Mosaic Creation

B has spent the past 3 saturday mornings learned another art form using glass. He has learned how to do glass mosaic. It should be no surprise that his first project was a koi!!
The process included picking a design (or drawing, but B took one off the computer). Chosing glass colors and cutting the pieces of glass, using a handheld glass cutting wheel. Second week the glass pieces were glued onto a piece of wood. It has to be a substantial backing in order to hold the weight of the project and keep everything secure. The last week the grout is added. The piece than dries for 24 hours and is cleaned. Finished! We now need to figure out how and where we are going to hang it.

Pond Inhabitants Move In

B started to populate his pond today. His first two residents (if you don't count the tester goldfish) are a pair of butterfly koi. Yes, they are in there. One is orange and the other a silverish/white. You float the bag on the water to get the temps about the same before releasing the fish.
Video of the big release.

Pond Project!

B's semester project was a written manual about constructing a backyard pond. And like many homeschoolers, a project wouldn't be complete without some kind of hands-on activity! Real world lessons is what we believe in! This is the progress of B's actual building of a backyard pond (at the lake).

First he had to lay out and design the pond (no photos). Then he had to get approval from grandma (not a hard thing when you are the apple of her eye). Then B started gathering supplies and dug the holes (no photos, forgot the camera when he went out with gramps). Below is where the photo essay part of the project began. Enjoy!

Excavation. The front (to left hole is the main pond, the upper/back two holes are the waterfall steps.
Liner goes in.
Water starts to go in to start holding liner in place. This makes it easier to manipulate the liner and get it positioned correctly with as few wrinkles as possible.
Filling, it takes awhile and the water is cold. But the sun is HOT and it's almost 90 degrees.
As you can see, B really "gets into" his projects. Filling and final liner manipulation.
Skimming out debris (which could be an endless task, but you can't tell the designer that part).

Full of water and sandstone begins being laid.
Trench digging for electricity for pump/filter.
Filter
Filter prep with grandma's supervision.

As the project continues to take shape and reaches completion, and progresses - I will continue to keep you up to date. This week there will be water testing and test fish placed in the pond (feeder goldfish). Then the bullfrog tadpoles (which are in a tank in the garage) will find their new home. Last residents - koi. Oh, needless to say, B got an "A" on this semester project!

Career Clue

On more than one occassion we got a clue as to what B might be when he grows up. Maybe a plumber?!!!

Eating Nature

On our camping trip we were hopeful to find some native morel mushrooms. No luck, too cold. DARN!!! But we did try another delicacy offered by nature. We ate Fiddlehead Ferns!!! Imagine? This was actually inspired by a magazine recipe we had just seen in The Best of Cooking Fresh, spring 2008, magazine. Here is what we read:

"Fiddlehead fern fronds emerge from the soil coiled into tight pinwheels and are edible only before they begin to unfurl into their mature form. They have a greassy-earthy flavor that's tasty in a mushroom ragout or a mixed vegetable saute. Store fiddleheads in the refrigerator in a zip-top plastic bag line with moist paper towles for three to five days. To clean them, rub off the brown chaff from the outside (some stores may do this for you - we've never seen them in a store) and wash them thoroughly in cold water. Before cooking, trim the ends and then tame their slight bitterness by blanching briefly in salted boiling water before sauteing or grilling them."

Here's what we did: We followed the directions above, including the blanching. Then we sauted them in butter and garlic. Made them a little crispy and browned on the outside and served them over our meat. Interesting. Not really much flavor, other than what you season them with. But we can now say we tried them, and actually liked them. Naturally, they are weather dependent, and probably not found everywhere. But just like morels, the short time makes them even more delictable :)

Ludington Camping Trip

Ahhh, to get away and into the woods of northern Michigan!!! To not have to plan homeschooling lessons, but to enjoy the lessons as they come. To see the sun rise over the sand dunes and watch it set over Lake Michigan. And to feel the COLD air blow off the lake - BURRR. Camping in northern Michigan in May does have it's advantages, and disadvantages! One there were not many people around, but two we had to bundle up in our fleece to stay warm. We enjoyed a wonderful week of camping at the Ludington State Park. We spent time geocaching, walking, fishing, building camp fires, eating smores, and even got my daily workouts completed.

Even the dog got to go camping this time. Saturn loves camping, just like we do!
B spent an entire morning fishing for the invasive species - GOBY! As he pulled them out of the water, he would throw them into the woods. There are signs all over the park that encourage you not to put these fish back into the water. B was just doing his part. Count that as community service for this morning.

While B fished, grandma and I stood in the sun soaking up with warmth and gabbing the morning away.

Lampworking, part 2 - plus projects

B's second lampworking class was a success. He moved up to another (hotter) torch. At this class he worked on beads and, again, fish. All three fish are B's creations. The lollipop was made by Annette, the instructor, so show B that there are other things that can be made using different techniques.

HAPPY MOTHER'S DAY - this is a bead that B made for me for Mother's Day. Yes, it has a heart in it! I have it wired onto my key ring and LOVE IT!
The purple bead it B's first try. I also have that wired to my keys. He has said he might like making beads better than fish, but I'm skeptical.

We are not sure when B's next lesson will be. The draw of the dock at the lake makes him waiver in wanting to be standing at a hot glory hole. For now, I'm guessing the glassworking will resume. So little time, so much to do!