Tuesday, August 30, 2011
Monday, August 29, 2011
The Rhythm of the Family: Giveaway Winner
Giveaways are always bitter sweet for me. On the one hand, I'm happy someone won, but then I always feel rather pained I can't offer everyone the prize. Thanks to all of you who entered. I enjoyed reading about your seasonal traditions.And now.... the winner of Amanda Blake Soule's The Rhythm of the Family is #3: Julie!
True Random Number Generator Result: 3 Powered by RANDOM.ORG Timestamp: 2011-08-29 08:55:32 UTC (I don't know why I can't copy and paste that little random.org box onto a post...)
Sunday, August 28, 2011
Weekend Snapshots
I've pre-scheduled this post since possibly our power will be out, but in any case our weekend is being gobbled up by Irene. I would love for you to link up and share your Weekend Snapshots.
Earlier this week my husband had the day off and we spent the morning at beautiful Wave Hill in Riverdale (Bronx).
Wave Hill is a public garden which used to be a private estate belonging to some fat cat banker fellow. It overlooks the Hudson and is absolutely gorgeous.
The view is spectacular.
There is a lovely woodland trail.
The boys loved the Aquatic Garden.
I loved the floor of the Gazebo.
Saturday, August 27, 2011
Books For Answering Questions
Kiddo loves to peruse the non-fiction section of the library, and he always acts as if he's hit the jackpot when he finds a book that tackles "I wonder why..." questions. I like this, too, because it means he will soon be teaching me a few new interesting tidbits. You know, things you always wonder about, but can't be bothered to look up, like how do you tell a horse's age. (OK, maybe that one is not such a weight on your mind.) Here are some of his recent finds.
Toad or Frog? Swamp or Bog?
Nature's confusables unconfused.
The Book of How?
Answers the aforementioned horse question, plus a few more pressing ones.
I Wonder Why Do Lemons Taste Sour All about the senses and how they work.
Got any go-to question and answer books to recommend?
I'm linking to What My Child Is Reading and Book Sharing Monday.
Toad or Frog? Swamp or Bog?
Nature's confusables unconfused.The Book of How?
Answers the aforementioned horse question, plus a few more pressing ones.I Wonder Why Do Lemons Taste Sour All about the senses and how they work.
Got any go-to question and answer books to recommend?
I'm linking to What My Child Is Reading and Book Sharing Monday.
Friday, August 26, 2011
Friday To-Do List
Don't forget to enter my giveaway for Amanda Blake Soule's The Rhythm of the Family. As I always say, it may be "just a book", but it's a lovely one, and your chances are much better than winning the lottery.
Continue reading Rachel Brownstein's Why Jane Austen?
Track Hurricane Irene with Kiddo. He loves weather watching.
Continue painting the living room.
Make basil, tomato, chickpea, and feta salad (no recipe, I just throw it all together with olive oil)
Find reusable plastic/nylon/polyester-free lunch sack (i.e. cotton or hemp) for Kiddo, that is not hideously expensive. Any ideas?
Must, must, MUST set up this floor puzzle idea. Fabulous! Totally wish I had thought of it.
What's on your to-do list?
Continue reading Rachel Brownstein's Why Jane Austen?
Track Hurricane Irene with Kiddo. He loves weather watching.
Continue painting the living room.
Make basil, tomato, chickpea, and feta salad (no recipe, I just throw it all together with olive oil)
Find reusable plastic/nylon/polyester-free lunch sack (i.e. cotton or hemp) for Kiddo, that is not hideously expensive. Any ideas?
Must, must, MUST set up this floor puzzle idea. Fabulous! Totally wish I had thought of it.
What's on your to-do list?
Wednesday, August 24, 2011
DIY Toy Car Parking Garage
I've linked this to It's Playtime, Link & Learn and Show and Share Saturday.
Tuesday, August 23, 2011
Monday, August 22, 2011
Fun Thinking Games for Kids
Sunday, August 21, 2011
Weekend Snapshots
Link-up and share your Weekend Snapshots. Show the world what you've been doing. No need to rush, the linky is open all week. Kindly include a text link back to this post, or my handy-dandy button (code below).
If you think NYC is devoid of beautiful nature reserves, you've never been to Jamaica Bay Wildlife Refuge, part of the National Park's Gateway Natural Recreation Area. Gateway extends across two boroughs (Queens and Staten Island) and two states (NY and NJ) and even includes a civil war fort. If you live in the area, I highly recommend it.
Bird-watching is a favorite activity at Jamaica Bay. Around the hiking trail their are a number of bird houses for different birds. Kiddo loved to read about the nesting habits of everything from a swallow to a barn owl.
Further out you can see an Osprey platform.
We saw this interesting bird, but I don't know its name.
My husband, who, while he says he prefers the outdoors to staying inside, declares he is "not a nature person" humors me as I insist we all visit as many nature parks as possible. He always says he has a good time. Here he keeps New Kid company as he "works" on his Junior Ranger book.
There were tons of horseshoe crab shells on the beach.
Clam shells, too.
One side of the trail faced the wetlands, but the other had some lovely tree groves.
New Kid was bit tired near the end of the trail and hitched a ride.
If you think NYC is devoid of beautiful nature reserves, you've never been to Jamaica Bay Wildlife Refuge, part of the National Park's Gateway Natural Recreation Area. Gateway extends across two boroughs (Queens and Staten Island) and two states (NY and NJ) and even includes a civil war fort. If you live in the area, I highly recommend it.
Bird-watching is a favorite activity at Jamaica Bay. Around the hiking trail their are a number of bird houses for different birds. Kiddo loved to read about the nesting habits of everything from a swallow to a barn owl.
Further out you can see an Osprey platform.
We saw this interesting bird, but I don't know its name.
My husband, who, while he says he prefers the outdoors to staying inside, declares he is "not a nature person" humors me as I insist we all visit as many nature parks as possible. He always says he has a good time. Here he keeps New Kid company as he "works" on his Junior Ranger book.
There were tons of horseshoe crab shells on the beach.
Clam shells, too.
One side of the trail faced the wetlands, but the other had some lovely tree groves.
New Kid was bit tired near the end of the trail and hitched a ride.
Saturday, August 20, 2011
Field Guides
Kiddo's been asking for a bird field guide for some time. I am always resistant to purchasing books, rather than getting them from the library, because we just don't have room for them. But since his desire has proven not just to be a passing fad, I let him choose a field guide. I was impressed that he choose one that was for adults instead of one written for children, which is what I would have mistakenly purchased had I not put him in charge of the decision. In the end, I purchased these two books for him:
Sibley's Field Guide to Birds of Eastern North America
. Kiddo has been very dedicated in his self-directed study of this book, making his way methodically through each bird. I have been learning a lot too, as he repeats the facts he reads to any ready ear.
Field Guide to the Natural World of New York City
. I love the illustrations in this one, and also it describes many natural places and parks which I want to visit. If you live in NYC, this is a must have book, in my humble opinion.
I have been considering adding the following to our permanent collection, but may just take them out on an extended lease from the library.
Field Guide to the Street Trees of New York City
. This book has been released yet, but would be fun to take along when we do our annual autumnal seed collecting expedition in Prospect Park.
Mannahatta
. Fascinating and beautiful. I've been a bit obsessed with this book ever since I heard an interview with the author on NPR.
So tell me, do you have some field guides that your kids love to use? Do they use field guides specifically designed for children, or for adults? Does your local area have any great field guides?
I'm linking to What My Child Is Reading and Book Sharing Monday.
. Kiddo has been very dedicated in his self-directed study of this book, making his way methodically through each bird. I have been learning a lot too, as he repeats the facts he reads to any ready ear.Field Guide to the Natural World of New York City
. I love the illustrations in this one, and also it describes many natural places and parks which I want to visit. If you live in NYC, this is a must have book, in my humble opinion.I have been considering adding the following to our permanent collection, but may just take them out on an extended lease from the library.
Field Guide to the Street Trees of New York City
. This book has been released yet, but would be fun to take along when we do our annual autumnal seed collecting expedition in Prospect Park.Mannahatta
. Fascinating and beautiful. I've been a bit obsessed with this book ever since I heard an interview with the author on NPR.So tell me, do you have some field guides that your kids love to use? Do they use field guides specifically designed for children, or for adults? Does your local area have any great field guides?
I'm linking to What My Child Is Reading and Book Sharing Monday.
Friday, August 19, 2011
Rhythm of the Family (Giveaway)
Amanda Blake Soule's (aka Soule Mama) latest beautiful book, Rhythm of the Family
encourages families to slow down and commune with the natural world. Taking us on a year long journey, Soule celebrates the wonder of each month with recipes, crafts, and creative activities. Essays throughout the book by both Soule and her husband celebrate how they have forged meaningful family connections with the rhythms of the natural world.
The pictures of Soule's idealized family life in rural Maine, couldn't be more different than my crazy, rowdy life in the middle of a big city. I suppose it is possible to be cynical about the contrast, but I'm not one to do that. Her thoughts about the importance of family togetherness, creating lasting and positive memories of childhood, however, are ones that ring true for us. So while, I won't be cross-country skiing in the woods behind our large house, or gathering eggs from our chickens, I can certainly foster a connection to nature with my sons in other ways. Many of the activities can be adapted for those of us less-crafty people, as you saw when I posted about Kiddo's I Wonder Why journal.
I'm passing on my copy of this lovely book to one of you. To enter the giveaway please note:
1. You must leave one comment on this post telling me your favorite seasonal tradition.
2. Comment must be posted before August 28, 11:59 pm EST.
3. U.S. Addresses only.
4. For contact purposes you MUST: link your profile to a blog, email, OR leave an email address in your comment. Anonymous entries, or those which are not linked to one of the former will NOT be considered.
5. I reserve the right to pick a new winner, should the winner not respond within 72 hours.
Of course I would love it if you tweeted, facebooked (that's a verb, right?) or blogged about this giveaway, but I'm not up to dealing with all those extra entries, so only one entry per person!
Disclosure: I received a copy of this book for review purposes, but I'm passing that copy onto you! I received no other compensation. You should know I am extremely picky about the review opportunities that come my way and only review products (usually books) and offer giveaways which I believe have value for parents and kids.
encourages families to slow down and commune with the natural world. Taking us on a year long journey, Soule celebrates the wonder of each month with recipes, crafts, and creative activities. Essays throughout the book by both Soule and her husband celebrate how they have forged meaningful family connections with the rhythms of the natural world.The pictures of Soule's idealized family life in rural Maine, couldn't be more different than my crazy, rowdy life in the middle of a big city. I suppose it is possible to be cynical about the contrast, but I'm not one to do that. Her thoughts about the importance of family togetherness, creating lasting and positive memories of childhood, however, are ones that ring true for us. So while, I won't be cross-country skiing in the woods behind our large house, or gathering eggs from our chickens, I can certainly foster a connection to nature with my sons in other ways. Many of the activities can be adapted for those of us less-crafty people, as you saw when I posted about Kiddo's I Wonder Why journal.
I'm passing on my copy of this lovely book to one of you. To enter the giveaway please note:
Of course I would love it if you tweeted, facebooked (that's a verb, right?) or blogged about this giveaway, but I'm not up to dealing with all those extra entries, so only one entry per person!
Disclosure: I received a copy of this book for review purposes, but I'm passing that copy onto you! I received no other compensation. You should know I am extremely picky about the review opportunities that come my way and only review products (usually books) and offer giveaways which I believe have value for parents and kids.
Thursday, August 18, 2011
Indoor/Outdoor Homemade Boomerang
Last week at the bookmobile, the kids made boomerangs out of old baseball-shaped bookmarks. I was incredibly surprised at how well they worked!
You need three equal lengths of a firm paper. They don't have to be shaped like ours; the bookmobile demonstration utilized the larger end of the baseball bat, but for some reason my kids wanted to used the bulbed ends of the bookmarks.
The trick is to join the three pieces in the center to form a triangle; we used a large piece of packing tape. The boomerangs can be thrown with the blades pointing either vertically or horizontally for different effects. New Kid calls his "the helicopter."
The best part is that you don't have to stop playing with them once you come indoors. After all, how much damage can a piece of paper do? Of course, I've also removed anything remotely breakable from my home for the next 18 years...
If you want more ideas for things to do inside, visit my Indoor Activities for Kids page.
I'm linking this to: It's Playtime!, Link & Learn, and Show and Share Saturday.
You need three equal lengths of a firm paper. They don't have to be shaped like ours; the bookmobile demonstration utilized the larger end of the baseball bat, but for some reason my kids wanted to used the bulbed ends of the bookmarks.
The trick is to join the three pieces in the center to form a triangle; we used a large piece of packing tape. The boomerangs can be thrown with the blades pointing either vertically or horizontally for different effects. New Kid calls his "the helicopter."
The best part is that you don't have to stop playing with them once you come indoors. After all, how much damage can a piece of paper do? Of course, I've also removed anything remotely breakable from my home for the next 18 years...
If you want more ideas for things to do inside, visit my Indoor Activities for Kids page.
I'm linking this to: It's Playtime!, Link & Learn, and Show and Share Saturday.
Tuesday, August 16, 2011
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