Learning through living

The other day I got the notion to start taking photos of our everyday activities to start documenting the kids' learning in case I ever need it. Here are some photos taken on a cold Monday when we spent the day inside.








The kids love to help make and eat bread.





Making a three hole cake, a favorite recipe from my childhood.




Scotty wanted to see what would happen if we try to burn aluminum foil.



Scotty found a fun way to practice his lettering.




Eliza was pretending to sleep while holding the baby junglefowl.



They ate a whole bag of blueberries that day!

Quick trip to CO

We decided to make a quick trip to visit Chris' grandparents last week. The morning after Halloween we headed out in a rented minivan to visit Grandma Jean first and then Pa. We had a fun morning with Grandma and then a delicious lunch at Aunt Robbin's restaurant. If anyone reading this is ever in Pueblo, CO you must eat at The Hen House in Pueblo West. It's delicious home cooked food.

Here are the kids having fun with Grandma.



After lunch we continued on to Denver to visit Pa. On the way we stopped at the Western Museum of Mining and Industry
which is a place that we visited with Scotty frequently when he was younger but haven't been to in a while.

This sign greets you as you enter the driveway. I took this for you, Crystal!


This was the first snow the kids have seen this season. They were VERY excited about it!


Scotty got to see the big Corliss engine run on electric power. It only runs at a tenth of its working potential and it's not on steam power but it's still really impressive to see that huge flywheel turn.


They also had a mine exhibit and some smaller engines. Scotty chatted with the docent about engines and she invited him to come to the model steam engine show they will be having in June. He was thrilled with the whole place.



Unfortunately I didn't get any photos of our visit with Pa. It was short but sweet and we really enjoyed seeing him. Friday we left Denver early for the 7 hour drive home. On the way we stopped at a beautiful open space area for more snow play.

Our Halloween

This year was great fun. After much deliberation and negotiation with Scotty over his costume (he originally wanted a highly mechanized helicopter with lots of motors, belts, and switches which were simply beyond my capabilities and our time available) he finally got the idea to use a box and his pedal race car to make himself into a car for halloween. We painted windows and other details onto a box and mounted it atop his pedal car. Here he is painting the box (with my help).



He was thrilled and proud to wear his costume to our weekly homeschool park day, where several kids and some moms came in costume.

Here he is riding towards the park in costume:


Eliza, already a little bird most days, simply wanted some feathers to complete her look. This I easily achieved with two feather boas purchased for half price at the fabric store and an old shirt. Here she is at the park:



Here's one of our tribe, Beth, involved in a serious conversation:


On Halloween night several of us from the homeschooling group met at Susan's house to go trick or treating in her neighborhood. After a mishap that involved me locking the keys AND Scotty's costume in the car was resolved, the kids headed out with Sylvia and Gary and Chris and Dan. I stayed behind to answer Susan's door since everyone else was also already out and about. Here they are ready to go:



Scotty ready for action. Note the real working headlights and the candy bucket attached to the front.



Eliza was very pleased with her stash. Apparently she had a great time too. Reports are that she started just walking in to people's houses when they answered the door! Sylvia said that it was a good thing that there were three adults because my two kids required them. Scotty needed the help of both Gary and Chris to get up and down curbs and Sylvia had to keep a close eye on Eliza as she "flew" into homes.


Andy, Dan, Scotty and Spencer trading candy and hamming it up for the camera.


After trick or treating we paid a visit to Nonna so she could see their costumes and offer a treat. The kids stayed with her for a bit while Chris and I went to pick up a minvan that we rented for our short trip to Colorado, which was to begin bright and early the next morning.

The kids love it when Nonna reads to them (but neither Nonna nor Scotty like having their picture taken).


Pooped out Little Bird after a great evening. It's a good thing too, because Mommy Bird needs to pack!

Fall Festival

Last weekend we hosted our CSA's fall festival here at our farm. While it took a ton of preparation on our part to get the place ready, it was well worth it because it was great fun. Besides, without the motivation to clean up we wouldn't be enjoying how neat and tidy everything is now.

In addition to providing the space for the festival, we also provided entertainment in several forms. Chris' dad Scott fired up his restored steam tractor and used the steam from the boiler to power his vertical engine, which was then used to grind the CSA's blue corn. Watching the engines run was a huge highlight for many of the attendees. We also gave hay rides and had some sheep feeding and chicken petting for the kids.

There were three live bands (solar powered!) and the CSA held a silent auction and bake sale. At the end of the day they had raised around a thousand dollars. We were so glad to be able to help.

Here is the section of field we prepared with people beginning to arrive.


Chris and the steam tractor.


Scott ran steam from the big tractor over to this little engine through pipes. The little engine is connected to the corn grinder with a belt.






The kids loved it.


Festival goers enjoying the music and sunshine.


I snapped this photo because I had never seen a tuba on the farm before and wasn't sure if I ever would again!


Scott had double duty that day because after he was done with the steam engines his band Holy Water and Whiskey played a set.


Scotty and Eliza shared their chickens with the other kids.




Hay rides.


Sheep feeding.