July 2015: Creek Flood and Play, Tadpoles and Other Creatures, Family Reunion

I sure wish I would have finished my late winter through late spring mushroom identification for this year already and posted about it here, but alas it's not completed.  But I know that's ok.  It's perfectly ok. :-)  It will get done when it gets done, just like everything else.  So if it's out of my planned order of "perfection," it's no big deal.  In the meantime...

Here are my hand-selected pictures from our fantastic month of July 2015.

Creek's Flood and Subsequent Water Play

 Girls watching floodwater from their bedroom window (July 7)

Oldest three posing in front of creek, later the same day.  I'm holding Elizabeth's hand.

The next day (July 8) was a day full of adventurous play in the creek.  It was an absolutely gorgeous day, and the creek was so beautiful.  The sky was beautiful. The air felt pleasant. The kids were delighted.  I was very content and filled with joy.  :-)

Nature's Finds

Common whitetail skimmer dragonfly, male (Plathemis lydia)

Do you see the hummingbird?  One day I'll get a stunning shot of a hummingbird.  Just wait.

Wild turkey (Meleagris gallipavo), in the Galliformes family

Three-toed box turtle, female (Terrapene carolina triunguis) 

I rescued these tadpoles.  They were found in water that was super-heating in the sun.  Many had already died. I believe I saved most of the living ones.  Two died after rescue.  I later counted nineteen.  Those nineteen all lived until release.  I wanted to keep two back for the whole metamorphosis to adulthood, so the kids could see again.  They loved when they learned about the frog's life cycle and got to see the metamorphosis from tadpole to adult frog.  I kept these and cared for them and fed them for over two weeks, and then I had to dump them in our neighbor's pond at the edge of our property lines, right as we were leaving out to go to a family reunion.  I was afraid they might not live while we were gone for two nights and three days.  I only regret not taking another picture at the end.  They had grow quite a bit larger and were already sprouting their hind legs!

Polistes carolina (one of two types of red paper wasps)

This was neat.  Nathan and I have a bedroom window screen with a hole, so some red paper wasps made a nest between our screen and pane.  The girls and I enjoyed watching them each day.  It was a fascinating way to learn how the wasps operate.  When we first noticed them, they started with two or three adult wasps, and there were maybe two to four holes that were sealed.  We watched over time as developing pupae finished their transformation, emerged as an adult and joined the others in the work of building the nest bigger and bigger.  The fun ended when Nathan was doing something around the outside of the house (I don't remember) and decided to exterminate them.  :-(

Miscellaneous Fun 

Look who it is, looking out my bedroom window! It's Dinosaur!  I was so tickled to go into my bedroom at one point and find Dinosaur sitting in the sill, looking outside.  I suppose Elizabeth figured that since she loves to look outside, Dinosaur must want the privilege as well.  :-)  This made me smile so big.

Here's the beautiful girl who loves dinosaurs.  Nathan and I still had visits left at the tanning salon, and we always took turns staying with the kids and going in to tan, and on this occasion, Elizabeth and I were having a little fun while waiting.  This is a small sample of all the pictures I took.  LOL

My chillins! :-)

I can't rightly remember what Elizabeth was upset about.  I think maybe she'd forgotten her toys or was wishing she could play with one of Trusten's and Liv's?  I'm not sure, but usually when I shoot pictures of them crying or whining or whatever, and then show them what they look like, they usually laugh and cheer up.

See the transformation occuring?  There's a bit of a smile.

 Family Reunion

A lawn mower train!  LOL The little kids loved this.  Even William took a ride, though.

Liv with cousin Layla, Elizabeth with my sister and cousin Laney, and the boys in the front

 Such a content and happy baby girl

The family reunion was nice.  I didn't take a lot of pictures, though.  I was too busy either talking or keeping up with kids, both mine and my sister's.  We took turns taking little girls to the bathroom, hunting a child down, and such.  :-)  She had her sweet Laney to nurse.

Well, there you have it.  Those were the highlights of July, besides cool mushrooms we saw.  I'm keeping all those back for my last of four collective mushrooms post.  After that I will include any mushroom pictures in the other posts, aside from any special posts I may decide to make in the future.  

Until next time...

New Knowledge on Insects, Judging the Inner vs. Outer, Outdoor Work, and a Trip to Jasper

 Watermelon

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Squash

 

 

 

 

 

The above pictures were some watermelon and squash plants (along with corn, not pictured) that Will planted himself.  He put the dirt in the buckets himself and planted the seeds.  We had entirely too much on our plates to worry with planting things this year, but I started getting sad about it.  Will really wanted something, and I gave him permission to plant some things, even though it was the beginning of July.  He started not taking care of them, though, failing to water them, so they are about dead now.  The corn died a while back, but I did get a picture of it as well.  Will is pictured above thinning out the plants.  

Will collecting rainwater

Watching collection cup fill

Pictured above are pictures of Jaden William using one of his collection cups to collect rainwater.  We were going to use a pH strip to measure the pH of the rain.  We only got a sprinkling of rain, though, so we didn't get much water, and before I could get a pH strip, something mysterious happened to what little water there was.  I think Trusten dumped it.   So, this project will have to wait until the next time it rains.

August 10, 2010, Roman calendar:  Bible reading.  Will did his daily writing, a reading lesson, and a couple pages of math.  He's been working on 2-digit and 3-digit subtraction.

August 11:  Bible reading. Will did reading, writing, and math. 

August 12:  Will did reading, writing, and math.  On our nature walk, we took two plant samples to add to our plant binder.  However, we do not know what either is.  One is a shrub that has yellow flowers, and another is a wild grass.  I wonder whether the latter would be a good source of grain, if needed for survival purposes.  I've researched and cannot find the answer for either, so if anyone recognizes either or both, please let us know.  We did make copies of the plant on the copy machine, and the sheets are ready to cut and add the binder.

Yellow-flowered shrub with toothed leaves

Lovely wild grass with flat heads of grain/seed

Plant binder of local plants we started last year

August 13:  We read more than half of the latest issue of Ranger Rick.  We learned something really neat.  We were reading about ways bugs (mainly insects) can be good.  We read about wasps depositing eggs into certain caterpillars, and the larvae hatch open inside of them and feed on the caterpillars' insides.  They then eat their way out and spin cocoons on top of the dying caterpillar.  Well, this answered a question the boys and I have had about some caterpillars around here.  We've wondered what the strange white things were on the backs of them.  Now we know!  We also read other interesting things.

I don't know what else we did this day, except read the bible, which rarely ever goes undone.

August 14:  Sabbath day. I read to the boys from the Bible Stories book.

August 15:  Will did some reading from one of our atlas books, so he got his reading in, as well as geography knowledge.

August 16:  Will did reading, writing, and math.  A lot of days, when we read our daily chapter in Proverbs, I elaborate on one or two.  This day, I discussed in depth about there are many lovers of the rich, but the poor is despised by even his own neighbor (14:20).  As a child and without having the seed of God gestating within him, Will naturally judges the outside.  The vast majority of people living in this world are that way, in fact.  People are so hung up on outward appearances and by what a person has materially, that they miss what is truly important.  So, when I stopped at this verse and repeated it again with different phrasing, he opened the door for deeper instruction by saying, "I would hate a poor neighbor."  I explained that he could end up that way, and he would be sad if he did not have any friends to help him.  I told him one person could be poor one day and rich the next or vice versa, and he or she is still the same person.  The sad fact, though, is carnal people like those who have and shun those who have not.

Sometime, one of these days, perhaps this very day, Will painted a piece of wood he found to make it look like a boat, he says.

August 17:  We went to town.  Judging the elderly by their outward appearance (wrinkles and such) came up once again, as it has before, and so I had a discussion with Jaden William about this.  I told him that we should not judge according to the house/body/temple in which a person resides.  I pointed out that he would be the same person if he had a disfigurement, if he had an accident.  He certainly would not want everyone hating him simply because he was disfigured.  I want my children to learn to judge persons by their hearts, the way God does.  It's the carnal nature of people to judge what is on the outside.  Man is so hung up on the wrong thing.  I reminded Will that elderly people are my favorite (most, as a GENERAL rule).  Most people in old age have matured to a level where the possess great wisdom, and they have kind and gentle spirits.  Now, there is always the exception to the rule, and I explained to him that some grow very ugly and bitter in their last years.  Those are the type, though, that are hung up on outward beauty and the lusts of the flesh.

It matters not what a person's shade of skin is, whether they have taut skin or wrinkled, short or tall, unblemished or blemished, God judges the heart, and the righteous do the same.  God showed man's carnal way of doing things with the old covenant regulations, which discriminated against gentiles (non-Israelite, which is pretty much non-white with the exception of Assyrian and Babylonian backgrounds) and those with disfigurements, etc.  A woman having her menses was not allowed to even touch a holy thing.  Imagine not being able to read the bible for a week, simply because you are bleeding.  Such is the carnal nature of people, and God gives people over to their own carnal ways.

During the drive, Will "disappeared" (as he puts it) to Montana and came back to tell me about all the bison he saw.  

When we got home that day, Will did his writing, reading, and math.  I'd bought a new pumice stone when in town (not sure what happened to my old one), which we'll use for our feet, but I also partially filled a bathroom sink with water and demonstrated its floating ability.  This was fitting, since it was just a week after we discussed volcanic rocks, including pumice.

August 18:  We read Ranger Rick--the remainder--and learned about marlins and odd turtles and tortoises.  During Proverbs time, we talked a little in depth about how wisdom is better than gold (16:16).  I discussed how most rich people act, as well as thugs who are materially rich.  I speak of those heathen idiots who yell in pride about their sins, accompanied by what they call "music," which is what I call [c]rap.  I talked about how absolutely stupid such people are and how very void of wisdom they are.  Wisdom goes along with righteousness, whereas foolishness goes along with wickedness.  I really do value wisdom and knowledge above riches.  I already feel rich, and in reality, I am very rich materially compared to most of the world's people.  I would be content with even less, but I never want to go without wisdom, knowledge, and understanding.

Will also raked leaves and twigs this day to burn.  I have never been one to rake leaves to burn.  I always leave leaves.  They don't bother me, and Nathan has always been the same way.  However, Will loves to burn, so I let him do this.  Of course, it was all supervised.

August 19:  Will did writing, and he cut a tree with a saw of his daddy's.  He, of course, called his daddy to get permission, and I supervised.  He just loves doing things like this.  He told me about his plans to make things of wood and sell them.  He then told me on a different day that he was planning to build a flying machine.  I just LOVE my boy!  I like listening to him tell his stories and share his meditations and ideas.  I hope when he gets his flying machine finished, that he takes me for a ride.  He and I both love flying machines. 

Putting the final saw touches to the tree

 

 

Will admiring his work

Will looking at me for a picture

While Will cut up his tree that he cut down from off the hill, I sat with Trust and Liv on the back deck and did some finger painting with them. 

We also saw some deer in our front yard this day, and we've now seen them a few times:

Two of the deer

All three deer, 2 doe and a still-spotted fawn

August 20:  Nathan took us to Jasper, AR to stay in a cabin for a couple of nights.  It was the best cabin we've stayed in yet.  It certainly wasn't the biggest, but it had a huge wrap-around porch, and it was ALL cedar, except for the floors, so it smelled wonderful.  My clothes even smelled of cedar after we came home.  We saw some elk on our way in.

August 21:  The sabbath day.  I got to visit a congregation of brethren whom I dearly love.  It had been a long time since I saw them.  I had a nice bible study with them and sang and talked.  I enjoyed sitting outside on the porch of the cabin and visiting with my wonderful husband and children, while taking in the view of the valley below.  After the sabbath, we ate some elk pizza from an all-organic restaurant.  Nathan went to pick it up, while I got the boys bathed.  We also had a delicious chocolate mousse pie from there.  It was a delicious meal.

 Will update more soon....

Observing Nature and A Pleasing Conversation with My 6yo Son

I absolutely love to observe nature, among all three kingdoms: animal, plant, and mineral. It thrills me so to see my two boys love it as well. I get joy when they laugh with delight upon learning new things, and I don't mind answering their questions. If I don't know the answers, then we go seek them. It's amazing how much I learn, too.

Yesterday Jaden (William) alerted me to a red wasp that was perched on the front porch railing behind us as we sat reading the bible. He was upset about its being there, and as I sat staring at it, it seemed to sense that it should be in ready-to-attack/defense mode. It's interesting to watch them. But, anyway, I did grab up my other book and kill it. Well, I don't think I completely killed it. Sometimes it's hard to tell, since their nerves often go on twitching after death, anyway. But, I'm 99% sure this one still had its life-force in it. I let Jaden get a stick and "explore" it. That's the word he often uses, though I tell him "examine" or "inspect" is better-suited. I told him to watch its tail carefully and to notice that it kept bringing its stinger out. It was having some difficulty. Its computer was all but dimmed. Then J. finished it off.

This morning I was opening the blinds in the living room when J. walked in. He immediately noticed the wasp caught in the web of an orb weaver just outside one of the windows. Trusten came in about that time, and they got on the couch and stared out at the wasp and the approaching spider. (As a side note here, these spiders, which Nathan and I call "October spiders," because throughout our lives we've known them to show up around mid- to late September and stick around all through October and beyond before winter sets in, have been making webs around the house all through August, which is just one of several signs we've seen that the weather pattern is definitely "off.") I told the boys to watch how the wasp was moving in a manner to aim its stinger at the spider. It was fighting vigorously to free itself from the web and it kept swinging around and taking stabs toward the spider with its stinger-loaded "tail" (abdomen). I reminded the boys that some wasps eat spiders, too. The spider was barely staying far enough way to be safe from a sting. I commented that it'd better walk back away and wait until the wasp tired itself. Well, what ended up happening is the wasp loosened itself from the web, and I think it dropped out. J. had mentioned that he thought one of its wings was damaged. I didn't see where it went, but J. said he said he saw it just sitting (standing?) somewhere. I had walked off right after I saw the wasp get out, because I had breakfast to get ready.

Today we came back from walking, and as we were about to walk up the steps of the front porch I spotted a lizard sunning itself on the left side railing. I pointed it out to the boys, and I guided Trusten over to see it, and J. said, "I'll get it so that you can see it Trusten." Well, I didn't get the words out quickly enough, but I foresaw what was going to happen. J. grabbed the lizard too far back on its tail, and off came its tail in his hand! LOL! He dropped it immediately and looked a bit bewildered. I just laughed and explained that it was the lizard's defense mechanism so that it could possibly escape from predators. I don't guess he knew this before, so this was something he learned today. He's caught lizards many times before, but I'm supposing this is the first time he's encountered this. (You know, I don't think I ONCE caught a lizard as a child, but I do remember trying. They were all so fast. I think they must be a little slower up here. ;-)

Earlier today I drove to town to get some groceries. Sometimes, rather than just fill Jaden's head with teachings, I ask him questions to get him to think for himself. As we were driving through the beautiful countryside, I asked what he thought should happen to a person if he or she murdered someone. His reply, "Killed." I asked what he thought should happen if a man raped a woman or sexually abused a child. "He needs to be killed, too."

Then I said, "Okay, well what if a person got really angry and murdered someone in his wrath, but then he felt really awful about it afterward and wished he hadn't have done it and would never think of doing it again?"

He replied, "I don't think he should be killed. They should be repented."

I said, "You mean that they repented and should be forgiven."

"Yeah."

I was very pleased with his answers. I often discover that he understands more than I think that he does. I told him I agreed with his answers and that I think people who do those things should be killed, too, and I only think that people should be given mercy and grace IF they repent and stop transgressing God's Law. I told him that all those things mentioned carried the physical death penalty under God's Law and that our society has rejected His commandments, statutes, and judgments. Those who should not get mercy expect it and often get it. On the other hand, those who aren't even guilty of a wrong under the Perfect Law are condemned.

He that justifieth the wicked, and he that condemneth the just, even they both are abomination to Jehovah. ~Prov. 17:15

I didn't bring up that Proverb in our brief talk, but J. should know it well. We read over it once every month, since we read a chapter of Proverbs each day. He does know the Proverbs quite well. As I read them daily, I stop at different places for him to fill in the blanks. He does well most days. He's memorizing them, having wisdom stored within him. Now, all he needs to do is use it....sometimes he does.

On our walk, I saw an amazing thing, a very large mushroom. J. had run ahead, so I called him back, knowing he'd appreciate it, too. Meanwhile, T. was catching up. J. did like it, and then he looked at T. and asked, "Trusten, would you eat that?" Trusten shook his head violently and said, "Uh-huh!" :-) I said, "Well, that's good, b/c it may very well be poisonous." (We don't eat any mushrooms, though, as they are classified as "non-green plants" [sometimes classified in a separate kingdom altogether as a fungus], and non-green--meaning non-chlorophyll-producing--and non-seed-bearing plants were never given to us as food {Gen. 1:29, 9:3}). I sure don't want my child trying out something that may acutely poison him to death, though.

I ordered three more books yesterday from the new & used section on Amazon.com. I got two more books from Kevin Leman, the author of the last two books I've read/am reading. They are both parenting books, but I'm sure birth order is probably a topic in them as well. And then a book I'm really looking forward to getting is called Nature Got There First: Inventions Inspired by Nature. I bought it for a whopping $0.44. Besides law, family, natural health, and etymology, one of my subjects of interest and writing is science/knowledge and technology/application of science. I love learning and teaching about true science/knowledge and bringing glory to whom it is due--the Most High God, the Creator of all. In a world where two dominating views crush out the truth, namely that everything was somehow brought forth by rocks by itself and evolved or that God is some hocus pocus magician nothing like the man made in God's image, I am determined to share the truth with others who want to understand the true God.

Everything that man comes up with and all the miracles man has wrought with advanced knowledge and the application thereof has already been done by God and even better. Everything man comes up with pales in comparison to the knowledge and technology of the Supreme Creator. Human beings themselves are the greatest creation on this planet. The only real thing lacking is mortality, and people are busying themselves, as I write this, to use what knowledge they have to technologically make human beings immortal. Of course, I have full faith that they will fail, though many seem so prideful and confident that they will get it. Indeed, they are making advances with cloning, stem cell treatments, and nanotechnology (nano means "small," usually or always invisible to the human eye, we're talking atoms and molecules), and they're trying to make immortality a reality while still in the state of sin! What a horror...

The artificial intelligence, scientists say, will almost surely be a likelihood, with nanobots traveling through people's blood and increasing lifespan to over 120 years, perhaps several hundred years old. Well, that's not quite immortality, is it? ;-) You'd have to get rid of the blood altogether, as well as the earthly body.

Anyway, I'm excited about the book and can hardly wait to read it. Many people just don't realize how many of our fancy modern inventions were inspired by animals and other things in nature. I am hoping it will be fun to share with J. the things I read in the book, too.

Well, that's it until next time. I have to be careful, as I'm notorious for writing book-length things.