Thursday Nature Study

A rainbow of color was spotted in the sky at Peter's Canyon in Orange.

Thank you to Naomi for researching this unusual sky color called a SUNDOG.

Our friend Jennifer, a fellow CM homeschooling mom from Thursday nature study group, was so gracious to give us an art lesson. Jen's nature journal is just beautiful as are the journals of her little men! What a blessing she is to offer her gift in drawing to our group.

Jen first had the children sketch a Western Bluebird. Next, she had the children mix 3 shades of blue watercolor and show those on the three circles drawn on the nature journal. Last, the children dry brushed their sketched bird while noting the detail and correct location of the blue shades from their field guides. Thank you Jen!

JAMES 4 1/2 Mama helped with bird sketch

James did the rest:)

JULIA 8


THISTLE



FRIENDS



TREE SWALLOW family





While we were enjoying nature study,
my man was finishing up our book shelf.




THANK YOU MY LOVE!

"A home without books is like a room without windows. A little library, growing every year, is an honorable part of a man's history. It is a man's duty to have books. A library is not a luxury, but one of the necessities of life."

Henry Ward Beecher

Handicraft

The idea to make our 'Art and Hooks Rack'...

...came from the pages of Handmade Home.

We started with this panel of pine.

The children helped to prime the wood.

Our colors were painted on after carefully

measuring, drilling holes, and taping off.

We made four Art and Hooks Racks at the same time...

So I chose the art work from Julia and James' nature

journals and had them color copied to make four sets.

Julia drew the birds last year. James drew the pepper

tree and pine cone recently.

Mod Podge was brushed under and over

the drawings. Ribbon was then glued on

across. Lastly, the glass hooks or knobs

were screwed in place.

We now have a place to hang our jackets, hats, and

scarves. What I love most about this rack is the art

it displays!

Nativity, Giotto 1311-1320

And there were in the same country shepherds abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night. And, lo, the angel of the Lord came upon them, and the glory of the Lord shone round about them: and they were sore afraid. And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, which is Christ the Lord. And this shall be a sign unto you; Ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger. And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God, and saying, Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men.

Luke 2:8-14

Hummingbirds

James was inspired to draw a Ruby-Throated Hummingbird sucking nectar after seeing one through our front window. We recently visited Tucker Wildlife Sanctuary, where there were many bird feeders hanging from tree branches, attracting so many kinds of birds. It was such a great place for bird watching! Julia and James purchased hummingbird feeders to attract those tiny little birds to our home. The two feeders are hanging from our grapevine trellis where we can view the little birds from an arms length distance.

Tint and Shade

JAMES - blue
JULIA - red

My friend Naomi shared on her blog the tint and shade project she did with her children. Of course once Julia and James learned of the painted circle project they wanted to try one of their own. Using a paint pallet, choose one color to place in five differing areas. Next, using white for tint and black for shade, add to the color to make tints and shades of that color. Save one of the five as the original color, add black to two areas and white to the remaining two areas on the pallet. I traced circles with a pencil first on watercolor paper and we cleaned our brush well before using the next tint or shade. The children had so much fun painting!