A Walk to the Library - September 13, 2013

A walk to the library sounds like a simple, quick trip. However, not for us. The walk is a little over two miles and it took nearly two hours. Of course, when the walk includes my curious grandchildren it means much to investigate. We had a beautiful, cool fall morning for our trip. Join us...
 


Wesley loves bugs. Actually we all enjoy watching them, but Wesley can't pass them by...especially cicadas. Last week we collected LOTS of cicada exoskeletons on a walk. So today, I told Wesley we would not be collecting more. That did not stop him from pointing out all he saw and carrying on a few for awhile.

 
 

A spider in a grassy web. The children has such good eyes for finding these kinds of things. I so enjoy seeing the world through them.

 

A grassy hill, even a small one is a wonderful spot to take a rest.

 

It was their idea to line up by ages for a picture. They are constantly saying, "Grandma, this would be a good picture." I guess I have trained them right. Diana 4, Wesley 6, Charles 8, and Douglas 10.

 

A grassy hill is just made for rolling down. Diana and Wesley even had to try rolling UP the hill.

 

Charlotte, 10 months, napped for almost the entire walk.

 

Cookie Break! We had picked up some cookies at the start of our walk.

 

Diana is enjoying a chocolate chip oatmeal cookie.

 

This shows just how slow our walks can go. This couple caught up and PASSED us!

 

Don't forget to look UP when taking a walk.

 

or you might miss a beautiful sight.

 

One must always take time to stop and smell the flowers.

 

Even the sidewalk must be investigated when something looks different.

 

It even felt different. The children noticed how smooth this section was.

 

I love how they cluster together. I often wonder what they may be talking about and what exciting conversations I may be missing.

 

Douglas got a ways ahead and "patiently???" is waiting for the rest of us to catch up.

 

The sun is beginning to warm up the day. Douglas has shed his sweatshirt. He and Diana pose on a step.

 

These walls were just made for walking on...weren't they???

 

Stopping to check out the apple tree. And there is ME...at least its my shadow.

 

The children wanted to pick up all the apples, but we left them.

 

A dead bird.  We left that too!!!

 

Another wall to walk.

 

LEAVES!!! Lots of leaves. It makes such a cool sound to walk through them and hear the crunch, crunch, crunch.

 

There is one block that has the most wonderful area in it. The boys think this would be such a fun place to live...with all the trees, valley, and places to explore. They also LOVED the huge house that sets on this particular property. They figured it was big enough for each of us to have our own rooms, with rooms to spare for such important things as a TOY ROOM.

 

Finally at the library and Diana shows Charlotte her favorite thing to play with here....the horses.

 

The children made some new friends. Is this some of that "socialization" some people are so afraid our homeschooled children will be missing out on?

 

Charlotte seems to be enjoying her first time playing at the library.

 

Wesley shows Charlotte the real treasure of the library...BOOKS!

 

 

Disc Golf at Lustig Park - October 1, 2012

We had so much fun at Lustig Park before that we decided to go there again and this time bring our Frisbees. Lustig Park has a couple playground areas, but is known for Disc Golf. We knew nothing of disc golf the first time we went there but even then the children found plenty to do. But this time we were going to play.

 While the children were playing on the playground equipment, Wesley sighted this bird. We watched the woodpecker for some time

We crossed the road to play our game of disc golf. But first had to check out the water pump. It does not actually produce any water, but all the children had to take turns at pumping and "catching" water.

We started our game at Tee 11, which is actually the 2nd to the last "hole" of the game.  We were using this hole to warm us up for the final big one...Number 12.

 The children had fun tossing their disc, picking it up and tossing it toward the "hole" over and over again.

Then came the Big 12th...It starts at the top of a steep slope. This was the real attraction to the kids. I thought they might just throw their discs down the slope, retrieve them and toss them down again. However, they played it through. When I took this picture I was at the bottom of the slope and you can see how far off the children are. No one gave up. Each one of them finished. No one counted how many times it took them. They just continued to pick up their discs and throw them again.

 

 They gathered under a nice shade tree for a much needed rest. They all said they were "tired!" 

We spotted this squirrel who was busy collecting acorns and burying them. 

Before we returned to our car we watched some men who came to play a game. They started at Tee 1. They boys were in awe at how far these men could throw their discs and that they actually went towards the "hole."

A Fall Walk Around the Neighborhood

Monday, October 24, 2011 we took a walk around our neighborhood looking for signs of fall. I enjoyed taking pictures. The children picked up leaves, acorns, stones, sticks and other "treasures."

 Diana checks out the neighbor's decorations. She had to look at each and every one up close.

 Our wildlife does not begin to compare to some places. (Like Alaska and the bears, eagles, etc.) However, we do have some critters and they can be fun to watch.

 Love how they often take their walking sticks with on a "hike."

 While we do not do any special celebrating for October 31st, we do celebrate fall and enjoy how people decorate The Harvest.

 There were still a few pretty flowers to be seen and photographed.

 This little guy seemed just as curious about us. He would duck behind the tree, but soon peeking out again. I took LOTS of pictures of him as he was so cute.

 With the leaves off most of the trees, so many different nests were visible. Often several in one tree.

The explorers take a closer look at the crack in the sidewalk and make a "discovery."

 The discovery ... moss. But it was carefully carried home.

 Mr. Bob, a neighbor, came by and said, "Hi." It provided a good lesson on who is it OK to talk to and who it is not. Mr. Bob is definitely an OK. He and his wife live next door and are very special to our family.

 The sharp eyes of the children found this critter.

 Another nest and...

  ...some beautiful fall flowers!

We HAD to go back home. The battery on my camera died and I can't really enjoy a walk without my camera...LOL. Wesley decided to stay at home and ride bikes with some of the neighbor children. Douglas, Charles, Diana, and I headed off again in a different direction.

 Walking through leaves is always a favorite fall thing to do! When their mom and uncle were young we had a special park we loved to go to. It was full of huge oak trees. The leaves would be over a foot deep! So much fun.

 A neighbor stopped to introduce us to Samson, his new St. Bernard puppy, 4 months old. Diana was the only one that was determined to pet this exuberant puppy.

 Our back fence. Mom's raspberry bushes have escaped under the fence.

 This is the school the boys would be going to if their parents had not chosen to homeschool.

A big brother's hand always makes a little girl feel safe and loved

 Charles checks out an evergreen. Diana declared it, "too pricky!" 

 Have you hugged a tree today? Douglas and Diana gave this one quite an inspection. And Charles ponders why someone would cut off all the limbs...they are what make a tree climbable for a boy.

 Douglas tests a branch as a possible new bow.

 The beautiful red of this tree really stands out since most of the trees have lost their color.

 What a view he must have from his high perch.

We took a few minutes to look UP. We checked out the different cloud formations.

The playground at the school provided a little break. The children had to try out all the equipment. Diana didn't think it was much of a playground. She kept asking, "Where are the swings?"

 So she substituted with a little climbing.

 Limbo anyone?

 Charles loved this low bar.

So many things to climb!

 Not sure what you call this one.

A race!

 Diana is racing too! She ran the whole distance.

 I said, "Don't step in that puddle." She said, "It is not a puddle. It is water." I said, "DON'T step in IT." You can see she is really pondering what to do.

 Birch trees are a favorite. They are the first trees the children have each learned to identify because of their distinctive bark. They are extra beautiful with their yellow color in the fall. This one is hiding a nest.

 A bountiful harvest display.

 A perfect climbing tree makes for a fun picture place.

 Another perfect picture place!

 Another good picture. I wish Wesley had been here too.

Every good photo shoot ends with a funny face picture! 

Hope you enjoyed taking our fall walk with us.