Tuesday, October 29, 2013

Apple Harvest



Apple Orchard
Apple Orchard

Looking out our living room window and across the pond, we have a beautiful view of the apples orchard.  Cheeky squirrels scurry up the branches to steal the fruit and hoard it in their holes for their winter meal.

A basket full of apples
A Basket full of Apples


The children all gathered their baskets and set out to harvest some apples.  The farm had been neglected for many years.  Now that we have bought it a bit of love, good care and compost should bring the sweet juiciness back into these little fuji apples.

Many of our apples have been eaten by birds and squirrels but at least they left us some.

I picked it
I picked it

Sprightly the children nimbly climbed into the trees to pluck each apple from a branch.  The ladder was used for those high up on skinny branches.

Belle flying high
Belle flying high

As high as the palms.

Little Chloe munching away
Little Chloe munching away


Sweet Chloe likes the little apples that fit so perfectly in her delicate hands.

Rosie fuji
A rosie Fuji

A touch of sweetness.

Sani and Misae with their basket full
Sania and Misae with their basket full

The children happy with their basketful of apples.

Autumn Table
Autumn Table

The children at Spirit Mountain School had as much fun as the squirrels during the harvest season.  We all enjoyed apple desserts and juices. They spent an afternoon peeling, slicing and coring the remaining apples and hung them to dry which made delicious treats!

They have been busy crafting little autumn fairies for their Autumn table.  They visited and explored our neighbors ranch to gather pinecones as they have many pine trees lining the pathways to make these sweet little fairies.   Magic Onions has a wonderful autumn fairy tutorial to follow should you wish to make some.

Wednesday, October 9, 2013

Photos from Michaelmas

St. George and the people
St. George and the people

Two weeks before Michaelmas, this intimate little group of children from Spirit Mountain School made their new home on our farm. Several children participated in the play including the boys.

Our children have mostly been unschooled, with a Waldorf inspiration.  We did a little lesson here and there but their learning has always been on and around the farm.  With the arrival of the twins I have had little time to guide their learning so decided that a tutor might be needed. While searching around we came across Spirit Mountain school.  They were looking for a new location and we offered the cottage in our home.  They have settled in beautifully.  Their teacher has enjoyed working in a Waldorf teaching environment and provides fun and creative days for the children.  They are loving it and so am I.


The King and Villagers
The King and Villagers

It was Sasha and Sania's very first play and they performed beautifully.


King George fights the Dragon
St. George fights the dragon

Sasha was St. George and so proud of his part as he fights the Dragon.


Bowing at the end of play
Bowing at the end of the play

The finale!

Tug of War
Tug of War

Feats and courage of strength were displayed by many of the challenging games we had for the children.  The children were to pass through the dragon swamp by stepping from log to log. We had a monkey swing and a  slack line which crossed over hot lava. Balancing beams and the trampoline were fun.  Tug of war was the most humorous of all feats and many went home with blisters on their hands.



The dragon bread the children made
The Dragon bread

We all feasted on their fierce dragon bread and enjoyed a healthful potluck brought by all the families who visited.  It was a lovely day.