Tender Tracks Wed. Day 25

March 28, 2018
Waxing Moon
Roy’s Redwoods

Ellie Muenzen Absent today.

A warm, sunny spring day and we came back to this lovely, lovely place that we have not returned to since early, early on in the year due to cold weather.  Oh wonderfully fun and gorgeous it was here. The children were in very happy and joyous spirits and off we went.  When we got there they were about to go straight to where we used to go to circle but alas, that was too cold so Ruby and I had decided, before this day, to walk straight down the sunny path to warmer yet just as lovely parts.

The walk along the trail met us with plants, holes in the ground, butterflies and running delight.   I went up ahead with Holden and he and I found the water tracks. The trail where the water left it’s sign of how it rushed through the land pushing aside all debris in its way.   The other children, I heard, all became rabbits, eating and hopping to our wonderful spot.

The bouncy tree was immediately remembered and the climbing tree was lower than in the past. It had cracked a bit and was now much easier to get onto.  The Poison Oak was all around in spots and there was much talk and sharing about that fine friend.

When they were on the bouncy tree and taking turns there were some dislike of having to do that, share. Stories of the non-sharing plants such as Star Thistles came up and how the two-legged people work to help them share the land with the plant people that came before them.  The children then shared with greater ease.   Holden and Eamon found a wonderland to play in and went off there.  The old “building site” was found and the whole group went over there for a bit.

A group of older children, that appeared to be from a developmentally delayed program, came and played near us.  One boy was very boisterous with his desire to play with the children and not so aware of the size, age or limitations to his.  Uma became a bit scared of them and snuggled up very close to me. They wanted to play on the bouncy tree too though, so we finished our turn and made room for them.

When they began big games in the area we were in our spot where they love to build in their little home. It needed a great deal of cleaning out so Ashley, Violet, Cole, and Ellie did quite a bit of work picking up big sticks and logs to get them out of there. And then, it was time to rebuild the roof. Eamon and Holden came back for that as well as Luna and we all rebuilt it a bit. Uma was helping Ruby set up lunch in a sunny and new spot.

Lunchtime brought ease and then Ruby and I went into a silent lunch where we spoke without words and listened to all the incredible sounds around us.  Ashley LOVED this and really liked listening to all of the birds. Luna said she was tired and curled up on her coat.  Eamon and Holden were immersed in their world yet settled down a bit and the rest were fairly happy in the whispering mode. Then Grandmother Whisper came out!!!Yes, a very small little Grandmother tucked in Ruby’s pack came out to whisper a hello to all the children and they enjoyed her!

We then packed up and began a splendid journey on a new adventure and path back to the bus.  But first ” Point to where you think Juniper Rose is?” I said.  They were pretty right on about it.  We then kept looking at the trails in front of us and how do you know it’s a trail and the signs to look for.  There were times where we had to stop and look far ahead, off to one side and the other and point again to where we thought the bus was.  All the while they wound up finding little creeks and having to navigate over them trying to stay dry. But alas, the latter, in the end, was not as successful as one might think. Some just got wet!  Violet was so proud of herself for being able to consistently jump over the creek but on the very last jump right below the bus, SPLASH! in her foot went and, she was sad about this.  She came out of it pretty quickly as she was having a GRAND Violet day!!

On our way back we sang many finger play songs which they kept saying “More, More, More!!” And then Ruby and I sang our song When the Green Grass Grows All Around All Around only we use their names and they love this! We sang all the way back.

And Cole, he was quite happy all day until all the kids got off the bus and he didn’t see his nanny and he just got so sad and cried. She came and his tears dried up.