Blog Giveaway! "Child of Wonder: Nurturing Creative and Naturally Curious Children" book

Blog giveaway! Here's your chance to get a free copy of a great resource for inspiring little minds. Here's how: Leave a comment about your favorite organic or natural item in your household and mention why or what about it you enjoy. Here's hoping some fresh ideas from one another will encourage us all to think about what other organic and natural items might be a worthwhile addition in our homes. The winner will be chosen by drawing. Good luck and if you don't win, don't worry...we'll have more in the future. Those first checking in, feel free to read earlier posts to get to know Dandelion Summers and co better. The prize will be chosen next friday, August 7, 2009. It is a copy of the book, "Child of Wonder: Nurturing Creative and Naturally Curious Children" by Ginger Carlson, M.A. Ed. Have fun!

http://www.dandelionsummers.com/

Parade Pictures

Here's Troop Dandelion Summers waiting for the parade promenade to begin. Sunny did a great job with costumes choosing yellow as the base color, she raided every closet we had and added her own accesories. We couldn't get Moses in anything but a superhero t-shirt-not exactly organic but you can't be perfect all the time...Rainbow fell asleep half way through the route so she missed most of the adoring fans. The kids loved seeing folks they knew on the sidelines. It was in the 90's so it was nice and toasty. This factor resulted in Moses being less than energetic but all in all it was a fun day. The crowds were excited to see our family operated business in action. The kids are learning more and more about organic choices each day.

Woodstock Festival Parade

Here are some shots from our preparation for this Saturday's Woodstock Festival Parade. It's a work in progress. The parade happens at 11:00 from 54th and Woodstock to 41st & Woodstock. It's a fun neighborhood community event with local bands, face painting, food, local vendors and more. When I brought up the idea of being in the parade to my kids: C, M and A said "Hurray! We'll be stars in a parade!" C is in charge of costumes. Since we would rather use our organic and natural cotton for our bedding we went through our old linens and are recycling some fabrics to make banners and costuming. We searched the house for yellow to complement the dandelion theme. C's ensemble is nearly set: Some yellow 80's style crochet-knit type shorts, a gold sash, a yellow ribbon, a yellow striped shirt. Somehow she managed to pull it off rather well. Seeing her creativity unleashed with this one is what I love best about her. We have decided butterscotch candy looks most like dandelions so that's our choice of candy to throw to the onlookers (aka-our fans!) Hope to see you there!

Nature Walk each day 5 minute monday makeover

5 minute Monday Makeover
I'm back! Today my goal of the week is to take more little moments with my children. We took a nature walk around the neighborhood to find beauty in the little details. Each day this week we plan to take a nature walk. It's a great time for me to observe their discoveries while making my own along the way. Although I live in urban Portland it's still possible to live in a way that appreciates nature. Growing up I lived in a rural, Alaskan town where my backyard was woods, a creek nearby and endless unforaged trails. We all thrive on that sense of dicovery and independance. I miss that freedom for my children but they constantly amaze me at their creative ways of still acheiving their own sense of self-sufficiency and creativity. That's what I think of when I see a dandelion. They grow everywhere, in cities, in the country, pushing up concrete in a parking lot they are there. Just like all of us, planted in our various surroundings, dandelions remind us we can thrive naturally despite the odds. This masterpiece is one my daughter Carolina did. It was her response to our nature walk painted with Stockmar watercolours.