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Wednesday, January 18, 2012

Winter Inspired Activities


Winter is a social season;
Then we gather round the fire;
Books and pictures then delight us;
Fun and feasting mirth inspire.
~ Excerpt from "Seasons" by Sara Coleridge


The wonderful part of winter is that it keeps you closer to your home and loved ones. Who wants to galavant and freeze? Cuddle up with your family and enjoy this season with these wholesome activities by welcoming winter...

  • Go ice skating.
  • Make some hot chocolate (while enjoying some of the activities listed below).
  • Listen to the inspirational audio drama "Buried in the Snow" by Lamplighter Theatre.
  • Make some cinnamon rolls with thick, creamed cheese frosting (yum!).
  • Do some puzzles together.
  • Read a winter themed chapter book aloud to your family each night such as:
  • Or, prepare some popcorn and watch the movie:
  • Visit the elderly that are shut in their homes and bring the warmth and cheer of the family with you. If you have children, create some encouraging cards to give as gifts.
  • Make some paper snowflakes and run some yarn or ribbon through the holes and make a snowflake garland for your fireplace mantle or any other place in the house to give some winter flavor to your home. 
  • Play some board games together.
  • Sing songs in rounds (this can be really fun).
  • Light your fireplace (if you have one) and snuggle together telling stories of life when you were growing up or share some stories about your ancestors.

  • Go on a family field trip to the snow and have fun sledding and/or making snowmen.

    • Read some winter inspired picture books together such as:

    Winter on the Farm (My First Little House Picture Book)


    Reuben and the Blizzard by Merle Good 
    The Quiet Little Woman by Louisa May Alcott (Geared toward girls) 


    • Read some winter inspired poems to your family:

    Winter-Time

    Late lies the wintry sun a-bed,
    A frosty, fiery sleepy-head;
    Blinks but an hour or two; and then,
    A blood-red orange, sets again.

    Before the stars have left the skies,
    At morning in the dark I rise;
    And shivering in my nakedness,
    By the cold candle, bathe and dress.

    Close by the jolly fire I sit
    To warm my frozen bones a bit;
    Or with a reindeer-sled, explore
    The colder countries round the door.

    When to go out, my nurse doth wrap
    Me in my comforter and cap;
    The cold wind burns my face, and blows
    Its frosty pepper up my nose.

    Black are my steps on silver sod;
    Thick blows my frosty breath abroad;
    And tree and house, and hill and lake,
    Are frosted like a wedding cake.

    By ~ Robert Louis Stevenson


    Picture Books in Winter

    Summer fading, winter comes--
    Frosty mornings, tingling thumbs,
    Window robins, winter rooks,
    And the picture story-books.

    Water now is turned to stone
    Nurse and I can walk upon;
    Still we find the flowing brooks
    In the picture story-books.

    All the pretty things put by,
    Wait upon the children's eye,
    Sheep and shepherds, trees and crooks,
    In the picture story-books.

    We may see how all things are
    Seas and cities, near and far,
    And the flying fairies' looks,
    In the picture story-books.

    How am I to sing your praise,
    Happy chimney-corner days,
    Sitting safe in nursery nooks,
    Reading picture story-books?

    by Robert Louis Stevenson


    Winter Blanket

    The snow is like a blanket that
         God spreads across the land,
    Where wheat and oats and barley sleep,
         Awaiting God's command.

    It covers all the pasture fields,
         And hides the grasses brown:
    It gives the bare, gray willow tree
         A clinging, wooly gown.

    It wraps around a fencepost tall,
        And covers up its head,
    Then drifts along the meadow banks
         To tuck the creek in bed.

    by Ada L. Wine

    All the fine print. This post may be shared with some or all of the following link-ups: The Art of Home-Making MondaysModest Mom Monday'sMonday's MusingsMake Your Home Sing MondayGood Morning Mondays,  The ScoopTitus 2 TuesdaysTuesdays with a TwistRaising HomemakersWise Woman Link UpHomestead Blog Hop Wow Us Wednesdays,  Coffee and ConversationHomemaking ThursdaysHome Sweet HomeOur Simple HomesteadFrom the Farm Blog HopFront Porch Friday Blog HopAwesome Life Friday Link UpFive Star Frou Frou FridayShabbilicious FridaySimply Natural Saturdays and Clever Chicks Blog Hop. Thank you lovely ladies for hosting these. This post may contain affiliate links (which are merchant links that help to support this site at no additional cost to you if you purchase an item from them). Photo Sources

    4 comments:

    1. I just love your blog! Just found you today through Raising Homemaker's link up party!

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    2. Pinned it this morning. Where do you find such lovely graphics? I've always admired all your lovely paintings and graphics.
      Blessings,
      Laura

      ReplyDelete
      Replies
      1. Thank you Laura! I believe I put the photo sources on the very bottom of the article with the link up information. I also use a lot from the Graphics Fairy. Hope this helps! :)

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