Finger Painting Fun.

I got so depressed yesterday when my son wouldn't come to me or kiss me. I know that this is a normal stage that children go through, but it is still a hard pill to swallow. This morning when we were doing our morning routine, I realized we had fallen into a rut. So I set out to have some crafting time with my son.

Sage just turned two. I have been dying to finger paint with him, but he puts everything in his mouth. I have been afraid to let him use the store bought finger paints. They tend to be aimed toward older kids and have chemicals in them. I am sure that the more reputable brands must be safe, but I feel more comfortable knowing what my son will inevitably digest. I found this recipe athttp://www.creativekidsathome.com. They have other recipes and even one that the kids can help make, but my son is not quite ready for that yet.

They are made with the same ingredients that I use in baking so there is nothing toxic to ruin my pots.

Homemade Finger Paint

Ingredients

1/2 cup cornstarch 3 Tbsp. sugar 1/2 tsp. salt 2 cups cold water food coloring

Directions

In a medium pan, mix all the ingredients together to make the finger paint. Cook over low heat 10 to 15 minutes. Keep stirring the finger paint mixture until it is smooth and thick (a spatula works best at keeping the mixture from sticking to the sides and bottom of the pot). After the finger paint has thickened take the pan off the stove and let the mixture cool. ( I found that it took longer for the mixture to thicken.)

After cooling, divide the finger paint into storage containers depending on how many colors you would like. Add a few drops of food coloring to each container. Stir the coloring in to the paint to determine the shade of color. You're ready to finger paint! Cover tightly when storing.

We had so much fun. I think he was wearing more than made it to the paper. I was right about the digestion of paint, I was really glad I made it from scratch. No Picasso, but maybe a Van Gogh.

Three Sisters

As I walk into the garden this morning, the butterflies and hummingbirds were playing with the bumblebees amongst the corn. I watch for a while, then leave them alone to enjoy their frolic before the afternoon heat set in. I’ll come back later…. Pumpkins are ripening in the field and on the fence. The fence is cheap. Flimsy green coated wire used to contain tomatoes. I had it left from a project last year. I used it to keep Sage (my son) and Salvador (the dog) out of the garden. Nothing is more destructive to seedlings than a golden retriever and a two year old. I’ve been limiting my gardening spending this year so I utilize what I had. When the vines started to get long, I trained some of them to climb the fence. I didn’t think about the weight of the pumpkins. It is not vital at the moment but all the pumpkins are growing at the top of the fence. The weight will get to be too much soon. So I am in the process of building a support to tie the pumpkins to. They look magickal growing in the air. The sweet corn is really beginning to produce. At last count I have a witches dozen of sweet corn. A few ears are nearing harvest. I can’t wait for the day when I my family sit down to the table and enjoy the fruits of my labor. The stalks are tall and health. They will make a beautiful fall display on the front porch, especially with the Hopi Blue fruiting. Hopefully, the Butcher’s Blood will give me at least one ear. The butternut squash ripen and grow quietly and unassuming among the pumpkins and the corn, happily ripening in the sun. I have been harvesting green beans for a while now. Groups of six plants grow around each of the five corn circles. They are really going crazy. My family is not the only ones enjoying their goodness, but my friends having them for dinner also. I see canning in the near future. Holiday green bean casserole made with fresh canned green beans. Food that from seed, I grew harvested and processed myself. I can taste it now.

Cross Stitch...My first crafting love.

The winter solstice is alway one of my favorite times. I remember growing up we always made ornaments for our tree. My mother wasn't openly wiccan, but she had her tendencies. That could be why she steered me toward that path. I think she secretly wanted to practice the wiccan religion, but she was afraid to upset my grandmother. I grew up disappoiting people so it wasn't a delima for me. I digress..... Before I got pregnant with my son, I purchased the Crafters Corner Stocking kit. It just spoke to me. I always wanted to cross stitch my own stocking, but never could find one that I really liked. After finding the kit I set out on a journey to finish it. I didn't realize how hard it was going to be. I thought that it would only take me a couple of months. I couldn't have been more wrong. The first Yule came and went. I had barely put a dent in it and it was put away for awhile. During this time, I got pregnant so my mind went else where until I had to start staying off my feet. So I picked it back up for a while. By the time I had my son, I finished about a third of it. If you have children you know how crazy things can get. So it went back on the shelf. One day I was looking online at cross stitch patterns and found the one that I wanted for my son. I couldn't start it until I finished mine. So I pulled it off the shelf again. It took me another few months, but I actually finished by last Yule.