GardenMama

.: Snow Girl ~ A Photo Journey :.

While my thoughts drift to the green of spring the snow drifts continue to rise...

When the snow finally ebbed into a gentle flurry, I told my husband  I was planning to set off into the woods with my camera to capture the energy of the end of the storm.  My daughter said: "Wait for me mama!" She always has her camera at the ready and creates her own beautiful places that she captures in her mind as well as on her camera.

This time spent capturing moments with my daughter was a memorable one. I watched her as she took her time along the trail in the woods finding beautiful spots on her own. Soon my own photos reflected her journey of enjoyment, entering into the peace of the woods and the mindfulness that nature brings.

This little one has such creativity swirling within her mind and heart. She has more talent and beauty in her mind's eye than I could ever imagine.  I am thankful to be on this journey alongside each of the children, watching them find meaning in their lives through their interests and mediums of choice.

I am thankful for this time with my daughter doing something we both love--walking together in the snowy woods finding beauty while bonding with one another.

This time for me in the woods turned from a time of appreciating nature to a time spent appreciating the beauty of a child appreciating nature. 

I am thankful for these quiet, unexpected, and unplanned moments.  They are cherished moments in time that will never be repeated in exactly the same way but will last a lifetime in my heart.

Children in our lives are remarkable creatures of light. I am thankful to be let into their world and to share these moments of seeing the world through their eyes, while watching them grow and learn.

 

I look forward to many more moments with each of the children--finding beauty in life together in quiet unexpected times that are truly magical.

.: Seasonal Window Adornment ~ Tutorial :.

As the snow continues to fall we enjoy the warmth of home.  Our gaze outdoors is met with a landscape of white snow so we set our sights on adding a bit of color to our windows indoors!

With many dried pine needles left behind after the holidays, we gathered them up to recycle and craft with for a day just like today...

We enjoyed creating many seasonal wreaths of dried pine, red berries, and pinecones and hung them in the windows of the living room.  The windows are full with color and natural beauty with a backdrop of snow.

This piece of sturdy cardboard was recycled from the back of a watercolor paper pad.

 I selected a bowl just the size I wished for each wreath to be. I then placed it upon the cardboard to trace a circle.

With a cup I traced on the inside of each circle to create a ring that would be cut out.

After cutting out a cardboard ring template we were ready to begin!

Dried evergreen needles had previously been set aside from our Christmas tree as well as a few evergreen branches I have placed on our nature table. We gathered mini pinecones and some red berries that grow right outside our door for all of us to create our wreaths.

The children and I were already cozy in the living room watching the snow fall outdoors through the windows so I set out the cover of a large box for the children to use as a creating area. 

Each child's wreath was coated in glue-- and then--as if decorating a cake, they went right to play!

These little wreaths are simple to create, while also looking natural and beautiful in your windows. They can also of course be as simple or complex as you wish, enjoyed by mamas too as I always enjoy creating alongside my littles.

 

Finished with a piece of natural-colored Raffia ribbon, these wreaths add a bit of seasonal color to our days. I look forward to adapting them to other seasons as well.  We will enjoy creating new wreaths as the seasons change with dried flowers, pressed leaves, or shells.

.:Magic In The Woods!:.

.: Three snow children on an adventure in the woods by the sea! :.

Tiny snow babies danced from the heavens over the past few days. When they had finished their dancing they settled here on earth giving us a great surprise with their visit! 

On this day we gathered up our mittens, hats, and snowboots and set out to enjoy our own dancing and stroll through the woods!

.: Mesmerizing ice sculptures all along the way! :.

.: The artists of Winter always inspire and amaze us! :.

When the snow babies come out to play they often inspire other friends of Winter to also do their work. We enjoyed many beautiful ice sculptures left by King Winter!

.: Frozen ocean mist creates prisms as it clings to the reeds :.

A delicate mist from the ocean lands all along the reeds and grasses growing along its waters. The mist clings to the reeds and is left frozen in it's tracks. There it basks in the sun, creating beautiful prisms!

.: Dripping diamonds are perfectly placed and sparkled throughout the forest! :.

A winter fairy clearly enjoyed a time of play here in the woods while decorating the forest in sparkling diamonds that dripped from each branch.

.: A log table set with many mushroom seats set for a moonlit meal! :.

We noticed a log table out here in the woods, complete with numerous mushrooms that served as seats for all the fairies, gnomes, and small creatures of the forest. Surely they will dine together this evening under the snowy moonlight!
 

.: We were lucky enough to see Queen Winter's magical wand! :.

A magical wand glistened with snow and ice. Queen Winter takes in the artwork in the forest she has recently completed.

 

.: We followed  footprints in the snow left by others also appreciating the magic of Winter! :.

We follow tracks through the snow left by deer and other visitors here on this day who also enjoy the work and play that Winter shares with us!
 

.: Snow children enjoy the adventure and beauty of this day! :.

My own snow children enjoy the magic of the woods! The adventure and beauty surrounds us all on this sparkling white winters day! 

.: Sparkling and bright, the winter brings joy to our spirits on this day! :.

Everything is sparkling today, bringing such light and magic to our hearts!