Easter eggs, dyed naturally

Fresh from their onion skin wrappers, still warm to the touch. I am grateful that got this "recipe" from an Estonian friend--I love the natural hues and patterns that emerge from this dyeing method. I still have 12 more to dye with my kids in those expected blues and pinks, but for me, these are the best.

He is Risen! Happy Easter!

Mighty Crocus

These are my most favourite flowers.
They are tiny, they look frightfully crushable, they last such a short time BUT they are plant-heroes.
Why?
They are a heart-stopping shade of indigo blue.
They are a vanguard of colour in a grey pre-spring world.
They are the fearless first of all our gardens to resurrect after the winter.
They will push through snow to reach the sun.
They have true grit.
They give me courage.

My life is full

My life is full.

I have chosen for it to be so. I have filled it with paid work that I enjoy, that I sought and won, which gives me pride. My life has commitments to children that I chose to raise, to a marriage that I continue to choose every day.

I choose to write, to fill my spare time with personal learning and stretching my skills.

I am valued by those I respect in my life. My life is rich and I am grateful for it.

The little jobs that keep life going? Those I take on without resentment, at least on most days.

February Robin, revisited

A year ago, I posted my first sighting of a robin in my cold Canadian neighbourhood. This year, it's today, Feb 16th--not 19th as in a year ago--and I encountered a whole flock of robins. There were about ten of them along the same three fruit trees on my street. Fresh off the cloud and full of song. The singleton from last year must have told his buds about the frozen fruit buffet.

Hope it will last for all of them! It's still a long way to spring!

Night Animals

What is it about winter darkness that brings out the primal in us humans? As I fall into bed after a long day, shouldn't I feel accomplished, serene, peaceful? And yet, I sense the animal instead.

Like a dog with his thrice-made circle or a squirrel with her fussed-over tail, I have strange rituals. I hunch into a protective curl. The blankets must reach my ear. I wrestle with my pillow to get it rise under my cheek and lower under my nose.  Just so.

And that's just the falling to sleep. What about the waking in the middle of the night? Suddenly then, my covers become a hardened shell from which I shall not be detached. Better to stay inside their protective layers than brave the cold bathroom floor, the creak on the stairs, the plaintive call of my not-so small child.

I growl at the intrusions. But I do get up, and rejoin the human race. Temporarily.

Melon-baller

It's how it feels--like someone's got one of these babies inside my skull and is carving pieces of me away. Small bits at first; at my ear canal, at my eye, even at the back of my throat. De-lish, I know. But it's one of the ways that I can begin to identify that I'm getting a migraine. I don't get auras (have once and they are certainly not as beautiful as they sound) or distortions, but I do get this.

Just hope it doesn't completely serve me up.

New Year; New Directions

It’s 2017, time for new directions, embracing things you’ve never done, and expanding your skills and relationships. Yes, as Mom said: “Try new things and meet new people.” Kids need to have New Year’s resolutions, too. They don’t have to cost much, except a bit of time and some healthy curiosity. That’s where libraries come in. Here is a list of books that children and their caregivers can use together to learn about foraging in the outdoors right where they live, or using up crafting material “ends” to make new things that are fun, useful or can move! And as always, drop in to your local branch library to find out what programs are being held for kids and for adults! Most Mississauga Library programs are free. Who knows what you’ll learn or who you’ll meet?

Check out these links for library programs:
www.mississauga.ca/portal/residents/childrensservices  
www.mississauga.ca/portal/residents/librarynews

Let Your Kids Go Wild Outside: Creative Ways to Help Children Discover Nature and Enjoy the Great Outdoors,
by Fiona Bird

J 796.083 BIR

 In this inspirational book, with ideas for children of all ages, foraging expert Fiona Bird shows the value of playing outside and discovering nature. For those who don’t want to be far from home, there’s plenty to do such as making a snail holiday village or making seasonal recipes from natural ingredients. This book also teaches children about their environment, including conservation guidelines and tips on forecasting the weather.

Bugs, Bees, and Other Buzzy Creatures: Full of Fun Facts and Activities,
by Margaret Parrish

J 595.7 BUG

 Learn about the insect world with fun activities and amazing facts. Discover why bees buzz and why ladybugs are red, as you complete fun craft activities. Each page has clear, engaging photos with clear text and step-by-step instructions.

Let’s Get Crafty with Paper & Glue: For Kids Aged 2 and Up; Let’s Get Crafty with Salt Dough: 25 Creative and Fun Projects for Kids Aged 2 and Up; Let’s Get Crafty with Fabric & Felt: For Kids Aged 2 and Up; 
J 745.5 LET

Each book in this series by CICO Kids staff has 25 activities all made possible using scraps, and bits-andbobs that you might have around the house. From paper chains to decorate your child’s bedroom, to preparing salt-dough sculptures, to creating a pom-pom bumble bee, these books can teach fine motor skills and inspire your kids to get crafty!

 Decorative Card Crafts,
by Annalees Lim

J 745. 5941 LIM

 Cards for special occasions are expensive but the personal touch is always missing. My own kids have been making personalized cards for family and friends for over 15 years! This high-interest crafting guide teaches readers how to create decorative cards for birthdays, Christmas, Diwali, Hanukkah, Valentine’s Day, Eid-Ul-Fitr, and more!

 Let’s Sew

J 646.2 LET 

 Learn how to sew with 10 easy projects for kids and beginners. Children will learn the invaluable skill of sewing on a button as well as a running stitch. Easy to-make projects include birds, badges, and fish bookmarks. Let’s Sew is a fun sewing book that teaches practical skills to last a lifetime.

Project Kid: Crafts That Go! : 60 Imaginative Projects That Fly, Sail, Race, and Dive

By Amanda Kingloff

J 745. 5928 KIN

 Project Kid: Crafts That Go! has more than 60 inventive craft projects for parents to make with and for their children.The book is organized into seven chapters: City, Rails, Sky, Space, Water, Country, and Dirt. Projects feature clear instructions and step-by-step photographs wherever they are needed, easy for both kids and non-crafty adults to understand.

 Make Build Create: Sculpture Projects for Children,
by Paula Briggs. Children of all ages are encouraged to explore how they might transform a wide variety of natural and man-made materials through a series of open-ended projects. Inspiration is taken from architecture, landscapes, figures, and objects in the everyday environments around us. These carefully selected activities enable children to learn sculptural techniques such as casting, carving and construction while making personal sculptural artworks.

Originally published at Tough Times