STARR Ranch

(by Micayla)

This week we went to STARR Ranch near Trabuco Canyon. We were driving along in a neighborhood and then to get to the ranch we went down this random road that turned into a dirt road, which lead us over a creek and under bent over trees... which finally lead us to STARR Ranch!

STARR Ranch is a 4,000 acre meadow of wild land. It is home to deer, mountain lions, grey foxes, coyotes, bobcats, raccoons, opossums, and skunks - including rare spotted skunks. We took a walk (led by wildlife biologist, Scott) and looked at some 'scent stations '. A scent station is a rock sprayed with a special kind of (animal urine and skunk spray stuff) spray in the middle of a bunch of powder. At the scent stations we saw bobcat, grey fox, skunk, coyote, and raccoon paw prints in the powder. We got to measure the paw and look at the toes to identify what kind of an animal it was.

Then we went on a hike with Lisa (who is an ornithologist) to look at plants and birds. We saw a falcon and a red tailed hawk and identified smelly plants like, white sage, black sage, and sagebrush. We also saw this salamander (in photo above).

At the end of our hike we ran into Heull Howser who was doing a "California's Gold" show on Starr Ranch. He asked our group to be in a clip that will be at the end of his program. You can learn more about Starr Ranch and look for us on March 2nd and March 10th at 7:30p.m. on KCET (LA).

~Fun fact: did you know that on any dog or cat their front paws are bigger than their back paws? Check on your own cat or dog!!

~Starr Ranch is also home to some baby owls that you can see on a video cam here.

Class Dismissed

Check out this homeschool documentary coming sometime next year:
Class Dismissed: Education And the Rise of Homeschooling in America


Listen here to an interview with the director/producer.
*Click here if you'd like to make a contribution to help fund this film!

On the Radio!

(by Carly)
On Wednesday we went up to Pasadena to participate in a live recording of Larry Mantle's AirTalk show on the radio, a forum all about homeschooling. There were about 100 people there; all homeschool families. The talk was really great! They had a panel of people that contributed their thoughts on homeschooling, and then Larry Mantle invited the kids to come up and talk. So, Micayla courageously went up and got interviewed on the radio! She did well (although she mistakenly said I went to Kindergarten and I really didn't); here are some photos, and the link where you can hear the whole hour of AirTalk.

Tutu in the Making

(by Micayla)

I designed a tutu that I am making with Miss Hilde. She is a seamstress who makes tutus and other costumes for ballet performances. I am making a light blue tutu with a leotard bodice. The first week I worked with her I learned about Pi, because I had to measure the tulle in a way that it would go all the way around my hips without crossing over.

I'm having lots of fun working with Miss Hilde in her awesome garage/sewing room! It is definitely a process - not an over night job, but the tutu is coming along nicely and I just got the first layer of tulle on! Here are some photos:

*If you'd like a sewing lesson with Miss Hilde, you can all her at (818)521-9350

*A great book to help you learn about Pi and circumference is Sir Cumference and the Dragon of Pi (A Math Adventure) by Cindy Neuschwander.

Can You Play?

Art and music (two of our favorite things) are brought together by the Pacific Symphony. Twenty pianos, painted by different artists, have been scattered throughout Orange County. Anyone who can strike a chord is invited to sit and play up until February 6th when the pianos will be auctioned off. You can even create your own concert or "Piano Event" where you sign up to play at a designated time and location.


Here, I instigated an impromptu concert in front of the Orange County Performing Arts Center (we bumped into a piano after seeing the Bolshoi ballet). Once the keys were warmed up, Carly took over and played for a group of seniors who were waiting for their rides. One lady enjoying the music said to me, "She is quite good, do you know her?"


This piano was brightly painted with colorful acrylic paints and chalkboard paint and on the back this beautiful quote was written: "Music: You are unto me as light is unto to color".


Carly is planning on setting up her own concert with friend sometime before the event is over. Check out the Pacific Symphony website for more information.

Update 2/11/11
Here are Carly and Meagan with the cool "Peace Piano" at the Irvine Spectrum. They played their duet and took turns playing solo pieces for an hour long concert.

Here, Nate and Allie are taking turns on the "Paisley Piano" at The Block in Orange.

Madrona Marsh

(by Carly)

This week we went to the Madrona Marsh in Torrance. We started off in the lab where we looked at tons of different things through through microscopes. Bob directed and taught us about crustaceans, shrimps, and other living creatures and artifacts. We each used a compound microscope and dissecting scope. First, Bob showed us water from the marsh on the TV. Then he showed us black ants; little black "invading" ants have come all the way from Argentina! They are very hearty ants and are wiping out all the other ant species, unfortunately. They roost in trees.

So we looked at those, and then some yummy gnat larvae. We looked at bacteria, dragonfly larvae, algae and other creatures from the marsh water too. Nate found a "Mayfly" in his petri dish of water, which is very rare (according to Bob). Bob said he might inform the museum of science about it! We also looked at feathers, and the prongs that lock the feather strands in place. That was cool to see! Besides those things, we saw a sycamore leaf under the scope, which have furry stick-looking things protruding from them. And petrified dinosaur dung. Looking through the microscopes in the lab was a fun and educational experience!

Then the next thing we did was walk through the nature center exhibit with our next tour guide; Bill. He was very informative as well. He explained why we have an afternoon coastal breeze, and how it comes in off the sea and onto the land is because land cools down faster than water does, and heats up faster too. And what does heat do? It rises. So when the land heats up, the warm air rises and the cool air off the ocean gets sucked in and pulled over the land. I also thought it was interesting that you can tell a Snowy egret apart from a Great egret by their opposite colors. Great Egrets have an orange beak and black feet, whereas a Snowy Egret has a black beak and orange feet! And...gophers dig their nests for their babies deep under the ground (in their maze underground) because gopher snakes can't get that deep underground--they can't slither backwards out of the hole.

On the walk through the marsh, we saw California poppies. They are generally more yellow on the west coast, and orange in colder climates. We also saw a plant called Mule Fat, which is what people in the olden days used to feed their mules and horses because it would fatten them up. And towards the end of the walk Allie spotted a Chorus frog which everyone held. It was a fun field trip!

Nate holding petrified dinosaur dung.

Allie holding the chorus frog she found.

Art with Paula

We have a new favorite art teacher! A couple of times a month we go to Paula's beautiful home in Newport Beach where we paint with watercolors or acrylics on canvas. Paula gives us tips and suggestions (not to mention a few yummy treats) while we work. She has many talented students and their artwork is often on display at Picnics Deli in Costa Mesa. If you are interested in trying an art lesson with Paula, you can email her at pjcrawford@mac.com

Here are few pictures of some of our work in progress:

"We come away with really nice art to share with our family." - Micayla

"I liked painting my rainbow drink." - Nate

"I like how Paula gives us good corrections and tips, and how we get to chose what we want to paint." - Carly

"Paula is really nice and I love doing art at her house" - Allie