2 week check-out

2 week check-out:
our reading...


I can't say enough about this whole series. Nature, laughter, oh and just fun times. This book was great, a fun mystery about Jerry Muskrat's big cousin of the north.


We have been on a Roald Dahl kick lately haven't we, and how could we leave Charlie out? Well it was perfect reading for this time of the year. The children and their guardians were to present themselves at Mr. Wonka's factory on the 1st of February, and with Valentine's Day in the middle of the month? I can't think of a better time to read this book (and with sweets in everyone's mouths of course).


This book, well it was about a family trying out a new way of life, and getting to know each other all over again in the process. Adventure, freedom, purpose, love, and bravery all wrapped into one. Eoghan wanted to start it again the minute we finished, and that is saying something. I have a feeling more Moomin books will be in our laps soon. (I would however save this title for ages seven and older.)

potato hearts

Potato print paper bags, made by the boys (J the blue & E the red); for holding some sweet Valentine's day treasures. And speaking of potato prints, check out The Children's Year Craftalong.

February: a little home for me

winter

I have to remember not to get too excited around this time of the year;

I know winter likes to fool me. Spring is not here...yet.

owls in beeswax

the Great Horned and the Gray

all about owls

The boys and I had the pleasure of attending two owl presentations in a day at the end of January. One was put on for our homescholing group (the education bird was a Great Horned Owl) and the other at the local Forest Service building (the education bird was a Great Horned Owl as well as a Grey Owl). Both birds came from the Alaska Wildbird Rehabilitation Center, you can find them here: http://www.akwildbirdrehab.org/. The trainer/handler was very enthusiastic, it would have been hard not to be interested or excited to learn about their work at the center and the birds there. All the people at the center are volunteers, and the center is run by donations.

Rehabilitation and release are the goals for the birds who come into the facility, however when that is not possible (as was the case for both the owls at the presentations) the birds become education birds. Both of the education owls at the presentations were hit by vehicles. The Great Horned had a wing injury, that required amputation up to what would be our elbow; and the Grey Owl had a wing injury, as well as the loss of sight from one of its eyes.

They were both so very beautiful and we were very grateful to learn about and from them. We were especially impressed by the hearing of the Great Horned. Did you know that if a Great Horned was sitting on a goal post at one end of a football field, it would be able to hear a mouse running at the other end, and in seconds be upon that mouse without the mouse having heard it? The Great Horned Owl flies without sound emanating from its wings. So impressive! Eoghan and I especially like Great Horned Owls as we have called to them, and heard their responses many times in our area.

the wise owl

At times the Squirrels seem confused about the numbers they are coming up with. Their friend (the Wise Owl) shows them how to place their numbers on Grandfather Tree; using pollen for the "ones", berry juice for the "tens", crushed gem powder (given to him by his gnome friends) for the "hundreds", and leaf juice for the "thousands".

We have been enjoying math, how about you?

three little things

Three almost identical expressions,

from almost three years ago.

Grumpiness, loveliness, and silliness.

2 week check-out

2 week check-out:

our reading


Eoghan says: Fantastic Mr. Fox was really fantastic.


Eoghan's says: If he had 10,000 thumbs, he would give it 10,000 thumbs up. Now that is saying something! We all really enjoyed this book, I think we were all wishing we lived in Noisy Village. The grandpa was super sweet, and the kids so fun to play with. Who wouldn't want to go on an overnight fishing and camping trip; where you could sleep outdoors in a fort you, your friends, and your siblings built? Astrid Lindgren rocks!


History is fun.