cabin fever!

Wow! So you go on a little mini vacation and you never quite recover from being unplugged. But we're back and I promise we've been busy so we're just going to have to reminisce and then just MOVE ON. It happens. And I'm over feeling guilty about it.

However, I HIGHLY RECOMMEND taking an unplugged vacation. We happened to be visiting a cabin that literally sat in a valley with NO cell reception. "What?" you gasp?? It's true. And it was WONDERFUL.

Here's how we "filled our time"...

Creek Duds. Everyone in their lifetime should get the opportunity to swim in a fresh water, mountain-fed creek. Hellllllloooooo Loyalsock!

Chalk Wall @ Home We missed our little piece of heaven so much that the morning after we returned, we made sure to create a chalk mural with our favorite memories. Our first FIRE RING was a big HIT! We also recommend this as a great rainy day project. It really only takes two coats of a quart {or less} of chalkboard paint {We got ours @ Lowes}. Voila! Instant, reusable canvas...






Found object collage Okay so this is not groundbreaking, BUT it was a great family project. We enjoyed the search probably more than the actual art production, but it did allow everyone to express themselves uniquely, and it is quite meditative.

***** GREAT BREAKFAST TIP ******
We highly recommend the Forksville General Store for a yummy breakfast {lunch or dinner}. It's exactly as it sounds, but with live entertainment on the weekends that requires reservations. Watch OUT!

sunprints!

Can't wait to do this! Thank you to my friend Jeanne!!

Check it out here...

little sprouts finger paint

We've discovered a LOVELY little place in West Chester, PA called Little Sprout's Village. Miss Noreen has brilliantly and graciously opened her home and gardens to the little people of her community and offers classes on cooking, art, and so much more.

Monday's Big Hands/Little Hands class involved using HOMEMADE finger paints {I will post the recipe as soon as Noreen emails it to me} and found objects to create art. She even swirled some sand into some paint. Really great tactile sensation! Amazingly, most everyone also went 3D with their creations...

stuck on Da

Mama and Daddy had a wedding to go to...yeah! so Dasch spent the night at Mumsie and Da's which means there were a WHOLE LOT of projects going on in the wood shop. Pics to come!!!

saturday bird feedin'

This project is simple, simple, simple, but is fantastic for developing fine motor skills and hand-eye coordination...for big and little people alike. And the repetition is quite meditative. plus, you're recycling materials and communing with nature. Yes!

Cheerios Bird Feeder

Materials
2 popsicle sticks
String
Cheerios

How to:

1) Tie one end of the string around the popsicle stick {we used fancy plastic cocktail stirrers}. Leave about 18" at the end so you can tie to a branch.

2) Start stringing your Cheerios.
3) Once you feel it's long enough {or you've run out of cereal}, tie the other end of the string to the second popsicle stick and Voila!....bird feeder!!


4) Go hang from a tree and watch the squirrels go nuts trying to have at it :)

choo choo charlie

Today we left the car at camp and trekked on down the street to the Regional SEPTA line and landed in Bryn Mawr. We had NO idea where the wind would blow us. We just knew the train ride was KEY.

We ended up at Milkboy Coffee and were treated to several showings of the espresso machine in action...from a professional barista — who was nothing short of wonderful and gracious — and PATIENT!! Did anyone know that you need to level and tamper the finely {dust-like} grounds to allow for proper water flow??

Our lunch was iced with an alley FULL of air conditioners. Raised ones. Sooooo cool.

ahhhh-rboretum

Well, it's tranquil for most. That's if you actually choose to walk the trails. Nonetheless, we WILL return...even if it is just to hydrate ourselves.

For thoses of you more determined to immerse yourselves, Jenkins Arboretum in Devon, PA is nothing short of spectacular and they're doing some really groovy things with Geothermal heating & cooling, people-powered guided tours {another big hit...there were cranks and buttons}, water choices when flushing the "potty" and SO much more.