Scout made doughnuts for her elf.

My car

My car makes me feel like wonder woman.

Sticky Buns

Candace has

Alexandra Stoddard books
She cuts them up
to free them
so they glow

they attach themselves
like sticky bun sugar
and spread icing all over life
making it yummy again

 "oh yeah," they say,

 "this feels like home to me."
             Meli 2013

Kayak Journey

My old friend from college flew down for a girl's weekend getaway with me.  We launched out of Everglades City and kayaked through the Florida Keys 7 miles out and camped on a deserted island: Tiger Key.  It was quite relaxing and we had a fabulous time.  The next day, we packed up, and kayaked back through the channel.
I was hoping to see some wildlife - not much out there this time, but I did see a Skate.  It's from the ray and shark families.  (Thanks Yoelly, from Deering, for identifying it for us!)

Sunrise Earth...Miami

The ducks came to visit this morning.  They flew down from the north lands.  It must be getting cold up there.

Scout certified

Scout completed her diving certification this morning. Way to go, girl!   We had to special order all her equipment because you just can't find things that small, especially since the diving age limit is 10.
  (She's the size of a 7yr old)

 

 

After a dive you are very tired - Scout loves to rest in dad's arms.

Scout's net

How do we test skill retention in home school?

This morning I found scout out on the dock.  She had fashioned a net out of tule and string,  and had already caught 14 fish.

Those eco academy and wilderness conservation classes at Deering have created a survivalist.  :)

Economic collapse?...Bring it on!

Solar ovens

Scout made a solar oven all by herself from tinfoil and cardboard.  She tried it out this morning making nachos. It worked great! It was so hot inside, the cheese melted in 10 minutes.

She got the idea from her big sister who was assigned to do it for her middle school science project.  Her sister had to melt/make a smores treat.

I'm so glad to see my girls with survival skills.

My Artist

Scout just loves her elf!!

Writing

Scout and I are doing a writing workshop this year called Writer's Craft.  This is her notebook,  and her first sample of writing.  It will be great to compare it to her writing at the end of the year.

Spelling scrabble

Scout does lots of activities and games to study her spelling words.  Today we are using the scrabble tiles. Montessori style.

Art class

Scout and I have stumbled upon the most amazing art class ever.   Candace, the teacher,  has the most amazing techniques for bringing out the original creativity of each person.

We are so honored to have found this gem.  She doesn't advertise,  and if she did,  she would soon be overrun with interest and the class would lose the feel that makes it so incredible.

I hope all my friends will come and join the class too - check out her WEBSITE!

Graduation Day

Eco Academy and Wilderness Conservation Graduation Day

 

 Alexandra and Panama handed out certificates.

Scout was the only one in ALL THREE classes

and got 3 certificates! 

 Way to Go!

Chocolate Milk was taking a final at the university, so he couldn't make it, but he called and left a message for us to hear.   What a great year it was!

Sea Turtles

 Our Adventure began with the class heading to the Beach on Key Biscayne.  We went to the nature center and listened to a presentation on turtles, then went out into the bright sun to find our own nest.

 Panama led us down to the water where they had previously buried "eggs" and created nests for us to explore.  They marked each nest with a post and divided us into teams.

There were a few kite boarders out too.  It was the perfect day for learning.

 Scout brought her friend Eva along.

The guy in the brown shirt looked like Panama's twin! 

 He works at the nature center with the turtle rescue.  They aren't even related!!

 Each group of kids started digging while the moms took pictures.

We were digging up the "eggs".  Each ping pong ball was numbered. 

 We had to spread them out, putting the male eggs in one pile and the female in another.  The turtles get their gender based on temperature. So the eggs on top of the nest where its warmer are girls and the eggs on the bottom are boys.

 There's about a hundred eggs in each nest.

 When all the eggs were found, our teacher, Alexandra, read off numbers.  Each group found the number and brought it up to her basket.  She read the demise of the poor turtle.  Some were carried off by raccoons, some drown in the ocean, others were eaten by sharks.

 Each egg came up one by one, representing another baby turtle that didn't survive. 
In the end, there was just one egg out of 100 that made it to maturity. 

This was a great hands on lesson, and Scout remembers every detail.  I often hear her teaching other friends about it.

Banyan Tree Fun

There's a big Banyan tree in front of our classroom at Deering Estate

My friends and I like to play in it.

 Chocolate Milk, Panama, and Alexandra

 Our teachers are going to prepare more things for class.  Sometimes we meet in the old pump house.