Mayfield Park with the cousins

Alex spent the morning visiting the peahens and peacocks at Mayfield Park with his cousins.  I had no idea they hang out so high up in the trees (the peacocks, not the kids)!

We spotted a lot of damsel flies and one really big lizard while out on the trail.  There's nothing this kid loves more than a morning out in nature.

River Place Nature Trail, Austin

This might just be my favorite nature trail in Austin, but it is not for the faint-of-heart in 100 degree Texas heat.  For a little boy and his dog, no problem.

In case you can't tell from the picture, that is a hill of steps...and there are many more!

No time for pictures!

Taking a break

Meesha loves to walk right beside Alex

Yes, even in Austin we have hills big enough that you have to watch out for falling rocks!

Hunting for frogs (and other creatures) at Walnut Creek

Mom of a "future zoologist" boy

How do you know you're the mom of a boy who wants to grow up to be a zoologist?  You come home from a nature walk with a picture of this:

Yes, it is animal poop.  With seeds.  And "of course it must be from a black bear", said the budding zoologist, who followed every nature sign he could find in hopes of trailing the elusive black bear that may live in our neighborhood.  It was with great disappointment that he returned home without a bear-sighting. However, the very next day he headed out to search again.

Snake Night at Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center

The Nature Box

One of the core components of our curriculum for this next school year is a Charlotte Mason style nature study using The Outdoor Secrets and The Outdoor Secrets Companion.

You can read more about Charlotte Mason style homeschooling and find many great resources for creating a CM based curriclum at Simply Charlotte Mason.

We are really, really excited about it because while we have been doing nature study on our own for a while now, I wanted something to give us a bit of guidance as we look more closely at the world around us.  I grew up in big cities, and we live in a suburban neighborhood so sadly I can't say I have ever given much thought to nature until a very curious child began asking a WHOLE LOT of questions.

I just finished making a nature box where Alex can store some of the treasures he finds while on his nature walks and he has already found a few leaves, flowers, and even a snake skin to put in the box.  Here's a little peek at my handy work. (The stone-texture paint was AWESOME!)

Natural Bridge Wildlife Ranch

Alex (also known as The Crocodile Hunter Jr. or as he keeps insisting, "Steve" Johnson) took a drive through the safari today, Texas style.  Take a look.

And we did.  As long as hanging out the window to take pictures counts as being in the vehicle.

They are not shy...

But they are seriously cute.

Goats.  A whole entire petting zoo of goats.  Need I say more?

  

They are adorable.

And they will SO eat your clothes.  And lick you.  

And poop on you if you don't watch out.  Go ahead.  Ask me how I know this.

 

That face (above) is for these fish (below)

This one is my favorite of all.  I tried to bring him home with us, but he didn't fit in the car (though he gave it a honest try).