09Dec 2022 by catbird 3 Comments
Solstice Tree & Handmade Sun Ornaments

Solstice Tree & Handmade Sun Ornaments

Craft Project, Nature Art, Play, Winter Solstice
I have been meaning for years to make a dedicated Winter Solstice tree. Our family tree has solstice-y vibes but really focuses more on ornaments that we design together to commemorate each year. It's already packed full of ornaments and we add a few more each year. So last year I got another tree for another room and dubbed it the solstice tree. That December got away from me as the often do and I only managed to buy one blown glass ornament. This year, not wanting to buy a million expensive ornaments, I decided to make the bulk of them and I am beyond thrilled with how them came out. All of the crafts are super kid friendly, but can just as easily be done by adults. My Solstice…
Read More
07Dec 2022 by catbird 1 Comment
Pine Needle Tea

Pine Needle Tea

Campfire, Folklore, Foraging, Recipes, Winter, Winter Solstice
Pine needle tea is a fun and easy winter beverage hat is is oh so wintery! Its a fantastic source of nutrients, particularly vitamin C, which was used to supplement people's diets in the days before you could go to the store and buy a bag of oranges without a thought. Allegedly, Frenchman Jacques Cartier and his crew were cured of scurvy by an Iroquois (Haudenosaunee) tribe in 1543 and they wrote an account of it. All edible species of pine contain vitamin C-- purportedly have three to five times more than an orange, depending on what source you read. Vitamin C is an immune booster (and a cure for scurvy!) Pine needles also contain vitamin A which improves red blood cell production. Pine needle tea can also soothe sore…
Read More
01Dec 2022 by catbird No Comments
Chrysalis Sleeping Bags

Chrysalis Sleeping Bags

Craft Project, Hibernation Celebration, Learning, Nature Art, Nature Collection, Winter
I was so inspired by this artwork from photographer Levon Biss that I knew I needed to come up with a project about insect hibernation. My brain immediately went to chrysalis sleeping bags because a chrysalis is in a way a tiny sleeping bag, and the patterns on these are so beautiful I though they would be amazing inspiration. First things first, insects don't technically hibernate. Many are inactive during the winter and undergo a state in which their growth, development, and activities are suspended temporarily, with a metabolic rate that is high enough to keep them alive. This dormant condition is termed diapause. We made our sleeping bags on a small scale for stuffies, but this would a fantastic project for an older student (or grown up...) at full…
Read More
04Nov 2022 by catbird 2 Comments
Orange, Rosemary, Tahini and Honey Cookies

Orange, Rosemary, Tahini and Honey Cookies

Recipes, Winter, Winter Solstice
These cookies feature one of my favorite favor combinations that I use in all kinds of things- butter, rosemary orange amd honey. The tahini takes it to the next level! Ingredients: 6 TBS unsalted butter ¼ cup tahini ½ cup sugar 2 TBS brown sugar 2 TBS honey 1 tsp chopped fresh rosemary 1 TBS orange zest  1 tsp vanilla 1 large egg 105 g sorghum flour 40 g potato starch 25 g almond flour 1 tsp cream of tartar  ½ tsp baking soda ½ tsp gray salt ¼ cup sugar for rolling rosemary leaves Method: Beat the butter, tahini, sugar, honey, rosemary, orange zest and vanilla on medium in the bowl of a stand mixer with a paddle attachment until creamy and lighter, about two minutes. Add the egg…
Read More
04Nov 2022 by catbird 1 Comment
Make Twig Stars

Make Twig Stars

Craft Project, Nature Art, Play, Winter Solstice
Make some easy stick stars one of two ways. Big ones can be used to decorate the house and small ones can be ornaments or gift toppers. You cab leave them plain or dress them up with other natural materials. Twig stars are an easy nature craft for all ages that look rustic and elegant. Twig Stars Materials: twigs twine pretty greens and other natural materials (optional) Method: Cut or break your things into 5 pieces of approximately the same length. Lay them out in a 5 pointed star shape and tie the joints with twine. Add a loop of twine to the top if using as an ornament. Add greens or dried flowers for decoration as desired. Willow Stars These will really only work with willow branches, you bend…
Read More
03Nov 2022 by catbird 1 Comment
Naturally Scented Cinnamon Pine Cones

Naturally Scented Cinnamon Pine Cones

Craft Project, Winter, Winter Solstice
I always look forward to those cinnamon pine cones that find their way to grocery store checkouts and craft stores this time of year. Even though they are extremely artificial, I kind of love them. So I decided to make my own with natural essential oils and ground cinnamon. They smell even better and are simple to make. Use teh recipe below to make a big batch or just sprinkle some essential oil on a few! I actually used to sell these back in the day. Materials: pinecones cinnamon essential oil clove essential oil cheap ground cinnamon water freezer bag Method: Place your pinecones in a freezer bag and pour in just enough water to cover/ soak them. Start sprinkling in the essential oils-- I don't measure, just enough that…
Read More
03Nov 2022 by catbird No Comments
Snow or Mud Faces

Snow or Mud Faces

Craft Project, Nature Art, Nature Collection, Play, Winter, Winter Solstice
Here is an easy activity for a winter day-- make snow or mud faces on trees! Collect some natural materials: sticks, pinecones, berries, leaves etc, and find a tree to make a face on! Pack your mud or snow on first and then use your nature finds to embellish the face. Easy and fun! Wet snowball type snow will work best, and if there isn't any snow where you live live will do the job too! You can think about what the spirit of the tree might look like or just make a funny face,
Read More
02Nov 2022 by catbird 4 Comments
Raspberry Rose Moons

Raspberry Rose Moons

Recipes, Winter Solstice
Those cookies are so, so good and I love their bright natural color. They'd also be amazing cut into heart shapes for Valentine's Day. Ingredients: I cup unsalted butter 1 cup powdered sugar 2 tsp vanilla 1 large egg 1 egg yolk 200 g almond flour 140 g sorghum flour 60 g tapioca starch 34 g powdered freeze dried raspberries* ½ tsp xanthan gum ½ tsp baking powder ½ tsp gray salt 5 oz dark chocolate couverture  Rose petals Method: Beat the butter, sugar and vanilla on medium in the bowl of a stand mixer with a paddle attachment until creamy and lighter, about two minutes. Add the egg yolks and beat again until smooth, scraping the sides as needed.  Whisk together the dry ingredients in a bowl. (Including the…
Read More
01Nov 2022 by catbird 3 Comments
Winter Nature Table

Winter Nature Table

Craft Project, Nature Art, Nature Collection, Nature Table, Play, Seasonal Nature Table, Winter, Winter Solstice
Nature tables are the perfect place to store and display all those nature finds that we "just had to bring home." Honestly I am almost as bad as the kids about this... Ours is on our porch so that things can be easily added and subtracted at will and we change it out for each season. (And it substantially reduces the stray sticks in the house..) In winter, we add obvious things like holly and evergreens, but also sticks covered in lichen, crystal-y rocks, found bits of nuts, pinecones and a prized deer antler. Log slices and old shelves and add some height and you can use vases to hold the greens. The kids are always tinkering with the arrangement and moving things around which is great. This is actually…
Read More