as beautiful as a summers day

 What a good start to autumn! The weather- strange for October, but I welcomed it very much.

This made alot of learning time outdoors for the first 8 days of October! We took several walks, a different place each day.

The colors are pretty.
The leaves are falling fast.

I got to go to 2 history- re-enactment festivals! 

Thinking about it right now, I have done things I never have before.



here is my list:
I took a short elephant ride

I watched medieval combat

I had 2 picnics in one week  in October

I saw a sort of Shakespeare play

I pet a buffalo

I watched how a glass marble is made

I watched a (pretend) fencing match in person

In my Shakespeare class we read this sonnet..It was rather humorous, you had to be there!

  Shall I compare thee to a summer's day?
Thou art more lovely and more temperate:
Rough winds do shake the darling buds of May,
And summer's lease hath all too short a date . . . .


the 80 degrees this week made me think of this line. 

wooly thoughts

I just wrote a composition about animals getting ready for winter. I remembered the wooly bear caterpillar. I read that depending on how his stripes are it will be either an easy winter or a hard winter.

I saw one last year on a nature walk, so I should go find one again and determine whether old man winter will be gentle or harsh on us. Today, it's time to get out the  hot apple cider and cookies. It's only September and 55 degrees. I have to get my socks done!

Anything but spiders!

I would most definitely prefer to write about almost anything else..other than a spider!

Our family read about this yellow guy the other day.. everyone seemed to think it is quite interesting.
So, I will do my best to describe an amazing animal in God's amazing kingdom..

(this photo is from here )

First of all, we learned that it is an amazing creature and known to be a "Master of Disguise". This spider changes color to match its surroundings. He's a very small spider, the largest could only be about an inch big. Unlike other spiders, this spider does not have a web. The yellow crab spider does not wrap its victims in silk, instead it grabs them and uses its fast acting venom to immobilize them, then the crab spider has it's lunch! Believe it or not, the crab spider is beneficial. They capture flies and mites. They do eat honeybees too, but we'll appreciate that they eat the bugs we swat, which is helpful.

If you saw this spider sitting on a golden rod or sunflower, you may have to look twice to find it. It also has abilities to change to white when on a daisy. Other crab spiders can resemble tree bark, leaves, fruit or even bird poop! And yet another group of crab spiders can adapt to look like ants!  These spiders are not poisonous to humans, they don't seek out humans, their bite is not dangerous. If you find one, just put a cup over him and slide a piece of paper under him and take him back out to the wild.

So, if I happen to see one myself this summer, I will take a special photo just for you..

who knows, always learning about things for a reason...


short video clip  (just click)

 here is another link,  if you want to know more (just click)

unexpectedly interesting!

 Are there as many unique birds in the world as there are places to travel or learn about? I am really starting to think so. From my last post I told you to look for this posting about a strange bird..

Here is it. The Kakapo!! You may not know, this bird is endangered..According to my findings, there are less than 100 left. He lives in New Zealand. But, There are reproductive programs going on right now.  This bird is in the parrot family. listen

This parrot is nocturnal. He is a good sized bird, up to 9 pounds and he doesn't fly. Below are 2 links about the Kakapo. I never realized that birds are so fun to learn about. Each day this summer we are going to be reading about birds.

We hope to find some, that we haven't seen before, in view too. 

link
link 2

5 out of my ten list for march/april reading

The books that I have completed from my book list of ten are...

Ink heart- What I remember, it was exciting, imaginative, lots to do with other classic books.
I enjoyed all of the characters, my favorite character was Dust-finger and I really liked his pet, too.
I can't wait to continue with the two other books that follow.

Next is, Marco Polo- I was very interested in this story. I finished the book in one day. There is alot to learn in this book. My favorite part was when Marco Polo was in the courts of Kublai Khan, the Mongolian emperor.  The description of the city he had built  was so elaborate. The streets so straight and tidy. Today, it is called Beijing.



This is a picture that describes somewhat of what it may have looked like from this view. The stories and adventures and history of the "silk road" are so fascinating.






Travels with a donkey- I love Stevenson's  books..Treasure Island and Black Arrow.. my favorites ever..
but, this one, I only could read 2 chapters. It is written so different. It is about his actual travels in Europe. It is written like a journal. I could not turn the pages like I could in his other books. Sorry, Robert.

Surprised by joy- by C S Lewis. This is a true story of his child hood. A very interesting life he had. His life was difficult and sad at times. He was born in Ireland and went to boarding school in England. His mother died while he was young. His father was too occupied to be a good dad to him.His brother was the only one he found comfort with and called "family". When he was really young, he had great imagination. He created a world called "animal land". It was his escape from his loneliness in his life. Which I also think led to his books called "Chronicles  of Narnia", later in life.

Beorn the proud- Lately, I have enjoyed stories from the medieval time period. I have watched a couple of great movies that go along with era. One is Dragon Heart, the other is How to train your dragon. And next on the movie list is Dragon hunters.. yes, these are all animated or Hollywood entertaining versions of history. But, still fun! The movie How to train your dragon goes best with this book. Both are about the Vikings and their ancient culture. The Vikings lived in the first few hundred years of the dark ages in Denmark, Norway and other Scandinavian countries.
There is alot to say about this book. First is I really liked it.It's about a boy who is 12 years old. His father makes a raid to Ireland.
They were only going to take the treasures from the raid, but Beorn, who is a selfish, spoiled boy wanted a girl that he saw as well. He wanted her to be his servant.His father agreed so that Beorn could have some company on the ship back to Denmark. The girl's name is Ness. She and Beorn become good friends and she teaches him much about his bad attitude and helps him to become a Christian.The end of the book is good, especially good for Ness.

What I read today..

Now I know I was going to tell you about a book from my book list.. 

But, first, I have to tell you about this book. It is a World Landmark book. Which means it is a historical 

book- history told in story form- to be exact. I haven't read many World Landmark books, yet.. I will be on the search after this book now. This is another book that I picked up this morning, and I now have it read, a few hours later..  my mom let me just read and finish it since I told her "I just can't put it down."

So, I start to tell her all about it. There is so much to say.. so many stories in this man's life.

What is the book???  The book is "The life of Saint Patrick".

Here is why I found it exciting..  I told my mom there were two people in the bible he reminded me of.

The first, Elijah from the Old Testament. Why, Because he had almost the same kind of test Elijah had. To prove there is only one powerful true God.

"20 So Ahab sent for all the children of Israel, and gathered the prophets together on Mount Carmel. 21 And Elijah came to all the people, and said, “How long will you falter between two opinions? If the LORD is God, follow Him; but if Baal, follow him.” But the people answered him not a word. 22 Then Elijah said to the people, “I alone am left a prophet of the LORD; but Baal’s prophets are four hundred and fifty men. 23 Therefore let them give us two bulls; and let them choose one bull for themselves, cut it in pieces, and lay it on the wood, but put no fire under it; and I will prepare the other bull, and lay it on the wood, but put no fire under it. 24 Then you call on the name of your gods, and I will call on the name of the LORD; and the God who answers by fire, He is God.”
So all the people answered and said, “It is well spoken.”
25 Now Elijah said to the prophets of Baal, “Choose one bull for yourselves and prepare it first, for you are many; and call on the name of your god, but put no fire under it.”
26 So they took the bull which was given them, and they prepared it, and called on the name of Baal from morning even till noon, saying, “O Baal, hear us!” But there was no voice; no one answered. Then they leaped about the altar which they had made.
27 And so it was, at noon, that Elijah mocked them and said, “Cry aloud, for he is a god; either he is meditating, or he is busy, or he is on a journey, or perhaps he is sleeping and must be awakened.” 28 So they cried aloud, and cut themselves, as was their custom, with knives and lances, until the blood gushed out on them. 29 And when midday was past, they prophesied until the time of the offering of the evening sacrifice. But there was no voice; no one answered, no one paid attention.
30 Then Elijah said to all the people, “Come near to me.” So all the people came near to him. And he repaired the altar of the LORD that was broken down. 31 And Elijah took twelve stones, according to the number of the tribes of the sons of Jacob, to whom the word of the LORD had come, saying, “Israel shall be your name.”[b] 32 Then with the stones he built an altar in the name of the LORD; and he made a trench around the altar large enough to hold two seahs of seed. 33 And he put the wood in order, cut the bull in pieces, and laid it on the wood, and said, “Fill four waterpots with water, and pour it on the burnt sacrifice and on the wood.” 34 Then he said, “Do it a second time,” and they did it a second time; and he said, “Do it a third time,” and they did it a third time. 35 So the water ran all around the altar; and he also filled the trench with water.
36 And it came to pass, at the time of the offering of the evening sacrifice, that Elijah the prophet came near and said, “LORD God of Abraham, Isaac, and Israel, let it be known this day that You are God in Israel and I am Your servant, and that I have done all these things at Your word. 37 Hear me, O LORD, hear me, that this people may know that You are the LORD God, and that You have turned their hearts back to You again.”
38 Then the fire of the LORD fell and consumed the burnt sacrifice, and the wood and the stones and the dust, and it licked up the water that was in the trench. 39 Now when all the people saw it, they fell on their faces; and they said, “The LORD, He is God! The LORD, He is God!”    

I kings 18: 20-39

The other person was Paul of the New Testament. Why? 

  I speak as a fool—I am more: in labors more abundant, in stripes above measure, in prisons more frequently, in deaths often. ²⁴ From the Jews five times I received forty stripes minus one. ²⁵ Three times I was beaten with rods; once I was stoned; three times I was shipwrecked; a night and a day I have been in the deep; ²⁶ in journeys often, in perils of waters, in perils of robbers, in perils of my own countrymen, in perils of the Gentiles, in perils in the city, in perils in the wilderness, in perils in the sea, in perils among false brethren; ²⁷ in weariness and toil, in sleeplessness often, in hunger and thirst, in fastings often, in cold and nakedness— 2 Corinthians 11:23-27

also reminds me of this in 2 Corinthians 4 :8-9

But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellence of the power may be of God and not of us. ⁸ We are hard-pressed on every side, yet not crushed; we are perplexed, but not in despair; ⁹ persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed—

St Patrick's Life was tested and threatened and difficult because of his belief in the one True God.

There is so much to say about this book. I suggest you find it and read it.. 

Here is one story in it that hits me.. one of his followers, a 14 year old boy. Was put to a test to prove the true God. He and a druid were put into a small house that had two rooms. The house was locked, bolted and windows bared.Then they, the men watching this test, set fire to it. They believed who came out alive has the true God.The boy came out unharmed.. the druid did not, he died in the fire.

Since I am ready to head outdoors, it's too nice to stay in all day! This will have to do to convince you to read on with me.. even though St Patrick's Day is long gone for this year.

But, I will get back soon to tell you about the other books.

Look for pictures to be uploaded soon! Here is one with my friend Sarah, to prove I do get outside! 

slan-agat

look here to see what I mean 

Busy reading- how is the list coming?

I will  give you 2 clues as to which book
I started  today~ and finished today-
from my first ever published  book list.

Clue # 1 The setting is something like this.. image, what would it have looked like
(rounded up) 1,210 years ago..  (here is a link to give credit to where I found this image)

         and here is Clue # 2 
(which may give it away!)


Now, you'll have to stay tuned to see what book I will tell you about tomorrow..
and what books I have finished already. Find out what the verdict is so far on my list... What  was  good, -and were there any
 I didn't like?

ancient discoveries

Today I learned about how the Chinese had made or discovered so much even 1000 years ago.
We may think that humans were uneducated or lacking materials to build or make impressive things from every day use, to statues or boats. I read today about an astronomer named Su Song, who lived 1000 years ago.He had built a planetarium and he tilted it to be tilted like the earth at a 23.5 degree. More then 1000 years before him was another astronomer who made written  notes of the moons of Jupiter.This was long before Galileo. Gun powder was invented by the Chinese. Even then, there were fireworks! They knew how to make some huge, impressive boats! I read about war boats 300 feet long with nine masts, and watertight bulkheads.

History is probably one of my favorite topics to read about. I am always impressed with the truth that man was made smart right away, and not primitive silly cave men. I am happy that more and  more evidence is discovered and proves this theory.