Frogs and Amphibians

We have been busy with a amphibian/frog study around here. I made cards for Mark to identify different frogs and other amphibians. I found the pictures here . I printed it twice and laminated the control card and cut up the other card. Mark is enjoying them and learning.

He, along with Grace, completed the life cycle of a frog. I wanted to catch some tadpoles this year, but we didn't get to it.

We made this real nice standing up frog craft.

Yesterday we caught this eastern red-backed salamander up on Mt. Hope.

Becky caught this tiny tree frog in the rhubarb patch a few weeks ago,

and here is our resident bullfrog that lives in the creek out back.

Mount Hope Reservoir

If you have been visiting this blog for very long, you have had to realize that this family definitely has a great passion for nature. Give us a beautiful day and we are certain to want to head out into nature. The more wild the better.


Today was just such a beautiful day, bright sunshine and a temperature of no more than 60 degrees. Perfect weather for a hike. We loaded the car and headed to the Mount Hope Reservoir, five minutes from the house. We took a 4 mile hike around the reservoir through a hardwood forest.
We found some new wildflowers. This is birdfoot trefoil.

We identified this flower as cow vetch. Vetch means "I cling to thee".

Halfway through the hike you cross over a creek and head back on a very steep path.We finally had to carry the babies and the strollers.

There was this very nice little waterfall.

Amy resting on a log.

The kids all practiced there fallen down log walking.

We saw a lot of nice looking fungus.

We also found wildlife. What we consider wildlife is anything that moves. Above is a black winged damselfly.

An eastern red-backed salamander.

A wild turkey.

Last but not least, we have Dad getting attacked by a bear. (He only scared Mark and Grace, and only for a split second, although when he screamed I think he scared the dog.)

Late Spring Field Day

Tomorrow, Dawn, from By Sun and Candlelight , is hosting a late spring field day. I have been working on my post and wanted to get it up today. Spring seemed very hard to come by this year. As you can see in our post for the Early Spring Field Day, upstate New York doesn't give up winter very easily,



but finally, the warm sun does begin to shine, and its warmth seems to renew us.

Seemingly overnight, the landscape turns green and living things seem to appear where ever we look.

We enjoy walking the woods and fields behind the house and looking for any nature that we can find. The butterflies have returned. Above is a Mourning Cloak butterfly.

We glanced out the back window one morning and our hummingbirds were back. Amy was quick to set up their feeder so they would stay near.

We spied a Baltimore Oriole nesting in Grandpa's maple tree.

The Red Admiral butterfly has appeared. It is the butterfly we see the most at this time of year.

The dandelions have past through one generation all ready. The kids have fun blowing the fluff around, making sure there are plenty of seeds for more dandelions.

The flowers, with every bright color, are appearing in every field and yard. We found this golden ragwort by the creek near Grandma's house. Also, below, is Grandma's purple iris. I can smell it just looking at this picture.

Even "summer" flowers, like the oxeyed daisies below are blooming.

New life is even in our backyard, where the house sparrows have hatched.
The spring peepers have made way for the croaking of the bullfrog. Mark spied him in the creek out back.

Spring also means many other things to this family.

It means beautiful young women and handsome young men heading out for fancy dances.

It means, little boys catching the first fish of the season.

Late spring means baseball games.

Late spring means the temperature getting hot enough for baby boys to play in the sunshine out of doors.

May 2nd we took this picture from the hill in back of our house. There was a hint of green becoming visible.

Three weeks later, the green has burst forth and there is even a haze in the air.

We are ready now, to head into summer.

Secret Garden

We have had a very exciting weekend around here. Holy Cross Academy performed the musical "The Secret Garden. The kids began in December, and the past weekend we were treated to one of the most professional shows that I have ever seen performed by a school.
They were truly remarkable.


Becky helped with the pre-show craziness. This performance was put on without the help of a public school budget. Things were borrowed, made by hand, or donated by friends of the school.

Matt was Lt. Wright. Here he is getting into character before the sh0w.

Amy was a dreamer. She is in make-up here with her friend Maggie.

Daniel's part was Albert, the main characters father. He is posing with Josh (Fakir).

Matt sang beautifully. This was his first show ever.

Dan and his stage wife Maria. Dan is a real pro at performing. This is his third show.

MattDan

Amy was the most beautiful girl on stage.

Everyone enjoyed the encore, especially Dan.

June: Dedicated to the Sacred Heart of Jesus

June is dedicated to the Sacred Heart of Jesus

12 Promises of the Sacred Heart of Jesus:

As given by Our Lord to Saint Margaret Mary Alacoque

1. I will give them all the graces necessary for their state of life.

2. I will give peace in their families.

3. I will console them in all their troubles.

4. They shall find in My Heart an assured refuge during life and especially at the hour of death.

5. I will pour abundant blessings on all their undertakings.

6. Sinners shall find in My Heart the source and infinite ocean of mercy.

7. Tepid souls shall become fervent.

8. Fervent souls shall speedily rise to great perfection.

9. I will bless the homes in which the image of My Sacred Heart shall be exposed and honored.

10. I will give to priests the power to touch the most hardened hearts.

11. Those who propagate this devotion shall have their name written in My Heart, and it shall never be effaced.

12. I promise thee in the excess of the mercy of My Heart, that its all-powerful Love will grant to all those who shall receive Communion on the First Friday of Nine consecutive months the grace of final repentance; they shall not die under My displeasure, nor without receiving the Sacraments; My Heart shall be their assured refuge at that last hour.

8 Facts About Me --Meme

Anne, from Under Her Starry Mantle, tagged me for this meme. Here are the rules:

Each player lists 8 facts/habits about themselves. The rules of the game are posted at the beginning before those facts/habits are listed. At the end of the post, the player then tags 8 people and posts their names, then goes to their blogs and leaves them a comment, letting them know that they have been tagged and asking them to read your blog.

1. I bought the first wedding dress I tried on, after my mom made me keep looking for another week or so.

I post this picture thanks to my sil Mary, who has been scanning in pictures lately.

2. I have had 9 major surgeries,(nothing minor here) but I have never broken a bone except for my pinkie toe.

3. I have had 3 kids in diapers and 1 in a pull-up at the same time.

4. I met my husband at a summer camp. We were counselors there together-just think of all the summer camp movies and you get the idea.

5. I have knit baby blankets for at least 20 babies. They were the babies of my friends, family, and myself. I made all my children a blanket.

6. My last 2 babies received their blankets when they were at least 6 months old. Everyone else's were done before they were born. Here are some of them.

7. When I was little, I was a tomboy. For many years I was angry I wasn't a boy. I have 5 girls and they are all girls--no tomboy's here. My brother Steve, 5 years younger than me, called me his brother Jo.

8. When I was little I ran over a shrub with our snowmobile, and then I hid it under another bush. It wasn't discovered until spring.

Now I am supposed to tag 8 people, but I am taking an idea from Dawn, and if anyone wants to be tagged just leave a comment here and I will tag you.