Imagine Childhood : Magic & Memories That Last a Lifetime

... tell me a story: walden through the generations

In the summer of 1845 a 28 year old man moved into a cabin he built on a pond outside of Concord, Massachusetts.

For the next two years he lived in accordance and with respect to the ways of mother nature. The result of this endeavor was Walden, by Henry David Thoreau.

One hundred and thirty years later, a young mother collected fallen leaves from her son's first autumn, and placed them in the pages of the book for safe keeping...

Thirty-six years after that, on a sunny mountain morning the book was opened for inspiration...

... and inspiration was found, falling from its pages...

From one man's great adventure, to another's first experiences in nature, to new insights and inspiration, sometimes the stories within the stories are the best ones to tell.

Let us first be as simple and well as Nature ourselves, dispel the clouds which hang over our brows, and take up a little life into our pores.  ~ Henry David Thoreau

Happy day before Earth Day!

~ Jordan

*Last time in Books and Stories: New Adventures

... barn stories: split ear

Dear Split Ear... is the oldest and because of that, the wisest wild hare on the farm.  I met her at  the front entrance of our farm 8 years ago... 

... at that time she had what appeared to be 3 ears.  The next day she was down at the barn and has stayed in the area ever since.  She just loves to eat the hay that has fallen to the ground around the pump, it gets re-hydrated and almost becomes like green grass again. I wonder if that has been one of he secrets to staying here for so long.

I know she is a mama wild hare, I have seen her collecting bits in her mouth to take to her nest, all the mama hares are nesting right now, about to give birth to their little ones. It's late this year.

Because of her age and the time we have been aware of each other, this year I am so glad she made it through winter, it was a cold one.  I am anticipating one morning she will not be there and my heart will fall...

Could we be friends, she as a wild hare and I as a human?

I think we are...

Remember the earth this coming Earth Day and that it is the little actions that add up and can make a difference.

~ Deb

*Last time in Barn Stories: A New Nest

... knowing green: mountain mornings

With Earth Day coming up...

 ... I've been taking the time...

 ... to appreciate...

 ... her wares...

... as much as possible. Taking care of the planet means preserving mornings like this for the next generation...

What are your Earth Day resolutions?

~ Sarah

*Last time in Nature: Inching Into Spring

... nature walk: myakka river state park, florida

This week's wonderful nature walk comes to us from Southwestern Florida.  There Stacy and her family enjoyed exploring the Myakka River State Park, hiking the bird trail, the canopy trail and the nature trail.  Thank you so much Stacy for sharing such a great adventure!

If you would like to contribute to our weekly Nature Walk series, you can learn more about submitting photos here, or you can also visit our Nature Walk Group Pool on Flickr to add your adventures to the collection.

Thanks again Stacy for sharing!

*Last time in Nature Walks: Colorado National Monument

... spring finger knitting project

This year our Finger Knit Project is two projects in one, a wonderful blue pond or lake for a nature table, or a free-form basket!

Because of the rope...

... inside the finger knit tube...

... just a simple coil, a few stitches...

... and a gentle scrunch...

... make a free-form basket a child can shape at will.  However you form it, it holds it's shape! You can make both projects as big or as small as you would like.  The one pictured took one 3oz skein of yarn.

See last year's finger knit project here.

Happy swimming and scrunching...

Spring Finger Knitting Project:

Materials

• 3 yards of rope/clothesline (for a larger basket just leave the ball of rope on the ground).

• 3 oz skein of yarn (just add more if you go bigger).

• Knitting Tower (other towers can be used, the hole in the middle determines if you can insert a rope and what size of rope).

• Large eye stub nose needle used for sewing knit projects together.

First insert the rope in the tower making a large knot at the top. Set up your yarn on the tower with the end of yarn down the tube. Then start knitting your rope, and before you get to far, make sure the clothesline is still positioned in the middle.   Then just pull the knit rope down over the clothesline as you progress  until you are done.  You may need to pull the knot up at the top from time to time.

Once done knitting tie off tucking the end of the rope inside the coil and begin to coil up as pictured. Pick one side to sew the coils together with your large stub nose needle. A child can sew together the project together, it is very forgiving and hides the stitches used to sew it together just stay on the same side when sewing and have fun.

~ Deb

*Last time in Crafts and Activities: Eggs for Ornithology