Thursday, April 21, 2016

Mating Toads and injured birds

Springtime on our pond is always exciting.
( I did not take this picture of a spring peeper it was pulled from a google search. I have seen them a few times but they are quick and super small)
We have had  spring peepers mating all evening for a few weeks but this week brought a new sound.

It is the American toad: they are land dwellers but come to the pond in masses to mate and lay eggs. We found one section of out pond to be the mating section.
There were 50 or more toads mating in some cases we saw 3 boys on one girl. When Duck went to pick up a mating group of toads the poor mama toad squirted out her long black chain of eggs onto his hands. Robin freaked out and thought it was a snake. I felt bad for poor mama.


Toads lay eggs in long chains frogs lay eggs in clumps. So we did what every homeschooler would do, we scooped up some pond water and brought some eggs in the house to watch them hatch.There are tons all over the pond.

Then off to the library of course to get some corresponding materials.

Later that day the boys found a poor Robin ( Not my 9 year old whose blogosphere name
 is Robin, A real American Robin) all wrapped up in some blue twine. Of course my kids wanted me to save it. After cutting all the twine from the birds wings, neck, and feet it looks as if the wing is broken.

Rehabilitating this bird, I believe was beyond my knowledge so I took him to a nature reserve that helps hurt animals and releases them back into the wild when possible.I really did not feel like going. It was  real inconvenience to my day........

But, I thought for a moment what if someday I am really sick or hurt and the person who could help me did not want to be INCONVENIENCED that day. So, I jumped right in the car with 4 of my little ones and took the bird right away.

I was especially not thrilled about the drive in the rain. I hate the driving on the highway in the rain. The kids and I were excited to receive a case number to call back and check on our bird friend named Jack.

If Robin has flown into your life;

Robin signifies stimulation of new growth and renewal in many areas of life. He teaches that any changes can be made with joy, laughter and a song in your heart. This bird shows you how to ride the winds of passion within your heart and become independent and self reliant through this change. The energy of this bird will teach you how to move forward with grace, tenacity, perseverance and assertion. Are you letting go of personal dramas? Ones that no longer serve your higher purpose? Are you exercising compassion and patience in mental, spiritual and emotional areas? This creature will teach how to incorporate new beginnings with faith and trust in the process. It is time to believe in yourself and use the inspiration that is given. Listen carefully. It is time sing your own song for a new period in your life

Monday, April 18, 2016

Spring into summer studies

I wanted this school year to be more relaxed as it nears an end I realized it was - maybe a bit too much. We did school but on a slower scale. A good thing? A bad thing?  No need to label it we moved forward. It was hard to get into the swing of things after Falcon started College full time this year at the age of 14. His first Semester he  received 3 A's and 1 B. Pretty proud mom! 3.8 GPA!! As his final Semester is finishing up it looks as if he will get 3 A's and a B again.

Over the school year I finally got mostly unpacked in the house but not all cleaned out. There are still areas of this house that are unfinished and still dusty, dirty and full of  items from  Steve and Julie (people who built this house in 1968 that I have never met.)

This was a year of learning for me- I feel good on how it went and look forward to stepping up our education a little more as we move into spring an onward to summer. As most  homeschool moms  are feeling burnt out by this time of year and ready for a break I am feeling refreshed and ready to start my new school year and farm adventures this summer.

I usually school year round just lighter in the summer.

My spring/summer plans are to rise early to beat the heat! I am not fond of hot summer days. So I plan to get up by 6;30 get breakfast going and start farm work until lunch time.

After lunch will be when school starts and Canary naps. planning to school from 12-3 daily.

4pm will be reading time

6 dinner.

8 inches of snow just a few weeks after spring! That was a first! I was excited though I LOVE snow and was thrilled to see it one more time. What was especially strange was hearing the spring birds chirping while trudging through the snow!!

 Unfrozen pond and loads of snow~ strange!

I thought the snow was a thing of winter not spring so the hammock came out and so did the bikes!!!

The new Pekings from TSC, I hate taking care of messy ducklings but they are sooooooo adorable they make it worthwhile.