Too Much Noise

I am sensitive to noise, especially high-pitched continuous noises (some vacuums), or very repetitive noises (typing, mouse clicking, pencil tapping).  I seem unable to tune them out.  Fluorescent lights have always bothered me, things that beep bother me, and television commercials (why are they so annoying?  and louder than the show itself??).  Then there is the sound of other people eating, which I  can't stand when I'm not eating.  Especially crunchy foods.  Why do these things irritate me?

Then.  11 years ago.

On the plus side, I can hear the mouse in the house and know to put out traps.  On the negative side, the mouse in the house wakes me up in the middle of the night if he comes in my room to chew on something. *shivers*  I used to think it was just a mom thing - someone needs to hear the baby getting restless in the next room, right?  But now, I think there is more to it than that.

There is a scientific term for this hearing sensitivity that makes it feel more legitimate.  Have you heard of it?  Misophonia

So, in order to survive my afternoon "quiet time" - when I'm trying to read or concentrate on something between homeschooling and evening activities - I need to block out as much sound as possible when I'm indoors*.   (For some reason, when I'm outdoors, noises don't bother me, unless a big truck goes down the highway nearby.  There's no mouse clicking, pencil typing or lights out by the pond, so that could be it.  I also think the earth grounds me, and is calming to all my senses, and I like the sounds of birds and squirrels.)  My quiet time comes when my son gets his own computer time, so that's when the incessant clicking starts.  Yeah, its not a very big house, so I can hear it from anywhere.  We recently got some noise-cancelling headphones and my husband put batteries in them and stuck them on my head one day when I was getting irritated.  It did help some, and when I hooked them up to my phone for an audiobook, it was even better.  Hooray!

Now.  Actually, about 15 months ago.

Have you tried noise-cancelling headphones?  What's your favorite brand?  I have trouble finding anything that's comfortable enough, and I despise ear buds of all kinds because they hurt.

I know I usually write about my son's sensory issues, but its time I admit that I have some of my own!  My husband does, too, so all together we make an interesting bunch.

Welcome to the Sensory Blog Hop -- a monthly gathering of posts from sensory bloggers hosted by The Sensory Spectrum and The Jenny Evolution. Click on the links below to read stories from other bloggers about what it's like to have Sensory Processing Disorder and to raise a sensory kiddo! Want to join in on next month's Sensory Blog Hop? Click here!

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Growing Up with Aspergers

Homeschooling my son, who has Aspergers Syndrome (officially now called Autism Spectrum Disorder), has been a challenge for 5 years now.  As he nears twelve years old, my thoughts turn from the daily challenges of holding his attention, keeping him calm and getting through some school subjects to thoughts of the future.  I wonder how he will be as an independent adult, and how long it will take to get there.  It scares me some days.

All the professionals we have seen have said that homeschooling is the best option for him - that he would be more anxious in school, or that he would have a harder time focusing, or be "left behind" as his skill set is rather uneven, which is not unusual for people with ASD (or ADHD).  I keep this thought in my mind as we have yet another argument about why NOW it is time for a lesson, when he wants to lay on his bed with his cat or hide in his closet.  (Both of which are fine things that I encourage when he gets overwhelmed, but at some point, book learning needs to happen.)

Taking a math tests in one of his comfort spaces

With the hormones surging and the physical growth occurring at this age (preteen), many children struggle with anger and insecurities.  It is so hard to know how much of what he is going through it normal and how much is him going completely overboard due to his anxieties and different way of seeing the world.  How much of his attitude is to be expected, and how much is possible side effects of the latest food, supplement or medication he has taken?  There are so many unknowns.

With all his growing up going on, he is losing his interest in childhood things, like bringing neighborhood kids over to jump on the trampoline or play imaginative games.  He is isolating himself more AND losing out on good physical activities.  I have to ask him to get outside at all, and going on a walk is "pure torture", you know.  This video is of my son and the child I babysit regularly, having some indoor physical fun!

I am going to have to try and find more grown up ways to get his movement in so that he can better regulate his mood and behaviors.  Most boys get interested in being muscular in the teen years, right?  I'm hoping to harness some of that. :)  We are also looking into hosting service dogs (when they are puppies).  This should encourage more outside time for all of us, and some added responsibilities.  Besides...puppies!  They are so cute, one can't help but smile and improve a mood.

We are also now able to go consistently to talk therapy (cognitive behavioral therapy) and holistic sensory therapy, as they are both local to us now.  I'm really hoping this helps him through the rough days.  And then there are good days, like today, when he did school without drama and got to take a trip with Daddy where this happened:

As your boys with special needs have entered the next phase of childhood, what changes did you have to make?  If you homeschool, what extra challenges are you facing during this time?

Welcome to the Sensory Blog Hop -- a monthly gathering of posts from sensory bloggers hosted by The Sensory Spectrum and The Jenny Evolution  Click on the links below to read stories from other bloggers about what it's like to have Sensory Processing Disorder and to raise a sensory kiddo! Want to join in on next month's Sensory Blog Hop? Click here!

An InLinkz Link-up

Still Chewing

My first post on this oral fixation, The Need to Chew is Real, covers some of the 'whys' of the issue.  You may want to read it first.

We have tried so many things to keep it under control in a socially acceptable way!  It is not an easy task, but with diagnoses figure out, we have more in our "tool box".

He still chews the gum when stressed or bored, and especially when he needs to concentrate for school work.  We buy it by the bucket!  We have tried sugar-free bubble gum, but its not the same texture - not as hard, so not as effective.


We do the snack tray on occasion, but not daily as we did a couple of years ago.  Rereading my own posts reminds me to get some more lemon candies, but the rest of the snacks - pretzels, peanuts, suckers- we do usually have on hand.  We have added potato chips to the mix of crunchy choices since that first post.

So what works and what doesn't?  This will be different for every child, I'm sure, but here is our experience.

Works most of the time:
Food and gum, as described above.
Drinks, especially with a straw or in a Camelbak bottle

Works occasionally:
Chewies, such as Chewelry
Other chewy toys, like Chew Stixx
Jewelry that shouldn't really be chewed on
Pencils, pens

What he really wants in his mouth and defaults to if not provided continuously with the above:
Fingers
Headphone wires
and other things that should not be in his mouth

His poor thumbs are a little bit better than they used to be, but the skin picking issue is real.  He picks at the skin with his fingers, then back in his mouth they go, all day long.  Sometimes we put band-aids on to cover, and then he picks at the band-aids...which is better, but doesn't break the habit (compulsion?).  If his thumbs aren't being assaulted, its because his hands are busy with keyboard and mouse while his mind is busy with a game and the headphones are on, which means the wire is in his mouth.  I don't think he will actually get electrocuted should he break through to the insides of the cord, but it does make for more headphone purchases.

The only possible fix I can think of is coating fingers and wires in nasty tasting stuff daily, but since I don't think he can control this thing (perhaps this is his stim?), it would be cruel.  I did try putting clear polish on his thumb nails (and generously missing so it got the surrounding skin), and it didn't make any difference.

Could this issue truly be a stim?  Has anyone else dealt with such a compulsive chewer?

Welcome to the Sensory Blog Hop -- a monthly gathering of posts from sensory bloggers hosted by The Sensory Spectrum and The Jenny Evolution. Click on the links below to read stories from other bloggers about what it's like to have Sensory Processing Disorder and to raise a sensory kiddo! Want to join in on next month's Sensory Blog Hop? Click here!

An InLinkz Link-up

This Sensory Summer

Summer is here, and with warmer weather comes new sensory experiences.  Take advantage of as many as you can without losing your mind.

Occupational and speech therapy is on-going, but both therapists say he is doing really well and all he needs is time with other children to practice social skills.  He needs *guided* time with other children, though, for it to be effective, I think, so when they said a new social skills group for ages 10-13 is starting next Friday, I jumped onto that list in a hurry.  We have participate in one a different location and its holistic in nature, and is a great program, but farther away, so its our back-up if the closer one doesn't work out.

The therapists and counselor suggested putting him into several camps this summer.  He refuses overnight camps and I won't force that.  I made him do one at age 6 or 7 that was 2 nights long and very close by, so he's "had the experience."  I discovered some local options for sports, so that is this summer's sensory focus!

Last year we bought a pool pass, and that was worth it - he overcame several fears and was much more comfortable when we went to the pool this year.  First time there this year and he said, "I'm going to go off the diving board."  !!!  He did, many times, and was really proud of himself for facing that final water park fear (which wasn't the jump itself, but the drains at the bottom, which he has always feared).

This year, we will go to the pool less and focus on sports.  We started with a road trip vacation, then jumped into tennis camp.  It was drill oriented, with a very friendly coach, active kids, and was a good overall experience.  This week start junior pro tennis, so he can continue his skills and learn about the matches themselves a couple of nights each week through July.

This week is also Vacation Bible School at our church, which he is not at all excited about.  I'm working with preschoolers and he will be introduced to the youth group with the other rising sixth graders.  Cue the anxiety.  Its each morning this week, but they should be kept pretty busy so I think once the first day is under his belt, he will cope just fine.  If not, I'm on site and available. :)

In mid-July, he will do soccer camp, which is 5 mornings in one week.  Although he has played in our community soccer teams for several years, he has always refused day-camp.  I think he only agreed this time because the alternative was an overnight camp, but he did agree!  Plus, as he is a preteen now, the social drive is kicking up a notch or two.

In between these activities, we will continue to visit the pool, but also will try the different beaches at our local lakes, as well as the creek on our property.  You really can't be water fun in the summer for a cheap sensory experience!

Welcome to the Sensory Blog Hop -- a monthly gathering of posts from sensory bloggers hosted by The Sensory Spectrum and The Jenny Evolution. Click on the links below to read stories from other bloggers about what it's like to have Sensory Processing Disorder and to raise a sensory kiddo! Want to join in on next month's Sensory Blog Hop? Click here!

An InLinkz Link-up

Sensory Needs in Our Homeschool

Last week, I wrote a guest post for the Beautiful Chaos blog, ran by a fellow homeschool mom who follows the Charlotte Mason method and Ambleside Online curriculum.  I recorded video of our homeschool day, and in them you can clearly see how his sensory needs take priority during the day.

Some days he can sit still longer than others.  Some days he prefers rocking or swinging instead of spinning.  When possible, I get him to jump on the trampoline and swing before attempting school work, especially if anxiety is high.  How do you incorporate sensory regulation into your homeschool day?

If you'd like to see my 5 video clips (8-12 minutes each), please head over to my guest post in the CM Day in the Life series for links with descriptions, or click on them below.

Part 1  https://vimeo.com/150690178
Part 2  https://vimeo.com/150681365
Part 3  https://vimeo.com/150696826
Part 4  https://vimeo.com/150699923



Thanks for stopping by!

Welcome to the Sensory Blog Hop -- a monthly gathering of posts from sensory bloggers hosted by The Sensory Spectrum and The Jenny Evolution. Click on the links below to read stories from other bloggers about what it's like to have Sensory Processing Disorder and to raise a sensory kiddo! Want to join in on next month's Sensory Blog Hop? Click here!

An InLinkz Link-up

The Therapy Update

I haven't done a post on sensory issues in a while, so let me get back on that, just in time for December's blog hop over at The Sensory Spectrum!

We have been consistently at therapy appointments since my last sensory post, including occupational therapy, speech therapy, and vision therapy.  Counseling has been less consistent, but it has begun and can hopefully be more regular once vision therapy is over (2 more weeks!) He didn't play soccer this fall, but did get much time on the trampoline at home, as well as a couple of days of free play at the gym with our homeschool group.

Some pet therapy in the hammock swing - I recommend both the swing and the cat!

OT and speech are weekly -OT for an hour, followed by 30 minutes of ST.  His OT is still working him through Minds in Motion, and he only has a couple of weeks of that left.  He also work on food school and handwriting during that time slow.  When the MIM work is done, he will move on to making more of his own obstacle courses using those skills, and she will work him harder on touching more textures, specifically papers, and sweeping a broom, and continuing working on handwriting and food school.  In speech, he has almost met his initial goals, so I keep making suggestions on what they can work on.  His biggest need is social - how to hold a conversation with kids his age, appropriate eye contact, greetings and general politeness.  He doesn't do badly when he is comfortable, but when pressure of any sort is applied, he still tends to lock-up (freeze, refuse to look at the speaker, etc.)

He did a few weeks of a Minecraft social skills group that was run by Western Kentucky University.  This was a trial to see if using Minecraft to teach such skills would work for kids with asperger's, and results should be forthcoming.  Here is a video with a brief glimpse of my son. The child that they focus on in the article and video is the son of the lady who diagnosed my son.  Cool, huh?

VT homework

As for Vision Therapy (VT),  he has two more sessions before his re-evaluation.  If he passes all the goals, we will be done with that long drive twice a week.  (If he doesn't pass, I'm going to ask about going down to weekly, as weather in the next few months will make travel more treacherous.)  He did make significant progress at the mid-way evaluation (after 16 visits), so I am hopeful.  I asked if he could tell a difference in his reading, and he says he can.  Unfortunately, it was so hard for so long that his interest in reading for pleasure is nil, but I'm taking that slow and easy and not giving up hope!

We also made progress on the genetic front, getting a referral to a geneticist and having that meeting just last week.  Now we wait for the genetic testing kit to arrive after insurance approves, and test his father and myself.  He has a rare gene deletion affecting a very small part of one chromosome.  There is little known about it yet, but the one study that has been done shows  'statistically significant'  increased ASD diagnosis in those with this particular deletion when compared with a control group.

Welcome to the Sensory Blog Hop -- a monthly gathering of posts from sensory bloggers hosted by The Sensory Spectrum and The Jenny Evolution. Click on the links below to read stories from other bloggers about what it's like to have Sensory Processing Disorder and to raise a sensory kiddo! Want to join in on next month's Sensory Blog Hop? Click here!

An InLinkz Link-up

Nature Study in March

March.  We had snow melting from February, then we had fresh, new snow and below zero temperatures.

February's huge snow is nearly gone, and then...

BAM!  Another oddly large snow for our area.

We had sun and 68.  We had clouds and 75.  Now its raining and 44.  Who needs the other months of the year??  March has it ALL.  Here are some photos of  our time outdoors, or the birdies at the feeders.

The beginnings of green on the tips of the trees

The first daffodil blooms, followed by...

the entire hilltop covered in the prettiest yellow blooms!

For some extra excitement, we spotted a bird we have never seen before!!  There were TWO purple finches, which our Merlin Bird ID app said was a rare find.  Go us!  My pictures aren't good, though.  The Boy tried to draw it, along with my kitchen with ants on the counter ;)  The bird is brown with a red head, as you can clearly see. *grin*

Zoomed in as far as I could get - 2 purple finches

When they got scared at the front feeder, they flew to the back.

Yes, we had ants invade the kitchen.  We checked them out closely, and attempted a drawing.

Thus concludes March, end of our unit on weather, and beginning of insects.  Since we had both this month, I would call that a success!

Craft Lack

Lest you think I have all the areas of a Charlotte Mason education under control, let me share what I know from personal experience about handicrafts.

Ummmm.....

I made some friendship bracelets in elementary school, and made some throw-away crafts at camp a couple of summers.  That's it.  Seriously.  I did draw on occasion for fun and take art class in high school, but I certainly didn't come away with anything worth keeping, or useful in any way.  

Everything I know about handicrafts comes from the reading and researching I've done the past 4 years on behalf of my son, and my short experience knitting last winter.  (I keep meaning to pick that up again, and I WILL, but my finger injury that occurred mid-October is holding me back, as it still hurts to type with it, so needles wouldn't be a good thing, but I'll get there!)

Knowing my own lack, I reached for help.  We started with Boy's Ma, my mother-in-law, who knows all about sewing.  They hand-sewed, then machine-sewed, so that was weekly for a year.  For second grade, I went to his Pa, who knows a bit of leather-craft, so that was weekly for about half the year, then we floundered about.  We tried soap carving with a bit of success but it wasn't exciting, hence the previous post about wood carving.  When he gets bored, I always suggest picking up a handicraft, but he rarely goes for it.  Why?  Possibly my lack (and my husband's lack) of modeling that way of life.  We reach for electronic devices, or sometimes a book.

This lack of craftiness will not fix itself.  While making artwork isn't technically handicrafting, I tend to lump it together in my mind, and am giving myself some credit for making an effort in this area by taking painting classes sporadically.  Yesterday, we attended a homeschool art class (the first in our county! yay, progress!) with Boy and you can see our success below.

However, I do need to be more intentional.  I write it on the schedule at least 3 days a week, and we may get to it one of those times.  I save handicraft until last in our school day, so he can work on it as long as he wants.  It's never very long, though, so I'm considering moving it earlier; perhaps it will be less forgotten.  

Honestly, the reason I let handicrafts fall by the wayside more often than not because I feel my own inadequacy in this area.  I can read and write, and even do math, but ask me to carve some wood or try something new, and I'm on the same level as the Boy.  Its good for him to see me this way, though - I can model trying, failing, trying again, dealing with frustrations and sharing successes.

Are you willing to let go of pride and perfection and learn something new with your kids?

What is a Living Book?

Here at Windy Hill Homeschool, we use living books for school and for fun reading.  Its a strange term for those not familiar with the Charlotte Mason method, but for those who love her, it is very familiar, and the heartbeat of education.  

Charlotte Mason fans LOVE books. But not just any book.  We do away with twaddle - those books that you cringe at having to read to your preschooler for the second time, much less the twentieth time - and replace it with books that LIVE.  

AO Year 4 books

How can a book live?  

When it is filled not just with words or pictures, but with ideas that point the mind of a child towards what is good, pure, and best in this world or the next.  It lives by passing a thought onto the next generation.  It may inspire towards kind actions and make you want to be a better person.  It may make you sigh with happiness or cry with compassion.  But it will not bore you to tears, nor will a living book be easily forgotten.  It is rarely, if ever, a textbook.  Living books are written by a single author with a true passion for their subject.

How do you use a living book?  

For school, it is only read once, then narrated a portion at a time.  Of course, it can be reread for pleasure numerous times, but for the purpose of holding the child's attention and encouraging good focus during lessons, it is not reread when his mind wanders.  He is made to feel the loss of the moment and encouraged to pay better attention the next time.  Its the teacher's job to notice when the mind begins to wander, though, and ask for a narration then take a break by switching subjects.  Don't read until your eyes cross and the kid is asleep :)  Not that I've EVER done that...

I didn't read my horse to sleep, though!

How does the student learn from a living book?

To properly learn, the child must do the digging, so to speak.  The teacher doesn't read it, water it down or paraphrase it, ask multiple choice questions, then grade him.  Instead, he reads a portion (or listens), narrates it (orally or written), and asks his own questions of the reading.  I am a facilitator, present to listen and guide, and help find answers to his questions if I don't know them myself.

How do you use books in your school?  Are they living?

Transitioning to AO Year 4

We are nearing the end of The Boy's second term of AmblesideOnline's year 3.5.  This is an extra year that doesn't follow the history rotation and has a little bit of a lighter load to help students transition from year 3 to 4, or to introduce older students who may be coming to AO and aren't sure where to start.  (Remember, AO years to necessarily correspond to grade levels.)  I debated for quite a while as to whether he was ready for year 4 this school year, and due to sensory issues, dysgraphia, and undiagnosed dyslexia, I thought a more gradual easing into the "hard stuff" would be best.

There is a jump in expectations in a Charlotte Mason education around age 10.  This is when grammar, Plutarch's Lives (citizenship), dictation (instead of just copywork), and full Shakespeare plays are added.  Its also the age where most students will be able to do at least a couple of the readings (history, literature, natural history, etc.) on their own.  He still isn't ready for that, but I decided that two terms of year 3.5 is enough, and we will soon begin year 4!  The books scheduled in 3.5 are good, but I am more than ready for more "meaty" readings, and I think he is too, as his narration skills have improved, and so has his self-control and attention span.

Here is how I have gradually introduced the more advanced subjects into our day.  We finished year 3 with about 3 readings a day, 4 days a week.  If we actually had 5 full days at home, then somedays would have 2 readings, but it is typical for Friday's to be kept fairly open for appointments and field trips, and homeschool get-togethers. Anyway, with year 3.5, I kept the load at 3 readings a day so he would be ready to transition to year 4 more easily.

We started grammar towards the end of year 3, and do less than half a lesson at a time, twice a week.  With year 4, I will back down to once a week and try to do a bit more than half a lesson in one sitting.  We did Publicola as his first Plutarch study, and spread it out over about 14 weeks (instead of 1 term of 12 weeks), reading a bit once a week.  We also did his first full-length Shakespeare - Hamlet - during term 1, and are on track to finish Midsummer Night's Dream this term.  We have not begun dictation, nor written narrations, and due to his dysgraphia, it will be the hardest for him.

As you can see, I have already added the more intimidating subjects while the readings for year 3.5 were easier. I see it as taking the stairs one at a time, instead of jumping up them with both feet!  I didn't do the year exactly as written - since I wasn't planning on all 3 terms, I rearranged some things, and dropped some since we had already read them.  Also, my starting year 4 in March, I'll have 4 terms if needed, and will still be able to start year 5 when he hits 6th grade.  I do have a copy of a 42-week schedule for year 4 and am working on tweaking it to work for him.  I would rather move forward into the best books of year 4 at a slower pace (42 instead of 36 weeks), at this point, then to continue at a faster pace with less worthy books.

Who else is combating the February blahs with some school-planning sessions?

(Now for those that have read this far, and want more details, please leave a comment with what exactly you want to know, and I will be glad to do a second post with more year 3.5 details.)

Keeping in Progress

For this month's Keeping Company link-up, some questions were proposed, and I decided to use them as the basis for this post.  I like easy. :)

My favorite part of keeping a commonplace is being intentional.  Knowing I want to keep a record of what is important to me, I begin to *seek* for what is important.

One of several pages since I began "keeping" last month

I do my common placing wherever I read the book.  Sometimes its in the bedroom - that's my reading home-base.  I keep all my colorful gel pens and my notebooks in the bedside table drawers, and the books I'm currently reading (or plan on reading this year) on top.  I also enjoy reading in my comfy living room chair, which is just outside the bedroom, so its easy to bring my notebook and pen out and write there instead.  The other place I write is next to my computer - usually only when I found the quote online and that's the easiest way to save it.  (I do also use Evernote, and have a Commonplace notebook there for saving quotes as well, which works when on the go.)

My reading and keeping "home base"

I get my inspiration from whatever books I'm reading each week.  I follow several book discussions at Ambleside Online (what a great forum!), plus I'm reading the Bible through in a year again.  I'm also reading a couple more books on my own!  I love having a different book to read each day of the week, plus a "fun" one to fill in any extra reading time I get.

Currently, in addition to the Bible, I'm reading Stepping Heavenward (love it!), Charlotte Mason's Volume 2: Parents and Children, Tennyson's Idylls of the King, Chesterton's Everlasting Man,  Adler's How to Read a Book, and I am about to begin Watership Down.  In spurts I also get back to Endangered Minds, Handbook of Nature Study, and books related to health challenges, such as Trim Healthy Mama.

Learning by Hand: Beginning Woodcarving

Woodcarving is not something I thought I would ever do.  It still isn't, really, but in my quest to find a handicraft that my son will work at willingly, here we are.  I bought the video months ago, and put the book and carving knives on his wish list, and he got them for Christmas!  Thanks to the grandparents :)

So far, he has watched the first few chapters on safety and the basics a couple of times, and has been practicing holding the knives and making small cuts.  Just this week, he progressed to making an actual shape, which he says will be a sword.  The video has the first object as a bird, but hey, he's a 10 year old boy, so sword it is!

Why do we spend time doing things like sewing, painting, leatherworking and woodcarving?  Because all learning does not come from books.  Its important for a child, or adult for that matter, to have areas of competence, and to be able to contribute beautiful, useful things to the world. Not to mention the dexterity it builds, the habit of attention, and more.  We are creative beings, and need outlets in which to be creative!  I like to knit and scrapbook, but those don't appeal to my son in the least, so we are trying different things, looking for the one or two things that he can really love and stick with over the next several years, if not for his whole lifetime.  It may remain a hobby, or it could turn into a supplemental income.  Only God knows!

This post is linked to Learning By Hand at Crossing the Brandywine, a fellow CM educator's blog.

Nature Walk, January

This nature walk was inspired by having to catch my horse, who insisted on escaping during the coldest days of the year.  Every day, usually around dark, he would break through the fence!  It has been about three weeks since this started, and he has now been in for five consecutive days, so I'm hoping I've finally got him trapped.  

Anyway, on this particularly day, we went on a horse hunt, because he wasn't in his usual spots.  We walked down to the valley below the house, near the creek, where it is often wet and marshy.  The wet spots you see are actually ice, so The Boy had a grand time walking around on it.

After walking to the end of the valley, we came back through the woods.  It was gorgeous, brisk, and full of limbs the path that we moved out of the way.  Since we weren't tramping too quickly through the woods, we spotted deer tracks, some gross black mushrooms (below), and these cool, twisted trees.  I haven't figured out what sort they are, but The Boy quickly determined that the twisting was due to vines growing around the young trunks.  The vines are still there in the top picture, but in the bottom one, either the vine fell off or is now inside the trunk.  Fascinating.

After coming back via the woods, the horse was standing near one of his gates, waiting for food (sigh), so I let him in, then snapped this picture of the ice and snow-covered pond below.  The Boy wanted to know why it was melting in circles, and my best answer was that it warms up around the edges first, and the warmth spreads equally.  (Was I right?) That doesn't explain that dark spot near the middle though...could be where he through a rock in, because one can't have ice without throwing a rock on it when one is 10 years old.

And here are a couple of photographs of one of the black mushrooms we found - does anyone know what kind they are?  We also found several smaller, spongy yellow ones but I didn't get pictures of those.

top of mystery mushroom, before we disturbed it

underside of the mystery mushroom

This post was shared with Nature Study Mondays and the Charlotte Mason Blog Carnival!