Colonial Farm Trip

Today we visited a favorite local venue- Claude Moore Colonial Farm park, for a farm skills event. Anya loved dipping tallow candles, carding wool, playing 18th century games, grinding corn, and visiting the farm house, orchard, and gardens.

A lovely volunteer, discussing candle making. We were so fortunate to end up on site, just ahead of a very large school group, and have some one on one time

dipping tallow candles

chosing from some 18th century toys and games

Playing Graces... I believe we'll be making a set!

playing Graces with my girl

Bowling hopeful pose, 1771 style

grinding corn

some farm cousins, peeling eggs for dinner before setting corn in the fields

simple spring meal

root cellar. I want one.

hand washing

Nature Journaling

We spent a few hours this afternoon, amongst the ephermerals. We started out in search of chickweed, some to draw in our journals and some to harvest for dinner.  After a bit of journaling, we walked on, and invevitably discovered a new wonder, every few feet. "I want to put THAT in my nature journal, too!" Alrighty, then!
I really believe in nature journaling as an excellent tool to help one to really SEE the thing before them. I find that when I "know" something, I call it by it's name and sort of create a sterotype of it in my head, whether plant or animal. My husband and I were talking out this idea on our last hike. If I see something that I don't know the name label for, curiosity drives me to really experience it, and take in as much as I can.
Taking the time to look closely and record as much information (and drawn detail), whether I know a thing or not, helps me to truly SEE it. I think it's a great mindfulness/awareness/presence  tool for any age.

We don't generally pick plants that we're journaling, and when we forage, it's done mindfully and with gratitude

A break for some climbing. She discovered both Virginia Creeper and  Poison Ivy at the top, and decided to journal both on the same page, due to their similarity, when young

A wonderful way to say goodbye to the Bluebells

Wrapped up our woods time with a bit of creek play.. building a swimming hole for the fairies to say thank you... 

In Bloom

Spring is in full swing, here... the lilacs are begining to bloom, bluebells are carpeting the floodplains, forsythia and redbud brighten roadsides and forest. We've been spending as much time in the woods as we are able, as well as taking our lessons outdoors. Lots of hiking and climbing foraging and planting (I keep meaning to do a garden post, but haven't gotten to it! Perhaps a regular "this week in the garden" posting schedule will develop)

our woodfrog tadpoles are growing like mad!

Lots of outdoor reading time. We are loving The Burgess Bird Book. Watching and listening to the birds in the garden, after reading about their "suits" and nest building habits is delightful.

Some fairies, having tea in a sycamore treehouse, while I harvested some nettles for soup and tea.

Stinging nettle

I've been dreaming of this recipe since asparagus season began. I tried to remember where I first saw a version, but couldn't find it. I made a cauliflower (grainfree) crust and topped it with ricotta, lemon zest, asparagus, and chives. Some parmesan dusted on top. It was amazing (though very floppy, not pizza crusty... I've found that one must sometimes alter expectations with certain recipes, and appreciate it for what it is, rather than what you're replacing/approximating)

Hunting eggs

Flitting through the bluebells