Outdoor Hour Challenge: Autumn Series-Cattails

And he wandered away and away, with Nature the dear old nurse, Who sang to him night and day, the rhymes of the universe. And when the way seemed long, and his heart began to fail, She sang a more wonderful song, or told a more wonderful tale.
~~Longfellow's poem to Agassiz from Handbook of Nature Study by Anna Botsford Comstock

Today, we joined in with Barb-Harmony Art Mom over at Handbook of Nature Study for the first Autumn Series Outdoor Hour Challenge: Cattails. Our "challenge" was to:

Spend your outdoor time looking for cattails and then observing them to record their appearance at this time of the year. You will be revisiting this spot in every season to record your observations and to note the changes that take place from season to season. If your child does not want to sketch the cattail, bring along a camera to have them record the appearance with a photo. Remember the things you read about in the Handbook of Nature Study and see if you can complete the Cattails Seasonal Nature Study notebook page with lots of details. Also, look for other living creatures that might make their home in the cattails or that might visit there if you are still and quiet.

We decided we would probably be able to find cattails at the Piney Orchard Nature Preserve. We had been there before geocaching, so we were somewhat familiar with the area. Plus it is only minutes from our house.

First things first: a little exploration as soon as we get out of the van!

Walking along the path, Seany finds a patch of little daisies.

Ev gets a "towboy"(piggy-back ride)!

EW! Don't touch it!

Joz spots some fungi...

...while B-Rad reads about the Sweetgum Trees.

Is this a cattail? Let's keep looking...

...but first, let's stop for our picnic lunch!

On the menu: ham and cheese triangles, hard-boiled eggs, Tang, and, thanks to Joz...
Alice's Parmesan Herb Bread from her cookbook: Tea and Cake with the Saints by Alice Cantrell.

Rayzor enjoys his lunch on the park bench...

Lunch is over! Time to throw rocks in the pond...

CATTAILS!

The little boys colored their pages while the big kids sketched their cattails...

On the way out, we enjoyed looking at the Black-Eyed Susans: Maryland's state flower! And here are the finished pages:

Joz: "Murky and wetish and muddy underneath. Tall, tall leaves. Small puddles underneath."

B-Rad: "Brown, Big, looks like a hot dog on a stick."

Rayzor: "Long and Narrow. Large flower spike."

The Simple Woman's Daybook ~ 9/28/09

FOR TODAY 9/28/09...

Outside my window...
Morning has begun. 51 degrees and sunny with a high of 76!

I am thinking...
how I will continually and constantly be on guard for my children.

I am thankful for...
God wrapping His loving arms around my children in times of distress and disaster.

From the learning rooms...
Monday is a fresh start! We visited a wonderful family on Saturday and their children use a curriculum called Mother of Divine Grace Homeschool. I was thinking of using it for Rayzor to add a little more structure to our school day. What do you think?

From the kitchen...
We did a lot of cooking (yes, I did, too!), marinating, and meal planning yesterday. I cooked 2 chickens (one will be for chicken noodle soup, another for chicken pot pie). Ryan marinated flank steaks. And we are planning on making an apple cake today!

I am creating...
a constant safe and loving home.

I am going...
to Bible Study tonight.

I am reading...
Not reading, too tired.

I am hoping...
that we get some info on our potential new house soon!

I am hearing...
morning noises: good mornings, breakfasts and bottles!

Around the house...
Chores, School, Eat, repeat...

One of my favorite things...
support and prayer from our fellow homeschooling friends!

A few plans for the rest of the week:
Bible study tonight, Mass Wed. morning, CCD and CHA Cafe Wed. evening, soccer practice Thurs. evening, visiting Pop in Colderland on Friday and the MD Geocaching Fall Picnic at Rocky Gap State Park on Saturday, 10th Anniversary celebrations at CHA on Sunday: 1 Mass at 10 am, Blaze Amazing Race 11:30-2, Feast of 10 Tables 3-6.

Here is picture for thought I am sharing...
Go check out more at The Simple Woman's Daybook!

12

Dear Rayzor,

Happy 12th Birthday! You've been waiting for this day for such a long time and it is finally here!!! I remember being 12 years old, and I remember 12 year old boys, too. None are like you! You are so kind, considerate, helpful, sweet, smart, strong, and handsome. You are so much like your Daddy, and, from what I hear, he also had the same characteristics when he was a boy (and he still does). We are so proud of you each and every day and we know God has big plans for you. You are loved by so many. We love you!!!

I wish I could post your baby pictures...you were so cute! But you were born before digital cameras were the norm. So here are a few pictures when you were younger!

St Pio of Pietrelcina

He was born in the small village of Pietrelcina in southern Italy, and joined the Capuchin friars at the age of 16. He became a priest seven years later, and spent fifty years at the monastery of San Giovanni Rotondo, where he was very much sought after as a spiritual advisor, confessor, and intercessor. Many miracles were popularly ascribed to him during his lifetime. He died a few days after the fiftieth anniversary of his receiving the stigmata, and over 100,000 people attended his funeral.

For wonderful coloring pages and a personal miracle story, visit Charlotte's blog!

H/T: Universalis

One is fun

Today our baby is 1. I remember his birthday like it was a year ago...Once he was ready, *ahem*, he was born quickly, and he fit himself into our crew just as quickly.

Dear Benny,
You are 1 today...hooray! You are such an important part of our family. You are ALL BOY, and are happy crawling and cruising, playing ball, and playing with your brothers and sisters. You make us smile and we all love you very, very much. Happy Birthday! We love you!

Small Successes ~ 9/17/09

1. We are on week 2 of our new and improved schedule, thanks again to Managers of Their Homes by Steven and Teri Maxwell. I have been getting up around 5 am (except when little boys are interrupting my sleep at night), putting together Ryan's lunch and making his breakfast (to go, of course), drinking coffee, showering and getting dressed, prayers, and tidying up. J gets up around 7 and is in charge of prepping breakfast at 8. R and B wake up at 7:30 to begin their day. R starts school at 8:30, J at 9, and B at 10. One of these days I will write a post describing our entire day, which is very flexible. I have my timer that beeps on the half hour, so everyone knows then to check their schedule to see what they are supposed to be doing.

2. We have been making progress in our house hunting adventure. Early this week we had put a contract on a house, and it was finally rejected by the sellers. The whole process is extremely stressful. The ups and downs are very trying. The only thing I hope and pray for is that we are doing what is God's will and that He will guide us through this process.

3. I was very pleased to begin a Bible study class on Monday nights this past week. It is being taught by a friend from Church, and the best part is that 2 of my aunts (J and M!) will also be taking the class as well!

Go check out more Small Successes at Faith & Family Live!

He "ROCKED" himself to sleep

J's turn to be a star!

Soccer Stars!

Last Saturday was the girls first soccer games. B played first so she got most of the pics, but we will get more of J this Saturday.

E is 2 (belated)

My little guy E turned 2 last month, but we've been away the past couple of week-ends and I haven't gotten around to writing his birthday post, so here goes:

Dear E,

You are 2 now, yeah! You are such an important member of our family because you always make us laugh. Learning to talk is tough and we think you are doing a great job! It's OK to be shy, we know that you are our love. You were my only "all natural" baby, and I have such good memories of your birthday! You are becoming such a big boy, and we all love you so much! Happy Birthday!

Hungry?

Here are a few recipes we have tried over the past few weeks, now you try:


Pico de Gallo



Grilled Chicken Kebabs





Homemade donuts with ice cream and chocolate ganache



Gazpacho


Asian Noodle Salad


Homemade Pasta


with Bolognese Sauce


and Beautiful Bread