Tag Archive for: Marin Wednesday 2012

Marin Wednesday Day 11, Feb. 8, 2012

Waning Gibbeous Moon
Lake Lagunitas

Today was a gloriously warm, sunny and beautiful day.  The children were alive and filled with enthusiasm and openness.
We hopped on the bus, sang our welcoming songs led by WoHe, the stuffed Orangutang, described jobs to Simone and off we went.  She had a choice to be a Guardian of Safety with Sidona or the Guardian of Directions with Lenny. Well, it was pretty easy to know which she would choose, yes, Guardian of Safety.  She and Sidona had a GREAT time being this today and everyone else enjoyed them being it too.

When we got there Sidona said she was very hungry and others agreed. It was Bodhi’s turn to decide where we were to go but he did not want to choose where we could go to be in the sun and eat so Leo took over.  He took us up this big road that looked like a fire road to our left.  It was  a steep hike up but all were troopers.  Lenny really wanted to take us somewhere and it was some work to let Leo and Bodhi choose so he became the “Scout” of the group and that worked out for everyone. He ran up ahead to check out spots that looked like they might work for us and what a help that was!!!  We wound up not only finding a great place to eat but a cross road of two trails!  As we were eating a woman came hiking down and described to us what was along each trail.  The upper one sounded the best and Bodhi liked that one so, after lunch that was where we went.  However, while we were eating Simone said “Where’s the story?”  Oh yes, where was the story and which story.  “Tell about the girl and the Gnomes!” “No tell about….” I can’t remember the second suggestion and then there was a third one but finally I let them know that I was hearing a story right then and there and it was just for Valentines day about, yes, about….a GNOME!! So I told them another Gnome story and his friend finding heart rocks and using them to help his friend find his way and….. on it went.  It was then time to pack up and go off on the trail.

Oh my, this trail was BEAUTIFUL!!!  Each step we walked there were wonderful things to find and Sidona brought us into the world of mushrooms, again.  How great because by the end of the day ALL the children were having fun finding mushrooms and we were all entranced with this world.  I told stories about different mushrooms and about how they help us all and we gathered different lichen and moss to make Fairy houses.  The children found different trees to play on and then Lenny had to go poop. So, time out, off I took Lenny and when he was done, Simone and Sidona had made great and beautiful Fairy houses and down the trail we went.   It didn’t take us too long before they found this GREAT Madrone or “refrigerator tree” to swing on.  And there we stayed for the rest of the afternoon.

This tree had the perfect and thick enough branch to sit on, bounce on and yet not break at all.  One to four children would sit on one end and one or more children would pull it up and down and up and down.  What fun they had!  Simone sat on it like a fine lady riding side saddle.  She just needed a paras0l and all would have been well.  Leo was the first to create this job of giving children rides.  After that they all chimed in at different times and taking turns.  Then, Leo said he got a little cut.  There was no blood but the girls really wanted to do their job, Guardian of Safety,or as Lenny calls it, Dr.  They both took out their pouches with a few different things in them and “DR’d” everyone that wanted it. Then Leo and Lenny got really into pretending they were getting hurt and this went on for quite a while.  Bodhi and Lenny had  a beautiful and involved conversation while Bodhi sat on the tree and Lenny was asking him all about Tigers and such. Bodhi of course had quite a bit to say about that subject.
They all just had so much fun on this Nature made bouncy toy and the surrounding area.

Not knowing how long it would take to get back it seemed time to pack up and off we went. But alas, we didn’t get too far again when we saw the most amazing views and then LOT’S of different kinds of mushrooms that we all got very involved in.  We looked under and around logs and found at least five different varieties plus Witches Butter!  We ran down the hill, all finally found our way to the bottom with just five minutes to spare so, “Let’s take a peak at the waterfall before we go” I said. So, checking for Metal Monsters crossing the concret river, all was clear then we RANNNN and made it over safely.  They really wanted to climb more logs and cross the creak but we really didn’t have time for that so we found fun trees to play in for a few moments.  As I got int he bus they found a California Newt and stayed with that for a bit then, buckled up, sharing thank you’s, big smiles and off we went. But not with out the calling for stories, at least three different kinds and I finally settled on the “Original story of Little Red Cap.”  A story where she felt from the beginning that something was wrong and found her way out of there and got the Woodcutter.
A bit scary for Bodhi, he said.  And the girls loved it and the other boys said boring but, you never know!!!

 

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Marin Tender Tracks Day 10, Feb. 1, 2012

Waxing Gibbeous Moon
Roys Redwood

Today began with Simone deciding that she preferred to stay home and so she got to receive her wish!  That left Bodhi, Lenny, Sidona and Leo.  They were all in great spirits.  Tomoko stayed as the children were given, for the first time ever, Jobs and she was able to learn where our adventures would take us.  These jobs consist of: Guardian of Safety ( the one who carries a small first aid kit on their back pack. If anyone gets hurt they are the “first responder.”), The Guardian of the People ( they choose either where we go for the day or, when we get there, what direction we go and make sure we all are together), and The Guardian of Directions
(they help us find our way back from our adventures.)  They picked stones from a leather bag, found out their jobs and then, Leo and Bodhi, who were the Guardians of the People, got to choose where we were going to go for the day.  Leo wanted Roy’s Redwood so that we could go back to where we found the Gnomes at Christmas time but Bodhi wanted to go Nicasio land where we gathered the Cattails.  Sidona suggested a version of Icky Bicky Soda cracker. (at the moment I am forgetting their version)  They agreed and she did it for the boys.  Leo won this round and next week Bodhi can have his choice. So, off we went and I was so happy to have Tomoko there and witnessing this beautiful moment of the children figuring this all out.

When we got there we saw the works of the Great Winds as there were big Redwood branches downed on the fence right near the parking area.  We all jumped right over that and then had to figure out which way to go.  To the Gnomes? well, that would be to our left and off we went.   Sidona was tracking the sun light and the areas without it and the rest were just running until they came to the Horse trough.  There they had a lot of explorations with what, if thrown in the water, would sink or float.  Lot’s of weights of materials/sticks, stones, lichen…., were thrown in and a lot of giggles from the results. Then there was cleaning it all out for when the horses come by.  Sidona got us up the trail to find some WONDER FUL mushrooms but then, what did I find?  something hidden in a hole in the tree?  Were the Gnomes giving us yet another present?  These are truly the mysteries of life but out came a colorful bracelet that was tucked in the nook of a tree hole.  Leo and Lenny  really wanted to wear it or, Lenny, really wanted it.   The icky bicky game came out and Sidona led it again.  Leo got to wear it first and Lenny was very upset about this.  Not too very long after his wave of upset moved through him and when they were all playing again, Leo decided that he was done with it and gave it to Lenny.  Lenny was hoping to keep it but it was decided that it was a Tender Tracks treasure to be shared.  He adjusted fairly well to that,  I light heartedly laugh about this because, he was a bit hesitant about  the wisdom of this decision!

As we made our way up the path tummies got very hungry so, we plopped right down and they pulled out their lunches.  Stories shared, food eaten and then, time to find where the Gnomes last visited us.  Then,  WE FOUND IT! or at least Bodhi was sure of the place,.( he actually was quite right, though there was some debate.)  They checked out the place where they found their gifts before. They walked all through it looking, looking but no specific treasures found.  However, as we stayed in that area for the rest of the day, GREAT treasures were found. Rocks that crumbled when hit with another rock, and rocks that did not.  Jumping spiders, bones, Bobcat scat? Coyote Scat?  big holes in the ground, making stone houses and lastly, gathering lot’s of dry grass to make dolls, balls, and, BROOMS!  Lenny really wanted a broom and then the others thought that was great. Bodhi was content with the ball that I made.  They were REALLY into gathering and gathering and gathering and it was not an easy task to have them realize that it was time to go.  I had to quickly put together the last of the brooms and then off we went.  Sidona’s broom was large and Leo was willing to carry her’s all the way down the hill.   We found different paths to take and then meet each other
(that little Redwood Tree round about) and, when we got back, we were, believe it or not, there before any of you!,The children really wanted to hide from you.  Tomoko came up and I had to tell her that the children were simply GONE!! But oh dear, where did they go? and POP!!!! out Lenny came, Sidona, and lastly Leo. Bodhi’s Dad was there almost right away so Bodhi was not in on this though I know he would have REALLY liked it as he LOVES this sort of thing.

It was a very fine and connected day.

 

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