decorated classrooms. Each year the school prepares for a special fairy tale play and the children receive small gifts from each room. This is Oliver's big year, since he is in fourth grade, he can try his courage on the perilous path. Each child must walk this path alone and in the dark meeting challenges along the way. I am so proud of him for being so brave. I will be trying out my wings as one of the angel guides and enjoy the sweet faces who truly believe the wings are real.

Rainy Day at the Dairy

Such sweet creatures.

"Trying to eat here!"
Molly feeding a calf

A view from the dairy

Yesterday, we took a field trip to the Bodega area with Molly's class. We had such a great time visiting one of the sister dairies of Strauss. They produce that delicious milk sold in bottles with a thick layer of cream at the top! It's no small task to produce organic dairy products. Anytime a cow gets sick, and uses antibiotics, that cow can never be milked again. With 182 acres and about 200 cows being milked twice a day, I say paying a little extra is worth the cost.

Snail-io

We had a hard start to our morning, the other day. We've come to the conclusion that riding our bikes to school with the violin just doesn't work. Oliver was not pleased. However, even after such a stormy morning, one moment stood out. We arrived at school, engrossed in conversation, when, in mid-sentence, Oliver recoils in horror! Is he stung? Has he forgotten his report on the cure for cancer at home? I look down in the direction his eyes are fixed to find......a snail. Yes, he almost stepped on it. Carefully we maneuver around and I continue down the path. Realizing that Oliver is no longer next to me, I turn around and am greeted with a warm vision. He is kneeling down beside the snail, speaking gently and moving it to the plants. Compassion, something rarely taught or found these days. From preschool they have learned to respect all creatures and were mortified when I chucked a snail from my garden, or worse, added a little salt. In their chubby little baby bodies, they would softly sing:"Hey there, snail-io, how's the world with you? Stick out your little horns and tell me how do you do?" We can learn a lot from this simple lesson. "Let the creatures be." Even the ones that are challenging. Compassion, love, respect and tolerance; I'll keep working on these.

The Angel and the Golden Ball

When my children were in preschool, for their birthday, the teacher would tell a story. It went something like this: Once upon a time, high up in the clouds, was and angel who loved to play with a golden ball. One day while she was tossing her ball up and down the ball fell through the clouds. The angel peered down through them to find her ball and saw children playing on the earth. Oh how she longed to play like these children. So she told the mother angel and the mother angel told her she must pick two special people on the earth to care for her. So she looked and looked and finally found the two most special people she could find. So the mother angel whispered into their ears "a baby is coming, a baby is coming". Then the angel traveled over the rainbow bridge where there was much celebration at her arrival.

This is the best that I can remember this story but every time I heard it for my children, my child was placed in my lap wearing a crown and cape with all the other little children making "music", I would cry. Today was Molly's dear teachers birthday, so I had all the children draw a picture and Michael drew a picture for the cover of this beautiful birthday book. She seemed so happy to receive this before school began this morning. I certainly enjoyed helping it come together.

Morning Snapshots

A bike ride, just me and Molly. Molly is beneath a rainbow silk setting up the play area for the preschoolers. The parents enjoying coffee, conversation and snacks in the breezeway. The children barefoot in mounds of mud mixing and building their wood burning oven for the garden. My last glimpse is of my aunt Mary in a floppy hat and flowing skirt leading the little preschoolers down a lane of changing walnuts sweetly singing "follow, follow, follow me". Beauty in simplicity.

A Chilly Bike Ride

I found these pictures today of my grandparents with Oliver and Molly. I'm really missing them.

I love riding bikes to school with Oliver and Molly. The chilly air, our tires crunching over the fallen leaves and nuts, the sweet smell of fermenting figs and all those beautiful colors growing brighter and deeper by the day. This morning was so brisk that even the sunlight coming through the clouds spoke of colder weather to come. Lately I've been standing outside the kindergarten yard to watch and listen to circle time. It brings back magical memories of preschool with my own children. Such a calm, warm transition for the wee ones to say goodbye to their parents for the day. For those with little ones still, who may choose to home school, here is the circle song to be done with movement and finger play.

In soft morning light

The stars fade away

The birds sing away

This is our new day

Awake

Awake

Shine like the sun

Bring light

And love

To everyone

Good morning dear earth

Good morning dear sun

Good morning dear stones

And the flowers everyone

Good morning dear beasts

And the birds in the trees

Good morning to you

And good morning to me

Have and beautiful and grateful day! :)