Well our schedules have been the busiest ever this summer.  So I will post a few pictures. 

Joshua latest computer art:

Joshua has been really busy this summer and I'm so glad he still finds time to create his art.  These two pictures have been created using the paint program and he drew them with his mouse!

Taking care of a neighbors hen and going on space missions where horned aliens can be found.

Speaking of these horned aliens, they are becoming more and more dog like.  They follow us and one even got onto the magic bus the other day.  Sadly,  I did not have a camera.

Our volunteer intern is fantastic and we are so grateful for his help.  He's been busy with a lot of projects and he says he has been learning a lot.  Yesterday, he made his first tincture.  He's made soil blocks for the first time and he's been learning about sustainable practices,  companion planting, vertical gardening, medicinal plants,  salves, and soaps to name a few. 

Calendula soap that we made using the calendula from the farm! 

So that just about wraps it up.  More to come next month!

We've been so busy working on the farm, selling our products at four farmers' markets, making products, and going to our homeschool activities that I hardly have time to post here.  It seems I'm managing at least once a month posts. 

Here's what Joshua did so far this June:

Astronomy nights,  The Transit of Venus,  Lego Club,  our We Shine homeschooling conference, welcomed our volunteer intern from France, swimming in our pond, hiking, visiting historical train yards, board games, attending his first prom/dance, playing muggle quidditch, bird watching, going with his dad to job sites and learning about solar energy, electricity, web based energy management systems, watched the International space Station fly over our heads, making train routes using google earth, designing and drawing train cars using sketch-up, train simulator, taking care of his chicks, saying good-bye to a few of our animals who passed away, movies, and more.  Our days are so full it's hard to remember it all.  Life is busy but life is good!

We recently visited Grandparents and went in our farm  bus.  Our farm bus will be eventually running off of waste veggie oil. I'm also looking forward to painting it this summer.  We have not quite decided on the color.  I want it to look like it was painted by wild hippies but others in the family want it to have a more corporate look.  : (  I like the wild hippy idea!  We all can benefit from a little crazy sometimes.

We took it camping.  It was a lot of fun to sleep on the bus. 

We found a lovely State Park on the way to and from our trip.  It was a great way to break up the drive.  We had not been to visit the Grandparents in almost six months.  We were really missing them.  Luckily,  we had a break from the Farmers' Markets so we used that time wisely! We really enjoyed this State Park and got up extra early on our last morning to hit the trails. 

Of course on our way back we had to stop at Steam Town.  One of Joshua's favorite National Parks.

 Joshua is standing in front of a  Big Boy engine-the largest steam train ever made.  This park is so full of history,  it's all very fascinating. 

After we got home, for a Mother's Day treat, we went to National Train day which was being held in Grand Central.

Waiting on the train that will take us to Grand Central.

Waiting in the long lines for the train tours.

Joshua was so excited because they had an Acela train in Grand Central.  The last time Amtrak was in Grand Central was in the 1980's.  Not only did we get to see the Acela,  we could go inside as well.

Joshua is pretending what first class may feel like on the Acela with a beverage of choice. 

I have to admit, it was the best Mother's Day ever!  Seeing the smile on my son's face was precious!

Joshua is still creating art almost every day.  Recently he downloaded sketch-up that works with google earth and has been drawing trains, roundhouses, stations etc.    A friend of ours created a family portrait of us that she drew on her computer. 

Then we watched her via livestream actually do some drawings online.  Joshua felt very inspired and about an hour later he surprised me with this drawing of a supernova that he created using the paint program on his computer. 

Joshua has taught himself how to use all of these computer programs and I'm just amazed at how quickly he figures them out. 

In about another hour I was emailed this drawing he did. 

Joshua really enjoys drawing on his computer.  I honestly don't know how well I would do using a mouse to draw with. 

Now Joshua is creating art in so many ways. We had a really nice conversation about animation the other day after watching the previews for an animated movie in which they talk about how the movie was made.  He was quite interested in it.  I guess it's time for me to look at some animation software for him.  I think he would be really thrilled drawing a picture and then animating it. 

Wow!  It's been a while since I posted here.  We've been super busy. 

Joshua had his 9th birthday on February 25th.  It was a fun filled action packed day.  We got up really early and headed out to the Danbury Train Station.  Joshua's birthday wish was to ride on the Metro North New Haven Line.  (Last year's birthday wish was to ride on Metro North's Hudson Line.)  We  boarded the train at the Danbury station and took it to South Norwalk.  We changed trains at South Norwalk and took that train to New Haven.  We hung out a while in the New Haven train station, had lunch, got to see an Acela Train up close and then took the train back. Joshua loved, loved his day.

Sitting on the train and taking pictures of ourselves.

South Norwalk also had a nice station.

Union Station had a lot of model trains on the back of these wonderful wood benches.  It is a nice station.

The Acela stops at New Haven for about 10 minutes while it changes train engineers.  Joshua was so excited to stand on the platform near this train.

Waiting on a train to take us back.

After our train ride,  we stopped by the Danbury rail museum.  This is one of Joshua's favorite museums.  After the whirlwind tour of the museum we headed home to do some farm chores and then we left again to meet Joshua's grandparents for dinner at a wonderful restaurant by major CSX line.  Yes,  Joshua's birthday really did have a train theme! 

I really love participating in Farmers' Markets.  What better way to meet your customers!  Or what better way for the customers to meet the farmers.   Right now I'm participating in three markets.   Come May it will be four and hopefully five! 

The latest market I added to the mix is the Beacon Farmers' Market.   I love going there on Sundays.  Meeting new people in an absolutely gorgeous setting. 

My table this past Sunday.  When folks ask,  I can proudly say,  I made all the products on my table. 

my latest heart shaped soaps:

After the market I walked around and took some photo's of the Hudson River.

Sunset on the way home from the market.

When I got home the boys had a nice surprise for me.  A bonfire just waiting to be lit.  We enjoyed our dinner by the fire.   We then used the telescope for some star gazing.

Our visit to Steam Town included an activity to become a Jr. Park Ranger of Steam Town.   Joshua had an activity sheet that had four pages of questions all about Steam Town.   We had to search for the answers.  This activity took over 2.5 hours to complete.  Joshua searched for answers throughout the exhibits. 

The questions were tough and it required a lot of research through the exhibits.

Questions on how Steam Engines work, how much does water expand to make steam, components of Steam engines, history of the railroad,  history of Scranton, PA,  immigrants, jobs of the railway, telegraphs, and the list went on and on.  He also had to draw his own round house and explain why he drew it that way. 

Then he had to sign his worksheet and turn it in. 

Job well done!

He received a certificate and badge.

Congratulations to our Jr. Park Ranger of Steamtown!!

On Monday we celebrated the holiday by driving to Steamtown National Park.  It was one of their  *free* days for admittance.  We wondered if it would be packed due to the fact most kids were not in school and the admission was free.  Sadly,  there were only a handful of families there.   Although we enjoyed having the museum all to ourselves,  it is sad that a wonderful park like this was not being utilized. 

Joshua's joy and excitement in the car was incredible on the way over.  He has always wanted to see a *Big Boy* Steam engine in person.  As soon as we pulled into the parking lot,  there she sat.  This massive engine is as long as our house! 

It was a bit chilly outside but most of the exhibits were inside in a heated space!

Trying on various hats.

Joshua was very interested and engaged in all of the exhibits.  This is his passion...trains!

Who's excited about being at Steamtown?  MEEEEEEEE!!!

Joshua recently spent the day riding commuter trains to NYC to AMNH,  his favorite museum. 

Joshua and his dad saw a big fire across the Hudson River on their way into the city.

He was quite proud to pull out *his* membership card to get in. 

Simulating what is it like for astronauts to work with their gloves in outer-space.

This is how much he weighs on a neutron star.

  After seeing a few exhibits, he and his dad headed off to his monthly Paleontology meeting.  This was a great meeting on discussing fossils in the Northeast.  It was also a 2-hour meeting. 

They also walked around the city to admire and discuss various architecture.  Then back to Grand Central for one of Joshua's favorite meals....vegetarian sushi!

Oh boy I have WASABI!

Yeah!  WASABI!!!

ACK!!!   THAT BURNS!  TOO MUCH WASABI!!

Each week we meet with a group of homeschoolers and have Lego Club.  It's a lot of fun and Joshua really enjoys it!

He's also been enjoying this mild weather with hikes in the woods.  While I was at the Farmers' Market today, he went for hike with his Dad.  He loves to climb trees and was quite excited about being "on top" of this tree.