Wednesday, September 10, 2008

Transitioning into Fall

The nature table was really getting messy and dusty and the flowers were dead, so I decided it was high time for a little freshen up. The nature table gives me immense pleasure, as you may have guessed, since it seems like I'm posting about it quite often. I tried really hard to strike a balance here between the riot of color that is summer and the more earth hued fall tones. At first I brought it down too many notches, and it was depressing! So I added more color back in. I do love these green acorns. I wish they wouldn't turn brown, but they eventually do.
Finds from out hikes in a little dish.
A cute story involving Dieter: I took off the turtle and frogs from the summer table and I told him they weren't very fall-ish. He asked, "what animals are fallish?" Squirrels, I said. Then I asked him, "do we have any squirrels?" dreamily imagining that somehow a delightful Holtztiger squirrel might just turn up, as if we had had him all along and just forgotten him. "We do have a squirrel, Mommy," said Dieter. And he went and found this Beanie Baby squirrel. How resourceful of this little guy, and helpful, and very much in keeping with the theme of "30 Days of Nothing." (I think that squirrel is just the opposite of a Holtztiger animal--it's from a McDonald's Happy Meal!)
My brother got me this awesome book for my birthday. He smartly shopped from my Amazon wish list. I love it so! (Thank you James!) And it is perfect for our seasonal table.

If you have a fall or late summer table, I'd love to see it. Please leave a link to your blog or Flickr' site. Thanks!

15 comments:

Andrea said...

I love your nature table posts...so inspiring! Here's a picture of our "nature spot" on the end of the toy bench: http://www.flickr.com/photos/21110039@N07/2777764205/ It has since been ransacked...I guess it's time to refresh it for fall, but I think I'll wait until the calendar says "fall."

Anonymous said...

ooh, gotta spruce up our nature table soon. maybe after i get over the denial that summer is ending ;-) yours looks lovely, and i love the deiter squirrel story!

Anonymous said...

Love the illustrations in that book! Can you please tell us the name of it?

Anonymous said...

PS-- Also. Where did you get your art cards. I'm looking around and not loving what I'm finding. I love these with the children on them.

Its_Lily said...

Give me 'til the end of the month and I'll show lots of changed and cleaned up areas. Right now - oh...my....gosh! What a mess.

Anonymous said...

I'd also like to know the name of that book!

Your nature table looks lovely. ;)

Mary Beth said...

Hi Jonah Lisa and Jaala! The book is "Around the Year" by Elsa Beskow. Also, Jonah Lisa, the cards are from Nova Natural Toys. Just do a google search for Nova Naturals.

Andrea--I'm going to check out your link next.

Sue said...

Those big acorns are beautiful . I have never seen any like that.The top is different. Do you have them where you live?

periwinkle said...

your table is just lovely - I think I'll have to try and find a place to start one -- out of the way of little 1 yr old hands. Thanks for the name of the book -oh and your studio is just lovely
lisa x

taisa said...

I love the views of your nature table. That book looks lovely.

Mozi Esme said...

I love the idea of a nature table. I've been thinking Esme is too young, but we finally started a nature box last week by accident - filled with leaves and shells. She loves it, and we keep it in her artroom with the door shut so she can't get to those little things without being supervised.

wishful thinking said...

I love that frame! Where did you get it?

krista said...

i got so excited today when i was scrolling through 'the crafty crow.' i saw the pictures and knew it was you! congratulations :-)
and i love reading your blog...you're quite an inspiration.

Mary Beth said...

Wishful Thinking--I got the frame from Nova Natural toys. Just do a Google search for it. I love the frame and it fits standard postcards. My 3-year-old loves changing out the pictures.

Monkey--thankyou!

Angela said...

love your nature table! we just changed ours over to fall - i put pictures up on my blog this morning - www.larksongknits.com. fall is my favorite time at the nature table - i can't wait to find more fall items for the table - acorns, little pumpkins, and other wonderful, tactile fall beauties for the girls to explore.