Foxes in the Grass

A family of foxes hiding in the grass
Showed off their rusty tails as I walked past.
A family of foxes hiding on the hill
Not a sound did they make, hiding oh so still.

A tiny yellow bird landed on the biggest one
Pecking, poking here and there and having lots of fun.
As quickly as she landed, she gently flew away
​I wondered why the foxes let her poke them in this way.

And then that tiny little bird whispered in my ear
"Go and touch that furry tail, you do not need to fear."
And so I tip toed in the grass to that family
And touched the biggest rusty tail oh so carefully.
It wasn't soft and fluffy, but really kind of dry
"It's not a fox at all, but a big old weed!" I cried.

I rubbed and rubbed that big old tail in my dirty hand
And lots of tiny seeds fell like little grains of sand.
"That, my friend is a curly dock" the happy birdie said
"I like to eat their tiny seeds, so rich and scarlet red."

And as the birdie flew away, I gave a little laugh
​How fun it is to think of foxes hiding in the grass!

A Family of hedgehogs

A family of hedgehogs 
Came to me today
Wrapped up in a pretty box
From very far away.

And when I opened up the box
They all looked up at me
"Won't you take us to be part
Of your family?"

"Oh yes I will!" I did reply
"But how did you all know?
That I love hedgies oh-so-much
They give my heart a glow!"

"Oh, that's because a friend of yours
Who knows you oh-so-fine
Sent us to you as a gift
In the summer time."

"She knew that you were just the one
To give us all a home
Where we could dig and play and work
With your garden gnome."

Thank you sweet Melissa dear
For your gift so fine
Like this hedgie family
You are in this heart of mine.

This family of hedgehogs
Really make me smile
And think of a friend so very dear
Across the many miles.


© written by Christine Summerfield/September 1, 2019
"

"To the tune of Sing A Song of Sixpence"

Sing A Song of Compost

Sing a song of compost by the apple tree
Learn about the secrets there for you and me.
Make your own compost and spread it on the land
It's fun to make and fun to do, so come and take my hand!

First you put some branches at the bottom of the bin
This will make a base for all that will go in.
Then you build the layers, one by one
Making compost in the yard can be so much fun!

Alternate the layers of brown and of green
Sprinkle bits of water all in between.
As the pile gets higher, turn it once for air
Then you let it sit and cook for months without a care.

The compost pile will cook and you know it will get hot!
Red wriggler worms they like it quite a lot!
They eat all the food scraps and make the black gold
Miraculous and magical, a wonder to behold.

When you finally open up the compost bin
Put your hand inside and look right in
No more leaves or clippings or old banana peels
Only dirt so rich and black, how soft it really feels!

Then you take the compost and spread it on the ground
Underneath the roses or in a little mound
Plant your beans and pumpkins or any other seed
Vitamins for vegetables, the soil it really feeds!

If you're feeling fancy, make a kind of tea
Not the kind for cookies, for grandma and me
Compost in a bucket filled with water fine
Gives an extra feeding for tomatoes on the vine!

Now you've made some compost, I hope you've had some fun
Finding all the magic underneath the sun.
Keep a compost cooking by the apple tree
​Tell your friends about it all and share the recipe!

© written by Christine Summerfield/March 31, 2019

Brown and grey
Brown and grey
What does the winter garden do all day?

White and brown
White and brown
Nothing much to hear, it doesn't make a sound.

Ho and hum
Ho and hum
Grey and brown makes me feel all glum.

Then a voice said "ho!"
"Look below!
Take a little moment now and say 'hello!'"

Beside my boot
In his green suit
He said "I am the one who tends the root!"

"You might say
It's brown and grey
But just you wait til one spring day!"

"Soon the roots
Will send up shoots
And you'll see flowers in the month of May!"

Then the wee gnome
Hid behind a stone
And burrowed down below to his earthen home.

Though brown and grey
On this winter's day
The garden really DID have a lot to say!

 written by Christine Summerfield / March 7, 2019

Reflections and Gratitude
It has now been three months since the publication of my first children's book A Boy and His Tree. During the time of all the stages leading up to the publication, there have been many joys and many bumps along the way. There were skills learned while writing, editing, sketching, photographing and formatting. Also new vocabulary and technical skills learned too! Not to mention timeless moments of walking, pondering and dreaming of the characters, the setting, and most of all, the message. 

This time of creating was was not unlike a pregnancy. There were many people along the way who supported me and encouraged me. And there times of solitude, where I was in my studio working on illustrations and doing them over and over, letting go of pieces and moving forward with new ones, always exploring, editing and discovering.

I still remember the moment I picked up my boxes of books at the printers in Denver. When I held the hard cover in my hands and turned the pages, I could hardly believe it had happened. My dream had actually come true and I was holding a real book in my hands, One that I had dreamed of creating from start to finish. I cried gentle tears of joy. It was like giving birth. I wrapped up those boxes in my car and sang sweet lullabies to them as I drove back to Boulder, oblivious of  rush hour noise and traffic and simply wanting to imprint each book with love.
 
Then, the next set of skills needed to be learned: how to promote and get the word out and send them out in to the world. Many people have helped support the purchase of A Boy and His Tree, from family and friends to teachers and parents in local schools. Even the Longmont Yarn Shoppe, where I have taught many felting classes in the past was a happy supporter of my book! And new friends and have come my way through word of mouth. The book has traveled near and far, from  its hometown of Boulder, CO to Canada, New Zealand, Australia and the Czech Republic. Like raising a child, this has been a process of tending and watching it mature and leave home, to travel to places unknown, trusting that it will be held and loved by people of all ages.
 
Thank you to every person who helped make my dream of A Boy and His Tree come true.
But like with any book, the story comes alive when it is held and cherished and shared with others, preferably with a warm cup of tea in your favorite chair.
George and Grandpa Russ would approve.

I am humbled by the array of words of appreciation that I have received in the last few months. 
What strikes me is how different aspects of a story speak to different people. Every person is touched in their own way and receives a healing element according to what they need. I would like to share some of these impressions with you, from parents and teachers of all ages. Enjoy!

"It's blustery outside today and it felt so nice losing myself in that cozy world you created. I like being left with the image of the Christmas Star."  Jullin G., WA

"I read your story and felt George's love for his tree, his family and his interest in doing every day things. Your felted images left something for the imagination of young children to catch."
Donna.H., mother, grandmother, Waldorf Early Childhood teacher, Boulder, CO

"I read your book while sipping a cup of tea. You were able to communicate something so very basic about the love and care of family life as well as a healthy relationship to our outer world and nature." Charlotte. H., Mother and Waldorf Early Childhood teacher, Boulder, CO

"I'm like that old tree! I felt comforted reading how George loved his grandfather AND his tree."
Teddy.L., (93 years old), Great Grandmother, Ontario, Canada

"I really liked it. It left me feeling warm and relaxed." Dave D., BC, Canada

"Thank you for such a beautiful gift and reminder to the world. It really touched on how everything is so connected and that gratitude is one big circle."
Stacie. S., Class 4 Waldorf teacher, Boulder, CO

"Addy and I have thoroughly enjoyed reading your beautiful book. She is really entranced by the images and the story is so soothing.We have read it many times already."
E. Baker, Founder of Living Arts School and the Wee Folk Forest School, Boulder, CO

"Love the story and my supporting role in it. So sweet that our connections around gardening and our love for nature over many years inspired you to include me." Grandpa Russ, BC, Canada

“We have loved reading Christine’s book. My 3 year old daughter is fascinated with the pictures and always wants me to wait to turn the pages so she can gaze at them longer. She loves the texture of the felted images and will rub them with her fingers trying to feel the softness of the wool. I love how the pictures have just the right amount of detail yet it leaves room for the imagination. The story brings such a feeling of wholeness and warmth. I love the simplicity of how the family celebrates the seasons and the holidays. It reminds us all how the ordinary world can be filled with magic if we just take the time to slow down and notice. This book is a great addition to any family library and I know it will be cherished for years to come in my home.”
Orien. M., mother and Waldorf Early Childhood teacher, Niwot, CO

"I love the illustration of George hugging Gus and how they appear so united as one being in their togetherness. I also love the part of the story where Gus is adorned, like an altar, and the beautiful two page spread illustrating this at the end. Worshipping the tree and seeing the togetherness of all creatures." Carolyn. W. O., CO, mother, counsellor @ Mountain Voice Health
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