Kirk Park Sept. 9, 2014

Kirk Park 

Sept. 9, 2014

It is the season of enjoying parks without the crowds...my favorite time of year!  Both May and September are usually fairly empty, and still having nice weather, so we tend to do extra visiting to parks.  Saturday, we all went to Kirk Park.  Monday, Dd and I went to Huff Park.  Tuesday, Dd and I went back to Kirk Park.  I didn't want to do Kirk Park so quickly, but the weather is suppose to be rainy and I wanted to make sure we could get out to another park at least once more this week.  Chelle, was asking if this area gets snow---Michigan specifically.  Well, Chelle, where we are now at gets 74.9 inches/190.2 centimeters.  In Indiana, where we use to live, gets an average annual snowfall of 25.9 inches/65.8 centimeters.  
By Inches: (Michigan)74.9   vs   (Indiana)25.9
By Centimeters: (Michigan)190.2   vs   (Indiana)65.8

That is THREE times more snow!  Yes, we will be getting a lot of snow.  I am not a good driver on snowy roads (at least not yet- and fear I will be made to become better), and have been trying to get out and enjoy being outside while we can!

As you can see, the crowds are certainly dying down!  We spent 1 1/2 hours swimming--and boy, was the water chilly! 

The budding photographer---has her own blog now to post HER pictures!

I had Dd fill up some viles with Lake Michigan water--now we can look at it under our microscope!

After having peanut butter and jelly sandwiches (and grapes) Dd was ready to get back into the water again!

I just love the highlights on the water.  Reminds me of my childhood memories; looking at the waves on our lake in Maine.

Dd made a sculpture of a face in the sand.

After the beach, we hiked the trail to see what nature had for us today.  The mosquito's attacked Dd, and she got 6 bites along the way.  I didn't get to take my time and enjoy the area like I had wanted to.  The bug spray was inside our car, and NOT on my Dd...where I wished it had been!  I still enjoyed the time I did get to spend there.  We were at the beach for hours, and the wonderful trail for only 30 minutes instead of camping out a bit and taking in all the things to be found!  I did find a very cool spider & web that I tried to take pictures of--but the images didn't turn out!

I don't know if you can see--Dd is bending down taking close-up pictures of things off the path.

Dd found this fungus behind a tree, off the path...good find!

Lichen/Moss...one of my favorite things on earth! 

Such a graceful tree.

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Huff Park Sept. 8, 2014

Huff Park 

Sept. 8, 2014

We had a nice visit to the wetland park Monday afternoon.  I actually saw 2 birds that I have never seen (and knew that I was seeing them, at least).  I saw a Rose-Breasted Grosbeak and a precious Wren!!!!  The Rose-Breasted Grosbeak had it's nest right on the boardwalk, and only 3-4 feet away.  I could almost see inside.  The male was at the nest until he saw me, then he kept working his way up higher and higher in the trees.  The problem with today's visit to the park is that our camera's battery died only half way into our walk, so I didn't get a picture of it (the bird or nest!).  

**Although, I didn't take this pictures (thanks to Google Images), I wanted to show you all what they did look like:

For more details on Rose Breasted Grosbeak , a medium sized song bird: http://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Rose-breasted_Grosbeak/id

This is Carolina Wren, a small bird- 3 to 3 1/2 inches, the same size as a hummingbird, for more details: http://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/carolina_wren/id

Last time we were here there were so many bee's---and of varying sizes and shapes.  This visit we only saw a handful of bees; but were amazed at all the dragon flies were around.  There were at least 3 different kinds of dragonflies that I saw.  There was a HUGE kind that stayed up in the sky, a really tiny kind, and a lot of the pretty red, middle sized ones.  I'm sure there were more than just those 3 species, but those are the ones I got a good look at.

This male Red Cardinal actually hopped all the way down the boardwalk!  He just stayed out of our sight.  Dd took 15 pictures trying to capture one good look; but he was really good at evading us!

This is what part of the boardwalk looks like...a real wetland, huh?!!  Poor, Sophie fell right in!

Last time we were here the bees just loved these little blooms, and would fly right in to one after the other pollinating as they go!

So many of the Cat-tails were 'spent'--and the cone-flowers too.

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Core G Week 2 Sept. 8-12, 2014

Core G Week 2 Sept. 8-12, 2014

I just posted these pictures back on last weeks post, but I wanted Christie to see the sword that Dd did--and I think you said you already saw that post, so here it is up front for a few days.  I will delete these pictures and put up our new stuff in a few days.

I think she made this to be Percy Jackson's sword....

She just likes doing these little gizmo's

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Kirk Park Sept. 6, 2014

Kirk Park 

Lake Michigan

Sept. 6, 2014

We spent Saturday at Kirk Park, on Lake Michigan.  After spending the day at the beach and lots of swimming then we walked back on a lovely trail.  There were mushrooms EVERYWHERE!  It was crazy!  The other super-great thing about this visit, was that Monarch butterflies were flying overhead the whole day!  I lost count of how many we saw...THAT many.  I've never-ever experienced anything like that...just a wonderful blessing of a day filled with all the Lord's creations!  A day to remember!  

First we had a picnic, and then collected a few bags of acorns.  There were acorns galore!  Dd wanted to bring some back to our apartment to feed the squirrels that come to our bird feeders (don't tell the apartment company- they said feeding the squirrels was prohibited!).  It was amazing to see how different the soil and environment is compared to Indiana.  After collecting the acorns, we went to the beach.  The beach is a "Dog Beach", meaning we can bring our dog, and let her off the leash to run and play with the other dogs.  Our dog, Sophie had such a great time.  She befriended "Charlie" and "Dakota"; two 7 month old yellow labs (from different families).  Dd really enjoyed the waves, and did her "Duck Dives".  After the beach, we walked a short, but fantastic trail, and then headed home with one exhausted dog!

While taking pictures of the mushrooms, I wished I had Susan's son, Will, along to appreciate them all!  So many different varieties were all around!  Michigan must be the right climate for mushrooms.

 

 

This mushroom was fairly short, and just above the leaves plastered on the ground.

Instead of walking straight to our auto, Dh took us on a short trail--and what a lovely trail it was!

Such a TINY mushroom!

HAPPY!

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What is "Core G"?

What is "Core G?"

What is "Core G?": http://www.sonlight.com/GC5.html

In case someone is reading (like my mom) who doesn't know what "Core G" means--here is how Sonlight describes it: 

Witness the rise and fall of ancient empires.

• Discover how people lived around the world from Creation through the Reformation.
• Relax with complete lesson plans and materials for homeschool success.
• Meet Augustus Caesar, samurai warriors, Incan emperors, Joan of Arc, Martin Luther and more!
• Bring the ancient world to life with vivid biographies, historical fiction and award-winning literature.

Core G is all about fostering students' ability to think critically and make connections. I created it to help students see the connected flow of human history, from creation through the 1600s.

** Basically, it is a year of studying Ancient History, up to 1600 AD.  Then when we finish this 'core' we will do the follow-up core that will bring us up to today.  We have already studied the Ancients, up to current times before; but that was a few years ago (Core's B & C).  This study will be more in-depth and informative, since Dd is older and can understand history more deeply now.

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