Games and Ears

We had a quiet day. We are all feeling a little under the weather due to allergy symptoms and decided to just have a low key day. Retta and I painted and pressed some flowers. Musa played on the PS. It seems like the more we rest the more tired we become.

The kids wanted to play their Super Silly game. I get such delight in watching them play. I will let you imagine what they looked like doing these imitations:

Everyone pretend to be peanuts in a jar.

Pretend to be a helicopter flyer through a storm of raining marshmallows.

Act like a lighthouse with a new way to signal boats.

One of you be a pen, the other be a paper.

You have hiccups in your hands.

Act like an Oompa-Loompa.

Get out of Lolo Land.

You are an eyeball, what does it feel like?

Everyone be a blowfish.

Make up the latest dance craze. (You can imagine Musa.)

I had to stop the game at this point. My ribs hurt from laughing.

 

We had to take our dear Bella to the Vet as she has a serious double ear infecction. Infected with bacteria and yeast. The poor baby. The doctor said it is very painful and she was surprised Bella wasn't fussing. She is so stoic. It makes me sad that she has to have pain. Doesn't seem fair.   

Replacing Habitats

Retta and I have been reading a book on replacing habitat loss in our own yards. We decided to change our birdbath into a more natural setting. We planted three different types of aquatic plants and transplanted some moss from our yard. We then added some rocks and shells from Retta's collection.

It turned out so beautiful. As soon as we finished we noticed some American Goldfinches taking a bath!

We both agreed it is a good feeling to help nature.

Retta also added a pot of hanging flowers to her butterfly garden. She was very particular about the type and color of flowers she wanted and after an hour of shopping she finally settled on some multi-colored impatients, then she had to pick out a pot......... 

We also added some herbs. We planted lemon thyme, thyme, rosemary and some lemon verbena for Anna.

 

Forget-me-nots

The front side of our property, which slopes down toward the road is covered in Forget-me-knots. Retta was picking some yesterday and asked me what they were called.

 

This morning she came running with a bouquet and said:

"Can I send them to Shirah so she will never forget me?"

                                                     

                                                                         

Vacation is over~!

Okay, I have run out of excuses for not making journal entries. My writing vacation is over.

                   

 

We had a fun filled Earth Day with our Roots and Shoots group. The kids built recycled art items, had a nature scavenger hunt, and had much fun playing. The kids collected 171 pounds of food that was donated to a food bank. I am excited to see this group get under way. The kids all have such great energy and hope for their communities and the world. It is an honor to be one of their mentors.

With the exception of the above group, we have been hangin' around the house most of the time. The pollen counts are so heavy the kids have been suffering some allergy problems. It has been good to stay home and finish up some projects.

Musa has been working on his math and money skills, and Retta continues to teach herself and everyone else in the house.

Burn out

I just realized how long it has been since I made an entry. I guess I am suffering from a little journal burnout. I think some of the problem is the change to daylight savings time. It is staying light out longer so we tend to be out in the evenings and I am too tired by the time we get in. I will probably start making entries in the morning for the prior day.

We planted some of our plants to soon and lost them so we have started over. It has been much fun, we are learning as we go. I am not that familiar with Maryland climate, but we are learning.

I have started leading a Roots and Shoots group.  We will be meeting every two weeks and starting projects soon. We have to do projects that address the human community, the animal community and the Earth. We have a great mix of ages, all homeschooled, and I am looking froward to getting to know all the kids.