The Autumn Lantern walk is an old, potent tradition of making paper lanterns and venturing into the dark, cold night. The ritual symbolize kindling our inner light as we cross over into the long nights of winter. Facing the unknown and the unseen, trusting our inner guides. We celebrate the loss of something we long for and trust in the lesson we have to learn in its’ absence. What does darkness have to teach us? How does longing work on us in the unknown or unseen realms? Perhaps like the plant world, we grow the more we root and like the spirit world, we shine the more we embrace the dark. As we venture into the dark and cold we find that we are not depleted by the lost of light and warmth but fortified by our connection to the cycles of nature.

Simple and soothing family crafts and rituals. We decorate our home and hearth year round with handmade garlands. Personally, I like to make intricate and elaborate seasonal paper garlands. But, as a mother, I also love a garland project that can truly include my young children, without leaving us all feeling frustrated because it is over their skill level. The following garland ideas I share with you are simple, beautiful, family friendly garlands to make WITH your children.

The Winter Spiral Garden is a ritual to honor winter time when, traditionally, light, warmth and food would be scarce.

An autumn tradition and celebration.

Family play for the longest day of Father Sun! This is an interactive game and art project we use to celebrate the solstice as a family. The children transform from a hungry caterpillar to a flourishing butterfly seeking nectar from the flowers in the meadow.

These fresh, cooling and sweet popsicles are a family hit and are made with ingredients I feel really good about feeding to my children. My family loves mint chocolate chip ice cream and dairy is not always the best for everyones GI tract. These dairy-free and sugar-free popsicles will hit the sweet spot without taking a toll on your wellness.

Spring equinox ritual and silliness.

Thoughtful Ways to Start the Day with Simple, Loving Attention to Her Five Senses.

This is traditionally an Italian Easter Bread. If you’ve been wanting to dip your toes into bread baking, this is a great place to start. It's an easy sweet bread and with a beautiful and unique result.

Nutritious and delicious for the whole family.

Handmade paper with wildflower seeds that you can plant right in the earth.

Watching the local birds outside our window is a favorite late winter family activity. Treating the birds connects us to the wildlife that is still thriving even in the stillness of deep winter.

Spring treats to make with children!

A perfect needle felting project for beginners and children.

“Dads are most ordinary men turned by love into heroes, adventurers, storytellers and singers of song.” - Unknown

Beltane or May Day adorning all with beautiful flowers and rejoicing in the fecundity on earth.

A sweet song to serenade you into spring!

Perhaps in gaining our safer, more predictable way of survival we have lost a secret language and sensory communion with the natural world? Let's get curious about what the forest has to tell us.

Young children have exquisitely receptive senses and soak up information like a sponge. They have not learned to filter their environment and therefore take it all in with amazing accuracy. We know feeding children whole foods is an important part of healthy development. Offering their senses “whole” or natural materials is also important for healthy child development.