Imbolc
February 2
butter banana candles raisin bran muffins apple raisin tarts little lamb song
Make a toilet paper roll candle. Have your child paint or cover a toilet paper roll in construction paper. Have them cut a large flame from orange, then a smaller one from yellow, and and even smaller one from red. Layer them, and glue together. Staple, tape or glue the "flame" to the toilet paper roll.
Make homemade butter. Pour heavy cream and a sprinkling of salt into clean babyfood jars. Put the lid on tight. Shake and shake and shake. Keep skaking. It will become butter.
Have a Spring Cleaning party with your child. Give them child size brooms, mops, and dustpans. Children love to dust too. Have them go through their clothes and toys to help you decide what they've outgrown and can donate to charity.
There are many candle making kits for sale at craft stores. Keep in mind the age of your child, and select an appropriate kit to make candles. I love the beeswax candles.
Plant seeds with your child. Seed starter mixture is the best to use. Peat pots can be plated directly into the ground.
Have everyone in the family make a prediction about whether the ground hog will see his shadow or not.
For much older children, the book "Spell Crafts, Creating Magical Objects" by Scott Cunningham and David Harrington, has detailed instructions for making parrafin candles on page 89. They call them "Tapers of Power."
Make jeweled candle holders. First make the clay: Put 2 cups of salt and 2/3 cup water in a saucepan. Heat and stir for 3-4 minutes. Remove from heat and add 1 cup of cornstarch and 1/2 cup water. Mix thoroughly. Het more if it needs to be thickened. This recipe takes a strong stirring arm. Let cool a bit, then store in airtight container until you're ready to use. Second: shape into a candle holder. Put the candle in to make the hole, then take out to dry. I found "jewels" in the local discount store's crafts section. Put those on the candle holder. Let dry. You may have to glue the jewels back on after the clay is dry. This can also be painted and covered in shellac if you wish.
Banana Candles
1 banana for every two "candles," 1 pineapple ring for each "candle," 1 cherry for each "candle," 1 toothpick for each "candle," Peel the banana. Cut the banana in half. Put a pineapple ring on a plate. Put one end of the banana into the middle of the pineapple ring. Stick the cherry on the top of the banana to look like a flame with the toothpick. Make sure people know there's a toothpick in this when you serve it.
Candlemas Song
(to the tune of "Have you ever seen a Lassie,")
Red Candles,
Pink Candles,
Brown candles too.
Will you light the candles?
Please, please do.
Red candles,
Pink Candles,
Brown candles too.
All shine at Candlemas
For me and for you.
Raisin Bran Muffins
1/4 cup softened butter,
1 cup shredded wheat cereal,
2/3 cup milk,
1 1/2 teaspoon baking powder,
1/2 cup raisins,
1/4 teaspoon salt,
1/4 cup brown sugar,
1 egg,
Mix milk and cereal. Set aside to soften. Stir in the rest of ingredients just until moistened. Fill 8 paper-lined muffin cups 2/3 full. Bake at 400 degrees for 18 to 20 minutes.
Apple & Raisin Tarts
1 apple (cored, peeled, and chopped,)
3 Tablespoons sugar and 1 Tablespoon cinnamon for the topping,
3 Tablespoons sugar,
2 Tablespoons raisins, 1/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon,
1 can (8 oz) refrigerated dinner cresent rolls,
Put chopped apple, raisins,sugar, and cinnamon in a bowl. Stir until the apples are coated. Separate the 8 uncooked cresent rolls into precut triangles. Spoon 1 Tablespoon of the apple mixture into the middle of the triangle. Fold over edges, and pinch to seal. Sprinkle the cinnamon & sugar topping over each tart. Bake for 18 to 20 minutes in a 350 degree oven. Cool for 20 minutes on a wire rack.
Give your child a nice piece of cardboard. Give your child a bag of dried mixed beans. The ones for making 7 bean soup are the most colorful. Let them glue them in any design they wish. They can even draw lightly with pencil before they start if they wish.
Let your child draw an outline of a lamb on paper. Give them cotton balls and let them glue them all over the lamb.
Give your child seed catalogs and women's magazines when you're done reading them. Have them search for flowers and signs of Spring. They can cut out the pictures and glue them in a Spring collage.
Little Lamb Song
(sung to the tune of London Bridges)
Little lambs go
baa, baa, baa
baa, baa, baa,
baa, baa, baa.
Little lambs go
baa, baa, baa,
In the Springtime.
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