The wild poetree
whispers of gypsy winds and
lilting lullabies
Embers of emotions
Smelting words into
Liquid form with the nights midnight ink
Worlds arise in misty form
Spun from dreams and breath
Wonderous creation
Dewlit strands of silk
Thread these visions into cloth
Of determined gold
Delicately held
Tapestries of memories
Unfurl me gently
The spool of life spun
I return to poetree
My nest high above
Roselinde
While researching Ancient Egypt in June for Lily’s studies, I came across the 3,4,5 triangle. Apparently the Ancient Egyptians used a rope of 12 (we used metres) knotted sections. With angles made at 3m and 7m a right angle or Egyptian triangle is made. Fascinating little insight into geometry without a compass or ruler.
With my father we went out in the hof (courtyard between the house and barns) with string and sticks and measures and markers and water cans, we created an Egyptian triangle in the dirt. After we marked the triangle we flipped it and made another triangle, for a rectangle, then marked the centre and made circles with 3, 4 and 5 m diameters. Finally we finished with a central post and made a pyramid! A really fun, visual exploration.
While we travel I homeschool Lily. I follow the Waldorf curriculum as closely as I can (with guidance from her teacher in Australia) while not being a trained teacher myself. It usually works really well and it’s a fantastic opportunity to tutor Lily in areas she has challenges. Getting her motivated is not always easy though and the differentiation from parent to teacher is interesting (read challenging, inspiring,frustrating) for me. I learn so much alongside her and enjoy the intellectual stimulation and discovery in research also. It is difficult to maintain consistency when we are moving a lot so this 6 week interlude with my parents in Germany was a good foundation for studies. We visited the Egyptian museum in Berlin which inspired us with incredibly detailed and beautiful carvings and paintings. It is the home of the famous bust of Nerfetiti which cannot be photographed, so we took our sketchbooks and drew her. The guard commented Lily was the youngest artist he had witnessed sketching her.
Her drawing books are full of images of Egypt.
Cedar has discovered drawing in such a new way! It’s very exciting to see him coming more freely into expressing his own visions and ideas as it’s been many months of encouraging this little one who was frustrated as his hands couldn’t do what his thoughts could see. He only wanted to direct us to draw for him. Now I see this fantastic leap in self confidence blooming!
He has invented some fantastic trailer/home/hay makers and the theme is tractors and machinery, trains, maps, gnome homes in trees, apple orchards and landscapes. He’s not often drawing his own wheels or people yet which I find intriguing.
Each comes to these things at their own pace but I’m glad as I see it brings him much happiness and us much entertainment!
This picture was a surprise to me this morning. The piglet on the left is having a birthday and wears a ribbon around its neck.
Both children draw a lot while we travel, we have a good stock of visual diaries with quality paper and we have an extensive collection of Lyra pencils. I find the thicker pencils easier for little hands to hold and the smooth bright colours very satisfying. The enjoyment of the materials inspires more use.
I gained a lot of confidence drawing alongside Lily as she grew and now with Cedar. The children don’t need a perfect replica of something, they just need a suggestion and their imagination fills the rest. I learnt to draw like a child again and it’s brought me a lot of happiness and a fun connection with my children.
Even after years in art school I needed to de program and lose the critic. So many of us are thinking “well, I can’t draw” do you want your child to think this also about themselves? I was determined not to say “I can’t draw” in front of my child but to say, well I will have a try, and be able to laugh if it turns out oddly and have another go or ask my child for ideas. Begin with them as they start to scribble at age 2, mimic your child, for they are free. Look to nature for simple gestures, a grassy field, a tree. Then put a swing in the tree or an apple. And so grow slowly. It takes a lot of slow to grow, I heard this recently.
My people began as stick figures and gradually became 3 dimensional as I drew more and more with Lily. The children also like simple art they can mimic. To just sit with them and begin putting color down can begin a new pleasure (and healing) for you both.
What are your children drawing?
What are you drawing?
A moment captured. Beauty.
Sometimes a photo is the only way to really see these wriggly little peoples faces! Who is this shining being smiling so contentedly? Like a happy cat I imagine he purrs. Warming himself on papas comfy back.
We spent this day at Türler See(a lake is a see) in the near from Zurich ( more Denglish). We made a jetty our home for the afternoon. The forest behind us, the green water and hills framed by reeds. When I swam far into the lake and spun around I was overjoyed with the beauty surrounding me. So much of my stress and my worries dissolved in the moment. This gift from nature offered freely to us. Serenity in nature. My place of worship. The water a soothing balm. A moment. A much needed moment.
Lily wove up minute armbands from the reeds. Her nimble fingers astound me! I am so happy that from my coconut weaving she has absorbed this method and can apply it to other materials so easily. Lily had her 11 th birthday this week, I’m so full of love and wonder for this delightful child! Lucky me. Sure we have our challenges together, but more and more as this trip extends I see Lily cleared from the tiredness and influences of school and peers and see her nature shinig through. I credit her resilience to handle the adventuring lifestyle as I know for myself it’s not an easy path yet it has many rewards.
We had read recently, The Golden Goblet, as part of our Ancient Egyptian curriculum and spoke about the reeds along the Nile and the character Ranofer and his friend in the reeds and how the reeds squeak and rustle. Read it. Reed it. What did the frog say in the library? Read it read it read it….
One of these perfect dragonflies landed on my leg, oh lucky me I thought, surely a blessing. Then it bit me! Haha. Did you know they bite? Beware the vicious Swiss dragonflies!
Jesse and I were able to read a lot. We later spoke about how reading is an escape from the moment. It disconnects you from the moment, I looked at where I was and my family and saw I didn’t want to be disconnected, but I enjoyed the distraction as I was so tired this day, sometimes reading is sleeping with eyes open. I read so little now compared to having the reputation as a book eater years ago, Jesse rarely reads also and I gave thanks that he is so available and present usually. Luckily Lily and Cedar where very occupied and happy playing and making boats from sticks and string so we could tune out. 
My loyal servants. My feet. How did we get here?
Cedar is gaining confidence in so many things, especially the water. I only thought to give him floaties (water wings) on this trip at my cousins suggestion. It really suits him to feel safe in the water and he’s finally getting wet!
On the opposite side of the lake from the “paying a small fortune to swim” section you can find beautiful quiet places to bathe for free!
A comedy relief.
Last week traipsing across the river bed My sore toes where thinking “what I need is river shoes to protect my feet, this is rough going!”
A moment later I found a pretty sparkly right shoe stranded on a mid river rock! A bit small but wow! That was quick!
“What I need now is a left shoe!”
Aha there on a log is a giant men’s thong. Left foot of course!
Fantastic! That set of giggling!
Next time I will ask for a matching pair in my size….
And look what I found today when I went for a rock hop and a swim! A pair of abandoned river shoes in my size.
I give Thanks for the small amusements in life! Now, why doesn’t that house and land appear….
Anyway, As the saying goes…
Have you got a wishing story to share?
Waking up to the beauty of the Sense river in Switzerland. A steep gorge and rocky bed. This unique covered wooden bridge frames the morning sunlight.
Yesterday we hiked up the valley to a hidden, adult size bush-cubby and made a fire. Swimming sunning roasting haloumi marshmallows and flower sausages. Across the water is a small house built into the cliff, Villa Anna. Intriguing.
A happy warm family day lingers with me this morning.
What are you waking up to?
Right now I’m amazed we can move from this
To this
In less than half an hour! Phew.
Negotiating a stau, kilometres of traffic jam on the French Swiss border region in 40 + c heat panting out the windows and aiming to stay friendly we sweated down to Vevey looking for a swim and a camp spot. The sharp silhouette of alpine pictures and immense lake of Geneve is so enticing but where the heck can you find a free place to swim! Many beaches are privatised unfortunately for us who want something a bit quieter. Lucky turn down a lane we find a sweet rocky beach with only… 100 others. It’s a dream!
It’s taking a lot of courage on this our fifth official day in our van. We where held up for weeks with mechanical misfortunes, luckily while still at my parents so we could get a rich time of connection with them and Cedar could accompany Opa on the farming adventures. But hallelujah for journeys beginning since I last posted in excitement! Lots of dear friends and family we’ve seen, cherries eaten, wandered up and down wobbled and cried and re calibrated.
Hooray for water. Hooray for adventures. Alls well that ends well. Now for a dip in that clear clean water.
Where are you? Warm or cold? Winter or summer?
Out my window. Glimpses from our journey in Europe.
Sometimes it’s picture book surreal and other it’s autobahn efficient or industrial. Come along for the (slow) ride.
It’s great (such a relief, scary and thrilling) to be moving once more. Our mechanical hurdles in Germany overcome we now head into southern Switzerland. We arrived from Germany 3 days ago to stunning snow capped mountains, it’s all melted off now I think. This week is a heat wave with 30 Celsius plus every day. Up front in the van it says 43! It’s hot for around here. It’s painfully hot to be driving in this old mobile with all the windows down. Keep cool people. We ran into a stau ( kilometres of traffic jam) soon after this”)
Lakeside Vevey here we come! We’re heading to the Montreux Jazz festival. We heard its good busking for Jesse and the children and I can chill out by the lake. Hopefully it’s as good as it sounds because we left a natural paradise in the mountains to come down! The first day and night was Terrible! Too hot too tired too busy too grumpy nowhere to camp not coping I want to go home! But after a few hours sleep in a hot train side, car park (glamorous) the next day was better. There is a side to this journey that is absolutely crap and incredibly challenging. The idea is that it’s outweighed by goodness, time together, adventure, inspiring connections and natural beauty. It usually is, but I’m still getting the hang of it only a week into the ride.
All signage has just gone from German to French, HELP! With three ( oops four languages! my swiss friend corrects me. ) national languages Switzerland is an incredibly diverse ethnic country. My family all live in the Swiss German cantons but I wish I had a better grasp of French alongside my German. At any time I can hear a handful of languages in the city which thrills me after living in a small rural community for some years now. People watching is so fun.
Stinkin hot right now but oh so pretty in the rolling hills! Yodeleeehee….
Summer is in full glory the golden crops are being harvested, hay is being made and flowers abound!
We wonder a lot at the size of these beautiful old houses. Was it because large families lived together. Or simply when you spend so many cold months indoors you need more space or some other…. I understand there is a lot of indoor storage space for food etc, and often the animal stalls for winter are under the same roofline. I’ve been lucky to explore a couple of these type of houses. As a child we visited friends of my mamas in the Bern hills and I remember the guest room next to the animal stalls. The pungent smell coming through the walls it seemed, never mind the drying sausages hanging in the bathroom…. I’m hoping to visit these kind farmers again on this trip, they are some of the few elders still living an incredible nearly self sufficient traditional farming life. I’m imagining the pot of warm fresh milk will still be there on the back of the wood stove!
Notes in italic added a few days later.
I’m interested if anyone knows if it should be Ouside my window, or is Out my window passable English?
My English is going out the window! In our family we is speaking richtig gut Denglish, deutsch/English.
RosaLindenTree 