Tender Tracks Wed. Day 27

April 12, 2017
Full Moon
Lake Lagunitas

Susie, Jasper & Vita were absent today.

The rest of us were together and in fine spirits. The sky was something to be watched all day. The clouds covered Grandpa Sun with clouds that turned many colors and shapes until , by the end of the day  something happened….The Sun came out!!!! There was blue sky and warmth on our skin and faces.

The day began in the bus with finding different plants hanging from the roof of the bus. What kind of plants were they? How did they smell???  We explored these little plants by smelling, touching and seeing. It was fun to discover and wonder if we could discover more throughout our day.  We made sure that we had our eyes, ears, nose, mouth, toes, fingers and the like all with us for our day and then off we went.

When we arrived there was an immediate and large puddle that was found. Puma instantly went in and filled his ONE boot. Tender Tracks hand an extra pair that worked just fine and he was able to play in the puddles for the rest of the day!

We had our circle inside the little log cabin home there at the picnic table.  We heard again about the adventures of the little boy and little girl whose grandparents taught them much about gardening, smelling, seeing and touching and finally, how to give gifts and songs to the Fairies.  And, a fairy came to visit them with a wish.
When asked what wish the children would have if they were asked it was fun to hear.

We then went exploring the area. Puma and Oliver went straight to the creek but then Oliver had to go poop. He and I went to the porta potties. When we got back WHERE WAS EVERYONE????  They were hiding just like the Fairies and the little boy and girl did in the story. They were playing Hide and Go Seek and we could not find them. We finally did though and YEAH!!!  They were all hiding inside one of our favorite trees.   First Puma came out, then Avaline who tumbled just a little and got up with a great big smile and then Ruthie came sliding out with Linda right behind.

Puma and Oliver were in their beloved way of finding newts and playing with them. Today I gave them lot’s of opportunities of tending to these creatures with the greatest of care. One of the ways of doing that was to sit on the ground while holding them so that if they fell it wouldn’t be such a long drop.  And they did this.:)

Avaline and Puma later on went down under the waterfall with Linda and DID NOT want to leave!!! the two of them had so, so, so , so , so, so, so much fun!!!!!!  Ruthie spent the day in, what looked like, a state of awe and wonder. She quietly wandered all around BEING apart of nature.  Her wish from the story and her thank you’s at the end of the day were all about the earth.  Several times I saw her so quietly and carefully getting close to the earth and gently gliding her hand along the tops of the dew dropped grasses just feeling it or going over the water puddles and doing the same. She was in a trance of Earth and Sky it seemed yet easily partaking in and with the group.

We began our adventure towards the Bon Tempe Lake on the other side of the parking lot. Along the way we found GRAND mud monster spots where the children had to be very, very careful not to loose their boots to those playful little Mud Monster children.
We found a creek RUSHING and so very red where once it was clear and not half as big.
Do you have any guesses why the water was red? What could make the waters red????

The bridge that was built there from the other Tender Trackers was washed almost away and we had to figure out how to get across. While the others were trying to cross the logs Ruthie just walked right through and over.  We then found the edge of the Lake and there we stayed.

They all got together and were gathering “fish” to cook.  I made the place to store all the fish as well as the fire circle and they fished and fished.  Oliver was in a very opposite kind of day though so, everything that anyone set to do or put together Oliver wanted to take apart.  The fish then got thrown back into the lake and the children started gathering all over again.  Avaline found a fishing hook with a rubber bait on it.  After looking at it for a bit and telling them what it was I then put it away due to being unsafe for them.

Lunch time came and right as we were about to begin Oliver found what looked like another fisherman’s bait but, it was a real life Dragon fly that was in distress.  We put it to the side to rest while we ate lunch and as soon as lunch was over Oliver went back to where I put and began to spend most of the rest of the day mesmerized and playing with this being.  It looked like it was on it’s last moments of this world so I finally had Oliver sit in my lap and we watched it, hands off, to give it a little breather and rest.  Oliver spent the day finding MANY, MANY, MANY bugs and creatures and he was delighted with this!!

The other children enjoyed his finds and looked at all of the creatures he found with joy. But then, back to their games they went.  Family, Avaline, Fishing, Puma and Exploring the waters, Ruthie.

When it was time to go they had a grand time finding their way back through the big creek to cross, the Mud Monsters to by pass and Juniper Rose to find. But first, a porta potty break before we got on the bus. 🙂