The Breath of Spring -- Recycled paper baskets

Have you felt the Breath of Spring enter your home today like the smell of laundry fresh from the line or a beautiful breeze hinted with the scent of lilac?

The breath of Spring is in the air,
The Daffodils a bloom,
With Crimson tulips bright and fair
It's Springtime's sweet perfume.

The rolling fields of verdant green,
Full rich with promise lie
Caressed by sunlight's golden sheen
Beneath a sapphire sky.

The fairy wand upon the trees
has opened to the sun
The wee brown buds, kissed by the breeze,
A miracle each one.

The little birds that joyfully sing
Their hymn until the dawn
Are bidding welcome to the spring...
And lo, the winters gone.

By Mary M. Forman


Today we made recycled paper baskets to decorate our home for Spring. The kids love filling them with many things. Here is a simple tutorial on how to make them. Enjoy!

Step 1: Make sure you have a square piece of paper. Fold your paper in half like this. Then open it up and fold it in half the other way.

Step 2: Open up your paper and fold all the corners so they meet at the center point. Unfold the paper.

Step 3:

 Fold each corner to the crease lines made by the folds in step 2. Then unfold the paper.

Step 4: One by one, fold the corners so they meet the crease lines on the opposite side of the square like so. Unfold the paper.

Step 5: Your paper should look the following pictures with all squares on it.

Step 6: Now cut along the thick lines , two squares in like the following pictures.

Step 7: Fold the sides down , the two opposite sides of the ones cut and a box will form. Then fold over the two cut sides into the middle of the box.  Tape or glue to secure your box. You can cut a strip of paper for a handle if you wish....

Here are some pictures of our boxes we made today:

 What are some ways you decorate your home for Spring?  Do you have any favorite tutorials you use ?

Mama Love

Bright and early this morning around Five am. I was awoken by a sweet little sick girl... tummy aches and pains. She needs lots of 'mama love', snuggles and some nourishing tea.

Most people know that it is important to replace minerals as well as lost water after illness, especially the tummy bug but most electrolyte drinks contain only sodium and potassium rather than all the minerals our bodies need to be healthy.

Very Simply you can make your own mineral-rich herbal electrolyte drink by combining a few herbs.  This nourishing tea contains:

• B vitamins, which support the functioning of the liver and nervous system.

• calcium, magnesium, iron, zinc, chromium, potassium, silica, and other trace minerals. Calcium and magnesium help build healthy bones, ease muscle spasms and cramping, and reduce inflammation. Zinc enhances immune system functioning, while chromium helps regulate blood-sugar levels.

To replace lost electrolytes the body basically needs sodium and sugar. The following recipe will help to replenish these electrolytes naturally and also offer the added benefits of chamomile and ginger.

Ginger is anti-spasmodic, anti-inflammatory and anti-emetic and so will help to relieve cramping, reduce inflammation and reduce nausea and vomiting. Chamomile is also anti-spasmodic and anti-inflammatory but moreover is anti-microbial. In particular it contains chamazulene, which is active against Staphlococcus aureus. In addition, chamomile is relaxing and so will help to calm upset children.
You can also make delicious Popsicles with this tea.

Herbal Re-hydration Tea

2 tbsp honey or sugar
1/4tsp table salt
1/4tsp baking soda
Combination of each chamomile flowers,nettles,elderflower and berries,Lemon Grass,Rose hips,Cinnamon,Wild cherry Bark
1 inch raw ginger root sliced
8 cups boiled water


Boil 8 cups water, add the salt, baking soda, honey, herbs and ginger. Stir, cover and leave to infuse for at the least 10 minutes but can be steeped for up to 3 hours. Strain through muslin and sip a little every 10-15 minutes. Can be a warm or cold tea.

Peace loved sipping on her tea. I can tell it made her feel better  almost instantly.

She said "Mama, I love the smell of pretty wet flowers"

Then she drank up every last bit

How do you give your little one "Mama Love" when they are under the weather?