Archive for September, 2009
Today (I wrote this on Tuesday) was the first day of school, or the not-back-to-school day for us homeschoolers!
Many were heading to the museums because they are always so empty on the first day of school, but with summer weather just starting here (it would seem), I couldn’t bear to be indoors. The friend I always spend the first day of school with was also feeling outdoors-y, so we headed to a natural conservation park and had a wonderful day.
We started with coffees and the little shop around the corner from the park entrance and then it was all play the rest of the day!
The kids spend the first half playing in the river. They sailed boats and caught crayfish.
No worries - this little guy had lunch with us and the headed straight back into the river.
After lunch (during which the kids generally ran themselves ragged in the field), we went on a hike. It was beautiful!
This is Fuss at the beginning of the trail we chose.
We crossed a suspension bridge over the waterfall and it was spectacular, but I’m afraid of heights, so I had to put on a brave face that was not reflective of what I was feeling inside! Of course, the kids just bounded across. On the right hand side of the photo is a little cave the kids hung out in. It’s very very dark, quite cool and more than a little creepy.
This fountain was nicely placed. Right in the middle of the hike. The water was clear and cool, so the kids waded through to cool themselves off.
Finally, there was a hint of things to come:
Beautiful as this appropriately-placed leaf was, I’m keen to enjoy the warm weather for just a while longer….
Enjoying the journey, Amanda
September 11th, 2009
We’ve had such a not-summer that Fuss’s garden did,well, horrible. It was too bad as it was his first attempt and most disappointing. I’m really hoping it doesn’t put him off for next year.
However, we did get a few little (LITTLE!) sucesses.
His favourite are the pumpkins coming up. These actually seem to be doing best.
He’s hoping that he’ll be able to make his own jack o lantern from one of them. Plus he’s so proud that he might have pumpkins that he’s promising one to everyone who will look at his garden patch.
We have one tiny cucumber that might be edible before the frost.
That cuc is not much to look at, I know.
I planted tomatos in pots this year because last year they were so bug infested I said I’d never plant tomatos again. Then I relented and thought I would do them in pots. This is the result.
Luckily my neighbour, who is an expert gardener is not getting tomatoes either or else I would develop a complex about my lack of green thumb!
Finally, Fuss was most excited about planting corn. He absolutely loves corn. However, someone, I suspect a furry someone wearing a mask, did this to his corn plot.
Devastated and dejected would be two words to describe Fuss when he came across the scene. They were doing beautifully, nice and tall, and the next day - this. So, if anyone has any tips for keeping wee beasties away from corn crops, I am all ears! (Pun totally intended.) We do plan to try corn again next year, but sitting next to it all night with my airhorn seems a bit extreme!
A bright note on the corn front are these two stong holdouts. How they are managing to elude the ‘coons I’m completely uncertain!
If anything actually develops to maturity before the frost comes, I’ll post the bounty (of sorts).
Enjoying the journey, Amanda
September 8th, 2009
Okay - so I’ve blogged about getting rid of the plastic toys here. Well, Fuss went to the neighbour’s and came home with an enormous water gun. Enormous. He ran around in the yard with it for about 10 minutes before he came to me in tears with an injury. Just adds fuel to my anti-plastic rant (tongue-in-cheek here….sort of).
Here is the offending object.
And here is how it offended!
Yep, he somehow got a black eye. The water gun promptly went out. Of course, we do have other items in the yard for water play, so Fuss wasn’t deprived.
Enjoying the journey, Amanda
September 6th, 2009
We visited the Butterfly Conservatory and had a wonderful day. There was a classroom component where we learned about the life cycle of the butterfly and then we were all set loose in amongst the butterflies. Fuss spent much of his time in the hatchery where the worker explained all of the different stages and allowed him to hold some of the cocoons and hatchlings. He was particularly fascinated with this little guy.
This is definitely some place we would go back to. They have homeschool programmes throughout the year - nice!
Enjoying the journey, Amanda
September 3rd, 2009
