Lent

I have been mulling over in my mind how we will be spending our time during the season of Lent this year & I wanted to share my thoughts with you. I would love to hear your ideas for your own family - please leave me a comment to let me know your own plans.

Shrove Tuesday

Shrove Tuesday is the last day before Lent begins.
The name Shrove comes from the old word "shrive" which means to confess. On Shrove Tuesday, in the Middle Ages, people used to confess their sins so that they were forgiven before the season of Lent began.

At this point I would like to clearly state my own belief - that my sin - & yes, I sin all the time - my sin is no longer an issue with God.
My sin does not cause me to lose my salvation, or my relationship with God -yes, God can still hear me!!!! He hears me, He speaks to me & He even answers my prayers (even if the answer is not the one I want to hear!) I can fellowship with my Lord, without having to come to Him with a list a mile long of all my sins - I can just jump straight into His lap & be at peace. Thank you Lord.
Andrew Womack has anamazing article that expands this topic beautifully & is jam packed with scripture after beautiful scripture.

So back to Shrove Tuesday : )

We will be discussing abiet in a very simple fashion what Lent is all about & of course making pancakes.

Ingredients
4 oz (110 g) plain flour
pinch of salt
2 large eggs
7 fl oz (200 ml) milk mixed with 3 fl oz (75 ml) water
2 oz (50 g) butter
To serve:
caster sugar, lemon juice and lemon wedges

Method

First of all sift the flour and salt into a large mixing bowl with the sieve held high above the bowl so the flour gets an airing. Now make a well in the centre of the flour and break the eggs into it. Then begin whisking the eggs – any sort of whisk or even a fork will do – incorporating any bits of flour from around the edge of the bowl as you do so.

Next, gradually add small quantities of the milk and water mixture, still whisking (don't worry about any lumps as they will eventually disappear as you whisk). When all the liquid has been added, use a rubber spatula to scrape any elusive bits of flour from around the edge into the centre, then whisk once more until the batter is smooth, with the consistency of thin cream. Now melt the butter in the pan. Spoon 2 tablespoons of it into the batter and whisk it in, then pour the rest into a bowl and use it when needed to lubricate the pan, using a wodge of kitchen paper to smear it round.

Now get the pan really hot, then turn the heat down to medium and, to start with, do a test pancake to see if you're using the correct amount of batter. I find 2 tablespoons about right for a 7 inch (18 cm) pan and 3 tablespoons for an 8 inch (20 cm) pan. It's also helpful if you spoon the batter into a ladle so it can be poured into the hot pan in one go. As soon as the batter hits the hot pan, tip it around from side to side to get the base evenly coated with batter. It should take only half a minute or so to cook; you can lift the edge with a palette knife to see if it's tinged gold as it should be. Flip the pancake over with a pan slice or palette knife – the other side will need a few seconds only – then simply slide it out of the pan on to a plate.

Stack the pancakes as you make them between sheets of greaseproof paper on a plate fitted over simmering water, to keep them warm while you make the rest.

To serve, sprinkle each pancake with freshly squeezed lemon juice and caster sugar, fold in half, then in half again to form triangles, or else simply roll them up. Serve sprinkled with a little more sugar and lemon juice and extra sections of lemon.
Recipe source - Delia Smith

Ash Wednesday

On Ash Wednesday we will set up our nature table for Lent. Here is how it looked last year



We keep it very simple - a crown of thorns, Our Jesse Tree, A Tale For Easter & a wee snowdrop fairy.

All Year Round presents a wonderfully symbolic activity - a wee bowl of dirt sprinkled with palm ashes. We place this on our nature table, where it will stay until Palm Sunday. Then it shall be sprinkled with a few grass seeds, to spring into life during Holy Week.

A great resource to look at for Easter plans is Journey through the Holy Week...and before This gives a brief overview of Lent & Easter.

For our own Lenten path I am greatly inspired by Celebrating the Church Year with Young Children

Joan Halmo writes:
"The goal of Lent is holistic, that is, each member of the Church is to live more intensely as a Christian in whatever way is appropriate to his or her state of life"

Perfect!

She continues:
"Lent can be the period in which the first presentation of the parable of the Good Shepherd is made & the child given the time & space in which to prayerfully contemplate this image.

This is just so exciting! I am really looking forward to this : )
The book goes on to give weekly suggestions to incorporate this idea for use in the home throughout Lent.
We shall be doing this on Friday mornings.

Here is a site to inspire prayer times with our families during Lent

Another book I shall be perusing over the next few weeks is The Easter Craft Book . This is a super little book, packed with waldorf style handwork & crafting ideas.

For us as mothers, our own inner work is, of course of supreme importance. Our connection to Him is our Life.
Lynn Jericho has written an insightful post on her blog: Inner Lent.

Please do leave a comment to share your own thoughts....

Snowdrops

Friday is nature study day in our home.
This morning, we observed a wee patch of snowdrops growing in in our front garden.
The girls took great pleasure in sketching them in their nature notebooks:



Here is Elianna's sketch (7 yo)



Here is Rosie's sketch (4 yo)



Now, the waldorf purists will notice that my 4 yo has written in her notebook!
We came to waldorf late with Elianna - she was already reading a writing a small amount when we went fully into waldorf last year. With Rose I was determined to hold back on the academics. Hmmm - i should have told Rosie this! The last few days she has been engrossed in 'reading' & 'writing'.
I am happy for her to do this - it is where she is at. we wont be doing any 'formal' lessons yet & she has abundant time to play & be outdoors. We are all happy : )

Our resources for nature study today are favourites of mine:

Field Guide in Colour to Wild Flowers

My favorite guide to wild flowers. This was bought for me by my aunt when I was a small girl, so it has great sentimental value, but also, as a resource, it cant be beaten! The illustrations are hand drawn, which I prefer to photographs. The edges of the pages are colour coded, to make finding your chosen flower very easy.
There is an index of scientific names & another for common names & I just love the layout & the information contained within this book.

The second book we used is A Gospel of Wild Flowers

This description of the book from amazon sums it up perfectly:
This work is a thought-provoking portrait of the natural world, written by the former Bishop of Lynn and illustrated by celebrated artist Pat Albeck. Pat presents a beautiful painting of a different wild flower on each spread. Accompanying this is text by the Bishop describing the plant and its practical uses, and then linking the plant and its properties to aspects of Christian thought and devotion. This is a comforting book that will appeal primarily to mature people with a Christian inclination, but will also be appreciated by nature lovers of all ages. Full of thoughtful stories and insights, this is a gentle and peaceful book, written in a direct, open way that is both soothing and refreshing.

I read selected parts from the chapter on Snowdrops to the girls this morning - not all of it was (in my opinion) suitable for them, but the parts I read appeared to resonate within them - I need to let them sleep on it, as I do myself : )

This wee book is a great one for mothers to tie their own innerwork around the changing flowers of the seasons.

Happy nature study!

More from the dyepot

More 'rainbow' than the last two, these have been claimed by the girls already : )

I am waiting impatiently for some alpaca/silk blend (my favorite fibre!) to arrive, so I can dye some more.

Some dyeing

Spent the afternoon yesterday dyeing these two fine merino & tussah silk slivers.
So have aptly named the colourway 'Candlemas' : )

February Circle Time

Hymn:

This is my Father's world,
and to my listening ears
all nature sings, and round me rings
the music of the spheres.
This is my Father's world:
I rest me in the thought
of rocks and trees, of skies and seas;
his hand the wonders wrought.

2. This is my Father's world,
the birds their carols raise,
the morning light, the lily white,
declare their maker's praise.
This is my Father's world:
he shines in all that's fair;
in the rustling grass I hear him pass;
he speaks to me everywhere.

3. This is my Father's world.
O let me ne'er forget
that though the wrong seems oft so strong,
God is the ruler yet.
This is my Father's world:
why should my heart be sad?
The Lord is King; let the heavens ring!
God reigns; let the earth be glad!

Scripture

Philippians 4:8:
Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things.

Verses:

If Candlemas Day be fair and bright
Winter will take another flight.
If Candlemas Day be cloud and rain
Winter is gone and will not come again.

Five little Inuits by the igloo door
One went out to feed the dogs & then there were four
Four little Inuits, rowing out to sea
One jumped on an iceberg, then there were three
three little inuits, making fish stew,
One burned his finger, then there were two.
Two little inuits hunting just for fun,
One chased a baby seal, then there was one.
One little Inuit all his work done
Went home to supper, then there were none.

(Winter Wynstones)

Finger Play

Winter tells us little bulbs (kneeling)
To tuck our heads in so (mime)
Then we will not need to shiver (cuddle self & shiver)
When the cold winds blow (blow)

Spring will come with sun & showers (pitter patter fingers)
Soon to raise our head (mime)
Then we'll grow & grow & grow ('grow' arms)
Right out of bed (standing)

(Winter Wynstones)

Song

See this post

“Quiet, Quiet, do not make a sound,
Holding now the string so tight,
We all make some winter light
Quiet, quiet, do not make a sound”

We will be practicing counting 1-100 / 100 - 1 & skip counting

French

Avec un gros nez
© 2003 Alain Le Lait

C’est un chien, c’est un chien
Ouah, ouah, ouah (repeat)
C’est un chien, c’est un chien
Avec un gros nez
C’est un chat, c’est un chat
Miaou, miaou, miaou (repeat)
C’est un chat, c’est un chat
Avec un gros nez
Un chien et un chat, avec un gros nez
Ce n’est pas souvent qu’on en voit passer 
(x2)
Un oiseau, un oiseau
(whistle 3 times) répétez
Un oiseau, un oiseau
Avec un gros nez
Un poisson, un poisson
(smack lips 3 times) répétez
Un poisson, un poisson
Avec un gros nez
Un oiseau, un poisson, avec un gros nez
Ce n’est pas souvent qu’on en voit passer 
(x2)
C’est une vache, c’est une vache
Meuh, meuh (répétez)
C’est une vache, c’est une vache 
Avec un gros nez
Un cochon, un cochon
Ron, ron, ron (répétez)
Un cochon, un cochon
Avec un gros nez
Une vache, un cochon, avec un gros nez
Ce n’est pas souvent qu’on en voit passer 
(x2)

With a big nose
© 2003 Alain Le Lait

It’s a dog, it’s a dog
Woof, woof, woof (repeat)
It’s a dog, it’s a dog
With a big nose
It’s a cat, it’s a cat
Meow, meow (repeat)
It’s a cat, it’s a cat
With a big nose
A dog and a cat, with a big nose
It is not often that you see that go by 
(x2)
A bird, a bird
(Whistle 3 times) repeat
A bird, a bird
With a big nose
A fish, a fish
(Smack lips 3 times) repeat
A fish, a fish
With a big nose
A bird, a fish, with a big nose
It is not often that you see that go by 
(x2)
It’s a cow, it’s a cow
Moo, moo (repeat)
It’s a cow, it’s a cow
With a great big nose
A pig, a pig
Oink, oink, oink (repeat)
A pig, a pig
With a big nose
A cow, a pig, with a big nose
It is not often that you see that go by 
(x2)

Recorder Practice

Mary had a little lamb

Rosie's story for this month will be the gingerbread man