Chicken Chat
My daughter has a special affinity for our new farm friends.
Just a Girl and her Tractor
With twenty acres to tend to, it’s always nice to get a little extra help around the farm.
Classroom Tour
The classroom is ready for creativity, innovation, and a wide range of play.
Play Every Day Any Way
Never turn down an opportunity to play.
Rock it
Musical play is amazing, so when my eldest too a liking to the rock n’ roll I blasted in the vehicle since her birth, I was excited. She is excited about the different instruments and is always eager to learn about and listen to bands that feature female rock stars.
The First Storm
One of our first night on the farm included one of the nastiest storms in our lives. All are safe and damage is minimal. But , WOW, we love witnessing the power of Mother Nature.
Crane Alert!
When you live in a house full of craniacs, any sighting of these feathered friends is worth celebrating. Though them perusing through our neighbor’s junk pile isn’t necessarily picturesque, observing these creatures is always worth it.
Butterfly
One of the joys of creating a microprairie in your yard is being able to see the entire life cycle of the monarch butterfly up close and personal. Based on this video, I think the kids like it too.
Dance Like No One is Watching
Music can certainly bring out emotions in people. In the case of my middle child, it also brings out some unique moves. I love seeing her connect to music and watching her imaginative spirit take over when music is in the air.
Puddling
Once thing I have learned is to never underestimate the power of a puddle. No matter the age, a puddle can be very hard to resist. So remember, “there is no such thing as bad weather, just bad clothing” and go enjoy some puddling.
Turtle Watch
With it being breeding season and turtles leaving the protection of their pond, there are always reminders about making to sure to watch and stop for turtles. Oddly enough, I always want to be driving along and have the opportunity to stop and save a shelled friend form certain vehicular squishing.
Crayfish Standoff
Though catching frogs and tadpoles is always a highlight of our excursions to the pond, there’s something oddly engaging about these extraterrestrial creatures known as crayfish. They have a lot of personality in a small package.
A Treat For Us All
When we walk to our nature preserve, we occasionally see our neighborhood hawk. On this occasional trek, we saw it swoop down, fly away with meal, and enjoy the catch. It was definitely a treat for us all.
Naturalists in Training
Working as a volunteer citizen science family in our neighborhood nature preserve, we have the opportunity to watch our kids develop a love and appreciation of the natural world. Of course, they are also working on their presentation skills. :)
No Risk, No Reward
Please check out the blog posted on April 9, 2021 to hear more about this adventure.
The Music in Nature
Spring brings out so many sounds. The gentle rain. The laughter of children at play. And, in this case, the chorus of frogs (and others) at a pond. Enjoy the concert!
Citizen Science
My three children have become quite popular through the videos I have shared via social media so I thought they would be great ambassadors of, play, nature exploration, and the world of wonder.
Sandhill Serenade
Once 2021 began, I’ve been determined to get back into running. I’ve run half-marathons before but always wanted to give a full 26.2 miles a shot. My training has gone well so far, but running in winter isn’t always the most glamorous. As spring approaches, I knew my early morning training sessions would not only be a little more sunny, but include more of my nature friends. On this day, I found some recently returned friends.
Nature Play
The sights and sound of nature play never get old to me. The joys of disovery and endless exuberance recharge my classroom and restore my faith in humanity. Taking the time to play heals all.
Who’s Crazy Now?
Going outside with kids isn’t crazy. In fact, I think it’s even more crazy not to.