Rabbit Scat & Our Remarkable Daughter

Image Source: http://naturallycuriouswithmaryholland.wordpress.com/2012/01/20/copophragy/

Today held one of those endearing moments that often happen between a parent and a five-year old child. It started with us missing the bus this morning despite being at the end of the driveway at the right time. Lately the bus has been coming earlier so as 8 minutes passed I figured I’d go inside and call the bus garage to make sure I was correct.

For safety I had my daughter come halfway back on the drive. As I was calling she went on the lawn and was exploring the animal tracks in the snow. She is now able to identify rabbit tracks, so after I verified we did indeed miss the bus she told me there were loads of tracks on our yard. I told her that was cool and that we had to leave quick.

We got in the van and drove to school. It was a nice brisk, sunny morning brightened by the snow. We have a general rule that there is no video and only low radio for drives to and from school. This allows us to talk. It has taken about a year and a half for some great dialogue to occur but now it has and it is excellent! Perhaps another day I’ll share the story of the bull on the road. We talked about what her day was going to look like and then I asked her what she wanted to be when she grew-up. She thought for a moment and said ‘I want to be a Mom. A Mom that works at an amusement park and brings her kids to work’. Chuckling inside I told her that sounded like a great career.

But that is not the really funny part of this story. That happens when we arrive and we are walking into school. As we are about to enter the school I see that she is holding and looking at something in her right hand. I though it was something but hoped it wasn’t what I though…so I asked her ‘Elisabeth what is that you are holding in your hand?’ she says ‘rabbit poop’. Holding a straight face I asked her where she got it from and she said her pocket. I said when did you put it in your pocket and she says ‘this morning’ and adds ‘there was lots of it’. I said you have to toss that before we enter the school and then wash your hands because it is dirty. She did this with no problem but did state that the rabbit poop was just solid grass.

As I was waiting outside the bathroom another parent came by and I told her the story and we both laughed. The amazing part to me was that she knew what it was. I probably told her what it was two years ago at a visit to zoo or science museum, but if so it is remarkable that she remembered! It would also be amazing if she had deducted that the ‘poop’ she had held in her hand was from a rabbit.

After school we had fun telling Mommy about this. We also discussed why you had to be careful in picking up any animal poop without proper training and the possible diseases or viruses it may carry.Another great learning opportunity with the benefit of a laugh for us.

Thanks for making our day Elisabeth!

 

So as it was getting la

Sunday Morning Shout Out

Image Source: http://www.thecraftycrow.net/2012/09/coffee-filter-fall-leaves.html

There is a joke in this house that 7pm is the bewitching hour. Something seems to shift in all of us. The end of the day and exhaustion are upon us all, creating an UGLY concoction of whining, crabbiness, and tempestuousness, on too many nights. Thus, when inspiration rears its darling head at this time of the day we doubly take notice.

Inspiration came into the house on an autumn breeze. Perhaps a little fog was stuck on her. The kids and I took a walk outside after dinner and enjoyed the last light of the day. We watched the fog set in the air and night, as the last of the geese honked their way home. My oldest rode her bike, while my youngest daughter and son had a wagon ride. My youngest daughter and I then picked up pretty leaves, admiring the size of the maples leaves and their fiery colors. It was time to go inside the house and start baths and a period of time we call “bed time baskets.” It is really just a catchy name we put to mandatory wind down time before bed.

The girls decided they wanted to work with the leaves on paper during the baby’s bath time. Taking a page from all of our collective childhoods, they placed the leaves under the paper and gently colored over them, leaving the leaf’s imprint (Funny how some of the things we most enjoy and remember about childhood seem DNA coded  into our children. I used to love doing this very thing!) The girls were enamored with their designs!. The girls cooed and “ooed “ over their leaf creations. They lovingly spoke of what they were creating, showing me each one as it was freshly done. Contentedly and excitedly they made many of these leaf prints. My youngest daughter got a lilt in her step, to match her joyful tone, and seemed to bask in creating each work of “delicate leaf beauty.”  My oldest daughter worked feverishly away on these leaves and then segued into mermaid drawing. Again I was reminded that there is no substitute for the wonder and inspiration of nature, minus watching my children being inspired by natural wonder and creating.

(Note: For some really great fall leaf craft project you might like a post on Momtastic titled “10 Fall Leaf Crafts to Do With Kids”)

The Birdwatchers

As part of my liberal arts education, I was required to take a laboratory science. I hadn’t done particularly poorly in high school science, but for some reason the idea of taking a college-level course was terrifying. I fretted over the inevitable drop in my GPA and put off taking the course until my sophomore year, making the science credit one of the final breadth requirements I fulfilled. I decided to take the non-science majors course, and when I went to my advisory meeting my advisor gave my course selection list a cursory glance.

“Ah,” she said. “You’re taking your science requirement next semester. Do you know what the course is?”

In fact, I did. Although the online scheduling portal didn’t list the course name, I had cross-referenced the number with the course catalogue and found out that it had something to do with plants as medicine. My advisor glanced down at the paper, and shook her head.

“I think that next semester the course is ornithology.”

Bird watching is an easy hobby to take up. All you really need is a pair of binoculars a guidebook, and the great outdoors! (Image Credit:http://www.kyliepurtell.com/2010/08/friday-funny-bird-watching.html)

Oh.

OH.

“Birds,” I squeaked, trying not to let the panic I was feeling show on my face. I hated birds. I was scared of birds. The idea of their cold, dead eyes gave me the willies. The thought of bird wings getting trapped in my hair, feeling the frantic pulling of their muscles as they struggled to get free, made me nauseous. “Great!”

The lab portion of the course ended up being field time, which we spent taking trips around the region watching birds and keeping bird-watching journals. I was not particularly outstanding in the field, but I studied the bird identification book and did well on the quizzes. By the end of the semester, I had scraped out an A and was happy to put the course behind me. I gave my bird guide book to my parents and promptly forgot nearly everything I had learned.

What I hadn’t counted on was my mom’s newfound fascination with the bird feeders in her backyard. We’ve always had bird feeders, but they’ve typically been a vague part of the landscape and the birds that visit are, for the most part, ignored. Now, however, when we sit outside eating dinner, the binoculars and bird book are in the center, just in case a bird should appear. We’ve seen yellow finches, purple finches, a male and female grosbeak, blue jays, cowbirds, chickadees, and a plethora of other birds. The backyard has become a newfound source of enjoyment for my parents, and they bicker over what bird they’ve spotted with a fervor previously reserved for the cooking shows on Food Network.

It’s never too late to find a new hobby, and while I doubt my mom will become a particularly avid birdwatcher, her new pursuit has given her a new appreciation for the familiar, which I think is always a good idea.

What hobby has given you a new perspective on life?

Baby Praying Mantises

“Come see! Come see!” Whenever my five-year-old sister has something to show me, odds are it is something bizarre or not particularly interesting. Usually, these moments come when I’m occupied with something else, like having a conversation or eating my dinner. Seeing as how she is my sister, after all, I usually follow. So on Father’s Day, when she beckoned me over to the plastic container sitting out on the patio, I wasn’t sure exactly what to expect. You see, when you combine my little sister’s enthusiasm with my dad’s bizarreness, you can get strange things, like a cup full of snails for the pond or strawberry and rhubarb jam that looks like snot.

This tiny insect reminded me that life is pretty freaking awesome sometimes. (Image Credit:http://www.instructables.com/community/Feeding-baby-praying-mantis-newly-hatched/)

I still have memories of when my dad and I were the ones getting into weird stuff. The tray of tadpoles in the mud room waiting to turn into frogs, the cattails from a creek that exploded while in the car to fill it with snowy white seeds…all these experiences meant that when I looked into the plastic tub and saw strange brown shapes I wasn’t surprised. Cocoons, I figured, and I tried to look enthusiastic. Of course, my faked enthusiasm quickly became real when it turned out that the cocoons had hatched…and the hatchlings were tiny baby praying mantises.

There is magic outside, and as an adult who has an indoor job and an indoor life, I forget that sometimes. It’s nice to have a child around to remind me of that. And plus, tiny praying mantises are the most amazing things I’ve seen in a long time. What are some of the coolest things children have shown you, lately?

Sunday Morning Shout Out

In his critically acclaimed 2005 book Last Child in the Woods, Richard Louv  coined the term “nature deficit disorder.”  In the book, he argued that many children today have an abject separation from nature and embrace the  great indoors instead, through an overly indulgent electronic media diet and fear of things outside. He looked at the alarmingly high rates of childhood obesity, attention deficit disorder, and other mental health diagnosis that are so present in children today and made a strong case, both empirically and anecdotally, that children who connect with nature in a meaningfully way are that much happier and healthier because of it.  He found that they could be more successful in school as well, as immersion in nature increased children’s ability to concentrate; fostered creative play;  and relieved attention deficit disorder symptoms. This is not to forget the heavy dose of awe and wonder nature supplies children and us all.

His book helped touch off a back to nature movement for children and spurred a national debate. Such thoughts have not been far from one local school. The Alexander Central School District is currently building an outdoor classroom designed to reduce nature deficiencies .  Concerned about these issues, long-term elementary teacher Ellie Jinks pursued and was awarded a $50,000 “Refresh Everything” Pepsi grant to start the project. When phase one is completed, the school will have the first certified outdoor classroom in this part of New York. With design and planning assistance from The Arbor Day Foundation, The Dimensions Educational Research Foundation, Nature Explore Classroom Certification Program, and project direction from local company Conservation Matters, school, business, and other community volunteers, have begun construction. Ten learning stations are being constructed in the school’s existing nature study area. There will be distinct areas for bird watching, writing, performance, math, water play, wheel toys, art and performance, as well as gardening. A fitness path and a greenhouse are also part of the plans, with the construction of the greenhouse to be done in 2013. The emphasis will be on learning, as teachers will be trained in how to teach New York State Curriculum within the outdoor classroom, but also on unstructured play in nature and appreciation of it.

Citing the book, the school said it hoped to do its part to save its students from “nature deficit disorder” and promote health, exercise, and outdoor play. You can read more about the project in the report published recently by The Batavian.

Ten Ways To Satiate Your Hunger for The Hunger Games

One of the reasons I love stories that continue over a series is that I have a hard time letting go of well-written characters and plot lines. After seeing The Hunger Games on Tuesday night, I’ve been trying to find ways to relive the excitement of seeing the film by rereading the trilogy of books by Suzanne Collins. Here are some other ideas to help keep you in the Panem spirit.

Bread and Circuses

The name of Panem comes from the Latin for bread and circuses, which is all you need to keep a country going successfully. Bread may not have factored into the movie, but in the books Peeta Mellark, the baker’s son, gives bread a lot of significance. Each district has a different kind of bread–after Rue dies in the first book, the people of her district send bread to Katniss as a thank you. By having food play such a significant role in both culture and class (the poor eat less-desirable bread than the rich), Collins truly develops the world of Panem (which, by the way, stands for the “bread” in “bread and circuses”). To help get your family involved in the world of Panem, why not take a page out of Peeta’s book and bake some bread? If you’re looking for ideas, try Whats4Eats’s great assembly of bread recipes from all around the world. While your bread is busy rising and baking, talk to your kids about why the bread you’ve made has the ingredients that it does (which probably has something to do with availability of ingredients).

Fighting Shape

Quite a bit of The Hunger Games narrative is taken up by the tributes training for the games. Whether its learning to tie knots or how to fire a bow and arrow, there are plenty of possibilities for your family to try some of the things that the tributes do. Check out animated knots for a great how-to guide of useful (and beautiful) knots, or try to find a local archery range where you can rent a bow and arrows for the afternoon and get in some target practice. Or, if you’re looking for a longer-term commitment, why not try signing up for a martial arts class and improve your hand-to-hand combat skills?

Take a Hike

Once the tributes are in the arena, survival skills become just as important as fighting skills. Luckily,  you don’t have to be put into an arena to experience the thrill of the great outdoors. Find a local park (if you’re in WNY, try Letchworth or Allegheny State Parks) and make a day out of exploring your natural environment. If you’re feeling particularly motivated, why not try taking a weekend class? Many parks offer birdwatching expeditions or plant identification walks.

Make a Masterpiece

Although Katniss doesn’t really embrace her quest to find a talent, Peeta develops his skills as an artist and creates not only beautiful cookies, but also magnificent paintings that help him deal with the lingering emotions from the Games. Try getting out some paints (if you’re just starting out, why not try some cheap watercolors?) and some paper (or a canvas, if you’re feeling particularly motivated), and create a masterpiece. If you’re looking for inspiration, why not try painting or sketching a scene from the novels or film?

Fan Fiction 

If you can’t seem to let go of the world of Panem, why not try writing your own stories based in Collins’s world? The world of fan fiction is exceptionally active online, and plenty of enthusiastic fans and talented writers are borrowing Collins’s genius to create their own literary works. Try writing a scene from the books from another character’s perspective, or extend the storyline into the future or the past.

Train, Train, Rolling Down the Track

One of the greatest thrills of going to the Capital is that Peeta and Katniss get to ride on a luxurious train. While some people are used to riding on trains, for many of us who don’t live in large cities the idea of riding a train is still exciting. Check out Scenic Rail Excursions to find a railroad that offers a scenic trip near you!

Dressing Up

One of the things I looked forward to the most about The Hunger Games film was seeing how they portrayed the Capital residents. I was not disappointed. While it may seem a little early, why not try starting to plan your Halloween costume early and create an outlandish look? Go overboard with your make-up and bright clothing! Start shopping now so that your outfit can be truly worthy of the Hunger Games by Halloween!

Healing Skills

Katniss may deny it, but throughout the books she becomes a pretty skilled healer. Gain some healing skills yourself by taking a First Aid course. The American Red Cross offers lots of different options for courses, everything from Swimming and Water Safety and Babysitting to Wilderness First Aid and Pet First Aid. Check out their website to find a course in your area!

Camping Trip

This is a little more involved, but why not try taking a weekend camping trip? You’ll probably want your accommodations to more comfortable than those offered in the arena, so don’t forget a tent and sleeping bags!

Start a Book Club

Bond with friends and family members by starting a Hunger Games book club. Start by reading (or re-reading) all the Hunger Games novels, and then move on to other books (consider other dystopian YA novels, including The Giver by Lois Lowry or, for older readers, 1984 by George Orwell). Try arranging a group outing to see the movie.

What are other ideas you have for staying in The Hunger Games spirit?