Mini Society

As usual I'm behind in my blogging. We have enjoyed a week long visit to NC, details in a future post. We also had our hardwood floors redone, while away, that turned into quite the mess. We and our furniture are now all returned to their proper places. So a little bit of catching up on blogging, laundry and housecleaning.

This past year in our homeschool co-op, Hannah participated in a class called Mini-Society. It's a program for late elementary and junior high students on developing a society -government, currency, laws etc. The class is divided into groups of 2 students who then are responsible for developing a store with a theme, products, marketing, pricing etc. The overall theme for this year was Recyling materials. Hannah had a great time. They had to decide on products, make them, market them, price them and then sell them at market at our co-op. At the end of May, there is a big Market Day at James Madison University, with other local school groups consisting of about 500 students . They have several awards that they give out, for theme, ideas, how your group ran etc.

Hannah and her partner, chose a retro 70's theme along with the recycling. I know, its hard to believe that the 70's are considered retro, our childhood wasn't that long ago!

They made pretty flowers out of coffe filters, water color paints and pipe cleaners and then put them in small glass coke bottles that we got from a local store, before they recycled them. They also made some bath salts for the coke bottles.



Headbands out of scrap fabric




These were my favorite~ bowls out of old records. They softened them in a warm oven over a pyrex glass bowl and then shaped them. Very cute.


Lip gloss with retro flowers, and in those small condiment dishes from a local restaurant, not previously used though : )

They also made cute handbags out of old jeans. These were a huge hit and I didn't even get a picture before they were sold out.


I'm so proud of Hannah, she worked really hard on her projects and had so much fun. She also won two awards~ First Place in the essay contest for the junior high students and she and her partner won for their green marketing~ use of recyled materials for their products. She won Barnes and Noble gift cards which she was thrilled about.

An article in the local paper that highlights some fellow co-opers. http://www.vcee.org/misc/userfiles/file/Marketplace.pdf

Look Closely

Do you see anything? A chair, anything else? Well besides the mess of shoes and stuff.


Look even closer, now you see it, a nest, in our chair, on our back deck! Doesn't look like a great place for a home to me, but I'm not a bird.




An even closer look shows you that we have baby birds. They are baby wrens. Wrens are notorious for building nest in odd places, often in the corners of front porches. We had seen the mom and the nest but hadn't realized she had laid eggs, until they had already hatched.


A week or so later, they look much different. We've gotten to watch momma bird bringing a meal of worms and other insects on several occasions.






A few weeks later, we happened to be downstairs and got to watch the four little birds fledge the nest. It was really neat. They were all quite brave, leaving the nest, dropping to the deck floor, wobbling their way to our post and then leaping off into the back yard. Well, except for the last one, who was slow and timid enough for us to catch on film. He took his time, almost saying this seems crazy why am I going to fling myself off this deck. But he finally joined his siblings in the backyard and then onto the trees.

Carefully surveying the job ahead, he sat here for quite awhile, the momma bird even came to check on him and give him a little pep talk.



Onto a little higher place, but gripping tightly onto the deck.

Just about ready, and then he went. We cheered, knowing we had watched a big moment in the life of a little bird.

A spring day at horseback riding lessons

The boys and I just enjoyed a beautiful day while the girls rode. What's not to like ~ horses, dogs, cats and wonderful scenery and sunshine. And if you're a boy they also have lots of dirt, grass and hills to roll down.

Watching their sisters ride around.

Playing with the dog, Neptune. This was so funny because Aaron was trying to hug Neptune, but I was sure that wasn't going to happen. What do I know?

Some short video of the girls riding.

Nature Trail

There is a new nature trail next to our house, that leads to a lake. It's an easy and beautiful walk through the forest. Doesn't it look inviting?




We've enjoyed many walks and have had fun watching spring arrive.




Beautiful example of shelf fungus. Yes, fungus can be beautiful when found in nature as it should be.



Garlic Mustard plant





Pasture roses blanket the ground



Wild strawberries

?????


Buttercups

The path ends at Shenandoah Lake. You can take a path around the lake to a dock, where you can rent row boats and canoes. Fishing is also allowed on the lake.

Off the lake there are several creeks, fun for future exploring.

We are really enjoying this new edition to our neighborhood and it's right next to our house.

A Captivated Boy

This boy is crazy about trucks, of all kinds. So this was a happy day for him... window seating at


the repaving of our street. This kept him still and happy for quite a long time.


We also have some work going on right next to our driveway for a nature trail for our neighborhood, so he loves to watch the work and keep a close eye on.......

this digger truck. The landscaper is keeping it here, so Caleb gets to get excited about it everyday. Apparently, the thrill just doesn't go away.

YDI Camp for the Day

A family in our homeschool co-op runs this Christian Youth Camp in the Allegheny Mountains, called Y.D. I. and invited the co-op to come for the day to try out their activities and enjoy the beautiful scenery. Ken took off work to go with us, but since Caleb hurt his arm, he and the girls went themselves, while the boys and I stayed home.


The camp is 280 acres of wildlife, with a meeting hall, cabins and the usual camp stuff. It's in Highland county, which is just beautiful.

A swing just off the path

One of the activities is a ropes course, you can see here the lines going among the trees. Neither of the girls had ever done this kinda thing.

First you get attached to safety wires and a harness.
Then you walk on a wire going up to a platform in the trees.

Once to the platform, you get attached to a wire suspended from the crossing wire and you let go and go for a quick ride down the mountain to a stopping platform. Lauren thought this was great fun. No fear.


Ken went next. He said the walking on the wire was the hardest and most heart thumping part.

They also did a little hiking, finding a winding creek and a dried up bed, full of interesting rocks and rock layers.

Another activity, that was a first for the girls was wall climbing. Again you get attached to safety ropes and have to climb up the wall and then walk yourself back down. Both girls gave this a try. Though one really had fun, the other well.......she was able to say she did it.

They also enjoyed a picnic, games and time with their friends. They had a good time and enjoyed getting to hang out with Daddy.