SUMMER IS HERE!

SUMMER IS HERE!!

Summer is here with the month of June nearly over.  In Northern California the weather seemed to go from winter to summer, some how forgetting about spring.  Earlier this month if it wasn't for the daily reminders in magazine ads, television commercials and Facebook posts that Father's Day and school graduations were rapidly approaching I might have thought it was still March, or at least early May.  Since I live where nature surrounds me the flowers and the budding trees have been a reliable indication of the time of year.  Similar to sundials and constellations my flowers have always indicated the time and season.  Well, just like a cloudy day or starless night confused navigators and ancient folk, our cold rainy snowy spring confused my springtime iris.

I have always called this flower my Mother's Day Iris. The actual name is Yellow-Leaved Iris or Iris Chrysophylla of the Iris Family.  About six inches tall the delicate creamy-white flower with pink and yellow highlights usually blooms the first week of May.  Preferring slightly forested areas this iris blooms for about one week scattered over the hillsides in groups or individually.  Definitely a delight on springtime walks.

Well, this year, my Mother's Day Iris appeared mid-June, nearly six weeks later than usual, still beautiful but no longer an indicator of the season.  I might rename it my Father's Day Iris!!

This flower relates to KITCHEN ART as a reminder to slow down and appreciate each moment.  Whether blooming early May or mid-June this flower is still beautiful and still brings pleasure.  Simple activities with your children and grandchildren also always bring pleasure and joy.  No need to race to the toy store when you have KITCHEN ART projects available.

Rain or shine, sweltering heat or cool afternoon breeze KITCHEN ART presents a few projects to celebrate summer and the joy of simple pleasures!

BUBBLE ART

Bubble blowing will fill a lazy afternoon with hours of fun as you watch the iridescent rainbow balls vanish with the breeze.  BUBBLE ART will also fill a lazy afternoon with hours of fun, but the end result will be beautiful, delicate, permanent designs.

INGREDIENTS:  dish washing soap, water, food coloring, four straws, paper

TOOLS:  four small bowls, measuring cup, spoon

INSTRUCTION:  Bubble solution:  1.  Mix 1/2 cup water, 1/2 cup soap.  2.  Pour into bowls.  3.  Add several drops of food coloring (red, yellow, blue, green--one to each bowl).  Mix. 4.  Put straw into one color, blow to make a mound of bubbles.  TIP: careful to exhale only!  Repeat, using one straw per bowl.  MAKE DESIGN:  5.  Carefully place paper on mound of bubbles---pressing gently to get bubble imprint.  Continue to collect imprints so all bubble colors are on one piece of paper.  Use as stationary or frame and hang on the wall.

ADDITIONAL IDEAS:  Use strawberry baskets to blow bubbles onto paper.  OR: lift mound of bubbles with a straw and place on paper---carefully so they do not pop in mid-air!

SALT DRAWING:

SALT DRAWING is similar to BUBBLE ART as it can become either  a kinetic sculpture, as the mound of bubbles were, or a permanent painting.

INGREDIENTS:  salt, glue, recycled paper bags, food coloring, heavy duty paper cups, long recycled twist tie, tape

TOOLS:  scissors, paint brush, muffin tin, glue brush, recycled jar lid, hole punch

INSTRUCTION:  There are two ways to approach this project, permanent or non-permanent---but the initial set up is the same.  1.  Punch two holes on either side of the rim of a paper cup and attach twist tie as handle.  2.  Using scissors, poke a small hole in the bottom of cup, cover with tape and fill cup with salt.  The size of the hole makes a difference in the accuracy and shape of your design.  NON-PERMANENT  3.  Place large flattened paper bag on table, hold cup above paper and carefully remove tape.  Now swing twist tie gently, creating patterns as the salt falls.  PERMANENT:  4.  Squirt glue into jar lid.  Make glue designs on flattened paper and try to repeat the pattern in the air with you swinging salt cup.  Dry and shake off excess salt (save to reuse).  Put food coloring in muffin tins and paint salt designs.  Hang and admire!

ADDITIONAL IDEAS:  Dye your salt with food coloring allow to dry.  Fill different cups with colored salt to create colorful patterns for both permanent and non-permanent designs.

THE WONDERS OF NATURE

THE WONDERS OF NATURE

A few nights after I returned from the East Coast, from one rain storm to another, I awoke to a very loud sound.  I thought a kitten was on my roof, scared, lost and drowning in the pouring rain.  No, it was not a kitten but a baby fawn!  And no, it was not on the roof but at our front door.  Apparently fawns have no scent so the dogs were confused as to what this howling thing was, and, fortunately, only stared.  Well, we got the dogs tied up and the fawn pranced up the driveway,  seemingly on unfamiliar high heels.  That morning the sun was out and the strange catlike cry again woke us and sure enough the fawn was back. 

After a morning of internet research and calls to both the Oakland and San Francisco zoos we were told to leave the fawn where it was and the mother would come back.  Of course I wanted to adopt it but we were assured it would be reunited.  "Bambi" would find its mother.

Well, by midday the visitor was gone and I saw many does on the hillside.  We thought it had been lost as it had been pouring rain and our dogs chase deer, so why would any sensible mother deer bring her baby to our home??  At any rate, hopefully they reunited. It was interesting the amount we learned that morning about the habits of the wildlife in our area and the enthusiasm and passion some people have.

I remembered my granddaughter and I watching the bunnies and robins in New York and remembered again how simple things can create pleasure.

Bird watching is another simple pleasure, another way to relax and appreciate the joys of nature.  Here are two ideas for feeding the birds in your area.  AND REMEMBER: use the internet,  phone or visit your local pet store to discover the proper nutrition for the wildlife in your area.  AND if you want to feed the deer just plant roses!  That's what they love to eat!!


HOMEMADE BIRD FEEDER*

As the flowers come out, so do the birds.  Although some of them have been there all winter, your family has probably been inside.  Now it is time to start bird watching, and the best way is to build a bird feeder.

INGREDIENTS:  recycled 1/2 gallon orange juice container, two plastic straws, string, bread crumbs, glue

TOOLS:  hole punch, exacto blade*,  glue brush, recycled jar lid, ruler,  two paper clips

INSTRUCTION:  Adult supervision required*  1.  Clean and dry carton.  2.  Squirt glue into the jar lid and use the glue brush to glue top of container closed.  Hold in place with paper clips and let dry.  Punch hole in center of top and attach string.  3.  Use exacto blade to cut oval opening on two opposite sides of carton.  Center these oval doors so there is 21/2" left on top and bottom of carton.  4. Use hole punch to make a small hole 1/2" below the oval door.  Do this evenly on both sides.  5.  Attach straws together and push through holes to create bird rest.  6.  Fill bottom of feeder with bread crumbs and hang on nearby tree.

ADDITIONAL IDEAS:  Use bird seed instead of bread crumbs.  Decorate and paint carton.  OR make a feeder using a clean recycled one gallon plastic jug.  Or paint red to attract hummingbirds.

Here's another KITCHEN ART idea perfect for anytime of year!

FIVE MINUTE BIRD FEEDER:

Here is a fast and fun bird feeder guaranteed to attract lots of attention!

INGREDIENTS:  one recycled paper towel tube, peanut butter, sunflower seeds, 1/2 yard string, tin foil

TOOLS:  Butter knife

INSTRUCTION:  1.  Slip string through tube.  2.  Using knife lightly coat tube with peanut butter.  3.  Sprinkle sunflower seeds on tin foil and gently roll tube through seeds.  4.  Lift string, tie together and hang from nearest tree!

ADDITIONAL IDEAS:  Roll in lard and cover with bird seed.  OR make square bird feeder using individual sized cereal boxes.