Morning Glory Children

Summer with the Morning Glories!

2010-06-25T04:51:00.000-07:00

This summer allow your child to enjoy

the blessings that the season has to offer at

MORNING GLORY CHILDREN

The summer program at Morning Glory is dedicated to engaging your child in the quiet lull that summer time elicits. Your child will embrace the opportunity to spend hours out of doors caring for their enviroment and sharing time with friends old and new. Water play, crafts, drawing, singing, painting, storytelling, nature walks, gardening, bread baking, puppet show, woodworking, cooperative games will delight your child and provide a nurturing environment where they can experience all the wonders of the season.

Our days are sure to be filled with singing, imaginative play, handcrafts, art and nature walks, and yet there is still plenty of time for the children to explore, to create, to drink up summer and all it offers.

Whether your child is present for one week or for the entire program they will be left with memories and experiences that will awaken their sense of wonder and imagination and nourish their inherent connection to nature.

Spring Cleaning!

2010-03-29T03:13:00.000-07:00

Does anyone remember spring cleaning? All the quilts hung up on the clothes line, the change over of wool sweaters to cotton, the windows open wide with no screens because the bugs were not quite ready to wander in - the smell of lavender mixed with fresh cool air blowing through your home!

Spring cleaning is a wonderful activity to do with your children. It is another way to create the image that you and your children are helping in this great change of the seasons. Wiping away the cold winter residue and making space for the new to blossom and take root.

Take a minute and blog your memories, your ideas or recipes for natural cleaning supplies so the kids can be involved 100%.

My recipe:

10 oz. spray bottle

7-10 drop essential oil- i love lavender or orange

1tsp. distilled white vinegar

1 pinch of salt

fill the rest with water

and let the little ones clean away

I try to give them a white cloth so that the older ones can see the results.

MAIN INGREDIENT:

Have so much fun!!!!!

Crafting for a Cause!

2010-03-07T16:57:00.000-08:00

Many thanks to all of you who made this project so successful!!!! The effort that was put into this project was inspiring in itself.

The bags have arrived in Nicaragua! We can only imagine what a wonderful gift it is for the children. Now they are able to carry their school supplies to school each day in their very own bag!

Special thanks goes to:

Ashleigh _JP

Jill - Seedlings

Melanie - both

Peggy- Seedlings

Efrain- both

Lorraine- Seedlings

Erin- JP

Marlene-JP

Mimi

Kate Nazemi- Seedlings

Kate Roberts- Seedlings

Angelique- JP

Karen- Seedlings

Late Winter Fun!

2010-03-07T16:40:00.000-08:00

What a treat to have a maple tree in our garden! The children could hardly believe their eyes when we drilled a small hole in the tree, hammered in the tap (made by our very own Mr. McCracken), then hung the bucket. The sap began to spill out at once and the children ducked their wee heads, mouths wide open, under the tap to collect the sap as it dripped out.

When the bucket is full we begin to boil it until we have a sweet syrup to add to Friday's oat porridge and Tuesday's bread. Karen also gives each one a spoon full to keep them sweet as syrup!

Valentine's Day Celebration!

2010-02-16T17:30:00.000-08:00

What a special day for the Seedlings class- Each child gave a handmade Valentine to each or their 12 friends - as well as making certain there was one for themselves- true love indeed!

Thank you to the families for helping to make such a super-duper meal!

Cupcakes, fresh strawberries, and warm apple cider - there were beautiful flowers to decorate the room and for each table. All of our senses were engaged!

Just what we needed after so many snow days.

Karen and I are delighted to spend these moments with your children- a really gift for the two of us! These pictures capture some of the magic!

Rain Garden Workshop

2010-02-07T13:16:00.001-08:00

Instructor: Mary Ellen Noonan
Location: Activity Center
Age: 18 yrs and over
Fee: FREE
(pre-registration required)
Come to a garden party for clean water!
There are many things we can all do right in
our own yards to help keep our creeks and
streams clean for our children and
grandchildren. Learn all about two great
solutions you can do - rain barrels and rain
gardens - at this free homeowner workshop.
Rain barrels are simple to install, and a
great way to:
• cut down on polluted runoff entering our
creeks and streams
• save money on irrigation using free
collected rainwater in your garden.
Rain gardens with native plants can be a
beautiful solution in your yard that:
• helps recharge groundwater that we
depend upon
• filters out pollutants more effectively than
lawns
• is easier to maintain than lawn and requires
less water and fertilizer
• attracts songbirds and butterflies
• helps keep Bucks Beautiful!
Come join us to learn all about these
terrific inexpensive solutions at the free
workshop! Plus-Win a chance to take
home a pre constructed rain barrel ready
for your garden!
These workshops are funded by the
League of Women Voters of
Pennsylvania Citizen Education Fund
through a Section 319 Federal Clean
Water Act grant from the US
Environmental Protection Agency
administered by Pennsylvania
Department of Environmental
Protection. The workshops will be
taught by Mary Ellen Noonan, from the
Bucks County Conservation District.

Activity # Date Time Day
1204.011 5/5 7:00pm-9:00pm W
1204.021 5/19 7:00pm-9:00pm W
1204.031 6/2 7:00pm-9:00pm W
12

for more information go to:

http://www.doylestownpa.org/Announcements.htm#Park_and_Recreation_Program_Guide_Updates

Crafting for a Cause!

2010-02-03T13:34:00.000-08:00

Friends, we have a wonderful opportunity before us ! Read on and see how you can be a part of the global shift towards compassion and understanding.

Morning Glory Children will join forces with Pebble Hill interfaith Church and other local schools and individuals to help provide a small community in Nicaragua with necessary items that we take for granted.

Carolyn Penta, a member of PHC, will be taking her 16th trip to Nicaragua this March to deliver all that has been donated.

Items such as- childrens's clothing, shoes and personal care items are all being asked for.

The weather in this community fluctuates between 60 to 100 degrees during the year so the clothing items can meet the needs of this climate. Young children are in desperate need of shoes and clothing so please be generous. Receiving blankets, onies, sun-dresses, shorts, t-shirts and sandal's will all be used and greatly appreciated.

As well as the above items we are asking that you join us for 2 evenings in February -the 11th and 18th from 7pm-9pm in the MG classroom at PHC. We will be making bags for 40 school children in need. Materials will be provided, we need your hands to help put them together. Many hands make light work -so please, bring a friend and let's get the job done!

Please bring additional donations by February 21st to:

PHC 320 Edison Furlong Rd. Doylestown Pa.

Thank you all in advance for your help!

French Lentil Soup

2010-02-02T14:57:00.000-08:00

"I made this French Lentil Soup this week and it is awesome. So easy and delicious. Here is the recipe from Epicurious."

- Marlene, mama to Owejan in the Seedlings class

3 tablespoons extra–virgin olive oil

2 cups chopped onions

1 cup chopped celery stalks plus chopped celery leaves for garnish

1 cup chopped carrots

2 garlic cloves, chopped

4 cups (or more) vegetable broth

1 1/4 cups lentils, rinsed, drained

1 14 1/2–ounce can diced tomatoes in juice

Balsamic vinegar (optional)

Heat oil in heavy large saucepan over medium–high heat. Add onions, celery, carrots, and garlic; sauté until vegetables begin to brown, about 15 minutes. Add 4 cups broth, lentils, and tomatoes with juice and bring to boil. Reduce heat to medium–low, cover, and simmer until lentils are tender, about 35 minutes.

Transfer 2 cups soup (mostly solids) to blender and puree until smooth. Return puree to soup in pan; thin soup with more broth by 1/4 cupfuls, if too thick. Season with salt, pepper, and a splash of vinegar, if desired. Ladle soup into bowls. Garnish with celery leaves.

Squash Pasta

2010-01-27T07:52:00.000-08:00

This recipe came-to-be back when Emmitt was a puree-eating baby and I was trying to transform what I was making for him into a meal for those of us with teeth. During these colder months, I make this at least every other week.

Squash Pasta

8 tbsp. butter or Earth Balance

12 or so sage leaves

1 butternut squash

pasta of your choice (Linguine is my favorite these days)

A nice slab of Parmesan for grating at the table

Other: food mill (this is not essential but really adds to the final dish)

Peel the butternut squash with a vegetable peeler until all bright orange flesh is revealed. Remove seeds, top and bottom and cube. At this point I steam the squash but really you could roast it too. Steaming takes about 15 minutes.

Meanwhile, place butter in large sauté pan with high sides (you will be tossing the pasta in here to finish). Chop the sage into tiny pieces and sprinkle on top of the butter. Cook on medium-low to low heat. You don’t want to lose the water content of the butter. You’re making a sort of butter/sage infusion. Err on the low side.

Boil and salt water for pasta.

When your squash is done put it into the food mill over a glass bowl. When you are finished milling the squash give it a little sprinkle of salt, say ¼ of a teaspoon.

Using a whisk mix the squash puree into the butter and sage over the low heat. Stir gradually until combined. Turn off heat.

When your pasta has finished drain over a small bowl in the sink (reserved pasta water will help if your final product is one big lump). Mix in the pasta in stages so you can control the “squashiness” of your final product. Spoon onto plates and generously add Parmesan. This should taste pretty dreamy!

2010-01-16T14:08:00.001-08:00

A New Year for Change!

2010-01-05T01:27:00.000-08:00

Happy New Year friends!

Now that the winter solstice has occurred the earth is beginning to move away from the darkness towards brighter and longer days. In this part of the country this time of year has given the outside world a time to rest for the coming bloom and growth of the following seasons. Some will describe this time of year as the darkest and most de-pressing for emotional and or physical reasons. Yes it can be that and it can also be something different - let us gather ourselves during this brief time of the year and reach towards something greater than our immediate surroundings. These are exciting times. Let us look at the glass as half full and continue to fill it. Let us feel the momentum that this century is brining to us. When have there been more opportunities or more enthusiasm to create a world saturated with caring for others -the planet -and one’s self. There may always be a pull towards mediocrity and the sort. Let us push past the like and not only help those less fortunate but look at our own lives and breathe new life into each and every day. We do not think about it sometimes- the "small things" that have become second nature- recycling, buying and eating organic and local foods, chemical free almost everything, clothing swaps and hand-me-downs etc... Yet one can begin to feel comfortable and somewhat complacent in knowing that they are contributing in different ways.

My friends -the ways we are finding to contribute are not small at all and we can still do more! Take a few moments to acknowledge your contribution to change - post some of the wonderful ways you are contributing to a more conscious world for ourselves and for our children.

Daily Living Rhythms and Musical Rhythms

2009-11-08T15:38:00.000-08:00

Rhythm is the component of music we are most familiar with by the time we are born. We are already exposed to the rhythm of our mother’s heartbeat, the rhythm of walking and maybe even dancing. Songs we learn are organized and structured through rhythm, which we can recognize by the time we are about 12 months old. Other components of music, such as melody, harmony, timbre, tempo and mode define characteristics of songs, but it is often the rhythm that we are immediately drawn to. Think of all the times you clapped along to a song you’ve never heard before. It was the steady rhythm, or the pulse, that made that possible. This gives us a sense of belonging and order even if the music is unfamiliar.

What does this have to do with the rhythm of daily life that we establish for our children? It is the sense of feeling at home in a comfortable place that rhythm provides for our young children as they learn to navigate the world. It is also what gives us that same feeling when we listen to music we can “groove with” and just be, no matter what our state of mind might be.

Imagine that the over-all rhythm of the week is the pulse, or what you would clap along to. Each night and day alternates: night, day, night, day. What happens in between does not matter as of yet, you are just learning the pulse. You can clap along and that is satisfying enough. As you become more familiar with the rhythm, you notice that day has more going on. There are little rhythms within that time. As you learn those rhythms, you are able to add increasingly complex sounds to the clapping. This becomes even more satisfying.

Now think of a song you know very well. The better you know the song, the more enjoyable it is to engage in the complexities of the music. Maybe something happens at a certain point of the song that excites you: a certain rhythmic pattern, a shift in meter, modulation or change in instrumentation. It could be a part of the song that stands out to you; the part you wait for every time you hear the song. It is always there to satisfy your anticipation. This is like the special moment of the day that the child anticipates. Whether it is a story before bedtime or a walk before lunch, it has its place that feels right. It is this rhythm, which you have brought your child into, that provides the safety and satisfaction to feel at home and in one’s place. It is rhythm that is the great organizer of the many facets of our life.

written by

Erin Bullard, MMT, MT-BC

Music Therapist-Board Certified

and mother to Briony both attending Joyful Parenting

Halloween Celebration

2009-11-05T17:00:00.000-08:00

We had such a nice gathering at Adam, Mimi, Ted and Mary Katherine's house on Halloween. There was great food to share, pumpkins to carve and wonderful costumes and friends to enjoy. A great time was had by all.

Click on the link below to see all of the pictures (thanks to Lorraine for taking such great ones!)

http://share.shutterfly.com/share/received/album.sfly?sid=0BcM27No3csnIg&startIndex=0&fid=ac943eddabbd819b

November Events

2009-11-05T16:39:00.000-08:00

School Events

Nov. 9 Seedlings Parent Event 7pm

Nov. 12 Morning Coffee at Deanna's house

Nov. 16 Tuition Due

Nov. 17 Lantern Walk 5:30 at Kristin's house

A Few Ideas for this Weekend

First Friday

firstfridaydoylestown.com/schedule.cfm

Busy Bee's 3rd anniversary! Fairy, puppet craft, theater!

Michener Art Museum music and craft for children is also great!

Apple Festival

Enjoy all things apple including apple butter, cider, fritters, dumpling, and bushels of apples to go at the annual Apple Festival. The autumn celebration also includes live entertainment, craft vendors, and pie-eating contests. 215.794.4000 www.peddlersvillage.com

Free at the Kimmel: Bill & Tammy

The Kimmel is a great place for concerts. The architecture is also quite nice. This weekend they have a free event that looks pretty good. If you go be sure to grab a coffee at the nearby Metropolitan Bakery!

Bill & Tammy's Children's World Music Express celebrates cultural diversity through music and movement during a free performance on the Kimmel Center's Commonwealth Plaza stage. 215.893.1999. www.kimmelcenter.org/events/index.php?id=3575

Arshile Gorky: A Retrospective

The Philadelphia Museum of Art presents Arshile Gorky: A Retrospective, a major traveling retrospective celebrating the extraordinary life and work of Arshile Gorky. The collection includes 180 paintings, sculptures, and works on paper reflecting the full scope of Gorky's prolific career. 215.763.8100. www.philamuseum.org

We love visiting the museum's second floor Arms and Armor and Costume and Textiles collection. Be sure to check out the sculpture and fountains, an excellent place to play hide and seek.

Lentil Minestrone

2009-10-26T07:40:00.000-07:00

from Deborah Madison’s Vegetarian Cooking for Everyone

This recipe is one that I use every other week in the cooler weather. It's the best lentil soup I've ever had. Enjoy! Bridget

2 tbs. olive oil, plus extra virgin olive oil to finish

2 cups finely chopped onion

2 tbs. tomato paste

¼ cup chopped parsley

4 garlic cloves, chopped

4 carrots diced

1 cup diced celery or celery root

salt and freshly milled pepper

1 cup French green lentils, sorted and rinsed

Aromatics: 2 bay leaves, 8 parsley branches, 6 thyme sprigs

9 cups water or vegetable broth

1 bunch greens – mustard, broccoli rabe, chard, or spinach

2 cups cooked small pasta

thin shavings of Parmesan

Heat the oil in a wide soup pan with the onion. Sauté over high heat, stirring frequently, until lightly browned, about 10 minutes. Add the tomato paste, parsley, garlic, vegetables, and 2 teaspoons salt and cook for 3 minutes more. Add the lentils, aromatics, and water and bring to a boil. Lower the heat and simmer, partially covered for 30 minutes. Taste for salt and season with pepper. (The soup may seem bland at this point, but the flavors will come together when the soup is finished.) Remove the aromatics.

Boil the greens in salted water until they’re tender and bright green, then chop them coarsely. Just before serving, add the greens and the pasta to the soup and heat through. Serve with extra virgin olive oil drizzled into each bowl, a generous grind of pepper, and the Parmesan.

Something to read!

2009-10-14T11:30:00.000-07:00

Now that Autumn has settled in, what could be better than snuggling in with your child(ren) and a great book. Please go to the following address and feast your eyes on all the beautiful books. Perhaps in the future we could plan a parking lot book swap. Please feel free to share titles of your childrens favorites books as well.

www.chinaberrybooks.com

Events this Weekend

2009-10-08T16:17:00.000-07:00

What do you like to do with your family during the weekend? Whatever you end up doing, enjoy it and please share your thoughts and ideas with us! Here are some things I've come across this week that look like fun (many are linked to their website so you can get the specifics.)

Theater

Cathy Block's production "That's What Kids Do" this weekend at the Bristol Riverside Theater

Cathy Block performed a great concert for us last spring. She is wonderful and this show is certainly worth checking out!

Seasonal

Cuttalossa Farm

This little remote farm is truly amazing! Not commercial in the slightest and the setting is breathtaking. Take a quarter so you can buy some food for the sheep, roosters and ducks. There is even a baby lamb there this week! It's about a half mile from Solebury Orchards.

Directions: Take Mechanicsville Road toward the river; pass the sign for Solebury Orchards farm market. Where the road makes a sharp turn to the right, go left/straight onto the the unpaved road and its small bridge. Follow the Cuttalossa Creek past the "two one-lane bridges" sign and a magnificent sight appears on the right.

Solebury Orchards

Carousel Farm Lavender Farm

Another great little spot to see exotic animals and beautiful lavender on beautiful grounds. Only open on Saturdays. Just off Mechanicsville Road.

None Such Farms Pumpkin Festival

I've never been but it looks good. Other pumpkin picking suggestions are welcome!

Fall Fun on the Farm

The Market at Del Val offers tractor-drawn hayrides out to the pumpkin patch for pick-your-own pumpkins, pony rides, inflatables, a giant corn maze, and children's activities.

215.230.7170

Exhibits

Jim Henson's Fantastic World

The exhibition explores the creativity and "visual thinking" of artist, puppeteer, film director, and producer Jim Henson. The collection includes more than 100 original artworks, including drawings, cartoons, and storyboards; television. At the Michener.

Out on a Limb

The Morris Arboretum's Out on a Limb outdoor exhibit provides a bird's eye view of the forest from 50 feet above the ground. Also the Scarecrow Walk looks like fun. The whole place is great with lots to see and experience! Plus you can eat great Persian food after at one of two Persian restaurants in Chestnut Hill.

Peddler's Village Scarecrow exhibit. Always a fun one!

Fill 'er Up! Vintage Gas Stations of Bucks County

The Mercer Museum commemorates the 150th anniversary of the birth of the American Oil Industry in 1859 and the first successful oil well in Pennsylvania by displaying Fill 'er Up! Vintage Gas Stations of Bucks County, an exhibition of vintage photographs of filling and service stations from the 1920s through the 1950s.

Crayola After Dark

Guests can paint on walls with light wands and make cool designs and shadow prints in The Crayola Factory's Crayola After Dark exhibit space.

Obla-Di Obla-Da

2009-10-06T16:05:00.000-07:00

Owejan and Cole playing washboards at school – for a rousing rendition of Obla-Di Obla-Da!

Butternut Squash Soup

2009-10-05T06:37:00.001-07:00

Welcome to our Monday recipe submission kick-off! What could be better than beginning with one of falls finest, butternut squash soup! This recipe comes from Deanna, mother of Brayden (in Seedlings) and baby Ashton, and is absolutely delicious! Enjoy!

2lb of butternut squash cut into chunks

½ a large yellow Vidalia onion cut into slices

3 large or 4 small carrots

4 garlic cloves halved and smashed

1 teaspoon white pepper

Salt to taste (about 1/8 tsp)

¼ tsp pumpkin pie spice or similar spice

1 apple pealed and sliced (granny, pink lady, honey crisp…tart) roasted alone for about 10 minutes to soften

– Combine ingredients in a bowl and toss in an oil (I used the Wegams basting oil)

– Roast on 425 for 15 minutes turning half way thru

– Lower oven to 375 and roast until the veggies are cooked thru and golden brown (15-25 minutes)

– Put all ingredients in a blender or processor

– Let this sit for 10 minutes covered to assure all veggies and apples are tender

– Add about 1/3 cup cream of choice, soy milk, milk, cream or buttermilk (which is the best of course)

– Puree all ingredients adding chicken or vegetable broth to desired consistency

Joyful Parenting Classes

2009-10-03T13:44:00.001-07:00

We know for certain that the beginning of a child’s life is filled with many wonderful discoveries for both parents and children. These discoveries can often leave us as parents feeling tired, isolated and perhaps overwhelmed. Enrolling in Joyful Parenting will enable you to encourage and support yourself and fellow parents through the challenges and blessings of parenting young children.

Each class will offer time for you to observe your child(ren) in a social environment as well as a chance to meet like-minded families in our area who are working with the same parenting and educational issues.

CHILDREN LEARN AND DISCOVER

-Social interaction with others

-Age-appropriate movement skills- crawling, walking, climbing with the support of adults

-Playing and exploring with simple toys

PARENTS LEARN AND DISCUSS

-Songs, nursery rhymes and finger games to use at home

-How to create a weekly routine that suits the needs of a young child

-How to encourage independence and nurture childhood

Call or email to register:

215 622 7095 or morningglorychildren@gmail.com

Afternoon Autumn Apple Scones

2009-10-02T07:50:00.001-07:00

1 3/4 cups sifted all-purpose flour

21/4 tsp. baking powder

1 TBSP. honey

1/2 tsp. salt

Cut into the ingredients until the butter is of the size of a small pea:

1/4 cup butter

Beat in separate bowl:

2 eggs

Reserve 2 TBSP of the mixture. Add to the remainder and beat:

1/2 cup cream

Make a well in the dry ingredients. Pour the liquid into it. combine with a few swift strokes. Handle the dough as little as possible. Pat until 3/4 inch thick. Cut with a knief into any shape.

Add about 3/4 cup chopped apples

Bake in a pre-heated oven at 450 for 15 minutes.

*This recipe is easy to substitute all egg and dairy products to make delicious vegan scones!!*

Spinach and Quinoa Soup

2009-10-02T07:47:00.000-07:00

Sauteed:

1 Tblsp olive oil

couple pinches of salt

black pepper to taste

1 onion

4 coves garlic

Add and bring to a boil:

4 cups water

1/4 cup red wine

1/4 cup rice vinegar

1 cup quinoa

Simmer for 30 minutes,

Add:

2 cups fresh spinach and let stand for 10 minutes.

This was my 2nd meal with quinoa- really yummy stuff!

Happy Autumn Everyone!

2009-09-22T14:42:00.000-07:00

Prince Autumn gifted our class with some autumn goodies this morning- apples, nuts, chrysanthemums and golden wheat where left on our bench outdoors for all of us to share!

Snack Time with Seedlings

2009-09-17T03:17:00.000-07:00

Tuesday - Fresh made bread with nut butter and raisins on the side

Wednesday - Rice and tamari with peanuts and carrot sticks

Thursday - Homemade vegetable soup with bread and butter

Friday - Quinoa with sunflower seeds and apple slices

Apple Picking in Bucks County

2009-09-17T03:14:00.000-07:00

Tis' the season for this delicious adventure with your family.

Does anyone have a favorite orchard where they go apple picking?

" Sing a song or grinding wheat..."

2009-09-17T02:54:00.000-07:00

Here Ted is hard at work grinding oats and wheat berries into flour for Tuesdays bread (before Efrain eats all of it).

2009-05-11T08:29:00.000-07:00