Yard work- a way to connect with nature!

As we head into the growing season here in Tallahassee I note that while it can be total drama to go outside with the kids and get the yard manageable, but it is also the perfect opportunity to bond and discover the joys of the Earth.  Collecting the sticks and trimmed branches seemed an impossible unfortunate chore for my son until we noticed the wide variety of lichen growing, not to mention the tiniest spiders to the biggest beetles.  We even decided to leave some habitat for scavengers!  Much to my daughters relief we also decided to leave more meadow land and encourage milkweed to create and maintain a butterfly habitat.  In the past we have reared and released several Monarch butterflies and we were dismayed to hear that monarchs are declining.  Instead of griping and threats we went out into the yard as a family, discovered various plants and bugs and worked to create more habitat for butterflies.  Not only did our yard work get done, we were so distracted there wasn't any time for whining (well, hardly any).  This was the perfect time to remind my kids about the way water and plants work in our yard and the methods we use to reduce pesticides and use compost instead of other fertilizers!

Paper necklaces make lovely Valentines' Gifts

This is a recycled classic for us!  We started making these several years ago and sold all that we made at Market Days in Tallahassee.  So simple to do and I even find making the beads relaxing. Check out the web instructions but I emphasize that instructions are just the platform to jump from!  We added washer pendants from a different recycled craft idea and we just went crazy! Both my son and daughter as well as Grandmommy found ways to contribute and we had a great day sitting around the table and assembling all the parts; it was a study in uniqueness!