Our bedtime story tonight

 

 

Eliot and Elaina read me a wonderful bedtime story tonight. This book is very girl empowering. The words are uplifting and the artwork is great. The message it portrays is a positive one that what a girl's body is capable of as she grows is natural and beautiful....

Full Moon Magic and Fennel

 

The full moon last night was so beautiful. I took the opportunity with Evan and Eliot's help to use the magical night to separate the seeds from the stalk. We had our Fall harvest Mother figure helping even though it is still summer. That just seemed appropriate. We also charged three moonstones in my thistle cup. I really felt called to buy that glass cup carved with thistles. Thistles are a plant that talks to me. We also lit our Chalice and had a mini circle of lights to share our concerns and joys. Overall we just plain had fun under the full moon. Eliot even made up a wonderful song. I wish I had recorded it. Everyone fought to wear my new purple scarf. Even though it was a warm night they claimed they were cold just to snuggle in it in my lap and that was just fine by me....

 

After we collected and ground up some of our seeds Evan really enjoyed burning some of the stalks in the last embers of our chalice. Teaching a respect and proper use of fire is a skill I think every child should be taught. We didn't burn every stalk. there were a few seeds left on some of the stalks. Along with the garbanzo beans in the Chalice used to hold up the candles in the Chalice we tossed the fennel stalks into a wild part of the yard. We shall see what grows....

 

 

The fennel seeds are you see in the bags are available for sell in my Etsy store. Pop over.. Free shipping for my local shoppers.

 

 

Dried fennel flowers and rosemary are next on my to do list to place in the store.

What begins with "B"?

Well, Ben, ball, and baby of course....

He requested his picture be taken. It is so hard to get him to look at the camera I take every advantage I can get.

Time for a fennel seed harvest... and man, do I like fennel!

 

I have fennel still lowering, almost in seed and some already in full seed. These I will be collecting and placing in sachets to either sell, make into tea, or use in concoctions and potions of all sorts. Plus, they smell so great!

 

 

Elaina got in on the fun too. All the kids like to pull small stalks off of my huge fennel plant ant chew on hem. Tastes just like licorice and their breath smells so sweet afterwards.

 

 

And just to take it a step further I have fennel toothpaste. And when I don't have any of my own seed to make tea or am just feeling a bit lazy I have my favorite store bought brand of fennel tea on hand. Fresh cream and a touch of sugar and all is right with the world....

Another year at camp..

Lyn had a blast this week. She won an archery and rifle award. My sharp shooter...

At the swimming hole again...

Cooling off with no mosquitoes... Eliot is really learning to swim naturally. The boys not so much.

Getting started on some homeschooling activities..

Eliot picked out the page she wanted to work on today. Beltaine has already past but she remembers the Maypole and wanted to color the picture shown. She did a little math as she spread out her paper and picked which color she wanted. She had to count and subtract and she got it correct. We named the letters and she copied them all in a naturalistic way. We then realized Beltaine was a compound word. Belt and Aine. For those who don't know Aine (pronounced Anya) is an Irish Goddess and the name of one of Eliot's friends. Good catch big girl!

Fresh Lemon Balm Tea

Wow, so good. I have grown lemon balm for years. As I was weeding around my lemon balm and collecting fennel seeds Eliot asked if she could eat a leaf. I said sure. I asked her if she wanted to make some fresh tea. I am always so proud of how easily most of my kids try new things.

39 years old today...

My choice of activities today? Take kids to the playground. Choice of playgrounds? The one with the Babywearing International meeting at it. The kids had fun. They wore themselves out at the playground and at the creek...

A picture I like

I am not so glamorous but Eliot took the picture so of course I have to post it.

Passionflower I do believe...

After the MUUMs meting  spotted a flower on the side of a patio on our way out. I do believe it is passion flower. I may need to get permission to transplant some to my home...