Hidden Hollow

Scout and I rode our bike (20 miles round trip) to Heritage Museums and Gardens here in Sandwich. Last week was the opening of the new Hidden Hollow play area for children. Each week is a different educational theme, this week was insects. There is a water area, sand area, blocks, music, gardens, climbing, building, story/gathering area, stage and amphitheatre complete with costumes. Everything is made with natural materials. It is fabulous and we highly recommend it! There are also organized activities and events and classes held there. Scout spent some time in each area, exploring and then moving on to another area. We had a great time and can't wait to go back with Daddy. We used a pass from the library to get in for half price.

Compost tumbler

Scout saw this waterfall from the trail above..."OOOOHH" and wanted to go down to see it.

Swallowtail butterfly

Scout got these great hiking boots for her birthday and finally fits into them!

Stopping for a drink before heading down into Hidden Hollow

Beautiful carved toad"stools"

As always she is attracted to the water area. Carved wooden bowl.

Watering the strawberries.

Why not just lie down in the pool of water?!

Cool block area!

Checking out the bugs.

Scout climbed the steep hill to the play with the BIG kid. Scarves hanging in the trees allow the kids to make hammocks and forts and what ever their imagination can dream up,

Naturally a sand box.

This dragonfly was very friendly.

This wooden walkway connected each of the play areas.

Scout spots the dragonfly.

Stopping for a snack.

Getting ready to head back home.

Summer birds

We have so many birds in our yard. Their is the forest behind us and all the flowers, trees, berries and water all over our yard. Scout loves them already and points them out when she sees them flying in the sky. We look for them in the morning, out the window, when we first wake up. In the winter we see them at the feeders outside the window. Today we watched a robin feeding her babies. Her nest is in the pergola right outside out back door. Scout pulled up a chair and sat and watched. She rarely sits still so that is remarkable.

This is another nest in the pergola from the spring.

I found this birdhouse at the dump and used it to decorate Scouts her playground. I noticed today that it had a nest inside! There are some warm bodies in there too.

Mother robin didn't mind me watching her and posed for many pictures.

A baby finally peaks it's head out for me to see.

Time for a snack.

Another dump find.

We keeps lots of places for the birds to find water...I think Scout and Seamus are the most frequent visitors to this one!

Yes, the dump, where else.

Spring is here

  Spring is here, Scout loves looking out the window in the morning to see the birds at the feeder. We talk about the weather and the types of birds we see.                                              

Our peas are coming up...these pics are a week old so they are bigger now. We have started eating lettuce and radishes already!

We have raised beds this year because of the chickens. Last year they ate most of our crop.

 

Inside the nature center classroom for a story...they even gave them a nice Thornton Burgess book to take home.

Scout's favorite animal was the piglet.

Scout and Murph went to the nature center last weekend for Daddy's, Donuts and Me. There were baby animals (Scout is about to kiss the baby lamb), story time and a beautiful day to be outside. They spent about an hour and a half there. Scout was the youngest and everyone remarked on how well behaved she was.