May Garden
• Jun. 17, 2008 - Watching Nature's Young
Earlier this Spring my husband was cleaning out the gutters and found that a mama dove had decided that she would nest in one! Here is a picture of the eggs. 
We did see a mama dove training her fledgling to fly in our back yard unfortunately we also later found a fledgling dead after some heavy storms. We buried it and gave reverence. My friend may have a picture of that baby as I remember her being taken by it when visiting with her camera out. She is an advid photo enhancement mama and loves snapping shots.
Yesterday we found a nest high up in one of our Maples. I think Lina noticed it first. Then a bit latter Timmy exclaimed there was a robin getting a great big worm from the flower bed and sure enough it took it up to that nest. So we know there are babies there!
This was all seen out our large bay window! I am so thankful for that window and the gardens we have started on that side of the house to attract the local creatures our way!
I think it is wonderful when children have eyes for the creation around them. I try to foster this love any little way I can. I know even if I fail to show them the Lord in someway and disappoint...
the world God created will never fail to show His love and existence!
Update June 19
We found mama and a baby robin dead yesterday. It was really saddening. Timmy was the most upset. He asked questions about the soul and why don't animals go to heaven... why does God let these things happen etc... We had good discussion but we still don't like the consequences of the fall!
Update June 20
There is an adult Robin still attending the nest!!!! Maybe it was only one parent that died ???
This is exciting and encouraging after thinking all the babies died without a mama!
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• Jun. 16, 2008 - Trees being felled...
We watched several trees being felled yesterday.
Our neighbors across the street had a front yard full of very mature Tamaracks -easily 60 ft. tall and they took them out I guess to get more sun. Their whole yard was in full shade. It was neat and sad all at the same time!!
The kids are protective over trees and were a bit unsure if they should be enjoying the sight. |
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• Jun. 14, 2008 - Local Kids Garden Club
Mike took the boys to the garden club at the rec park last week. They had a great time and plan to continue the program through the summer.
Here are the pictures
we took... I will take the girls to the park side during the program when I am able.           |
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• Jun. 6, 2008 - Wooland Ducks
We had an interesting experience the other day.
The little girls were napping and I was folding laundry and putting away.
I glanced out the bedroom window and saw this rather large eye peeking out of some tall grass at me from next door ( this property is not being lived on currently ).
SO I got Tim's attention and we took my camera outside to see if we could get a better look at what appeared to be a young duck.
When we approached we were amazed at not only a small adult woodland duck but 5 baby ducklings trailing behind her! She had already moved outside of the fencing to the front of the house but when she saw us she tried to divert out attention away form her babies by running across the street. The thing is her ducklings were not going to be away from her for long they really wanted their mama!
 Early Summer 2008
I managed to take one quick shot of three of the ducklings ( I had to kinda corner them ).
We backed off and they then decided to try to cross the street to their mama. Thankfully because we got out of the way she met them before they got out in the road.
I wanted to DO something to protect them but didn't know what to do.
How did they get there? The ducklings appeared to be too young to fly...
There is a small river in our town but still all I can put together is the mama hatched those babies in the yard next door as it is quiet and we had ran for a few days in a row! I let the fella that lives on the other side of the vacant property know they were nearby so he could watch out for them as his family has several dogs and cats.
Which reminds me of the interesting thing that happened a week before this.
We were gardening in our backyard an these dogs two doors over were out in their backyard... they are small breeds - lap dogs. Anyway one of them got hold of a little bird like a sparrow or chickadee BUT the reason I even noticed was because I heard a lot of birds over excited!
What was interesting to me was that several different types of birds were 'yelling' at the dogs to leave this little bird alone! Robins and sparrows all trying to protect! The bird was injured too bad to save but I spoke with the children about what had happened and how that it was neat to notice this.
Backyard in town nature provides a lot of interesting opportunities to learn!
Looking forward to sharing the next adventure that presents itself! |
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• Jun. 6, 2008 - As Close to a Botanical Garden as we'll get for now.
We have a enjoyed walks in our neighborhood. We discovered a few years ago that if we take a certain route several blocks away we come to a newer subdivision with some well designed and invested in gardens.
I took a few shots yesterday so we could see the flowers and foliage blossom over the summer.   |
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• May. 19, 2008 - Migration
We have discussed read and viewed a lot on migration of Butterflies and BIRDS and other animals.
We have just read a book called Welcome Brown Bird by Mary Lyn Ray that I found great for showing the children that people of different lands can share simplicities such as welcoming the Thrush to their homes each season as it travels from far North to far South and back again!
I haven't kept track of al the titles under this subject but will add from here as we find it fascinating and will keep learning. |
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• Oct. 3, 2007 - Our Kitty Muffin
Timmy wanted to take some pictures of Kitty. He took these on his own.
 
The kids really love this kitty and we are glad to have her. She is almost four months old now and we will have to take her into the vets soon. We have been baking cookies to sell again so we can make enough money to pay for her care.
I am such a mother hen I won' t let her run about in the yard yet I don't want to loose her. She is really showing an interest in running out the door now. I put her in a kennel cage and let her enjoy the weather often.
Thank You Lord for such a nice kitty. |
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• Oct. 3, 2007 - Transplanting Bushes
Everyone got in to helping transplant bushes the other weekend. So glad for the help as I transplanted about twenty the first year we moved in and though it was rewarding I Ummm decided I was getting a little to old or busy or something to tackle such a physical job like that on my own again. And we had three more bushes to go. So good to have that project come to a close. Next Spring will be fun as now we have a couple areas in front of the house that we can plant new beds .
THE GIANT I saved this one for Dad it was just huge !
We took most of the bushes around the foundation of the house and put around perimeter of the property.
This is the corner that we'd sprinkled wildflower seeds in since the bushes were not completely in place,
We will miss the flowers but they really attracted the blood seeking bugs! So having more of a landscaped finish will be a blessing. I like the idea of keeping the bulbs in and adding more as we can.
Lina really got into the work.
Now we have to add the other bush and water.
  
Sophia kept busy in her play pen. |
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• Sep. 14, 2007 - Nature Sleuth
 Looking far...
    
Going all out to find something interesting...
Using our ears to hear the nibbling of a friend up above
Looking low  Looking High |
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• Sep. 14, 2007 - The Last of the Wildflowers
• Aug. 1, 2007 - We are proud pet owners!
Last night after the boys got home from VBS we were attempting to get out for a quick walk before the sun went down and only got as far as next door.
As we got to the end of our shared driveway a little kitten popped out from under our neighbors SUV and
was crying hysterically. It is really tiny ( maybe 5 weeks old ) and was just frantic.
Our neighbors were in their backyard so we got their attention and us mommies were able to work together to retrieve it from the wheel well it kept climbing into. I tried to cover the area that was open so it could be reached by the other mommy.
We wrapped it in a towel and fed it milk. It had no problem devouring it! Poor thing was terribly hungry!
This is OUR kitty! come from ?????
PRAYER
Mommy and daddy have wanted to have a kitty come live with us but had prayed about how to go about getting one we really wanted. Having been offered a little older kitten a month ago we realized our desires were to have a 'baby' ( although the other was housebroken already) we really wanted the kids to enjoy their pet as a baby cause when it comes to pets we are keepers we want to take very good care ( as best as we can afford) of this little creature. So I assume this will be a life long relationship 
And we wanted a med- long hair with patches of calico.
We also prayed about affording the shots it would need .
Our neighbor told us to just go to the farm store and get a 5.00 shot for it. We also know of the least expensive vet in the area!
We have some of the basics for kitty.
We have litter and flea treatment from neighbor and supply of food from another attempt to befriend a stray. VERY nice cat especially for a stray... just decided that it would rather come and go a lot and well hasn't been back for months.
Everyone is thrilled that MUFFIN is here!
I am sure to post more adventures with our new 'baby.' |
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• Jul. 31, 2007 - TREES
• Jul. 28, 2007 - Gallery of Flowers
 Luke exploring in the flower garden.
Luke with pollen under his nose
Early in the season I'd looked over at Luke from across the yard and thought he'd had a bloody nose. There was a reddish deep orange color all around his nose and cheeks ( kinda like dry blood). So I get up closer to investigate and it was the pollen from the Asian Lilies we have in one of our gardens!
He was smelling the flowers and checking them out. This picture is showing a very moderate amount of yellow pollen under his nose How cute.
Where the kids explored pollination this spring and summer. The open flower of a lily is perfect to get full view of what the bee is doing when visiting the inner flower.
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• Jul. 27, 2007 - Earliest Experiences with Nature.
 Luke and Lina as a 7 month old baby.
When the boys were 2.5 and 1 we moved to a town house apartment in a rural town about an hour away from the city we grew up in.
It was a great blessing. Although we had our times of feeling out of touch with nature as we didn't have as much freedom to garden and privacy to relax.
There was lots of open field surrounding the complex there just simply was too much noise, pavement, and traffic on that main commercial road for us to be planted in that environment. It is a mystery how we could co exist with a drive thru carry out basically in our backyard!
We used to take off for the whole afternoon in the double stroller and explore at the parks. Even after Lina was born we'd pack up and head out for some fun.
Lina in stroller getting ready for a walk.
About 10 min. away there was a lutheran church that had a preschool program thus a playground for that age group... we'd go there often and play then pick up a few groceries from the local grocery store across the street and head back home it was very nice to have that freedom.
About 15 min walk away was a small pond with a bit of a playground. It was fun to skip rocks and see if we would catch a look at a few small pond fish.
About 25 min walk away we would hit our favorite park. Many large old oaks and maples with plenty of squirrel antics to observe! A stream to play Pooh Sticks in and look for craw fish in. We also enjoyed the pool in the summer.
The local library was about a 35 min walk away and we went regularly for preschool reading time.
A large rec. park was a little out of walking distance although we'd manage it several times in the three years we lived in that town. This was the family outing that we'd take often together. We'd drive over with the boys' trikes in the back of the van and let them take a long ride around the mile or so walking path around the park. It was a great time to talk and regroup for Mike and I.
There also was a walking trail in the middle of town that had some nature around it. We observed mostly birds and bunnies on those outings.
We made as much effort as we could to put up bird feeders and plant a patio garden at the apartment. I let them have a small sand box/ swimming pool out back as well. It's a story of the Lord's hand in putting us in that particular unit cuz it truly was the best spot to be. The most privacy etc...
When we'd go several doors down to doing our daily laundry they would often go around in bear cub fashion rolling over landscaping rocks and digging in the bark mulch looking for worms and crawlers!
BTW We had a special little broom we'd use to sweep up the little areas they disrupted that I am sure lessened complaint.
I think that there are definite ways you can help cultivate the love of nature in your children in whatever circumstance you are in.
Your child will let you know how important it is to him or her.
The Lord will use His creation to speak volumes to their young hearts.
What better wholesome activity can you think to do with little ones?
Our 2.5 yo. Lina is a prime example of one that leads in her desire for the natural world around her.
She dreams of worms, bugs, doggies, kitties, birds, squirrels, bunnies, and raccoons.
She wakes speaking of them with great concern. She calls to them, she watches them out the window, she says they like her, they talk to her, they sing to her, they are her friends.
They are nurturing a mothering heart in her. After all they are like babies 'cute', need her to give them water and food, they take naps in her little containers, she keeps them warm or cool.
She must be out amongst them early in the morning and through out the day.
I am so glad my babies have learned of their creator naturally in the outdoor settings of His world. |
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• Jul. 22, 2007 - Ant Colony
Sorry, you'll have to look real close. We'd removed a peat pot from it's spot and found this colony busy with their babies.
We disturbed an ant colony while gardening. Wow did the kids have a good time seeing the eggs being carried off so quickly. I was fortunate to get the camera there in time to capture any of the hundreds of little white eggs. |
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• Jul. 20, 2007 - Honey Bees Photo shoot in our backyard clover patch
• Jul. 14, 2007 - Bees study continued...
 We are watching the Moody Science video called City of Bees It is so good. These videos always have a spiritual application toward the last third of the presentation. |
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• Jun. 24, 2007 - The Find For Today
I found a caterpillar in the empty swimming pool before I filled it and Timmy found a live "elephant beetle" as the kids call a ~ Weevil ~ He was in a spider web near a planter box.
We rescued the beetle by pulling off the web while 'he' played dead. He is resting now but appears to have made it out of the worst. We will give him back to nature soon.
This morning the back yard was full of life; squirrels, lots of them playing and dragging off corn cobs that we left out yesterday! |
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• Jun. 22, 2007 - Garden Chores
Luke Especially Helps With; watering, weeding, planting, hoeing, hauling soil/ shoveling into place and he also likes to take pictures of the progress of the plants growth. Most of these things he does with me but I can have him water with little direction from me.
He also helps mow - he is learning safety and proper procedures.
The other children DO help with all the above but have less focus and time invested in completing the projects.
Both boys are learning to be more responsible to take out compost to pile.
We recycle and use newspaper / cardboard to keep the weeds down.
I am very proud of their helpfulness. |
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• Jun. 15, 2007 - Bee Careful
| My son Luke 7 is VERY interested in the nature around him. He has been studying BEES of all sorts for the last few weeks. This was a child led choice but I also have a HoC Bee pack to supplement and we will have a family outing to the library to get books tomorrow. He really wants to watch the Magic School bus film about bees but it was a dvd that had a scratch in it 'maybee' we can request it from another library. We have several observations including that it hurts to be stung! Out of no where I was stung on the arm while gardening a few days later Luke was stung on the foot when running in the sprinkler and a few days later Timmy and then the same happened to Lina. The bees obviously don't like us getting the clover wet. The grass/ clover isn't long but there are many bees getting nectar. The Mud Wasps like the sprinkled garden and wet hay that we use for keeping the weeds down and moisture in. Luke has literally caught many Honey Bees and Yellow Jackets and is thinking of catching a Mud Wasp! I keep telling him "NO that isn't such a good idea" but he keeps filling his bug cage with 'em. I don't think that is what his Aunt and Uncle thought he'd be observing in it when they presented him with the gift! We've found the ground beetle, and other common insects yet he is most fasinated by the bee. We read a little book about Grandpa's Looking Glass it was real cute about discovering that the children in the book could see nature up close with a magnifying glass. I paid .10 at a garage sale for that little gem! Luke's Observations; Honey bees might fight with one another to the death in a bug cage but he said he may have had two different varieties in the cage together! When they are angry ( from being caged:^) they rapidly flap their wings and buzz. Yellow jacket and Wasp variety flap their wings faster. The tongues of the Honey Bee are long like a belt and the Wasp has a thicker, shorter tongue. He has observed a small Honey Bee with legs just caked with yellow pollen. The Honey Bee uses his back legs to clean his neck and his back Luke says 'humble like' but the Wasp cleans more often and more 'proud like.' We have all really enjoyed observing with Luke as our leader and expert bee capturer.
We've read several articles about the danger that the Honey Bee is in. The decline of the colonies is very serious and we are glad we don't use chemicals in our gardening. We will add more as we go along. |
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Photo shoot in our backyard clover patch....
