Wednesday, September 26, 2012

A Book

There is no frigate like a book
To take us lands away,
Nor any coursers like a page
Of prancing poetry.
This traverse may the poorest take
Without oppress of toll;
How frugal is the chariot
That bears a human soul!
 
~Emily Dickinson

Tuesday, September 25, 2012

Shoshone Base Camp

Last week we went on a major field trip to Shoshone Base Camp for their homeschool program.  We spent two days and nights learning about the great outdoors with several members from our co-op.  The schedule included survival, hiking, rock climbing, stream wading, playing games, and lots of songs around the campfire.  They fed us really well - too well!  I think I gained a few pounds.  Overall, it was a great experience, and Kylen says he'd like to go again.

They started off making nametags by writing on tree slices.  Our cabin is in the background.
 
Rec time: pool was most popular with ping pong a close second.

I wonder how old this thing is!
 
The Stream

Wading
 
The Sky
 
Time to learn about trees!
 
Board Game

Campfire

Monday, September 24, 2012

Paint Spin Art

It's a fun tradition having Kylen make one of these every year.  I asked several people what this one looks like.  A couple of people saw a bird.  No one said what I saw: a volcano (sideways).  There's an explosion, magma chamber and everything!

Well, that concludes my fair posts.  :-)




Dart Game

I figure playing one of the game booths at the fair can be an educational experience.  Besides, I had my eye on the minions.  It totally wasn't worth the money we spent to play, but like I said, it's an educational experience, right?



Wax Hand

I remember getting a wax version of my hand at the fair when I was in college.  It turned out surprisingly well, and I kept it in my room until graduation.  I thought Kylen would enjoy making one.  He seemed good with it until his hand started feeling like it was going to "burn off."  I'm pretty sure they had me alternate dipping in cold water and wax, but the lady dipped his hand in the hot wax several times in a row.  Then he tried to pull his hand out too fast and made a few cracks.  It's sitting in his room, although I have a feeling he won't cherish it the way I did mine.

Chilling his hand in cold water

Dunking

Removing drips from the fingertips
 
After several layers of wax

Saturday, September 22, 2012

The Viper

Kylen got some REALLY funky pictures of Greg and me on this ride.  We have no idea what was going on with the camera, but they turned out pretty cool.  The last one of Greg's face cracks us up.  He did NOT like this ride and made several comments about never going again.  We had thought it looked rather calm, but halfway through it started pulling serious g's.  So yes, he's being very real in that pic.  In fact, I live with two big wimps.  Can't tell you how many times I asked, "How about this one?" and both of them answered, "No thank you."  Guess next year I'll have to go with my brother!




Swings


Maze

 

Animals

Taken for Rebecca: is this a "fluffy" chicken . . . ?

They said he'd gotten out of his cage about twelve times that day.  Lol.

A horse named after me!  Same spelling even, which is rare to see.

Friday, September 21, 2012

Fair Food

Greg always has to get the cube of fries, Kylen varies, I usually make it a point to eat something deep fat fried.  My favorite dessert so far has been the deep fried Twinkie.  Here was my lunch: baked potato, corn on the cob, and a turkey leg.  Some of the best corn anywhere, but the whole meal was fab.  I couldn't believe how much meat was on that turkey leg!  I wrapped up the leftovers, brought it home, and got enough off the bone to provide meat for all of us another meal.

Blacksmith Demo

The blacksmith demo was the most interesting partly because we'd just finished reading about metal working in The Golden Goblet.  It was also more involved than the others.  He did a great job explaining the steps while making a leaf.  I think it would be a neat educational experience to take one of his classes.


 






The Fair: Wood Saw and Weaving

Last week was the Spokane Fair!  We've always gone on family day, but that meant skipping piano and Bible study, so we decided to try Thursday.  It was perfect!  The day crowd was small, and we were done by the time the evening mobs arrived.

We always start in the steam and gas area where they have demonstrations from the good old days.  This year we observed a saw in action, wool weaving, and my favorite: a blacksmith demo.  I'll do a separate post on that, since I took lots of pics!



Thursday, September 20, 2012

When Mother Reads Aloud

When Mother reads aloud, the past
Seems real as every day;
I hear the tramp of armies vast,
I see the spears and lances cast,
I join the trilling fray;
Brave knights and ladies fair and proud
I meet when Mother reads aloud.
 
When Mother reads aloud, far lands
Seem very near and true;
I cross the desert's gleaming sands,
Or hunt the jungle's prowling bands,
Or sail the ocean blue.
Far heights, whose peaks the cold mists shroud,
I scale, when Mother reads aloud.
 
When Mother reads aloud, I long
For noble deeds to do --
To help the right, redress the wrong;
It seems so easy to be strong,
So simple to be true.
Oh, thick and fast the visions crowd
My eyes, when Mother reads aloud.
 
~Anonymous

Wednesday, September 19, 2012

Last Tennis of the Year?






Monday, September 17, 2012

A Long Overdue Experiment

Most kids have probably seen the mentos and pop geyser long before they finish grade school, and I've been wanting to do it with Kylen forever.  I even purchased a little kit summer before last.  We just never got around to it . . . until recently.  I even took a video, but I rotated the camcorder vertically without thinking.  Yeah.  I'm not playing it sideways, so we'll just go with a few pics!


Friday, September 14, 2012

The Summer of the Gold Rings

I'm thankful we managed a second trip to Riverfront Park, since my camera ran out of batteries last time!  I wanted to get some shots of Kylen on the Looff Carrousel.  I remember riding this historic carrousel when I was a child and how exciting it was to get a gold ring.  During most of the ride, they have a dispenser from which outside riders can grab a ring as they fly by.  You have to be tall enough to reach and brave enough to lean out.  Oh, and quick!  Plus, newbies must be able to get past nipping their fingers and the humiliation of missing.  There's always that nudging fear, "What if I can't do it?"

I knew Kylen COULD do it, since he surpassed my height during the winter, one of many changes that marked a transition toward adulthood.  In a way, I guess this was a sort of "coming of age" test.  His first trip around was disappointing.  He was reaching out but staying firmly planted on the horse.  I told him he needed to stand up and do more leaning.  The next ride, we were thrilled when he not only got a ring, but the GOLD ring!  There is just one gold ring dispensed each time that entitles the winner to a free ride.  I was so proud of him!  Fast-forward to our second visit last weekend: he got TWO gold rings, two rides in a row!  We could hardly believe it!  Twas the summer of the gold rings!


Kylen Grabs a Ring

Greg Grabbing for a Ring

Stretched Pennies!
 
Brings Back Childhood Memories





The Gold Ring!!