The Giant Turnip Story

This is an oldie, but a goodie.  Do you know it?

If not, it is sure to become a fave of both yours and your children.

Once upon a time, there was an old man.  He lived wth his wife, their grandson, a little brown dog, a tiny white cat and a pink nosed mouse in a grand old farmhouse.   One day, the man told his wife. 

Dear wife, I am going to plant a turnip seed.  When it grows good and big, we will have delicious turnip soup.

He took the seed and planted it in a patch of healthy brown soil.  Each and every day, he watered it.  When the lightning and thunder men came, the rain drops danced over it.  The sunbeams dazzled and keep it warm.

Grow big, my little seed

Two little shoots popped out, growing bigger each day.

One fine day, the man knew it was time.

Dear Wife, Tonight we shall eat Turnip soup

and he put a big pot of water on to boil. 

He held onto the shoots and he began to pull.

And he pulled, and he pulled

But the turnip stuck fast.

He called his wife

Dear wife, Come and help me pull the turnip

So she held onto Grandpa and he held the shoots and together, they both pulled and pulled

but the turnip stuck fast.

She called to the boy

Dear Grandson, Come and help us pull the turnip

So he held Grandma, who held Grandma, who held the shoots

and they PULLED and they PULLED and they PULLED
but still the turnip stuck fast

So the boy called the brown dog,

and he held on to the boy, who held Grandma, who held Grandpa, who held the shoots

and they PULLED, and they PULLED, and they PULLED

but the turnip stuck fast!

So the dog called the tiny cat.....

And the cat called the pink mouse...

Then, without warning and all of a sudden, the turnip let go!

The turnip fell on top of Grandpa, who fell on top of Grandma, who fell on top of her Grandson, who fell on top of the brown dog, who fell on top of the white cat, who almost nearly squashed the wee pink mouse!

Oh dear!

Grandpa stood up, and dusted himself off, and then they all helped each other up.

Then, Grandpa carried the turnip into the kitchen where he chopped it up, Chop Chop Choppity Chop, into small pieces. He added some herbs and spices, a little of this and a little of that, and soon enough, the turnip soup was ready. 

All of them, Grandpa and Grandma, Grandson and the brown dog, the white cat and of course, the pink mouse sat down to eat it, and it was just as delicious as they expected!

It really is amazing to watch small two year olds begin to retell a familiar story.

The power of the spoken word is truly incredible!

One last tip!  As much as possible I try to include small children in some form of movement.

In this story, it happens with the 'and they pulled' moments, where the children and adults can pretend to pull the shoots, or in the Choppity chop, where they can 'chop' vegies with their finger knife! 

These pipe cleaner dolls are designed to hang on to one another, and the children like to try to help make them move.  Robust sewing on story play props means you can encourage them to join in, and later, they can use them to re-tell the story to one another in play.

How to make a pipe cleaner doll

Take a ball of wool.  This lovely bubbly wool comes from

 Rainbow Wools . Carol supplies many of the Steiner schools in Australia.  She'd love to help you too!

 

You need a few pipe cleaners.  The ones with tightly woven cotton are easier to work with than the standard pipe cleaners you find in cheap (and nasty) shops.

Start about a centimetre from one end, and wind the wool tightly towards the tip.

When you reach the end, fold the tip over to secure wool, and continue winding back the other way.

Repeat the fold at the other tip, then tie off the wool as neatly as possible.

This pipe cleaner forms the legs and body.

Take a second pipe cleaner and thread a bead into the centre of it.

Wind one side of this pipe around the centre of the leg piece. Repeat with the other end too, so this pipe cleaner now becomes the head and arms.

Wind the arms in the same way as the legs, but do it in two separate pieces.

Start on one wrist and work towards middle, then tie off.

Repeat with the second arm.

This will keep the bulk of wool formed in the tying motion hidden underneath the clothes.

Your body is complete.

Now for clothes!

This shape becomes a shirt.

Lengthen the top and bottom ends to make a dress.

I gave Grandpa a set of overalls!, a beard and white fleece hair.

These dolls stand about 5cm tall so the stitching is quite intricate. 

At times like this, I almost need glasses!

Grandma is clothed in a shirt and separate skirt, with a little felt apron.

And stereotypically, a white plait bun.  I couldn't resist, even though I have never known a Grandma who looks like this!   Many Grandma's today are more 'with it' (as my mother would say!) than me.

Here is the boy, a smaller version of the Grandpa doll.

And the farmhouse dog!  He was more challenging, but he does the trick for the story!

Can you guess what story it might be?

Hint:  The wire dolls are perfect for this story as the pipe cleaner arms can be bent to demonstrate that they hold one to one another!

Here is the mini mouse!  Ned loves her, and I keep having to search for her when Ned takes her away to play! 

Do you like this?  Let me know.  Leave a comment here.

It is always good to know when something is useful or not.

Happy sewing!!

So, it is storytime tomorrow!

See you in the morning!

Writing, writing and more writing!

Ned and his best friend Bella.

I love to write, which is just as well, as I am in a final edit of my book on Creative Ideas for Parenting the under 6's.  This is not the title at all, but is a good description of what is in it.  But I won't give away the title surprise just yet. I'm at page 60, only 137 to go!  But tiny bites, in every available moment, are slowly breaking it down and I can see the end!  Then, it is off to find a publisher.   MamaMoontime, and all my readers, are being so patient whilst this slog of writing finally comes to an end.  I say slog, but it is really a work of love.  I love that I am finally living my dream. The book has been about five years in the making, in between teaching, mothering, socialising, living, loving and just all the things us women do, but I really think its been worth it. 

Next up, I am on to a book version of my CREATE, and love life! course.  I'm hoping this might be up and about by early next year.  Then, everyone who wants to fire up their own creative spark, who lives too far from here, can read it and put the match under the kindling for themselves!!  This will be my most long held dream come true!!!!

Right now, it's back to the keyboard.  We had no electricity here all day, (thank goodness for stored power in computer batteries) and that means no pump, no water, no flushing of the toilet and NO CUPS OF TEA!!!!  How is a women writer to cope????  Actually, how is any women/mother to cope??? 

Tomorrow, I have a special post on how to make a cute little pipe cleaner Grandpa doll, standing about 5cm tall, which I have used in my story for the past week.  And the next day, I will tell you that story.

Its an oldie but a goodie!

See you back here soon!! 

Chocolate cravings and war time slogans

I don't know about you but I am craving chocolate.  For breakfast, lunch and dinner.  That is all I want.

And from now on, I give in. Just a little bit so my jeans dont get too tight!

I'll never be one of those girls I sometimes read about, those ones with the 'what they eat' columns where they say they treat themselves to 'one piece' of chocolate to satisfy their chocolate cravings after dinner.

What the?  My chocolate craving would probably only be satisfied with a family block, and then want to do it all again tomorrow.  That seriously would be no good for the winter jeans, so the little voice in my head pops in to say hi!  But, one piece??

Anyway, today I was reading an old magazine from the library and there was a story about old war time slogans.  These were shopped around in response to food rationing and were to encourage people to make the best of what they had, and to be thrifty.  I love thrifty! They could come back and no one would even know they were years old. They are so relevant for now!

Here is a sample:

• Waste not, Want not
• Make do, and mend
• Get fit, not fat
• Dig for Victory  (as in, get in the garden and start growing your own food)
• From fork, to fork  (pic of a garden fork, next to a food fork)

I like these. Do you?

How to card wool with children

A few weeks ago, the children and adults of Moondew washed the lanolin from freshly shorn sheep fleece.

First, we washed it gently in a water and soapy solution, then rinsed it in clear fresh water.

We did this again and again.

All the time singing,

"Baa Baa Black Sheep, have you any wool?

Yes, sir, Yes, Sir, three bags full

One for the master, and one for the dame

And one for the little boy/girl who lived down the lane"

We were lucky enough to have white and brown fleece in the lot, so of course, we also sang a 'Baa Baa White Sheep' version, that finished with the line, "And one for the children at Moondew today"

The washed wool was dried, then it was ready for carding.

The carding brushes are from Ashfords.

I purchased mine years ago, but you can buy your own set from Lavendilly Fibre Arts for around $20 per set.

To use them, one carder goes in one hand and you place a small amount of fleece on the bristles.

The other brush then goes on the top.

Pull the two brushes in the opposite direction to 'card' the wool.

This is the act of brushing the fleece until all the fibres pull in the same direction.

Little children can help!

You hold one brush on your knee, and they can pull the other one away from you with both hands.

How do you know when you are done?

No knots!

This is what it will look like on the brush.

See the fibres now pull straight, and all the knots in the wool are gone.

You can use this fleece for felting, or to stuff toys and works of art.

Wool fleece is great stuff- natural, usually non-allergic (except to those with a wool allergy) and super soft.

This carding process is the simplest version.

Commercial fleeces are also carded but in big drum machines.  These long lengths of fibre are then bleached, dyed and wound into the kilo lots we can see in workshops and shops. These materials make our wonderful felting adventures possible. It is all about balance. Commercially dyed lots + plant dyed fleeces + hand carded fleeces = a wonderful world of fibre and creative explorations!

But it is nice to know that the art of working with our own hands is not lost.

Creativity and the Human Condition

I've just finished reading Malcolm Gladwell's book, "Outliers."   (I loved it!  I love him! Did I tell you that a few times already?!!) This book focuses on the reasons people are successful, or not. It seems culture, and where/when you grew up, might really play a part, and there is nothing wrong with that! Because I love to learn about successful people and the creative potential of the mind, I read a lot of business books, biographies and lots of things about the human condition.  This book is worth a read.

My favourite quote in the book is "Achievement= Talent and Preparation".  I think if more people knew and believed this, the creativity in the world might explode.  It seems it is not just down to sheer talent alone.  Right, now our lone excuse (I'm not talented enough) goes right out the window!  Great stuff!  It is time to take responsibility and Just Do it. 

That's the secret, isn't it. If you, like me, want to be a successful writer/artist/poet/songwriter/screenwriter or whatever else it is that you dream of being, we have to TAKE ACTION.

Finding the ideas is the easy part. Making the time for the work is far more difficult. The only difference then between those that are successful and those that are not, is that the successful ones set their goal and every single day, put their attention and focus and time into doing the things that would help them reach their goals.  Every day.  I sit at the computer and write, regardless of whether my inspiration is shining or not. I just write.

I've always suspected that if we could find that pocket of creative thought in our bones, (we all have it somewhere) and stop wishing and hoping but instead, gave it time, and lessons, and lots of hours practice (all of which would protect the flame), one day we'd wake up and realise that our creative dream had COME TRUE!!   We might not be Lady Gaga but we would be singing for our supper!!

Malcolm also spoke about a type of school in America, the KIPP initiative .  I'll be honest, I've never heard of it but gee I like some of what they are doing.

One thing really struck me, because it is something for all, not only for struggling school students or disadvantaged children.  We could all do better in life with this little hint up our sleeve.

Here it is:  The SSLANT Protocol.
Smile
Sit up
Listen
Ask questions
Nod when spoken to
Track with your eyes

Simple, isn't it.   Last week, I was talking to a doctor whose children attend two (the boy and girl versions) of the most posh schools in my town.  He shared a story of the moment he was most impressed, the instant that he and his wife knew they had made the right schooling choice for their family.

"I went to pick up my little boy, who was in Prep at the time.  All the small boys were lined up outside their classroom, with their boater hats on.  The teachers told them that once they saw their parents arrive, they were dismissed for home. My son saw me, and so he walked over to his teacher, took off his boater hat, shook her hand and said goodbye, and then walked over to greet me.   In that moment,  I knew he'd be all right in life"

This kind of thing is so different from the typical classroom. The bell rings, the children might stand behind desks and sing "Good afternoon, Teacher", then it is time to rush or run off.  It sometimes feels like absolute chaos, a whirlwind of a tornado and it happens all over the school.  But it can be different. One of my mentors, years ago, encouraged me to greet, and farewell, every child with a handshake and their name.  As in, "Good Morning Tom. How are you today?"    I really believe this eye to eye, HEART to HEART, contact is the greatest gift we can give our children. When children grow up believing that they have every right to be here, feeling respected and able, they mature with a deep belief in themselves and their ability to succeed.

But what if you didn't have that growing up? I don't think that can be an excuse.
Why not start believing in your ability to be successful now?
We can start with these KIPP principles.

Smile

Sit up

Listen

Ask questions

Nod when spoken to

Track with your eyes

It starts with a smile.
With every person I encounter this week, I'm going to Smile, sit up, listen, ask questions, nod when I am spoken to, track with my eyes, and greet everyone I meet by their name. It continues to amaze me that we can practice outward behaviours and make such an impact on our internal reality.  Success. Here we come.

I'm betting that if you make these six behaviours part of your everyday reality, it won't be long before you are back at the page, roaring and ready to go into action and achieve those dreams and goals of yours.  Cheers to your future success!

"Hannah and Cluck Chicken go on an Adventure" Autumn Story for you!

Here is a story you may like to use in your homes or playgroups.

Playgroup is an unusual situation, unlike a classroom, in that you must cater for children of a variety of ages. 

This story is designed to show them one way to use some of the toys and play mats they might find in their space.  The children love the hidey hole pockets.  That is no surprise!

The multitude of ages means I like to incorporate a familiar song, tune or finger rhyme into the story so children can join in. 

Of course, it is lovely to have my own made up ditties in a story, but when my quest is to engage the children and provide imaginative pictures that they can transform in play, it is more helpful to give them something to 'hang on' to!  And traditional songs and rhymes have lasted centuries, through the channels of oral story, so there must be some kind of magic in them!

Enjoy!

Once upon a time, there lived a young girl whose name was Hannah.

Hannah lived in a beautiful Toadstool house.

Hannah's best friend was her chicken, named Cluck.

Cluck was a mother of five little babies, and one day, she couldn't find them anywhere.

Hannah and Cluck set off to find them.

(To the tune of 5 little ducks)

Five little chickens went out one day

Over the hills and far away

Mother Chicken said, Cluck, cluck, cluck, cluck

And up through the grass, one little chicken POPPED!

(Repeat song three more times- Four, Three, Two little chickens....)

Finally, Hannah and Cluck Chicken had found four of her little ones.

But one baby chicken was still hiding.

Whereever could he be??

Once again, they set off, with the four babies in tow.

Mother Chicken went out for a walk one day,

Over the hills and far away

Mother Chicken said, Cluck, cluck, cluck, cluck

And through the window in the roof, the last chicken POPPED!

Yes, the last little baby was fast asleep on the top of Hannah's Toadstool House.

Mother Chicken clutched her babies close to her, happy as she was to find them all safe and sound.

Hannah was happy too, so she went to collect her own baby doll to cuddle.

Hannah and Cluck Chicken were happy to be safely home with all their little ones.