Marin Wednesday Tender Tracks Day 8, Jan.18, 2012

Waning Crescent Moon
Deer Park

The day started out in happy spirits with everyone here. Yeah!! It was so good to see Leo and he appeared to be very  happy to be here. He was quite delighted with his Red”puffy” coat when we were all discussing the warmth of what we had on.  Benny had a present for Simone who gracefully turned it down. He gave it to Simone and she was DELIGHTED!!!  Those who needed to finish their pillows were excited to do so today and all agreed that they were happy to go to Deer park.  They had talked about the fort last week and I said we would go there soon.  So here we were. We sang some winter songs and our welcoming song, passed out stuffed animals and away we went.  The beginning of the day has been described in an email so after that, Benny guided us straight to the fort.  They all scampered up the hill, not an easy task, and went right in to the fort.  It was so beautiful because they ALL went in their to eat.
They showed themselves as a group, not separate individuals as has been expanding each week. They were all conversing together and enjoying this great new home.  I shared with them a song that I sing before eating with sign language and said they now know a little bit about how to speak with their hands. Quite lovely.
As they began to play I brought their awareness to some of the “dangers” of playing on this structure.  We all stopped to look about and notice what was unsafe, how many wanted to get hurt on this day ( it was unanimous, no one wished to get hurt) and what can we do to have fun and stay healthy and whole.  They problem solved and made some personal and group choices and went back to playing.

After a time they scattered to different and in different social configurations.  Sidona was once again enthralled  with some mushrooms so I went with her first to share in this moment and take in the beauty of this great polypor mushroom that she found.   Then I began to sew with first, Bodhi.  He was an Excellent sewer,and, as it turned, out they ALL were!  The needle turned into a little Gnome that would go through the mountain then up, up and up into the sky, then back through the mountain again. Over and over and over the little Gnome traveled until he got to the end of the Mt.  I held my hands on two sides while the needle/Gnome went through.  Then it was Lenny, Benny and then Leo first stuffed and then sewed his pillow with delight.  Leo really loved his pillow and said”can I sleep on it?”  When we were down the hill he wanted to go up and get it again.

All the while during sewing times, some where up near the fort and others were exploring the swing down below.  Then, Benny and Bodhi discovered the bicycle ramps that had LOT’S of mud.  There they sat so very contented for a very long time!  Sidona and Simone were truly happy making creations with sticks and pieces of dead wood.  After all the sewing I asked if they wanted to explore another area. Simone very clearly said “NO, I really like creating these things here.”

I went back and forth between all the groups.  The girls figured out how to make balance beams with some wood there, the boys were enjoying making mud balls.  I made some mud balls and created a target and that got them going on that.  Then Leo found another joy of throwing the mud balls onto a wood board and seeing them get smooshed.   There was some time working with stones to create more stone knives, and I discovered a log that was fun to balance on and a bit challenging.   Leo was very skilled at balancing, Lenny was a bit impatient but began to learn the benefits of slowing down. Bodhi made the BIGGEST mud ball and held it like a dear baby and Benny was in a similar category as Bodhi with his mud ball.

When we finally had to leave that was not the most desired thing to do.  They were just sinking into all of these joys but they rallied.  The girls became “old ladies” with a stick walking back and said it would just take them too long to get back to the bus.  I played this game the first time we went here and it has stuck!!!

And oh yes, soon after lunch Benny had to go poop so we found a good spot to dig a hole and for him to go.  He wanted privacy and it was a bit funny the way all the kids rallied around his need.  It was peaceful yet a bit comical because all the while they all wanted to hear a story I said I would tell.  We waited until Benny was really finished, I covered it up and down we went.  There we sat while Benny was sewing and I told a story called Masha and the Bear.  They are such great listeners to tales.

And so went the day.