Adventures of a homeschooler

Science is so easy when you homeschool. Just take a look at these photos from our adventures.

This first one is a Snapper Turtle we passed on our way to an afternoon activity. They live near water, bite!, are a pest to fish, and make a great chowder if you're brave enough to be the predator.

Next, we passed a pair of these....now, don't panic. The ol' saying that the only good snake is a dead snake simply is not true. We need snakes in our enviornment, and while I can not put up with them in my home...I'm more than happy to see the pair of these Black Snakes live so close to me. Their presence means I am less likely to see the venomous snakes. She sure is a beauty.

Farther along on our adventure....Rachel begged for my camera and took this photo of two moths...I'm not identifing them just as yet, because miss Rachel needs to figure it out and let me know...can't have her reading over my shoulder and using crib notes.
Imagine my delight when I went to feed chickens and found this little lady making a nest in my back yard. She is a Box Turtle, totally harmless, habitat is mainly woodsy areas, and she doesn't get big enough for soup unless you've got several of them. The girls think she's about 16 yrs. old. What do you think?


and finally...can you guess the name of this beauty we found at the park on the swing set?
It's a Leopard Moth, and while it's hard to discern, it's "eye's" and antenae are the prettiest color of blue. They have several broods of babies each spring and summer, and while they are quite common, most people never even notice them because they like to stay on the underside of wood. Any wood...play equipment, woods, pic nic tables....

Take a look around you today. There's no telling what you will find. God, is all his awesome imagination has created beautiful and fabulous creatures.

Question....

Is half way far enough for a 50 yr old out of shape woman who's tremendously afraid of heights?

 

hope so...cause that's as far as i got.

You didn't think i was going to let the daughter's outdo me did you?

Bizarre

Ironic too.

funny how they'll climb to the top of a 60 ft. cedar tree, but can't make it more than half way up a Climbing Wall with safety ropes attached.

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Coming back from the zoo, we HAD to turn around and come back to this little place in the middle of Alpena, Arkansas!!!

 

The sculptures are fabulous and oh how I want several of them for my own yard!! It was sad that the business itself was closed so we were not able to learn more about the crafters. They do have somewhat of a website though. CajunCarver.com   Ya'll go look at some of thier creations. The photo's do not do them justice. We'll be stopping by again on our next trip thru Alpena.

Dreaming

In a perfect world

I could spend all day with you

Never waste a moment being sad, ugly or blue.

You would always be there royal, regal and true.

 

I know the world's not perfect

and you are only bronze.

But a moment of my heart I'll give to you in song.

One day I'll be safe to walk amongst the fierce and free.

 

Rachel asked me to take her photo with this statue at the zoo. She wanted to imagine what it would be like if the tiger was really "Aslan" from the Narnia books.

tree hugger

no poems, no verse or prose....

just recording the adventures

of this wild climbing rose.

 

i remember i had to save her

when she climbed her first tree

she made it two feet and started

crying for me...

 

MOMMMY!!! help, I'm stuck

and I can't get down.

Please get my feet back on the ground.

Sissy you do it and then you'll see

You can't make it any higher than me.

traveler

This little lady was on my road coming home the other night.

I love how she seems to be saying :

'I'm choosing a different road to travel'...

"I'm going my own way, are you coming with me?"

Emailing: IMG_1193

The storm passes:

Leaving us a captive of untamed beauty

under the shelter of a clear blue sky.

Her icy fingers cover all our ugliness.

Quietly, the time passes by.

A different time, perhaps-

She would nurture and provide.

Instead, she tries to rob us of our warmth

and places danger in our stride.

 

 

 

 

 

 

"Bah Humbug"

Well, here it is: that time of year,

and I sit and struggle,

trying to find

Christmas cheer.

 

Where did it go,

that wonder of old.

The joy and the songs

that I used to hold.

 

I struggle against

the stress and the strife,

trying to survive

another day of life.

 

Avoiding the bustle,

the madness, the drills,

the unfairness of it all.

Overwhelmed by the bills.

 

And so, once again 

I drag out the tree,

the box of ornaments,

and memories.

 

My treasures of old

tarnished silver, chipped gold 

pulled from the storage,

dark and cold...

 

cold like my spirit.

what's happened to me?

Why can't I rejoice.

I'd rather be three.

 

We pull from the box,

stars, ribbons and bows.

Glittering lights, and their

hearts are aglow.

 

Ah, and as my children

Exclaim with each one,

I live once again

in the glow of the Son.

 

I remember that ball,

How it glittered and shined.

Lights catching the eyes,

reflecting in mine.

 

How they hypnotized my thoughts

And my wishes, they grew.

I never had doubts, I was sure.

I just knew.

 

Through the window of their eyes,

I catch again, with surprise,

The stirrings of hope and harmony

Of love and joy, and company.

 

The ember burns,

and grows and warms

and fills my December

with joyous songs.

 

Look through the eyes

of the child, my friend.

To find what is lost,

to hope once again.

 

~dec. 18, 2007

Practical joker

Last night as supper was cooking, I went in to help my twins clean up thier rooms (AGAIN).....and while picking up toys, noticed a snake coming into the room from the crack by the door frame!!!!!!!!!!  ACCKKK

Hubby, of course, is at work...so mom must deal. I captured it...and got it out of my house with both of us still alive and only slightly panicky.

Returned to cleaning.........and there was another one. OMG....this one, however; was coming out of the bathroom, and there was another coming up the water pipe to the tub where it comes out of the floor. Got those also.......EIGHT snakes later, totally traumatized, close to tears, and shaking like a leaf in a hurricane, I put supper on the table, fixed myself a very strong pot of coffee, drank the whole pot and tried to calm down.

Needless to say.....about an hour later....potty duty called and I went into the bathroom to find that one(or both?) of my dear 10 year old daughters had placed a "real life looking" rubber snake on the rug in front of the toliet.

Hey!!!........are you laughing???? my husband was when I called and told him about it. It's ok...I can *see* the funny in it.........I am just not impressed. I am not laughing. well, ok...a snicker....occasionally.

isn't that trick something boys are supposed to do???