healthy living – NaturalKids Team

Posted on July 30, 2013 August 9, 2017

Making Bird Feeders with Harvestmoonbyhand

My daughters and I recently made a variety of homemade feeders and seed mix for the birds. We have enjoyed watching a variety of birds eat at the feeders: nuthatches, blue jays, black-capped chickadees, downy woodpeckers, gray catbirds, house sparrows, and purple finches.

These recipes are easy and fun to make; and watching the birds provides entertainment, enjoyment, and educational value for people of all ages…especially children.

Peanut Butter Bird Seed Balls

Peanut Butter Bird Seed Balls

before they were placed in the freezer.

Ingredients:

2 cups bread crumbs
1/4 cup cornmeal
1/2 cup flour (use whole wheat if possible)
1/2 cup sugar
1/2 cup shredded cheese
1 cup unsalted nuts
4-5 chopped apples
1 cup raisins
1 8 oz. jar chunky peanut butter
1 cup bird seed
1 c. suet

Directions:

Mix ingredients well. If necessary you can add additional suet or even bacon drippings if it is too crumbly. Shape into balls. Freeze.

These can be placed in a mesh bag and hung outside on a tree limb for the birds to enjoy. Otherwise, do as we did: place them on top of birdseed in an open feeder.

Popcorn Bird Treat

Popcorn Bird Treat before was placed in mesh bags.

Ingredients:

Peanut Butter
7 cups popcorn (no salt or butter)
Blanched peanuts, Craisens, raisins, and/or dried blueberries
Egg shells
Cracked corn
Black oil sunflower seed

Directions:

Mix all together and put in a mesh bag. Hang in the tree for the birds to enjoy.

Hanging the feeder filled with popcorn, fruit, and

other goodies for the birds.

Suet and Meal Worm Log Feeder

Log – about 2 feet long that is dry
Eye screw
Drill with various size drill bits
Suet
Dried meal worms
Twine or heavy yarn

Place eye screw in one end of the log. Using a drill and various size drill bits, place many holes in the log that are about 1/2 deep.

Drilling holes in the log.

Fill with suet and dried meal worms.

Placing suet in one of the holes.

Put twine or heavy yarn through the eye screw and hang onto a tree branch. Make sure the branch is thick enough to support the feeder.

Two birds at the feeders.

As a side note, within one minute of coming indoors from hanging the log feeder in the tree, a black-capped chickadee found it. From that point on, there were many bird visitors of different types (mostly chickadees, nuthatches, and woodpeckers).

Ann Rinkenberger is the owner of Harvest Moon by Hand that offers natural, hand-embroidered and needle-felted toys; Waldorf-inspired window stars; and homeschool supplies.

To see other hands-on projects, tutorials, recipes, and homeschool ideas, please visit Harvest Moon by Hand’s blog. Harvest Moon by Hand also can be found on Facebook, Twitter, and Pinterest.

Window stars available through Harvest Moon by Hand.

Posted on April 25, 2013

New Raised Beds

Over spring break our family built new raised beds. It was such a fun project, and the whole family pitched in. Our old raised beds had rotted out after about 5 years of use. They were only 7 inches tall. We decided to make the new beds 10 inches higher. Must be the old woman in me – I really appreciate not having to bend down so far. Raised beds are great in that respect.

Building raised beds is a bit of a time and money commitment. But they are so rewarding when you consider how much more produce you get. We are hoping that the plants will be able to grow even deeper roots in the taller boxes.

In the photos you can see the boards of our old beds. They rotted because we used plain untreated wood. I was a bit sad to see my old garden gate getting dismantled. But I am very happy about the new beds. The new raised beds are made of redwood.

Of course, they are not treated with chemicals either, yet they are supposed to last a lifetime. The wood was a bit more expensive but hopefully we don’t have to rebuild again in five years.

We built a total of four boxes. It cost us about $300 (for planks of redwood, new fenceposts, and screws) and three days of labor. That includes the time it took to take out the old beds.

We covered one of the beds with old storm windows we found in our basement. Now the beds work like a miniature greenhouse. On warm days we take the windows off and let the sunshine warm the bed. During the last 3 winterstorms we closed the bed up to shield our small seedlings from the cold and ice.

The children had fun using power tools to help build them. I am looking forward to the spinach, Swiss chard, and Kale already growing. Check out our first little seedlings! I can’t wait to plant more stuff.

I am getting ready to be in a local art show. It’s been a while since I exhibited my work at Madison& Main gallery. It’s a wonderful artist coop, and if you are in the vicinity make sure you check it out. I figured my little garden fairy would go nicely with this post. Maybe she can sprinkle some magic fairy dust to make our plants grow faster. If you would like to meet this sweet Garden Fairy in person you will find her after May 1rst at Madison & Main. Unfortunately I’ll have to miss the grand opening of this show since I’ll be traveling in Germany by then.

Posted on March 23, 2013 August 9, 2017

My Enchanted Life

As the weather gets warmer my days get busier so I need meals to be simple. I run a full time business, The Enchanted Cupboard, while running my household and homeschooling 4 children. I need to keep our meals healthy and nutrition filled! I love this recipe because it is what I make with the last 2 chicken breast when I am doing big batch cooking and it is packed full of yummy veggies. Dicing up the veggies and adding it to chicken salad is a great way to boast your kids diet with lots of color that are full of antioxidants! I serve this for lunch on whole wheat bread and a cup fruit salad. You could easily make this low carb. and gluten free by serving it on big lettuce leaves like a wrap! If you like this easy recipe and want more come checkout my own blog and see what is cooking in my kitchen.

Mama’s Chicken Salad

Ingredients

2 skinless boneless precooked chicken, diced
2 stalk celery, cut into 1/4-inch dice
1/2 med. size onion dice
1/2 red pepper
1/2 yellow or orange pepper
2 tablespoons finely chopped parsley
1 cup prepared or homemade mayonnaise
Salt and pepper to taste

Directions

In a mixing bowl, toss together the chicken, veggies and herbs. Set aside.
Add mayo and mix gently until combined. Salt and pepper to taste. Refrigerate until ready to serve.

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On my work table I often have much smaller versions of play food just right for Waldorf Style dolls. I work with wood and paper clay to make play food.

This sweet little set is made of wood and is just right for doll house dolls. I so enjoy creating for this miniature world of childhood play. Come on over to the Nature Table and see what is cooking at the Acorn Cafe.

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The Acorn Cafe

On the first day of Spring the world was a buzz of activity at the Acorn Cafe.

Everyone was enjoying the wonderful food made by Miss Dandelion.

Grandpa was having his favorite tomato sandwich.

A few fairies stopped in for tea and sweets.

Four forest friends enjoyed an after noon treat.

All were happy on this bright spring day.

Items on the Nature Table:

Wooden toys, playsilks, and dolls can be found at The Enchanted Cupboard.

Felt Woodland Friends can be found at Muddyfeet.

Acorn Cafe and table & chairs were created by Willodel.

Posted on January 11, 2013

Winter Oatmeal

Our family really likes oatmeal. We eat it every day all winter long. There are variations of it but this is the basic recipe.

For two hungry adults and two children under 5:

2 cup large whole rolled oats

2 cups water

1 big slug of of milk

1/4 cup of creamed coconut

a handful of raisins

1 banana

milk and coconut sugar for the top

The trick to good porridge is cooking it slow. We bring the oats, banana, water and milk to a boil then turn it right down to a simmer. Then, depending on how hydrated you like your raisins, you add them and the coconut. We like to chop ours into big chunks. It is fun to get a little of the unmelted coconut in your bite.

We usually let it cook on the stove, go get the kids ready for the day and set the table, and by then it is done. Typically 15-20 minutes. Stirring occasionally. With a sprinkle of coconut sugar and a dash of milk, or nothing at all, this breakfast is a fantastic way to start your day. Enjoy.

Posted on November 16, 2012

Success

This quote is a good one to remember on days like today (for me) so I thought I would share its beauty.

To laugh often and much;

To win the respect of intelligent people
and the affection of children;

To earn the appreciation of honest critics
and endure the betrayal of false friends;

To appreciate beauty;
To find the best in others;

To leave the world a bit better, whether by
a healthy child, a garden patch
or a redeemed social condition;

To know even one life has breathed
easier because you have lived;

This is to have succeeded.

Ralph Waldo Emerson

Posted on November 8, 2012

The Walk To School

Before I moved to the village I live in now, I lived on a farm. I was able to see the seasons change by watching the life cycle (and fleece cycle) of the sheep, the apples on the trees and the birds in our garden. Now I live in suburbia where I can more readily collect a multitude of leaves but somehow I have felt more disconnected to nature and her rhythms. It was right before our midterm break when I decided to slow down our school drop off and pick up walk. Even in the two weeks I have been doing it, the things I have noticed with my daughter have been so soul nurturing.

Here are a few pictures taken on our journey to school.

Posted on October 22, 2012

Living a Dream and Making Dreams Happen

I recently moved to my dream location. Close to a large Steiner school for my kids and in the middle of a village with many of my favorite teachers, authors and role models in the Steiner world living all around me. This move was huge for my family and continues to be a real leap of faith. A few years prior my husband mentioned a pearl of wisdom someone had shared with him about dreams. They said if you wanted to learn something, create a group for it to be taught. Sort of a “build it and they will come” mantra. Well once we moved here that is what I did. Teaming up with a local handcraft teacher I have started a winter knitting group, children welcome. The women who have come have all been such bright souls and sharing such a soothing meditation such as knitting with new friends has already proven to be a highlight of my week. It is so easy to get stuck in the solitude of our passions. Do you have a way that you bring community to your craft life?

Posted on May 12, 2012

Make it Yourself: Homemade Organic Nutella

My mom seldom bought Nutella; it was (and still is) quite expensive and not very healthy (beside what they claim in their ads). We only had it when in was on sale and it was a real treat! When I started living by myself and buying what I wanted I often bought a jar; I loved it on my bagels…But soon I found that eating that often made me grumpy and weird…Too much sugar and fat intake, so I stopped buying it and said goodbye to chocolate spread, until I was at my mom and stumble upon a TV show about dessert. Here’s the recipe the guy proposed:

What you need:

2 cups of Hazelnuts*
½ cup of icing sugar
½ cup of cocoa
2 table spoon of hazelnut oil (sunflower, canola, even olive oil could work)
1 table spoon of vanilla extract

What you do:

On a cookie sheet, evenly spread hazelnuts and put them in the oven to roast at 400F for about 8 min. Check them often it roast fast!
Let them cool and take out the shells by scrubbing them together.
Place them in a robot and crush them for 5 min, until it start to look like butter.
Add the rest of the ingredient and mix them for as long as it takes for you to like the texture. Some like it more crunchy, some like it more smooth.
Slice a piece of bread and spread your newly made butter on it.
Enjoy!

There are variation of this recipe that contains milk or dried powder milk products to make it more like the store-bought thing but I tend to make the recipe more simple. We tend to use organic ingredients.

* I had a friend make it by replacing the hazelnut by almond for her allergic daughter and they found it very good as well. I guess any kind of nuts would work.

I suggest keeping it in your fridge since they’re no preservative. I usually double the recipe and it last us about a week.

It is SO good on toast, untoasted bread, fruits. It relatively takes no time to make and is so easy to offer in a pretty jar. The kids can help measuring and dumping the ingredients in the robot and will lick the spoon afterwards.

Posted on May 10, 2012

No Sugar Carob Fudge

What a chalenge to find a great little ” sugary tasting” treat for you and your family ! Well lately a friend of mine introduced me to this special caroub fudge and what a suprise for me to find that it is Deliiiiciouuss !! I thought that sharing this with you would be a great idea… it is a creative recipe and soOoo easy to make !!

What you will need:

~ 2 tablespoons of sunflower oil

~ 2 cups of unsweetened carob chips

~2/3 cup of peanut butter

~1/2 cup of coconut

~1/3 cup of walnuts

~1/2 cup of dry raisins

~1 tsp. of vanilla

Place the carob, peanut butter and oil in a pan at low temperature, stirring constantly just until smooth. This will give you a great “chocolate” color…it already looks delicious !!

Then add the remaining ingredients and mix well.

Spread out in a greased 8 x 8 square pan and refrigerate for at least 2 hrs. Then cut in squares or as you desire.

Keep them in the refrigerator or you could also freeze the balance for unexpected sweet cravings…

** I do find that the fudge is hard to cut in perfect square…but it is still as good 🙂 **

Note: With the basic recipe (carob, peanut butter and oil) you can create so many different variations of this recipe…why not use your favorite nuts, some popped quinoa, cranberry or even some spices..the sky is the limit 🙂

Enjoy !!!!

Posted on May 2, 2012

sharing the work

the smallest things are not lost on our children. they have been watching our actions since the day they were born …how we talk, how we move, even the smallest blink of our eyes, they are taking note

with fresh eyes taking in all sorts of details to map out this new world of theirs

sometimes it strikes me as funny, that these little people play at what we call work…

if only we would grow and find the same fun, in sweeping the floor, dusting the shelves and hanging the laundry

alongside us they find their place to work and grow through the day and years….

now off to garden we two go to see what might have come up…

hello, I am Pamela of prettydreamer. I am mama to a lovely prettydreamer of my own. I am still in love with toys, storybooks and fairy tales of all kind. I love trees, rocks, maps and unknown places and stumbling upon ideas turned upside-down, folk hands and honest traditions that run deep and all the other friendly playful things that function or are simply made to bring joy