In the Sparrow's Nest

Mar. 18, 2008

Water's Way

Rain, rain, and more rain is the theme of this week. Add that to 14 inches of melted snow, you get a LOT of water! But we'll have a beautiful spring because of it!

This video of my backyard was taken this morning before the rain got really heavy, the creek has such a pretty sound. Before you watch it, click on this THIS LINK and listen to the Red-Belied Woodpecker's song, and then turn your volume up and see if you can hear him my video.

This next video was taken just before sunset this evening. Listen to how much louder our creek is and how fast and full it is running! Wow, it's really loud. I've had a window open to listen to it all day. I am missing being able to get outside though.

Tomorrow we plan on reading Water's Way by Lisa Westberg Peter; a simply excellent book on explaining the changes of seasons and what happens with all this water!!

• Post A Comment! • Send to a Friend!

Comments

Mar. 18, 2008 - Wow!

Posted by ClagettsFLStyle

That's a lot of water!
I remember when we lived in MD we had a dry creek bed that was basically what they called a flood plain. When the snow melted or it rained really hard that thing would flood like crazy. My horses loved it because they enjoyed jumping back and forth over it. LOL.

Stay safe and dry.

Come by and join in on the fun over at my blog.

• Permanent Link

Mar. 19, 2008 - Untitled Comment

Posted by jenn4him

First I must say, you have a wonderful setting for a home! So lovely! I did not hear the woodpecker, but I trust your saying so. (*grin*) I can't imagine a more lovely backyard. I was just thinking that our backyard is going to take a long while to dry out enough for them to be in it without boots. Mud is everywhere! But, it is a sign of spring to rejoice over, not fret. I just pray that my magnolia will bloom this year without a late frost. :-)
Jenn

• Permanent Link

Mar. 20, 2008 - Untitled Comment

Posted by Dana @ School For Us

Wow! What a difference! And what an amazing view. Looks like you'll be able to do plenty of nature study in your own backyard!

• Permanent Link

About Me

Welcome to our blog home! My name is Melissa and I am a homeschool mom of three beautiful blessings ages 11, 9, and 2; and blessed wife to my husband for 15 years. Our homeschooling style is eclectic, but we love Charlotte Mason's educational philosophies and learning the natural, everyday hands-on life way! We especially see daily opportunities to learn and grow closer to God through His amazing creation in nature!

"Even the sparrow has found a home, and the swallow a nest for herself, where she may have her young - a place near your altar, O Lord Almighty, my King and my God." ~Psalm 84:3-4

Email Me

Subscribe to My Blog

Subscribe in a reader

Nature Notes

8/15/08

How do you do school at a table in a schoolroom on such a gorgeous day? High of 80 degrees, low humidity, puffy white clouds, gentle breeze...outside we go!

8/10/08

What a gorgeous weekend we've had! Beautiful! Temps in the low 80's, breezy, and no humidity. We've been outside a lot, which brings on a new wildflower discovery - Florida Lettuce.

8/7/08

Three more wildflowers discovered this morning near the creek - Indian Tobacco, White Vervain, and Dwarf Dandelion.

8/6/08

The rains have yet again brought on two more new wildflowers - Tall Ironweed and Lance-Leaved Goldenrod, both found down by the creek.

Alex caught a Dog-Day Cicada thats wing had been damaged, we had lots of fun observing and learning about cicadas today.

Our friend and new pet, the American Toad, is still doing quite well, he has a big appetite!

"The earth has music for those who will listen."
~ William Shakespeare

"I love to think of nature as an unlimited broadcasting station, through which God speaks to us every hour, if we will only tune in."
~ George Washington Carver

"Reading about nature is fine, but if a person walks in the woods and listens carefully, he can learn more than what is in books, for they speak with the voice of God."
~ George Washington Carver

"Nature is painting for us, day after day, pictures of infinite beauty."
~John Ruskin

Scripture Notes

For since the creation of the world God's invisible qualities—his eternal power and divine nature—have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made, so that men are without excuse. ~ Romans 1:20

But ask the animals, and they will teach you, or the birds of the air, and they will tell you; or speak to the earth, and it will teach you, or let the fish of the sea inform you. Which of all these does not know that the hand of the LORD has done this? ~ Job 12:7-9

Recent Posts

• The Secret Garden
• Carving Out Time for Nature Walks
• Spectacular Summer Science Experiments
• Simple Backyard Nature - Can You Hear It?
• Fast-Forward Motion

General Links

• Home
• View my profile
• Archives
• My Blog's RSS
• Crosswalk Homeschool Site
• My Daughter's Blog

Downloadable Files to Share

General Files

• Weekly Chore Checklist-Updated 3/08 (Word)
• Weekly Dinner Menu Planner-Updated 3/08 (Excel)
• Daily Schedule-Updated 4/08 (Word)
• Kid's Chore Cards-Updated 3/08 (Word)
• Food Journal (Excel)
• Education Journal - Blank (Excel)

Nature Study Files

• Taking Note of Birds List (Excel)
• Birds Notebook Page - UPDATED(Word)
• Northern Cardinal Study Guide (Word)
• Plant Journal (Excel)
• Science Journal (Excel)
• Cloud Identification Sheet (Excel)
• Fire! The Renewal of a Forest - Unit Study (Word)

Bird Sounds from our Nature Walks (wav files)

• Eastern Towhee - Nature Walk 3/23/08
• Pileated Woodpecker - Sighting Back Yard 3/26/08

Nature Links

• Cornell Lab of Ornithology ~ Bird Guide
• What Bird? ~ Bird Guide
• ENature
• National Geographic - Creature Features
• Ruby-Throated Hummingbird Migration Map
• Great Backyard Bird Count - Feb. 2009
• Great American Backyard Campout - June 28, 2008

Nature Identification Posts

• Nature Identification How-To's
• Wildflower Walks, Identification, and Notebooking
• Take a Wildflower Walk

Kentucky Nature Identification Websites

• Common Mammals of Kentucky
• Wildflowers of Kentucky
• Trees of Kentucky
• Common Butterflies of Kentucky
• Birds of Kentucky
• Insects and Spiders of Kentucky-under KY Critter Files
• Snakes of Kentucky
• Reptiles of Kentucky
• Frogs and Toads of Kentucky
• Amphibians of Kentucky
• Kentucky's Flora and Fauna

Nature Projects We've Done

• Homemade Hummingbird Nectar
• Homemade Suet
• Bagel Bird Feeders
• Nature Walk: 3-D Nature Scenes
• Nature Prints in Clay
• Nesting Materials Bag
• Nature Walk: Poster Collage
• Rock Painting
• Our Nature Table
• Mushroom Spore Prints
• Woodland Fairy House
• Nature Art ~ Blueberry Painting

Simple Backyard Nature Ideas

• We Love Mud
• Turn it Over
• Animal Habitats
• Let It Grow
• Can You Hear It?

Art and Music

• Picture Study - Creative Writing Activity
• Nature Walk, 5 Elements of Shape, Vivaldi
• Nature's Paintbox: Summer Watercolors
~ O'Keeffe and Vivaldi
• Nature's Painbox: Spring Pastels ~ Stravinsky
• Monet Impressionism ~ Vivaldi
• Watercolor Project ~ Vivaldi
• Mary Cassatt ~ Tempera Monoprint

Current Chapter Read-Aloud

The Secret Garden
by Frances Hodgson Burnett

Our Educational Philosophy

"Education is an Atmosphere, a Discipline, a Life."
~ Charlotte Mason

• Who Was Charlotte Mason?
• Summaries of "The Original Homeschooling Series"
• Why Homeschoolers are Turning to a Charlotte Mason Education
• Simply Charlotte Mason

Why We Love Nature Study

• Precious Moments in God's Creation
• Can Nature Teach?

Quotable
"Years hence, when the children are old enough to understand that science itself is in a sense sacred and demands some sacrifices, all the 'common information' they have been gathering until then, and the habits of observation they have acquired, will form a capital groundwork for a scientific education. In the mean- time, let them consider the lilies of the field and the fowls of the air." --Charlotte Mason, Vol.1, p. 63