McGuire Peak, Sunol Regional Wilderness

Lunch Rock

Mt. Diablo in the distance,

A rocky foothold in the foreground

My first California Poppies of the year

On our way down from the 1688' peak

I love these rocks

San Francisco Bay in the distance

Hiking

With Heart

The Frequent Visitor

Here's the text message from my brother this afternoon:

            I seem to be Tidbitless  :-(

I had to come in here and put on some Tidbits from the Wild Heart for him while supper is cooking.

I'm drawn to the heron that is at the creek almost every time I take my daily walk. I told my favorite walking partner that the frequent sight of the heron is a sign of a healthy creek. 

That thought leads me to all the discussions we have with the Trout in the Classroom students and the Earth Savers environmental club students over the benefits of a healthy watershed. 

That thought led me to one of the responses to our Aqua Words poems. So even though it is still winter...

                                               

We can daydream about the 'safe stillness of August' of this poetic response from a friend...

 The safe stillness of August at dusk 

the lazy lapping of the swimming pool 

tells the tale of little swimmers gone away for now 

a girl gazes, first at her father 

then up to the milky way 

listening to the hum of the crickets 

the water slows to stillness 

their voices join the music of the night

Tidbits

With Heart

Happy Hearts Day!

In honor of Valentine's Day I'm giving you a picture of a California creek with a Louisiana poem. The heron fishing in the creek and the author of the poem are dear to my heart.

Nature 101: The Rocky Branch
A clear stream flows in the swamp.
It meanders around cypress knees.
Mossy banks enclose it.
On the sandy shore beside it
I see a story in animal tracks.
A deer leaped across here.
A raccoon wandered down the creek.
I wonder what the coon was seeking.
A squirrel scampered up the bank.
And then a fox came by.
Too bad I wasn't here to witness this swamp tale, 

But I can see it in my mind's eye.

And the Rocky Branch just keeps on flowing.

Daydreaming

With Heart

The Journal Book Continues

Remember I told you about the Little Girl and her grandmother Moga with their nature discoveries and journaling they didS (see 'The Journal Book' February 5.)  

Planting flowers seemed to be a good follow up to the rainy day planting of strawberries. 

Watch my garden grow!

Looking for the 'spotted donkey' on the way to Moga's also made a good journal entry. That helped them wait for the strawberries to develop.

This Little Girl can show her loved ones her Journal Book and tell them about all the wonderful discoveries she's made. She's also learned how to use scissors and paste in addition to documenting their finds.

This is a great discovery! What story will we write about it?

When I told my other grandmother friend who set up the nature desk for her grandson about this project, she was inspired to have a child she's mentoring make a nature journal as a way to connect her natural world with her academic world. She named it Nature Booking.

Looking for Strawberries

With Heart

Trout Update

Forty trout eggs were delivered to our classroom aquarium Friday January 27th. The first egg hatched into a half inch long transparent fish with its egg sac attached to its underside February 2nd. These tiny fish are in the alevin stage of their development. Today we estimate we have 35 one-inch long gray alevins which are trying to blend in with the gravel in their 52 degree water.

Creating awareness of the need for clean creeks and a healthy watershed is one reason we participate in this project. We have this lovely creek flowing through our neighborhood which gives us a reason to care for our environment.


Anywhere you are is a watershed.


Appreciate Clean Water
With Heart

The Gift of the Day

Cindi's Welcome

   Simply

With Heart

The Journal Book

This is the story of a Little Girl and her grandmother, Moga, and their discoveries of the world of outdoors. The grandmother was my first neighbor of my married life. We've been friends all these years, and now we're sharing grandmother stories.

Since the Little Girl was 2, she and her Moga have been going outside to discover something in the world. They take a picture, and while the Little Girl takes her nap, Moga prints it. After nap time they talk about the discovery, cut out the picture, paste it into a 'journal book,' and write a story.

Planting strawberries was a project that almost got rained out, but grandmothers are determined and resourceful. The porch became the setting, and rain boots the apparel. 

Here is the look of a successful 'special day'--a big mess and a tub of strawberry plants.

The Journal Book

The Little Girl has learned how to cut and paste.

'Now I write.'

This is a good beginning.

Stay Tuned

With Heart

It's the Trout I Seek

In honor of our first and only trout to hatch today I'm posting our 5th and final Aqua Words. If you've just started following, check the last 5 posts starting with Trout Eggs! Arrival Day!

Stay tuned  for updates on the hatching. I can't wait to check the aquarium tomorrow morning!  

It's the Trout I Seek

Water, water in the snow.

It makes me feel so so slow.

As the water is flowing,

I hear the wind blowing.

Take a peek in the creek.

It's the trout I seek.

Water is in my face.

Water is in every place.

Water looks lively in the sun.

The fish are having fun.

Waves are crashing on the beach.

Let's hope we don't get a peach.

Expectantly

With Heart

Water Everywhere

These Aqua Words started out as 6 or 7 strips of paper with brainstormed water rhymes on them. Table groups put them in the order that sounded right and taped the papers together. After the 'rap' session when the poems were read with a beat and a cheerful attitude, I brought them home to enter here on the blog. I'm amazed how well the words flow.

Water Everywhere

Take a peek

At the water in the creek.

Now the trout are in the class.

Take a look in the glass.

The trout started out as tiny eggs.

Now they're swimming through the waves.

When you take a hike, you hear

Rushing water white and clear.

There's a girl with a bow.

She sees a river flow.

Water, water everywhere.

Make some room. I want my share.

Happy to Share 

With Heart

Creek to Ocean

The responses to Aqua Words have been stimulating. Thanks for enjoying the wonder of these words with me. Here is a picture from my brother, 'Chief,' who couldn't attach it to a comment. Here is his lovely 'poem' he wrote.

This poem, Creek to Ocean is another of the Aqua Words brought to you by the Trout in the Classroom students.

Creek to Ocean

Water has a lovely sound,

And it can be easily found.

Take a peek

At the beautiful creek.

Water brook, water creek.

Find water on every peak.

See the ocean 

In its very own motion.

Take a look at the trout

All grown up they go out.

Eggs grow to trout.

Will everybody scream and shout.

Shouting for Joy

With Heart