mamaroots

dragons of a different sort

  

What can I say- all best intentions to make dragon bread this year from scatch took a little u-turn when I found out the other items on the dinner menu (remember by husband does 99% of the cooking), and when my day required some needed errands after school. 

 
So I did what I know how to do- improvise!  Big hearty wheat bread just would not go with mexican echiladas!  They were tasty and something about the spice seemed to fit with a dragon sort of feast!  So I decided to accompany the mexican feast with dessert dragon sopapillas- though slightly healthier.  I got these delicious soft fresh whole wheat tortilla from my local grocery, cut out some dragon shapes, buttered and topped with sugar and cinnamon and toasted under the broiler.  I set these aside for dessert.  I put a small dollop of ice cream in a bowl, drizzled with honey, added blackberries, and the firey dragons!  Not too bad on a whim!

 
 
Harvest, preparing for the colder months, that is really what the day is for us.  We borrow from the world of Waldorf with what rings in our hearts.  Dragonmas- what we call Michaelmas, is a time where we talk about what our inner dragons look like.  I really don't like the religious association with the holiday, and the idea of slaying the dragon.  You know, we kinda like dragons and think they just get a bad rap sometimes.

 
So harvest and conversations on how to keep our inners sparks alive were the topic of conversation at our feast last night.  I scoured the bookshelf for our dragon books.  These will rest on our bench for the next few days as we start to cuddle more during reading times in the chilly nights. 

 
I wanted to re-post the dragon reading list we shared last week with a couple additions that we liked that were published this year:  Dragon Feathers by Olga Dugina and Andrei Dugin was a new one for us this year.  I read a couple review from Waldorf folks who did not like because of the pictures- they maybe confusing to the "whole child" vision.  I found them odd- very much like Hieronymus Bosch, down right strange, yet totally fantastical.  I put in front of the boys last night and they poured over the pictures.  After all what is the world to a child but full of fantasy?  We gave it a thumbs up!

Download Dragon Reads

We are still awaiting our copy of the book King Jack and the Dragon, so I will give you a review of that next week, but I am hopeful for another lovely dragon book. 

 
 
Hoping your harvest, Michaelmas, Dragonmas festivities kept you warm this week- cheers to all you dragon spirits out there!  I enjoy adding few new pictures each year to this celebration.   Many thanks to this super fast knitter that made us this lovely addition to our Dragonmas this year- highly recommend!   Happy Friday all.

stick dragons

Michaelmas is one of the magical fall festivals that can be shared with your family.  In my household we try to maintain a religious neutrality and often incorporate many of the traditional Waldorf festivals to our own families traditions. 

Michaelmas has become Dragonmas in our home.  It is a time to transition from the warm summer months to the crisp autumn months.  A time to celebrate harvest and food, and most important a time to talk about our own dragon natures and how we will live with the dragon energy in all of us and maintain a creative fire through the winter months.

Here is a quick and easy stick dragon to make for a dragon parade on a cool September evening.  

Supplies:

1 sock

felt scrapes

2 buttons

stuffing

ribbon or fabric scrap to tie

1 stick

Start by taking a scrap of felt, we used green – this will function as your dragon spines, cut to a desired length depending on the size of your sock.  Fold this over and cut spines along the top, leaving approximately ½ inch along the bottom.

Stitch along just the top of the spines to secure the top together while leaving the bottom edge open. Open the bottom edge and insert the very top of your sock where you would like your spines to go. Hand or machine stitch this to the sock.

Cut a piece of scrap felt to resemble fire and hand stitch this to the front of the dragon’s mouth.  Stitch the eyes on either side of the dragons head.

 

Stuff the dragon with stuffing, this can be scraps of fabric, cotton or poly stuffing.  The kids are a great help during this step.

 Insert a stick into the bottom of the dragon and secure the bottom with ribbon or fabric scrap.

 Ride away!  You can make this in about 30 minutes or less for you dragon riders.  Great way to get out play out some imagination and energy during these wonderful first days of autumn!

More posts coming this week on all things dragon!

g is for golden, give-away, good luck!

How did you enjoy goldenrod last month with Herbal Roots Zine?  It is a lovely native plant in these parts and just so prolific!

It makes a very fine addition to our nature corner outside.  Bits and pieces of nature end up in many spots throughout the house, but I like having this little cheery corner near the door.

Thank you to Kristine for her monthly give-away sponsorship for a lucky reader.  Leave a comment between now and midnight on Friday for a chance to win a copy of October Herbal Roots Zine- Evening Primrose!  Bonus entry points for following me and Kristine at Herbal Roots on facebook!

herbalroots zine

mamaroots

And if that is not enough to make you howl, go on over to Herbal Roots Zine for a chance to win one of my wood critters- if you remember the cover a coyote awaits a friendly home to go to!  

Best of luck!

falling on the bench

Hoping your first fall weekend was well.  We enjoyed some sweet presents left by our Fairy- Tangle,(Ostheimer critters) some soup, and some apple exploration topped off with pie right before bath time last night- really can't complain with a weekend like that!

If you are looking for some apple inspired reading, from our bench:

The Apple Doll by Elisa Kleven

The Apple Cake by Nienke van Hichtum

Johnny Appleseed by Steven Kellogg

An Apple Harvest by Frank Browning and Sharon Silva

Also "on the bench" is this cutie pie Apple Sprite that is from This Cosy Life- such a sweet addition to our apple time this weekend!

Welcome fall- we are happy you came!

a taste of Kansas

The yellow brick road was a bit chilly and soggy this year, but to be in good company with good tunes will always be fun!  This year's journey to the Walnut Valley gave me a continued awe at the musicians around me, on the stage and at my own camp.  Still hankering for a camper of some sort, got my eye on a little Scamp or Burro perhaps!

Walnut Valley usually signals the time when the seasons starts to change, looking forward to the first weekend of fall making soup and apple pie!  A handmade tasting spoon from the festival was just what I needed.

All in all the mud washed off the bikes and boots, and the music warmed us quite well, thank you Kansas.  A few more pictures are here of our adventures.  Have a wonderful Autumn Equinox tomorrow.

put 'em in your pocket

Picking up pawpaws,

Puttin' 'em in your pocket,

Way down yonder

In the paw paw patch

Finally had the opportunity to taste and explore some paw paws!  I love being a part of my local grocer co-op!  The closest thing I can describe is what I read somewhere as a description- they kinda taste like a custard.  I really liked them!

They are native to my state, and they were also loaded with seeds so I am going to attempt to plant some in our wee little woods and see if we can sing along and put more in our pockets in a few years!

I did some looking at some images of these beauties and loved the flowers, it inspired a little sister for the shop.  Definitely gives these fruit a taste if you get the opportunity!

booo!

I am so happy to see so many lovers of Gus!  He really does bring me joy!  How many other ghosts out there look after old houses so well, take care of baby ghost so well, and help with the museum!  So a little ghost helped me share the winning numbers for the Gus give-away.  I really want a couple of ghosties this Halloween, but they are leaning more towards vampires!  

So, for the books:  randomly drawn- #13 and #2- Hallie and Lee- congrats and for Gus #22 Margaret B.  If you ladies could e-mail be your snail mail addy's I will get these mailed to you!  

Enjoy!

weavers

Inspired by Wee Folk Art and also some natural weavers lately, I am playing with some beautiful rainbow yarn. 

Yep still doing those single crochet chains!  I will be using my knitting tower this weekend to see the difference.  Hmm- maybe the inspiration for some rainbow spider toys!

What have you been weaving these days?

greetings Gus

As you get to know me in this space you probably have figured out that I love, love children's books.  It really did start when I was very little- thanks mama!  She read, read to us, and enstilled and early love of books.  Today my love has continued into my career, hobby, and lifestyle.  One of those early books that I just loved from my Weekly Reader Club was Gus- I just loved Gus and have been slowly trying to rebuild the series from my childhood.

So far I have tracked down some of the ones that I remember and am working on getting the others in the series.  Ahh Gus- remember that time you made mouse toasted cheese in the old house- I just love you!

So kick off one of my favorite times of the year fall, autumn, harvest, halloween;  I am having a special give-away.  First is a special all naturale wood Gus, second and third are some of the extra copies of Gus books I acquired over the past few years in my quest to build my Gus collection.  These are well used but with lots of life books.  

So what do you do?  Leave a comment and let me know if you know Gus too.  Like me on Facebook for a bonus entry, share on blog or other social network and get one more.

Good luck, I am feeling pretty ghosty these days- there are a couple surprise ghost yarn balls in the shop too.  I think I know what I am going to dress up for at Halloween!  

Deadline is Sunday at midnight- I will announce the winner Monday afternoon.

before you go Mr. Summer . . .

Yep- it is definitely swinging.  I heard it yesterday when I was picking the boys us from school- the swirl of the leaves as they landed on the ground.  Fall- you wonderful, lovely friend of mine, but before you go I need to give a homage to one of my favorite fruits of the season.

I have been collecting photos all summer of this gem and realized I had not done a post yet for this delicious fruit.  So if you don't mind joining me for some strawberry love before it is all apples, pumpkins, and squash!

Not to exclude our lovely nature child strawberry from Woodmouse, some good reading, and well a little strawberry pop too!  

So long lovely berries . . . till next spring!