Lifestyle of Learning: May Fun: Pentecost, Birthday, Plants, and More

A lot happened in the Roman month of May. Some highlights:

Nathan replaced the flooring in our living room and rearranged the furniture, so now I have most of my bookcases (except for the one on the desk) all on one wall, and the seating in relation to the tv (which we only use for dvds and games) is better. We love it! I can finally use my little table now I bought about seven months ago. I was planning to use it for our microscope and my sewing machine, but the latter went back into my closet, because it's too much of a temptation for Liv (which means I can further drag out my excuse for not sewing), but at least we can easily use the microscope.

Trusten's birthday was toward the end of the month; he turned five years of age. His birthday trip this year was a visit to the Promised Land Animal Park in Eagle Rock, MO. We've been there twice, but the last time we went was when I was pregnant with him, and Jade was not quite four. We love going there! It was a lovely day when we went, and all the friendly, free-ranging animals reminded me of my Father God's soon-coming Kingdom to this earth, at which time His children--headed by Salvation the Firstborn--will reign over the earth, turning it back into a paradise garden from the wilderness it has become, and humankind that lives during that time will enjoy a much better world than this one, when even the animals will live in harmony and will only eat plants.

Deer coming to our windows to be fed and pet

Emu--these are always so funny, but Trust and Liv were scared, and Liv fled to the front floorboard

Male zebra to left was not happy in fenced enclosure alone; farther down were pregnant mares and babies, which explains why the male was by himself.

L: Alpaca; R: Elk

The cutest in our very own vehicle. I sat in the back beside her so Trusten and Liv could sit in the front to see better

I got Trusten some practical things for his birthday--some original Smencils and colored Smencils (scented pencils) for his book work and some books, as well as some floam-like stuff that I forget what is called (alternative to Play-Doh). He got several cards and other gifts from friends and family. He got a gardening set from his Gamma Pat (my mil) so he can do his very own gardening.

My precious boy with a couple of his gifts

Trusten ready to do some gardening

We also celebrated Pentecost. We ate our traditional (for us) feast of brisket and sides and homemade punch. Mmmm. The children listened to their holy day lesson, Nathan and I listened to a sermon, and we enjoyed the outdoors. The children also received their biblically-themed Pentecost gifts. Jaden William and Olivia were both very excited about and thankful for their gifts, but Trusten was very ugly and unthankful for his and then hit Jade after Jade innocently asked why he didn't like his gift. Needless to say, Trusten got in trouble and had his gift taken away (to be returned soon). Jaden got a new bible and a bible word search. Trust and Liv got different bible story sticker books.

Will, Trust, and Liv with their Pentecost gifts

We're in the process of identifying more local plants, but the only one I've actually written on the card about so far, recently, is the wild oats:

Wild oats top right picture

I posted on this blog recently a picture of an unknown wild grass, although I had told the children several times over the last few years that it looks like wild oats. Ironically enough, that's one of their common names (also wood oats, spangle grass, and others), Latin name Chasmanthium latifolium. Info copied from eattheweeds.com:

IDENTIFICATION: A perennial, clump-forming grass, wide leaves, nodding clusters of flat, oat-like seed heads, two to five feet, clump spread two or more feet, leaves are about one inch to eight inches long, flat, terminating in a sharp point. Leaves has distinct cross veining. Flowers flat clusters, spikelets, to two inches long, one wide, spikelets hang on thread-like stems in loose, open panicles above the leaves. Leaves and flower heads turn tan in autumn, reddish-bronze winter.

METHOD OF PREPARATION: Winnowed grain as cereal or ground to make flour.

We're about to read through Eat the Weed's edible flower pages and identify all the local flowers we can eat (besides the ones we already know, like dandelion which the kids love).

The kids are all doing well in their workbook work. Here are a few more pictures of some of the things they've been doing: