image inspiration

 

 

 

 

I found this post that included not only an Autumn woods walk with kids but stringing found acorns.  I immediately thought of two places to go to that usually have an abundance of acorns in a couple of different sizes.  If the deer haven't eaten them or the red squirrels haven't snatched them already.  We can totally walk there in a good fifteen minutes and gather up what we need.  The drilling holes part would be more up to me and the older kids.  I will have to hit up Shaun for his tiniest drill bit because I know for sure I broke mine.  They're so delicate.  I love these!!!  Oh and the one picture in her home that shows antlers, feathers and books OH MY!  I love to see her son with the hatchet.  Makes me want to turn the boys here loose with one but scares me too.  They would love it.

 

Found on www.soulemama.com or click the pic for a direct link to the post.

 

 

Totally sold with the glitter... who doesn't know that about me?

 

A tip from her blog post....

(*A note about acorn crafting. I prefer to bake the acorns for an hour at 180 in the oven, to kill the grubs inside, rather than having them fall out as the acorns age. And we use a small drill bit to make holes in them, easy for stringing.)

 

 

 

Why oh why have I never done this or even thought of it??? When on walks or in the playground the kids and I spot mushrooms.  I seldom know what they are.  I generally advise the kids not to touch them and just leave them alone.  I'm funny about what they do with nature... even when they catch things that are alive I am adamant about them not harming them.  This post is from the same blog www.soulemama.com .  I have already looked up her books and have them coming from the library.  But this shows her with her children and a mushroom guide book which I know my library possesses.  The kids and I are for sure doing this.  We will go for a walk and learn by collecting mushrooms and trying to identify them using a guide.  How much fun!!! I mean seriously... look at that purple one they found! 

 

 

 

And I want to... have to... do this at the day care next year.  A pumpkin/gourd tunnel.  Even a small one... no a walk through one, where the fruits of your labor idly hang down in the center underneath for easy picking.  Bonus! You can mow underneath it... I think.  I would love one.

 

Yep... same blog www.soulemama.com I love finding a new to me blog and staying on it the entire naptime at the day care.  One that is filled with inspiration that fills my head with ideas of all sorts.

 

 

 

I must stop the madness of sharing this wonderful blog with you and all of the Image Inspiration.  Go see for yourself.  Her photography is wonderful and her life seems precious and nurturing. 



dc creek days

I have taken kids to the creek from the day care since we opened.  I truly do love the adventure with them whether it lasts an hour or we wind up taking a picnic lunch and staying several hours.  I never go with more than two children at a time so it's not everyday that we get to take the adventure.  It also makes it special for the times that we get to go.  I feel that if I had help or a friend along I would take more kids at a time.  The creek is at the back of our property so we have to drive from the day care to the house and then to the creek unless we decide to walk from the house.  Either way it is so much fun when we get there to explore and make new discoveries and find cool fossils and things living in the creek.  And we always take Kate with us.  Last week one of my two year olds threw a fairly thick stick for Kate and it hit me right on the bridge of the nose.  I did cry a little.  Still had fun though.  Here are a few pictures from two trips to the creek lately.

 

This one is saying "Miss Waurie... come wook at this!"

I finally, after six years, have caught the orchid in bloom!!!!!!!

 

I love her bubble trail in the water.

Me... always the finder of feathers.

Clean enough to be healthy, dirty enough to be happy.

Where's my sack lunch mom?

 

 



days of our play care

I have two things to share with you today!  One... it's HOT outside.  It's funny that when the days begin to warm up, in the beginning of summer, the kids complain that it's too hot outside but when we get as far as 90s in September, they are pretty much used to it.  Although they rather like to play in the shade more they still don't complain much... as long as there's plenty of cold water or juice to drink.

Last week I decided to make a big fort out of the smaller swing set to give them more shade to play in.  I used two big white sheets on each side and a vinyl tablecloth on the end that was getting the most sun.  There was a good breeze through the tent and we wound up having story time right there.  Yesterday I made the tent again but it was called a "caterpillar laboratory" since there seems to be an abundance of caterpillars in the yard right now from our walnut tree.

The second thing I wanted to share is a blog that I am pouring over!  It is from a very experienced kindergarten teacher who has wonderful ideas, worksheets and fun projects that are suitable for some of the kids here.  I have two that will start school next year and I feel it's never too early to get them started on real activities and school-type learning.  Click the picture to be directed to her site.  I love it!

Evening

As promised, I did my best to capture the sounds that seep through our open windows in Spring.  There is no picture to watch, just the sound of frogs in the trees and around the pond to the side of our home.  I remember the frogs being so loud at the pond behind the day care that we could barely hear one another talking.  Not a complaint!  I love it.  I wait for it all Winter long. 

If you listen closely they really begin to get piped up about thirty seconds in.  I guess they saw me on the back porch.