Summer 2011 - Rhythm of the HomeRhythm of the Home

Intuition

“Once you transcend your mental plane and awaken your intuitive prowess, you’ll experience an immense sense of inner freedom. For this you need to summon the courage to know who you are and be your true self. In other words, put down your mask and present to the world your true, unpolished face.” - Sri [...]

A Map of Our World

Nearly one year ago, my family moved from Colorado back to my hometown in the Midwest. It was not a decision we came to easily. A health issue finally tipped the scales in the direction of moving, and we quickly listed our home and began the stressful and emotional process of packing up the home [...]

An Outdoor Education

As a homeschooling mother, summer is the greatest of seasons. While winter and spring see us fill up with math, science experiments and tons of reading, summer is where we take all that we have learned in the months past, and put it into application. I consider the outdoors to be my children’s summer classroom, [...]

A Mama Mantra

There I was, stuck on the couch with a sleeping babe in my arms. Naps are hard to come by these days, and I wasn’t so sure I wanted to disturb the peace when my six year old daughter declared that she wanted to bake cookies. “Go ahead,” I said. “By myself?” she asked. “Sure,” [...]

Turtle Time: Creating and Using a 13-Moon Calendar

There is so much to learn and remember from animals about how to stay in rhythm with nature. And the humble turtle is a perfect example. Turtle symbolizes being connected to both earth and heaven. Turtle teaches us to have our heart to Mother Earth, to move slowly and with intention. Turtle medicine is about [...]

Hiking with Children

If a child is to keep alive his inborn sense of wonder, he needs the companionship of at least one adult who can share it, rediscovering with him the joy, excitement, and mystery of the world we live in. - Rachel Carson Our children’s lives have become increasingly busy. There is intense pressure to sign [...]

Crafting a Story :: An Interview with Sparkle Stories

Storytelling is a gift that every child should be given. The creation of an imaginary land, adventerous characters, and a freedom of exploration. Today we are joined by David and Lisabeth Sewell McCann, creators of the amazing Sparkle Stories, to discuss the art of storytelling, and just what it takes to craft a story. :::::::::::: [...]

The Excitement of Motherhood

I recently enjoyed reading the open, very thoughtful and personal blog of a former colleague and admired the photos of her daughter, whom I’d never met. Her daughter is about five months older than my 16-month-old son Nathan, and it’s fun to read about what her family is going through and the things her daughter [...]

Simple Kids :: An Interview with Simple Living Media

Most parents crave easy knowledge on how to raise our kids with as much simplicity as possible. The idea of a set of websites dedicated to providing simple, easy to use information on parenting, mothering, homeschooling, eating, and living sustainably seems too good to be true, but the Simple Media Network is just that. This [...]

Magical Toys :: An Interview with Linda Dawkins

Linda Dawkins, creator of Natural Suburbia and a magical toy maker, sits down to discuss the joys of creating one-of-a-kind toys, the benefits of handmade toys, and where she finds her inspiration for each of her animals. What makes each of your toys unique? I feel that my toys are unique as they each reflect [...]

Summer Cherry Knitting Pattern

Linda Dawkins, whose interview on creating magical toys can be found here in the Summer 2011 edition, has been kind enough to knit a pattern just for Rhythm of the Home readers. This summer cherry pattern is perfect for filling children’s baskets, placing in your nature table, or in the wee one’s kitchens. No matter [...]

Summer Journaling with Children

As a writer, journaling was an art form that was important and influential to me at a very early age. My mom gave me my first diary, pink with a lock, about the same time that I first took pen to paper, and I have been hooked ever since. To some, journaling is a way [...]

An Outdoor Education

Summer Reading

Summer is the perfect time to curl up out of doors, under a favorite tree or next to a nearby creek, and read a great book. Summer reading has long been one of the true joys of childhood, and we have collected a few titles, from classics to new favorites, for your little ones to [...]

Crafting a Story :: An Interview with Sparkle Stories

Summer Festivals

Celebrating the season’s festivals is one of the most beautiful aspects to Waldorf education, and a favorite with children as well. Here are some of the season’s many festivals, and a few resources to help make each a cherished tradition for years to come. :::::::::::: Summer Solstice :: June 21st. The summer solstice is the longest [...]

A Map of Our World

Teaching Kids About Herbs Part One: Identification & Harvesting

Just past “The Place Where We Woke Up a Snapping Turtle” and “Secret Minnow Cove,” Sofi pointed to some Plantain on the side of the pathway and said “isn’t this the plant that you use to put on cuts and scratches?” I said, “yes, this is Plantain.” She shrugged her shoulders and cheerfully responded “I [...]

Comics for the Home :: The Rainbow Bridge Experience

I composed this comic while sitting in the car after my son’s birthday celebration in his Waldorf kindergarten, still emotional over it. The idea struck me that this event (and my thought commentary) would make an interesting comic. For me, the medium of comics (or by a fancier name, graphic novel or short story), with [...]

The Growing Child

One of my daughter’s favorite books these days is The Growing Story by Ruth Krauss. It’s a simple tale that follows the seasons of the life of a little boy. The story begins in the late spring. The little boy watches the abundant life around him grow. Then he wonders, sometimes doubtful, if he is [...]

Summer Fun with Seashells

Some of my most cherished childhood memories are of the times my family spent combing Florida’s beaches for seashells. Slathered in sunscreen and armed with beach buckets, my sister and I would follow in my mother’s footsteps, blonde heads bent, eyes focused on the sand, where we searched for the perfect shell. Countless summer [...]

Traveling with Infants and Toddlers

Leaving our homes for vacations or family visits is something that many of us do during the summer. The weather is cooperative, the schedules are freer, and the open road is calling! I personally have more experience with flying with infants and toddlers, but I think that a lot of this information would apply to [...]

Three Sisters and a Goat Enchiladas

August is a delicious month. Measured by the bounty of gardens and farmers’ markets here in the midwest, August is the tastiest month of the year. Sure, May brings fresh asparagus, June produces peas, and tomatoes start coming in July. But the true garden feast begins in August. Throughout this hot, humid, dog-day month, the [...]

Turtle Time: Creating and Using a 13-Moon Calendar

Woodland Terrarium for Fairies and Gnomes

Growing up in the woods on the side of a mountain, I definitely had my share of adventures in the forest. And although I was never really introduced to the fantasy world of elves and gnomes and such, I always had a love of the time that I spent in the woods, thinking of all [...]

Summer Bindle

Have you heard of a bindle? It is a word used to describe a sack, bag or bundle carried at the end of a stick over your shoulder. Often it is seen in the cultural images of American hobos, train culture, and traveling. This summer you can make a fun little bindle for your child [...]

Saving the Tastes of Summer

In Southern Quebec, where I live, summer is all too fleeting. With such a short growing season to work with, we vegetable gardeners spend a lot of time planning. I begin dreaming about my backyard plot in January, inspired by the gardening catalogues arriving in the mail. I sow seeds under the grow-light in [...]

Return to Fertility

Newly postpartum, I thought ahead to when my period would return. The thoughts in my head were of pure dread. How would I be able to take care of a baby and get through my period? My periods have always been hard. The first two days usually have me laid out in horrible pain from [...]

Repurposed Baby Legwarmers Tutorial

By now I’m sure you have seen baby legwarmers made out of socks. Cute, right? As I prepare for a new baby, I wanted to make a few pairs to cover those sweet chubby baby legs. Then I realized that I barely have a matching pair of socks for my own feet, let alone a [...]

Radiance of the Sun

A while back, I wrote a little summer song for a group of children. “Golden sun, you are my friend You shine so bright each day. At night, You hide your face behind the moon To rest for a brand new day.” Isn’t this a picture of summer radiance, and the spirit of children and [...]

Pregnancy Tea

When pregnant, our bodies crave vitamins and minerals that will keep both mama and baby healthy and vibrant! In addition to a diet of fresh, whole, organic foods, drinking a cup of herbal pregnancy tea will provide important nutrients, as well as a bit of time to slow down. Tea time has both nutritional and [...]

Grateful :: A Poem

Egg I am an egg. Small, smooth, speckled, perfect. If you hold me in your hand you can feel the warmth, the life inside my fragile shell. Soon I will be a dove. You will hear my wings rustle as I fly from the telephone wire to the roof top where I will sit and [...]

Peach Cream Pie

Before my older brother was born and every year since, we have celebrated my dad’s birthday, right in the middle of the summer, with peach cream pie. Peach cream pie has been made and eaten in various countries, at the lake we visit each summer, at campgrounds, and by the dozen in the backyard when [...]

Organizing for a Better Rhythm

Our home has recently been the site of an overhaul, a complete makeover. Not all at once, and the job isn’t done — it probably never will be — but we’re on a path to simpler ways. We’ve been organizing. We tend to maintain some sense of organization all the time, but in recent months [...]

Needle Felted Bird in a Nest

My second grade teacher Mrs. Smith taught us all about the different kinds of birds, about their nests, what they eat and their habits. We made books about birds, we charted their migration, we made clay sculptures of them, we drew them and we went outside to observe them. That lesson stayed with me for [...]

Nature Walk Necklace

With the coming of warm summer air, mornings have become an excellent time for nature walks of discovery. Armed with baskets, we adore finding a new stick, stone, or leaf. There are many places to take nature walks: the forest, a park, the beach, or even a suburban neighborhood. Your child will find beauty and [...]

Natural Playdough :: Using the Garden for Inspiration

Summer is the perfect time of year to play together while getting messy, and making natural playdough gives you the opportunity to do just that. I love this project because it’s easy, fun for all ages and allows for experimentation and discovery. It is also eco-friendly. If you have a garden, or like to [...]

Homemade Skin Care

If you are anything like me, you might not have considered making your own skin care products. I have always purchased my skin care cleansers, toners, lotions, etc. I go to the store once a month and buy my staple products (on top of anything that came in a little tiny cute container of miscellany [...]

Simple Secrets to Homemade Ice Cream

Smooth, creamy, luscious home made ice cream. The holy grail of desserts, to me at least. A few years ago, I got so frustrated with seeing tempting ice cream recipes in my favourite food magazines. The creamy desserts always sounded so inviting but inevitablly the final instruction would be to ‘freeze in an ice cream [...]

Hiking with Children

Midsummer Meandering :: Crafts to Celebrate a Finnish Midsummer

In the land of the midnight sun, Finland, Midsummer is an important family celebration. Finns leave the towns and return to nature, to stay in timber cottages located close to lakeshores, hidden within the extensive forests, where they celebrate the night with no darkness. To mark the special occasion at home or elsewhere, these activities [...]

Making A Pocket Herbarium

Often on our nature walks, we discover new herbs that we want to learn more about. In our packs we carry 3 x 5 index cards, clear packing tape and felt-tipped pens. When we find a new plant, we carefully collect a leaf, flower and any other identifying features, tape the plant to the 3 [...]

Homemade Icepops

Last summer we discovered homemade icepops and haven’t looked back. Keeping a small stockpile in the freezer was a great pick-me-up in the midst of hot summer days. We had fun experimenting with ingredients, ensuring that we didn’t get bored of these by mid-July; although really, who ever gets tired of popsicles? Lined up like [...]

Intuition

Hello World: Language, a Door to Becoming Citizens of our Global Community

Languages have always fascinated me. As a young child I always had an awareness of “other” languages. In our home we spoke Swedish and English. At school we were taught German from a very early age and with each language, we practiced different cultural traditions. One Sunday, when I was six, my mother was reading [...]

Garden Tag Fan Book

I love the identifying tags that come in the pot when I buy plants at the nursery. After saving piles of them, I decided to turn some of them into fan books. You can collect them over a season and make a book of all the plants you planted. Or use the tags as [...]

Whole Wheat Banana Blueberry Muffins

I bake banana bread often, thanks to my little family’s inability to eat a bunch of bananas before they get too ripe. This year I wanted to change up my usual recipe for summer. Aside from the wild raspberries that grow on our property, blueberries are my favorite seasonal fruit. The mildly tart berries balance [...]

Fingerplay Fun

Fingerplays serve several purposes in the lives of young children. Not only are they fun for little ones who first reach out to the world with their fingers, fingerplays encourage both manual dexterity and cognitive activity. While the child manipulates their fingers, hands, and body movement through imitation and repeated movement, thereby improving fine motor [...]

Gratitude Tree

In the midst of summer’s bounty and glory, one can’t help but feel gratitude for the gifts of the season. This year Ramadan, a month where Muslims fast from sunup to sundown, falls in the long days of summer. For the adults who fast, Ramadan is a time we often feel and experience immense [...]

A Free Lunch: Edible Weeds

I love when the season turns to summer and our garden beckons with food. This season’s food tastes best sun-warmed off the vine, or with a simple drizzle of olive oil over a flash of heat. There are layers to the season – first the peas and salad greens, next the plump zucchinis and tomatoes, [...]

Crocheted Strawberry

Fresh strawberries are only here for the summer, but these little crochet strawberries will last year round. These amigurumi style strawberries are a perfect addition to your family’s play kitchen, or as a topper for a jar of homemade strawberry jam given as a gift. Whip up a few, hide them in your strawberry patch, [...]

Calendula :: Queen of Summer

Summer is a wonderful time to make friends with the Calendula flower. The warm, golden glow of the sun at its peak is mirrored in her bright blossoms. Velvety-soft petals in hues from light lemon to deep orange adorn Calendula’s flower heads. They open at morning, follow the sun’s path across the heavens, and fold [...]

Bringing Birds Home

If you want to see birds, you must have birds in your heart. ~John Burroughs No matter where you live, being able to step outside your home and soak in all the senses of nature is such a special part of one’s day and health. Those of us who live in urban settings have to [...]

A Pitta Pregnancy

In the summer it often seems as if everything is bursting and heavy with life. Even summer days, beginning so early and ending so late, seem full of potential. Carrying a baby in the summer often feels like this; bursting full of life, joyous, rich, but also heavy, humid, and hot. The ancient medical system [...]

A Mama Mantra

Casting Summer Tracks

Summer is the time when our nature table explodes with treasures found outside. Feathers, shells, sea glass, and exoskeletons find their way home in the pockets of my little explorer. There is one natural treasure that is a little trickier to bring home: the tracks of the animals out enjoying the long summer days and [...]

Random Acts of Beauty

Most of us have favourite place to walk, to clear our heads, or get inspired: the beach, the woods, a moor or prairie, a river bank or disused railway track, a wild-flower meadow, a country lane or city park. All around us pockets of beauty beckon. Most have heard of the concept of random acts [...]

Keepsake Art Portfolio

Have you started accumulating piles of your children’s artwork that you just can’t part with? Try making this heirloom wooden art portfolio to organize and commemorate their artistic journey. This wooden art book has a simple construction with easy-to-find materials, and will keep your children’s artwork safe so that it can be enjoyed for many [...]

The Excitement of Motherhood

Preserving Butterflies

Nothing says summer more than barefoot children chasing butterflies across emerald grass. Their eyes grow big at the wonder of these winged insects’ zigzag flight and the patterns on their delicate wings. Collecting and preserving butterflies and moths is the perfect way to bring the magic of summer indoors. Materials A dead butterfly (or moth) [...]

Welcoming Children into the World of Today

Let’s begin by asking ourselves these questions: :: How can we best welcome our children into the world of today, with all its dangers and possibilities? :: How can we best prepare our children for a future we can not even imagine? In the exploration of these questions a third arises implicitly: :: How [...]

Wild Harvesting :: Dandelion Fritters

Summer is here and the dandelions are already in their third bloom in our neck of the woods. I’ve been reading various books on herbs and herbal remedies and have, as a result, been paying closer than usual attention to the “weeds” in our yard and around our neighborhood. The dandelion plant is an amazing [...]