This biography of Beatrix Potter by Linda Lear was published in 2007. It is a very comprehensive 584-page account of an extraordinary woman. Although Beatrix Potter is mostly known for her iconic Peter Rabbit and friends children’s books, these books only represent one aspect of her life over a ten-year period. Besides being a gifted … Continue reading Beatrix Potter: A Life in Nature by Linda Lear
Natural History
A Charlotte Mason Education: the ‘extras’ that sometimes get left out in high school
The week before last I had a phone call from the Symphony Manager of the orchestra my daughter is a part of. Her son and two friends had entered an Eisteddfod competition and the cellist had just pulled out due to sickness. She asked if Miss 17 could play in his place - the only … Continue reading A Charlotte Mason Education: the ‘extras’ that sometimes get left out in high school
Notebook Showcase #3
This week I'm featuring some Nature Journal/Nature Notebooks done by the Feldman family. The page below is from a 6 year old boy's nature notebook. Lucila writes, 'Not much to show here yet! I added the black pen line to show him how it would stand out, and to demonstrate that the veins didn't actually … Continue reading Notebook Showcase #3
Under the Sea-Wind by Rachel Carson
Under the Sea-Wind, Rachel Carson’s first book, was published in November of 1941, barely a month before the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor. This wonderfully written book was considered by one critic to be ‘one of the greatest natural histories of the seashore of all time,’ but as the author herself noted, ‘The world received … Continue reading Under the Sea-Wind by Rachel Carson
Dispatches from Lockdown #2
Just about all the men we know have grown beards, if they didn't have one already, and many are sporting razor cuts or obvious amateur jobs. It's desperate days when your husband gets his 16 year old daughter to razor cut his hair. It doesn't look too bad, actually, despite my initial horror when he … Continue reading Dispatches from Lockdown #2
Vesper Flights by Helen Macdonald
Helen Macdonald is a British writer, poet, naturalist and historian of science. Vesper Flights was published in 2020 and is a collection of forty-one of short essays that point the reader to ways of seeing the world from a different perspective to their own.Hard science gives us evidence of the harm that results from our … Continue reading Vesper Flights by Helen Macdonald
Narrative Non-Fiction Books for Young Readers: Australian Animals
I\'m always on the look out for good narrative non-fiction books for children. I really like some of the Australian Natural History picture books that are available now that combine factual content within a story. I've previously written about one of these books, 'Emu' written by Claire Saxby and illustrated by Graham Byrne, that is … Continue reading Narrative Non-Fiction Books for Young Readers: Australian Animals
Nature Study: Spring in Australia
Hails and I finished our 6 week Natural History Illustration course offered by the University of Newcastle this month. Covid has opened up some online educational opportunities that were't available to us before, and they've been free, too. A bush walk during the first week in spring was too early to spot many wildflowers but … Continue reading Nature Study: Spring in Australia
'Nature will not give up her secrets to the man in a hurry.'
We have this tree at the bottom of our long driveway. I pass it at least once a day when I check the mailbox and I've noticed it had some deep pink/crimson flowers on it from time to time and that it was evergreen. And that was it.Not long ago Moozle was looking around the … Continue reading 'Nature will not give up her secrets to the man in a hurry.'
Summer Smorgasborg: Nature Study, Notebooks & Mother Culture
It's summer in our part of the world and it's been pretty intense weather-wise. Bush/nature walks have been non-existent except for the occasional park early in the morning but we have had some nature finds around our garden.Birdlife has been raucous with a few new visitors some of which I'm still trying to identify. … Continue reading Summer Smorgasborg: Nature Study, Notebooks & Mother Culture
journey & destination 