Welcome!

Welcome to Wood Nymph Way! I have created this blog with two intentions: (A) keeping our family and friends, many of whom live in lands Far Far Away, up to date with what we've been doing, and (B) as a tool to document and learn from our journey as a Waldorf homeschooling family. Enjoy! And don't forget to check out my resource pages on the right!

Wednesday, March 30, 2011

Catch Another Butterfly

The other day while I was cleaning the house, I was listening to an old John Denver CD and the song "Catch Another Butterfly" came on.  I had forgotten all about this song, but immediately recognized it from my childhood.  My father used to listen to J.D. all the time, and this song, among some of his others and songs of other artists, marked certain points in my childhood.  You know how a song can take you right back to a certain place and time?  I immediately had flashbacks of long hikes up through New England mountain ranges to admire the fall foliage or to go swimming in cold mountain streams in my cut-off jean shorts.

It's funny though, as I listened to the song again as an adult, it held even more meaning for me in respect to the childhoods of my own children.

I should back up here a minute.  The song itself is a reflection of the artist's childhood spent outdoors, looking at rocks and stars, catching butterflies, and listening to the songs of birds.  It is also a lament of those times that have passed, of innocence lost, and a dulling of those childhood senses.  It happens to all of us.  We grow up and in many senses, lose that wonder we once had.

In our day to day lives here, I strive to build upon that wonder my children-and all children-have.  The reverence for nature and its gifts, a sense of responsibility in caring for our natural world, and respect for its power and fragility are all values I want my children to carry with them.

Spring is here-finally-and the kids are rediscovering all the treasures nature has to offer.  Crocuses peeking out from the still cold soil, worms coming up to the top layer in the garden, robins subsequently eating said worms (such is life, huh?), and the first sighting of our friend the Garter Snake who lives under the back porch.  I want them to always remember those small, but significant, experiences and treasure the wonder that they bring so when they have their own children they can experience it again and again.


Catch Another Butterfly
by John Denver

Do you remember days not so very long ago
When the world was run by people twice your size?
And the days were full of laughter
And the nights were full of stars
And when you grew tired you could close your eyes

Yes the stars were there for wishing
And the wind was there for kites
And the morning sun was there for rise and shine
And even if the sniffles kept you
Home from school in bed
You couldn't hardly stay there after nine

And I wonder if the smell of morning's faded
What happened to the robin's song
That sparkled in the sky?
Where's all the water gone
That tumbled down a stream?
Will I ever catch another butterfly?

Do you remember camp outs right in your own backyard?
Wondering how airplanes could fly
And the hours spent just playin'
With a funny rock you found
With crystal specks as blue as all the sky

And I wonder if the smell of morning's faded
What happened to the robin's song
That sparkled in the sky?
Where's all the water gone
That tumbled down a stream?
Will I ever catch another butterfly?

Now I watch my son, he's playin' with his toys
He's happy, I give him all I can
But I can't help feelin'
Just a little tingly inside
When I hear him say he wants to be a man

And I wonder if the smell of morning's faded
What happened to the robin's song
That sparkled in the sky?
Where's all the water gone
That tumbled down a stream?
Will I ever catch another butterfly?
Will I ever catch another butterfly?



I have also added a music page to the blog.  It's listed as "This Is What We Listen To" under the "Pages" heading.

Wednesday, March 23, 2011

Spring Cleaning

As a follow up to yesterday's post, I have finished making some spring cleaning changes on the site.  All my resource links are now available on their own separate category pages under the heading of "Pages" on the right hand side. 

And on a totally unrelated topic, here are my kids sewing today.  As you can see, F was very serious about his new "sewing sock" that he got to sew up with a real metal (but somewhat dull) needle!  It's just a wool filled old sock.  Very easy for a young child to poke through with a needle and some embroidery floss. :)

My daughter did some sewing too.  Here she's making a daisy rug for her gnome home.  It's a little Spring present for them. :)

She was so excited that she wanted another project so she started a little sachet for my mom.  Here's the front piece.

Tuesday, March 22, 2011

Don't Panic!

I just wanted to send out a quick note to let you know that the resource lists have not disappeared from the bottom of my page.  They are getting too long to keep there, so I'm doing a little tidying up for the spring.  Each one will soon have its own page, all located under the new "Pages" heading at the bottom of my home page.  Hopefully this will make it just as easy to find what you need, and a lot easier for me to update each one.  Less clutter is always good.

In the meantime, I leave you with these pictures of some furniture I have been making for the kids' gnome home.  Yay, power tools!  I love my new scroll saw! :)
A little shelf for the kitchen.  The small items
on it were from my own childhood dollhouse!
That little clay pot is about 1/4" tall.  Seriously.

Comfy gnome beds.

And a little gnome chair.  The table is just one of the kids'
tree blocks.


Saturday, March 19, 2011

I see the moon, and the moon sees me!

View of a full perigee moon over Manila, Philippines


If you are lucky enough, you were able to catch a glimpse of tonight's "Super Moon."  The last time this phenomenon happened was approximately eighteen years ago.  The moon happens to be at its closest in orbit and it is a full moon, making it appear about thirty percent larger! 

We let the kids stay up a little late to observe this lovely sight.  And it really did look bigger than usual as it climbed up into the clear night sky.  We got the telescope out of the closet and were able to get a really close look at the craters and surface features of the moon.

When we came in for bed time stories, we read from In The Light of  the Moon, which has thirteen stories of the moon from around the world, all arranged by the moon's current state; full, waxing, waning, etc.  Some other great stories for a night like this, or any night of moon gazing, are Papa, Please Get the Moon for Me, and Little Moon Dog.

So, enjoy this special night, just like the Owl and the Pussycat from the classic Edward Lear Poem.

And hand in hand, on the edge of the sand,
    They danced by the light of the moon,
          The moon,
          The moon,
They danced by the light of the moon.