Bees, worms, chickens and clowns
22 Sep 2012 Leave a Comment
Remember that song from Sesame street (I think that’s where it was from) ‘one of these things is not like the other’, I promise you, clowns fit in the day.
We started off our weekend with a co-op to learn about beekeeping, worm composting and having chickens. The bee hive was different than ones we’ve seen, there is a glass piece in front so you can see the bees work, which was cool.
But, when you take off the top you can see the wood pieces that have honeycomb hanging from them.
He started with one piece and then added in the other sections.
The kids were hovering around the hive, the bees were flying past them and in some cases landing on the kids. All this was good until someone swiped at a bee on someone else’s head and, of course, the bee stung him. My girls started backing away, but I told them the bees were not trying to sting, by pushing the bee it actually pushed the stinger into the other person; still it hurt and the bee lesson was over at that point.
Next we moved the the vermicomposter. We had worms once, but they were pets and they were the wrong kind for composting anyway.
We looked at the layers in the composter, a food layer, a nesting layer, the compost layer that was ready to harvest and the worm tea. All the kids were sticking their hands in the worm tea without really getting that the liquid was, ahem….worm pee. But, everyone washed their hands afterward and those who wanted to pet the worms got to do so.
The chickens were very nice, this one got fed and petted by everyone.
There are a lot of people who are into backyard chickens to keep bugs down and for eggs. Yes, you can have hens in Highlands Ranch, but only so many and only with a coop that is made to regulations and so on. I don’t think Maisy would like sharing a yard with a chicken, so we don’t have any. But, a lot of our homeschool friends do, so when we want to play with a chicken we just go see a friend.
Back at home Grace and Hannah ran up the street to play while Bethany got ready for a carnival birthday party. Bethany went as a clown, here they are bobbing for apples, well, not actually bobbing.
There was cotton candy, popcorn, snow cones and nachos, perfect carnival fare. Here is a shot of everyone, Alicia is in front – she’s the ringmaster, her Dad is behind her – he was a bearded lady (that is a nice Dad for you, he was wearing makeup, a dress and a wig and the neighbors were watching.) There were clowns, a snake charmer, a gypsy, hobbits, a sword swallower and others.
It was pretty funny. We hung out for a bit and then came back home.
Today there is an Oktoberfest celebration here and the fireworks from the 4th that never go shot off because of fire restrictions seem to be a go for tonight, so hopefully we’ll get to hear some Oom-pah music, eat a brat and watch some fireworks tonight.
