The Bridge of 33 Arches

I had planned on doing a paper bridge building activity to go along with our history studies.  The last two weeks were spent learning about the succession of Persian rulers and the Ottoman Turks.  Shah Abbas was known for his building projects, especially roads and bridges.  Nick had his own plans though, to build a bridge in the island.  How could I keep them inside with 2" x 11" strips of paper when the woods was full of bridge building materials and a ditch with running water.  Next week looks to be rainy so we'll attempt to build a paper bridge then.

Migration

First saw them October 18.  Everyday they're picking seeds in the lawn under the feeders.  Another nature note:  First skim ice on the chicken's water dish, October 19.

Cranberry Harvest Day 9

Today I'm sharing a collage of pictures taken over the course of a few days.  I want to share a bit about the flooding process of cranberry harvest.  Cranberry marshes have a system of reservoirs and ditches which are managed to keep the water just where it needs to be.  In the bottom right photo you can see bulkhead with boards placed to stop the flow of water.  When water is needed to flood a bed for raking the boards are pulled and water rushes through the tube and into the next ditch or cranberry bed.  In the top right picture you can see a ditch filled with water.  Throughout the course of harvest that water will be cycled into cranberry beds and the outlet ditch.  At the end of harvest water is pumped back into the reservoir to maintain a proper depth for winter flooding.

Happiness Is....

Happiness is...pulling the last frost thermometer off the cranberry marsh.

Happiness is...having kids old enough to scrapbook their own memories.

Happiness is...the aroma of pumpkin pies made by Emily.

Happiness is...seeing police lights in your review mirror and then watching them as they cruise on by.

Happiness is...cleanliness in all the inconspicuous places like under the couch and behind the piano.

I polled the rest of the family and here's what they said.
Dad says:  Happiness is...loading the last cranberry.  (which hasn't happened yet)

Emily says:  Happiness is...finishing a Heartland book in one day.

Nick says:  Happiness is...having an Airsoft war.

Amber says:  Happiness is...riding Max.

Sam says:  Happiness is...my birthday.

Cranberry Recipes

Over the past 5 1/2 years of blogging here at Camp Homeschool I've shared some of our favorite cranberry recipes.  And since it's cranberry harvest time it's easy to find fresh cranberries in the grocer.  I've compiled a list of links to my cranberry recipes.  I have a oodles of recipes, but not enough time to share them all.  If you're in need of a particular type of cranberry recipe please let me know and I will do what I can to post one for you.  Enjoy!

Cranberry Zucchini Bread

Cranberry Nut Swirls (cookies)

Broccoli Cranberry Salad

Cranberry Juice

Cranberry Pecan Pie

Cranberry Apple Spice Bars

Cranberry Cake with Hot Butter Sauce