Wednesday Marin Tender Tracks (note the name change) Day 6, Jan. 4, 2012

Waxing Gibbeous Moon
John and Peggy’s Land in Nicassio

What a beautiful January day in Marin.  It was so warm one would have thought spring was just around the corner. However, my experience is that every January it feels like this and then finally the rains come, with a grand welcome.  Bodhi and Lenny came with openess to the day and then we went to pick up our other friends.   Benny ran to the bus with great exuberance, Simone was quite quiet along with Leo and Sidona arrived a little later.  She was not happy at all about going yet Mom needed her to stay so, with a great deal of unhappy tears she was on the bus, door closed and Mom heading off.  The children were very calm and present and had some loving suggestions for her but she was not interested.  I offered a nice soft rabbit skin that is offered to all children when their hearts are sad but she didn’t want it.  The other children though really did as well as the books that I offered. So, they were all content and then I joyfully let them know that I was taking them to a new and wonder filled place that has been offered to us to play at whenever we wish.  I let them know that we were going to gather Cat Tail down to make pillows. The making of the pillows would be on another day. They seemed excited and interested in this.

Off we went and Sidona was filled with whimpers for at least half of the ride.  Simone’s tender heart was really wondering how long Sidona would cry and if it would be all day. Great conversation came from this and then somehow I wound up saying how much I love sparkley things. Well, that was the key.  She began to talk about how much she liked sparkley things too and then everything was up hill from there.  Benny had some challenging moments today as well but nothing on the grand scale and he made it through without much of a hitch.  The end of the day at drop off Bodhi was very sad because somehow his cattail did not make it to him and went to someone else, so, either someone got one who didn’t want one or I lost one! And that is about it for the major discomforts. Now for the easier parts and more readily enjoyable parts of the day.

When we got to this new place they went right to the lawn because Benny said he was really hungry and there they ate and I told them a story about Snowflake and the Dragon. A tale about chivalry, finding friends in unexpected places, choices,  Fairy Mothers and Queen Mother Moon making snow,how to use a sword for good and not to harm, and the Months of the year.  I gave them a couple new songs, one of which is a song that sings the names of the months, seasons and days of the week.   It was finally time to pack up lunch and find our way to the Cat tails.  They were so very, very present and up for the adventure.  They had to climb over two gates and figure out how to do that with their backpacks on. Some took theirs off and slipped thru the fence, some climbed over, and some slipped thru with their packs on.  We went up hills and then down thru the grasslands to another fence and the same problem solving took place.  Leo led the way and found the huge lake to play at.  Instantly they began to find stones to throw in it and I found the cattails.  We went over there and at first only Sidona, Simone and Leo were gathering and cleaning the Cattail down into the bag.  One by one the others came by and added to the bag. It got fuller and fuller. Sidona was quite pleased withherself that she could get the Cat tails by herself. Bodhi discovered that he could too and was very happy about this as well.

Over by the lake Lenny, Benny and Bodhi were having fun throwing rocks and then looking under the rocks where they found rolly pollys.  What fun was that?!  They were mesmerized by these beings and had such fun with them.  I aided them with knowing all about lifting the beings roof up and then putting it back down again.  They found wonderful little shells there and later, on our way back,we found great tracks: deer, coyote? and other questionable markings.

When it was time to go all but Simone and Sidona ran off so there is still some learning about how to make sure the whole group is together.  I needed them to come back because I took them back a different way.  It is a way with much mud  and climbing up and down.   They had to really figure out how to navigate thru different terrain, through mud and through very tall grasses.  They rose to the occasion.  Benny did lose his shoe at one point to the mud so I came back, got the shoe, put it back on and off we went.  Then, I think my favorite part, was seeing how each one of them navigated over the cow guard, metal bars on the road to keep cows from crossing.  They have very wide spaces between them.  Lenny and Simone were most challenged by it.  Simone just figured out how to hold on to the rail on the other side to cross but Lenny was baffled by it all and gave up until I suggested that he watch how Simone was getting across. He went straight to doing what she did and was delighted.

The ride back they were happy with their rabbit furs and books and then a story that I told from a request, a typical request as we drive back.

A very lovely day and my heart is beaming with joy to be on this land.  We can come here anytime and we are very WELCOME!! Welcome to build fires, harvest plants and add to the land.  What a joy I can’t even begin to describe!