Beaks and Fledglings

Fledgling: a young bird that has acquired feathers for flight and recently left its nest but is still dependent upon parental care and feeding.

Those fledglings kept us busy yesterday evening. Unfortunately one died yesterday as it attempted to fly, but was found on its back on our front porch step in the scorching sun. We tried to revive it, to no avail : ( So now four minus one is three. We checked on them later and realized that there were only two in the nest. We went on a frantic search for the third.

Mama bird was on the far end of our lawn just a squeaking her high pitched one note call. We followed her call through a little patch of woods until we found her babe under a small pine tree. It tried to fly away from us, but we caught it and placed it back in the nest.

We were cozied up on the couch around 8 p.m. with a book when Treasure Hunter bursts in the door and says "HELP! The birds have flown the nest!" We went outdoors to help rescue the fledglings. This time we put them in the nest with their nose to the wall in hopes they would not turn around and fly again!

Sweetness and I went for our evening walk while Treasure Hunter and Cutie Pie kept watch for the birds. And sure enough they tried to fly again! You just can't stop them. But thankfully they were rescued again and put back into the nest.

So "WHY?" you may ask. Because Tigger our cat! He is normally an outdoor cat, but we've kept him locked up in our basement as he is licking his chops. Just last week he killed a bird in the yard that I thought for certain was mama Phoebe. But thankfully it was not.

So now we have to leave today for horse lessons! I'll check back in later : )

The wives tale "Do not touch wild birds in their nest, because your human smell will cause the mama not to come back to them" has proven false in this situation! However, wives tales have a round bout truth in them. I think the reason this tale started was to keep curious little hands away from the nest ; )

Finding our Niche

My oh my where does the time go? We've had a busy busy three weeks. We went on an awesome nature walk with the HS group. Sweetness spied a Scarlet Tanager and pointed it out for everyone to see. The bird sang a sweet lil' song for a few seconds before flying off. Everyone ooo'd and aaaa'd over the sighting and Sweetness won the nature award that day. It ties in really nice with our bird unit this month. The place we visited was awesome. I do not have picture to share this post, but plan to return to the site and take some to share.

Then we had a fun after school picnic with the HS group where we learned to play water balloon toss! We're also making more friends and contacts and finding our niche within the group. This is a wonderful group, but I am learning that some people you want to befriend are all ready too busy for more friends. It's nice to know them, but to build more than a surface relationship takes a lot of time. So we're finding those whom need friendships and building a network.

Sweetness continues her horse lessons each Tuesday, though we've switched to the a.m. instead of afternoon as the temps are soaring here in Virginia.

We're enjoying our bird unit study and the lapbook we're constructing very much. I think we've also found our niche in homeschooling. I've followed a lot of different philosophies, but I come back to the one that feels the best: Learning inspired by the direction and leading of the Holy Spirit and my dear sweet children. So how does that fit into educating a child from a Biblical Worldview? Well, I am to train up my child in the way he should go. Who knows how he should go, but the Holy Spirit? And I wholeheartedly feel that the Holy Spirit will impress upon my child's heart the way he should go. And if that way is not toward the world, but toward the Lord, then by all means, let me follow his lead.

Just look how the Lord has blessed our Bird Unit Study today! Thank you GOD! I feel I am going in the right direction *again* and it is such a JOYFUL feeling!

Birds nest built on our porch corner w/ 3 day old hatchlings.



Mama Bird (Eastern Phoebe)


We held a baby for just a second!

Ole Mother Buzzard

My Mother's Day began with Cutie Pie bringing me notes of a secret coded language from his stuffed animals. He had to read it to me as I did not understand penguin language.

Treasure Hunter and I joined efforts in cooking a pancake and bacon breakfast. Then I snuggled between my two blessings on the couch and opened a bird book. Birds have been a huge topic of interest here of late. We discovered that buzzard eggs are incubated up to 5 weeks, and it was high time we checked up on Mother Buzzard.

Treasure Hunter took the children along a different path to the old house containing the buzzard's nest and they were very surprised when they reached their destination. They heard the pitter patter on the top floor and they walked with careful anticipation up the steep staircase and was greeted with a "Hisssssss" from baby buzzard. There was only one, for the other egg was still in the nest. They did not hang out too long, but picked me a beautiful bouquet of purple iris and returned home to tell me of their adventure.

Then Sweetness drew an amazing picture of mama buzzard flying in the air with a bone in her mouth to feed the baby buzzard. She also remembered to draw the nest with the lonesome egg. Treasure Hunter could not be persuaded to bring that buzzard egg home like the goose egg he rescued from the lake several weeks ago.

So Happy Mother's Day all you sweet mama's! Having a nestful of children is God's most treasured gift. And Happy Mother's Day Mrs. Buzzard. Stay tuned as there is a bird's nest on the corner of our porch!

Prayer Matters

I just love the way God works! Allow me to share a praise report with you. My sweet 5 year old boy has always been shy. This was hard for me to understand coming from a very outgoing family, being very friendly myself, and having a daughter who inherited my genes and never meets a stranger. So when Cutie Pie would grunt and growl at the little ole ladies who make over his blue eyes in the grocery stores I was aghast and confused. And he also hates crowds of people and would rather sit in the vehicle by himself than join in all the fun. I could not even entice him out of the truck for apple pie.

I solicited the help of a Titus 2 mentor in my life. My sister n'law Christine, who is a mother of two fabulous grown children. Her advice was to ask Cutie Pie why he was shy and uncomfortable around strangers and crowds of people. As simple as it sounds it was very profound and opened up a dialogue and understanding between Cutie Pie and myself.

"Why are you so shy," I asked

"I don't know? I just feel uncomfortable around strangers," he replied

So I suggested, "Let's make a deal. I will not pressure you to speak to strangers. I ask that you just look downward and mommy will explain to people that you're uncomfortable around strangers. NO growling or nasty looks. OK?"

"OK."

Well, we were at an antique store and a strange lady asked Cutie Pie the name of the stuffed animal he was holding. He looked at her and you could tell he was struggling, turning a little red in the face, but he politely answered, "I have not named it yet." We have not been able to practice our "deal" as our talk seemed to help him come out of his shell! Thank you Aunt Christine!

Then we tackled the issues of crowds. Sweetness and I were attending a HS function recently and Cutie Pie was adamant that he was staying home with dad. About 10 mins before we left I invited and encouraged him to go with us. He agreed and we rushed to get him ready. Before we left I told him to remember his manners towards people and that he could stay close to mama, but he could not hide under my shirt, nor stay in the car. Once at the function he was already regretting his decision. He was trying to hide under my shirt and there was absolutely no room for his head under my shirt.

So I took him to the bathroom and asked him not to hide under my shirt. That he may stand beside me quietly. Then we prayed that the Lord would help him. Before the night was over he had left my side and was fluttering around with his social butterfly sister. On the way home he said, "I am so proud of myself! I am glad I came!"

Then yesterday was another test. We went to another HS function at a park. Before we left I told Cutie Pie he could not sit in the car. And to remember our deal of now growling and nasty looks. He cried, "I want sissy to play with me!" Cutie Pie does not share very well and especially not his sister! His one and only playmate most of the time. We prayed before we left, that God would help Cutie Pie have a good time and play nicely with the other kids. When we first arrived the park he did nto want to get out of the car. I had to pull him from his carseat. Then he hid under my jacket as I talked with other moms. One of the ladies commented on my 4 legs : /

Sweetness soon came over to the tables for a drink and Cutie Pie grabbed her hand and off they went to play. He came back over to the table crying, "Sissy is not playing with me." I told him, "Sissy is playing with everybody, so you have to share Sissy and play with everybody too." So off he went! He truly had a fabulous time, met new people and shared his sister.

OK! Stay with me! I'm almost done.

Last night Treasure Hunter took the children to the lake. About 10 mins later Cutie Pie bursts through the door exclaiming, "Mama! The pontoon boat is gone! Somebody broke the rope! Sissy and daddy went looking for it. I'm going to change my clothes and go pray!" So he changed his clothes, then went into my bedroom and shut the door! He came out a few minutes later and said, "I prayed God would help daddy and sissy find the boat."

We walked back down to the lake and lo, here comes daddy and sissy bringing the stray boat back to shore. Cutie Pie exclaimed, "My prayers helped mama! God helped them find the boat."

"Yes! God hears your prayers and He will help us!"

I think God showed Cutie Pie the fruitfulness of prayer. I truly believe God helped him overcome his shyness, and he has learned that God does hear our prayers.

Thank you Lord for helping me teach my children that prayer matters.

Tying Heart Strings One at a Time

Bragging Corner : )

Hand Painted Spoons by Sweetness. These will be presented with our Sweden display for the homeschool's international dinner


Hand Sculpted by Sweetness using Sculpey clay.


Treasure Hunter's latest find : ) A goose egg that rolled out of the nest into the lake.


Horse riding lessons!

Toaday

I just read an awesome article on how we can get dad more involved in homeschooling. It was the best advice I have ever read. "Let them!" Just let dad go and do not criticize what he does! So here goes dad's version of nature study!







Yes, those are toads clinging to my children's limbs.