19Apr 2022 by catbird 1 Comment
Vernal Pools & Spring Pond Dipping

Vernal Pools & Spring Pond Dipping

Hike Ideas, Nature Collection, Nature Journaling, Play, Spring Equinox, Spring Portfolio
One of the most exciting signs of spring in my house is the hunt for tadpoles and the woodland jewels known as vernal pools. Vernal pools are ephemeral woodland ponds that only appear in the spring. They are usually full in the early spring as snow and ice melt, and dry completely (or at least mostly) by late summer or early fall. These pools serve a critical role in the lives of wildlife- frogs and salamanders lay their eggs in vernal ponds because they are free of fish who would eat them. (Fish can’t live in a body of water that isn’t constant) Many organisms with an aquatic stage in their life cycle have evolved to require the temporary but fish-free water of vernal pools. In the Northeast United States…
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19Mar 2022 by catbird No Comments
Spring Eggshell Candles

Spring Eggshell Candles

Craft Project, Spring Equinox, Spring Portfolio
This is a simple craft that doesn't require many materials or a lot of time. Materials: Eggshells Beeswax (pellets, chunks or even old candles bits) Wicks (tealight size) Dried flowers (optional) Crushed mica (optional) Method:First prepare the eggs: I use eggshells from eggs I have eaten or baked with and don't do anything special when I crack them. If you know you are planning to make some, just think about making the crack closer to the skinny end, but as long as you have a solid half (ie don't crush it into a million pieces like my children do...) it should be fine. The fiddliest bit is that you need to pull the membrane out, if you do when they are fresh I can usually just yoink them out in…
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16Feb 2022 by catbird No Comments
Snow Moon Simmer Pot

Snow Moon Simmer Pot

Full Moon, Snow Moon, Winter Portfolio
Tonight is the full snow moon and February is the snowiest month where I live. I keep making simmer pots for most of the winter because I live in an old house with radiator heat and it gets so dry. I shift away from citrus and holiday scents after December and focus more on cleaning the air. Lately I’ve started being intentional about the water I use- snow, ice rainwater. The spices are cinnamon cloves and thyme— all of which fight germs and bacteria when aerosolized (I read a fascinating study about this) and bay leaves with intentions written on them. I also included some sage for cleansing. Feels just right for a snowy full moon night.
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15Feb 2022 by catbird No Comments
Sugar on Snow

Sugar on Snow

Midwinter, Recipes, Snow Moon, Winter Portfolio
February is when tree sap starts to travel back up tree trunks, meaning that it's time to make maple syrup! The best days below freezing at night but warmer and sunny during the day. I live in the most southernly part of the US where you can still tap trees and make maple syrup. I tap both maple and black walnut most years and every so often we make some sugar on snow. We usually use store bought maple syrup for the sugar on snow- the syrup we make is too precious! The sugar in this case refers to the maple- it's just cooked until it's at softball stage and then allowed to set up quickly on the cold snow. Simple yet magical! A perfect way to celebrate Midwinter and…
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30Jan 2022 by catbird No Comments
Midwinter Cleaning. Of Children.

Midwinter Cleaning. Of Children.

Bath & Body, Craft Project, Midwinter, Play
Historians disagree on the origin of colloquialism “spring cleaning, '' but there is some evidence to support that it was originally a Midwinter tradition, not a spring one. The season’s association with the hearth and preparing for spring make sense. Many historical traditions reference cleaning out the old year at Midwinter. Consequently, this is a great time of year to craft cleaning products, soap and bath bombs. We naturally spend more time inside in the deep of winter, so it makes sense to turn our attention to cleaning out our physical spaces and ourselves. The kids and I try to make at least 1 new soap each year and they are much more inclined to use said soap because they make it and it's special. We also love to make…
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27Jan 2022 by catbird 1 Comment
Making Butter with Kids

Making Butter with Kids

Midwinter, Play, Recipes
Midwinter is the time of year that ewes traditionally started lambing, so for Western Europeans in ancient times it was the return of milk to their diet. It’s hard for us to really understand that these days, but there is something very comforting about creamy, milky dishes this time of year. February is also usually the month that our hens start laying again which is always very exciting. As I’m writing this I’m thinking we should really plan some sort of mini celebration to mark the occasion! I don’t do lactose so I don’t really dive deeply into the milk and cream elements of this holiday, but my kids love to make butter. Mason Jar Butter Making Making butter in a mason jar is stupid easy and strangely satisfying. We…
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06Jan 2022 by catbird 5 Comments
Focaccia della Befana

Focaccia della Befana

Twelfth Night, Winter Portfolio
January 6th is Befana in Italy, also known as Epiphany, Twelfth Night or Three Kings day in various cultures. Befana is a winter witch who brings treats for children and sweeps away the old year. I kind of love that throughout christianization Italians have stubbornly held on to their winter witch. Like most holidays Befana/ Epiphany predates the current Christian celebration and marks the end of the liminal time between Christmas and New Years. I like having that end marked in some way, this always feels like such a weird time of year for me. Focaccia della Belfana Despite being called focaccia, this is an enriched bread with milk eggs and butter. It’s a little sweet, but not overly so. I use a gluten free brioche recipe, but you can…
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19Dec 2021 by catbird 2 Comments
Solstice Yule Cake

Solstice Yule Cake

Recipes, Winter Portfolio, Winter Solstice
Winter Solstice and the Yule Log.... Every Winter Solstice my family turns off all the lights in the evening, lights a fire in the fireplace, lights a million candles, spreads a blanket in front of the fire/ Yule tree and has dinner on the living room floor. Not only is it a lovely way to celebrate the darkest night, but it’s also a great opportunity to turn off electronics and lights and just enjoy each other’s company. The kids think it’s hysterical to walk around the house with a lantern and it’s an incredibly relaxing night in a busy stressful season. Every year we have Swedish meatballs (which are referred to as ikea meatballs in my house... ) and a bouche de noel or Yule log cake. Some years it’s…
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19Dec 2021 by catbird No Comments
Hibernation Week Pie

Hibernation Week Pie

Cold Moon, Full Moon, Hibernation Celebration, Recipes, Winter Portfolio
Cold Moon hibernation pie!! The December Full moon is most often described as the Cold Moon. In my mind the Cold Moon is always linked to hibernation— my school has a week-long hibernation celebration every year in December that culminates in a Cold Moon Hibernation Party. Everyone learns about different aspects of hibernation, coziness and staying warm from straightforward activities like building shelters and learning about how animals survive to more abstract ideas of home and hearth. The fourth grade makes candles as a part of their colonial america studies and fifth grade makes hibernation snacks to eat while observing the stars. It’s a delightful way to celebrate the winter holidays and to prepare for a long winters nap.
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