More Fall Curiosities
from Gardening Pat
Our friend, Pat, collected two interesting specimens for us
to investigate this week. One was a very
long “bean” from a Catalpa tree. It had
started to split open and we could see the seeds packed inside. We pulled the
bean open and examined the seeds. Then Cannon put his finger inside the empty
seed pod and followed the groove up and down the length of the bean. Next we looked at the milkweed seed pods still
clinging unopened to their vine. We
carefully pried one open and could see the silky white threads and seeds packed
tightly inside. When we pried the seed pod all the way open the seeds fluffed
out everywhere. We dropped some from
high up and watched them drift slowly down to the table. Cannon blew puffs of air to send them flying.
The monarch larva will only eat the leaves of the milkweed plant. Save the milkweed = save the monarch. 
Next on the List
Cannon wanted to set the Frog and Toad game up right
away. We are getting so many parts to
the game it is getting to be a challenge just to spread it all out. New
components this week included some reading comprehension cards. The short story we read was titled Roy G.
Biv. It was all about the colors in the
rainbow and how to remember the order in which they always appear. Red
Orange Yellow Green Blue Indigo Violet. Later we read a
longer story about a boy whose wish to have a rainbow to carry in his pocket
was granted. He shares slices of the
magical rainbow with those in need until there is just one last slice. The title of the story is The Last Slice of
the Rainbow.
Cannon painted a rainbow using the Roy G. Biv clues to paint
the colors in the right order. I wonder how he will share his rainbow.
Frog and Toad and
Cinnamon Rolls
We enjoyed a few turns of the game while we enjoyed a coffee
and cinnamon roll break.
Then we decided we should make some miniature cinnamon rolls
for Frog and Toad.
We got out the pasta machine from our friend John and the
sculpy clay. Cannon used his big muscles
to turn the arm of the machine and make flat sheets of cinnamon looking
dough. We made long strips and rolled
them up. Yum! They look just like real cinnamon rolls. Now they are waiting for a turn in the oven
before joining Frog and Toad for “tea”.
Signing Time
Cannon used the sign for “milk” to ask mom for a drink of
milk. You can use one or two hands to make the sign which looks like you are
milking a cow. He used two hands and
curled his fingers around and moved his hands up and down. Cannon also used the signs for “listen bells”
twice to alert me to the sound of distant church bells this morning, a sound I
love to hear. Thanks Cannon.
Puzzling Finish
After we cleaned up after ourselves Cannon wanted to put the
US
