catbird – Wineberry Woods

29Jan 2026 by catbird No Comments

What is the Pink Moon & a Coloring Page

Folklore, Full Moon, Pink Moon, Play, Scavenger Hunt, Spring

Many modern moon name lists suggest that the Pink Moon is named for the emergence of phlox subulata, or moss phlox, which is a native North American wildflower with pink flowers that blooms in April. However, I cannot track down a single actual source beyond the Farmer’s Almanac for this claim. (And the Farmer's Almanac does not expand on where this info came from which is unusual.) I do find that pink is everywhere this time of year—most welcome after a gray winter—so I've decided to roll with it. Moss phlox does, after all, bloom in April along with a host of other pink flowers like cherry blossom and spring beauty. That said, I wouldn't feel at all obligated to stick with this name because the phlox claim is weak at best. The Cherokee…

29Jan 2026 by catbird No Comments

What is the Worm Moon & a Coloring Page

Folklore, Full Moon, Learning, Play, Worm Moon

Jonathan Carver yet again is credited as the source of the name "Worm Moon", claiming it was a Dakota name. However, every Dakota resource I have found calls this full moon the Sore Eyes Moon, which refers to the glare of the sun off snow. (“Sore Eyes Moon” is how this moon’s name translates from the Lakota and Assiniboine dialects as well.) Allegedly, in the late 1700s, Jonathan Carver wrote that the worms actually refer to larvae that are emerging from winter hideouts around this time. Where I live in the Mid Atlantic, snow is receding in March, and spring is just starting to peek through. I often think of March as the muddy month. Worms make their first trip to the surface as the ground unfreezes and leave their little…

29Jan 2026 by catbird No Comments

What is the Snow Moon & a Coloring Page

Craft Project, Folklore, Free Printable, Full Moon, Learning, Snow Moon, Winter

February is the snowiest month where I live, and according to the National Weather Service it’s the snowiest month nationwide. According to the Farmer’s Almanac’s list, this month’s full moon is called the Snow Moon based on the report of Captain Jonathan Carver, a colonial expedition leader who claimed the Lakota people called it that. The translation of the Lakota name that I have found is substantially more poetic: When Trees Crack Because of Cold Moon. Similarly, the Abenaki people observe the Makes Branches Fall in Pieces Moon. The Arapaho call this the Frost Sparkling in the Sun Moon, and the Comanche call it the Sleet Moon. I have continued to call it the snow moon because it's concise and easier to fit on graphics, but in my head I think…

27Jan 2026 by catbird No Comments

Simmer Pot Cake

Folklore, Midwinter, Recipes, Winter

The doldrums of winter can start to feel overwhelming. It’s dark, it’s cold, I am completely tired of chipping ice out of the chicken’s water every morning. It’s time for a pick-me-up. Midwinter is a time for rest and rebirth. Storing up energy in preparation for spring. It’s no secret that I love a simmer pot in the winter, and I have written extensively on their benefits, but this recipe takes it a step further and essentially makes a simmer pot that you can eat! The first step is to slow cook oranges and spices, just like you would with a simmer pot. It will warm the air, lift your mood, and make your house smell like oranges and spice. I like the idea of setting intentions and then consuming them,…

21Nov 2025 by catbird

2025 Winter Solstice Picture Book Countdown

Winter Solstice

You might know that every year I make a Winter Solstice Countdown calendar full of crafts, activities, and recipes. This year I wanted to add picture books to each day to make things even more festive! These books correspond to the activities in the main countdown calendar, so you can read them along with the calendar or just read a book each day if that's more your speed. Happy Solstice! December 1, 2025 Weiwei’s Winter Solstice: A Dongzhì Story by: Michelle Jing Chan December 2, 2025 Winter Bees & Other Poems of the Coldby: Joyce Sidman December 3, 2025 The Littlest Solstice Treeby Lisa Varchol Perron December 4, 2025 Bright Winter Nightby: Alli Brydon December 5, 2025 Winter Story (Brambly Hedge)by: Jill Barklem December 6, 2025 The Tomtenby Astrid Lindgren December 7,…

20Nov 2025 by catbird No Comments

Cold Ice Moons

Cold Moon, Craft Project, Winter

The Mohawk people call December the Time of the Cold Moon. December is the start of real winter for us here in the Mid-Atlantic, and many of this month’s full moon names reflect that. The Creek call this moon the Big Winter Moon, the Shoshone refer to the Winter Moon, the Abenaki call it the Winter Maker Moon, and the Oneida call this moon the It’s a Long Night Moon, which is relates to the Winter Solstice, which occurs this month and is in fact the longest night of the year. In my mind the Cold Moon is always linked to hibernation: animals are hibernating, and we humans spend more time inside, slowing down and getting cozy. It’s also the time we start to find things iced over. To celebrate…

07Nov 2025 by catbird No Comments

Winter Lantern Round Up

Craft Project, Winter, Winter Solstice

We love lanterns at Wineberry Woods, and always seem to be coming up with new and interesting ways to make them! Check out some lanterns of many different skill levels and pick one that suits you! Star Lantern Simple Snowy Tree Lanterns Geode Lanterns Make ice lanterns with natural materials! Frost Lanterns Round Ice Lanterns Snowball Lanterns

04Nov 2025 by catbird 5 Comments

2025 Winter Solstice Countdown Calendar

Winter, Winter Solstice

Countdown to the Winter Solstice with activities, recipes and crafts. Come back each day for a new surprise! The doors won’t open until the correct day (So 1 opens on December 1st, on December 5th you’ll be able to open 1-5, etc.) The calendar includes an exclusive excerpt from my retired Winter Solstice Curriculum that is only be available through this calendar and only in December 2025. Click on the image below to go to the calendar!! (This will take you to a new window) Click once to open the door and click a second time to open the tutorial. Click Here for the materials list– there are some spoilers here, but I tried my best to give you the info you needed without giving away all the surprises! Click Here for the…

26Aug 2025 by catbird No Comments

“The Bug Bandits”

Craft Project, Free Printable, Learning, Middle Grade Book Buds, Play, Recipes, STEAM

Next up in middle grade book buds, is a modern nature school classic-- The Bug Bandits. I have been reading a ton of middle grade books lately, but would love to hear your suggestions for more book buds! Middle grade books are substantially longer, so I have broken the middle grade book buds into a lesson, a craft or two, and a snack. All are driven by the themes and ideas in the respective book. These could be the jumping off point for a more in depth academic book study, or just a fun project to further immerse yourself in the worlds of your favorite books! The Bug Bandits Written by: by Jenni L Walsh The Bug Bandits is a great new book about two kids working together saving an insect museum. As…

25Jul 2025 by catbird No Comments

Wildflower Meadow Soda

First Harvest, Foraging, Recipes, Summer

First Harvest is a time of year when nearly everything is ripe and ready for harvest. It is a time of year when grass and grains are coming into their own. This immediately takes my mind to golden meadows and droopy wildflowers swaying in the sun. We live in a pretty urban area, but there is a park nearby with a big open meadow and the kids love to run through it with butterfly nets swooping wildly and collapsing into fits of giggles. It's such a late summer experience and consequently, such a late summer drink. August here is hot and muggy. I love my tea, and so do the kids, but I just can't in August. Instead we make sun tea, iced tea, tea lattes and tea sodas. This…

Author: catbird