Every day is school.

I am always a bit amused when asked if we have taken off school for summer vacation.  Taking off school would be like taking a break from life!  Like the title of the blog THE LIVING SCHOOL, we do indeed live our school in every way on every day.  Today Big D was bubbling over with knowledge to share.  She sounded like a little walking encyclopedia.  I almost likened it to emerging from a dream world during her 8th summer.  She shared with us great information on the way copper heads are startled and bite, taking spore prints from mushrooms, identifying and using wild foods, and many random facts about sea life.

 Big D whittles 'toasting' stick out of spice bush with her pocket knife.

 Gazing at Mt. Mitchell from the top of the second highest peak, Mt.Craig.

 Little D and Little Trampas showing off their creations at Jr. Lego League.

 Playing a game of chess at the UNC Botanical Gardens.

 Communing with our friend and teacher after a plant walk at the UNC Botanical Gardens.

Little D pointing out the wonderful wild foods that Marc is teaching to a group of us. 

 Isn't this the coolest picture? Vogue-ing with pals after the tour of the El Anatsui Retrospective at the NCMA.

 Hmm, what is going on under these mushrooms?!

Summertime and the livin' is easy (yeah right!)

We have had great fun and adventures with family and friends during this early summer season.

 Nothing can beat a Sunday morning with Grandma!

 Stripping the old bike 'for parts to sale'.  I think Uncle Stephen may be an influence here.

 Fun on the slip-n-slide at a friend's birthday party.

 Aunt Megan's visit as she returns from France to continue working on her doctorate in California.

 ...and great hugs and love from Uncle Nat.

 A special treat with long time friends on the carousel at Pullen Park.

 Hanging with good buddies while cruisin' the boats at Pullen Park.

 A trip to the SPCA to relinquish donations and play with the animals.

 Memories being made on Emerald Isle with old friends on the Fourth of July.

Have to show off the new fishing pole and trying our hand at fishing from the pier.

In the Garden

At our new-ish home we have been busy through the Spring and early Summer creating beds, setting up chicken and chick habitats, watching the bees and enjoying the daily changes in the garden.  Here are some pictures to highlight the newest activities.

 Removing and closely inspecting the caterpillars that love our brassicas.

 Our broody Dawn with the baby chicks she hatched and cares for makes it easy on us chicken keepers.

 We are always looking for ways to create new beds!

 Baby goat lifting is a great way to build muscles and smiles.

Gotta keep up with picking all those yummy grape sized gherkin cucs.

Hike Club, Spring 2012

Hike club was an interesting mix of kids who allowed us parents to come along!  We shared in town pond walks, hiking through Conservency land to the confluence of the Rocky and Deep Rivers, observing a mating pair of Bald Eagles brood their eggs, and exploring the grounds of the North Carolina Art Museum.

 Sketching the nest and eaglets at Jordan Lake State Park.

 Using a viewing scope provided and taught by this N.C. State Park Ranger, Ranger/Uncle Stephen.

 Fly like these eagles!

 Collections...

 Beaver habitat explored on Jordan Lake hike.

Moms enjoying convening under the mulberry trees at the NCArt Museum.

aka Book Club

  So here goes Book Club...unit studies (Spring: attentiveness)

Visiting the Piedmont Wildlife Center for a class on tracking with local guru Gumby.

Yep folks that is us looking at Gumby's scat collection.  As always an eye opening experience.

A little more Spring fun

Here are more highlights.  Our Spring was so packed with family and friends and adventures.

 Lots and lots of time with family as they make the move to Chimney Rock State Park.

 Big D rocked the Geography fair with her project.  She did so much work, and mostly by herself!

 Homeschooling buddies are looking sweet together.

 Yoga class makes a Valentine banner for the teacher.

Hanging with hommies at the Piedmont Wildlife Center for a class on tracking with our Wed. Coop.

A visit to Spring

Summer time is fast approaching and I wanted to share some of this Spring's highlights.

 Final hike club of the Spring at the NC Art Museum. Can't you see we are hiking!?

 Trip to the Nasher Art Museum in Durham followed by a jaunt around Duke Gardens.  The D's loved the Alexander Calder exhibit of mobiles and stabiles.  The Museum offered a chance for the kids to make their own Calder mobiles.

 Gardening and lots of it.  Making beds, building chicken houses, constructing paths and patios, setting up beehives, and the list goes on....

 Spending some quality time with Great Aunt Shirley at her home.

 Zoo Club trip and it wasn't fun at all, ha!

 The D's are back on stage in Holka Polka, a production by the homeschool group.  Here is Splenda.

 Little D had two roles: gnome and guard, grrr.

 Many trips to check out the eagle and osprey nests at Jordan Lake State Park.

Finally, lots and lots of fun relaxing with friends :)