GroundWater Festival

We joined three other families for the Ground Water Festival. There were numerous sessions for us to choose from covering a huge range of water topics. We listened to an explanation on the workings of city plumming, wells, sorted recycling in a relay, pumped water for animals, learned how water feeds a sprinkler and ran through it. On a personal note I was reminded with numbers the disparity of water access with the average Canadian using 20 - 100litre buckets of water a day, while the average person from Uganda using less than 1 bucket a day. I was encouraged hearing that 3 feet of newspapers recycled saves one tree. These are things I knew, but feel empowered to live intentionally in hearing them.

Chaos to one, creating to another

From this.....











to this...























(photos courtesy of Elias)

My aunt passed on her children's lego to our family, what a treat for the kids. There are pieces in the buckets the kids have never seen before; flowers, bats, unique shapes, and others they have hoped for like the roads. When they are heavily into lego they like to dump it on the floor (as I bite my tounge) to sort, imagine and create in their head. When we have the time and I have the patience for the lego mess, the intricate creations with stories woven in magically appear. Today an airport, with different kinds of airplanes, removable stairs on wheels for the passengers to get on and off the plane, a restaurant, a tower, parking spots for the airplane carriers to go to the mechanic, they are currently working on a hanger. If I look past the lego mess on the floor and into their eyes I see their dreamworld alive.

Cool Meals for the Heat

Wow, its been hot. I don't mind it hot, I can even bear the humidity. I can't however, stand cooking/preparing meals in the heat. So I have decided to write down my list of meals to beat the heat for when I am in a scorching daze I can look one up from here.

Chickpea and salsa tortillas
Quiche
Lentils and Brown rice
Blackbean, Peppers and Renee's tortillas
Lentil Burgers
Crispy Fried tofu
Baked potatoes with broccoli and bean salad
dips and stuff (hummus, baba ganoush, black bean, salsa, with pita and veggies)
veggie kebabs
bean burritos
cold pasta toss
omlettes
spinach frittata
spanish rice
mushroom risotto
karen's orrzo salad
falafel pitas
ground soy balls

Beating the Heat

Summer weather is here! After biking Aria to and from her program in 40 degree weather we enjoyed making milkshakes- they definetly helped cool down. It was nice to take it easy today.

Poolside

Friends who live around the corner have set up a backyard heat escape. One has the option of cooling themselves in the summer heat in the pool, the sprinkler, the slip n' slid or an obstacle race of all three!!

Tidal Learners

Are you an unschooler, a classical educator, charlotte mason, ecclectic, religious, curriculum specific..... The homeschooling style a family uses often reflects one's values, intent of homeschooling, life philosophy. While I don't feel any need to define my style to other homeschoolers, I don't find that having a title brings me any more clarity in the type of life I hope us to lead. While reading another homeschooling mom's blog I came across her explanation of her homeschooling style. It really resonated, although I would add that we are changing the tide, society by homeschooling.

The truth is I couldn't find any one that fit my family, so I made up my own. I call us "Tidal Learners" because the ways in which we approach education here change with the tide. Now this doesn't mean we are flighty or inconsistent, changing direction haphazardly. We aren't Fiddler Crab Homeschoolers. What I mean is that there is a rhythm to the way learning happens here; there are upbeats and downbeats; there is an ebb and a flow.

Who Knew???

The kids have been inspired to grow a square watermelon after seeing this!

a ROM adventure

After enjoying a nice cold milk shake at Mr. Greenjeans and a subway ride we headed to the Royal Ontario Museum for their Friday Free night. We headed straight for the Egyptian section, a good portion of this year has been spent exploring this time period motivated by the kids fascination. They were excited to point out different gods, know some of the hierogylphic symbols, see an actual mummy, differeniate the four canopic jars and play dead inside a sarccophagus. After the tour of Ancient Eygpt we moved onto the hands on section, which has expanded since our last visit. The kids tried excavated bones, worked through puzzles, dressed in costumes, looked at mossy toads, and touched everything!

Lego Land

When we left Guelph this morning the rain was really coming down, we were thankful that while we were in Toronto for the day it was only drizzly. Many years we have thought about attending the Milk Festival at Harbourfront, this year we decided to attend. There was a areas in tents;Lego Land, CBC preschool area, Story book creation, Fashion design and then a list of events that required tickets(which we opted not to do). The lego creations where very cool to see, Elias and Ben didn't see the creations as extremely fasinating but as things they could choose to build if they wanted to, they are confident in their building capability(which is just the way it should be). Aria enjoyed dressing up as a princess and going through the dressup clothes. The kids were happy to take a pass on the other stuff which didn't interest them at all, instead we cruised around the harbour looking at the boats.

Inspired am I

.........bring me to the table,
do as I am able

Sarah McLachlan lyrics from World on Fire

Cypress Lake

Today was a great day. We enjoyed our morning at Tobermory, our picnic lunch on the dock, and this afternoon we had a fabulous hike. We had numerous trails for hiking options, we chose one at Cypress Lake as it was family friendly and had lots of rock climbing at the destination point. Along the trail we saw a garter snake(which we caught), an eastern smooth green snake(which got away), a wide variety of birds, dragon slipper flowers, poison ivy (thankful I know what it looks like), leopard frogs and a beautiful little waterfall. When we arrived at the peak, the water took our breath away. It was crystal clear turquoise blue, surrounded by incredible rocks and cliffs. The kids could barely contain themselves, not knowing which direction to climb first. We were awed by the dwarf cedars which are 1000 years old, the rocks that bare the scratches of the glacier retreats, the pitted marks in the rocks unique to their mineral makeup and their reaction to the water. Although tired, the kids hiked back without one request for a ride on daddy's back. They are such great hikers, and we so enjoy exploring with them.

Tobermory

Tobermory is at the tip of the Bruce Penisula. It is a quaint little town; boats, small grocery store, diving tours and like all small towns an ice cream store. After sampling the local flavors we looked at the boats, climbed on the rocks and headed to the light house. The Big Tub Lighthouse is a local landmark. The big hit however was the rocks surrounding the lighthouse.

Nana's Field

A field behind the house, snakes to catch, mice to watch, 'wheat' to pick, sticks to collect, birds to watch, a make believe world, and the freedom to explore. Behind Nana and Pa's house is a big field, (or a pioneer world, a viking field, a desert island depending on the game) which the kids love. At home they love being outdoors, hiking, biking, exploring. If we could throw in a field behind the house it would be true bliss. It was hard for all of them to leave the field behind, especially knowing that Nana and Pa are moving into a town in 6 weeks. When we win the lottery.....

Beach day

Despite the fiercely blowing wind and the 3 degree temperature the kids could not resist the calling of the waves. Their rubber boots were completely full of water and their clothes completely drenched when it was time to go. Aria fell in the water after two minutes of being on the beach and enjoyed sitting in the car with Nana afterwards. Sauble Beach is one of the kids favorite places to splash in the waves-any season!

Chris and Ben

Look alike much????