Happy Spring
Spring finally seems to be here in the Ohio Valley, despite several inches of snow on April 24! It was strange to see snow on violets and tulips, peach and cherry blossoms.
We hope our fruit crop is not in danger. My peas and garlic are growing nicely and I will soon plant some lettuce. My chickens are laying eggs like crazy.
Along the Rails to Trails where I ride my bike, there is a beaver house with a mother goose sitting on a nest of eggs. They should be hatching this week.
A Spring Poem by Barry Gray
Here's one I wrote years ago for gardening and a good way to build vocabulary. The second to last couplet is optional. Delete it if you find it offensive. It was meant in fun.
Happy planting! - Barry fototext@shaw.ca
VEGETARIAN STEW
(VEGETARIANS, TOO)Cauliflower white and broccoli green,
In every good garden are sure to be seen.Red radish you rascal your red is so bright,
But cut you in half and inside you're all white.New potatoes from the ground
Are sometimes long and sometimes round.Carrots growing right beside
Are long and orange and sometimes wide.Parsnip is a long, white root.
When baked it's sweet as any fruit.Beets are red and round and hard
And grow quite well beside Swiss chard.Tomatoes are tiny or tennis ball round.
They turn black and slimy if they touch the ground.Herbs can be spicy and savoury, too,
And can make all the difference 'tween good or bad stew.Peas in the pod are as cozy as cousins.
In some pods are three and in others are dozens.Pole beans, lima beans, broad beans, bush beans,
Wax beans, yellow beans, green beans, blue jeans.My cabbage red and lettuce green and turnips, too, you all may seek,
But leave my little onions, please, and in my garden don't take a leek!So now my veggie song is done.
Thanks be to Earth and rain and sun.
(You may remember from last issue that Barry is willing to write personal verses for your child. Contact him at fototext@shaw.ca)
Songs from California Waldorf at Home Conference
I have just returned from the Waldorf at Home conference in Sacramento. It was excellent, as usual! Over 300 attended! The morning singing was led by Christiana Quick-Cleveland, a dynamic song leader! She now has a book and CD available, Songs for the Elementary Classroom, with songs listed by grade level and main lesson block. Cost is $25. Contact her at tianame@comcast.net
Join Me at Family Camp in Beautiful Mountain Valley Farm!
Families Living Joyously Together - August 13-20
At this family session we will look at how to minimize confrontations with our children and teenagers, and maximize the happy times, looking at the history of child rearing over the past century. We will use the camp setting to bring families together to explore the family life ideas of Edgar Cayce, Rudolf Steiner and others, looking at ways to put them into practice in our own lives. Adults meet in the mornings, while their children attend fun, counselor-led activities by age group. For further information: http://edgarcayce.org/summercamp/PDF/2005CAMPFLYER.pdf
Who was Important in your Life??
I received the following article in my local 4-H newsletter and thought it would inspire those of you who quietly homeschool your children in seeming oblivion.
The following is the philosophy of Charles Schultz, the creator of the "Peanuts" comic strip.
- Name the five wealthiest people in the world.
- Name the last five Heisman Trophy winners.
- Name the last five winners of the Miss America contest.
- Name ten people who have won the Nobel or Pulitzer Prize.
- Name the last half dozen Academy Award winners for best actor and actress.
- Name the last decade's worth of World series winners.
How did you do? The point is, none of us can remember the headliners of yesterday. These are no second-rate achievers. They are the best in their fields. But the applause dies. Awards tarnish. Achievements are forgotten. Accolades and certificates are buried with their owners.
Here's another quiz. See how you do on this one:
- List a few teachers who aided your journey through school.
- Name three friends who have aided you through a difficult time.
- Name five people who have taught you something worthwhile.
- Think of a few people who have made you feel appreciated and special.
- Think of five people you enjoy spending time with.
- Name half a dozen heroes whose stories have inspired you.
Easier? The lesson: The people who make a difference in your life are not the ones with the most credentials, the most money or the most awards. They are the ones who care!
June 15 Specials Before Price and Tuition Increases
Due to increased costs of printing supplies, telephone, and other business expenses, I am forced to raise the price of my books and my consulting services as of June 15. Up until then present rates will apply. As an added incentive to beat the August rush, I am offering two free publications to families who register for a full year by June 15, and one free publication to those who register for one half year by June 15
Pottery and the Creative Spirit: A Retreat for Adults
June 26- July 9
Here is an opportunity to develop our spiritual selves through working with clay in this two-week program of creativity, meditation and dream work. In addition there will be time for walks in the woods, berry picking and swimming in the pond. Nancy Hallmark, an accomplished professional potter from Austin, Texas will lead the pottery sessions, including hand building, wheel throwing, slips, sculpture and pit firing. She will be assisted in other areas of the program by Barbara Dewey. For more information: http://edgarcayce.org/summercamp/PDF/2005CAMPFLYER.pdf
Spring Nature Table
Mrs. Thaw (Mother Earth) has removed her woolen cloak and donned her brightly flowered apron to work in her garden. She has planted some lettuce which is growing nicely. She has her rake, shovel and basket of seeds. There are some root children peeking out from the brown and green silks representing earth and grass. Beside her is a vase of forced forsythia branches with a bird nest and a paper wasp nest among them. The wasp nest was found in my garage and shows how the wasp grows her nest in layers. I micro-waved it to be sure no wasps hatch on my nature table! The three colored eggs are polished minerals I purchased in a local rock shop. Patterns and instructions for the dolls are in The Nature Corner, by Leeuwen and Moeskops. They are quite simple to make and can really add to your child's joy in a nature table, although dolls are not needed to make a meaningful nature table. Your children will be happy to find branches, bird and wasp nests and other wonders of nature and bring them to the table!