My Lady Spring..

My lady Spring is dressed in green,

 she wears a primrose crown..

and little baby buds and twigs are clinging to her gown...

The sun shines if she laughs at all,

and if she weeps, the raindrops fall,

My Lady Spring

~Nancy Foster

Yes, we surely were paid a visit by the lovely Lady Spring during playgarden this past month, and what a day this was!

I asked a friend who the children do not know or usually see to don a beautiful gown and arrive at our house to bring merriments of Springtime. 

She arrived during the short rest time of our morning circle, playing tunes on a pennywhistle. The children ran to the door and saw her standing bare foot, waiting to be let in. 

I wanted to this to be a very dreamy experience for the children; not many words...Lady Spring came in, recited a lovely Spring verse, played some songs on the lyre (which she unwrapped so very slowly from a beautiful rainbow silk) and gave us some special flower seeds to care for. She left through a song and we watched her pipe pennywhistle tunes all down the street. The visit lasted about 8 minutes and was just enough. We then went back into a short quiet rest time, which was perfect for the children to digest what had just happened.

I didn't mention or comment about anything that had taken place during the visit--rather, I wanted to give them children the freedom to let this experience echo on in their own way. Raising their consciousness to speak about such an experience; to search for the words brings them out of the dreaminess that is early childhood! My own adult explanations, feelings, and commentary aren't applicable or necessary here...

Spring is here,

Here is Spring!

Let us all rejoice and sing!

I've been getting a few emails asking for morning verses and songs...and also readers wondering where I am and asking if I am stopping posting! I am here-- I am just caught up in many aspects of life off of the computer- which is good. Many exciting things happening here-- family, playgarden, weddings, mermaiding (yes, it's a word!), Waldorf teacher training.....

Below is a video of our morning snack....our time at the table begins with a fingerplay which is always seasonal. I'll include the text at the end. It is very lovely and simple. Notice how engaged the children are in certain parts and with certain motions, and not as much with others. This is so interesting to me; what really holds them. 

After the verse, I move our angle candle over to one of the children to uncover our match for our mealtime candle. The fire fairies always leave us 2 matches each day-- 1 for snack, one for lunch. If there happens to be a third.....well, this is very exciting as the children know that this last match is left for a birthday cake-- someone's birthday! Horray!

Spring Fingerplay:

This is the meadow where all the long day,

10 little frolicsome lambs are at play!

And these are measures the good farmer brings..

salt in, and cornmeal...and other good things.

This is the rack wherein Winter the feed,

Hay makes a very good dinner indeed!

These are the shears for shearing the sheep,

nice, soft wool dear lambkins may keep.

These are the barn doors shut so tight,

and this is the barn where they all sleep at night...

Verse before Candle Lighting:

Fire Spirits, Fire Sprites, share with us your golden light...

(notice that I have some trouble getting the match to strike..I also sometimes wet the wick a bit with my finger, as the bit of moisture causes the flame to jump a bit-- delightful!)

Verse for Candle Lighting:

Here is a spark of Father Sun's Light, to keep in our hearts so warm and bright...

I hope this serves as inspiration to your morning mealtimes! Please feel free to contact me with any questions and I'll do my best to get back to you in a timely manner:)

Lastly, a few recent mermaiding pictures:)

 

Thanks for reading!