Hittin' the Road

"City of hurried and sparkling waters! City of spires and masts!
City nested in bays! My city!" - Walt Whitman (Mannahatta)

















Satch made this drawing for one of his chums yesterday. I love the detail...the reflection of the buildings in NY Harbor, Lady Liberty, trees dwarfed by skyscrapers, pigeons, a helicopter, a taxi, sidewalks and bridges. He even drew our Echo!

We're off to New Yawk to see family and friends. I thought you might like to know what I've picked up to keep Satch amused during the road trip.



Peel & Stick Mozaic by Numbers by Lauri...GREAT for fine motor skills! The foam tiles are very small so this will kill a LOT of time!





Tangoes People Puzzles...Satch LOVES Tangoes puzzles. Tangoes are based on Chinese Tangrams, a geometric puzzle consisting of seven pieces. Travel Tangoes are smaller, magnetic so it's perfect for the car!


More about Tangoes here!

Roger Burrows Images! Geometric patterns for coloring. Altair designs were created to stimulate the visual imagination. You might see familiar images, or abstract patterns. You can color them any way you choose, it's limitless! Another gem for fine motor skills.

More about Roger Burrows Images here!

*We use Crayola Pip-Squeak Skinnies markers on the road because they are small and promote correct pencil grip.


Satch has Sensory Processing Disorder and needs gum in the car in order to settle himself. We keep a stash of B-Fresh Bubble Gum in the back seat. It does not contain any preservatives and is sweetened with Xylitol. Other sugarless gums make Satch bonkers because of the artificial sweeteners.

Lollipops are also soothing for Satch during long trips. We usually opt for natural pops made with juice, but Satch has been begging to try a Ring Pop because he says, "It's like a marrying ring except it's bigger AND you can EAT it!"

He pleads a good case, so I got him one, but will save it for when we're near our destination so he can run around and burn off the sugar. (As for my car munchies, I go hardcore...Salazon organic salted chocolate, and the Great Robinsky can't get behind the wheel without Werther's.)

When all else fails, we break out the DVD player. I borrowed Legend of the Guardians from Chicken Run our local library, and a back-up just in case... Fantastic Mr. Fox.

I think we're ready to roll. See you in two weeks!

They Know

There is a place where the sidewalk ends
And before the street begins,
And there the grass grows soft and white,
And there the sun burns crimson bright,
And there the moon-bird rests from his flight
To cool in the peppermint wind.

































Let us leave this place where the smoke blows black
And the dark street winds and bends.
Past the pits where the asphalt flowers grow
We shall walk with a walk that is measured and slow,
And watch where the chalk-white arrows go
To the place where the sidewalk ends.











































Yes we'll walk with a walk that is measured and slow,
And we'll go where the chalk-white arrows go,
For the children, they mark, and the children, they know
The place where the sidewalk ends. - Shel Silverstein (Where the Sidewalk Ends)

Power of Stillness

mantis: "type of insect that holds its forelegs in a praying position" (esp. the praying mantis, Mantis religiosa ), from Greek. mantis, lit. "one who divines, a seer, prophet," from mainesthai "be inspired," related to menos "passion, spirit"






















Every summer we watch and wait for hundred of itsy bitsy mantids to emerge from their egg case. It's a lesson in patience, and a gift of wonder.






































So tiny and still, this baby creature, sitting on the tip of my son's pinky finger - click on photo to enlarge!

















Here is a video of our annual mantid release, (and S's happy dance)....

They Carry Me: Butterflies & Feeder Tutorial

I have only this breath
and this presence
for my wings
and they carry me - David Whyte (House of Belonging)





































































































































A video of our butterfly release...



And here's a nifty tutorial on how to make a butterfly feeder:

















1. Cut 4 loops of string at least 3 x the length of your jar

















2. Tie each string around the neck of the jar making sure the knots are opposite each other






















It should look like this...

















3. Now flip over the jar and knot the adjacent strings approx 1 inch up from the mouth of the jar. Then repeat a second row of knots near the base of the jar. Kind of like the macrame plant hangers I used to make in the 70's. I'm dating myself, right?

















It should look like this...






















4. Wrap the ends of your string together tightly with a piece of masking tape. Thread the strings through your wooden petals and wood bead. Tie the strings around a ring for hanging or just make a big knot.

5. Thread a cotton ball through the hole in the lid to form a wick. Fill your jar with sugar water. Cap tightly. Hang in garden. (Yes, the jar will be upside down)

(1 Tbsp sugar + 9 Tbsp water, bring to boil, then cool)






















You did it! In truth, I prefer my feeders with just cord and perhaps a few glass beads, but the flowery bits are a big hit with kids.






















Our bedtime favorite, The Story of the Butterfly Children, has new meaning now and we'll think of our Painted Ladies every time we read it. The illustrations are exquisite and the story is oh so enchanting.

Satch Alchemy

“You have to take risks. We will only understand the miracle of life fully when we allow the unexpected to happen.” - Paulo Coelho (Warrior of the Light)



"Mama, I'm making a flower remedy!"

3rd Annual Pursuit of Happiness Potluck Picnic

Sacred and undeniable, we hold these truths: prayer flags, vegetarian feasty, family & friends, homemade organic lemonade, trampoline, water balloons, handmade hula hoops, bubbles, glow rings, fireflies and lakeside fireworks. (scenes from our 3rd annual Pursuit of Happiness Potluck Picnic)
































































































































7 kids + 7 grown-ups = happiness

Fancy Face

"Once I looked inside
the darkness
of a shell folded like a pastry
and there was a fancy face" - Mary Oliver (Hermit Crab)

We have two new members in our family! We adopted some hermits from a freecycler. We created a funky crabitat with everything a crab could want, although the Krusty Krab is more for our amusement.

















We named the larger adventurous crab in the white shell, Neptune. (click on photos to enlarge their fancy faces)

















The little shy, but sassy one in the brown shell, Pearl.

















They spend their days sleeping in their driftwood cave. At night they go out on the town. They rearrange their furniture. They dine on crab food and special treats like mango, coconut, and kelp. They are especially fond of popcorn.