30Sep 2024 by catbird No Comments
Autumn Simmer Pots

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…
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04Sep 2023 by catbird 4 Comments
The Simplest Autumn Lanterns

The Simplest Autumn Lanterns

Autumn, Autumn Equinox, Craft Project, Play
It's no secret that we love lanterns, this site is full of various lantern designs of varying complexity. (falling leaves lantern, star lanterns, harvest moon lanterns, frost lanterns) But when my kids were toddlers this was the go to lantern craft. It's super easy for little hands and can be upgraded in any number of ways. The supplies and simple and easy to manipulate. Fall is lantern time for me. The nights are darker and longer and a lantern brings a cozy flickering light. A number of traditional celebrations and festivals include lanterns this time of year and it's the perfect time for a lantern walk. Easiest Tissue Paper Jar Lanterns In their simplest form these lanterns consist of a recycled glass or plastic jar, tissues paper, glue, and some…
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26Aug 2023 by catbird 3 Comments
Autumn Equinox Corn Dolly

Autumn Equinox Corn Dolly

Autumn, Autumn Equinox, Craft Project, Folklore, Play
Some people make corn dollies for First harvest and some make them for Equinox and some make for neither just to celebrate fall. For whatever reason I associate them with Autumn Equinox and try to make a new one every year. She is supposed to be stored in the all year to ensure an abundant harvest. Then it goes in the fire on the next Equinox and her ashes are spread in the garden to come full circle. Oddly enough, the "corn" in corn dolly generally refers to wheat, corn was slang for grain in medieval Europe which is actually why we now call maize corn. When colonists came to the US they just called the local grain (maize) corn because that's what they were used. To confuse things further,…
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