Live Free or Die. Is that the best state motto or what? We have spent the last week getting acquainted with New Hampshire. We will actually stay here through October, taking day trips to the rest of New England. The less we have to move TMSB, the easier. Plus the car is way cheaper on gas. We have been establishing a schedule for school, which can be difficult with the littles in such a small space.
It can get a little crazy, but we decided as a family before we committed to this trip that the sacrifices are worth it. Sometimes you just have to improvise to get the learning space you need. This doesn't look too shabby to me.
We still have everyday life, chores, meals, the boring stuff, but we have to find new ways of doing some things. This week we experimented with a modified Pinterest idea for a camp washing "machine."
We still have everyday life, chores, meals, the boring stuff, but we have to find new ways of doing some things. This week we experimented with a modified Pinterest idea for a camp washing "machine."
It did a pretty good job, and is great for small loads in a pinch, but we will still frequent the laundry mat while on the road.
We also spent some time drawing in our nature journals, which are more than art and keepsakes; they are science and geography. We use them to identify the things we see: Plants, animals, land formations, etc.
Hiking is a great way to see the area. There are State Parks everywhere and many trails to explore within minutes of us. We have encountered wildlife we've never seen before: Three black racer snakes, loons, blue heron, and I'm pretty sure we saw bear scat. We are dying to see a moose. We keep seeing moose crossing signs, but so far, no moose.
We visited the Loon Conservation Center in Moultonborough, NH. The focus there, obviously, is loons, but we got a good overview of the ecosystems of lakes and marshes in the Northeast. The kids completed a scavenger hunt in the museum and earned a prize of coloring pages, pencils and stickers. The littles favorite thing was building a loon nest. These large, striking black and white birds live mostly in the water. They only come ashore to nest. They like to build these nests in the freshwater lakes and marshes of the Northeast, then return to the sea after they raise their babies. Usually the female lays two eggs at a time. The parents, which mate for life, raise the loonlings together. Very cool birds. Love the red eyes--which we learned are only red in the summer, perhaps to attract their mates.
There is so much water here. It's everywhere you look. After 15 years in south Texas, it really is like another planet. I thought KY had lots of water. And the trees! It smells so fresh. Most of NH is forest; in fact, the southern part is where most people in the state live. The rugged, mountainous north is much less populated. We did not go all the way up to White Mountain, the highest peak in New England, also the place of the highest ever recorded windspeed on earth, but we did see the Ossipee Mountain Range.
We also spent some time drawing in our nature journals, which are more than art and keepsakes; they are science and geography. We use them to identify the things we see: Plants, animals, land formations, etc.
Hiking is a great way to see the area. There are State Parks everywhere and many trails to explore within minutes of us. We have encountered wildlife we've never seen before: Three black racer snakes, loons, blue heron, and I'm pretty sure we saw bear scat. We are dying to see a moose. We keep seeing moose crossing signs, but so far, no moose.
We visited the Loon Conservation Center in Moultonborough, NH. The focus there, obviously, is loons, but we got a good overview of the ecosystems of lakes and marshes in the Northeast. The kids completed a scavenger hunt in the museum and earned a prize of coloring pages, pencils and stickers. The littles favorite thing was building a loon nest. These large, striking black and white birds live mostly in the water. They only come ashore to nest. They like to build these nests in the freshwater lakes and marshes of the Northeast, then return to the sea after they raise their babies. Usually the female lays two eggs at a time. The parents, which mate for life, raise the loonlings together. Very cool birds. Love the red eyes--which we learned are only red in the summer, perhaps to attract their mates.
There is so much water here. It's everywhere you look. After 15 years in south Texas, it really is like another planet. I thought KY had lots of water. And the trees! It smells so fresh. Most of NH is forest; in fact, the southern part is where most people in the state live. The rugged, mountainous north is much less populated. We did not go all the way up to White Mountain, the highest peak in New England, also the place of the highest ever recorded windspeed on earth, but we did see the Ossipee Mountain Range.
We wanted to visit The Castle in the Clouds, an Arts and Crafts style castle sitting on 6,000 acres of NH forest, nestled high on top of a mountain. It was built in the early 1900's by a former shoe tycoon. The girls and I were very excited to see it, but alas, it was closed early for a wedding that day. Sad face. We did, however, get to see the carriage house, which was transformed into a restaurant and visitors' center for the estate, and we walked around the grounds near the carriage house, which have been turned into hiking/biking trails. It was surreal. You could easily forget that you were in the U.S.A. The whole thing was very Downton Abbey-esque. I know zero about architecture, so I was like, Arts and Craft style? What? Is it made out of macrame or something? But no, it's a thing. Check out the link. We still learned a little something even if we didn't see the ACTUAL castle.
If the only thing I got to do in NH was drive around during peak fall foliage, that would be enough. Seriously. So, so beautiful.
If the only thing I got to do in NH was drive around during peak fall foliage, that would be enough. Seriously. So, so beautiful.
Pictures just can't do it justice. It's just too grand, too big; the color vibrates your soul a little bit. We've spent lots of time just hanging out at our campground, soaking it in. Today, a blue heron flew across the pond and lit on the bank a few seconds. You sort of have to suck in your breath, it's so awesome. Reminds me of--you guessed it. A poem!
What lifts the heron leaning on the air
I praise without a name. A crouch, a flare,
a long stroke through the cumulus of trees,
a shaped thought at the sky - then gone. O rare!
Saint Francis, being happiest on his knees,
would have cried Father! Cry anything you please
But praise. By any name or none. But praise
the white original burst that lights
the heron on his two soft kissing kites.
When saints praise heaven lit by doves and rays,
I sit by pond scums till the air recites
It's heron back. And doubt all else. But praise.
--John Ciardi
Expect a barrage of posts in the near future. Starting this weekend we will be day tripping to a new state every couple of days! Next up, Vermont.
What lifts the heron leaning on the air
I praise without a name. A crouch, a flare,
a long stroke through the cumulus of trees,
a shaped thought at the sky - then gone. O rare!
Saint Francis, being happiest on his knees,
would have cried Father! Cry anything you please
But praise. By any name or none. But praise
the white original burst that lights
the heron on his two soft kissing kites.
When saints praise heaven lit by doves and rays,
I sit by pond scums till the air recites
It's heron back. And doubt all else. But praise.
--John Ciardi
Expect a barrage of posts in the near future. Starting this weekend we will be day tripping to a new state every couple of days! Next up, Vermont.
Sounds like an adventure of a lifetime. Such cool things to see and learn. Then to apply it to your schooling. Very cool indeed. Gods speed and be safe.
ReplyDeleteThanks, Deb!
ReplyDelete