Spring Nature Table

This is the beginning of our spring nature table.  The boys helped me to select a few items that reminded them of the season.  There is a bunny and an egg as a symbol of Ostara and fertility... though my boys are unaware of this aspect as of now.  The mushroom was added when Little J received the queen, king and gnome for his birthday.

The tray in the center of the table is filled with sand and smooth gems.  The gems are mostly yellow and red to represent the warmth of the sun.  The boys are constantly rearranging and playing with the gems.  I think this is their favorite part of the entire table. 

The sand is to remind us of all the new growth we see during this happy time of year. 

In the background, you can see some fabric eggs we made a few years back.  Here are the how to directions for this project.  If you would prefer to work with wool roving, you can follow these directions instead.

We also add some bare branches to decorate as the season progresses.  I am sure there will be lots of seasonal art that can be hung from the branches.  If the display becomes too cluttered, we will place the vase and branches on the table instead.

This is a really cool art project T Man just brought home.  The bright colored background reminded me of spring, so it was added as well.

As we gather things from nature, they will be scattered about our nature table.  It is very exciting for young children to be able to manipulate and add to the table as they see fit.

What is on your seasonal table?

Nature's Playground



I received Nature's Playground  about a month ago.  I must say I am very impressed with the content. 

The book begins by going over outdoor places to consider, how to include the entire family and ways to encourage everyone to get involved.  After the introduction, the book divides into a section for each of the seasons, year long activities, activities for after dark, safety and resources.

This book is the perfect place to start if you are unsure on how to bring your family closer to nature.

The photographs are exquisite as they depict real children enjoying the great outdoors.


Several Suggestion for Autumn from Nature's Playground:

1. natural painting: using plants and berries to create paint
2. autumn collections: collecting various natural treasures most found on the ground
3. forest mobiles: using natural treasures to create mobiles
4. You must purchase the book yourself to find out details and more activities to get your family involved with nature.

Useful Resources:

• Nature Rocks
• National Wildlife Federation
• Be Out There
• Nature Club for Families Tool Kit
• Pathway to Nature

Additional Books to Consider:

Summer Nature Table... the beginnings

We have finally cleared out the spring and brought in the summer.  We have our basic nature table set up and are just waiting to add to it as we find things on our out door journeys.

Here is what we have so far:

A bird bath with blue, green, and yellow stones.  A brown candle to represent the night.  A star as our pentacle.  I can't decide how I want to make the circle around it.  It stays on the table just the same.  And a small pot with a colored insert made by my boys.  The pot is empty just waiting for treasures.

This is the wooden tray that stays on our table.  I always try to put something of interest on it.  I don't think there is a time that the boys can pass the table without running their hands through all the smooth stones.

Next to the tray is a metal tricycle.  It holds a white candle representing the sun.

        

The final side of the nature table has a metal watering can holding red hydrangeas.  A recycled paper bowl made by T Man on science day at school.  A welcome stone with a birdie sitting upon it and the owl Little J painted for fall.  Just haven't had the heart to put it up yet.

I love the simplicity of the table this time.  It is much more interactive than usual which the boys love.  I would really like to learn how to wet felt some seasonal people to adorn the table, but since that may be a task a bit above my head I think I might make some peg people instead.  We'll see.

Spring Nature Table 2010

Two candles to represent day and night, a rain boot in hopes of many showers, buggies for life stirring once again.

Owl painted by JJ, flowers weeds picked from the yard, moon photo, and mushroom.

Ceramic flower, bunny for fertility, and chick for life, ivory for the green that is blossoming throughout nature and sand with miniature shovel and rake for a bit of fun.

Our spring nature table in its entirity.  Simple but perfect.

It is now time for a change.  Any ideas for Summer?

Fairy Furniture

May is a month that fairies love. Show them your appreciation and give the kids a great project by making them some furniture!

Items Needed:

• twigs, vines, dried flowers

• needle and thread

• scrap material

• scissors

• hot glue gun

• pruners to cut the twigs

Decide what you’re going to make. We’ll make a chair, to give you an example.

Cut the twigs in this manner – one long, bendable piece that will form the back legs and back of the chair, and four equal lengthed twigs which will form the two front legs and the seat. The chair should stand no more than four inches tall (including the back).

Bend the long twig and hot glue one of the smaller pieces in between the two ends where you want the seat to be. This will be the back of the seat.

Hot glue on each side of the bent twig facing towards you a smaller twig; these will be the sides of the seat.

Glue the front piece of the seat to these side twigs.

Glue the two front legs to the seat so that the chair legs are even. If you wish, wrap the vines around the chair back and legs.

Cut the scrap material to form a “back” and a “seat” – these are NOT to be as wide as the chair, but will fit inside of the twigs.

Using your needle and thread, attach the material to the chair using a whip stitch. Hot glue small dried flowers at the top of the chair.

This technique can be used to make all kinds of fairy furniture, from tables to beds, to sofas – all of which are sure to delight your fairies as much as your children!

~unknown author

Faery House

You will need...

• flat base, such as pieces of bark from tree

• larger stone, sea shells, moss and other natural items to build the house with

• tiny stones, gravel etc. for walk ways

• tiny dried flowers, bag of potpourri works great

• anything natural that you find outdoors

• wood glue

• spray varnish

Directions:
1. Start with the flat base. Choose items for a house and glue to base.

2. Add walkways, trees, flower beds, windows, antennas, gazing balls, swings, porches, little piles of fire wood, just let your imagination go wild.

3. Your house may be as simple or elaborate as you think your faeries would like it to be.

~unknown author

Nature Table: Winter 2009-2010

In the fall of 2009, we turned the top of our buffet into a "Nature Table".  This is my version of an alter or place of spirituality.  It is located along the wall in the dining area directly between the kitchen and living room.  We change the table for each of the seasons, but add and take away items according to the wheel of the year as well.

I had pictures of my Fall Nature Table that were beautiful.  With all of the viruses we have had on the computers this year, the photos have been lost in cyberspace somewhere.  I am hoping that the hubs will take the hard drive to a data retrieval office, so that I can get back some of my precious photos.

Anyways, here is our Winter Nature Table.  I absolutely adore it!

The brown platter is used to collect items we find out in nature.  We place the items on the platter and thank the earth for such wonderful beauty.  We never pick or disturb nature.  We only take what has fallen or is already dying.

We also covered the Nature Table with a variety of pine cones, evergreens, & snowman statues.  Unfortunately, these items had to be purchased because we just cannot find these kind of things out in nature in our part of Texas.

I think this is one of the traditions I am most proud of.  We received such a positive response from everyone involved and grew closer as a family along the way.

Our Winter Nature Table has been blessed with this beautiful photo of the moon.  I won this photograph from another blog.  If it happens to be from you, let me know cause I would love to post your name here.

** The glass jar tied with raffia, held the 21 gratitude cards... one for each day from Thanksgiving until Yule.**

We had a white and brown candle on the table as well.  We lite one to represent the coming Sun and the other to represent the passing Darkness.

The star in the above picture is my family's version of a pentacle.  My children as still very young and I want to introduce them to my beliefs in a way that is acceptable to mainstream society if they choose to discuss our beliefs with their friends.

Holidays time around our casa is always full of family induced stress.  I found this sparkly, silver "PEACE" sign and snatched it up quick.  It has become my new holiday mantra.  For the first time since my eldest has been in this world, I did have a very pleasant and peaceful holiday.  Thank you Goddess for watching over my family and blessing us this holiday season.