A SWEET SURPRISE

She had a surprise. It was something she discovered on her own and she seemed proud.

She held it ever so gently as she brought it closer.

Lifting her hand very slowly, she showed us a Wood frog which she found under the shrubbery below the deck.

She touched him lightly and felt his smooth skin. He didn't mind.

She talked to him, with her sweet soothing voice, to let him know he was safe with her.

Even when he started to jump, she stayed calm. A bit surprised, but still calm.

She even let her little brother have a peek and put the frog safely in an empty flower pot.

After a little while, she took him back in her hands, said goodbye and put him back where she found him. She knew it was where he needed to be. 


It was a joyous experience, as each experience with nature is.


As a child, one has that magical capacity to move among the many eras of the earth; to see the land as an animal does; to experience the sky from the perspective of a flower or a bee; to feel the earth quiver and breathe beneath us; to know a hundred different smells of mud and listen unself- consciously to the soughing of the trees.
~Valerie Andrews


            happy day!

{this moment}

Following  inspiration from SouleMama:

"A Friday ritual. A single photo - no words - capturing a moment from the week. A simple, special, extraordinary moment. A moment I want to pause, savor and remember."

                                       happy day!

ONE WORD WEDNESDAY

~ floating  ~

(Please feel free to join in One Word Wednesday, just leave your link in the comments).

happy day!

FROG WATCH

There is a small circular area of rocks where the frogs hang out. It's connected to our larger pond enabling the frogs to make a clean getaway if need be, but they prefer hanging out in here. The children just need to sit down and get comfortable. Sometimes it is like a game of I Spy, but if they are still and quiet and look closely enough,they will see them.

             Can  you  find the frog in each of the following pictures? 

       These frogs are Green Frogs (Rana Clamitans). They are also known as Bronze frog.
You can check out a few more facts about Green frogs and listen to the sound they make here.
If you hear all kinds of sounds at your house, and perhaps they are frog sounds, have a listen here and see if you can identify it.


It is mentioned that Green Frogs are not as wary as many other species of frog. That would explain why they don't hop away when they see little faces peering in at them, or a net coming their way, and why the children can easily catch them with their hands.

Take part in the online Wildlife Watch from the National Wildlife Federation and record the frogs and other species you see in your area. It's easy and it's fun. Above all, have fun connecting with Nature!


Do you play the Outdoor Challenge? 

CAN YOU HEAR IT

It is the call of eight Eastern Gray Treefrogs (Hyla versicolor) that we rescued from our POOL last night. They were crawling up the sides but could not navigate the overhang.


Armed with a net and a flashlight, my girl and I helped them on their way. Later that night we could hear them further into the woodlands. 

ADDED NOTE- 6pm :
We saved another frog today and got some pictures too. 

The undersides of his inner legs are a brilliant GOLD color. I tried to make him move to snap a picture but he jumped away too fast into the woodlands

Children and Nature Challenge - Day 1

There was a frog family sitting together . . . a mother, father and baby.
 The father frog jumped away when she came close with her net.

She was able to catch the father...just for a few minutes . . .

and then he was released to rejoin his family :)