Mr.E

I was laughing at the title which I wrote first.. Mr. E... mystery... anyway ..

Mr. E is a wonderful gentleman who happens to be a Master Gardener, Master beekeeper, science enthusiast, speaker, and educator. We are blessed that he is willing to share his passion with a group of homeschoolers which include my children. 

Here are a few pics from past classes..

During one class we learned about composting, vermicompost, drip irrigation, and more

Mr. E's garden and chicken coop in the background

  

how to vermicompost

beets in a tub

During another class we learned all about bee's .. well, a lot about bees!

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Honey comb

Man made snag for wild/ native bees to make their homes

We ... I mean the kids ( o.k. we because I am there too and  I learn so much!) also had an astronomy class with Mr. E and it was so cool! I wish I had taken pictures but they did get to look at the sun through a special film which made the sun look kinda like the moon, without the blinding rays and all.  It's called a BAADER film if you are interested in one. 

Next month we are lucky enough to be having a class all about chickens which I think is awesome because one day I would love to have some. I think the kids will love it also because they keep begging me to let them move to a farm. My oldest says she is " an accidental city girl", waiting to be a "farm/ cowgirl"

It's no mystery, I think we are pretty blessed by Mr.E

We'll be seeing you next time! 

Creeping Things

           And God said , "Let the Earth bring forth living creatures according to their kinds-livestock and creeping things and beasts of the earth according to their kinds" And it was so. Genesis 1:24

Today ended up being an "creeping things" kind of day. During our ( the kids and I)  morning walk we decided to deviate from our usual route and stumbled upon an armadillo carcass. The kids had a great time snapping pictures and identifying all of the bits.... but were quite saddened by how this armadillo could have happened upon its fate.  They decided that it had probably been hit by a car and then that vultures had eaten the flesh. Bears and dogs were rules out since so many parts were still intact and the kids were sure a larger animal would have done more damage. We also talked about the birds and how they would be fed by the armadillo. It was a neat learning experience and discussion.

Here are some pics that my eldest took on my phone

Poor guys claw

Jaw and a few teeth

Spine...we found the ribs a few feet away

The debate topic for the day by chance was " should animals be used in scientific research?"
The kids all said no immediately. They made a pro and con list and decided against any pro's. I then had the kids watch an episode of  "Nick News" with Linda  Ellerbee " Animal Rights or Wrongs.

" https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hlqQE4ADJ3M

The kids still thought that there were no pro's after watching the show. It was a bit emotional since they discussed the use of dogs in research for diabetes treatments. Being that my son is a Type 1 diabetic made the information bittersweet. My sons eyes grew wide and then teary, I could see the conflict.

While I understand the use of animals in research, I don't necessarily like it. My heart is conflicted... and so are my children's( though they are still against it), and I am kinda glad.  I am kinda glad because I see compassion an respect for living things. I also see hearts that will be good stewards of our Lord's creations.  
If we look at Genesis 2: 15 we see that "The LORD God took the man, and put him into the garden of Eden to dress it and keep it"

I think that the word dress and keep imply a tender caring for. To dress means to prepare or treat something in a particular way. We "dress" our children .. we treat them in a particular way. And then to "keep" to retain possession of, or to cause to continue in a specific condition. We keep things we value in a specific condition.

I think that's an ideal we should try to maintain.....  

Flat Stanley Visits Florida

I was thrilled to hear from my cousin who was sending Flat Stanley all the way from New Jersey to our home in Florida. Here is what Stanley did while he was here for two days.

This is Stanley arriving! The kids were so excited!

After meeting the family, Stanley met our pet bird Paco. Paco sings whenever he hears water running, so he is very chatty.

Every morning before school, our family and dog go for a bike ride and then play in the park by our house.

This is what the sky looked like in Florida while Stanley was here.

While at the park we found all kinds of neat things like moss...

Lichen.. 

it's made up of fungus and algae

and acorns. The kids learned that you can make acorn flour out of acorns. Some people actually eat this. They didn't, but had fun looking inside the acorns.

Stanley went to school with the kids, they are home schooled. This is Stanley with the kids in the schoolroom. 

This was their work for the day

Stanley joined in during school. Here he is doing a craft.

  

While the kids were busy Stanley had fun playing with math manipulatives

Stanley found out that we owned a book about him, it's a good one!

One day a week the kids go to art class. Stanley came with 

Stanley also learned a lot about Type 1 diabetes. That's what they call it when your pancreas doesn't work. It means you have to check your blood sugar and take medicine in shots.  

When school is done and so are chores we sometimes work in our garden

Stanley helped out by pulling weeds in our bed of lettuce

Stanley learned how broccoli grows

Stanley also learned about hydroponics while he was here.Hydroponics is growing without soil. 

On the night before Stanley left we made cookies. 

We were so happy to have him here with us, it was a lot of fun!   

St. Augustine Birthday Celebration

So, my husband and I happen to share the same birthday month, and our birthdays are only 3 days apart. So every July, we pick a place to staycation as a joint birthday celebration.  This year we went back to St. Augustine where we were married. Here are a bunch of pictures... of course I think I narrowed it down considering I had over 1,000 pictures to choose from! 

The elevator ride down ... let the fun begin

Mom, a bird! This kid is a serious bird watcher , he  photographs them, and later marks them in his "Birds of North America book".  We are not even out of the hotel parking lot yet ... love it! 

This year we did the Explorer's  Passport. It gives you access to the Castillo De San Marcos, the Colonial Quarters, and the Government House Museum. Worth every penny!

The Old Spanish Trail. Florida to California...... seriously!?!?!?!? How awesome is that!?!?!

Approaching the Castillo De San Marcos

Where they would have slept

Tiny doorway, people must have been much smaller, I am only 5'8 and I had to duck slightly.

Mapping of ships carved into the wall 

The soldiers carved letters into the stone, they were probably learning how to read and write as most of them were illiterate. 

Inner yard

Coat of Arms

Coquina used to build the Castillo- 150 million pounds ... 

The Chapel

Basin  for holy water

Old Medical tools...ugh! Shivers!!!!!!

The treasury... no gold, just a table for counting money now. 

The top of the Castillo

Preparing to fire a canon

The demonstration is done in Spanish  for authenticity and then translated

Boom!!! It was loud!

Lunch at Pizza Time.. this one is mine... fabulous!!!

Everyone else's pizza, cheese and white . Those were marvelous too!

The second stop on our Passport

Beautiful grapes growing on an arbor

Building a replica of one of the ships... actually two. There will be a second smaller ship- a chalupa... no, not the thing you eat.  It will be about 7 years before it is complete.

Archaeological dig site for the kids while they wait for the tour to begin

The pretty wall I am sitting next to while they dig and we wait. 

Our guide, if he doesn't love his job, then he fakes it pretty well. He was a blast!

Iron Work/ Blacksmith 

Oh, this, gathering militia... ya there would have been a lot more pictures of this if I hadn't been drafted by our guide to be part of the shenanigans. Seriously!!! After I got over the horror of standing in front of everyone doing drills... it was kinda fun... 

 Marketplace

Flags over St. Augustine....Starting in 1565 when St. Augustine was founded

The view of the Castillo from the Watchtower

Time for a few stops in a few shops ... the shell store

Our last day, eating at one of the diners we ate at during our stay in St. Augustine when we were married. 

Ya, this kid eats like a man, you know he ate that whole thing... minus the gravy..  

Oh, my favorite stop, Flagler College. Originally the Ponce De Leon Hotel

The inner courtyard. The fountain in the middle is filled with symbolism. The fountain is really the handle of a sword with the blade sticking into the ground... can you see it ? There are frogs and turtles surrounding the base, 12 frogs for the 12 apostles, and 12 hours on the clock, 4 frogs for the seasons of the year.

When you walk inside... need I say more? 

Window

We were given mirrors to use "vs"  looking up as they explained the dome and meaning of each painting.

The outer glass panels of the wine room.That's  real Tiffany glass

The Dining Hall

Isn't it exquisite?! The students of Flagler College eat here everyday!!! 

Windows of the Dining Hall

Replica and original... in that order. 

The Flagler Room/ Women's grand Parlor... yes ladies it's all for us! Actually this room is only used for special student meetings 

An original Edison Clock... notice the number 4,  all  I's vs the IV symbol. Did I mention that Edison did all of the wiring for the building so that it had electricity ?! 

Chandeliers, if they break, they can never be replaced as they are no longer being made. 

Original furniture. This was our last stop at Flagler College. Can I just say that I am, SO going back to school here!!!  I've decided to study History... I am kidding... no I don't think I am , I just need to figure out how to scratch up 50 grand a year to go. 

The Government House Museum., our last stop of the day, a really great place to take kids . Lots of hands on stuff!

Interactive guide through the first settlement of St. Augustine. 

Interactive, First Thanksgiving Meal.

Really cool! You can pull out all of the labeled drawers and look at the artifacts 

  

So thankful for medical advances. Top left is a pewter syringe...ouch , bottom left... lice combs...eewww!

Clothing... buckles, buttons, beads, rings

Religious pendants

Cool touch screen. You excavate the area then sift through sand and find artifacts. 

Bag your artifact

Cards with pictures of the artifacts that can be flipped . They have information regarding the artifacts found in the dig/ museum.

A cool book I found for kids age 9-12 about the life of Henry M. Flagler

And because no trip to St. Augustine is complete without dressing up your family in a chosen time period and snapping some photos. 

I hope you enjoyed reading about our trip and seeing the pictures! Quite honestly 3 days and 2 nights wasn't long enough. This is the first year we have done the "official tours" and it has changed how I view St. Augustine for the better, and I already loved the place. I also learned a ton about the history of Florida and have added a few good books to my reading wish list. Henry Flagler, Rockefeller, Edison, Tiffany, Railroads and Hotels of Florida ,and  much more. Even the kids thought it was the coolest ever and didn't want to go home .Can't wait for our next visit.