Learning about Geography through Food - Maine

During this school year, Sophia and Olivia will be learning about 13 of the 50 states in the United States. (Over the balance of the next two school years, they will study about the remaining 37 states.)

Using the multi-disciplinary Cantering the Country curriculum, one of the ways the girls are learning about each state is through making and trying food representative of each state.

The first state they focused on was Maine. The recipes provided in Eat Your Way Through the U.S.A. included: Lobster Casserole with Water Chestnut and Bacon; Roasted Asparagus; and Blueberry Pie.

The latter two recipes were delicious while the first one we knew as we were making it that it wouldn't be one we would enjoy eating. So, we'll start from the least favorite recipe and end with the favorite one from Maine.

Lobster

Apparently early settlers in Maine actually got tired of eating lobster, according to the recipe book. It also stated that 90% of the lobster consumed in the U.S. is supplied by Maine.

Lobster Casserole with Water Chestnuts and Bacon.

None of us could eat this recipe.

Even while making it, it did not smell appetizing.

Thankfully, this recipe did not require cooking a lobster at home. In fact, the meat used for the recipe had a tiny bit of lobster mixed with white fish. (It's amazing how expensive lobster is - whether we were in Maine or Minnesota.)

Asparagus

Things turned around with the asparagus. We oven-roasted the asparagus with olive oil and then sprinkled a combination of salt, pepper, and sugar over it. It was an interesting sweet-salty topping which gave the asparagus a different flavor (we normally use only salt and pepper).

Roasted Asparagus was something that Sophia and I enjoyed.

Olivia tried it, but didn't care for it.

Photo Source

Asparagus is a puzzling vegetable choice for Maine, though. It's not one of the top vegetables that Maine produces. In fact, Michigan and California are the top U.S. producers for asparagus. 

A better vegetable choice could have been fall potatoes since Maine is eighth producer in the nation. Nonetheless, it was a treat to have the roasted asparagus.

Blueberries

Maine is the largest grower of wild blueberries in the world.  It has over 60,000 acres of wild blueberries that "grow naturally in fields and barrens that stretch along the Downeast coast to the state’s southwest corner" according to the University of Maine.

According to the University of Maine, "Wild blueberries hold a special place in Maine’s agricultural history — one that goes back centuries to Maine’s Native Americans. Native Americans were the first to use the tiny blue berries, both fresh and dried, for their flavor, nutrition and healing qualities but it was not until the 1840′s that wild blueberries were first harvested commercially."

Using the recipe in the Eat Your Way Through the U.S.A. cookbook, we made Blueberry Pie. The pie crust was made from my grandma's recipe (she was a baker).

 The Blueberry Pie was, by far, the favorite recipe for Maine.

We used recipes that we picked during the summer.

New Window Stars...and Looking to the Future

I've been working on a few items for my shop, Harvest Moon by Hand recently. One of the items that I created was a new window star in shades of deep blue and emerald green.

New window star that was created this weekend.

By cutting the paper in a different size than what I've used in the past for this particular pattern, I was able to come up with a new pattern.

I like how a simple variation in the size of the paper

can result in a completely new look for the window star.

I enjoy trying different sizes of paper and patterns to see what new window stars will be produced. Despite trying to create new stars, it's always fun to revisit patterns as well as familiar colors.

Holding the star up to the light to see its pattern.

The red window star (above) reminds me of the beautiful maple trees and sumacs that are covered with their brilliant fall foliage.

As the leaves fall to the ground, it is a reminer that autumn will be soon behind us and the Christmas season right around the corner.

This is the busiest time of the year, but also one filled with tradition, family, and wonderful memories.

52 Weeks of Giving - Set Up and Decorate a Nursing Home Room - Week 40

During the 40th week of the 52 Weeks of Giving program that Sophia and Olivia are doing this year, they helped decorate their grandfather's new room at the nursing home.

My dad (their grandfather) is in the very late stages of Alzheimer's Disease. His care now has exceeded what my mother, PCAs, and home health care aides can provide at home.

Because of the progression of the disease, we chose a nursing home (which apparently is now called a care center - I'm not sure when the terminology changed) that will meet his needs - physical, emotional, and spiritual.

The information about the care center said that it "...is a recognized leader in this compassionate and specialized method of care for the chronically and terminally ill. Similar to hospice, palliative care is provided to improve the quality of life at a time when the resident’s disease is not responsive to curative treatment. The difference is, hospice is available during the last few months of life and palliative care can begin anytime after diagnosis.

"The focus of Palliative Care is to control the pain and symptoms of a disease while meeting each resident’s physical, emotional, spiritual, social and cultural needs. Caregivers are certified practitioners of palliative care and work as a team to provide for residents and their families. Even the environment — colors, sounds and smells — are designed to gently soothe and comfort."

This seemed like a good fit with what we would want for my dad/the girls' grandfather. Fortunately, a private room in the palliative care unit became available during the last week in September.

So, Sophia, Olivia, my mom/the girls' grandmother, and I went to see the room and get it set up for my dad/their grandfather's arrival on Monday (October 3rd).

Sophia hung a black-capped chickadee figure

from the light near her grandfather's bed.

The girls helped fold clothes and put them in drawers; put clothes on hangers and hang them up in the closet; decorate the walls and bulletin board; open packages of items (e.g., kleenex) and place them around the room; and put books and knick knacks on the bookshelf and by the window.

Olivia placing a box of Kleenex by the sink.

From the first look at the room with only a nightstand and bed (with only a blanket and sheet) to a room that reflected their grandfather's interests and had reminders of his home and what he did during his life, Sophia and Olivia created a more welcoming and comforting room to help him with this major transition in his life.

The room after the girls decorated it

for their grandfather.

Black Stallion Challenged - 52 Books in 52 Weeks - Week 37

For Week 37 of the 52 Books in 52 Weeks challenge, I am reading Black Stallion Challenged by Walter Farley aloud to Olivia.

Olivia and I have enjoyed reading a couple of books in the Black Stallion series so far (The Black Stallion and The Black Stallion's Ghost). She picked Black Stallion Challenged as the next book she wanted read to her.

The book focuses on The Black who is known as the fastest horse in the United States. Alec Ramsay (The Black's jockey) and The Black are preparing for a big race in Florida over the winter.

One day, Alec receives a letter from Steve Duncan (another jockey), who challenges his horse (Flame) against Alec's champion stallion. He believes that Flame is of equal speed and riding capabilities as The Black.

Although Steve and Alec have never met, the two young men are unaware that their stallions have met. The horses' despise for each other turns into focused rivalry as the two race to see who is the greater stallion.

I'm in the process of reading this book, and it is of the same caliber as other books written by Walter Farley. The language is challenging and engaging; and makes it difficult to put the book down when Olivia and I need to take a break for bed time or a meal.

Walter Farley's use of language and images makes the reader feel like s/he has been transported right into the action. Black Stallion Challenged is an appropriate and well-written book that both adults and children can enjoy together. For an 8-year old, I'm happy that she has such an interest in this series as well as a good comprehension of the story.

All Sail Set - 52 Books in 52 Weeks - Week 36

For Week 36 of the 52 Books in 52 Weeks challenge, I am reading All Sail Set by Armstrong Sperry. This is one of the books that I am reading aloud to Sophia as part of her history curriculum. (I'm following the book recommendations of Sonlight, even though I didn't purchase the curriculum this year.)

This historical fiction book centers around Enoch Thacher, a young boy who is fascinated with the sea and ships. His friend is an old captain, Messina Clarke, who teaches him the ways of the sea and tells him stories of when he was a young man and sailed the world.

Enoch enjoys being in East Boston because ships are built, docked, and sailed from this location. (As a side note, we have enjoyed reading names of places throughout New England where we visited last month. Each time we come across a place we visited, it brings back wonderful memories of our trip and gives us a mental image of where the book is set.)

Enoch's father, who lost his fortune at sea, suddenly dies. Enoch must find work support his mother and turns to Donald McKay who is a famous and well-respected clipper ship designer. He also was a friend of his father which provides a "way in" to see McKay.

McKay takes Enoch under his wing as he lofts, builds, and rigs the Flying Cloud. The Flying Cloud is a great clipper that takes its maiden, record-breaking trip around the Horn. The book accounts the journey of the sailors on board the Flying Cloud during the 1800s.

At this point, the book is okay...it hasn't yet captured our attention. There are a lot of nautical and ship terminology that we are simply not familiar with which makes it a bit of a challenge to read. However, perhaps once they are sailing on the Flying Cloud and it moves beyond the building of the ship, the book will pick up. Or not. We'll see what All Sail Set holds for us.

Lost and Found - 52 Books in 52 Weeks - Week 35

I'm doing some catching up now with the 52 Books in 52 Weeks challenge. For Week 35, I read Lost and Found by Carolyn Parkhurst.

What intrigued me about this book was the premise that teams of people came together to play a daring new reality television show called "Lost and Found."

The teams traveled around the globe as they deciphered encrypted clues, recovered mysterious artifacts, and outwitted their opponents to stay in the game. After each round, one team was eliminated until the winning team was revealed and awarded the million-dollar prize.

The story not only focuses on the contest itself and the process to determine the winning team, but it gave an "insider's view" of each character - his/her strengths, weaknesses, and problems.

The teams include a suburban mother and her troubled daughter; two recently-divorced brothers; a pair of former child stars; born-again Christian newlyweds; and two young millionaires. Some of the characters appeared to have lives that others would envy, while others faced some significant personal challenges.

The reality was that each one came to the game with his/her own set of problems that were hidden from others initially, but slowly were revealed throughout the game. Sometimes, this was done by the contestent on his/her own terms and at his/her own pace.

Other times, situations were set up to tempt and manipulate other contestents...potentially destroying their lives and relationships. Some could withstand those temptations, while others were unable. Some partners found that simply playing the game tested their relationship - causing strain in some and others to completely unravel.

Ultimately, the question became - is the million-dollar prize worth the game and the challenges put forth? Where is the line between valuing money and tangible objects versus valuing your family and people for whom you care.

This book did hold my attention, particularly towards the end as each character became more complex and his/her past and current choices revealed. It was like reading individual character studies (some were more engaging than others) that collectively played off of one another. Lost and Found provided a good diversion to my days that I needed.

Poet and Poetry Study - Robert Louis Stevenson

This year for homeschooling I am having the girls do poet and poetry studies. Every six weeks, Sophia and Olivia will learn about a new poet and read six of her/his poems (one poem per week).

The first poet we focused on was Robert Louis Stevenson. We used A Child's Garden of Verses which is illustrated by Tasha Tudor - one of my favorite childbook illustrators. Many of her illustrations includes images of corgi dogs (the kind of dog I had when I was growing up).

The poems I selected for the girls reflected their interests or things they enjoy doing. The first poem was "A Good Play." I thought the girls would enjoy it because it shows the rather elaborate and creative "sets" the poet created with his friend when they played...just like the girls have done when they play.

We built a ship upon the stairs
All made of the back-bedroom chairs,
And filled it full of soft pillows
To go a-sailing on the billows.


We took a saw and several nails,
And water in the nursery pails;
And Tom said, "Let us also take
An apple and a slice of cake;"--
Which was enough for Tom and me
To go a-sailing on, till tea.


We sailed along for days and days,
And had the very best of plays;
But Tom fell out and hurt his knee,
So there was no one left but me.

The next week I read "My Shadow." I chose this one because it reflected the poet's active imagination and creative thoughts with something so simple: his shadow.

Both Sophia and Olivia have great imaginations and enjoy creative play. They both liked this poem and the picture of the poet as a boy with his nurse and corgi looking on as he made a shadow picture on the wall by his bed.

I have a little shadow that goes in and out with me,
And what can be the use of him is more than I can see.
He is very, very like me from the heels up to the head;
And I see him jump before me, when I jump into my bed.

The funniest thing about him is the way he likes to grow—
Not at all like proper children, which is always very slow;
For he sometimes shoots up taller like an india-rubber ball,
And he sometimes gets so little that there's none of him at all.


He hasn't got a notion of how children ought to play,
And can only make a fool of me in every sort of way.
He stays so close beside me, he's a coward you can see;
I'd think shame to stick to nursie as that shadow sticks to me!


One morning, very early, before the sun was up,
I rose and found the shining dew on every buttercup;
But my lazy little shadow, like an errant sleepy-head,
Had stayed at home behind me and was fast asleep in bed.

During the third week of homeschooling, I read "The Wind." I thought of the many times it was windy when we walked the dogs, did nature studies, or played in the backyard.

We also have seen the power of wind in some rather scary storms (on the edge of a tornado, lightening/thunderstorms, and even blizzards where we couldn't see to the end of the driveway).

I saw you toss the kites on high
And blow the birds about the sky;
And all around I heard you pass,
Like ladies' skirts across the grass—
O wind, a-blowing all day long,
O wind, that sings so loud a song!


I saw the different things you did,
But always you yourself you hid.
I felt you push, I heard you call,
I could not see yourself at all—
O wind, a-blowing all day long,
O wind, that sings so loud a song!


O you that are so strong and cold,
O blower, are you young or old?
Are you a beast of field and tree,
Or just a stronger child than me?
O wind, a-blowing all day long,
O wind, that sings so loud a song!

Living in the country, we see cows all the time. This poem, called "The Cow," is a reminder of living in an agricultural area, and the simple things that make life so memorable.

The friendly cow all red and white,
I love with all my heart:
She gives me cream with all her might,
To eat with apple-tart.


She wanders lowing here and there,
And yet she cannot stray,
All in the pleasant open air,
The pleasant light of day;


And blown by all the winds that pass
And wet with all the showers,
She walks among the meadow grass
And eats the meadow flowers.

During the fifth week, I read "The Swing" to Sophia and Olivia. They enjoy swinging in the backyard, and have so since they were very young.

How do you like to go up in a swing,
Up in the air so blue?
Oh, I do think it the pleasantest thing
Ever a child can do!


Up in the air and over the wall,
Till I can see so wide,
River and trees and cattle and all
Over the countryside--


Till I look down on the garden green,
Down on the roof so brown--
Up in the air I go flying again,
Up in the air and down!

The last poem that I read to the girls by Robert Louis Stevenson is called "Nest Eggs." I chose this poem since it focuses on birds and nature - two things that we enjoy watching and learning more about here at the farm.

Birds all the sunny day
Flutter and quarrel
Here in the arbour-like
Tent of the laurel.


Here in the fork
The brown nest is seated;
For little blue eggs
The mother keeps heated.


While we stand watching her
Staring like gabies,
Safe in each egg are the
Bird's little babies.


Soon the frail eggs they shall
Chip, and upspringing
Make all the April woods
Merry with singing.


Younger than we are,
O children, and frailer,
Soon in the blue air they'll be,
Singer and sailor.


We, so much older,
Taller and stronger,
We shall look down on the
Birdies no longer.


They shall go flying
With musical speeches
High overhead in the
Tops of the beeches.


In spite of our wisdom
And sensible talking,
We on our feet must go
Plodding and walking.


Robert Louis Stevenson was a poet, novelist, essayist, and storyteller. He was born in 1850 in Edinburgh, Scotland, and later immigrated to the United States.

He was a ceaseless traveler who searched for a cure for his tuberculosis. Because he was often confined to his room with illness, Robert Louis Stevenson amused himself by setting down memories of his childhood. The poems recalled in rich detail his love of picture books, swings, boats, and the gardens he explored with his nanny.

A Child's Garden of Verses was published in 1885, and dedicated to Alison Cunningham, the beloved nurse of his childhood.

52 Weeks of Giving - Color Pictures for a Grandparent - Week 39

For the 39th week in the 52 Weeks of Giving challenge that Sophia and Olivia are doing, they each colored two pictures for their grandfather who is transitioning from living at home to a nursing home (a.k.a. a care center). He has Alzheimer's Disease, and (unfortunately) his needs have far exceeded what can be provided at home.

So, this week Olivia colored a picture of a blue jay and another of St. Francis (a saint who my father/her grandfather enjoyed learning about). Sophia colored a picture of a bouquet of flowers and a nature scene.

They glued the pictures onto colorful paper which gave each picture a frame.

Three of the pictures that the girls colored

are shown here in their grandfather's new room.

One picture is on the bulletin board and

the other two are over the head of the bed.

White Pine Tree - Outdoor Nature Hour Challenge #32

As the girls study about each of the states in the United States for their multi-year, multi-disciplinary unit study, a component that we all enjoy is studying about nature.

The Handbook of Nature Study blog has many Outdoor Hour Challenges for homeschooling families including one for pine trees.

We've been learning about Maine this month and its state symbols (e.g., bird, tree, flower, rock/gem). Today, we took a look at Maine's state tree and flower which is the Eastern white pine cone and tassel.

The girls listened to some facts about white pine trees from in The Handbook of Nature Study by Anna Botsford Comstock. The following facts are paraphrased from the book:

----->> The white pine can grow 100-200 feet and live to be 200-300 years old.

The girls by one of the white pines in the backyard.

Notice how some of the pine needs are changing colors.

The yellow/brown ones will drop and

the green ones will remain during the winter.

----->> All cone-bearing trees have a central stem from which the branches come off in whorls.

----->> The white pine has five branches in each whorl.

White pine needles in the autumn.

----->> The very tip of the central stem is called "the leader" which leads the growth of the tree.

----->> The bark on young white pines is smooth. On older trees the bark has ridges that are broad, flat, and scaly.

The bark near the base of the white pine tree looked like this.

Further up the tree, the bark was smooth.

----->> The needles on the white pine tree are soft and pliable.

----->> Pine cones require 2-4 years to mature.

----->> The seeds are winged and are developed in cones.

----->> The foliage is evergreen, but is shed gradually.

Raindrops on pine needles.

It was raining when we went on our nature walk.

- The girls colored a picture of the white pine cone and tassel in their book called State Birds and Flowers Coloring Book by Annika Bernhard.

Sophia's picture of the white pine cone and tassel

as well as Maine's state bird (the black-capped chickadee).

The description below said the flowers (without petals, as in all confiers) are yellow (male) and pink (female); and appear in the spring. The female flower turns into the cone.

Pine blossom in the spring.

This was on one of the white pine trees in the backyard.

The "tassels" are the delicate-looking clusters of needles which emerge in groups of five.

- The girls colored pages in their book United States Coloring Book by Rod and Staff Publishers. Each two-page spread shows the state they are studying about as well as some highlights and facts about the state. The state bird is included with each illustration.

Sophia's colored picture of Maine.

Each two-page spread about a state includes

a picture of the state tree, flower, and bird.

- Since we had studied white pine trees in February 2011, we did not do another nature journal entry.

Sophia's journal entry about white pine trees

from February 2011.

- Since they didn't do journal entries, they did fact sheets about white pine trees instead. This is from Considering God's Creation which came with the "Cantering the Country" curriculum bundle.

Olivia's fact sheet about the white pine tree.

Olivia's sheet with pressed pine needles.

Sophia's tactile page about white pine trees.
She included green and yellow/brown pine needles
as well as pieces of a pinecone.

The next tree that we'll be studying is the white birch which is New Hampshire's state tree.

Woolly Bears & Isabella Tiger Moths - Outdoor Hour Challenge #23

On the Handbook of Nature Study blog there's an Outdoor Hour Challenge that is focused on insects...specifically moths.

Although we're not that fascinated with moths, we are noticing quite a few woolly bear caterpillars in the east pasture which the girls enjoy seeing. They seem to either be rolled into balls, basking in the sun, or quickly crawling to a new location.

In the book Handbook of Nature Study by Ann a Botsford Comstock, there were some interesting facts about Woolly Bear and Isabella Tiger Moths:

----->> If "woolly bear" caterpillars are already curled up for winter, they will "come to" if warmed in the hand or in the sunshine.

Woolly bear caterpillar in Sophia's hand.

----->> The caterpillars vary in appearance with a 5-4-3 segmented pattern of black-reddish brown-black; or 4-6-2 pattern of black-reddish brown-black.

----->> There are actually 13 segments to the caterpillar, but the last two appear joined so it looks like there are 12 segments (not including the head).

Some of the segments and rosettes of hair

on a woolly bear caterpillar.

----->> There are tubercles on each side of the segment and little rosettes of hair emerge from them.

----->> The yellow spot on either side of the first segment is a spiracle. It's the opening leading int othe air tubes within the body, around which the blood flowers and is thus purified.

The yellow spots were visible when we were looking at them.

They aren't quite so obvious in the picture,

but they are on the right side of the picture/caterpillar.

----->> The woolly bear's head is black and the antennae are two tiny, yellow projections.

----->> The eyes are too small to be seen. Because the eyes are so small, the woolly bear can't see very far so it stretches its body from side to side so it can see if there's anything it can cling to as it moves.

----->> When we try to hold the woolly bear, it rolls up in a little ball. The hairs are a protection from the attacks of birds which do not like bristles for food.

Sophia and Olivia holding caterpillars

that are rolled into balls.

----->> The caterpillar feeds upon many plants: grass, clover, dandelion, and others. It doesn't eat much in autumn since it is fully grown at that point.

Much of the east pasture/nature trail is goldenrod, grass,

clover, and these white daisy-type flowers

(a plant that has seemed to increase substantially

from last year to this year).

----->> Woolly bears hibernate over the winter. Bringing them indoors where it's warm to keep and observe them will prove fatal.

----->> The cocoon is made in April and May, and appears to be made of felt. The moth emerges in late May and is quite large compared to the caterpillar that went into it.

----->> The moths are night fliers.

The girls were interested in seeing how long the caterpillar were.  Most seemed to be about one inch long.

Measuring a caterpillar.

They were all about an inch long.

This year there have been an abundance of the woolly bears in the east pasture/nature trail area. We noticed there were none in the west pasture. Not sure why there would be so many compared in one area compared to another. Nonetheless, it will be interesting to see if there are more of the moths in the late-spring and early-summer in 2012.

Black-Capped Chickadees - Outdoor Hour Challenge #7 - Black and White Birds

Over the upcoming three years, the girls will be learning about each state in the United States. I'm using "Cantering the Country" as a framework for this multi-disciplinary study.

As part of learning about each state, we are going to learn about the state bird, tree, and rock. Some states also have a state animal and insect.

Rather than just learn the names of these items (which the book offers), we're doing a nature study connected with each one of them. I'm using the Handbook of Nature Study blog which has the Outdoor Hour Challenges for homeschooling families.

The first state we studied this year was Maine. Maine's state bird is the black-capped chickadee.

Black-capped chickadee in the backyard.

The girls did a number of things:

- Looked at pictures of the black-capped chickadee in two books: Birds of Minnesota Field Guide by Stan Tekiela and Black-capped Chickadee by Susan M. Smith. The latter book has some beautiful pictures of the chickadee in flight and drinking from an icicle.

A couple of interesting things from the Birds of Minnesota Field Guide include:

----->> They are usually the first bird to find a new feeder.

We see chickadees quite frequently at this feeder

which is on the mudroom roof.

There's a window that is right by the feeder

so we get great, close-up views of the birds.

----->> Black-capped chickadees can be easily tamed or hand fed. (Of course, both girls want to do this!)

----->> Much of its diet comes from bird feeders.

----->> The birds need to feed each day in winter.

One year we made bird pizza.

The recipe was in a book that had variety of suet and seed mixes.

The chickadees enjoyed the special treat.

----->> They line their nests with green moss and animal fur.

----->> Chickadees are about 5" long.

- Read some interesting facts about chickadees in The Handbook of Nature Study by Anna Botsford Comstock. The following facts are paraphrased from the book:

----->> Chickadees appear in small flocks in the winter and often in company with the nuthatches.

----->> Chickadees work on the twigs and ends of the branches.

----->> They hunt insect eggs.

----->> They can be enticed to a yard or orchard beef suet.

We make suet blocks each winter and hang them in the trees.

The birds enjoy eating the suet.

Even on very cold days, they are eating from the feeders.

----->> The nest is 6-10 feet above the ground, and has about 8 eggs in the spring.

----->> In February, the chickadees' song changes to "fee-bee" in an effort to attract a female.

----->> Both males and female chickadees look the same.

- We all wrote in our nature journals about the black-capped chickadee and what we wanted to remember about this bird.

Sophia's nature journal entry about black-capped chickadees.

The 4 pennies represent how much a chickadee weighs.

My journal entry.

(I know my skill is not in drawing birds.)

- The girls colored a picture of a black-capped chickadee in their book called State Birds and Flowers Coloring Book by Annika Bernhard.

Olivia's colored picture of the black-capped chickadee.

Each page has information about the bird and flower

including the Latin names for each one.

- Did a crossword puzzle about Maine which included a reference to the black-capped chickadee.

Sophia's completed crossword puzzle.

This is from the "Cantering the Country" curriculum.

- The girls colored pages in their book United States Coloring Book by Rod and Staff Publishers. Each two-page spread shows the state they are studying about as well as some highlights and facts about the state. The state bird is included with each illustration.

The black-capped chickadee got a colorful makeover by Olivia.

Earlier this month, we traveled to see

the lighthouse that is pictured above.

- Completed a word find about birds. This is from Considering God's Creation which came with the "Cantering the Country" curriculum bundle. (I purchased reference and activity books that were included with the curriculum at the homeschool conference this past spring.)

Olivia's completed word find.

She enjoyed finding the words

and learning some new things about birds in the process.

- Doing the "Animal Detective" sheet about black-capped chickadees. This sheet also is from the Considering God's Creation book.

One of the interesting things we learned and discussed

while doing this sheet

was how air sacs and lungs work together in the breathing process.

- This nature study also reminded me that I have a variety of small cross-stitch pieces that need to be incorporated into a final product.

Black-capped chickadee in cross-stitch that I did.

It's tiny - only about 2" in both directions.

The next bird that we study is the purple finch - the state bird of New Hampshire.

As for Maine, we plan to learn about the white pine tree. The nice thing is - there are white pine trees in the backyard...one of which is Olivia's favorite tree that she's been studying since the spring.

52 Weeks of Giving - Weeks 27-38 - Helping in a Variety of Ways

The girls and I started 2011 with a 52 Weeks of Giving challenge. We were doing a good job with finding ways to give of our time or make a donation each week and documenting it on this blog...up until Week 27 (in July). We've fallen a bit behind (it's now Week 38). 

During the past 11 weeks, it's not as if we didn't do anything that related to giving or volunteering. However, I didn't actively seek out special projects or organizations since caregiving responsibilities were consuming much of my time.

I also didn't take pictures of each time we did something. It seems like giving is such an integral part of our days and weeks that we aren't thinking twice about all the ways that we give. It's just become a part of who we are and what we do.

Each week we tried to do something that went beyond ourselves. Some things we've done over the past 11 weeks include:

- donating to Retail to Refuge. This organization collects the coupons found in Sunday papers.

Donation box and information sheets

about Retail to Refuge.

Retail to Refuge clips the coupons, research sales, and shop for items - many of which end up being free. Then quarterly during the year, they schedule a drop off with a charity.

Sophia and Olivia donating coupons to Retail to Refuge.

- made desserts for grandparents so they didn't have to bake, but could enjoy homemade food.

Apple pie that the girls made for their grandparents.

They also made lemon bars and cake pops.

- donated clothing and household items to Family Pathways.

- donated a bag of food to the local food shelf.

- visited grandparents, played the piano, talked with them, and shared several meals together.

Grandparents that we visit as much as we can.

My mom has mobility, diabetes, vision, and other health issues; and

my dad is in the very late stages of Alzheimer's Disease.

- sung at two services.

Sophia and Olivia singing during one of the two services.

This was their first performance of the school year.

- helped create a display for a business window promoting 4-H and encouraging children to join.

The girls traced and cut out letters that will

be used as part of a display about 4-H that will

go in a business window during the first week of October.

As we go into fall and the holiday season, there will be many opportunities to donate time and resources. We are looking forward to different ways that we can share of ourselves to make a difference in others' lives.

52 Books in 52 Weeks - Week 34 - The Voyages of Doctor Dolittle

During August and the beginning of September, I took a bit of a break from reading a book each week as part of the 52 Books in 52 Weeks challenge.

There have been a lot of challenges with my father's and mother's health; and dealing with doctors, at-home 24/7 PCA care, and now arranging for this last stage in their life with 24/7 home health care and the eventual transfer to a nursing home. Needless to say, this has been very time consuming and has left little time for recreational reading.

So, I'm on week 34 (it's currently week 38), and there's a bit of catching up to do here. Being back in the routine of homeschooling makes it easier to incorporate reading each week.

Currently, I'm reading aloud to the girls The Voyages of Doctor Dolittle.

This is the second Newbery Award winner. Our goal is to read all the Newbery Award winners over the next few years. The version of The Voyages of Doctor Doolittle that I'm reading aloud is an edited, later version of the book. Earlier versions have some inappropriate parts and objectionable language that have been removed.

The story is told through the eyes of 10-12 year old Tommy Stubbins who is the son of a poor cobbler. He initially meets Dr. Doolittle because he has a wounded squirrel that needs medical attention.

Tommy is caught up with the new science of Natural Studies, and asks to become Dr. Doolittle's assistant. After Dr. Doolittle gets approval from Tommy's parents, Tommy embarks on a life and journey with Dr. Doolittle.

The girls have enjoyed listening to how Dr. Doolittle has created a menagerie of animals that live in his home as well as in his private, backyard zoo. Even more fascinating is that this respected naturalist can communicate with all types of animals.

Dr. Doolittle exhibits kindness, compassion, knowledge, and generosity. He freely shares his talents, time, and modest resources with others and animals.

Reading the book also led to some discussion about how times have changed since it was originally written in 1922. For example, in chapters 3 and 4, Tommy meets Dr. Doolittle by accident on the road in the rain. Dr. Doolittle brings Tommy to his home, dries his clothes by the fire, makes dinner for him, and then Tommy goes home. In this day and age, something like that simply wouldn't happen or (most likely) have a positive outcome.

There is another part of the book (a sub-theme, if you will) that challenges readers to consider if it is morally necessary to press upon a native culture another incoming and/or visiting culture. From a homeschooling perspective, this opened up another dialogue about American history.

Despite these side conversations about rather serious subjects, The Voyages of Doctor Dolittle is a light-hearted, funny book that kept the girls interested and engaged in the adventures of Tommy, Dr. Doolittle, and the doctor's devoted animal companions at home, aboard the ship, and on Spider Monkey Island.