rhythm of a simple spirit – a spirit of simplicity

Tu B’Shavat, is a Jewish holiday that celebrates trees. I am not Jewish so I asked a few friends about how they celebrate. From what I gather it is a holiday that isn’t very widely celebrated here.

In my classroom full of toddlers, we talked about the trees giving apples, oranges, mangoes, and bananas and also how trees give homes to squirrels, birds, and other animals. Our school campus is on an old tree farm so we have a few quite large old trees which are very beautiful.

I picked up a lichen covered branch that had fallen down in a recent storm and brought it into our classroom. Then, I cut out leaf shapes from finger print paintings the children did. We spent our circle time decorating our tree and singing happy birthday.

I think it’s important to teach our children to honor the natural world around them.

I also think it’s important to teach our children to honor other cultures and customs.

This was a win-win in our toddler class.

Nature Notes

communal Global

wordless Wednesday

Wednesdays are a yellow day and in the morning I use a yellow candle on the kitchen table, a yellow dish towel hanging on the stove and a yellow dishcloth at the sink.

We usually do seafood for dinner. I stop at the market on the way home from work to pick it up fresh. It comes in from one of the local fishermen. We live in the seaside town we grew up in and went to school with most of the fishermen.

Wednesdays are laundry day. I wash all of the clothing and kitchen towels that we’ve used that week. There is only two of us so it’s not normally over two loads. On Saturdays I wash the bathroom towels, the bedding, and any other little things that didn’t get washed earlier in the week.

I use the colour pink to categorize self-care. Wednesday’s are the day I check in with myself. What have I done for myself lately? What do I want to do for myself? What do I need to do for myself?

In 2020 I am going to pay a little more attention to how I do self-care. I will be 57 this year. I want to be happy with myself physically, mentally, and spiritually when I turn 60. So, I’m starting to make that happen this year.

I’d like to add some bible studies both on-line and perhaps at church. I have set up a walking routine for the winter months and in April, I plan to start running. Also, I plan to get a pedicure once a month. I don’t normally do this because I never seem to have the time. I’ve been letting my hair return to it’s natural colour. Which is brunette with a fair amount of grey. I don’t think I’ll be all grey till I’m well into my sixties. Self-care, for me, is not having to spend so much time and money at the hair dressers.

Strength and dignity are her clothing

and she laughs at the time to come.

She opens her mouth with wisdom

And the teaching of kindness is on her tongue

Make it pretty Monday

Home and garden Thursday