nature Archives ~ Page 5 of 22 ~ Happy Whimsical Hearts

Getting ready for chickens

In two weeks we will have sweet little chicks (fingers crossed)! Our lovely broody hen is being such a good mama keeping ten little eggs warm. And she seems to be settling into her new home well after arriving from the farm.

Before she arrived the children worked with their dad to build the chicken coop. Watching them work together on a project is super lovely. Seeing them problem solve and reach an outcome is rewarding on many levels. He gives them tasks and they quickly jump to them, happy to be able to really help.

Having chickens was high on our wish list when we started thinking about moving home. And we are lucky that my brother-in-law has a chicken farm. So when he knew we were ready he sent this lovely broody hen to us, together with ten fertile eggs to pop under her once she settled.

The children and I check our mother hen a few times each day. And each time we do she is happily sitting on her eggs. I wasn’t sure she was eating and drinking at first – but thankfully her survival instincts remain even while she is broody!

I must say I am very thankful for a husband who looks at our weekend ‘to do lists’ with an open mind. He is used to my lists and we always make impressive headway through them. And bee hives are next (*laughing* sorry, just added that for my husband!)

Have you hatched your own eggs? Any tips?

Blessings, Kelly

March 16, 2015 by Kelly

A magical children’s garden

Creating a magical children’s garden was part of our plan for making our Waldorf inspired home…

Growing up, Husband of Mine and I were lucky to have green thumb mother’s and we appreciated the joy of a beautiful and playful garden, with special spots for children. My mother once told me that she aimed to have a beautiful picture through every window out to the garden, and she achieved this and more.

For our own garden, we had lots of ideas in mind, and wanted to make them work in our small pocket backyard. We felt a children’s garden benefited from…

✿ green grass

To run and roll on, throw a ball and run under the sprinkler. Or pretend to mow the grass like dad!

A well defined green area can help make the most of a small backyard

✿ edible garden

Herbs and vegetables to grow, pick and taste. Growing a garden is a wonderful hobby to enjoy as a family and lovely for the children to understand where things come from.

✿ cottage garden

Romantically pretty flowers to appreciate with the fairies {Dino Boy often goes looking for them *smile*}

Sweet scents attracting the birds and the bees.

✿ special nooks & spots for sitting

To soak up the sunshine, or for afternoon tea …this is one my mother taught me, she always put special sitting spots around the garden.

✿ a cubby house

To inspire imaginative play…a space all of their own! ✿ a sandpit

For digging and building ~ it is amazing how much play this sees *grin*

✿ mud garden & kitchen

For getting the hands dirty and making mud pies ~ the ingredients of childhood!

✿ a tree to climb

Ours is only little, but Dino Boy still loves to climb as high as he can. It is also a place to hang a bell, or a bird feeder

And then there are the little whimsical extras… but they can keep for another day *grin*

We have been incredibly lucky that my mother-in-law has helped us realise our vision for our beautiful children’s garden! And she continues to help with the weeding every now and again {she just can’t sit still and we are thankful!}

What do you think makes a magical children’s garden?

Warmly, Kelly