Both my grandfathers planted their gardens on Good Friday. We’ve adopted this tradition as well. The Good Friday garden. Good Friday Garden And while it’s a good practice to wait until Good Friday because all danger of frost has past, we’ve discovered another significance. We talk about Easter. We pour that fresh soil into a flower bed. And a little finger makes a little hole
Sandpiper Shore Bird: A Chalk Pastel Tutorial
On a lazy afternoon at the beach the children and I decided to draw a sandpiper – after seeing these fast and delightful birds all morning swooping down and racing the waves. We assembled our limited color palette of pastels. We just couldn’t pack everything! I drew a large bird shape on a piece of paper and studied the photo of a sandpiper we had
Noticing Spring
Spidey on unfurling hydrangea. Budding trees. Blue skies. Bright flowers. Peeking anole. Ever-changing weather. March moon. Notebooking observations. Outdoor Hour Challenges
Nature Study Through the Holidays eBook Review and Giveaway
“Let them once get in touch with Nature, and a habit it formed which will be a source of delight through life. We were all meant to be naturalists, each in his degree, and it is inexcusable to live in a world so full of the marvels of plant and animal life and to care for none of these things.” – Charlotte Mason My family and
The Ws of Winter Nature Study
We’ve been contemplating the Ws of winter nature study. These bits of nature study we enjoyed here and there over the last two weeks. Some spontaneous, some purposeful. The Ws of Winter Nature Study Weather: a wide range of temps from spring-like to the arctic blast of this past weekend. We had lows in the teens! Walks: taken in our backyard and over across street
Homeschool Makeover: The Most Used Bookcase
Former, wonderful, overflowing and overused bookcase in our most central location. My husband and I have been blessed with hand-me-down furniture. There is just an abundance of pieces on my side of the family. And, in the almost seventeen years of our marriage, this furniture has served us well. However, never, in the past, has this furniture had to bear the abuse of five children
Twigs Nature Study
dew on backyard maple At daybreak, I’m switching the clothes from the washer to the dryer when she comes, all excited. “Mama, have you seen the fog? The dew is glistening on the birch tree. It’s beautiful!” Nature study in the early morning. Right after breakfast. The two of us! We step outside into the soft, muddy backyard. Recent rains have left it soppy. And
Backyard Birds in Winter
Last Thursday we enjoyed a wonderful study of chickadees and other backyard birds. However, I got a little side-tracked and never shared because of the incident with the wiffle ball. I love the variety of birds we see at our feeder each season. The woodpeckers stop by more frequently to eat the suet we share in winter. Or at least we notice them more. Earlier