There is a thin layer of snow on the front sidewalk but I am
stubbornly refusing to go sweep it off. The temperature display on the
weather station reads ‘0’ degrees at 6am so I am confident the sidewalk
snow will melt soon – the snow on the steps has already melted.
Yesterday morning when we went out to play there was no snow anywhere in
my back yard and there was a collective “Awww, there’s no snow” from the children so I’m certain this recent snowfall is Mother Nature’s response to that lament.
I like winter too and this past (present?) winter has been quite pleasant. There have been a few indoor issues with running across the playroom and jumping in and out of the nature area. I’ve tried several indirect measures to curb the reckless behaviour – most had limited effect but this has been quite successful;
These cardboard circles used to be attached to the loft for toy storage but we no longer have the loft – of course I kept these ‘just in case’ I found another use for them… :-) The smaller children enjoy using the ‘tunnels’. The school age children and I can step over. Either way it slows down traffic – like the pot holes on the street.
Speaking of cardboard tubes, I can’t believe we still have these ‘binoculars’ made from plastic wrap tubes and tape;
I quickly put them together for some toddlers who wanted them for a dramatic play activity they were engaged in two years ago! I never expected them to stay in the playroom for more than a day or two but they are just as popular as ever and they haven’t been damaged yet. I’ve considered making, or having the children make more, fancier ones but no one is really interested so these ones stay. The current group likes to lay on the floor in the nature area and use them to look for butterflies and birds in the trees.
Another constant in the playroom is these eggs in this pot;
Upon entering the playroom one of the toddlers will place these eggs in this pot and set it on the counter. If at any point someone else moves the pot, puts other food in the pot, or puts the eggs is a different pot there will be a scuffle. I can’t explain it but it has been like this every day for months now. No one ever actually plays with the eggs in the pot and the toddlers will happily put them away at clean up time but they MUST be on the counter like this during play time.
However, there have been several complaints that I have not yet taken down the Easter decorations;
Honestly, I’m happy leaving them up as ‘Spring’ decorations. I have many window clings for Fall, Halloween, Christmas, Winter, Valentines, St Patrick’s Day, and Easter but for the period between Easter and Fall all I have are butterflies. Butterflies are nice but I’d like to have some variation over the 5 month Spring/Summer period. Flowers or birds would be nice.
Yes, there is snow on the ground – again – but summer is coming. Check out our seedlings;
We’ve started our peppers, corn and several types of squash. The corn surprised us – we don’t usually plant corn but we found an old package of corn seeds in our seed collection - we (I) didn't really expect them to grow. I don’t usually buy seeds – most of our garden plants are grown from seeds we collect from our garden or produce from the store or CSA box. Our peas and beans will be planted directly in the garden outside but it is too early yet – we’ve tried digging in the soil every time the snow melts but the ground is still frozen. Some of us are very eager for Spring to arrive.
I like winter too and this past (present?) winter has been quite pleasant. There have been a few indoor issues with running across the playroom and jumping in and out of the nature area. I’ve tried several indirect measures to curb the reckless behaviour – most had limited effect but this has been quite successful;
These cardboard circles used to be attached to the loft for toy storage but we no longer have the loft – of course I kept these ‘just in case’ I found another use for them… :-) The smaller children enjoy using the ‘tunnels’. The school age children and I can step over. Either way it slows down traffic – like the pot holes on the street.
Speaking of cardboard tubes, I can’t believe we still have these ‘binoculars’ made from plastic wrap tubes and tape;
I quickly put them together for some toddlers who wanted them for a dramatic play activity they were engaged in two years ago! I never expected them to stay in the playroom for more than a day or two but they are just as popular as ever and they haven’t been damaged yet. I’ve considered making, or having the children make more, fancier ones but no one is really interested so these ones stay. The current group likes to lay on the floor in the nature area and use them to look for butterflies and birds in the trees.
Another constant in the playroom is these eggs in this pot;
Upon entering the playroom one of the toddlers will place these eggs in this pot and set it on the counter. If at any point someone else moves the pot, puts other food in the pot, or puts the eggs is a different pot there will be a scuffle. I can’t explain it but it has been like this every day for months now. No one ever actually plays with the eggs in the pot and the toddlers will happily put them away at clean up time but they MUST be on the counter like this during play time.
However, there have been several complaints that I have not yet taken down the Easter decorations;
Honestly, I’m happy leaving them up as ‘Spring’ decorations. I have many window clings for Fall, Halloween, Christmas, Winter, Valentines, St Patrick’s Day, and Easter but for the period between Easter and Fall all I have are butterflies. Butterflies are nice but I’d like to have some variation over the 5 month Spring/Summer period. Flowers or birds would be nice.
Yes, there is snow on the ground – again – but summer is coming. Check out our seedlings;
We’ve started our peppers, corn and several types of squash. The corn surprised us – we don’t usually plant corn but we found an old package of corn seeds in our seed collection - we (I) didn't really expect them to grow. I don’t usually buy seeds – most of our garden plants are grown from seeds we collect from our garden or produce from the store or CSA box. Our peas and beans will be planted directly in the garden outside but it is too early yet – we’ve tried digging in the soil every time the snow melts but the ground is still frozen. Some of us are very eager for Spring to arrive.
