HAPPY BIRTHDAY

16% Off All SELECTED ITEMS AT MY ETSY SHOP

PLUS

A FREE GIFT WITH EVERY PURCHASE!

COME AND VISIT MY SHOP

allthingsimple.etsy.com

'Tis the Season for local Shopping Vermont Etsy Members

'Tis the Season for some Local shopping! Come and check out some wonderful Vermont Artisans at Etsy!

Contentedbutterfly

Where Shetland sheep are raised in Windsor, Vermont

" Woven balsam Sachet " 

only $4.00

Rainbow Sky Paintings

Watercolor paintings created by an amazing Eight year old boy 

" Rainbow Mountain Watercolor Painting "

only $6.99

Wicked Good Farm

Handcrafted items from a small family farm in the Champlain Valley

"Rosemary Mint Soap"

only $4.00

Child's Play Crochet

Handcrafted children's treasures from the woods of Vermont!

"Crochet Cupcakes with Sprinkles "

only $20.00

 

Fuzzy Bunny

Handcrafted Vegan specialties coming from Montpelier,Vermont

" Chocolate Orange Lip balm"

only $3.00 each

 

Vermont Maple

Delicious Maple products from North Hartland, Vermont

"Vermont Breakfast Club "

only $26.99

 

Twin Birch Bath & Body

Natural handcrafted items made in our shop with lots of Vermont Love & Good Vibe

"Pamplemousse"

$15.00

 

Jamilary

Trendy,Classy Beaded Jewelry from South Burlington, Vermont

 "Blue Magic Earings"

only $30.00

 

Itselemental

It's Elemental..." Inspired by the mystical, the natural, the musical, and everything in between.."

"Peace Art Cards "

only $15.00

 

 

Laughingcoyote

Fine Handcrafted woodworking from Stamford, Vermont

"Tiger Maple Cheese Board"

only $28.00

 

AllAboutCats 

Handmade Items For Cats (and for humans who love them)

" Miss Sweetie Organic Catnip toy "

only $6.00

 

 

 

HandworkArtStudio 

Charming Little Handmade designs from South Burlington,Vermont

 "Wizard Doll"

only $29.00

 

Truly Noted

Elegantly designed note cards from a shop nestled in Jericho,Vermont

" Regalia Flower Custom Note cards"

only $12.00

Yellowdogfarmvt

Yellow Dog Farm, owned by Jim and Ellen, is located in the island town of South Hero, Vermont located in Lake Champlain.

" Macanero Hot Sauce"

 only $5.50 each

SpottedCowSoaps 

Nestled deep in the heart of Vermont amongst the mountain views and dairy farms you will find Spotted Cow Soaps!

"Spa Bath Accessories in Bright Blue"

only $12.50

 

Southernvtsoap

"Love Spell Solid Perfume" 

only $4.00

 

Myfairladyvt4

"Ice Blue Doily Earrings"

only $38.00

 

Inner Wolf Batik  

One Of A Kind, Hand Dyed, Batik Clothing from Hyde Park, Vermont

"Healing Hands Toddler Long Sleeve Tee"

only $28.00

 Jen Kahn
Fusing old and new,Industrial and Natural,Urban and Ethnic Designs

"Solstice Pendant"

only $60.00

 

'Tis the season for a gingerbread house!

Favorite Winter/Holiday Books

Peter and Lotta's Christmas: A Story

Peter and Lotta go to live in the country with Aunt Green, Aunt Brown, Aunt Lavender, and Uncle Blue. As Christmas approaches, Peter and Lotta discover all kinds of new surprises, but best of all is their discovery of where the presents come from. Is it from deep in the forest where the tallest fir trees grow?

Ollie's Ski Trip

The Story of the Snow Children

This is a beautifully illustrated and magical tale. A wonderfully enchanting book, a pleasure for children to read and the children listening really did sit open mouthed. The perfect book for a winter's day.

The Tomten

About this imaginative tale of an invisible troll who speaks Tomten a secret little language that only a few others know!

The Christmas Craft Book

Simply made decorations for home or school are an absorbing way for children to become involved in the celebration of Advent and Christmas. Parents, teachers, and children will quickly learn to make crib figures, candles, lanterns, angels, and a variety of Christmas tree decorations.

The Winter Solstice

In picture-book format, this introduces the winter solstice customs and beliefs of the ancient Britons, Scandinavians, Romans, and Peruvians, as well as certain Native American sun ceremonies. Jackson also explains how to demonstrate the earth's tilt using an orange and a flashlight; she connects ancient solstice practices to modern customs associated with Christmas and Hanukkah, and she ends the book with an adaptation of a Cherokee creation tale.

The Shortest Day: Celebrating the Winter Solstice

The beginning of winter is marked by the solstice, the shortest day of the year. Long ago, people grew afraid when each day had fewer hours of sunshine than the day before. Over time, they realized that one day each year the sun started moving toward them again. In lyrical prose and cozy illustrations, this book explains what the winter solstice is and how it has been observed by various cultures throughout history. Many contemporary holiday traditions were borrowed from ancient solstice celebrations. Simple science activities, ideas for celebrating the day in school and at home, and a further-reading list are included.

The Return of the Light: Twelve Tales from Around the World for the Winter Solstice

The winter solstice, the day the "sun stands still," marks the longest night and the shortest day of the year, and it comes either on December 20th or 21st. Celebrations honoring the winter solstice as a moment of transition and renewal date back thousands of years and occur among many peoples on every continent. The Return of the Light makes an ideal companion for everyone who carries on this tradition, no matter what their faith.

Yule: A Celebration of Light and Warmth

Those who yearn for spiritual meaning but aren't strongly affiliated with a specific religion sometimes feel left out of winter holidays. Yule is like a hot toddy for these chilled and isolated souls. From mistletoe to gift exchanging, Yule explores and exalts the pagan and regional roots to many of our contemporary rituals and celebrations. For example, lights were historically used to decorate winter homes in order to "frighten negative entities and urge the sun to shine," according to author Dorothy Morrison. Many people believe that Santa's reindeer "represent the stags that drew the chariot of the Norse gift-giving goddess, Freya." Beyond all the fascinating trivia, this is also a book that offers fresh approaches to old traditions, such as having a cleaning ritual that ceremoniously sweeps out the old and makes room for the new season or conducting a reverent "tree blessing" ceremony. Morrison also suggests numerous homemade crafts and gift ideas (many are suitable for children), inviting seasonal recipes (such as Yuletide Ambrosia and Dragon's Layer Cake), and a December calendar that lists traditions and rituals for every day of the month.

Natural Gift Giving for the Holidays

By Eileen Straiton

Watching our child's eyes light up with excitement during the holiday season is one of the many joys of parenthood. With our love, each year, many of us go to the ends of the earth, wait in long lines for hours and spend more than our budget permits in an attempt to create a magical experience for our children.

More often than not, we return from our shopping trip overwhelmed and over budget. And when the holiday arrives, we are understandably disappointed to see our carefully found treasures thrown into a pile of accumulated things while our children move on to open the next package.

Not long ago, the holiday season was a simple time of family traditions, gratitude, and gift-giving from the heart. The magic and beauty of the season did not come from how much one could receive but from how much one could give.

Decorating was beautiful and modest with candles and branches of evergreens draping the doorway. Family and friends would gather together, bringing along homemade treats and small gifts of appreciation.

Most gifts were made by hand and simple. Mothers would knit sweaters for their children and fathers would search local shops for the perfect gift. Children would receive much less but appreciate much more. A new set of blocks, a special doll, or a set of books would be cherished for years to come.

Toys were natural and open-ended, leaving room for hours of imagination and free play. They did not blink, flash, need batteries, or keep children indoors for most of their day.

How, in a world that is much different now, do we recapture the truth and surround our children with warmth, simplicity, and peace this holiday season?

The Benefit of Natural Toys

Toys of today are much different than the basic and sturdy toys of our past. In addition to the more recent concerns of lead paint on some foreign-made toys, some of the components that are added to products made with PVC plastics have been linked to cancer and other serious ailments. "A recent Greenpeace study revealed that PVC softeners known as phthalates have been found to cause liver and kidney damage and disrupt hormonal systems in children (see "Teething Toxins," In Brief, March/April 1998). In response, several European nations have banned PVC toys altogether. U.S. toy distributors are still debating the issue."

With the very safety of our children's playthings in question, many parents are choosing to buy natural toys and products for children this year. But safety is not the only benefit of items made from natural materials such as wood, cotton, silk, or wool.

Children, like sponges, absorb their environment and the world around them. The quality and essence of the things that we surround our children with can have a direct effect on their behavior, health, and ability to learn. Holding something beautiful that is made from the earth has tremendous positive psychological effects on human beings.

In fact, natural materials teach children correctly about the world around them. When a child picks up a rock that is made of plastic, it feels light and weightless. In nature, rocks are heavy and solid.

Toys that do not require batteries invite open-ended play. This type of play sparks children's creativity and requires them to finish the story on their own. Many electronic toys have a predetermined ending - leaving little room for imagination causing the child to lose interest quickly.

More often than not, loud toys over-stimulate young children. Blinking lights, loud sounds, and so much going on muffles the child's ability to hear his or her imagination speak. We must quiet the noise in order to allow our children to listen to the true magic that is within.

Equally important is the fact that natural toys are better for the environment. Plastic can sit in landfills for hundreds of years and is not biodegradable.

If you have a skill such as sewing, knitting, or woodworking, consider making your child something special this year. Not only does this send a message of love, but it also teaches patience. The time spent on creating something from hand is a wonderful way to show your children the benefit of working toward a goal.

If you are not particularly crafty, there are plenty of retailers that sell natural toys online. Before purchasing, be sure to ask the retailer where the toys are manufactured and what materials are used during production. Here are some wonderful places to start shopping for natural children's products.

https://www.taraluna.com/
Fair Trade, Organic and Green Gifts and Products

www.atoygarden.com
A Broad Selection of Open Ended, Natural, Creative and Fun Toys for Children. Fair Trade and Made in the USA toys as well.

www.kinderdolls.com
Waldorf Inspired Dolls and Toys.

www.achildsdream.com
Natural Crafts, Toys, Supplies, Dolls and Books.

www.waldorfsupplies.com
Waldorf Home and School Supplies - Many of the art supplies are imported from Europe.

http://www.threesisterstoys.com
Natural Playthings and Waldorf Toys.

http://www.ecotoytown.com/
Earth Friendly Non-Toxic Toy Store

http://planethappytoys.com
Every product sold at Planet Happy must meet or exceed current US and European safety standards.

http://toyspectrum.com/
Traditional wooden toys and children's gifts.

http://www.willowtreetoys.com/
European Waldorf toys, natural wooden toys, Montessori toys and dolls that are educational and encourage open-ended, creative play.

http://www.novanatural.com/
Waldorf dolls, children's books and natural craft supplies to stimulate creative play.

http://www.oompa.com/
Natural and Wooden Toys and Products.

http://www.thewoodenwagon.com/
All of The Wooden Wagon's toys comply with the rigorous European testing standards.

Quality over Quantity

Let us keep in mind that it is not only the quality of the gifts we give this year but also the quantity. How much is really enough?

Before holiday shopping, take a good look around your home. How loved are your child's belongings? Gifts lose their value when children are surrounded by so many things. It is unfair of us to expect a child to cherish a new toy when they are surrounded by so many of them.

When deciding to purchase an item for your child, be selective and ask yourself the following questions: What purpose will the toy have? Does your child already have this type of item? Does it engage all five senses and encourage imagination? It is much better to offer fewer, higher quality toys that your child will get more use out of than an abundance of toys that will go unappreciated.

This is a wonderful opportunity for parents to teach children the lesson of giving this holiday season. This year, many children around the world won't even have a holiday meal, let alone presents. Talk to your child about this and then spend a day sorting through items that are no longer cherished or age-appropriate to donate to others. If the charity only accepts new toys, considering selling your items and donating the money earned to a worthy cause.

Simplify and Reduce Stress

Much as young children take in the aesthetics of their environment, they also absorb the feelings and emotions of their caregivers. We must be mindful of the message we are sending to them during the holidays and throughout the year. Here are a few ideas on how to limit stress and create a more peaceful celebration for yourself and your children:

Try to limit the number of commitments you make. When possible, combine functions to avoid excessive travel or entertaining. Consider scheduling some events for after the holidays so you can relax and truly enjoy the company of your family and friends.

Create beautiful traditions with your children. String popcorn, make ornaments, or go caroling. Allow even the youngest child to assist with preparing the holiday meal, setting the table, or baking cookies.

Demonstrate kindness. Visit a nursing home, adopt a needy family, or write letters to those who may be alone this holiday season. Children can add so much to the lives of others who have so little.

Consider shopping online for many of your gifts this year. This is a wonderful way to save gas and reduce your stress by avoiding busy stores and shopping malls.

Above all, let us remember that true happiness cannot be wrapped and placed under a tree. When we teach our children this, we have already given them the greatest gift.

***Feel free to share this article with others - just please include the following bio at the end of each posting:

Eileen is a work-at-home mother to four daughters. She writes and publishes monthly nature guides for parents and caregivers of young children at http://www.littleacornlearning.com and has many ideas and activities for parents on her blog at http://eileensplace.blogspot.com

Winter Verses and Circle time!

Look Out! Look Out!
Jack Frost is about!
He's after our fingers and toes;
And, all through the night,
The gay little sprite
Is working where nobody knows.

He'll climb a tree,
So nimble is he,
His silvery powder he'll shake;
To windows he'll creep,
And while we're asleep,
Such wonderful pictures he'll make.

Across the grass,
He'll merrily pass,
And change all its greenness to white;
Then home he will go,
And laugh, "Ho, Ho, Ho!
What fun I have had in the night!"

* * * * * * * *

Come in the garden
And play in the snow,
A snowman we'll make,
See how quickly he'll grow!
Give him a hat, stick and pipe,
And make him look gay.
Such a fine game
For a cold winter day!

* * * * * * * *

Snowflakes falling soft and light,
Snowflakes falling in the night,
Soft and Light, pure and white.
When the sun shines out so bright,
All the earth is dressed in white.

* * * * * * * *

When the North Wind whistles and blows,
Cherry red is brother's nose,
Very cold are sister's toes,
When the North Wind's blowing,
When the North Wind's blowing.

Logs upon the fire we'll throw,
For, as everybody must know,
We will have a fall of snow,
When the North Wind's blowing,
When the North Wind's blowing.
(Written By: Alfred S. Gatty)

**********************

Furry bear
If I were a bear,
And a big bear too,
I shouldn't much care
If it froze or snew:
I shouldn't much mind
If it snowed or friz-
I'd be all fur-lined
With a coat like his!
A.A. Milne

**********************

See the little snowflakes
Falling from the sky,
On the hills and housetops,
Soft and thick they lie.
On the window ledges,
On the branches bare;
See how fast they gather,
Filling all the air!

Look into the garden
Where the grass was green,
Covered by the snowflakes,
Not a blade is seen.
Look outside the window,
All looks still and white;
Under snowy blankets,
What a pretty sight!
(J.D. Macey)

* * * * * * * *

Finger Plays

A chubby little snowman had a carrot nose.
(show long nose with a closed fist like a trumpet in front of face)
Along a came a bunny, and what do you suppose?
(Hands show the bunny hopping)
That hungry little bunny, looking for his lunch,
(wiggle nose like a bunny)
Ate the snowman's carrot nose,
Nibble, nibble, crunch
(pretend to eat the carrot)
(Oak meadow fingerplays)

* * * * * * * *

Five little eskimos by the igloo door
one went out to feed the dogs, then there were four.
Four little eskimos rowing out to sea,
one jumped on an iceberg, then there were three.
Three little eskimos making fish stew,
one burned his finger, then there were two.
Two little eskimos hunting just for fun,
one chased a baby seal, then there was one.
One little eskimo all his work was done,
went home to supper, then there were none.
(Winter, p.51)

* * * * * * * *

Chickadee, chickadee,
Flitting through the holly tree-
With your cap and scarf of black,
Sweater gray upon your back
You're warm and happy in the snow
And when I hear you call,
I know My little friend has come to say
That wintertime's just fine for play.
(From Ladybug magazine)

* * * * * * * *

Verse for Lighting the Advent Wreath

The first light of Advent is the light of stones.
Stones that live in crystals, seashells, and bones.

The second light of Advent is the light of plants.
Roots, stem, leaf, flower and fruit by whom we live and grow.

The third light of Advent is the light of beasts.
Animals of farm, field, forest, air and sea.
All await the birth in greatest and in least.

The fourth light of Advent is the light of humankind.
The light of love, the light of thought, to give and to understand.
(Rudolf Steiner)

* * * * * * * *

We light one candle shining bright
Upon this Holy Advent night
Fill Our Hearts with loving might
Lead us to Christmas Day's brilliant light!

Second Week: We light two candles...

Third Week: We light three candles...

Fourth Week: We light four candles...

M.T. Shunemann, from The Christmas Star (available below)

* * * * * * * *

A candle's but a simple thing,
it starts with just a bit of string,
But dipped or rolled with patient hand,
it gathers wax upon the strand.
Until complete and snowy white,
it gives at last a lovely light.
Life seems so like that bit of string,
each deed we do a simple thing.
Yet day by day on life's strand,
we work with patient heart and hand.
It gathers joy, makes dark days bright,
and gives at last a lovely light.

* * * * * * * *

Riddle

I begin tall and thin, I end in a muddle, sad in a puddle (candle)

* * * * * * * *

Christmas Verses

Softly, softly, through the darkness
Snow is falling.

Meekly, meekly in the meadows
Lambs are calling.

Coldly, coldly all around me
Winds are blowing.

Brightly, brightly up above me
Stars are glowing.

* * * * * * * *

Christmas Wish

To every hearth a little fire,
To every board a little feast,
To every heart a joy,
To every child a toy,
Shelter for bird and beast.

* * * * * * * *

Mary rocks her baby,
Joseph holds a light,
Ox and ass are standing
In the stable bright.

Shepherds in the doorway
Come to greet the child,
Now they kneel before Him
And his mother mild.

One holds out a lambskin
Soft and white as snow,
All shall give their presents
Ere they homeward go.

* * * * * * * *

Story & Activity

There was a giant big and bold
Whose feet were getting very cold.
He came along to our town
And walked the stairs all up and down
Calling "Is no one hearing me?
My toes are freezing bitterly!
No single shop that I could tell
Has stocking giant-size to sell."

A little gnome both old and wise.
He gave him very good advice.
He brought two pretty bits of stuff.
The giant thought them good enough.
He wrapped his feet, his pain was eased.
And home he walked content and pleased.

Materials: Knotted cloth dolls [this could be a play silk or gauze square the you knot to show head and other body parts] with 2 extra pieces of fabric to wrap the giant's feet. Children can watch you knotting the characters.

VERSE: King Winter now is in the land,
he reigns with cold and freezing hand.
He makes Jack Frost touch nose and toes,
and gives our cheeks a shining glow.

FINGER PLAY: A chubby little snowman had a carrot nose.
(show long nose with a closed fist like a trumpet in front of face)
Along a came a bunny, and what do you suppose?
(Hands show the bunny hopping)
That hungry little bunny, looking for his lunch,
(wiggle nose like a bunny)
Ate the snowman's carrot nose,
Nibble, nibble, crunch
(pretend to eat the carrot)

The Snow

This is the way the snow comes down,
Upon a winter day,
But soon the golden sun comes out,
And melts it all away.

Lines 1 & 2: flutter fingers down from arms raised position until arms are lowered.
Lines 3 & 4: make large circle with fingers for sun.

— Author Unknown




Making a Snowman

Roll a snowball round and round,
Round and round upon the ground.
Make one, make two, here's what you do,
You can build a snowman too.
As the sun shines down some day,
Poor snowman, he will melt away.

Lines 1 & 2: roll hands around each other.
Line 3: make two fists, then put one on top of the other.
Lines 4 & 5: hold fists in snowman position.
Line 6: open hands flat out on top of each other.

— Gloria T. Delamar, Author

Clap for Santa Claus

O, clap, clap the hands,
And sing with glee!
For Christmas is coming
And merry are we.

How swift o'er the snow
The tiny reindeer
Are trotting and bringing
Good Santa Claus near.

Our Stockings we'll hang,
And while we're asleep,
Then down through the chimney
Will Santa Claus creep.

He'll empty his pack,
Then up he will come
And calling his reindeer,
Will haste away home.

Then clap, clap the hands!
And sing out with glee,
For Christmas is coming
And merry are we!

Verse 1 - All lines: clap hands.

Verse 2 - All lines: lock thumbs together and make walking motions with other fingers to indicate reindeer and sleigh.

Verse 3 - Lines 1 & 2: point down with four fingers of one hand.
Lines 3 & 4: put one fist on top of the other to represent chimney andd put upper thumb inside of upper fist to represent Santa Claus going down chimney.

Verse 4 - Lines 1 & 2: raise thumb from upper fist as Santa Claus comes up chimney.
Lines 3 & 4: lock thumbs and walk with fingers.

Verse 5 - All lines: clap hands.— Emilie Poulsson, Author, 1893

Making Pomanders

Making Pomanders

You can make a pomander with oranges, apples, lemons or limes. In his column in The Herb Companion, Andy Van Hevlingen says that he likes to use small, smooth-skinned tangerines with an attached stem so he can tie a ribbon to the stem. He uses a large needle to prick holes in the fruit, then pushes in cloves, separated into two piles — those with attached heads and those without--so he can make patterns.

Stud the surface evenly and closely with cloves, completely covering the fruit. Don't leave the pomander half finished for the skin will harden once pierced.

Many recipes for pomanders recommend rolling the pomander in a bowl of powdered orris root and cinnamon or allspice. I don't like this (and neither does Van Hevlingen) because it gums up the pattern. It is supposed to increase the fragrance of the pomander but I suspect it has more to do with increasing its magical powers and probably replaces the wheat flour (conjuring abundance) in which the Calennig is rolled.

Von Hevlingen puts his pomanders on newspapers in a well-ventilated location and turns them daily. In a heated house, they should dry within a week or so. You can tie ribbons around then and hang them on the Christmas tree or give them out as New Year's gifts.

There are many variations of the pomander theme. Maggie Oster mentions an early type of pomander made by combining beeswax with herbs and spices, then rolling them into a ball, which suggests another way to make them, although I have not seen a recipe for this method. Helen Farias floated clove-studded oranges in the punch bowl at her fabulous Santa Lucia parties. For these decorative pomanders, the cloves were placed in patterns to make sun symbols. Or you might try making a Calennig by poking grains of rice and sprigs of evergreen into an apple and displaying it on a tripod of chopsticks.

Just remember as you are sitting and poking cloves into oranges, that you are not simply making pomanders, but participating in a sacred craft that has been practised for centuries, that brings together the images of wealth, death and sexuality, all the gifts of the Goddess.

This article first appeared in The Beltane Papers, Issue 8, Autumn/Winter 1995.