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Toby is almost 5 years old, and last weekend my husband, Ryan, took him out squirrel hunting for the very first time. They sat silently in the woods and when the time was right, Ryan pulled the trigger and the squirrel, still with a nut in his mouth, took his final breath.
Ryan went to retrieve the little guy and left my own little guy sitting silent at the tree so that they could wait for the next squirrel to hop by. When he got back, Toby picked up the dead animal, petted it, and at one point even rubbed his cheek on the soft fur.
Ryan was very impressed that Toby wasn't afraid of the dead animal.
When it came time to dress and clean the animal, Toby was right there to learn. He happily scooped the guts out with his little hands. Again, Ryan was very impressed.
Examining all of the body parts, Toby asked "is this the poop-hole, dad?"
"No," answered his Dad, not really ready for what came next, "that is his weiner. And that there are his, uh, er, his nuts."
Then Ellen the older sister came by.
"Look, Ellen," says wise Toby, "that's where the squirrel keeps the nuts that the finds!"
Ryan quickly corrected him, but really couldn't blame him. It makes sense, doesn't it? Squirrel collects nuts, and has a little pouch for them. Good engineering?
So when I walked up a few minutes later after the situation had been cleared up, Toby held out his bloody little hand and said to me, "here mom. This is a squirrel ball," and he tossed the tiny testicle into the woods.
Squirrel stew tomorrow. Nut free.
Ryan went to retrieve the little guy and left my own little guy sitting silent at the tree so that they could wait for the next squirrel to hop by. When he got back, Toby picked up the dead animal, petted it, and at one point even rubbed his cheek on the soft fur.
Ryan was very impressed that Toby wasn't afraid of the dead animal.
When it came time to dress and clean the animal, Toby was right there to learn. He happily scooped the guts out with his little hands. Again, Ryan was very impressed.
Examining all of the body parts, Toby asked "is this the poop-hole, dad?"
"No," answered his Dad, not really ready for what came next, "that is his weiner. And that there are his, uh, er, his nuts."
Then Ellen the older sister came by.
"Look, Ellen," says wise Toby, "that's where the squirrel keeps the nuts that the finds!"
Ryan quickly corrected him, but really couldn't blame him. It makes sense, doesn't it? Squirrel collects nuts, and has a little pouch for them. Good engineering?
So when I walked up a few minutes later after the situation had been cleared up, Toby held out his bloody little hand and said to me, "here mom. This is a squirrel ball," and he tossed the tiny testicle into the woods.
Squirrel stew tomorrow. Nut free.
You know how some babies just hate the feeling of grass on their bare legs? Not mine. She loves it.
I just spread a blanket out in the lawn under the side maple, where the grass is sparse in the late summer weather. There are rocks and twigs and dry leaves, so I thought a blanket would be somewhat appealing. I hauled out toys and plopped little Annie down in the middle of it.
It lasted for about, oh, two seconds.
She crawled off and into the grass. Crunched leaves and waved sticks. And now she's digging a hole in the mulch, happy as a lark.
The toys sit untouched as usual.
Fischer Price should figure out how to market a stick toy or capture the texture of crunching leaves.
Until they do, the real thing will work just fine. Probably even better.
I just spread a blanket out in the lawn under the side maple, where the grass is sparse in the late summer weather. There are rocks and twigs and dry leaves, so I thought a blanket would be somewhat appealing. I hauled out toys and plopped little Annie down in the middle of it.
It lasted for about, oh, two seconds.
She crawled off and into the grass. Crunched leaves and waved sticks. And now she's digging a hole in the mulch, happy as a lark.
The toys sit untouched as usual.
Fischer Price should figure out how to market a stick toy or capture the texture of crunching leaves.
Until they do, the real thing will work just fine. Probably even better.
Tonight I went to my first PTO meeting. It was against my better judgement, but I went because I thought it best that I enter the school with a positive connotation, rather than the pesky mom I feel like I've sometimes become.
But low and behold, there may be a reason I was there.
One committee that is looking for volunteers is the playground committee-- a group of people who are going to help plan the playground at the new elementary school that is being built.
Maybe this is my chance to put in a HUGE plug for "natural" playground equipment.
What's natural playground equipment? Great stuff.
Trees to climb and run between.
Rocks to turn into mountains.
Logs to walk across.
etc.
The creative benefits are enormous. A slide is a slide is a slide, but a giant rock is a pirate ship, a house, a giant egg, anything.
The hard part is going to be convincing the others on the committee of this wonderful idea. I'm trying to figure out how many copies of "Last Child in the Woods" I can hand out at the next meeting...
But low and behold, there may be a reason I was there.
One committee that is looking for volunteers is the playground committee-- a group of people who are going to help plan the playground at the new elementary school that is being built.
Maybe this is my chance to put in a HUGE plug for "natural" playground equipment.
What's natural playground equipment? Great stuff.
Trees to climb and run between.
Rocks to turn into mountains.
Logs to walk across.
etc.
The creative benefits are enormous. A slide is a slide is a slide, but a giant rock is a pirate ship, a house, a giant egg, anything.
The hard part is going to be convincing the others on the committee of this wonderful idea. I'm trying to figure out how many copies of "Last Child in the Woods" I can hand out at the next meeting...
It is currently 10:35PM, and outside my bedroom window, somewhere in the woods, is the creature.
I'm not sure what it is, but it makes a horrible sound late at night when these kinds of sounds wake you up from a dead sleep and make you grab the flashlight and shake your husband. It's a screaming/barking/yelping/crying sort of cry that makes your heart beat in your throat just thiking about it.
A few weeks ago, on a night with perfect sleeping weather, everyone on the street heard it. At 3:00AM. And my neighbor, whose nerdiness is only matched by mine, also took the time to look it up online. We concluded that it must be a fox, although the jury is still out.
My husband isn't due home until midnight, so I'm hoping that the creature is quiet until then. I need someone to wake up if I hear it screaming.
I'm not sure what it is, but it makes a horrible sound late at night when these kinds of sounds wake you up from a dead sleep and make you grab the flashlight and shake your husband. It's a screaming/barking/yelping/crying sort of cry that makes your heart beat in your throat just thiking about it.
A few weeks ago, on a night with perfect sleeping weather, everyone on the street heard it. At 3:00AM. And my neighbor, whose nerdiness is only matched by mine, also took the time to look it up online. We concluded that it must be a fox, although the jury is still out.
My husband isn't due home until midnight, so I'm hoping that the creature is quiet until then. I need someone to wake up if I hear it screaming.
We recently went on vacation. A traditional family vacation, which is something out of the ordinary for us.
We went to the beach. Not just any beach, a big, crowded beach. There were as many people as there were sand grains and I admit at first I was devastated.
"I can't believe we spent all this money to be with so many people." Obviously I'm not a big-city girl...
I said to Ryan during one of our walks between blankets and umbrellas, "it's strange how the ocean and the beach is such a part of nature, how it's a natural wonder, and yet people don't really consider it like that. It's not like going to a forest or a national park, but it's still the same thing-- people really loving to be out in nature."
And even though I was sun weary and sand worn, I think I made a lot of sense with that one. Sure, the thousands of beach-goers weren't thinking they were at one with nature...but they were. Each and every one-- watching the pattern of the waves, sculpting sand castles, feeling the warmth of the sun and the stick of the sea salt -- including us.
1. Hummingbirds are the only birds that can fly backwards.
2. Flamingo's knees bend backwards.
2. Flamingo's knees bend backwards.
If you didn't hear, last Saturday, June 28, was the National Wildlife Federation's Great American Backyard Campout. We were only one of three registered sites in Wayne County.
After arguing for a while, the kids and I came up with naming our camp "Wild Cherry Woods" because of the forest of cherry trees we have in the backyard. As you can see by the photo, our backyard campout was rained out, so instead we had a "family room camp in." But between rain showers, we did just about everything required of a camping trip. We...
ate hotdogs outside
made crafts (God's eyes, even!)
took a hike
stopped for ice cream
played games
sang songs
set off fireworks
and stayed up too late.
I truthfully blew the entire day having fun. It was tremendous. One of the best days of my life.
For more info on the great american backyard campout, visit www.nwf.org.
After arguing for a while, the kids and I came up with naming our camp "Wild Cherry Woods" because of the forest of cherry trees we have in the backyard. As you can see by the photo, our backyard campout was rained out, so instead we had a "family room camp in." But between rain showers, we did just about everything required of a camping trip. We...ate hotdogs outside
made crafts (God's eyes, even!)
took a hike
stopped for ice cream
played games
sang songs
set off fireworks
and stayed up too late.
I truthfully blew the entire day having fun. It was tremendous. One of the best days of my life.
For more info on the great american backyard campout, visit www.nwf.org.
There are many reasons besides the calendar telling me that it is officially Summer. For one, fireworks are on sale at the grocery store. I’ve also been consuming a lot of macaroni salad. We’ve all got mosquito bites and sun tan lines. And, my favorite indicator of our warmest season, the lightning bugs are back.
Whether you call them lightning bugs or fireflies, these little critters with their flashing hind ends never cease to amaze me. They have been entertaining people young and old, since that very first day when someone saw a flash of light in the woods and wondered just what it could possibly be.
Since then, we’ve been chasing them and collecting them in jars to make our own nightlights. My grandmother, who is a very sweet lady, admits that she used to smash the glowing ends onto her nails as glow in the dark nail polish when she was younger. And while I never had the “guts” to do that, I’ve caught my fair share of the illuminating fliers over the years.
No matter whether you are a lightning bug watcher, catcher, collector, or manicurist, you would probably agree that those flying beetles are some of the sweetest, most innocent that you know. But just read on…
Scientifically speaking, each species of firefly has their own blinking pattern. The males are the only ones that actually fly and blink, while the females sit on the ground and respond accordingly. Or as I explain to my kids, “it’s like the boys are driving around in big fancy cars honking the horns, and if the girls want to go out on a date, they honk back.” Biology, I find, is fairly difficult to explain to young children, and I usually end up sounding like a deranged teenager caught in a tornado of gossip.
There is, however, one fantastic biological story about my flying friend that is worth the time and effort to explain.
As I said before, each species has its own pattern so that males and females know who is who because there are a lot of different species out there. But one species, or rather the almighty female of one species, is smarter than the average bug. She is an evil genius. I think she is the kind that, if she was a human, would end up being the character on the soap operas that everyone loves to hate.
She is a man-eater.
This hungry lady hangs out in the grass where the girls who are waiting for the boys with the fancy cars would be. Only she’s really a biker chick and isn’t really into cars, so when the boys drive by and honk, she has to fake an “ooh, handsome wheels” flash right back at the male, luring him into her trap.
He blinks (honks,) then she blinks (fakes,) and before you know it, the poor sucker has honed in on her location and is pulling his Mustang convertible right up to her door.
I’m certain that the faking female then throws back her little beetle head and laughs a teeny evil genius laugh before devouring the less-than-intelligent male, who really thought he was going to go on a date.
As I see it, this tale of trickery provides a few very important life lessons. For one, it’s a nice lesson in “everything isn’t always what it seems.” Secondly, it’s a great story that might get my kids interested in science. It also gives me a good defense when arguing with my husband. (As is, “do you want me to go all lightning bug on you?”) And lastly, it gives me a nice platform for explaining the perils of dating to my kids at a young age, and teaching them that boys in shiny cars should look out for girls who honk back.
Whether you call them lightning bugs or fireflies, these little critters with their flashing hind ends never cease to amaze me. They have been entertaining people young and old, since that very first day when someone saw a flash of light in the woods and wondered just what it could possibly be.
Since then, we’ve been chasing them and collecting them in jars to make our own nightlights. My grandmother, who is a very sweet lady, admits that she used to smash the glowing ends onto her nails as glow in the dark nail polish when she was younger. And while I never had the “guts” to do that, I’ve caught my fair share of the illuminating fliers over the years.
No matter whether you are a lightning bug watcher, catcher, collector, or manicurist, you would probably agree that those flying beetles are some of the sweetest, most innocent that you know. But just read on…
Scientifically speaking, each species of firefly has their own blinking pattern. The males are the only ones that actually fly and blink, while the females sit on the ground and respond accordingly. Or as I explain to my kids, “it’s like the boys are driving around in big fancy cars honking the horns, and if the girls want to go out on a date, they honk back.” Biology, I find, is fairly difficult to explain to young children, and I usually end up sounding like a deranged teenager caught in a tornado of gossip.
There is, however, one fantastic biological story about my flying friend that is worth the time and effort to explain.
As I said before, each species has its own pattern so that males and females know who is who because there are a lot of different species out there. But one species, or rather the almighty female of one species, is smarter than the average bug. She is an evil genius. I think she is the kind that, if she was a human, would end up being the character on the soap operas that everyone loves to hate.
She is a man-eater.
This hungry lady hangs out in the grass where the girls who are waiting for the boys with the fancy cars would be. Only she’s really a biker chick and isn’t really into cars, so when the boys drive by and honk, she has to fake an “ooh, handsome wheels” flash right back at the male, luring him into her trap.
He blinks (honks,) then she blinks (fakes,) and before you know it, the poor sucker has honed in on her location and is pulling his Mustang convertible right up to her door.
I’m certain that the faking female then throws back her little beetle head and laughs a teeny evil genius laugh before devouring the less-than-intelligent male, who really thought he was going to go on a date.
As I see it, this tale of trickery provides a few very important life lessons. For one, it’s a nice lesson in “everything isn’t always what it seems.” Secondly, it’s a great story that might get my kids interested in science. It also gives me a good defense when arguing with my husband. (As is, “do you want me to go all lightning bug on you?”) And lastly, it gives me a nice platform for explaining the perils of dating to my kids at a young age, and teaching them that boys in shiny cars should look out for girls who honk back.
Here's an easy activity that is fun to do at snacktime.
Talk about bird with your kid. Talk about chickadees with their little tiny beaks, ducks with their flat beaks, pelicans with their giant beaks. And then ask them about what types of food those birds eat. See if they can draw a relationship between beak size and food. (in other words, big pelican beaks eat big fish, goldfinches eat tiny thistle seed.)
At snacktime, set out dishes of a few differently sized foods. We used Rice Krispies, raisins, marshmallows, suckers, etc. Then provide the children with different sized "beaks." Some ideas include: tweezers, kitchen tongs, clothespins.
Fun, food, and learning too. Not much better than that!
Talk about bird with your kid. Talk about chickadees with their little tiny beaks, ducks with their flat beaks, pelicans with their giant beaks. And then ask them about what types of food those birds eat. See if they can draw a relationship between beak size and food. (in other words, big pelican beaks eat big fish, goldfinches eat tiny thistle seed.)
At snacktime, set out dishes of a few differently sized foods. We used Rice Krispies, raisins, marshmallows, suckers, etc. Then provide the children with different sized "beaks." Some ideas include: tweezers, kitchen tongs, clothespins.
Fun, food, and learning too. Not much better than that!
I am really bummed that I lost the picture. As I went to water our "extra" sunflower plants that we've got going in peat pots the other day, a little toad snuck back into the corner pot. He was hiding out in there! As ugly as toads are, it was rather cute to see those bulgy eyes poking out underneath the sunflower sprout.
But the camera went kaplooie and I lost the shot.
Yesterday as I went to water the plants, I heard a distinctive ca-chunk in the empty watering can. As you will expect, another toad. A dead ca-chunk-y toad in the bottom of the watering can. I shook him out in the woods for someone else to enjoy.
Rest in peace. Ca-chunk.
But the camera went kaplooie and I lost the shot.
Yesterday as I went to water the plants, I heard a distinctive ca-chunk in the empty watering can. As you will expect, another toad. A dead ca-chunk-y toad in the bottom of the watering can. I shook him out in the woods for someone else to enjoy.
Rest in peace. Ca-chunk.
At a toy store this weekend, I saw those little hair-growing toys that are basically grass seed sprouting out of a $10 wad of dirt. As usual I thought to myself, "I can do that. I can do that and not spend $20 to grow a square inch of grass for each kid."
And so... EGG HEADS.
Easy activity.
You'll need to chop off the skinny end of the egg. I used a pair of scissors and poked in at the top and then snipped around to create the hole. Once the insides were dumped out and I washed and dried the eggs, the kids carefully drew on their faces. (Toby's is a "masked super hero" if you're wondering...)
Once that is done, it's a matter of filling it with some potting soil and sprinkling in some grass seed. We water carefully and have them sitting in a sunny place.
Once that is done, it's a matter of filling it with some potting soil and sprinkling in some grass seed. We water carefully and have them sitting in a sunny place.
After they've grown their full head of grass hair, you can actually style their 'do. Add a ribbon or two, give a buzz cut. I think at least one of ours will end up with a mohawk this year.
Have fun!
My grandfather seems to have his own language. One of his famous words is "bird seeder" which the rest of the world calls a "bird feeder."
But he's really not wrong...is he...
Anyway, here's a tidbit of information for all of us novice birders out there, one of the few that I know.
When you buy mixed bird seed, a lot of the time the birds pick through it and half of it ends up on the ground. Don't be discouraged! There are birds that only feed on the ground, so by sharing the seed, you are sharing the love.
Ohio readers-- are your hummingbird feeders -- I meed "seeders" up yet?
But he's really not wrong...is he...
Anyway, here's a tidbit of information for all of us novice birders out there, one of the few that I know.
When you buy mixed bird seed, a lot of the time the birds pick through it and half of it ends up on the ground. Don't be discouraged! There are birds that only feed on the ground, so by sharing the seed, you are sharing the love.
Ohio readers-- are your hummingbird feeders -- I meed "seeders" up yet?
Here's something we did a few weeks ago, and it was too cute not to share. Twig dolls! The photo kind of explains how to make them -- just find appropriately shaped twigs, tie them together with pipe cleaners, and add accessories depending on what you find outdoors. we made these fairly early in the spring, but I can imagine wildflower skirts, acorn hats, dandilion heads, etc.
A great nature/creativity craft!
I've always wanted to try this. It just sounds too neat to be true.
To make your own sunflower house, plant giant sunflowers in a large circle. When they grow tall, you can "go inside" your very own house made of sunflowers!
There are some neat children's books that tell the story, including "Sunflower House" by Eve Bunting. The original book, "Sunflower Houses: Inspiration from the Garden -- A Book for Children and Their Grown Ups" is by Sharon Lovejoy (who I've recently come to know as a very nice person!!!
Here are some photos from our attempt this year. Anyone ever try this and have success?
To make your own sunflower house, plant giant sunflowers in a large circle. When they grow tall, you can "go inside" your very own house made of sunflowers!
There are some neat children's books that tell the story, including "Sunflower House" by Eve Bunting. The original book, "Sunflower Houses: Inspiration from the Garden -- A Book for Children and Their Grown Ups" is by Sharon Lovejoy (who I've recently come to know as a very nice person!!!
Here are some photos from our attempt this year. Anyone ever try this and have success?
Once the load of dirt comes in, we are going to plant a patch of habitat in our backyard, in a little spot near the woodsline where the sunlight sneaks between the woods and the house. I have a few packs of seeds from the Ohio Department of Nature Resources that I received at last year's Becoming an Ohio Outdoors Woman. If they actually grow, I will have a small plot of flowers that will provide nectar for hummingbirds and butterflies, and I've got my fingers crossed.
There is something special about watching a hummingbird and the way it hovers, or the erratic flight of the butterfly. When these amazing creatures cross your path, you can't help but consider yourself lucky. They're not a common sight.
But just think if more people planted a small patch of habitiat -- maybe it would be a common sight, and how wonderful that would be!
So plant your habitat, folks! Here are some seed ideas that are included in my pack, but you can easily pick them up individually:
Cosmos
Zinnia (3' tall)
Mexican Sunflower (6')
Purple Coneflower
There is something special about watching a hummingbird and the way it hovers, or the erratic flight of the butterfly. When these amazing creatures cross your path, you can't help but consider yourself lucky. They're not a common sight.
But just think if more people planted a small patch of habitiat -- maybe it would be a common sight, and how wonderful that would be!
So plant your habitat, folks! Here are some seed ideas that are included in my pack, but you can easily pick them up individually:
Cosmos
Zinnia (3' tall)
Mexican Sunflower (6')
Purple Coneflower
I shouldn't be posting this in a public place. I might have crazed mushroom hunters sneaking around my backyard despite the No Tresspassing signs...
We found a TON of morel mushrooms in our backyard this year! They are popping up everywhere! For those who don't know what it is, it's a funky mushroom that looks like this:
They are unmistakable, and when fried up in butter taste like you're eating sauteed mushrooms on a steak...without the steak.
We found so many this year that I passed them around the neighborhood. Amazing! I can only hope they come back next year. I'll be ready and waiting, fork in hand.
We did a little fishing this past weekend in the farm pond. Yes, it's stocked and catching a fish is just a matter of tossing in a line. (The fish have been known to bite on just a hook -- no bait required.) But seeing the excitement in Toby's face was a good reminder that kids love fishing. He was extremely proud of himself for casting and reeling in his very own fish, as you can see by this shot. There's just something about bringing a fish to the surface, like you are witnessing a visiting alien. And what little boy doesn't like aliens?
I think we've got a little fisherman on our hands...
Well, an update.
She laid a total of five eggs...and hasn't come back since. We're all a little bummed about it, to be honest.
Strange enough, the first day she didn't show up was the first day Canada Geese moved in at the pond across the street -- coincidence or not? Anyone know?
She laid a total of five eggs...and hasn't come back since. We're all a little bummed about it, to be honest.
Strange enough, the first day she didn't show up was the first day Canada Geese moved in at the pond across the street -- coincidence or not? Anyone know?