September 2021 to April 2022 (Elders Weaving in the Woods – Samhain to Equinox)
It became an unexpected day of the otter, a day of play, play with music.
It began Shona when told us how she swam that morning in a river unexpectedly with an otter. Then Meg, who joined us this day, revealed that she was one of the Otter Surveyors in the Blyth Valley, and documented their movements – looking for their sprat. She too had had an unexpected encounter with an otter one morning, reluctant to get up, something made her and when she looked out over the water, she saw the reason she had: an otter at play right in front of her eyes, moving between mud pools, fishing for breakfast.
After listening to the spring sounds around us, we made our imitation or observation: peoples breath, a dog bark, a pheasant, buzzing bee, laughter in the circle, the singing bowl. Do you hear the nightingale in your garden? one asked.
Chi Gong with N, under the budding hornbeams.
Music with Meg. She played a waltz, and we danced. Some of us for the first time in 30 years!
Then we warmed up our voice boxes and sang:
Rollicking bollocks? or was it Butter?
I am butter, I am butter
Melancholy flower, Melancholy flower
I am but a melon, I am but a melon
Cauliflower, Cauliflower
Finally to round off our playful otter day, Meg read us from Philip Carr Goms cards, about the Otter:
We’re all invited to Strumpshaw Tree Fair on 16/17 July. The bus will be booked for Sunday 17th. More logistics the next time we meet.
Our dream world was active, of otters and with Nikki dreaming Rachel had blue hair.
Otter Films by Mel
Caught in the Act: https://vimeo.com/404351344 – a mash-up of clips from trail cameras in Suffolk.
October Otter: https://vimeo.com/141426914 – my first otter encounter in 2015.
Links:
Weaving Centre
About the Weaving Project
KE Consent Form
KE Information for Elders
First Weaving project 2020
Contact
info@kindaeducation.org.uk
rachelkellett@gmail.com
Dates
Sept 30 – Introductions
Oct 7 – Weaving and Dyeing
Oct 14 – Dyeing and conkers
Oct 21 – Dyeing and drawing
Oct 31 Samhain Sunday
Nov 4 Leaf letting go
Nov 11 EARTH
Nov 18 AIR
Nov 25 WATER
Dec 2 FIRE
Dec 9 WOOD (crafting
Dec 16 (Solstice)
Jan 6 Stories – story of an object
Jan 13 Stories – His-Herstory
Jan 20 Stories – Tree Stories
Jan 27 Stories – More Tree Stores
Feb 3 Stories – Pear Tree gathering
Feb 10 Stories – Words with Dean
Feb 17 Stories – Wind and Patrick Stead
Feb 24 Stories – Moss at Pear Tree
Mar 7 Equiinox balance in the woods
March 14 Music and play
March 21
March 28
April
GET IN TOUCH
Shona, Kally and Rachel are keen for you to get in touch with us.
Kinda Forest School 