One of the things I worked hard to be able to do was stay at home with our children, when we had them. In the modern world I am at times an antiquity it seems. It’s a luxury, and it is my driving force on why I have written seven books over the years, and to be self-employed. Some years my writing is low, as I get busy with the boys, and in summer it often takes a backseat for months. And I am ok with that. I love that I can volunteer at their school often, and be there for field trips. The local field trips often have low numbers for parent volunteers, and I don’t like to miss them. Our kids have great trips, with so much to see and learn – with living on a rural island.
This past weeks trip with our youngest was to the outdoor school the district helps run, which holds one of the two salmon bearing creeks on the island. This land is very important to the health of the water and the fish. The theme for this trip was about birds, and what they need to be healthy in the wild.
Which, we found a ground nest quite quickly, under an old Douglas Fir. There were many birds out, with a heavy hand of little Juncos and Robins. The Bald Eagles were flying over as well.
Dicentra in bloom.
Trillium, in three shades.
One activity was building a bird nest out of found forest debris. No help from adults. I thought they did a fab job, and once done it was placed into the woods to return back to nature.
But it wasn’t entirely an Earth Day celebration, the children got to make birds out of items. But, in keeping with being green, the birds were photo memories only, and were recycled back in for the next class coming. Alistaire was very proud of his.
Fungi popping up along the edge of a Hemlock.
The forest has been a slow job of healing wounded land. There are many dead and dying alder trees (very common here, they are hitting their end of life). As they fall, the fungi comes. Fungi loves alder to grow on.
They had this smooth look, almost shiny. Something was really enjoying a lunch on them.
Fallen tree, more fungi.
The first banana slug of the season (native).
Checking out the birds with “binoculars”.
~Sarah