Letters From Noe’s Garden
Bring Warmth and Wonder to Family Life
A Mailbox for the Sprites
Our family celebrates winter solstice, but summer solstice tends to slip by unnoticed. This year, now that I have two little ones, I’m determined to change that. I want us to stop and notice this longest day of the year together. So I’ve learned more about summer...
A little knitted cat you can make in a day
If you know my son, Ember, you know that he loves cats. When he was little, there were times when his main communication was in meows. Lately, we've been housebound, owing to some medical issues in my family. I struggle when we’re housebound. Nature and...
Senwa Dedende
For a long time, I've been looking for a song to signal the start of meal times for our family. Not a blessing that you sing at the table, but a song to call the family to the table. Well, I've found one at last. It could be used at home, or outdoors for a picnic....
How to make a Felt Birthday Crown– Handwork as a Sacred Art
This week, I made a birthday crown for Ember. It was a rare opportunity... As my son's primary caregiver, I do most of my crafting in the spaces between activities-- on park benches, subways, etc, as we move through our day together. However, on this particular...
Inspirations from a Waldorf Kindergarten #2: Painting Day
Last Tuesday morning, none of us were feeling our best. A dental checkup on a resistant toddler had taken its toll on both of us. I don't know who was more in need of some art therapy-- Ember or me! We recuperated with a peaceful afternoon at home. What better...
Inspirations from a Waldorf Kindergarten #1: Family Washing Day
Here's a tradition from the Waldorf Kindergarten that transfers well to the home: Family Washing Day. This is a fun way to get the household chores done, spend time as a family and involve the little ones. 1. Get brooms, rags and buckets for everyone. 2. Add music....
Some of my best friends are germs
Last week, we started exploring the art of fermentation. The kitchen is full of science experiments. Makeshift crocks huddle on the counter. Each morning, we peek under their cloth covers and take a taste. I'd long been hearing that fermented foods can be good for...
The Hidden Fire– On Hestia and Home Making
I've been thinking today about Hestia, Greek Goddess of the hearth. My strongest images of her come from my favorite childhood book-- D'aulaire's Book of Greek Myths. Hestia didn't show up much in the stories. A family tree affirmed her to be Zeus's sister....