Earth Day

Baby seedlings wrapped up tight,
in their cosy nest of night.
Gently, gently will they wake,
with a little Springtime shake.
Lady Spring, Lady Spring, widely loving everything.


The gnomes will tug each little root,
and green will grow each little shoot,
And as their lovely leaves unfold,
they put on flower caps of gold.
Lady Spring, Lady Spring, widely loving everything.


O, Spring it is a shining shower,
of bud and shoot and leaf and flower,
Unfolding daily one by one,
their rainbow treasures to the sun.
Lady Spring, Lady Spring, widely loving everything.

The poem, and the ones to follow, are from “Spring; a Collection of Poems, Songs and Stories for Children” by Wynstones Press (see link above)

Springtime showers, Springtime rain,
Wash the leaves all clean again.
The silver raindrops patter upon the earth today.
Oh little flowers awaken and open wide your door,

Springtime showers, Springtime rain,
Wash the leaves all clean again.
Tip, tap, their knock is gentle and this is what they say:
Come out in pretty dresses for Spring is here once more.


Come with me, Oh, come and see!
There are blossoms now on the beechnut tree,
And though the oak tree is dark and bare,
a pair of robins are nesting there:

And any minute the willows lean
Will burst out in leaf -
Their tips are green,
So come along, Oh, come with me -
it's Spring again,
And there's lots to see.


Little Snail, Little Snail,
on the rock you leave a trail.
Carry your house upon your back
it takes so long to get there and back.
But even though you’re not very fast,
you’re happy the Spring has come at last!

Snail loves the rain, and loves his home, and looks on life with quiet eyes.

Our pet snail loves to tidy up the tank she shares with a freshwater clam. And she's not the only one tidying up! OSS Families are getting ready for the first annual Garage Sale next month.

Emerging Beauty

Spring has arrived! We didn't get the snow and slush that hit Chicago and Traverse City this past weekend. Instead, we got a cold blast of wind and a bit of frost on our lawns. Some friends got a bit of sticking snow, but by afternoon it had melted and the warm sun was shining. A lone snowdrop welcomes us as we enter school. As we depart, a happy scattering of purple and yellow buds are peeking through bright green leaves. Our hearts dance at the sight! The first graders found tiny daffodils blooming in the playground gardens. They look with admiraton and respect, and make sure the delicate flowers do not get trampled.

Here is our school nature table, a familiar sight near the front entrance. I was tempted to put a bit of wool snow around the flower children, but couldn't bring myself to do it after all. Mrs. Thaw has diligently swept it all away, and Lady Spring is here to stay, despite that bit of snow we had outside. Old King Winter can play his tricks, but I am not taking him out of the box again until next school year. I put bits of green moss here and there, and I will add more as the season progresses. Doesn't that shade of green make you smile?!

My favorite color is beginning to appear all around. How refreshing! Here's a wild looking bit of land in the middle of the suburbs; a spot just off the highway called The Plumbrook Drain. I pass by here every morning and get about a two second view. This time, I pull off the road to take a picture. There are geese and ducks going about their business, ignoring the traffic in their own morning commute.

Kerstin made this lovely Pussy Willow Lady for our school nature table. It will remind us of her when she has gone back to Germany. We are blessed to have such talent for a few more months. Her other original designs include a Rainbow Maiden, and most appropriately, a Forget-Me-Not. Here is a Snowdrop Lady she made for a friend.
My Daffodil Girl stands triumphantly with her flowers at home. All this Nature Table show and tell is a fine distraction, but what about the knitted farmyard blanket?

Here are the squares for blanket number two. Three new designs have emerged among nine old favorites, so this blanket will be different than the first one.

We are talking about what to do with it when it is finished. After much discussion, we have decided. We will display it around town for a few months, and then raffle it off at our annual Holiday Bazaar in November. That way, friends and families who don't yet know about our wonderful school will have a chance to learn about Waldorf education. Share the wealth, share the joy ~ the more the merrier!

The first stop for our blanket is the Earth Day Expo in downtown Rochester on April 18th and 19th. This is a wonderful free weekend that features green ideas and living well, including organic foods, farmers' market, and family fun. Oakland Steiner School will have a booth. Stop by to see Kelly and friends! The event is presented by Upland Hills Ecological Awareness Center. Learn more at http://www.earthdayexpo.org/

Denise has decided to donate her farmyard blanket to the school. She has enjoyed knitting her squares, and says it inspired her daughter to knit beside her. They shared many wonderful moments together, and she sees this as the true benefit of being in the group. She has chosen to live in the moment - and enjoy the journey. Thank you for your generous spirit, Denise, from all of us.