June 20th is the longest day of the year also known as the Summer Solstice. For our family, the celebration will be simple.
We will rise as the sun's rays begin to show over the horizon. We'll sit outside in the quiet of the morning and I will walk my family through a simple, mindful meditation... deep breathing, focusing on a candles flickering flame.
Next, we will work together to make a yummy sun smoothie for breakfast.
That evening will grill corn, pineapples, and burgers. I'll probably make sunshine eggs as well (aka... deviled eggs). I'll serve solstice punch to drink.
Before bed, we will read The Sun Egg. We will thank the sun for all that it provides to us in the ways of nourishment, energy,heat, and light.
That's it! Simple but meaningful.
Brightest blessings on a happy Solstice.
Other posts you mind like...
Outdoor Games for Kids
More Ideas for the Summer Solstice
Showing posts with label summer solstice. Show all posts
Showing posts with label summer solstice. Show all posts
Saturday, June 16, 2012
Friday, July 23, 2010
Sunny Verse
I am the sun and I bear with my might,
the Earth by day and the Earth by night.
I hold her fast and my gifts I bestow,
to everything on her so that it may grow.
human and stone, flower and bee,
all receive their light from me.
open your heart like a little flower,
that it may shine in every hour.
open your heart dear child to me,
that we together one light may be!
~ Christian Morganstern
the Earth by day and the Earth by night.
I hold her fast and my gifts I bestow,
to everything on her so that it may grow.
human and stone, flower and bee,
all receive their light from me.
open your heart like a little flower,
that it may shine in every hour.
open your heart dear child to me,
that we together one light may be!
~ Christian Morganstern
Tuesday, June 22, 2010
Solstice Celebration
Still finishing up our Solstice celebration. It was quiet and simple.
We began creating a family masterpiece. Both of the boys and I are painting pictures of the sun. Each one is completely and totally different. We used several canvases that we had painted last year.
All we did was repaint the canvases white before we began. We are using kids tempera paint, so the colors are not as vibrant as I would have liked but my kitchen floor is surviving without evidence of our play. That is a miracle in and of itself.
Besides our sun paintings, we simply spent some time outside. The boys played catch with daddy while I quietly watered the garden. My poor herbs are not fairing well at the moment... so sad.
Big G and I did add some landscaping circles around two of our trees and added in tons of mulch. Our backyard is going from an eye sore to something a bit more inviting. It has a long ways to go, but it will get there.
As for explaining the Solstice to the boys, I made it simple. I told them that it was the longest day of the year and a time to celebrate all the ways the sun helps us and our Earth Mother. I let them know that our garden should soon begin to grow veggies and that we should say thank you for the gifts the Earth provides for us. I left it at that and both seemed to understand.
We began creating a family masterpiece. Both of the boys and I are painting pictures of the sun. Each one is completely and totally different. We used several canvases that we had painted last year.
All we did was repaint the canvases white before we began. We are using kids tempera paint, so the colors are not as vibrant as I would have liked but my kitchen floor is surviving without evidence of our play. That is a miracle in and of itself.
Besides our sun paintings, we simply spent some time outside. The boys played catch with daddy while I quietly watered the garden. My poor herbs are not fairing well at the moment... so sad.
Big G and I did add some landscaping circles around two of our trees and added in tons of mulch. Our backyard is going from an eye sore to something a bit more inviting. It has a long ways to go, but it will get there.
As for explaining the Solstice to the boys, I made it simple. I told them that it was the longest day of the year and a time to celebrate all the ways the sun helps us and our Earth Mother. I let them know that our garden should soon begin to grow veggies and that we should say thank you for the gifts the Earth provides for us. I left it at that and both seemed to understand.
Thursday, June 10, 2010
More Ideas For the Summer Solstice
The countdown has begun. Only 11 more days until midsummer. This will probably be my last post of activities for the kids and family to enjoy together on the Solstice. Be sure to hoover over the words to check for a link.
- read The Summer Solstice by: Ellen Jackson
- backyard camp out
- play in the sprinkler
- work in the garden
- roast marshmallows in your bonfire
- go on a nature hike
- go on a walk and collect natural treasures
- bake some sun shaped cookies: adorn with yellow frosting and orange & red sprinkles
- blow bubbles: tons of homemade recipes for bubble making
- bubble blowing without a wand
- make your own bubble wands
- midsummer mementos wreath
- create a sundial
- drying flowers
- make baggie ice cream: easy and fun
- painting a flower pot
- embellish flip flops
- embellish flip flops too
- dazzling sun project
- nature mobile
- paper plate sun craft
- change out your nature table: include lots of flowers, green/nature items, artwork from your children, etc.
Summer Sun
Great is the sun, and wide he goes
Through empty heaven with repose;
And in the blue and glowing days
More thick than rain he showers his rays.
Though closer still the blinds we pull
To keep the shady parlour cool,
Yet he will find a chink or two
To slip his golden fingers through.
The dusty attic spider-clad
He, through the keyhole, maketh glad;
And through the broken edge of tiles
Into the laddered hay-loft smiles.
Meantime his golden face around
He bares to all the garden ground,
And sheds a warm and glittering look
Among the ivy's inmost nook.
Above the hills, along the blue,
Round the bright air with footing true,
To please the child, to paint the rose,
The gardener of the World, he goes.
~Robert Louis Stevenson
Through empty heaven with repose;
And in the blue and glowing days
More thick than rain he showers his rays.
Though closer still the blinds we pull
To keep the shady parlour cool,
Yet he will find a chink or two
To slip his golden fingers through.
The dusty attic spider-clad
He, through the keyhole, maketh glad;
And through the broken edge of tiles
Into the laddered hay-loft smiles.
Meantime his golden face around
He bares to all the garden ground,
And sheds a warm and glittering look
Among the ivy's inmost nook.
Above the hills, along the blue,
Round the bright air with footing true,
To please the child, to paint the rose,
The gardener of the World, he goes.
~Robert Louis Stevenson
Tuesday, June 8, 2010
Coloring and Discussion
Coloring tends to put a person into a calm, meditative state. During this calm is the perfect time to discuss important issues with your children. If you choose a page to match the theme of your discussion, even better.
Below I have linked several sun mandala pages as well as simple sun coloring pages. If you want to find some basic information about mandalas, click here. The information is pretty interesting.
You may want some of the pages below to print larger than they appear. I generally open a text box in word and copy the image into it. While in the text box, you can click the image to visualize the edges. Click and drag the right bottom corner of the image. This should enlarge the image to the size you want to print. Before printing, page preview to make sure the image is entirely visible. Change the dimensions of the text box if needed.
Pages to print, color, and display:
sun mandala
sun, moon, and star mandala
sun mandala
several sun mandalas: double click to enlarge
sun with heart cheeks
flower/ sun mandalas
sun landscape
sun
Hope coloring some of these beautiful sun pages with your children can spark a meaningful conversation about the upcoming Summer Solstice.
Below I have linked several sun mandala pages as well as simple sun coloring pages. If you want to find some basic information about mandalas, click here. The information is pretty interesting.
You may want some of the pages below to print larger than they appear. I generally open a text box in word and copy the image into it. While in the text box, you can click the image to visualize the edges. Click and drag the right bottom corner of the image. This should enlarge the image to the size you want to print. Before printing, page preview to make sure the image is entirely visible. Change the dimensions of the text box if needed.
Pages to print, color, and display:
sun mandala
sun, moon, and star mandala
sun mandala
several sun mandalas: double click to enlarge
sun with heart cheeks
flower/ sun mandalas
sun landscape
sun
Hope coloring some of these beautiful sun pages with your children can spark a meaningful conversation about the upcoming Summer Solstice.
Tuesday, June 1, 2010
Outdoor Games for Kids
Summer is the perfect time to get outdoors and get moving. During your Solstice celebration, consider playing some of the following games. Just google outdoor games and children to find tons of sites with many more games than the ones listed.
Capture the Flag
There are two teams.
Team 1 has the front yard and Team 2 has the back yard, or a field was split between the two teams. The teams are given a time period, like 5 minutes, to hide their flag in their part of the yard.
[optional] During this period spies were sent out to see were the flag was hidden as well as look-outs to catch the spies.
When the flag is hidden you call out that you are finished. Then you simply try to get the other teams flag. If you get caught and tagged by the opponent on their territory you had to go to jail and could only be freed by a teammate who grabs you when your opponent isn't looking.
The first team to capture the flag wins. In most versions you had to both get the flag, and bring it back to your side.
Wolf's Dinner Time
One player becomes the wolf and he/she will stand with his/her back turned to the others about 15 feet from the others. The others call out, "Whats the time Mr. Wolf" and the wolf turns to face the others and shouts out a time. Eg: 9 o'clock. The others would then take 9 steps toward the wolf. The group will take the same amount of steps toward the wolf as the amount of hours in the wolfs time. eg, 4 o'clock = 4 steps, 6 o'clock = 6 steps etc. etc. The wolf will then turn his back to the group again for them to yell "whats the time...." (He looks at the group only when he shouts the time at the group").
When the group comes close to the wolf the next time the group yells "whats the time Mr. Wolf" the wolf will say 'Its DINNER TIME" and run after the group who are running back to the start line, and hopefully catch one of the group who will then be the wolf. It sounds noisy, but is an interesting game.
Doors & Windows
Here, kids form a circle holding their hands. Then they would spread out enough that everyone's arms were straight out, to form large spaces between kids. These were the windows and doors. Then one child would start running, and weaving in and out between children. As they did this the kids in the circle would randomly drop their arms down trying to touch or trap the person weaving their way in and out. Once the person was caught or touched by the arms of someone, they were out. They would then choose which person would be next to weave in and out of the windows and doors
Hen and Chicks
Have two safe points such as trees some distance apart.
One person is in the middle as the Hen trying to round up her chicks.
When she calls for her chicks all the little chicks run from one point to the other while the mother hen tries to catch them.
If they are caught they have to stay in the middle and help mother hen. The last chick caught gets to be the hen for the next round.
Human Chain
Two people start the game. They hold hands and chase people, the person they catch joins the chain by linking hands. When another person is caught they can stay together or spilt 2 and 2 they must split in even numbers and can link together at will. This game is played till all are caught.
Broom Tag
All you need is a broom and 4 or more people. The person who is IT tries to tag people with the end of the broom. If they are tagged, then they are on IT'S team. They have to grab someone and yell "Broom Chaser!" Then the person who's IT comes and tags the person that's being held. Everyone one that's tagged is on IT's team. When everyone is tagged except one person, then the game is over and the person that is left is IT. The person who is IT is called the BROOM CHASER.
Flashlight Tag
Played at night, this game mixes the popular games, hide and seek with tag. The person who is "it" waits at the "jail" counting to a high number while everyone else hides. Then, armed with a flashlight, this person searches for the others who may be switching hiding spots. The flashlight must remain on at all times and may not be covered. When "it " spots someone, s/he must use the flashlight to get a close enough look at the person to identify him/er and call out his/er name.
What happens when a person gets caught, gives rise to variations of this exciting game. One variation is to pass the flashlight to the caught person, so s/he becomes "it." Another version is to send each caught person to "jail" to wait until everyone is caught. The first person caught then becomes "it." Another variation is to have more than one person (or a team) be "it." With this configuration, people who are not "it" can tag other people (or team members) free from "jail." One of the "its" may stay near to guard the "jail."
Players will find new and interesting ways to improve their play. One such strategy is to watch where "it(s)" have already searched, and then switch to that hiding spot. One might also find success by following "it(s)." For added challenge, players may camouflage themselves with dark clothing and face paint. This game is excellent for developing great strategies of guerrilla warfare in young minds. This game will also encourage paranoia in parents and entire neighborhoods.
This is an exciting combination of hide and seek and tag. One person closes their eyes and counts to some high number, while everyone else hides. Then, the person who counted (who has incidentally been guarding "the can") has to run around the neighborhood and find everybody. The tricky part is that once a person is found, they have a race, where the person who has just been found has to try to kick the can over before the counter tags them. When that game gets boring, there seems to always be those kids who will hide in a dumb, easy to discover place, with the intent of sprinting for the can if they're caught... it's a good game for building paranoia into your character. :)
Swing the Statue
One player is chosen to be "it." He or she takes each of the other players in turn and, holding them by a wrist or hand, swings them in a circle and then lets them go. The swung player must freeze as soon as possible and hold that position as long as possible. The first player to break the freeze becomes "it." Since the first player swung must hold the position longest, begin with the oldest child first. The entertainment value comes from seeing the strange positions that players end up in and watching them try to hold those positions.
Capture the Flag
There are two teams.
Team 1 has the front yard and Team 2 has the back yard, or a field was split between the two teams. The teams are given a time period, like 5 minutes, to hide their flag in their part of the yard.
[optional] During this period spies were sent out to see were the flag was hidden as well as look-outs to catch the spies.
When the flag is hidden you call out that you are finished. Then you simply try to get the other teams flag. If you get caught and tagged by the opponent on their territory you had to go to jail and could only be freed by a teammate who grabs you when your opponent isn't looking.
The first team to capture the flag wins. In most versions you had to both get the flag, and bring it back to your side.
Wolf's Dinner Time
One player becomes the wolf and he/she will stand with his/her back turned to the others about 15 feet from the others. The others call out, "Whats the time Mr. Wolf" and the wolf turns to face the others and shouts out a time. Eg: 9 o'clock. The others would then take 9 steps toward the wolf. The group will take the same amount of steps toward the wolf as the amount of hours in the wolfs time. eg, 4 o'clock = 4 steps, 6 o'clock = 6 steps etc. etc. The wolf will then turn his back to the group again for them to yell "whats the time...." (He looks at the group only when he shouts the time at the group").
When the group comes close to the wolf the next time the group yells "whats the time Mr. Wolf" the wolf will say 'Its DINNER TIME" and run after the group who are running back to the start line, and hopefully catch one of the group who will then be the wolf. It sounds noisy, but is an interesting game.
Doors & Windows
Here, kids form a circle holding their hands. Then they would spread out enough that everyone's arms were straight out, to form large spaces between kids. These were the windows and doors. Then one child would start running, and weaving in and out between children. As they did this the kids in the circle would randomly drop their arms down trying to touch or trap the person weaving their way in and out. Once the person was caught or touched by the arms of someone, they were out. They would then choose which person would be next to weave in and out of the windows and doors
Hen and Chicks
Have two safe points such as trees some distance apart.
One person is in the middle as the Hen trying to round up her chicks.
When she calls for her chicks all the little chicks run from one point to the other while the mother hen tries to catch them.
If they are caught they have to stay in the middle and help mother hen. The last chick caught gets to be the hen for the next round.
Human Chain
Two people start the game. They hold hands and chase people, the person they catch joins the chain by linking hands. When another person is caught they can stay together or spilt 2 and 2 they must split in even numbers and can link together at will. This game is played till all are caught.
Broom Tag
All you need is a broom and 4 or more people. The person who is IT tries to tag people with the end of the broom. If they are tagged, then they are on IT'S team. They have to grab someone and yell "Broom Chaser!" Then the person who's IT comes and tags the person that's being held. Everyone one that's tagged is on IT's team. When everyone is tagged except one person, then the game is over and the person that is left is IT. The person who is IT is called the BROOM CHASER.
Flashlight Tag
Played at night, this game mixes the popular games, hide and seek with tag. The person who is "it" waits at the "jail" counting to a high number while everyone else hides. Then, armed with a flashlight, this person searches for the others who may be switching hiding spots. The flashlight must remain on at all times and may not be covered. When "it " spots someone, s/he must use the flashlight to get a close enough look at the person to identify him/er and call out his/er name.
What happens when a person gets caught, gives rise to variations of this exciting game. One variation is to pass the flashlight to the caught person, so s/he becomes "it." Another version is to send each caught person to "jail" to wait until everyone is caught. The first person caught then becomes "it." Another variation is to have more than one person (or a team) be "it." With this configuration, people who are not "it" can tag other people (or team members) free from "jail." One of the "its" may stay near to guard the "jail."
Players will find new and interesting ways to improve their play. One such strategy is to watch where "it(s)" have already searched, and then switch to that hiding spot. One might also find success by following "it(s)." For added challenge, players may camouflage themselves with dark clothing and face paint. This game is excellent for developing great strategies of guerrilla warfare in young minds. This game will also encourage paranoia in parents and entire neighborhoods.
This is an exciting combination of hide and seek and tag. One person closes their eyes and counts to some high number, while everyone else hides. Then, the person who counted (who has incidentally been guarding "the can") has to run around the neighborhood and find everybody. The tricky part is that once a person is found, they have a race, where the person who has just been found has to try to kick the can over before the counter tags them. When that game gets boring, there seems to always be those kids who will hide in a dumb, easy to discover place, with the intent of sprinting for the can if they're caught... it's a good game for building paranoia into your character. :)
Swing the Statue
One player is chosen to be "it." He or she takes each of the other players in turn and, holding them by a wrist or hand, swings them in a circle and then lets them go. The swung player must freeze as soon as possible and hold that position as long as possible. The first player to break the freeze becomes "it." Since the first player swung must hold the position longest, begin with the oldest child first. The entertainment value comes from seeing the strange positions that players end up in and watching them try to hold those positions.
Cool Lemonade Pie
Ingredients:
1.Stir boiling water into Jell-O in large bowl 2 minutes or until dissolved. Mix cold water and ice to make 1 1/4 cups. Gradually add to gelatin, stirring until slightly thickened (consistency of unbeaten egg whites).
2. Remove any remaining ice.
3. Stir in tub of Cool Whip with wire whisk until smooth.
4. Refrigerate 10 to 15 minutes or until mixture is very thick and will mound. Spoon into crust.
5. Refrigerate 4 hours or until firm. Garnish with a lemon slice, and a dollop of Cool Whip for each slice, just before serving.
link here
- 2/3 cup Boiling Water
- 3 ounces box Lemon Jell-O
- 1/2 cup Cold Water
- Ice Cubes
- 8 ounces tub Cool Whip
- 6 ounces Graham cracker crumb crust
- 1 small Lemon, sliced, for garnish
- Cool Whip for garnish
1.Stir boiling water into Jell-O in large bowl 2 minutes or until dissolved. Mix cold water and ice to make 1 1/4 cups. Gradually add to gelatin, stirring until slightly thickened (consistency of unbeaten egg whites).
2. Remove any remaining ice.
3. Stir in tub of Cool Whip with wire whisk until smooth.
4. Refrigerate 10 to 15 minutes or until mixture is very thick and will mound. Spoon into crust.
5. Refrigerate 4 hours or until firm. Garnish with a lemon slice, and a dollop of Cool Whip for each slice, just before serving.
link here
Monday, May 31, 2010
Summer Solstice Ideas
- Have an outdoor breakfast picnic to welcome the Solstice.
- Stay up and watch the sun go down on the longest day of the year.
- Draw a picture of the sun at sunrise and sunset.
- Have a backyard barbecue.
- Make a windsock to hang from a tree.
- Read a story about the Solstice.
Solar Tea
ingredients...
1 large jar with a very tight fitting lid
cold water
2 tea bags for each quart of water
1 orange, unpeeled, well washed, and cut into small pieces
1/2 lemon, unpeeled, well washed, and cut into small pieces
directions...
Fill the jar with water. Add the orange, the lemon, and the tea bags. Place in full sunlight for two hours. Refrigerate immediately. Serve over ice.
link here
1 large jar with a very tight fitting lid
cold water
2 tea bags for each quart of water
1 orange, unpeeled, well washed, and cut into small pieces
1/2 lemon, unpeeled, well washed, and cut into small pieces
directions...
Fill the jar with water. Add the orange, the lemon, and the tea bags. Place in full sunlight for two hours. Refrigerate immediately. Serve over ice.
link here
Honey Mustard Barbeque Chicken
ingredients...
1 cut-up chicken
1 cup honey
3 tbs mustard
2 cloves garlic, minced
* cup cooking sherry
2 tbs fresh parsley, minced
* cup olive oil
directions...
Wash and pat dry the chicken. Combine the remaining ingredients in a small bowl. Brush the chicken with the mixture, cover, and refrigerate for an hour. Grill over a low flame, brushing frequently with the sauce. Try experimenting with different flavor mustards
link to site
1 cut-up chicken
1 cup honey
3 tbs mustard
2 cloves garlic, minced
* cup cooking sherry
2 tbs fresh parsley, minced
* cup olive oil
directions...
Wash and pat dry the chicken. Combine the remaining ingredients in a small bowl. Brush the chicken with the mixture, cover, and refrigerate for an hour. Grill over a low flame, brushing frequently with the sauce. Try experimenting with different flavor mustards
link to site
Sunshine Smoothie
ingredients...
1 small can crushed pineapple in juices
1 ripe banana
about 1/2 cup orange juice
1 generous squeeze from the honey jar
1 packet artificial sweetener
ice
directions...
1. Place all ingredients into the blender except the ice.
2. Pulse blender until smooth.
3. Slowly add in several ice cubes and pulse.
4. Continue to add ice and pulse blender until you reach the desired consistency.
1 small can crushed pineapple in juices
1 ripe banana
about 1/2 cup orange juice
1 generous squeeze from the honey jar
1 packet artificial sweetener
ice
directions...
1. Place all ingredients into the blender except the ice.
2. Pulse blender until smooth.
3. Slowly add in several ice cubes and pulse.
4. Continue to add ice and pulse blender until you reach the desired consistency.
Blessing Broom
The summer solstice is almost here. Consider making a blessing broom to cleanse your home and deter negative energies and spirits from entering your home.
Tie beautiful ribbons or ivy around the handle of your broom. Tuck herbs or flowers underneath the ribbons. Use twine or raffia to secure several bells near the bristles of the broom.
While sweeping your home, recite the following verse:
Sweeping, sweeping, 'round the room,
Blessings from this cleansing broom.
From floor to ceiling, and all between,
May this space be fresh and clean.
Sweeping good energy here to me,
As I will, so it shall be.
~Patti Wigington
Tie beautiful ribbons or ivy around the handle of your broom. Tuck herbs or flowers underneath the ribbons. Use twine or raffia to secure several bells near the bristles of the broom.
While sweeping your home, recite the following verse:
Sweeping, sweeping, 'round the room,
Blessings from this cleansing broom.
From floor to ceiling, and all between,
May this space be fresh and clean.
Sweeping good energy here to me,
As I will, so it shall be.
~Patti Wigington
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)