A place for the kids and I to come and write about our latest nature studies. http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/intelligentbydesign/ en-us Homeschool Blogger Wed, 26 Mar 2008 07:02:00 -0500 Wed, 26 Mar 2008 07:02:00 -0500 This morning and yesterday we saw a water vole. At first every one thought it was a big rat but then searched in and saw that it might be a water vole. Well, we saw it again today. Here is a slide show of it. It might live in the ditch beside our garden because it keeps getting scared off and darts in to the ditch. It is attracted to our bird feeder 'cause the seed keeps falling off and it eats it. Beth http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/intelligentbydesign/505014/ Wed, 26 Mar 2008 07:02:00 -0500 http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/intelligentbydesign/505014/     http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/intelligentbydesign/505011/ Wed, 26 Mar 2008 06:48:00 -0500 http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/intelligentbydesign/505011/ A few days ago, I made some bird cakes. They are made out of:  off cheese, vegetable fat, seeds and oil. I cut up the cheese in little bits then Mum mixed it in with oil and vegetable fat and seeds.                                           Here is a picture of them when they have been finished. Here is me holding one: I saw a bird eating one. Hope you like the post! ~Beth http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/intelligentbydesign/505001/ Wed, 26 Mar 2008 05:14:00 -0500 http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/intelligentbydesign/505001/ Spring felt like it had arrived yesterday although today was a lot more chilly.  It is lovely to see the bulbs coming up and the field behind our home is full of new lambs.  The new bird feeder that AJ made is attracting bluetits and what look like chaffinches.  The chaffinch is the UK's second most common breeding bird and apparently doesn't feed openly on bird feeders.  The ones we are getting don't stay long and seem to prefer the seed that has fallen on the ground below.  We bought our lard balls but next time are going to try making these bird cakes. http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/intelligentbydesign/500634/ Tue, 18 Mar 2008 13:56:00 -0500 http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/intelligentbydesign/500634/ This was the view last night from my kitchen window.  It caused me to ponder the words of one of my favourite hymns.  When this passing world is done, When has sunk yon radiant sun, When I stand with Christ on high, Looking o'er life's history, Then, Lord, shall I fully know, Not till then, how much I owe. When I stand before the throne, Dressed in beauty not my own, When I see Thee as Thou art, Love Thee with unsinning heart, Then, Lord, shall I fully know, Not till then, how much I owe. Chosen not for good in me, Wakened up from wrath to flee, Hidden in the Saviour's side, By the Spirit sanctified, Teach me, Lord, on earth to show By my love how much I owe. When the praise of heav'n I hear, Loud as thunders to the ear, Loud as many waters' noise, Sweet as harp's melodious voice, Then, Lord, shall I fully know, Not till then, how much I owe. Adapted from a poem by Robert McCheyne For now we see through a glass, darkly; but then face to face: now I know in part; but then shall I know even as also I am known. http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/intelligentbydesign/480380/ Wed, 13 Feb 2008 18:49:00 -0600 http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/intelligentbydesign/480380/ Yesterday afternoon CJ and I took a walk around a nature reserve near our home which is dedicated to preserving some Irish bogs or peatlands. The cool wet climate of Ireland is ideal for producing peat, so peatlands form a characteristic part of the Irish landscape. In Northern Ireland, peatlands cover 12% of the land area, almost twice that covered by woodlands. Peatlands were much more extensive in Ireland up to the beginning of the 19th century, but have declined dramatically since then, particularly during the last 100 years. In the 1980s there was increased concern about the decline of peatlands throughout the United Kingdom and Ireland, but many cases lacked detailed information about the extent of peatlands, so it was difficult to measure the losses. Freshly cut peat Peat (or turf as it is known in these parts) has been the traditional domestic fuel in Ireland for the past 1300 years. It was also used in industry for building materials and filters. Peat moss has and still is used for bedding for livestock, packing material, horticulturally as a soil improver and the generation of power. The use of peat moss for electicity began in Co Offaly in the Republic of Ireland. There are currently 6 peat burning power stations. An additional 4 power stations that were fuelled by hand-cut turf were set up in the west of Ireland but they were uneconomical and all four have closed. Currently peat fuelled power stations provide 10% of the total energy consumption in the Republic but during the oil crisis in the 1960's they accounted for over 40%. The increasing dependency on imported energy sources was one of the reasons given for the construction of Europeat 1, a new peat-fired power station that opened in Offaly in 2000. From web Learn more about conservation and wildlife. We took a walk through the bog garden which is very pretty and interesting, no matter the season. Bog/Sphagnum mosses grow slowly, absorbing large quantities of water like a sponge.  They are considered one of the most important plants in the bog. During WWI, moss like this was used for dressing wounds and babies nappies, due to it's sterile and absorbent qualities. There are many insect eating plants in the bog.  In this bog we have Sundew which attracts insects then traps them on the glue on it's leaves.  The leaf then slowly curls around and digests it's prey.  Another is the Pitcher plant which was introduced from North America.  This plant attracts insects with a foul smelling liquid at the base of it's pitcher shaped leaves.  Once inside the insects become trapped and are slowly digested.   http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/intelligentbydesign/480345/ Wed, 13 Feb 2008 15:42:00 -0600 http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/intelligentbydesign/480345/ I've managed to get back my photo sets by resubscribing to flickr.  I thought they were gone forever!  Feel free to browse.  Flowers  Creatures  Skies   We've had a lot of rain but hopefully will get out on a ramble next week if it's dry. http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/intelligentbydesign/464557/ Sat, 19 Jan 2008 18:13:00 -0600 http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/intelligentbydesign/464557/ Hi, this is my first entry I have written in our nature blog! My name is Bethany and I am writing this post.  Today's weather is a bit sunny well,  a little bit sunny and this morning it was raining. I hope the grey clouds clear up soon..... I will do some more posting and do some pictures on my next entry I do in this nature blog. In the entry below, the last picture was by me. Hope you liked it!                                      Bethany http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/intelligentbydesign/460420/ Sun, 13 Jan 2008 08:24:00 -0600 http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/intelligentbydesign/460420/ We have recently just started a nature journals where we write all about nature and things such as birds, plants and different things we see. On new years day we went to the Ardress house where we had a walk and did some sketches of things we saw. By Ari Calebs tree My blackbird Beths jounal http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/intelligentbydesign/454776/ Thu, 3 Jan 2008 13:14:00 -0600 http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/intelligentbydesign/454776/ I've been inspired by Nature Mama at Nature Notes from Above (can't seem to add as friend) and lilywhite to start nature blog.  Beautifully written and very informative, I urge you to go take a look. I imagine that the kids will be doing most of the writing here as I'm not really doing much of a job keeping up with my other blogs lol.  Have to go, babe needs feeding. http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/intelligentbydesign/453244/ Tue, 1 Jan 2008 07:05:00 -0600 http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/intelligentbydesign/453244/