Winter 2011 - Rhythm of the HomeRhythm of the Home

Winter 2011 Index

Inspiring Projects to do With Little Ones Tiny Trinkets Travel Tote Setting the Table Granola for Gifting Ring in a New Beginning with Homemade Prayer Flags Breadmaking for Busy Families Paper Advent Calendar Ten Children’s Songs You Can Play By Learning Just Two Guitar Chords Sing For Your Supper Christmas Spider Ornament Four Seasons Nature [...]

Sparkle Stories :: Affection: The Magic of Intuitive Storytelling

In the middle of an intuitive storytelling workshop for a local high school, I demonstrated an ‘impasse’ in a story, where it was unclear what the central character should do next. I used the first pillar of Intuitive Storytelling, ‘Attention’ and noticed three things in the room to use as a “seed” for the next [...]

Make Your Own Herbal Throat & Cough Candies

Now that winter is here, I like to have several natural remedies on hand in case our household comes down with a cold, flu or sore throat. And since we generally don’t do refined sugar in our household, we started making our own “cough drops.” This is a great way to hide often bitter-tasting herbs [...]

The Shepherds’ Play: A Message of Simplicity

From Heaven above to you I bring A blessed word of good tiding. Yea, News of joy and mirth this day To all mankind I sing and say. [...]

How To Host a Crafternoon

Do you find you are too busy to see your very best crafty friends each week or month? Do you miss the shared cups of tea, steaming brewed coffees and freshly baked raspberry apple tarts that accompany your wild and deep conversations? Do you lack motivation to finish your crafty projects on your own? Are [...]

The World of Louisa May Alcott and Little Women

The first time I met Meg, Jo, Beth, and Amy I was ten years old. Every Thursday I had a date with Marmee, I mean mom, as she stood there ironing. To make her arduous task go by faster, I read Little Women to her. Orchard House seemed the perfect setting to iron in and [...]

Woodland Stick Frame

Winter is a time of being rooted, like a giant tree. I can’t think of a better material to use than sticks from trees who are sleeping and have left their bounty lying on the forest floor. I made these stick picture frames with my friends many years ago. Recently, as I pondered what to [...]

Honoring the Gifts of Winter

In the depth of winter I finally learned that there within me lay an invincible summer. [...]

Festivals of Light Accordion Book

This accordion book celebrates the winter solstice and the festivals of light that occur at this time of year. Since early in human history, this solar event has been important. As the days grew shorter, people felt that the light was leaving and that they needed to do something to ensure its return. Fires [...]

Winter Baby Beret

When I had my baby boy in July, I dreamed of all of the crocheting that I would do for him. Many stolen moments were spent with crochet hook in hand and yarn in my lap. As the colder months approached, a stack of hats and sweater vests for him grew into a full wardrobe of [...]

How to Make Handmade Holiday Soaps

I love the pace of our days when the holidays are around the corner and the temperatures dip extra low. My family and I just seem to slow down, reflect, and come together more. Even amidst the hurried pace that the holidays can bring, we all seem to be in sync with one another. In [...]

Winter Snow Fairies

I made these one winter day when it was just too cold to go out, and the dreary dark days seemed never ending. They are simple, simple enough for a child to help with and use very few items to create. What I love about them is the movement. The weight of the bead on [...]

A Recipe for Reconnecting

We have reached the shortest days of the year, once again. The sun’s rays are fleeting. The nights are long. The air has cooled and depending on where you live, the first snowflakes may have already danced through the air in a slow descent to the cold, frost-covered ground. If your life is anything like [...]

Sock Knitting Tutorial & Thermal Textured Socks Pattern

It is a simple joy to knit wool socks. What better way to provide warm clothing for your family to wear in winter? It seems that everyone can appreciate a pair of wool socks—they’re warm, they stay warm when they get wet, and they’re oh-so-comfortable to wear. And, lucky for me, they’re my favorite things [...]

An Interview with Amanda and Steve Soule – Authors of The Rhythm of Family

Amanda Soule, the author of the blog SouleMama, recently published her third book The Rhythm of Family with her husband Steve and their children. Rhythm of the Home co-creator Heather Fontenot was invited to contribute a piece to the book on yoga and meditation for children, and she recently interviewed Amanda and Steve on the [...]

The Gift of Time

The holiday season is a time of magic and wonder for most children. There is an air of mysticism as St. Nicholas, Santa Claus and Old St. Nick make their way to chimneys all over the world. As much as children love the holidays, for many parents it is a time of struggle between the [...]

Woodsy Wednesdays

I am the mom of three boys, each two years apart (almost). We are an outdoorsy family. We live in suburbia, and since we don’t have a large wild space directly connected to our home, we go in search of it. From the time I was able to walk after giving birth to our first [...]

Ring in a New Beginning with Homemade Prayer Flags

I’ve long been enchanted with the beauty and magic of prayer flags. A custom started in Tibet over 2000 years ago, traditional prayer flags display Buddhist prayers, mantras and powerful symbols. They are hung outside homes and places of spiritual practice, and it’s believed the flags create a spiritual vibration that is activated and carried [...]

Solstice Tree Blessing

“Bringing in” a bit of evergreen is an ancient wintertime tradition. For thousands of years, the evergreen tree has stood as a beautiful reminder that life can survive through the frigid months. Over the years, the tradition has evolved and become a beloved part of many holiday celebrations. With a little bit of love and [...]

Christmas Spider Ornament

When we think of holidays and spiders, we often think of October and Halloween. But in many parts of Europe, you will often find spider ornaments on Christmas trees. They are a symbol of good fortune and a lovely way to share an old story of humble sweet gifts and creativity. Though spiders instill a [...]

Experiencing Grief With Children

Hazel looks out the back window as we pass the memorial park and says “I miss our baby.” I hear my mother’s breath catch. “Your grandma would be horrified.” They are often together. Two of the most awesome people I’ve ever known, the only two I have to live without. They are often together in [...]

Winter Baby Bunting

With a new nephew on the way this past summer, I knew that I wanted to make oodles and oodles of goodies for him to wear and to keep warm. A few weeks before his arrival, I decided that a wool bunting would be perfect for keeping him cozy and helping to stabilize his temperature [...]

The Spiritual Quality of Beauty: Reflections of an Artist-Mom

Perceiving beauty, we become beautiful. —Polly Berrien Berends Winter brings stillness. The earth sleeps, the birch trees stand bare, the garden lies empty, waiting for spring. Animals are hibernating, and I too am hibernating, wrapped in warm blankets in my cozy chair, sipping hot tea. An inner stillness arises in resonance with nature’s own stillness, [...]

The Gift of Simplicity

I have the fondest memories of the Christmases of my childhood, of being surrounded by family, preparing special meals together, feeling pure magic in the air. Perhaps that is why it seems easier to reconnect with my inner child at this time of year. As I reminisce, I can still feel the warmth of that [...]

Tiny Trinkets Travel Tote

Recently I had the opportunity to fly with both of my young children for the very first time. We’ve traveled many times together, but it has always seemed more practical to take road trips, for one reason or another. I’d grown accustomed to the freedom of packing a big crate (or two) of toys and [...]

Breadmaking for Busy Families

Bread truly is a fundamental food for my family. Every morning, we have toast; often sandwiches for lunch. If it’s a soup night – and at least twice a week it is – bread is a familiar companion at the table. Bread is a ready snack in the afternoon, and (with honey) a nice way [...]

Teaching Kids About Herbs :: Healing Herbs for Winter

As a child I remember drinking many different concoctions meant to heal — magic marker soaked in water, toasted teddy-bear (really!) and even dirt mixed with dew. Until early last year I assumed every child went through that stage. Last April, however, my perspective changed. I was busy doing gardening, cooking, writing and other tasks [...]

Four Seasons Nature Box

I shouldn’t have been surprised when my 22-month-old son Nathan started collecting colorful leaves, acorns, sticks, walnuts, rocks and more from our daily walks outside. After all, I do it too! My family loves and appreciates nature, and we all love bringing nature back inside with us. It’s fun to watch Nathan select these little [...]

Setting the Table

One of the joys that I have at the holidays is the setting of my holiday table. My mother hosts my husband, children and I for Christmas Eve, and then Christmas Day it is our turn to feed our family and friends. The menu is created just after Thanksgiving, with everything from desserts, appetizers, breads [...]

Granola for Gifting

I used to buy granola at the local Farmer’s Market where my sister and I sold our handmade goods. It was very yummy, but expensive. I had really been wanting to try to make it for myself ever since I first tasted it fresh. The following recipe is one that I created several years ago. [...]

Ten Children’s Songs You Can Play By Learning Just Two Guitar Chords

When the elements force our little tribe indoors and the days grow increasingly cold and dark, I find that the best way to beat the winter doldrums and warm up things up is with some kind beer (adults only, of course!) and an impromptu family jam session. I think my wife was contemplating all of [...]

Hardware Store Hannukiah

Every year, the eight-night-long celebration of Hanukkah begins on the 25th day of the Jewish lunar month of Kislev. This year, the 25th of Kislev corresponds to December 20th on the Gregorian calendar. During the eight nights of Hanukkah we light a hanukkiah (a special menorah candelabra which holds nine candles) to commemorate the relighting [...]

Solstice Luminaries

A perfect way to celebrate the sun’s slumber on solstice eve is with the lighting of candles. In our family, we enjoy many little rituals that herald the flow of fall into winter and spending the evening by candlelight is one of them. Here are two luminaries, made from recycled cans, with fall and winter [...]

Jack and the Snowman: A Sparkle Story

::::::::::: David and Lisabeth will be bringing a story to life each season here at Rhythm of the Home. Their Winter story featuring Jack and the Snowman, can be heard here. If you would like to follow along with the other stories in the series, please see the links below. Their autumn story featuring Martin and [...]

Sing For Your Supper

When the winter winds have set in and everyone is inside, how better to lift spirits than by sharing a meal and song with friends? First inspired by a scene in the movie Once, we have hosted a “Sing for your Supper” with many groups of friends, and we love the way the shared nourishment, [...]

Paper Advent Calendar

In celebrating and marking Advent in our family, I am always eager to find the balance that gives space for the thrills of anticipation, the squeals of just how close we are getting, and the bursting excitement, with an assurance that we ride the crest of that wave all the way in, not find ourselves [...]

Winter Book Corner

Here at Rhythm of the Home, we know how important reading is to you and your family. Children are natural lovers of stories, and sharing seasonal books and poems with them can create traditions that can be passed down for generations. A few of our readers recently shared their favorite winter reads with us, [...]

Winter Festivals and Celebrations

One aspect of Waldorf and Montessori education that is cherished is the celebration of festivals across the globe. Here we have gathered a list of some of the most cherished winter festivals, as well as a brief description of each, for you and your family to enjoy. :::::::::::: Advent: Means “coming”. The season of Advent [...]

From Mother’s House to Mine

I never thought the day would come. I knew, theoretically, that traditions are often passed down from one generation to the next, and altered and enhanced with each new bearer. I knew that this was the cycle of family rhythms, but still I never thought the day would come when the decades-long tradition of hosting [...]

Make Your Own Knitting Nancy

There are all sorts of gadgets to create your own knitted chains or I-cords using a knitting mushroom, knitting tower, knitting spool/cork, knitting Nancy (or a knitting Ned) and so on that it makes your head spin! For my first grader’s beginning handcraft unit we began with braiding, knot-tying and finger knitting and worked our [...]

Honey Carrot Fruitcake

This recipe developed many years ago from a desire to make a holiday fruitcake, but one full of good things and real dried fruit; not those green and red things one finds in a typical fruitcake (what are those, anyway…?) I began with a recipe I found for a honey-sweetened, carrot quick bread and went [...]

Tunisian Crocheted Baby Blocks

Babies love blocks! A beautiful way to experience stacking, throwing, and gnawing is by offering baby blocks which are made with organic, naturally-dyed cotton yarn. Tunisian crochet is a wonderful form of handwork that is similar to both knitting and crocheting. It is easier on the hands and wrists, too! It works up more quickly [...]

Fox and Geese Snow Game

When the snowy days of winter come around I often want to just curl up under a throw with a book and a mug of hot chocolate. Though it takes some effort I try to regularly push myself out of my literal comfort zone, to take my kids outside for an afternoon of play in [...]

Shadow Puppetry and Shadow Play For Children

Simple silhouettes dance across a screen awash in a glow of light. On one side of the screen a puppeteer choreographs movement and words, with hands working together bringing puppets to life. On the other side, an enchanted observer feels and imagines right along with the movement, character and story presented. Shadow puppetry is a [...]

Repurposed Yarn Holder

I have two cats at my house who happen to LOVE to chase my yarn balls around the house and bat my skeins across the hardwood floor. In addition to my kitties, I can recall more than one time that I came into a room only to find my little boy holding a tangled mess [...]

The Snowball Curriculum: How to Use Snow as a Teaching Tool for Kids of Different Ages and Developmental Levels

Little ones love to play in the snow, but sometimes it’s not worth taking the time to bundle them up to play outdoors. The weather might be too cold, or perhaps the bundling process just takes too long. Why not bring the snow in? Filling a sensory table or shallow bucket with freshly fallen snow [...]

The Joy of Celebration

Christmas. As a child, the mere mention of its name spread a giddy smile across my face. To me, it was pure magic. When the cool winds of autumn transformed our hot summer scene to a beautiful fall, I knew my most favorite time of year would soon be with us. I was lucky to [...]

The Toy Makers – An Interview with the Creators of Begin Again Toys

As a mother of three children, and a Waldorf home school educator, I have often wondered what the primary role of toys should be. In a world so inundated with flashing, screaming, buzzing plastic goods available in every aisle, I often feel that toys are losing their primary purpose, and are moving into a very [...]

Winter’s Gifts

It was Henry David Thoreau who captured in words the essence of seasonal living: Live in each season as it passes: breathe the air, drink the drink,taste the fruit, and resign yourself to the influences of each. At no other time in the year is this more relevant than during winter. In England our winters [...]

Knitted Christmas Tree

The approaching festive season has fueled my inspiration to create this design for a knitted Christmas tree. I adore Christmas and this time of year full of joy and wonder. Materials Green Mohair Yarn Size 4mm circular needles for knitting in the round with the Magic Loop Technique Fleece/wool for stuffing Embroidery thread Beads Felt [...]