catbird – Page 5 – Wineberry Woods

13Nov 2024 by catbird 2 Comments

Winter Solstice Jokes for Kids!

The world needs more bad, punny Winter Solstice Jokes! Can you think of any to add? Leave them in the comments! Why was the snowman digging through a bag of carrots? He was picking his nose. What is the Winter Solstice's favorite song? "Here Comes the Sun" Why was the kid obsessed with the moon on the Winter Solstice? It's just a phase. How do mountains stay warm in the winter? They put on their snowcaps. What do you call a bear who is too hungry to hibernate? It has insom-nom-nom-nom-nia. What does Jack Frost like to eat for breakfast? Frosted flakes. What did the planets say to the sun on the Winter Solstice? We'd be in a dark place without you! What is a snowy owl's favorite subject in…

03Nov 2024 by catbird 2 Comments

2024 Winter Solstice Picture Book Countdown

Picture Book Buds, Winter, 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, 2024 Share Some Kindness, Bring Some Light by: Apryl Stott December 2, 2024 Hiders Seekers Finders Keepers: How Animals Adapt in Winterby: Jessica Kulekjian December 3, 2024 Wintercake: A Winter and Holiday Book for Kids by Lynne Rae Perkins December 4, 2024 Grandmother Winterby: Phyllis Root December 5, 2024 A Cozy Winter Dayby: Eliza Wheeler December 6, 2024 Winter Is…

31Oct 2024 by catbird No Comments

What is Samhain?

Autumn, Folklore, Learning, Samhain

Samhain is a celebration halfway between the Autumn Equinox (the official start of fall) and the Winter Solstice (the official start of winter). It is observed on November 1st, although the technical astronomical midpoint varies slightly. It is what is known as a “cross quarter” day on the Wheel of the Year. These days are seasonal midpoints in between the “quarters” or solstices/ equinoxes. This celebration can be known as Halloween, All Souls Day, Dia de la Muertos or Samhain. It is the end of the harvest season and begins the darker half of the Wheel of the Year. It is the last harvest of any remaining food before the killing frost sets in, but it’s also the time to harvest seed for next year. For our ancestors this time…

28Oct 2024 by catbird 11 Comments

2024 Winter Solstice Countdown Calendar

Play, Recipes, 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 a new exclusive excerpt from my Winter Solstice book that will only be available through this calendar and only in December 2024. It also includes four guest blogs from other talented makers! This calendar is now closed. Look for a new calendar in November 2025!! 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 accompanying Picture Book Countdown. Happy Winter Solstice!

22Oct 2024 by catbird No Comments

Samhain Simmer Pot

Autumn, Folklore, Samhain, Simmer Pot

Where I live Samhain is when the cold really starts to set in. Simmer pots become more than just a way to make the house smell nice, they add much needed moisture and warmth to the air in my drafty old house. Samhain is more of a time for quiet reflection than other fall holidays, thinking about those who are no longer with us and the cycle of life. Consequently, this recipe has a different vibe. It's not all apples and pumpkin spice it's more about memory. If there is a plant or scent you associate with a particular loved one, that would be a perfect thing to add as well. Use this recipe as a start and add anything else that speaks to you– you might just really like…

17Oct 2024 by catbird No Comments

“Chomp! The Truth About Sharks”

Craft Project, Free Printable, Learning, Picture Book Buds, Play, Recipes, STEAM

Picture Book Buds are a fun and easy way to incorporate literacy into nature study. Read a book (you can even read it outside!) and then enjoy the related activity and snack suggestions! Chomp! The Truth About Sharks Written by: Annette Whipple Chomp! The Truth About Sharks is a fun new nonfiction book about sharks. Having just spent some time hunting for fossil shark teeth this summer, my boys were all over it! It does a great job of breaking down all the info about sharks in a nice concise way: where they live, how they work, the parts of the body, different adaptations, and of course some blood and teeth. It's also peppered with fun unusual facts (called shark bites!) I definitely learned some cool shark factoids to impress…

30Sep 2024 by catbird No Comments

Autumn Simmer Pots

Autumn, Autumn Equinox, Samhain, Simmer Pot

Autumn is when simmer pot season really starts in earnest around our house. A simmer pot is basically a homemade air freshener made by simmering fragrant pieces of fruits, herbs, and other spices in water. You throw some nice smelling things into a pot and let it just simmer on the stove all day. It makes the house smell amazing and cozy. It's a great way to make use of apple peels and core from fall baking. I went ahead and used teh cut outs from our jack-o-lanterns too! I went beyond the usual apples and spices in the harvest simmer pot, using some common fall garden plants and weeds. Sweet autumn clematis is terribly invasive in my area so I don't feel at all and about yanking it. It also…

21Sep 2024 by catbird No Comments

What is Autumn Equinox?

Autumn, Autumn Equinox, Folklore, Learning

The Fall or Autumnal Equinox is the midpoint between the Summer and Winter Solstices. Day and night are of equal length in nearly all parts of the world. The word equinox comes from the Latin words for “equal night”—aequus (equal) and nox (night). On the Autumn Equinox the Earth’s tilt is at zero relative to the sun, meaning it is not tilting towards or away from the light, it is in balance. The Equinox is the astronomical first day of fall, traditionally starting the fall season. Darkness and night increase, we move within our homes and ourselves and begin to prepare ourselves for the coming winter. This is the time of year when farmers would know how well their summer crops did, and whether they would have enough food for…

20Sep 2024 by catbird No Comments

Autumn Equinox Simmer Pot

Autumn, Autumn Equinox, Simmer Pot

Autumn Equinox is a time when people all over the place are taking stock and settling in to the cozy time of year. It brings to mind apple pies and falling leaves. Bountiful produce and abundance as nature makes her last big push. An easy (and nice smelling!) way to celebrate the season is to make a special Equinox simmer pot. Use this recipe as a start and add anything else that speaks to you– you might just really like the smell or want to encourage more of what the plant symbolizes in your life. Apple peels & cores: I am pretty passionate about using things that would otherwise be wasted for simmer pots, cutting up and wasting a perfectly good apple is not my style, but apple cores and…

18Sep 2024 by catbird No Comments

Giving Back Seed Bombs for Foraging

Autumn, Autumn Equinox, Craft Project, Foraging

We love to forage as a family, One of the most important things about foraging is remembering to give back-- to leaves some for the animals, to thank the plants and to cultivate gratitude. When kids are invlved I like to do something concrete to help them think about giving back. Recently we have been making seed bombs with native plants to throw along the trail and very literally give back. So many natural areas are completely overrun with non-native invasive plants that I hope this small action helps native plants regain their foothold and makes more food for the woodland critters. It's really REALLY important that you use seeds for plants that are native to your area and will thrive in the conditions that you are distributing them. Sun?…

Author: catbird