GBBC 2013 Bird Lovers

Red Tailed Hawk

THE Great Back Yard Bird Count (GBBC) Is Back and bigger than ever. It has gone global. For those of you who have no idea what I am talking about the Audbone Socity has teemed up with the Corneal Lab of Ornotholgy to do a bird study that is now world wide.

Female Ruby Throated Hummingbird

We did our first bird count in 2003 when Alex was 5, sitting on the kitchen counter (my birdfeeder was right outside that window then) eating cheese sandwiches.  I thought it was going to be hard counting and entering in the data on-line.  But it was easy and so much fun. 





                                                                     Male Eastern Bluebirds



In all the years we have been doing the count I have yet to purchase a field guide.  I found I could get far more information than I could afford, by just going to my library and taking home 4 or 5 different field guides, and spend my money on more bird feed.

 

My Christmas gift to the birds

 This wound up being a great way to have fun, do some nature science and enjoy the lovely winged creatures we share our home with. I know this sounds and looks like an infomertian but there is no way I can earn off something that is free.  We just enjoy it so much I have to share this every year. 

Click on Owl to go to the GBBC



Ant Farm On The Cheap

We are doing a little science project that should be a whole lotta fun...ANT FARM!

But when I went online to order my mouth dropped open and all the cash in my wallet started to disinigrate!
First stop: Carolina
Ant farm kit: With ants, poster, booklet and plastic farm thingy was $26.95 OK not too bad.
Freight and Handleing: $19.95
Tax: $3.28
This put my total at $50.18! OMG for a plastic ant farm are they crazy!

OK, being a frugal Mom I started shopping around.
Next Stop: Uncle Miltons
Plastic farm thingy: $14.99 that's much better
The ants were separate: $6.00
Still around $20.
Then the shipping and handling was $15.00
There went my total to $35.99
Still allot for some ants and a plastic container.

I knew I could still do better, and I remembered that Hobby Lobby carries science kits and had a 40% off coupon I could print off.

Armed with my coupon I bought the Uncle Miltons farm for $9.00 (original price)
When I got home and opened the box I found a coupon code inside for the ants from the same Uncle Miltons I went to earlier.  All I had to pay was the $5.00 shipping charge.

In total I paid $14.00  CHA CHING!
 

Special Books

Grandfather Twilight
By: Barbara Berger

Yes, this book is as dreamy as it looks. This is the ultimate Bedtime story for kids and adults. You don't even really need the story line, though it is delicious. The illustrations will send you drifting off as Grandfather Twilight cary's you to dream land with his magic pearl. Every child deserves this to be read to them at bedtime, and every parent deserves to read it to them.

Moon Phases Grade 1 and 6

One glorious thing about homeschooling is when you can combine the grades into one lesson. Trinity grade 1 and Alex grade 6 started studying the moon at the same time.

I found a great book to help Trinity with this...FACES OF THE MOON

It separated the phases and gave a picture of each and it even had a tab index along the right side with picture of the moon.

Trinity Cut out black and white paper in the phases and I wrote the phases on each...

And we hung it in the school room above the door...

Alex had to dig a little deeper we found quite a bit of information on the Internet to help us with his Moon Calendar.
Moon Phases StarDate Online Here you can get a Month by Month Phase
Judaism 101: Current Calendar Here you can get the name of the Moon Calendar and their time periods.
Examiner Actually gave the round calendar

And here is Alex's round moon Calendar for January and February. It is hanging on the opposite end of the school room.
 

Map Making for Schooling 6th Grade

My artistic Son (also know as Sun because of all the light he brings to us) has been enjoying studying Ancient Civilizations. He started his map that he will be adding too. This is part of his sixth grade curriculum.

He got out the ruler and found the perfect little round lid and along with a black sharpie he created a awesome compass rose.

I can't wait to see what else he will be adding.

Process Gnome Patterns

I had been looking for a pattern for some Process Gnome Bean Bag Patterns and couldn't find any so I made my own up and am sharing them here.

PROCESS GNOME PATTERN

1. I made a pattern that I liked the round squiggly circle is the beard (I thought of that after I sewed the face on)

2. I cut out two body's for each color and one face and one beard.

3. I sewed the face on each using a blanket stitch.

4. I then did french knots for the eyes and a pink V for the mouth. Then I sewed the beard on.
5. I sew the Process symbol on the belly (put the wrong process on the wrong color, UGH!) But it still works.
6. I sewed around the edge using a blanket stitch leaving one leg open to stuff with beans, then sewed it shut.

 

If you make some please send me your photo to link and post.

Camping School Room

Often I am asked, "How do you Home School while Camping"


And I Answer, "You build your own School House of course"

This is a Canopy that has walls and screen walls.

With lots of bars and cross bars to attach signs...

And Stars...

Our School Arms (Trinity Made this)....

We have an Owls Nest...

Pumpkins and Witches...

And little people getting ready for Halloween.

We keep our school supplies in plastic bins. And pencils, scissors and what nots on the table in baskets. As the seasons change and our School House changes I will post photos. Maybe I will have better lighting then. Our wish list for our School House is a chalk board, carpet and a good heater.

Mama Pride Shelf

This shelf rest above my kitchen sink and proudly displays my children's work. At first I didn't know what to do with all these lovely objects.
The kids and I were very excited when we found a community center near by that offered such wonderful classes as pottery, yoga, drama, art, piano and much more. They even have an adult pottery class, I sit in envy knitting as I wait for my children...the ladies trickle in coffee in one hand, work bag in the other. As they gather in the room down the hall I hear them admiring a piece someone has brought in. Maybe this fall I will be able to join in. Though I do sit with my own coffee finishing up some hand made treat for someone I love. And I know I have my shelf of color made just for me.

Sorry this photo is a little dark...it was an overcast day filled with much needed rain.

How To Make Your Own Bubbles

The kids and I made our own bubble solution out of Dawn dish soap, corn syrup and water. As you can see from the photo, we made allot. We also mad our own blowing devices out of cups, straws and really anything that had a hole in it from the kitchen.


Bubble Recipe
2 Cups Dawn (regular no ultra)
3/4 Cup Corn Syrup
6 Cups of water

Let this sit overnight and you are ready for a bubble extravaganza the next day. And its a great photo opportunity as well.

The Great Back Yard Bird Count is soon

Two Male Blue Birds

I wanted to share once again a special moment in our lives...the kids and I do the Great Back Yard Bird Count (GBBC) Every Year this time of year.

Male Cardinal

I am taken back to sitting on the counter eating cheese sandwiches and drinking lemon-aid with my son who is 11 now but 3 at the time.

Female Downy Woodpecker

We have since moved the feeders to a precise location...when I say precises I mean it is situated so that I may view it from my chair in the living room and my chair at the dinner table. The curtain is usually down so I can see our visitors.

Flock of Junco's

We have made our usual preparations; the table is move up against the window by the feeders. Extra special feeders are made...pine cone, log and suit. Sugar water is prepared in case the humming birds want to join in. Books on Identifying birds are placed on the table along with pencils, crayons, note pads, binoculars, cameras and drawing paper just in case someone gets an inkling to draw a picture.

Male American Goldfinch and Male Downy Woodpecker

We always say "We are Having Lunch with the birds" and we eat nuts and berries in homage to our feathered friends. But enjoy our cheese sandwiches and lemon-aid after.

Male Red tail Hawk

Alex can identify all the birds on this page as well as several more and can even tell the sex on some. Trinity is getting along well with it too. If you would like to join in on the fun click on the link above below or on my side bar. It is quite simple...they give very good instructions and its a super Home School project on many levels of learning.

GBBC

Mother Nature and her little root children

This lovely book by Sibylle Von Olfers is one of my all time favorites. In a few weeks my Seasonal Table will be handed over to Mother Nature and her little root children.

Bird Count 2011

Here is a run down of some of the birds we spotted on our bird count for the GBBC

Thrasher

Blue Jay

Making Pine Cone Bird feeders

Alex mixing suit

Lucky posing for a photo

A White-Breasted Nuthatch

Caspian sitting by the bird food...here...birdie...birdie

Alex hiding out in the fort hoping the birds wont spot him

A Red Bellied Woodpecker (our biggest visitor)

A Brown-Headed Nuthatch