Waldorf Inspired Window Stars

I have long admired these beautiful window decorations, but was always intimidated by what I though would be an impossible task. Then I stumbled upon this wonderful tutorial at Garden Mama's blog. It was so easy I couldn't resist giving them a try. I ordered the kite paper from here.

Don't you just love the bright colors? Just what we needed to brighten up the grey winter days we have been having.

The folds were really very easy. The tutorial is great! the kids caught on fast and had all their pieces ready in no time.

Lined up and ready for glue.

The star magically appeared as the pieces were fit together.



All done!

This pictured doesn't do the star justice. It was getting dark out. When the sun is out the star really glows. They add so much merriment to our kitchen. I can't wait to make more. We will be searching for other tutorials and patterns. If we don't find any, we may have to break down and purchase Magical Window Stars.

See what other fun nature inspired activities others are up to at The Magic Onions Friday's Nature Table.

One Small Change February

Hip Mountain Mama is hosting a challenge - One Small Change. Simply put everyone is asked to make one change that will reduce your impact on the earth every month from January to April. So that by Earth Day 2010 you will have made four changes. Four changes isn't very many, but with all those participating it sure will add up to alot.

Our change for February is to remove all the zip lock type bags and plastic drink bottles from our life. The picture shows our stainless beverage bottles and some reusable sandwich bags. Thanks Liz!

Both of these items have gotten lots of use these past two months with all the days at the ski mountain.

Woodworking With Dad

Doug received a lathe for his birthday and had been having fun experimenting with it. And when dad is interested and playing the girls just have to see what it's all about. Nosy aren't they? Well, being the great dad that he is he of course let them get right in on the action.

Above they are checking out some of the bowls already complete and trying to decide on a design for the next one. Happy with their design dad preps the wood.

Hannah's up first. It looks like it is snowing, but really it is wood shavings.

A final sand of the inside and out and it's almost done.




Sarah wasn't sure of the lathe in the beginning, but she got the hand of it quickly. You can tell she is just starting. The bowl is still a solid piece of wood.

Up close!

Here are the finished bowls. One for each of the girls including me. Each one is as different as the girl who made it. I think they are all beautiful. And lucky me. I received the one with the lid made especially for me by my honey.
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They are the perfect little bowls for ear rings, rings, pins, knitting markers, pennies and other little treasures. The next project is a salt cellar and then a set of little bowls for Rebekah's kitchen. What would you do with a little bowl?

Sheet to Lounge Pant

Sewing is something I enjoy but am not very good at. Finding fabric isn't always easy either. We only have one fabric store and they are really a quilt shop and only have quilting cottons. and of course there is the cost of nice fabric. So what's a girl to do you ask? Shop the dump store and thrift stores for items you can re purpose.

This funky stripe was originally a bed sheet. Now it is a pair of lounge pants for Sarah. The mustard cuff was the top of the sheet. I love the detail it adds to the pants and I didn't have to hem them! Sarah gets a lot of lounge pants made for her, because we can't buy any to fit her. Tall and skinny! Oh to have such problems. And when I can make a pair for nothing, nada, zip, zilch how could it be better?

And not only does it help out the family budget but it really is a green product as well. If we hadn't rescued the sheet from the dump store it would have ended up in the dump a couple of days later.

Candles for Candlemas

February 2nd marks the halfway point between the winter solstice and the summer equinox. It is recognized as the beginning of spring in some areas as well as the start of the planting season. Not so here in cold and snowy New Hampshire. However, it was fun to learn about Candlemas. And as the name suggests, decorations must include candles. their light represents the new life that is coming and the growing light as the days get longer.

So candles it is. We decided to dip our own bees wax candles.

We gathered our supplies. Pot of water, canning jar, tall-narrow jar (we used a milk bottle), wick, skewers, and of course bees wax.

We melted the bees wax in the canning jar in the pot of simmering water. This took a little while and smelled so good.

After the wick was tied to the skewer we began dipping. All the girls were shocked that the first dip was hardly noticeable. It was then that they realized that this may take a while.


Bekah thought it was great. She was very careful not to get the hot wax on herself. Between dips we hung the candle by resting the skewers on two cereal boxes. By the time the fourth candle was dipped the first was ready for the next coat.


Here are our finished candles hanging next to our winter nature table. We all had a lot of fun, but I am glad that we don't have to make candles for our family to use as our lighting. I don't think we would get anything else done.

'at the beginning of february, when the infant light of spring is greeted thankfully by the winter earth...it seems fitting we should celebrate a candle festival to remember that moment when the light of the world was received, when the old yielded to the new.'

~ from all year round


if candlemas day be fair and bright,
winter will take another flight.
if candlemas day be cloud and rain,
winter is gone and will not come again.

~ from festivals, family and food

Stop the The Magic Onions' Friday's Nature Table to see what other crafty/nature stuff people have been working on.

Doll Giveaway!

I stumbled across this awesome giveaway for this beautiful doll, JO. JO is a handmade with the best materials by Unique Fiber Arts! Here is what the website says about JO . . .

She is wearing a red dress with happy dots and has coordinating red panties. Her eyes are huge and brown. Her arms and legs are sewn on making her perfect for ages 4 and up. She is made with European and American natural and organic materials. She is stuffed with wonderful, warm sheeps wool that holds body heat and actually warms your child (or you) as she is slept with! What a comfort!

You can see JO and enter to win her at Waldorf Inspired Dolls and Toys: FREE Waldorf Doll Giveaway for Valentines Day!

Good Luck!

Chicken Stew

An Arctic cold front has blown in and the temps have dipped below zero, and that doesn't include the win chill. So by the end of the day everyone is ready for a toasty warm dinner. And tonight chicken stew was just that.

Ingredients:

• 3 Tbsp butter
• 1 onion, diced
• 1/3 cup flour
• 1 quart chicken stock (homemade is best)
• sea salt to taste
• 1 1/2 by leaves
• 2-3 cups of cooked chicken, cut in bite size pieces or shredded
• 4 carrots, sliced thickly
• 4 celery stalks, 3/4" pieces
• 2-3 potatoes, large cubes
• freshly ground pepper to taste

In a large dutch oven, melt the butter. Add the diced onion and cook until translucent. Next add the flour and stir until it just begins to brown and has a lightly toasted aroma.

Whisk in the stock and bring to a simmer. Next add the salt, bay leaves, chicken, carrots, celery, and potato. Simmer until carrot and potato are cooked, about 1 hour. Taste and add salt and pepper to your liking.

I served this with choux dumplings. And boy did it hit the spot. Everyone was warm and toasty eating stew infront of the wood stove.