Author: Joyce

Tulip

Original tulip
Original Tulip

The kids have been wanting to learn how to edit their pictures. We use The Gimp, and I really like it. It has been a challenge to learn the different functions, but as I practice, it gets easier.

Tulip
Watercolor Tulip

For their first lesson, we attempted to change photographs to look more like a painting.  They all know the basic idea and had fun playing with different settings to get the picture they wanted.

I experimented with using different techniques for mine. Of all the pictures that I tried, this is my favorite. I won’t use this effect often, but it was fun experimenting with it.

 

Dirt

Messy Messy faceAllan was not able to come to soccer practice today.  So Megan had the chance to play by herself.  Adrian played with her a little, but he found a new friend and let Megan play mostly by herself.

She happily found a pile of dirt. I am not sure what all she did, but I have a few ideas.

 

London Bridges

London BridgesAccording to the thermometer, it is over 70 degrees out right now.  That causes a major problem. No one, including the teacher, really wants to do book work today.  Playing outside is so much more fun!

We compromised. We did history and Bible in the living room with the windows wide open. Everyone worked on their math outside.  Adrian finally got to dissect his flowers–he called it butchering!– while sitting on the porch steps. Audrey practiced close up flower photography. The kids practiced their soccer skills and then played London Bridges.  They practiced their social skills by running over to visit our neighbor. While I read out loud, the kids enjoyed lunch outside.  They tried to persuade me to have quiet time outside too, but I vetoed that because the ground is still wet from yesterday’s rain.

I am so thankful that school does not always have to be behind desks in a class room.  We were able to get a lot of book work done this morning. This afternoon we will finish it up and spend more time enjoying the beautiful weather God has given us today.

 

The Moon

MoonMom and Dad watched the kids for us Thursday evening so Allan and I could go out for a little bit. On the way home, the moon was beautiful! It was just over the horizon huge and a reddish orange color. Adrian said that it looked like Mars.

In the five minutes it took to get home, the moon hid behind some clouds. As the kids got ready for bed, we noticed that the moon was out again. It was not nearly as big or red anymore, but it was still beautiful. Andrea and Mark came out with me to enjoy it some.  Watching the moon, listening to the Spring Peepers and talking to my kids was a wonderful way to end a good evening.

 

Spring Flowers

Flower2BeeToday Audrey, Adrian and I went on flower hunts. We roamed the back yard looking for different spring flowers and took pictures of them. Adrian picked a bouquet for me.  We were going to pull a flower apart and look at all the different parts, but we had so much fun hunting for the flowers, we never did dissect any. Maybe tomorrow.

Flower3I took these pictures with my “old” camera, a digital camera Allan bought when Adrian was a baby. It is falling apart and eats batteries very quickly. But it still takes wonderful pictures.  I don’t have a macro lens for my new camera, but until the old one stops working, I do not need a new one.FlowerPrimroseFlower Purple

Snake Knot

Snake KnotToday while we were roaming the park, I noticed something strange in the bushes. It looked like someone has wrapped some belts around branches.  I thought I knew what it was, so I went and looked.  There were at least four Garter Snakes all snuggled together in the bush.

Since the kids were getting ready to start a science class we called their teacher over to look. She said that they probably climbed to get up off the wet ground.  I mentioned that one of my “urban myths” has been destroyed. I always have told the kids that snakes around here do not climb, well, here is proof that they do!  She also said that they may be a family or just friends who all shared a warm spot.