Moments Caught Monday ~ 12/31/2012

a post by Bird

Yesterday one of our chickens laid their first egg! We cracked it open right away. Mom had to crack it on the side of the bowl about five times before the egg would crack open because the shell was so hard. The yolk was as plump as a ball, and a nice orange color. We each had a bite once it was cooked, and it was very good. So far today, two more eggs have been laid! We're very excited about having our own free-range eggs -- and about our business at the farmer's market that we'll be telling you more about soon.

Why Homeschooling Rocks {#129}

 a post by Bird

Reason #129 Why Homeschooling Rocks: when I study plants, I get to grow my seeds for observation in so much more than a styrofoam cup. :)

Why Homeschooling Rocks {#148}

a post by Bird

Moments Caught Monday ~ 11/12/2012

a post by Bird
 

This is a picture taken in 2006 when my grandma came for a visit. We went to the zoo, and this train was set up there. We thought it would be funny to pretend it was about to hit us. In the picture are Grandma, my cousin M, Mom, and my brother Bo.

Hi Grandma! Visit us again soon! Tell M I said hi, and Grandpa and everyone else. Love you!

Moments Caught Monday ~ 10/22/12

a post by Bird

A little over a month ago we brought home our first chickens. They are pullets, which means they are older than chicks and don’t need the heat lamp any more but they are not adult hens and don’t lay eggs yet. We turned a shed on our property into a hen house, and they stayed in there the first few weeks. Dad and my brothers and I have been working on a run for the chickens. We finished last week, and then Dad cut a door in the side of the hen house so they could come into the run for the first time. As far as we know, this was their first time on the dirt and grass. They were nervous at first and they crowded around the doorway to look outside and over the edge. Finally a few brave pullets went outside. Eventually they all went out. They really enjoy being outside. The picture above was taken just after Dad had cut the hole and put on a ramp. The chickens were crowded around the door, looking curiously, and one of them flew out right when the picture was taken. It was really fun watching them go outside for the first time.

Moments Caught Monday ~ 9/3/12

a post by Bird  

The other day we were getting into the car to leave for a nature walk and we noticed the sun shining through these spiderwebs beside our driveway. Mom and I decided to take some pictures of them.

Here is a picture I took of one spiderweb while Mom was there turning on her camera. 

This is a close-up picture of one of the spider webs. I like to call it "The Black Hole" because the circles swirl down to the holes in the middle which look dark.

This is a close-up picture of another spider web. You can see bugs caught in the middle. I like to call it the bottomless pit because of how the hole in it looks. These two were my favorite spiderwebs that we saw.

Moments Caught Monday ~ 8/20/12

a post by Bird  

The other day when my brother was relaxing on the couch, I took this picture of him. Mom really likes it. I think we have one of the most laid back cats in the world.

My brother Rooster and our cat Bandit

 

Fun at Watoga State Park and the Greenbrier River Trail

a post by K-Bird

Me, in the lookout tower at Droop Mountain Battlefield

Last week we went camping at Watoga State Park in West Virginia, and it was fun. We went on a bike ride on a trail there.

Riding bikes is fun - especially on the Greenbrier River Trail!

We saw deer while we were on the bike ride.

While we were on the bike ride we saw deer by this cabin

The bike trail was named Greenbrier River Trail. It goes where the old railroad tracks used to be. The bike trail is almost 80 miles long, and we rode 10 miles of it. The fall leaves were beautiful.

It is such a beautiful trail!

This is me and Dad eating lunch

My brothers and I really enjoyed the bike ride

All the autumn scenery was so beautiful!

This is another beautiful scene

While we were on the trail mom's bike pedal fell off her bike. Dad came to fix it, but he couldn't, so mom had to walk. While mom was walking she almost stepped on a snake, but she didn't.

We also went on a hike while we were there, but our mom didn't come with us. So my dad and brothers and I went on the hike. We didn't see any animals on the hike, but at the cabin we saw more deer. It was fun.

This is a scary hike with Dad - it was getting dark

We were creeped out

We had a lot of fun hanging out around the cabin. We played board games and spent time reading.

Look, here's our cabin!

In the cabin with a Hexbug

In the cabin

We visited a civil war battlefield that was close by.

Walking down the steps of the Droop Mountain Battlefield Lookout Tower

My awesome brothers - Rooster and Bo

We also went on more hikes, and explored around the cabin.

On a hike

Pretty scenery from the hike

Rooster climbs over a fallen tree

More pretty fall colors

Looking up into the tops of the trees

Boo! I'm behind you!

Best buddies!

I'm gonna chop up some wood

Hanging out on the front porch of the cabin

It was a very fun trip. Maybe you should think about taking your family there sometime. I think you would like it.

A Fun Thanksgiving Break

a post by K-Bird

Our Thanksgiving break is coming up very soon. That means no school next week! I'm very excited because we get to do a lot of fun things during Thanksgiving break. Well, we need to do some cleaning, but then we will do the fun things. One fun thing we will do is finish our Fall Leaf Project. Then we will start working on our Lego Mindstorm! I will be taking pictures of us working on the Mindstorm and then later on in the weekend I will make a video of that. We are also going to get our Christmas stuff out after Thanksgiving and decorate the house. And I am going to start working on my I Spy book. So I will be very busy next week, but it will be lots of fun. I or my mom will put up pictures as soon as we can. Hope you have a wonderful Thanksgiving!

Fall Leaf Thanksgiving Project

a post by K-Bird

Here is a video that we made. It shows you how to do our special Thanksgiving project. Let me know if you have any questions. Enjoy!