Track Casting

Attemp on day two was much less painful. The collar was useless, and these casts are much less bulky. Easier for little kids to study and all around better. Half tongue depressors, will make them much easier to store.

Opossum.

All our guys labeled and now ready to make tracks in the sand.

Porcupine

Casting Tracks

For Asher's birthday this year, going along with our tracking experiences, we checked out the Tracks loan box from our local nature center. While most of the curriculum is way above Asher's age, most appropriate for elementary school, I luckily have some experiences that let me use the box with him. We did long runs of stamping, lots of pressing tracks into play dough, painted our feet and walked along side the deer, fox and beaver stamped footprints, and on the last few days we attempted making casts. A, as always was happy to line up the supplies!He did participate and stir up the plaster of paris.I fashioned up some collars that I tried to tape onto the mold, to say this was a pain in the ass, doesn't seem strong enough to describe my frustration.I had intended on doing 12, we did two, man they are clunky.

I was happy with the relief and detail, but man, really this method was a pain. The next day we tried something new.

Into the Woods:: March 10

We spent our weekly trip into the woods looking for green.

Two boys walking on there own. I got a glimpse into the future when they both took off in opposite directions, luckily only one of them is actually quick. River was thrilled to be part of the hiking. While we still have some cold coming our way, the spring wildflowers are telling me other stories, of sun, rain, warmer weather and the promise of flowers.

Laying Tracks

This winter we have been a little obsessed with tracks around here and bringing out the tracker in Asher.We have always talked about things in the woods as A's curiosity lead up to all those what and why's, but then we started having more fun.Ben rolled out the Busey Woods trail that he and Asher walked through.Pretendting to be all types of animals.Then things got a little more fancy around here, as a closepin is perfect for deer tracks and those plastic bathtub frogs have quite realistic prints in play dough.

And then of course all the other animals came out. It is fun to see what toys are made with accurate tracks- sadly (but not suprisingly) not too many of them.

And of course we have been studying the outside tracks as well. I will be posting this week on tracks and tracking, environmental awareness and respect for the land- or at least that's the plan.

Birthday Roundup

Wow was February busy. I tried to prepare myself for the impending whirlwind and expected all the craziness and survived it. I made lists for b-days and actually prioritized them and am happy that the boys birthdays were special. I wish I had more time for making these days, but I am trying to just be happy with all the actual time that my creativity was indulged. River got some belted pigs for his birthday. I was so thrilled with how they came out. One mama sow, 2 market pigs and 3 piglets.

Asher got a few knitted sheep to add to our growing farm.I was super excited about how Asher's pillow for the book nook turned out. I may even make a few more throws. Mushroom fabric that I am trying to use in minimal amounts brought back from Japan by my SIL, I so adore this fabric.And the back is just as cute!Freezer paper stenciled great blue herons for papa and 3 year old boyo.These turned out so good. I am still so excited by the results of this technique. I didn't get to make a "Happy Birthday" banner or wood burned tree cookie sign, I had to let it go, but I did sew a lot of fabric flags that I love. And got to use up some of the too many sheets of paper that I own, making paper flag garlands.

And my favorite part: the crowns. This was the one item I would not compromise on. The boys needed their crowns this year. They turned out so good. Asher's papa cardinal is so well suited for him along with his favorite color green. and our aqueous river has a fish and a turtle, I hope he grows into loving these things. They are growing pretty fond of one another. And while they have been bonding since R was in my belly, I know that this year we have so much brotherly bonding in store for us.

Into the Woods:: February

We ran into the woods as often as possible last month, some weeks heading out 3 times, and always making it at least once. There have been solo hikes, just mama and boys and hikes with friends. Hikes that last 10 minutes and others that last over an hour all depending on the mood of the three year old. A lot of cold fingers and noses coming out of the woods but lots of fun (and challenges) while we are in them. swinging from vines.

Checking out deer chews. Pretending to be owls with friends.

A very happy boy to be walking for some part of the hike.

Snowy, sunny family shadow portrait.

A walking stick that remains hidden for each walk in the woods.

Running into the woods on a snowy, icy day.

Sunshine on my shoulders makes me happy:)

Spring has Sprung

We got to enjoy some yellow inside, snowdrops are blooming outside and our daffodils and crocuses are poking their noses up. The leeks and kale in the coldframe are thawing and the garlic is reaching through its deep bedding. Buds on the trees are swelling, the snow is almost all melted away! And the day is so very sunny! Time to air out the house and clean out the mess, decluttering and preparing for spring holidays.