Local Forest Schools!

We are absolutely thrilled that there are now not one, but two local options right here in KW for families who wish to send their kids to a "forest school" experience.  The Grand River Forest and Nature School offers one day a week for discovery & fun in the woods; and the KW Forest School also offers options for forest school sessions as well as shorter one-day sessions occasionally through the Transition KW(through the eco family activities subgroup).  We've been participating in the Grand River Forest & Nature School and just loving the experience.  The idea is to dress for the weather, no matter what, and spend the whole afternoon with a small group of kids and two super facilitators who guide the kids through hands-on learning in the forest.  There is a small shelter to store extra dry/warm clothes, and from there the kids have done hikes, salamander discoveries, journal writing, swamp explorations, snakes, frogs and toads, tree watching, bird watching, branch fort building, map making, story telling, singing, nature crafting projects, and more!

Thanksgiving walk in the woods

Our tradition is to have a family hike in the woods over the Thanksgiving weekend.  Since we are still under renovation here, we decided not to drive out too far for our hike but rather to stay close to home this year - enjoying a nearby neighbourhood park with it's wooded trails.  We found the last sweet wild raspberries to nibble on, gorgeous coloured leaves, the tiniest acorns, fungus and forest mushrooms, logs to balance on, a spider web glistening in the sun, leaf piles to jump and stomp around in, a shady place to stop for a snack.  Sometimes the most special places are the most simple and close at hand.  We just need the time to look and explore.

Nature's folk wisdom - mild winter to come??

We have spotted two wooly bear caterpillars in the past two days.  They are actually the larva stage of the Isabella tiger moth, that seek shelter over winter and will become moths in the new year.  They are common in these parts (southern Ontario) and can be found hiding in protected areas like leaf piles - you will recognize them immediately by the distinct markings of black bands at each end and reddish-brown band in the middle.  The folk wisdom tells us that the width of the bands predict the severity of the winter ahead.  What is said, is that the wider the reddish-brown middle band, the milder the winter.  Well, we'll see.  These two wooly bears that we've seen have had significantly wide middle bands, equal to the black end bands.  How fun to keep learning about using nature's guides to help us understand the seasons, weather patterns, and more.

The sun today!

All day long we tracked the glorious sun.  From our sunny dining room art table, to melting snow dripping off rooftops, to happy chickens frolicking in the yard, to squishy warm mud and puddles for splashing in!  Spring is in the air today.  Welcome!

Winter birds

We enjoyed our long weekend Family Day holiday by going on a wander through the woods with friends, looking for signs of spring.  Not too many signs of spring yet, but lots of active birds - nuthatches, bluejays, cardinals and loads of friendly chickadees like this one.  What fun to watch them land on the our hats, outstretched arms and open hands to eat sunflower seeds. 

Woodland fairy world

Our living room table has turned into a woodland fairy world.  With a few pieces of bark, some rounds of wood branches, a collection of nutshells, seeds and dried beans, the imagination has been sparked and this lovely setting has evolved over the past few days.

Solstice lanterns

We had a great time hosting a lantern making session with a group of neighbourhood kids here this week.  The kids had fun making water colour lanterns with tissue paper cut-outs, a perfect lantern that all ages can easily complete.  We also made lanterns with tissue paper pasted onto mason jars and paper-mache onto balloons (for lovely simple round lanterns).  In the neighbourhood friends of ours have been organizing an annual Solstice Lantern Walk (postponed this year for Dec 23), with everyone bringing along homemade lanterns of all shapes and sizes, as well as hot drinks and plenty of warm gear for walking through the streets on a cold night.  We come back for a little street party and bonfire, and for this our household also prepared a huge basket of cedar & sage bundles, which participants can toss in the solstice bonfire as we speak of hopes and joys for the coming year.  All are welcome to join the lantern walk coming up this Monday.

This Moment

{A special moment from the week to remember, savour and enjoy!}

A little get away

It was time for our September jaunt to the woods - near lovely Georgian Bay and the Bruce Trail, and a chance to catch up with good friends.  Fall is definitely here, the leaves were turning to yellow and red, and the nights camping were cold but perfect for cozying up near the fire!  We also make sure to stop by Harvest Moon Bakery, our favourite stop for beautiful organic baked goods just past Lion's Head as you near the National Park.  Spending time near these ancient rock beaches and dense cedar forests always rejuvinates us.  This little get away was a perfect break from the hectic pace we've been having wrapping up our harvest season.