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There’s been a whirlwind of activity around here lately, as we work on starting a new business with some friends, wrap up a three-kid run of chicken pox, and carry on with life as usual! I feel like we are ready to rein in a bit and work on re-establishing a good rhythm as we’re all feeling a bit out of sorts. It sure seems like life in general follows that in-breath and out-breath rhythm – we are organized and focused with our learning and living for a time, and then things sort of unravel and we have an out-breath of more unstructured living and learning until we’re ready to gather ourselves back up into order and calmness again.

The photos are mainly self-explanatory aside from the seedlings which we planted after doing a germination test, and the last two – a duo of bros with new mama cuts. A little embarrassed to show these – the fact that they are pretty darn cute distracts from my, ahem, very novice hair-cutting skills!

Spotty body, as we like to call chicken pox, debuted in our home a few weeks ago. We got a crash course in remedies, starting with our herbal bath soak pouches. When the second and third children joined in the fun, we made some homemade calamine to further soothe the itch.

Chicken pox is likely something you’ll only deal with once or twice in your home, yet having a set of remedies up your sleeve will go a long way to ensure the week or two goes by much more smoothly. We hope you enjoy our recipe for homemade calamine!

Ingredients

• 3 tbsp clay (we used redmond bentonite clay as it was what we had on hand)

• 1 tbsp baking soda

• 1 tbsp sea salt

• 1 tbsp dried chamomile

• 1 tbsp dried calendula

• 1/4 cup water

• optional – essential oils such as lavender and tea tree oil

Instructions

1 :: Boil the water, and set aside to cool for a few minutes before adding the dried herbs. Set this mixture aside to infuse – if you’re planning ahead, great – you can leave it for hours – if not, just do what you can!

2 :: In a bowl, mix together all the dry ingredients – clay, baking soda, and salt.

3 :: Add in the infused water. Combine.

4 :: Add in any essential oils that you’d like – please note, one child here found that the calamine stung – not sure if it was really just cold and he is too young to differentiate the sensations – however, you could add some essential oils to a tiny portion of your mixture to test it out first. I can imagine that oils like tea tree on an already popped chicken pox blister could be irritating.

5 :: Place your mixture in a canning jar in the fridge and use as you would use store bought calamine.

A few weeks ago, I took a look at our front yard, with almost untouched snow piled high and thought maze. So we got out shovels and set to work, without any plans or designs on how this thing would turn out. We put our heads together as we went to decide on where to go next, and in the end we have a super fun maze, great for running through, and playing hide and seek in. The kids love hiding objects in the maze and then having the rest of the crew go to find them.

This week the kids have been decorating the maze with watercolour paint in a spray bottle. There is just so much magic to winter, if you can get past the cold. And, according to the four year old, it’s pretty tasty, too!

Since we had a guest appearance from chicken pox this past week, this post is actually two weeks of moments. It was a totally different dynamic having all four children home this week – and mostly a good one. The younger ones loved having a new element to their play, a leader to train them in the importance and practice of exercise and sport, and even a babysitter while I was out running errands and at a photo shoot.

We’ve been cooped up, trying not to expose anyone at risk of complications to chicken pox, and so far, the younger three haven’t had a single symptom. Maybe it’s too darn cold here for the airborne virus to survive! It dipped as low as -49 C with the wind chill around these parts. Currently -37 C.  Our old house isn’t well insulated, meaning the main floor is like a refrigerator. Here we thought we’d get it all over with at once and be done with it… looks like we might be seeking out a chicken pox party with friends in the near future.

Lots of board games have been brought out, we put a chocolate twist on this latest batch of elderberry syrup, there were several forts, some music making, olympics love, a sleepover at the lake house with grandparents, and a birthday celebration. We didn’t take many photos this week – just some shots of my aunt’s lovely vintage shop, some puzzle and block play, and the infusion of spring found in a sweet bouquet from a friend’s flower shop.

For those interested, Milo’s sweet wooden village can be found here, and the two board games are Catan Junior and Wildcraft (not an affiliate link – we just love Learning Herbs) – both beloved by the kids.

Taking a break from being online as we walk through chicken pox. Strangely, our 13 year old nephew has it. He didn’t live with us when he was little, and was immunized up to age seven. I hadn’t really thought about whether or not he’d had chicken pox. It’s a bittersweet thing, this chicken pox being in our home. So many times we’re invited to chicken pox parties where we can expose our kiddos to the virus so they can get it over with as kids rather than have a hard time with it as adults. I haven’t yet been up for welcoming chicken pox into our home and nursing four children through it. I also hadn’t gathered up enough nerve to intentionally expose them to a virus that while generally fairly laid back, may surprise us with its ugly side.

Now that decision is out of my hands (the sweet part) and we’re in this thing. One child in the thick of it, and three to go! Last night we mixed up a bath pouch with oats, chamomile, calendula, and nettle to drop into the warm bathwater and squeeze over the worst parts of the rash. The teapot held chamomile, nettle, elderflower, and red raspberry leaf tea – all healing herbs that are said to help with the itch.

The 13 year old shares that a wet compress does wonders to relieve the itch – his preferred uses are a wet towel wrapped around his head to combat the itch on his scalp, or draped over his back. Soak that cloth or towel in some healing herbs, and double the benefits.

Hoping we can walk through this without too many (or any) scars, and that all these nourishing and healing herbs and remedies will take the edge of the itch that will be a part of our family for the next while.

Have you dealt with chicken pox? Share your favourite tips and remedies in the comments!

This post was shared as a part of Thank Goodness It’s Monday and Natural Living Monday.