Tender Tracks Tues. Day 57

April 25, 2017
Waning Crescent Moon
Roy’s Redwoods

All were here. Archer was the one to pass out the stuffed animals and he did quite sweetly.  Isabella and Edie remembered that they were Guardians of Safety and we made sure to put their first aid kits on their packs before we left.

The ride to Roy’s was sweet as they all talked about this and that and played together with their stuffed animals that they had in cozy blankets.  Usually I suggest that they whisper some nice stories to their stuffed animals since the animals have had no one to play with all weekend.  The children jump right in to doing this. It is one of the many precious things about this age.

When we got there I instructed them where to put their packs, different then where we usually put them, and out they went to get there.  Edie helped me with the rest of the belongings and Jake was with us as he needed a warmer coat.

When we got down there there was a large group of older students playing hide and go seek games. The children did what young children usually do around big kids, they got in “safe” places and watched!. All that is accept Ruby and Isabella who were immersed in trying to cross the creek where a log had been placed down. Back and forth back and forth they went.

Most of the boys, after acclimating, went over to their favorite bouncy tree. There they climbed on and were ready to go!!  All that is accept Kuba who needed to get on which takes a bit of a climb and effort.  So they all waited.  Then Edie came over and there was more waiting and then finally, finally, finally, the swinging happened!!!!!!
Then there was figuring how to get off. Jesse had a fine technique and he was doing his best to share this with Jake. Jake enjoyed his way and slipped off landing upon the ground with a small tumble bumble. Then, off to play and soon after to circle.

Circle was very beautiful. The story was one called The Empty Pot. The plot structure of The Empty Pot is: Ping, the main character, loves to grow flowers. The emperor, who loves flowers himself, is seeking a successor for his throne. He decides that the child who can grow the most beautiful flower will be able to take his place on the throne. Ping, who passes the test that the emperor gives, earns the spot because of his strong virtues. 

This story led us into something Michelle had planned for us but first: Kuba and Jesse became Bald Eagles. They have been loving turning their coats over their heads with their arms and being birds. Today they were the Bald Eagles that had little babies to feed.  They made a great little nest and worked on that for awhile.  Jake and Archer were gathering, gathering, gathering lot’s of sticks for a special home they were creating. Isabella and Ruby had their own special home that Edie and I came to visit for food and tea. They quite nicely gave us some.  Then they all joined the area that the boys were in and played until circle.

After circle there was some more play, as they had more to do! Then we all gathered round on a beautiful log and Michelle shared with them 5 packages of wild flower seeds with the pictures on the front of the packages.  We have been seeing many wild flowers of late and they recognized and could name a few of them.  Then, one by one they got seeds one package at a time, gave them their love and well wishes and put them in a pot. Then the soil went in and then they all went to gather good mud to put in the pot. Once that all was in their was stirring and mixing and then rolling into balls!  Then, they put them in a small bowl, washed their hands in the creek and off we went on our adventure.

We made it to Eagle Rock. The wild flowers and wild edibles were all around us and it was beautiful.  We climbed up the big hill to Eagle Rock. The girls were down at the bottom as Isabella and Edie, as Guardian of Safety, came to Rubies rescue with their bandaids and such.  They then came up.

After settling in it was time to send our Seed Balls into the open field in front of us with love and great big tosses!!!!

We had lunch up there, we made Vetch ( a plant with beautiful purple flowers) crowns, climbed up the big rock, made up a song for Poky hill ( the Thistle children were all around and they are POKY!!!!) There were stories told, magnifying glasses taken out to explore with and so much more.

Another sweet, and tender day.

On the way back they were all playing a hide and go seek game with their stuffed animals and each other.