Birds, Blooms, and Other Springtime Sights

I don't know what this critter is: it's very long and solid muscle, almost a solid cylinder. Doesn't have a mouse/rat -like tail. I suspect it might be a mole. Whatever it is, it likes the nuts & berries bird seed mix I put out...

Homeschool Nature Class: Wildflower Hike

Class today was on identifying and counting wildflowers in the park. It involved a hike around the "Nose", a peninsula jutting out into the Hudson, on which the Nature Center sits. The kids hiked around the very steep trail. Mikro did it without me (I'm still using a cane since I sprained my knee 9 days ago...), but with a little help from his slightly older friend, Cassie. I was so proud of him!



We saw some wonderful birds at the feeders, and elsewhere. And we saw the remains of a hawk's lunch...



















After class, there was playtime at the playground, and in the trees... And after our friends left, Mikro and I headed to the beach, where we watched the geese, and waded in the ***cold*** waters of the Hudson River.









Unfortunately, late in the evening, I discovered that I had picked up a tick...

Adventures with Leela: Katonah Museum of Art and Muscoot Farm

We ventured out with my friend Leela to the Katonah Art Museum, where they were having a show on single object still lifes. Mikro enjoyed his first exposure to an art museum, especially running around in the sculpture garden...







Then we were off to Muscoot Farm, where spring and baby animals go together. We saw lambs and pregnant goats, and even got to watch one goat go into labor. (Unfortunately, the kid was a breech and she was having a hard time of it. As we left for the day, they were talking with the veterinarian about a possible Caesarian. I still wonder how it all turned out.) The magnolias were just beautiful, and Mikro made fast friends with some kids and played tag, and they improvised a slide from the cellar door of the farmhouse..)

A Day at the Park

Firsts: sliding down on his belly, backwards; climbing a tree (not a very difficult tree, but for a kid with sensory issues who doesn't enjoy being off the ground or off balance, this is progress, woo hoo!). And, to top off the day, there were bubbles!

Mikro is FIVE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I can't seem to get my head around the fact that this wonderful little person has been here for five whole years already. Time sure flies.



We spent most of the day at our local park, playing on the playground and walking on the beach.



Then we went home and opened presents. He got some speed racer stuff, some dinosaur stuff, a dinosaur board game that he LOVES, an easel, and a really cool microscope thingee called Eyeclops that projects onto the TV.



















Afterwards, we had cake. We found those tricolored chocolate covered cookies in a gluten free (actually, Kosher for Passover-- it is a great thing his birthday falls when it does, because Passover food tends to be gluten, and often also dairy, free and thus Mikro-safe) version, and stuck a candle in them. He wasn't completely in love with the taste, so he also had a dinosaur shaped piece of gluten free brownie with a candle in it.





He had fun, and it seems like his birthday has morphed into birthday week, because we have more fun stuff planned for the weekend.