A Walk in the Woods

Today we were a bit rushed for time and the weather wasn't very cooperative.  It was an overcast, cold and slightly breezy day as we walked through the Shelbyville Park.  The sleep of winter was evident among the trees and critters.  There were a few evergreens to color the woods and we spotted a couple of gray squirrels playing on the playground equipment;  not one would pose for a picture for our journal.  We heard the sound of dead leaves crunching under our feet and nuts falling to the ground.  One of our 'picks' for further study was the white oak acorn;  a brown nut with lighter lines and a dark gray hat.  Our challenge ended with a nature journal entry complete with illustration.

 "Reading about nature is fine, but if a person walks in the woods and listens carefully, he can learn more than what is in books, for they speak with the voice of God."  ~George Washington Carver

Our Big Backyard

Today's nature challenge invites us to use many descriptive words to tell about the things we encountered.  On this sunny, cold, clear Autumn day we heard the crunching of fallen leaves beneath our feet as we explored the wooded area behind our house.  "Squelch-splosh" could be heard as well, since we've just had a fair amount of rainfall.  The animals seemed to be content, making joyful noises; 'moo'-ing, 'chip'-ing, 'cock-a-doodle-doo'-ing, 'cluck'-ing, 'ruff'-ing and 'meow'-ing, each taking its turn to add to the conversation.

While Jessie focused on small crepe myrtle seeds and red round holly berries, Jake was noticing how round his black, fuzzy cow has gotten.  Madison and I were fascinated with Oyster mushrooms growing on a fallen tree beside the playhouse.  This fan-shaped, smooth, creamy colored fungus has such beautiful gills on the underside.  She informed me that soft, squishy mushrooms always appear after rains.  We looked in our handbook and discovered that this specific type, Pleurotus ostreatus, grows on dead wood or damaged tree trunks.  We were able to get some good photos.  

 What a blessing our big backyard is!!

"Look deep into nature, and then you will understand everything better."

                                                                                      ~~Albert Einstein

A Fresh Start

We've been inspired by Anna Comstock's Handbook of Nature Study to begin anew that which we've allowed to go stale;  the intentional observation of God's beautiful world.   We could hear Autumn as we walked through the Bell Buckle park.  The crunch of leaves under foot and the crisp rustling of dried foliage as we brushed against it tickled our ears.  We encountered robins, sparrow and blue jays.  Madison picked up some fine specimens of mushroom and moss while I retrieved a cattail from the marshy area along the railroad tracks.  It was such a mild day under a clear blue sky;  the sun wrapping us in warmth as we walked along.  I agree with Anna Comstock.  "Out in this, God's beautiful world, there is everything waiting to heal lacerated nerves, to strengthen tired muscles, to please and content the soul that is torn to shreds with duty and care."  (from Handbook of Nature Study, p. 3)  We chose the cattail and mushroom as our two items to study in further detail for next week.

And he wandered away and away,

with Nature the dear old nurse,

Who sang to him night and day,

the rhymes of the universe.

And when the way seemed long,

 and his heart began to fail,

She sang a more wonderful song,         

or told a more wonderful tale.

                                                                                ~Henry Wadsworth Longfellow