Happiness often sneaks through a door you didn't know you left open ~ John Barrymore

 

Some local jaunts if you feel adventurous... 

The weekend is on the horizon...

 

Grant’s Woods

1.9 km loop, walking, stroller

Hug a tree! Within Grant’s Woods you can find trees that are up to 200 years old! Make sure you visit the Three Sisters, Climbing Vine and the two beautiful vistas along the loop. Portions of this trail are wheelchair and stroller friendly.

Matchedash Bay

2.0 km loop, walking

Explore the largest marsh in Orillia & Lake Country through this loop. Be witness to the ever changing scenery by taking in the view at the three vistas. Stay for lunch and learn about the history at the picnic area. For those interested in wildlife, Matchedash Bay is listed as an Important Bird Area!

Uhthoff Trail

22.0 km, walking, cycling

Discover the portion of the Trans Canada Trail that runs through Orillia & Lake Country. This scenic, picturesque trail crosses many streams and wetlands. Start from Wilson Point Road in Orillia and end your adventure in Downtown Coldwater.

Lake Country Oro-Medonte Rail Trail

28.0 km, walking, cycling, stroller

Hike the trail that is rich in history. The Hurons populated the region more than 2,000 years ago. In the 1600’s French Explorers, missionaries and fur traders travelled through, and in 1819, a Black Settlement was established. The last CN train passed through September 1996.

Orillia Millennium

9.5 km, walking, cycling, stroller

Bike your way from Wilson’s Point to the Narrow, from the North Ward to Tudhope Park! Take a rest at the Port of Orillia, Moose Beach or Portage Bay and enjoy the view on Lake Couchiching.

Ramara Trail

5.0 km, walking, cycling, stroller

Discover history! Start your trail at the Mnjikaning Fishing Weirs, a National Historic Site, then follow the abandoned CN Rail Line through countryside that once ran freight from Toronto to North Bay and passengers from Toronto to Vancouver.

Scout Valley

Algonquin Trail 2.0 km loop, walking, Sugarbush Trail 2.0 km loop, walking, Homestead Trail 2.0 km loop, walking

Within this 93 hectare nature park, you will find 3 loops – Algonquin Trail, Sugarbush Trail, and Homestead Trail. The scenery was formed by the retreating Ice Age Lake Algonquin, and is now a Provincially Significant Wetland where you can find remnants of majestic white pine.

 

Head to the Orillia Lake Country Site for more Autumn Splendor :D  

https://www.orillialakecountry.ca/fall-tours/hiking-tours/

Worth returning to... Resources we love... not just online! :D

I've been editing our resource list and pondering the return to "normal".  I have enjoyed this edit to our resources and have been carrying the same "edit" to other parts of our lives.  Focusing down the list... what do we really love, enjoy, find contentment or passions in... what helps us reach our current and future goals... what fascinates, expands our understanding or helps us explore our interests... what gives our lives meaning and fulfillment?

Lots to ponder and "edit"!  Here is an updated list!

The resources my learners / explorers use! (being updated as I go) 

It is paired down and filled out with many sources of educational content but more so edited for the most meaningful content!  I wish resources to add enrichment to our lives and not be wasters, taking time from our years... again... sorry... so much to ponder and then again... not sorry... love to ponder and make more meaningful changes... lots of love♥

 

Pondering our mindfulness moments?

A mindful moment is time you take to show yourself love

Breathing meditation
Yoga or stretching

Nature walk in your own backyard
Add to your gratefulness jar or wishing jar
Try one of the exercise or yoga videos online 

Record your thoughts or feelings in your journal
Take a relaxing bath or shower

Catch up on your reading or read to someone

Start or continue to follow your interests or hobbies

Show yourself the love you show others and you'll be a happier, more content caregiver.  You'll be able to be more attentive and give more of yourself.  I am sharing these mindful moments with my little loves... showing them love... and self-love to take with them, wherever their journeys lead... let them lead in love.
❤️

Special Mother's Day Message♥

Happy Mother's Day

Here is a wonderfully lovely video from Explore.org!  They send me daily learning content by sharing live video feeds with us from around the world.  The kids are currently obsessed with the nests filled with babies and the caring mama's nurturing their littles!  Scroll down to their link for a special Mother's Day message...

We love, love, love their motto... Never Stop Learning!

Photo credit: Gooseberry Patch

"We ❤️ Moms"

"Moms make the world go 'round, and we see evidence of that every day on our nature and animal cams.

From panda mommas wrangling rascals to bald eagles who teach their young to be assertive with food, moms provide a vital foundation for all walks of life. Today we honor and recognize them with this compilation of touching mom moments, and hope you enjoy watching your favorite moms live on explore.org.

Never Stop Learning,

Your extended family at explore.org"

We Love Moms ~ Explore.org ~ One of our favourite live learning experiences ♥ 

 

Adustments to the new normal...

     Turns out, the new normal took quite a long time for us to adjust to and get into a "flow".  Our days are much more fluid in transitions now but it is now May 7th... so it took a while.  A day in our lives looks much different than it did before, but it is finally okay.  We fumbled and fell and tried again... changed this and that and this other thing that was clearly not working but... we made it to May 7th feeling more normal about today than we ever have.  My husband, myself, our four kids (now homeschooling), the eight grandparents with varying needs... we're starting to find our groove, find the flow, find our normalcy in this strange time in history.

     Today started out like most of our other days and reflects the fine tuning to our relaxed scheduling.  We learned, time blocks flexibility are key.  

     6 am(ish): We get up, two of the kids have their showers, the other two help with bedding and laundry.  Then we don't look at the clock while we continue this daily process...

•  Get dressed
•  Get breakfast and tea ready (group activity)
•  Gather in the living room with tea and breakfast for our morning enrichment : This can be, Ted Talks, articles of import, our group pleasure reading or interesting news of the day.  Morning enrichment is meant as a stimulating jumping point from which to leap into daily studies...  An awaking of sleepy minds :)
•  Clean up and dishes, move over the laundry accomplished first thing in the morning and tidy.
•  Everyone gets on their outside clothes and we do a hiking trek at varying speeds and intensity around our homestead.  We have a "training" path we have developed over this time to help my daughter prepare for "girl strong" and it has been beneficial for my boys to have daily fitness breaks.
• After we come in from our nature trek, we gather in the library for a "Sunshine salute" which is a series of yoga poses to stretch out from our training session.  
• We are now ready for our first study block.  We have designated that this study block will last a duration of one hour.  All the kids get their learning material for the first block which largely depends on the studies being assigned by their teachers.  We receive daily instruction and our first block is all about meeting or exceeding the instruction requirements.  I sit at the end of the study table (our dining room table), to be available to help anyone who needs assistance.  Depending on the day, I may not actually get to sit, but float around the table helping with seemingly endless amounts of assigned tasks.
• When our 1 hour alarm goes off, we pause our studies to grab our outdoor gear and head off to do our second nature trek, followed by our sunshine salute. 
• We are then ready for our second study block, also one hour followed by the same fitness break and lastly our meditation moment that will last roughly 5 minutes.  The added meditation moment after yoga, is meant to help the kids relax their bodies and minds and signal a finish of our studies for the day.
• We only do 2 study sessions now where it used to be 3 because it has overtaken our days not allowing for dinner prep or anything else.  Some days would take our studies into the evening hours before bed and that was completely unacceptable. 

     I am pleased to reduce study blocks so we can do more unschooling activities in the afternoon and restrict the amount of assigned work blocks.  Even though we are together, we miss family time and down time with family.  It will also allow the kids and myself more time for dinner prep which sometimes suffers and family time.  We now have free time in the afternoons and whatever that will look like is up to the family!  They have been using it for art explorations, reading, games, activities, outdoor play, movie time, free imagination play and anything that tickles their fancy!  

     Home schooling is now more reflective of our family values and allows for more mindfulness activities, time with nature and following our hearts. 

Bird Sitting Meditation technique...

Bird Sitting is a type of meditation for relaxation or quieting the mind.  To try this mindful activity, Audubon has some great tips for bird sitting in honour of Earth day♥

Ontario Provincial Parks Free Wallpapers to download go to Ontarioparks.com

Helpful tips provided courtesy of Audubon:1) Find a Spot: Choose a spot where you can sit quietly and observe birds for 10-20 minutes. This can be your window, doorstep, backyard, or local park. Convenience is key. 

2) Have a Seat: Find a comfortable sitting position. When we sit down and stay still, the birds come closer to us than they would if we were walking. 

3) Tune in to the Birds: Quiet your mind and open your eyes and ears to the birds. Lead with curiosity and ask questions like: "What are the birds doing right now? Do they have a nest nearby? What have they eaten today?” Watch their behavior and listen for their vocalizations. Want to level up? Try teaching yourself to 'bird by ear.'

4) Greet Them By Name: If you're feeling ambitious and would like to try your hand at species identification, grab a field guide or download the Audubon Bird Guide App. If you just want to enjoy the experience, come up with your own names to help you remember them by color or sound! 
 

5) Repeat: The best benefits come from repetition. Each day, look for the same birds you may have seen the day before. Getting to know a few feathered neighbors well is more rewarding than listing to all the birds you’re seeing or hearing. You may begin to discover which birds sing first at sunrise, which birds are mated pairs, where the nearest nest is located, and when the hawks are hunting.
Over time, your observations will reveal how the birds and their behaviors are driven by predation, feeding, mating, and nesting in the landscape. You’ll also begin to understand how your behaviors affects nearby birds.

 

Click this link to take you to the story read by PV Storytime!

THE EARTH BOOK by Todd Parr

 

The Earth Book

By Todd Parr , Todd Parr

---

Description provided by Scholastic Books... if you are able to, please purchase through Scholastic books to support our schools♥

https://www.scholastic.com/teachers/books/the-earth-book-by-todd-parr/

"With his signature blend of playfulness and sensitivity, Todd Parr explores the important, timely subject of environmental protection and conservation in this eco-friendly picture book. With an eye-catching cover to catch readers' interest, the book includes lots of easy, smart ideas for working together to take good care of the earth, from planting a tree and using both sides of the paper to saving energy and reusing old things in new ways.
Best of all, the book includes reminders for "going green" every day. Equally whimsical and heartfelt, this sweet homage to the planet is sure to inspire readers of all ages to do their part in keeping the earth happy and healthy."

Story Time with Dr. Jane!

Dr. Jane has read two books so far!  Watch these free readings in the link below!

"Dr. Jane Goodall, DBE, UN Messenger of Peace, and founder of the Jane Goodall Institute, shares virtual readings of some of her favorite books for children every week from her home in Bournemouth, England!"

"In 1960, a 26-year-old Jane Goodall traveled to Gombe, Tanzania to begin the first formal study of wild chimpanzees. Her discoveries changed the way we understand these fellow great apes and our relationship with the rest of the animal kingdom. Her observation that chimpanzees make and use tools revolutionized the field of animal behavior, challenging the "sharp line" separating humans from other animals."

STORYTIME WITH DR. JANE Dr. Jane Goodall

Blessings of Easter♥

We celebrate Easter and did so in the physical isolation of 2020 that has left it's own mark on all our festivities.  It is a challenge but Easter is the same... Easter doesn't change... the way we celebrate changes by necessity or design but Easter is the same.  We took comfort in that as we wished our loved ones from afar a Happy Easter and a joyous spring.  There is also a comfort that spring remains the same and the signs are everywhere for us to discover.

On a hygge nature walk yesterday, we were able to observe the many signs of spring that have come to grace our homestead once again.  My daughter documented her first crocus of the season with a photograph she took herself.  She marveled at nature moving on as is should with our lives feeling so stationary at the moment.  I hope you get a chance to walk around outside your home and take note yourself and revel in the renewal of springtime♥

 

 

These marvelous scavenger hunts come to us from

Primary Playground♥

Copious amounts of unfettered, unobstructed, unaltered, unbelievably joyful, FREE PLAY!

We are a mere 20 days from the start of summer and all the season brings...  

Here is an excerpt from Gary Direnfeld's musings, a social worker in Keswick Ontario... 

"Some parents are scrambling to find enough programs and activities to occupy their kids time...  Remember, that free time, time to explore, ride a bike, hike and be outside is also of value.  In free time kids learn to meet their needs, explore interests and learn to occupy themselves.  For so many kids, dependent upon structured activities, this is a lost skill. With the loss of this skill, away goes independence and self reliance, key skills for survival."  

Well put Gary:)

Bring on Summer and copious amounts of unfettered, unobstructed, unaltered, unbelievably joyful, FREE PLAY!  

Welcome to Summer♥

For my littles♥

 

Go, Go, Grow

Heading out to the garden
(Heading out to my garden)
With your seeds in your hand
(With my seeds in my hand)
Got your goulashes on
(Got my goulashes on)
And your watering can
(And my watering can)

Find a sunny spot
(Find a sunny spot)
Dig a little hole
(Dig a little hole)
Plant your seeds right there
(Plant my seeds right there)
And watch them go, go, grow

Little seed, what will you be
A daisy, a pumpkin or an apple tree
Little seed, one day you may be
A poppy, a carrot or some broccoli
Little seed, what will you be
A watermelon or some strawberries
Little seed, just what will you be

Take your watering can
(Take my watering can)
Give it a little tip
(Give it a little tip)
Not too much water
(Not too much water)
Just a little bit
(Just a little bit)

In a couple of days
(In a couple of days)
A little sprout will show
(A little sprout will show)
You gotta cheer it on
(You gotta cheer it on)
Come on, go, go, grow!

Little seed, what will you be
Some roses, tomatoes or some celery
Little seed, one day you may be
Corn, cucumber or some rosemary
Little seed, what will you be
Some squash, snapdragons or a vine of peas
Little seed, I can’t wait to see

Hey, did you know
That we are all just like these seeds
That need to grow
So make sure that you,
Eat your fruits and vegetables
And little seeds, take care
And you will know
That everyday you’ll grow, grow, grow!

So, little seed, what will you be
A baker, a dentist or a hockey goalie
Little seed, what will you be
A nurse, fire fighter or a secretary
Little seed, what will you be
A gardening parent with a family
Little seed, what do you want to be
Oh little seed, I can’t wait to see!

~Bobs and Lolo :)

We Will...

There are 15 days until the Spring Equinox... 

My little ones will once again relish in the joys and freedom of mud and puddles...

They will run wild in the wakening forest to speak the language of trees...

They will create sweet music echoing the songs of the birds...

They will inhale deeply refreshed with a morning breeze filling their lungs...

They will help the busy bees pollinate a new season by letting dandelions grow...
They will happily dance along gathering wishes to scatter on the wind on a lazy evening...

They will sip the sweet syrup freshly made from the sap of the majestic maple...

They will treasure and revel in the blooming of each fresh new spring blossom...

They will dance in the rain and marvel at the power and beauty of nature...
They will bask in the light of millions of stars and blow a kiss to follow a wish...

They will be wrapped in the warm, loving glow and blessings of family and friends...
They will share in memories and values in this beautiful, hygge moment of spring renewal♥ 

~Sherry Johnson, 2019

The Wooded Path...

I Must Walk Again The Wooded Path;
I must stroll the country lane
Where sunsets fall like summer plums
and stardust falls like rain.

I must chase again the firefly
on the honeysuckle vine.
And watch an eagle spread its wings
above the tallest pine.
I must see once more a hummingbird
where hollyhocks grow wild.
And run barefoot through the Autumn leaves
like I did as a child.
I must stand atop a mountain
when the valley's white with snow.
And linger there till purple haze
spreads twilight far below.
I must do these things lest I forget
how precious life can be.
I must walk again the wooded path
of quaint simplicity.
~Clay Harrison

"Life isn't about finding yourself; It's about creating yourself."

"Life isn't about finding yourself;

It's about creating yourself." 

 My passion and love of learning stems from a belief that learning is a life-long process.  We strive to be open and adaptable to the many changes and challenges of everyday life. I try to model continued learning as the children see me reading, studying and implementing new, creative adaptations and theory to our home environment and lives.  By giving them these roots, my hope is they will also follow a path of inquiry and know as students of life, they will always be learning and growing♥

Sherry Giasson-Johnson, 2018 

Here are some web based learning opportunities on engaging children in the outdoor environment on You tube.  I will add more as they become available:)

Engaging Young Children in the Outdoor Environment (Video #166)

Outdoor environments are more than swing sets and slides! This Apples Video Magazine will address the Illinois Early Learning Standards in revealing the mysterious process of creating an outdoor classroom. Young children can be equally engaged in learning through play outdoors as they are indoors. Viewers will understand the value of play in outdoor settings that promote social interactions, independence, creativity, and most importantly, friendships. Join the fun as we view outdoor play. Recorded: September 2009

 

Outdoor Environments for Learning in Early Years - Part 1 

 
An online workshop to explore and learn how to use the outdoor environment to facilitate and enable learning in early years. This workshop is hosted by Collaboroo, an online community for primary teachers and early years teachers and delivered by Laura England, Early years teacher and blogger at Little Miss Early Years. Part 1 – The benefits of outdoor play Creating outdoor play spaces Making the most of the seasons

 

Outdoor Environments for Learning in Early Years Part 2 

 

 An online workshop to explore and learn how to use the outdoor environment to facilitate and enable learning in early years. This workshop is hosted by Collaboroo, an online community for primary teachers and early years teachers and delivered by Laura England, Early years teacher and blogger at Little Miss Early Years. Part 2 – Outdoor maths Loose parts play with nature Outdoor art

 

Birding in January...

Country living at it's best... even when it's too cold to go out on one of our adventures... we feel the benefits of nature submersion♥

 

Happy Yule!

Yesterday, we celebrated the Winter Solstice by giving back to nature. This lovely gift is hanging in our lilac trees above our bird pub.  It's a fun tradition to decorate a tree outside with edible treats for wild life.  This morning we woke to a thick covering of a lovely blanket of fresh, white snow! 

Happy Yule!  

This day celebrates the rebirth of the sun to the earth after celebrating the longest night of the year (Winter Solstice). 

It is a time of leaving any regrets in the past and awakening to new goals.  The best time to plan resolutions and carry them through the new year♥