This Moment

A Friday ritual inspired by Soulemama. A single photo. A moment to treasure.

Spring Nature Table - Renewal (forcythia, fairies & fowl)

Ever have a day that just bears down hard and you are just ready to be done with itl? Well, I have had several of those in the past two weeks, yet been blessed amidst it all and look forward to renewal in the days ahead. Our new spring nature table reflects the renewal that comes with a new season. At the nature table we are now greeted with vibrant cheery colors in forcythia, flower faries and fowl (origami cranes).

1000 Cranes for Japan and Tutorial

I learned to make paper origami cranes when I was young. After World War II, my father was stationed in Okinawa, where he learned to appreciate Japanese culture. When he retired from the Marines, he brought home several paper origami cranes from Vietnam which we hang on our Christmas tree. As a child he told me of the tradition of good luck they bring.

Yesterday, through the lovely blog Chronicles of a Country Girl , I learned of a Flikr group called 1000 Cranes for Japan, a simple way to show support for it's people. In addition, The Miya Company is donating $5 for every image of a paper crane it receives up to $5000 to Save the Children Japan. Visit this link to find out more: The Miya Company: Save the Children Japan

Also, Students Rebuild is collecting 100,000 actual cranes. They will be woven into a sculpture and the Bezos Family Foundaiton has pledged $2/crane up to $200,000. The money will be used by Architects for Humaity's rebuilding efforts in Japan.See this link for more information: Students Rebuild

If you would like to participate, I have created a paper crane tutorial found here: Origami Paper Crane Tutorial

This little crane is our newest addition to our Spring Nature Table.

My Sister, My Friend

Today, my younger sister left for home after spending a week at our house. We had such a wonderful time together! One day we had High Tea with my mom and youngest son and enjoyed tasty morsels and wonderful tea, another day, we met with my neice and her two little boys at Longwood Gardens and reveled in the lovely flowers welcoming spring.





She is a fun nanny to two girls and a superb crafter, so I introduced her to some Waldorf-inspired crafts:


Our Saint Patrick Peg People



Beautiful Paper Stars



Star Lantern Aglow

Her Welcome Sign

My boys love her so much that they call her "Grand" Patti - a step above "Aunt" Patti.

We are not only close sisters, but good friends, despite an 8 year difference. We finish each other's sentences and sound so much alike that as infants my boys turned their heads in her direction when she spoke, thinking it was me. Don't even try to beat us in charedes! We both dream of travel, art, and heaven. We are both lovers of nature, books, and classical music.

I am blessed to have such a delightful life-long friend whom I call "sister."

Happy Saint Patrick's Day

A Room Full of Paper Butterflies

"The only advantage to not being too good a housekeeper is that your guests are so pleased to feel how very much better they are." - Eleanor Roosevelt

The above quote made me laugh when I read it today! My sister came to visit this past weekend and while I cleaned up, I spent some time at creating a distraction - for her pure enjoyment, of course. Paper Butterflies!

Now, some people would not fully appreciate being welcomed by a dozen paper butterflies hanging throughout the first floor. But my sister did! She has a wonderful whimsical, silly, crafty, side that I enjoy so much.


Want to make them yourself? It is so easy...

For each butterfly choose 2 colorful pieces of paper (I used pages from a home decorating magazine.) Cut out 2 squares, one 6 inces and the other 5 inches on each side.


Next, make an accordion-fold beginning at a corner. Mine were 1/2 inch folds.


Fold a 12 inch pipe cleaner in half. Make a small loop at the bottom and center the small paper square then the large square inside the pipe cleaner. Twist the pipe cleaner above and below the wings and curl the ends for antennae.


Now you have it. Another way to remind us of the joys of nature - I think I will make some small ones for our nature table...

No List Today

I am a list maker. At home, my lists consist of many things including things to attempt to accomplish each day, crafts to make with the kids, seasonal activities, etc. At work, I receive a list of where to be and when to be there. Lists are firmly rooted in my life. However, today I set all lists aside.

Today my 2 year old is sick. I don't mean just a little sniffle, but the fever, ear infection, hold-me-all-day sick. So that is what I am doing. Holding. Rocking. Comforting. During these moments, I think. I think about how glad I am that I only have to work when I want to. I think about the upcoming spring bringing warmth and flowers. I think about how thankful I am that my children are rarely sick and are vibrant with joy and energy.

The list is down, the dishes are stacking up, the laundry needs folding. But today, I am holding and cherish every moment of it.

This sat on my mothers dresser throughout my childhood.

Now it is my turn.

Fairy Treehouse - work in progress

Tiny woods below whose boughs
Shady fairies weave a house;
Tiny tree-tops, rose or thyme,
Where the braver fairies climb!
-Robert Louis Stevenson-

Last summer we made a toy treehouse for my oldest son's birthday. It was very basic and I planned on adding some details. After only a couple of months the wood began to warp. Now we have begun again with all new wood platforms and some added details, some of which are taken from our nature table (the fairy ring, shiny rocks, etc.), with more to come in the next few weeks. As it turns out, our youngest son enjoys playing with it as well. Oh, the adventures they have!