Art Kit

I really enjoy giving gifts that are activity based. Whether tickets to a show, passes to a museum or a kit such as this one I feel the recipient gets more than just something to store in their home. This art kit was some what inspired by the book First Art. I used some Heather Ross canvas to make a drawstring backpack so April can take her art supplies wherever she wishes. I covered a good quality sketching pad with a piece of fabric, sewed a small drawstring bag (made from more Heather Ross fabric) to hold her beeswax crayons and a small case of watercolor paints with a little brush.
April already enjoys the art projects we do at home. I'm excited about these new materials. So far we have just been using soy crayons and printing paper. April loves tracing things like her hand or magnets and we are learning about the colors. I've read that the beeswax crayons produce beautiful colors and I'm hoping they are more sturdy that the soy ones (that seem to crumble if used too furiously). I also decided to invest in a good sketch book. I would like her art to hold up and good quality paper helps.
I really love this project, I felt good making it and I know it is sure to bring my daughter hours of fun and creativity. What sorts of kits do your children enjoy? Are they homemade?

The Wreath, this year

On Saturday I did my annual wreath making class. I look forward to it every year. It's a break from the housework, the kiddo, all the rushing that seems to come with this season. I love the way the greenhouse smells. All the pine and cedar and the smell of the ginger snaps and hot cider they always have for us.
I decided to take a break from the usual red and green I do for our wreath. I still did the green (of course) but added brown, pink and gold this year. I love it! It makes me smile whenever I walk up to our door.
Now that the wreath is up, I'm reminded that I have yet to bring in the winter berries and greens. I'm planning a walk this week to collect our usual materials. I'm looking forward to makings swags, centerpieces, and filling the vases and jars around my house with all the beautiful boughs and berries.
How are you welcoming this holiday season?

This Moment

{this moment} - A Friday ritual. A single photo - no words - capturing a moment from the week. A simple, special, extraordinary moment. A moment I want to pause, savor and remember.

Inspired by Soulemama

Salmon Run

 

The salmon run is on at Goldstream Park so we took advantage of a beautiful fall day and went to witness the amazing journey of these creatures. Salmon come to Goldstream so spawn then die. The river bed was full of fish fighting their way up-stream. They are huge, sometimes I forget how big these fish are, and so very determined. It really reminds you that the journey may be rough but the rewards can be great. Watching these fish gives me new motivation to work through difficult and trying things. I'm glad April got to see it, she was pointing out all the fish and birds. April loved all the splashing and made sure we all paid attention if there was some splashing going on.
We also enjoyed the other sights fall brings to the park. The trees were beautiful orange and yellows and there were plenty of leaves for collecting. Days like today are what get me through the long, dark winter ahead. The sun was warm and made the day all the better. The salmon run is an annual wonder that shouldn't be missed. I'm thankful we got to see it this year and have a day in the sun and leaves at the same time.

Lately

Things have been pretty quiet in our home lately. We have been nursing a couple colds, cutting new teeth, making new friends and tending to the homestead. The fall garden is slow but still alive. Our bees are wet and grumpy, best left alone at this point. The chickens love the mud and still lay 5 eggs everyday. Zooey hates the rain and spends most of her days whining and then chasing squirrels. The days are shorter and colder. It is wet and grey. We are definitely hunkering down for winter. That means, however, that I finding myself with wool in my hands once again and we are starting in on all the food we put by this summer. A lovely reward for a seasons work. Here are a few picture from the past month.

Hope you all have had been well lately and that we will see more of each other on this space.

This Moment

{this moment} - A Friday ritual. A single photo - no words - capturing a moment from the week. A simple, special, extraordinary moment. A moment I want to pause, savor and remember.

Inspired by SouleMama

Saltspring this year

This past weekend we made our annual trip to Saltspring Island. This is trip is normally in celebration of the apple festival, however due to bug infestation and disease the apple festival was cancelled this year. We decided to go to the island anyways.
We had a beautiful hotel room overlooking the harbor and was backed by a lovely organic farm. We enjoyed a delicious zero-mile dinner, visited the local farmers market where we scored some delicious gluten-free treats and a beautiful garlic braid. We ate lunch in the park and enjoyed the fall colors and then we ate some amazing dairy-free sorbetto (better than any ice cream I've ever had!). We finished our day with a relaxing walk through Ruckle Park.
The next day was our farm day. We visited our favorite cheese factory and their lovely goats and chickens. We stopped by a glorious lavender farm. I'm pretty sure I should live on a lavender farm in my future. We also paid a visit to Apple Luscious. It was painfully obvious that the bugs have ravaged their apple trees. Such is the trouble with organic farming.
It was a lovely, relaxing fall vacation. The falling leaves, crisp air, beautiful colors, all made for some beautiful days. Loving the new season.