Rock Hound Discovery Kit

Bryan and Holly picked up this neat little Rock Hound Discovery Kit from a place called Rock Solid Learning website. This was a fun bag of sandy dirt filled with a large variety of rocks and fossil bits. She loved it!!!

We placed the contents into a bin and she then sifted through and found items - using a magnifying glass, loupe, brushes and a card to identify her findings this kept her entertained for some time. Rocks and fossils are right up her alley so Holly adored this project kit! We also got a bag of rocks to add to her tumbler mix in which she cannot wait to get started!

Niqually Delta

About a week ago I took the kids down to Nisqually Delta park, just them and myself... it was really nice! Typically we do many of these outings with a larger group and I have to say that I loved enjoying this day with just my two kiddos. They were on their very best behavior, very engaged, cooperative, inquisitive and joyful!

The park was rather quiet as the weather was not the most promising. We lucked out and enjoed the few hours in between rains squalls, in fact the sun came to visit us. With the park being quiet it offered ample opportunity to find animals we don't normally find such as racoon, mice, rabbits, snakes, frogs and turtles. The forest was filled with song from more birds than we could count... it was amazing!

We took many opportunities to just sit, watch and listen versus rushing along the boardwalk... we slowed down! Slowing down truly ensured we found all of these amazing sightings, watch bird behaviours, listened to bird songs and located the matching birds, watched raccoons forage and rabbits nibble. It was amaizing! All of this really inspired Holly to nature journal - and both Hudson and I joined in.

It was a beautiful day!!

Penrose Point

Last week we got together with some friends and visited a state park out on the Peninsula called Penrose Point. This is a wonderful park that we camp at over low tide each year, however the true low tides fell mid-week making camping that early in the season an option we passed on this year. Instead we planned to meet up with some friends for the day and explore!

This beach has a wonderful spit that offers great exploring opportunities when the tide is very low. You want to head out a bit ahead of low tide to enjoy findings along the way, the peak of low tide out at the end of the spit and then slowly head back while the tide is heading back in. It is an art... one we have mastered through the years!

This year was just as wonderful in discovering some amazing creatures! The spit has some pretty large rocks that make great homes for sea stars and sea anemones, crabs are pretty commons and you also find tons of other little critters among the sea weed. The kids adore being able to touch it all - the slime, the smells, the crunch, the waves, the sounds... your senses just tingle with excitement. Holly and Hudson had a fantastic day and adventure!

Blueberries For Sal & Freezer Jam

This morning Holly read Blueberries for Sal to me and then she made some blueberry freezer jam! All by herself!!!

She really enjoyed this activity and was surprised to learn she could make jam so easy... honestly, I am too. I have never made freezer jam - this was new to us both. I found a pectin that did not require any stove top work which was nice for Holly as it kept this pretty simple.

She measured out all the berries, washed them, smashed them, added them to the sugar and pectin mixture for a final mashing and then filled the little canning jars. Really a very simple, easy process that was fascinating to her - as well as a perfect match to this book in which they come home to can blueberries. Can't beat that!

Blueberry Freezer Jam

5 cups of blueberries
2 cups of sugar
6 tablespoons of instant pectin
3 pint canning jars or 6 1/2 pint

Wash and smash the blueberries really well. In a separate bowl mix sugar and instant pectin then add the berries. Mix really, really well for at about 3 minutes. Pour into canning jars leaving about 1/2 inch for expanding in the freezer. Let set for 30 minutes, cap and freeze. You can freeze for up to one year. Use within 3 weeks of opening.

Good Stuff!

Weekly Cooking ~ Chicken Tacos

Today Holly decided her weekly meal would be chicken tacos. We discussed the ingredients she would need, evaluated what we already had on hand and created a shopping list. Then we headed to the market to buy supplies (some day I'll bring my camera along to that too) and she helped with the entire transaction with the cashier.

Once home she unloaded the groceries and prepared. We did an easy version of this in which she shredded chicken from a roasted chicken, measured & mixed all of her ingredients and spices. Then she sauteed it all on the stove top... yes, the stove top. Under much guidance of course!!! She simmered it all down and sauteed the meat mixture - she also warmed the tortillas in a pan too! When all was said and done they were GREAT! This was a fun lesson for her with a meal she really enjoyed.