Delta Lake, Inaugural Field Guide Trip!

Our field guides for next year arrived Thursday, much earlier than the expected Sunday arrival.  We were so excited to go explore and see what we could see that we headed out the door at 10:30 am on a Saturday (lol) to go put them to use!

We went to Delta Lake, which just had a trail around the perimeter.  We saw several fishermen there, so it must be good fishing.  No swimming or wading is allowed, which was good since we weren't really prepared to do either.

If you happen to read this and we got something wrong, I would be much obliged for a correction, so that we can learn and do better next time!

Our first specimen we failed to identify.  It grew at least 6 feet, so we were able to eliminate several shrubs, but not identify this particular one.

Our next specimen was a bird.  William was able to identify it as an American Robin, which just happens to be the Michigan state bird!

Our third specimen we were able to identify as Common Chokecherry.

Whenever we would encounter a 'beach' clearing the kids would toss rocks into the lake.

This was another one of our unidentified specimens.

They found a baby rolly polly!

This specimen we identified as a northern white cedar.  This guy was tiny though, but will apparently grow up to 70ft!

Alice was the one with the correct guide and first visual on a frog.  She identified it as a Bull Frog on site, but revised her designation as a Northern Leopard frog when we got home and reviewed the picture.

Once the frog realized we were not after him, he finished hopping across the path to hide in the brush.

A tree root that I found interesting.

Alice and William were ready to go after only an hour.  And, as it turns out, the second half of the path is not accessible to the public. = (  So, we went back to the car to enjoy a packed lunch and waited while Billy, Emily and Grace explored the other route.   Apparently it also ends quickly.  = (

We used all three of them on our trip, which is really exciting!

I cannot wait until our next adventure!

later days

22nd May, 70th Day of Quarantine, 43rd Day of School at Home

Today the high was a lower 64F than yesterday, and it was a chilly rainy spring morning.

I pushed William through his to-do list quickly.  Thankfully Friday is a catch-up day in his class, so he only had a tiny bit of math, piano and reading to knock out before his appointment.

At his 7 year check up, he had a 7 degree spine curve, so we had to go in for his 6 month scoliosis check.

The doctors are currently seeing patients outside, to help prevent contamination.  It as sprinkling during his appointment, thankfully they could hide under the cover of the back lift gate.

So, his spine has progressed into a 9 degree curve, which is sad, so we will continue on the 6 month check pattern.  His next one will be at his 8 year check up.  With his history of bone issues, this is not something that surprises her, and we will just continue to keep an eye on it.

I did have a moment of panic when the nurse weighed him at 9lbs less than our previous visit (that's a 25% decrease in weight!)  The doctor reweighed him, this time on a level surface, and he actually gained 5lbs since his last visit just a few months ago!  This is awesome and means that the protein shakes are doing their job. = )

When we got home, William was trying to find the tree that he had seen a the doctor's office in our new field guide!

Also, I got in the first wave of books that I ordered!

I put them all on our book trolley!  Our second trolley arrived, and Juliet helped me put it together.

I unenthusiastically completed the course I had started for my Teaching certificate.  The lesson itself wasn't bad, but since I didn't get to get started on it until after noon, most of my motivation was evaporated.

I also finished the 5 day series for the introduction to the kids' homeschool in the fall.  I watched this with slightly more vigor, but should have watched it earlier in the day, since I was so spent.

For dinner we enjoyed pizza from our local place, and watched Kim Possible as a nice end of day activity.

later days