Visiting the Windy City

We had a really fun trip to Illinois last week. We spent a whole day in Chicago walking around Michigan Avenue and the Navy Pier. We rode the trolley in between places.

The highlight was when we went to the American Girl Place. I brought Elizabeth with me and was glad to have her hair untangled at the salon. Yes, a salon for dolls!

There was so much to see and do! We had a blast and I was kind of sad to leave. I would just love to celebrate my next birthday in Chicago. It is a really fun city, bustling with people and all sorts of activities. There never was a dull moment.

Going Up North

My aunt and uncle took us to a resort up north with them. We spent a few days there before heading to Chicago. It was a nice and unexpected treat for me and my sisters. And who said that hot tubs aren’t for kids? It was indeed a relaxing getaway. And I didn’t even do school! (Thanks, mom!)

The best part was getting acquainted and spending time with my cousin’s cute daughter, Destiny.

Happy.

Zurielle. Not so happy.

Lyrica. Cute.

Thank you Auntie S. and Uncle C. for a fun week!

A Morning of Nature Observations

• Raindrops.
• Cool, gentle breeze with singing rain.
• Cantaloupe and grape-smelling counter.
• Bunny hopping around the backyard.
• Worms crawling on rocks, not knowing that they will be eaten by a robin.
• Silent road with occasional swishing sound.
• Rain-covered grass like green glittery swords bowing to the wind.
• Plants with sharp spines stand majestically without one move.
• Trees stand their ground.
• Bird of prey soaring gracefully in the air.

The shimmering raindrops look like glitters on the grass. Bowing to the wind, the grass is dancing as the silent rain goes “drip drop, drip, pitter patter” on it. Its blades look like shining swords pointed up, then bending down again.

In other places, the grass is bunched, looking like shiny, bejeweled crowns.

JMW Turner (1775-1851)

Joseph Mallord William Turner was born on April 23, 1775 in London. His earlier paintings were mostly watercolors and he used landscapes for subjects. He then moved to oil paintings.

His works were divided into three periods:

In the first period, his subjects were mythological and historical scenes.

In the second period, his works were defined by more brilliant colors and diffusion of light.

In the third period, his paintings were represented as blurred masses in a mist of color.

His work was influential in impressionism.

The Dido Building Carthage (The Rise of the Carthaginian Empire) is one of my favorite paintings of JMW Turner.

About South America

If I talk to someone from South America, I would ask, “do you know anything about the Incas?” Reading about them fascinates me.

Did you know most of South America is in the Southern Hemisphere? But part of Colombia, Venezuela, Guyana, Surinam and French Guiana are on the Northern Hemisphere. Part of Brazil is in the Northern Hemisphere, too. The North and South Hemispheres are divided by the equator.

John James Audubon

John James Audubon grew up in France and was educated in Paris. He was very talented at drawing and even had lessons with a French painter. His father had him shipped to America so that he wouldn’t have to fight the wars of Napoleon.

One day in America, John James tied a string around a baby bird’s leg. The bird just pecked it off. A few days later, John went to buy some strong wires. He tied that around the baby bird’s leg. The bird was soon gone.

Months later, Audubon saw a bird making a nest with a wire tied to its leg.

He had succeeded!

a painting by John James Audubon 

What Animal Would I Be?

If I were transformed into a form of nature for a day, I would be a squirrel. I could dig holes and explore what’s under, collect nuts and climb trees to drop them on people, and if people tried to get me, I could run away in a flash!

I could eat berries, and burrow underground if it is winter.

But when the day is done, I want to be a human again!

Word Trade Fun

For Writing today, I got to play with different word choices. It started up with a simple sentence from the book. I had to cross out the two verbs and two nouns and replace them with other words. I read them out loud and combined the words in different ways. I came up with some really silly sentences.

Here are some of them:

• I skipped to the ice cream parlor and wrecked some eyeballs.
• I crawled to the Asian market and laughed at some shoes.
• I pranced to the pie shop and drooled over some bunnies.
• I stomped to the green house and borrowed some movie tickets.
• I limped to the farmers’ market and arranged some pies.

I never thought writing could be this much fun!

In The Backyard

Mama was really happy with my nature journal entry today three weeks ago that she published it on her blog. She suggested that I should do the same here.

It is mid-summer. With the blue skies, cool breeze and warm weather, it is a beautiful day. A male robin, perched on one of our deck posts, was gayfully singing its song.

There are not many cars around here right now so it is very quiet. Another robin, who I can tell apart from the others because of a dark patch on its chest, comes here everyday, and sometimes pulls out a worm.

A rabbit, who we call “Megan,” occasionally comes to nibble on some grass. One time, we got a close-up view of her from the playroom window, but I think we scared her. She’ll be back soon.

AJ