4H Poultry, Nature Finds, Rock Painting

Our week wrapped up with our 4H Poultry and Waterfowl meeting last eve. Never a bore: an escaped duck, a biting rooster, a ton of glue dripping, studies, big kids helping little kids, balloons flying, tons of giggles, families together. We enjoy these meetings immensely and we love hosting at our home and helping to teach the children.

4H Poultry

Little Kids now have books to study their parts...

 Each part is highlighted for them.

 Older kids matched up parts of a wing and a feather.

 I pre-made home made natural glue for our craft.

Here is the link: http://sustainableecho.com/homemade-natural-glue/

 Last month the kids made egg shell chicks and grew grass in the egg shells. So this month our craft was birds nests to put the little egg chicks in.

I ran across the project here: http://www.thecraftyclassroom.com/CraftNatureBirdsEggs.html

 Some Poultry study questions for the big kids.

Inspirations and thoughts

 ....the kids and I have been researching and thinking and discussing new idea's for the Summer and for next Homeschool year...here's a list we've been working on:

*Woodworking by hand

*Fairy and Gnome Gardens

*Farm Schooling

*Silk Dying with Natural Plant Dyes

*Schooling by the Seasons

*Embroidery Hoops

*Our Family Rhythm and Rhythm of Schooling

*Afternoon snack time, family time- kids baking with Mom

A little purple fun to brighten the window...

Nature Finds

We spent the morning gathering in our yard and from our other nature supplies previously gathered on exploring trips some natural materials to craft with today...

Rock Painting
I choose these rocks to paint an educational play toy of the frog's life cycle for the kids.
Finding the idea here: Wooden Frog Cycle
Before:

After:

The kids artwork in progress:
We discussed how some paintings take several layers to make them look more realistic- we researched online and read about painting and found some pictures of different idea's they wanted to try...
Jelly fish
Ladybug
Paper with written messags
Chick
Strawberry
Eyes peering out from the dark
and many more in the layering process...

Fun, relaxing day, beating the heat, staying indoors to craft, paint, play games, bake cookies and watch movies together.

{this moment}

{this moment}

A Friday ritual. A single photo - no words - capturing a moment from the week. A simple, special, extraordinary moment. A moment I want to pause, savor and remember.

Linking to Soule Mama

4th of July Mantel & Food

Coming home on Tuesday, we've spent the last few days unpacking, cleaning, getting things in order...and resting- it's amazing how tired you feel from a 'vacation'. I suppose its just that its not the normal routine, not your own bed. We had so much fun and were so sad to see it end. Our daughter claimed it to be the 'best week ever' of her who life! Love that girl. We also spent several hours Wednesday afternoon at the lake, soaking up some water and sun, a much needed family day after a week without 'dad'.

4th of July Mantel...and Crafts

Amongst the cleaning and chores, we researched online and printed out some 4th of July crafts we will all work on this weekend...

Hanging Rosette's (this one is for a banner but we want to paint them ourselves and hang them from the ceiling)

Tissue Paper Pom Pom's

Confetti Paper Rockets

Printables from Pinterest (We used some for our mantel)

Our Mantel in progress....for 4th of July.

This Week in Food...

Simple, easy, good....

A favorite that we haven't had for a while that we shared quite some time ago...

Falafel with Tzatiki Sauce

We half the Tzatiki Sauce as it makes so much! But its a favorite just as a dip with tortilla chips as well as in the pita sandwich.

Also, in a pinch for time- I didn't make the falafel early enough to use the crockpot- so we put them in the oven to bake- at 400 for 1 hour- flipped them over at the 30 minute mark- turned out fantastic! So oven or crockpot, these are a hit! Pile a couple in a pita with some romaine lettuce and dip. 

We served the sandwiches with a side of roasted red potato's with garlic, salt and pepper.

Last night, we made a simple Tempura Vegetable with a side of Steamed Rice with Soy Sauce.

Tempura Batter Recipe:

Ours has a little zing, there's others out there that are mild, but when you cook this one, it give it just a little bit of spice!

1 1/2 cup Flour

1/2 tsp Ground Coriander

1 tsp Salt

1/2 tsp Ground Tumeric

1/2 tsp Chili Powder

1/4 tsp Garam Masala

1 tsp ground fresh garlic

1 cup Water

(Needs to be consistency of pancake batter)

Heat oil in a pan over med-high, dip in batter and put into oil, remove when golden brown.

Last night we battered: Zucchini, Broccoli and Mushrooms and dipped them in soy sauce.

Friday is here, bringing a day of more cleaning, preparing for our 4h meeting for poultry, waterfowl and Clover Kids. Then its a stay at home weekend so this momma can work, we can care for our animals and get some cages cleaned out. We hope for cooler weather to do some outdoor chores but it looks like the heat will require us to stay inside until a different weekend. 

Birthday Again, More Fair Fun, Family Fun

Celebrating our daughters birthday again, she got special gifts from her Grame and Grandpa then shared some birthday cake with the whole family. We got a whole day to be with everyone, enjoy pictures and laughs. 

Several trips to the fair to show, check on animals, look around then spending the last day of fair with our family was the best. Everyone enjoyed the 'game' display then we ventured to gem and minerals and wood working and the 'kids' enjoyed some cold ice cream together. 

Back at home on the weekend the kids went shopping, spent money they received from their Papa on water toys, our daughter getting a turtle tube for the water and our son a shark set! And of course, our daughter the reader had to spend some time in a book store as well!

We travel home tomorrow, bittersweet as a week goes by so very fast, but we've had a wonderful time as always, enjoying family, friends and our experience at the fair.

Treasured week of many more wonderful memories made.

{this moment}

{this moment} - A Friday ritual. A single photo - no words - capturing a moment from the week. A simple, special, extraordinary moment. A moment I want to pause, savor and remember.

A day late...linking to Soule Mama

Cavy Showing at the Fair

How different all fairs are in all area's. Although being from San Diego our kids never showed animals here, that only began once we moved to Arizona and then got into 4H.

There is much more sense of Community and 4H kids involvement in our County although I'm sure these kids here work just as hard! I suppose it is just the difference between a small town fair and a large city fair. A great experience non the less, a great day and lots of fun.

Show hair...

 Confirmation judging...

 Patiently waiting to see how 'Darwin' her Red American Boar does..

 It was a long wait...even he got tired!

 But he WON Best Variety!

 Fun piggy in the Agricultural building...

 Afternoon treats

 Grame and Teryn

 Highlight of our son's day...a bird group was there that let him hold their bird...he was in heaven!

 She worked hard, did her best....and won 3rd Place Pin for Showmanship, first time showing in SD County. So very proud of her!!

A wonderful day together supporting her hard work! She was so proud and excited to phone her daddy and tell him about it...but we all missed him wishing he was here in person instead!