We had such a lovely day together.
And so much to be thankful for.
Peacefully BuZzInG!
Misty
Misty
Friday, November 28, 2014
Monday, November 10, 2014
Brrrrrr.... Cold Snap!
Yesterday we were out in the yard playing catch and swinging in shorts.
This afternoon it is 21'F and we have our first bit of snow.
I'm thankful we're snug and cozy inside.
Enjoying some quite time and listening to our folk song selection this month.
Misty
Sunday, November 9, 2014
A Boy and His Dog
Maya is now 16 months old and due to have her first litter of puppies next week. She is such a well-behaved dog. The kids adore her and she thinks they're pretty special too.
Misty
Tuesday, November 4, 2014
A Glimpse of Natural History
As part of our school curriculum we are reading a book called The Burgess Bird Book for Children. We just finished a lovely experience with this book today and so I thought I'd write it up here to see again later.
There is kind story through the book in which Peter Rabbit finds out much about the birds from his observations and from talking with Jenny Wren. But really most of the chapters can be read in any old order and the story makes sense just fine. With this in mind, at the beginning of the year I circled all the birds that are common where we live. We observe these birds on our nature walks or out of our windows in the yard or at the feeder. We've been doing that since the Year 0 season. When we read I often give him a choice, "do you want to hear about Sammy Jay or the Mourning Dove?" Then just check off (in pencil of course
)what we've read.
Before we read, I quickly google a couple pictures of the bird(s), maybe their nests, sometimes a coloring page if they want, we're about to read about. Sometimes I look up a video too. These are expecially important if the bird is one that we haven't seen much of.
Today we read the chapter about the Osprey and Bald Eagle. The children asked for coloring pages today. I found lovely images via google. We've never seen an osprey before but last winter a bald eagle sat high in a tree and watched us sled riding at the neighborhood park. The children were thrilled with this chapter. They loved hearing how the osprey dove into the water for the fish. Just before I read about the eagle I stopped and showed them a youtube video of osprey diving for fish.
Then narration. When I ask my student to narrate the chapter I ask him to think about what he's learned about the bird.
Then the eagle part of the story. In which we held our breath waiting to see who would end up with the fish. Then narration again.
We finished with a video of an eagle stealing a fish from an osprey.
We don't always, or even usually, take this much time with BBB. Usually just a part. But the various pieces have left the book fascinating for us and curious to make more of our own observations or see for ourselves what we have heard.
Love of nature according to CM is caught more than taught. I've had to first train myself to love God's creation. Birds are so interesting and they're everywhere. You just have to stop for a minute to look a little closer than you otherwise might have.
Peacefully BuZzInG!
Misty
There is kind story through the book in which Peter Rabbit finds out much about the birds from his observations and from talking with Jenny Wren. But really most of the chapters can be read in any old order and the story makes sense just fine. With this in mind, at the beginning of the year I circled all the birds that are common where we live. We observe these birds on our nature walks or out of our windows in the yard or at the feeder. We've been doing that since the Year 0 season. When we read I often give him a choice, "do you want to hear about Sammy Jay or the Mourning Dove?" Then just check off (in pencil of course
)what we've read.Before we read, I quickly google a couple pictures of the bird(s), maybe their nests, sometimes a coloring page if they want, we're about to read about. Sometimes I look up a video too. These are expecially important if the bird is one that we haven't seen much of.
Today we read the chapter about the Osprey and Bald Eagle. The children asked for coloring pages today. I found lovely images via google. We've never seen an osprey before but last winter a bald eagle sat high in a tree and watched us sled riding at the neighborhood park. The children were thrilled with this chapter. They loved hearing how the osprey dove into the water for the fish. Just before I read about the eagle I stopped and showed them a youtube video of osprey diving for fish.
Then narration. When I ask my student to narrate the chapter I ask him to think about what he's learned about the bird.
Then the eagle part of the story. In which we held our breath waiting to see who would end up with the fish. Then narration again.
We finished with a video of an eagle stealing a fish from an osprey.
We don't always, or even usually, take this much time with BBB. Usually just a part. But the various pieces have left the book fascinating for us and curious to make more of our own observations or see for ourselves what we have heard.
Love of nature according to CM is caught more than taught. I've had to first train myself to love God's creation. Birds are so interesting and they're everywhere. You just have to stop for a minute to look a little closer than you otherwise might have.
Peacefully BuZzInG!
Misty
Saturday, November 1, 2014
Trick-or-Treating 2014
One week before Trick-or-Treating, in hearing conversations about what his older siblings planned for Halloween costumes, the littlest Little piped up with "I want to be a tree!" His mama acknowledged and left the conversation thinking he'd change his mind or forget once he saw the costume I already had for him. But he didn't. Two days before after having tried on his cute little chickie costume he awoke asking, "Where's my twee costume?" I figured I better get myself in gear. At least it seemed simple, a few leaves on brown clothes wa-lah! However, we was specific. He saw a picture of a Christmas tree costume and his mind was set. Thankfully, it wasn't much more involved than my original idea. Sabin and Chloe were fabulous about entertaining their little brother while I spent the morning of Halloween finishing it up. I just love how it turned out! And he was SO excited!!! Which of course made the late night before completely worth it. :)
Here is the Christmas Tree and his Flower Fairy sister (She was going for the Cicely Mary Barker look).
And here is the crew. The Batman in the middle is Sabin. The others are some friends we enjoyed the evening with.
Peacefully BuZzInG!
Misty
Wednesday, October 29, 2014
Sunday, October 26, 2014
One Night in October
This really happened.
It was such a lovely warm day. The Littles talked cheerfully of how late they were out playing when all the neighborhood children were already in bed. It's hard to believe that it is almost the end of October. We have had such mild weather.
Peacefully BuZzInG!
Misty
Peacefully BuZzInG!
Misty
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