we had a really great homeschool weekend (I know, maybe I should let the kids rest, but homeschooling is life, right?)  Saturday had us at a Scout car rally since my oldest placed first for the Bluewater area a few months back.  None of us really,  really wanted to go, but we knew that the other family competing with us were some good homeschool friends.  What we didn't know was there is a wee black history museum nestled in the corner of the building we would be racing in.  Chatham, Ontario, is a place full of history, being on the underground railroad route.  I love that God is full of surprises (I find myself completely fascinated by black history and wanting to learn more and more).

Yesterday we went to church and then felt a need to celebrate the first warm weekend yet by spending the rest of the day gathering and burning brush.  We live in town, but we can have a fire if we also have a water source or fire extinguisher near by and are also cooking (hotdogs and smores always count).  In the process we not only saw a great toad, and helped him move in,

By the time we had also witnessed a rabbit, a woodpecker, multiple robins and squirrels, this little toad had completely buried himself and, we hope, settled in for a long summer of garden life.  (I have to refrain from posting all the pictures so my boys can have a post today, too!) If we hadn't had our eyes open, all this would have still happened but we would have been none the wiser.  Imagine.  I wonder what else simply passes us by because we are too busy to take the time to reflect?  I am beginning to practice the art of seeing by "being".  I mean that I am trying to remember to take some time each day, in the middle of whatever it is that presents itself as pressing, to stop and observe what is happening on the outside of my concentration.  I think it's working.

While I was off at another rehearsal, my husband and boys took a bike ride.  Normally they would go the "back way" downtown, but last night they took a detour to Bear Creak and were rewarded with the sight of a muscrat ... as close as 5 feet the boys estimate.  No one else to see it but my three.  The muscrat swam straight down the overflow of the dam, too (a small waterfall, but cool to see him in action).  We already own a muscrat skull from a previous adventure ... now to do some more research to add to our science notebook.  What did you see this weekend?

Posted by anotherblogonthefire

in my backyard.
She had a frog in her hands.

Posted by misterx

That middle picture is me! What a coinsadince!
(no idea how to spell that word whatsoever)

Posted by AcceptanceWithJoy

I like the way you reason... I think I am going to count our trip to the Como Park Zoo and Conservatory yesterday as science this week... skip science and catch up on Roman history and literature...

Posted by ApplesofGold

Oh, Wow-that sounds like a great weekend! I've been wanting to post about ours, but haven't had the chance.
I have been doing the same thing as you--observing things around me as often as I can. I call it freeze-framing. My imagination runs wild at times and I almost feel like time has stopped when I do that. LOL
Wierd, I know.
This weekend we went on a beaver pond hunt. We didn't find one, but we found a neat nature trail and talked with 2 people that gave us leads to find beavers. I think the hunt is going to be as fun as actually finding them.
We also burned up a bunch of brush & thoroughly enjoyed the first beautiful weather we've had as well. Holly

Posted by Jimmie

I'm coming over from the Carnival.

I love this: "I wonder what else simply passes us by because we are too busy to take the time to reflect? I am beginning to practice the art of seeing by "being". I mean that I am trying to remember to take some time each day, in the middle of whatever it is that presents itself as pressing, to stop and observe what is happening on the outside of my concentration. I think it's working."

Yes, I totally agree and understand what you're saying. That is one reason I've taken up photography -- so force myself to see the beauty around me.

Posted by PumpkinsMomma

that looks like fun!
and it is cool stumbling across neat places!

marie