Nature Day

Our second Summer Theme Day this month was Nature Day, originally scheduled for last week, but moved to earlier this week. We started the special activities with a picnic lunch in the yard. While we ate, I read a couple of chapters from “The Story Book of Science” by Jean Henri Fabre, a wonderful storytelling book that celebrates the wonders of God’s creation.

When we finished lunch, it was time for a nature scavenger hunt. The kids took their lists and paper sacks all over the yard looking for rocks, leaves, seeds, insects and flowers, to name a few of the items. We were able to find everything on our lists except for a feather, and clover (which seems to have only been around in the spring).

It was a very hot day, but there was a strong breeze and nice shady trees overhead that made it bearable to be outside. Eventually, though, we were ready to head back into the air conditioning to cool off.

My next plan didn’t turn out so well. We piled into the van and drove about a half an hour to visit a natural science museum. We were looking forward to exploring the indoor exhibits and to walking on the nature trails. Unfortunately, when we arrived, the only discovery we made was that the museum was closed for the day. Oh well, next time I’ll remember to check the schedule before I burn up my gas! We got back in the car and started for home again – with a stop by Sonic for slushes to make the trip not a total waste!

The extra time when we got home turned out to be a good thing, because we had more time to work on our nature craft. Everyone sketched something on a small sheet of paper that they had seen in the yard that day. Then we painted wooden picture frames to put our sketches in.

We enjoyed a trail mix snack while we worked on our craft -

A few of their sketches, which they decided needed paint as well -

No, we did not see a volcano in the yard! That last one isn’t a volcano, but rather a picture of an Autumn tree – and no, we did not see an Autumn tree in the yard on this Summer day! We did see the tree, however, and this particular child decided that she preferred to paint it in Fall colors.

A few more colorful frames -

Jeff grilled out some Teriyaki chicken tenders for dinner, which we ate with brown rice and grilled zucchini and onions from the garden. For dessert, I made these yummy “Dirt Cups” to go with our nature theme. They were a huge success!

Nature day turned out to be a great day, although I was dissappointed that we had to miss the nature museum. We will make plans to go another day – when we know it will be open! – sometime soon. I’ll post the recipe for the dirt cups as soon as I can – super simple and fun!

Have a wonderful day!

Blessings,
Nancy

Pretty flowers around the yard ~

I took a stroll around the yard with my camera and snapped a few flower pictures. The rose garden is in full bloom and looks and smells wonderful! These roses were all planted by the original owners of our house, and they are such a blessing to me. Here is a small sampling ~

We have planted various annuals around the yard as well – pretty Vinca on the front porch ~

Pink Impatiens on the table between the rockers on the porch ~

Another on the porch rail ~

A mixture of pretty flowers in a pot right outside the porch rail ~

I planted this assortment in the ground by another section of porch rail ~

In the herb garden there are a few little flowers planted amongst the herbs ~

Although gone now, Sarah took some beautiful pictures of the Irises when they were in bloom a few weeks ago ~

And the bush outside the kitchen window (I really need to learn it’s name!) that is all bloomed out now, but has kept my dish washing view lovely up until recently – not to mention the joy of watching all of the butterflies that were attracted to it ~

Jeff planted bright pink geraniums in the hanging baskets around the porch this year ~

David just brought me this pretty pink rose from the garden – it is resting on my journal until I take it in and put it in water on the kitchen windowsill – such a blessing ~

Have a wonderful day!

Blessings,
Nancy

Our little furry visitor

We played peek-a-boo the other day with this squirrel. He was on the roof above the window and we were inside looking out. He kept poking his head down and then would go back up on the roof. A few seconds later he would peek back down at us. Finally he got brave and started slowly creeping down the bush, and we got a better look at him ~

Oh, and the children weren’t the only ones watching out the window with me ~ to no surprise ~

Have a nice day!

Blessings,
Nancy

The Coming of Spring

(photo courtesy of Corbis)

“How do I know that spring is here?
Because the world is full of cheer.
The crocuses and daffodils
Peep out from all the window sills;

The grass is getting soft and green;
The garden makes a pretty scene –
Forsythia bushes all unfold
And show their blooms of fairy gold;

The tulips of my garden wall
Are getting beautiful and tall;
The birds are coming back to stay
And serenade us every day.

The world is full of joy and cheer!
That’s how I know that spring is here!”

~ Carmen Lagos Signes

I hope you will be enjoying some spring in your neck of the woods this weekend!

Blessings,
Nancy

Sunday Happenings Around the Yard

I spent a bit of time outdoors this afternoon, and decided to take my camera out and about and record a few of the happenings around the yard. Here is what I found ~

Newly planted onions in the patio garden ~

Oregano coming back for a new year in the herb garden ~

We moved the picnic table to the yard by the play area – it will be a wonderful place for a picnic under the trees this summer, as well as for drawing in our nature journals ~

The kids have been having fun swinging in this hammock that we hung out between two of the trees – it seems more like a cocoon than a hammock! Here is Anna having a turn ~

David is a happy camper this year since he has learned how to pump on the swing and doesn’t need anyone to push him! ~

The pond has filled up nicely over the winter and is a pretty scene ~

Kids playing on the trampoline – always a favorite spot ~

Jack enjoying the nice weather ~

Mattie working on his car . . .

. . . using his computer to help – ah, modern technology! ~

And finally, a few signs of Spring on the way (besides the nice temperatures!) – a budding bush outside the kitchen window ~

My irises coming up at the front of the house ~

And I found redbuds beginning to “purple” along the back of our property! ~

I’m so glad that it’s nice enough to be outside – I’ll be making good use of my porch from now on!

Have a wonderful evening!

Blessings,
Nancy

Iced In

I know that many around the country are dealing with snow and ice this week, and we are no exception. It started for us Tuesday morning, when we had rain, which turned to freezing rain and snow – mostly ice. The temperatures have not been above freezing since then and so the ice remains. Many businesses have been shut down all week, and so far, all of our “out of the house” activities have been cancelled too. We have been keeping busy with school (a little), games, movies, and cleaning projects. Jeff worked from home the first two days, but crept in to work today. We are expecting a little more snow tomorrow, but the temperatures should go above freezing finally on Saturday, so there is an end in sight!

I filled the bird feeders on Monday, and have enjoyed watching the many little visitors all week – sometimes around 30 at a time. I have seen many sparrows, cardinals, blue jays, woodpeckers, and juncos.

Hope you are staying warm where you are this week!

Blessings,
Nancy

Winter Nature Walk

On Monday I took a walk with the kids around the property to see what we could find. The snow had stopped falling and the air was cold and still. We ventured farther than the day before when snowball fights and snowman building was the priority of the day. As we walked, I was amazed to find treasures in the winter landscape that would have gone unnoticed had I not ventured out – I was so glad that I did!

I love the look of snow on trees and so I took a few pictures of them, although the pictures never do the real thing justice. The red berries on the tree above really popped in the white snow – truly beautiful!

Icicles on the barn ~

We found a number of pretty evergreens blanketed in snow back by the creek ~

One of the kids had walked around in circles the day before and we came upon their tracks ~

And then we came across these tracks – behind the barn and leading down the peninsula and then down to the creek. We think it is probably from a deer ~

We spent alot of time inspecting these tracks and the creek at the back of our lot. My camera battery started to die and so I didn’t get as many pictures as I would like. I was able to squeeze out a couple more before we went back inside. We think that these little tracks were probably made by a squirrel. ~

Snowy nature walks are extra special around here, because we only get to take them once or twice a year. This was our first chance this year ~ we’ll see if we get another one in the next month or so.

Stay warm and have a wonderful day!

Blessings,
Nancy

Welcome September!!

September blew in Fall yesterday, which I am more than a little excited about! It was a rainy day with cooler temperatures, and today looks to be the same way. Usually gray days make it hard for me to get going, whereas bright, sunny days give me lots of energy. The only exception to this rule is the first days of Fall – when the kind of weather we’re having now has just the opposite effect – I am all excited about digging into the projects around here and can hardly sit still.

Now, I know that it is not “officially” Fall yet, but for all intensive purposes, mine anyway, it is. When the weather starts to change, and the trees are looking old and tired, and school starts back (next week) – to me that’s Fall!

So, I’m in a celebratory mood and I say “Welcome September – Welcome Fall!”

Hope things are changing around your area too!

Blessings,
Nancy

“A New Perspective”

The little cares that fretted me, I lost them yesterday
Among the fields above the sea,
Among the winds at play,
Among the lowing of the herds,
The rustling of the trees.
Among the singing of the birds,
The humming of the bees.
The foolish fears of what may happen,
I cast them all away
Among the clover-scented grass,
Among the husking of the corn
Where drowsy poppies nod,
Where ill thoughts die and good are born,
Out in the fields with God.

-Elizabeth Barrett Browning

I found this poem while I was visiting Peggy’s Daybook site the other day and just had to print it out to read over and over again. It is so true that getting out into God’s world and sitting amidst His creation gets our perspective right again and He has so much to teach us about Himself this way. I think this is one of the reasons I like to sit on my front porch when the weather allows and just drink in the beauty and glory of His work – which ends up refreshing my soul every time.

It will be another lovely day here today, so I think that I will be sitting in that rocker on the front porch while the children play and explore.

Blessings,
Nancy

Sugar Snow!

“In the morning the house was warm from the stove, but when Laura looked out of the window she saw that the ground was covered with soft, thick snow. All along the branches of the trees the snow was piled like feathers, and it lay in mounds along the top of the rail fence, and stood up in great, white balls on top of the gate-posts.
Pa came in, shaking the soft snow from his shoulders and stamping it from his boots.
“It’s a sugar snow,” he said.
Laura put her tongue quickly to a little bit of the white snow that lay in a fold of his sleeve. It was nothing but wet on her tongue, like any snow. She was glad that nobody had seen her taste it.
“Why is it a sugar snow, Pa?” she asked him, but he said he didn’t have time to explain now. He must hurry away, he was going to Grandpa’s.

After supper, Pa took them on his knees as he sat before the fire, and told them about his day at Grandpa’s, and the sugar snow. . . .

“It’s called a sugar snow, because a snow this time of year means that men can make more sugar. You see, this little cold spell and the snow will hold back the leafing of the trees, and that makes the longer run of sap. When there’s a long run of sap, it means that Grandpa can make enough maple sugar to last all the year, for common every day. When he takes his furs to town, he will not need to trade for much store sugar. He will get only a little store sugar, to have on the table when company comes.”

“Grandpa must be glad there’s a sugar snow,” Laura said.

“Yes,” Pa said, “he’s very glad. He’s going to sugar off again next Monday, and he says we must all come.”
(From “Little House in the Big Woods” by Laura Ingalls Wilder)

Grandpa was glad and so are we! We woke up this morning to our very own sugar snow. We were expecting 1-2 inches, but ended up with 9 inches measured on the picnic table! Here are some pictures I took first thing this morning –

My patio garden – good thing we haven’t planted it yet! -

My giant Rosemary plant is under here somewhere -

We don’t have any maple trees, so we won’t be making sugar, but we are going to be making molasses candy with our snow today. Sarah has been wanting to do this all season, but we were always a step behind the snow or out of molasses, and it didn’t happen, but today it will!

Ma was busy all day long, cooking good things for Christmas. She baked salt-rising bread and rye’n'Injun bread, and Swedish crackers, and a huge pan of baked beans, with salt pork and molasses. She baked vinegar pies and dried-apple pies, and filled a big jar with cookies, and she let Laura and Mary lick the cake spoon.
One morning she boiled molasses and sugar together until they made a thick syrup, and Pa brought in two pans of clean, white snow from outdoors. Laura and Mary each had a pan, and Pa and Ma showed them how to pour the dark syrup in little streams on to the snow.
They made circles, and curlicues, and squiggledy things, and these hardened at once and were candy. Laura and Mary might eat one piece each, but the rest was saved for Christmas Day.”
(Also from “Little House in the Big Woods” by Laura Ingalls Wilder)

Church has been cancelled this morning, and the children are slowly waking up. They will certainly be wanting to head outside soon, so I will say good-bye for now!

Be back again soon ~

Blessings,
Nancy