Apple Days

Autumn just wouldn't be autumn without a trip or two to the apple orchard. We headed to Hatch's Orchard with a bunch of our homeschool buddies for a day of picking, learning, and picnicking.

The trees were loaded with apples! And when I say apples I mean APPLES! Not only were there tone on each and every tree but they were big, beautiful, juicy, sweet apples. Hannah could have stood in this one spot and easily picked her basket full.

Rebekah was thrilled that she could reach the apples this year. She was so serious about her picking. Looking for just the apples she wanted. And then she was so careful to pick is just the way Mrs. Hatch had taught her too. Did you know you need to be careful not to break off next year's blossom? Yes it is already there and if you break it off no apple next year.

My girls have never been good a posing for pictures. But that's okay I think they look great. After the apple picking we headed up the mountain behind the orchard for a picnic. We've done this before, but I am always still amazed by the view.

And then there was the crowning of the Apple Queens and Apple Kings. These were the children who got BINGO first during the apple class Mrs. Hatch gave.
Then it was home to eat and cook all those yummy apple treats we love. First up was an apple crisp. My husband is still in search for the perfect apple crisp recipe. He and Hannah made this one and it came close. I think it needed to be in a shallower pan with more crisp topping. But that is just my two cents. Do you have a crisp recipe you love? We'd love if you'd share it.

Of course there was applesauce, apple pie filling, dried apples, and the most delicious dessert creation made by Sarah. We have named them apple pastry rounds. Simply put Sarah took a peeled and cored apple and cut it into 1 1/2 inch slices. She then placed the apple slice on a round of pie dough. Next she filled the center with brown sugar and cinnamon or maple sugar. Wrapped the dough around the apple slice leaving a little hole in the top for a vent. As a finishing touch she sprinkled the top with cinnamon sugar or maple sugar and popped them in the oven. They were so good I couldn't even get a picture. They were gone that fast. They were the perfect size! I know she will be making them again and I will be sure to have my camera ready.

Here are just a few of our goodies. I love putting up food for winter. It is comforting to know that we will be able to enjoy our harvest all winter long.

Pigs, Squash and Pumpkins!

Have I told you all how much I LOVE autumn? Even the rain couldn't put a damper on our trip to Tibbits' Farm - the local squash and pumpkin farm. Quite a few of us braved the weather and were blessed greatly by Mrs. Tibbits herself. She showed us all around the farm. We met the turkeys, chickens, and pigs. I love pigs, always have. I think it was reading Charlotte's Web as a child. Rebekah thought the pigs were the best too. She squealed like a pig when they let her pet them.

Then they even put on a show for us. They pranced, they ran, they even picked up a stick and played a little game of tug-o-war. They were just too cute. I wonder if I could talk my darling husband into a pig for my birthday?

It stared to rain, so the pictures of the fields aren't great. However, the kids did have a wonderful time digging up potatoes, HUGE potatoes. The kids managed to dig up quite a few potatoes, then Mrs. Tibbits showed the kids the old potato picker they use. Old farm machinery is so cool!

The it was back to the farm stand for apple juice and cookies for the children. While the kids ate their snack I got to pick out some beautiful squash and sugar pumpkins to bring home for supper. Oh squash is so yummy and so good for you. And it really is a very frugal dish. Fresh pumpkin pie tutorial coming soon.

Each of the children was blessed to pick out a small pumpkin to take home. Rebekah was so proud of her pumpkin. The girls also picked out a few gourds to decorate our dining table.

What a fun day at the farm. We will need to make another visit for more pumpkin and squash. What is your favorite squash? I'd love for you to share your recipes.

All Aboard!

Today we went on a grand adventure to the Conway Scenic Railroad. Some of the creative moms in our homeschool group organized a jam packed day surrounding a historical tidbit. The weather wasn't as cooperative as we would have liked - off and on rain, but that didn't stop about 90 of us, 53 homeschoolers and 21 parents plus younger siblings, from showing up!


The station is in the center of downtown North Conway. Built in 1874, it served as the main terminal for the Conway Branch of the Boston & Maine Railroad. The station closed in 1961 when passenger service to Boston ended. The Conway Scenic Railroad, a heritage railway, opened in 1974.



The day started with a scavenger hunt. Groups of about five kids headed off to local stores to collect clues. Each clue lead them to their next. The final clue was a hint to the historical tidbit.



Everyone had a great time looking for clues. The businesses in town were great too. How would you like 50 plus kids running through searching for clues? Actually, everyone was behaved really well, and not all the kids went to the same stores.




The little ones stayed in the park in front of the station. They found clues in the flower pots, at the base of the flag pole, and the Iron Entrance Gate. Each clue had them looking for something or doing something. They loved it!


Here are a bunch of them holding the clues! It's hard to see, but there were even photos to help the little ones. Smart! Then it was lunch time. No pictures! We were too busy eating.



Then we were off on a tour of the station and its outbuildings. This picture isn't very clear, but it is of the turntable in front of the roundhouse. There are also a couple of engines and on the far left is the snowplow engine. It was huge! Yes, we get a lot of snow up here in the White Mountains.



Finally, what everyone was waiting for. The train ride. Here Bekah and her new friend, Solenne, show off their tickets.




And of course, when the conductor came to punch them, they thought it was great, as long as they got their ticket back. The conductor was great! We engaged the kids, asked them questions, told them jokes. And on the way back to the station told the kids all about the history of the line and early settlers, as well as information about the different signs, crossing, bridges and whistles. Thanks Derrick!

After we got back to the station we headed over to the White Mountain Model Railroad exhibit. The group has a wonderful collection of model rail roads set up in the old freight building at the station.

It was a wonderfully full day of friends, trains, scavenger hunts and more.

Thanks to all the moms and kids who helped put this together. And if you are wondering about the historical tidbit ~ it has to do with Alexander Graham Bell and a phone call to Boston.

You can see more picture from our day here.

Maine Wildlife Park

Today we headed off to the Maine Wildlife Park in Gray. We were scheduled to have a class on Owls and Owl Pellets. Well, most of you know our love for birds so Owls were right up our alley. Sarah was so excited to see some real owls. She wasn't sure about dissecting an owl pellet, but she would give it a try.

We arrived to a parking lot full, I mean full, of school buses and cars. I was actually worried that the rest of our group wouldn't find parking spaces. There were 50 homeschool students signed up for the class! Luckily everyone made it.

The class was great! The instructor really interacted with the kids on their level. She showed us many species of owls native to Maine. We also learned about the different habitats owls live in as well as their unique adaptations. She did a wonderful job explaining what owl pellets are and put every one's mind at ease about dissecting one.

Sarah started off timidly with a tooth pick, trying to break apart the pellet and find all the small bones. Everyone received a couple of owl pellets from the owls kept at the Wildlife Park. The owls at the park are fed mice so we knew what we were looking for. There was even a sheet to match the bones you found in order to identify them. Sometimes you might find bones from an unlucky chipmunk that wondered into the owl enclosure. No such luck for us.

By the end, Sarah was really into it sorting through everything with her fingers. It was cool to find all the tiny bones, especially a skull and the bottom jaw. The bottom jaw is cool because you can pull the tooth out of the jaw. It's as if it grows. This enables the mice to "grow" more tooth as it wears down during his life.

Everyone busy at work.

Logan and Rebekah really liked the mounted owls. Rebekah was quite confused that they were real, not stuffed animals, yet they didn't move or hoot. Try explaining to a 3yo why someone would stuff real animals. You can imagine the questions. How did it die? What's it stuffed with? What happened to the insides? Can I sleep with it?

Luckily she got bored with stuffed owls and found a cool tree to play in instead.

After class we had a picnic lunch and then we were off to explore the park and see all the animals that call the Wildlife Park home.

Of course we started with the bird area. Sarah had to see those "real" owls. Unfortunately, it was hard to photograph the animals due to the fencing. This albino peacock was really splendid. So even though the fence is annoying, I thought I would share. There were lots of chipmunk running in and out of the peacock enclosure. And if they got to close to a male peacock they would show their beautiful feathers for us.

The turtle pond was a big hit with everyone. No annoying fenced enclosure here. We could see the turtle, lots of turtles, really well. These three guys were catching some rays on this log. When we walked along the pond we were surprised to see a tiny turtle sitting on the log in front of them. This little guy wasn't much bigger than a silver dollar. Really cool.

The woodchucks posed for us. They look so cute until you see their teeth, and then I'm not so sure I would want to snuggle with one of these fellows.

Rebekah loved the moose. I think she would have stayed there all day. Funny, thing is we see these at home quite often. I guess it is the familiarity.

This game in the fox hut had everyone wanting to play. It was great to watch the big ones help the little ones figure out where all the pieces went. Logan wants one for her birthday. She told me here mom could make one with a million eighty pieces. You guys better get busy.

We saved the deer park for last. Rebekah couldn't wait to feed the deer. She was so careful not to spill her corn, not even one piece. Of course when we got to the fence, she wasn't able to throw it far enough, but she still had a great time.

The bunch of us feeding the deer.

A long but great day. I think their faces say it all. Tons of fun! Thanks to Christy for setting this up and thanks for the Jeddrey's for joining us.

Spring Birding

Spring has sprung and all our feathered friends have returned from their winter vacation down south. So a bunch of us headed into the bog to see what the feathered creatures are up to. It was a chilly start to the day at about 35 degrees, but it soon warmed up. A perfect day.

We were blessed to have two a Sarah's birding friends, Dixie and Lisa, join us. They are both such a wealth of information. Not to mention they brought the spotting scope and bird calls. The spotting scope brings the birds up close and personal, especially exciting for a new birder. At one point we had the scope on a Baltimore Oriel nest and saw the mama and papa flying in and out of it. Too cool! Thanks Dixie and Lisa!

Here is one of the many Oriels we saw. They are beautiful birds! The orange and black is so vibrant, especially this time of year when the male is trying to attract his mate.

This Yellow Warbler was nice enough to come out and pose for us.


We saw a lot of Eastern Kingbirds. This is a male with his black head and white tipped tail.


Above is a Warbling Vireo.

This Black and White Warbler followed us along the path. He was as interested in us as we were in him. He would sit on the branches right above our heads. I love his black and white markings. So striking and regal.

It was a great day! We spotted more that a dozen different species of birds and two active nests. There was also a painted turtle and snake spotted, alson with racoon and moose tracks. So much to see in the bog! We will be heading back over the weekend.

Tennis Anyone?

Spring is here and that means it's time for tennis. The rain held off and we had an awesome turn out for the second week. Everyone starts off with a quick warm up. You can see them all stretching. It was so cute!

Then it is drill time. First they had to balance the ball on their racket. Logan did a great job. You can see Rebekah chasing her ball in the background.

Bekah giving it another try.

Check out that form.

I just love Logan's concentration. Wait for it. Wait for it.


Hannah winds up as her friends look on.



James connects!

Everyone had a great time and is looking forward to next week. A big thanks to Mrs. T. for organizing and teaching!

Did you get outside today? I hope so. Check out what others are doing outside this month at the Great Outdoor Challenge hosted by 5 Orange Potatoes.