"Look deep into nature, and then you will understand everything better."

Day 21:

We've been budding entomologists for the last couple of years, since Opeie became interested in beetles and started a project. We've found so many interesting ones over the years and always document them when we do find something new. Being stuck at home has given us the chance to really investigate what's going on in our garden while we are planting new plants to attract more. It's amazing how much is actually going on in such a small garden. 

"The path of sound credence is through the thick forest of skepticism."

I love getting out and about adventuring with the boys and we've found some pretty great hidden things to do in Shropshire. Ive recently started running again and last week while i was running through a woodland area I spotted a huge piece of tarpaulin that looked high up in the trees well off the footpath. My sense of intrigue quickly kicked in and I found myself climbing over branches and walking through wet mud to find out what was going on. When I arrived I wasn't disappointed and I knew that I had to show Opeie what I had stumbled across, the find was going to be perfect for some Home ed fun.

What I had found was what looked like a landslide that had unearthed a huge tree and the tree had fallen across the other side of a mini valley with the off shoot of a stream below. Above, someone had built large decking supported by the tree with a tarpaulin roof, pretty amazing. Below, further down the tree was what looked like a cliff tent hanging from the tree like a cocoon, so we're not sure if someone is living there. There was no one about when we arrived so me and my little side kick made the most of the very cool structure.

We had a great conversation about how the decking was being supported and then we started an afternoon of painting, home education at is best. At the start of the summer holiday, after Opeie had been making mini dinosaur footprints in his Play-Doh me and the boys had drawn dinosaur feet, cut them out of cardboard and my good friend Steve had very kindly cut them out of wood for us. We are planning on making dinosaur feet to attach to our shoes for stomping in the mud but first we needed to paint them and the towering structure in the woods was the perfect spot for creating.

I love painting with Opeie but sitting in silent woodland was really relaxing and really added to the experience. We talked about all sorts while we were using our creative flair. Its this sort of thing that really pushed us towards home education, Opeie not being confined to a classroom and instead, sitting outdoors with fresh air taking in the beautiful surroundings.

We spent a good couple of hours on the new woodland base and painted one side of our dinosaur feet. The plan is to visit again this week and paint the remaining side. Opeie had had his fill of painting and wanted to move on to something different...

... a game he simply called dinosaurs in the mud. We got to run around pretending to be different kinds of dinosaurs while Opeie told me lots of facts about his favourite topic at the moment. When we were both shattered and sweaty we lay on the leaf covered ground and played with his dinosaur toys and counted the flowers, awesome. 

All that was left to do after all our forest fun was head home to go and wash our hands. It pays to investigate, get out there! there may be all kinds of fun on your doorstep too.

"Education is an admirable thing, but nothing that is worth knowing can be taught."

Going down the home education path with Opeie has so many benefits but the one biggy for me is those rare occasions where Mrs M is working away or late, and there's no school pick up for Seth. On days like this we are off adventuring and have the flexability of going further out. I've always loved the idea of Opeie not being confined to a classroom, I didn't enjoy school myself, it never motivated me and I don't want that for Opeie. 

Having the freedom to do our own thing and learn through experience is so much more interesting. We decided one morning that we were going to go to the beach, we had nowhere to be in the afternoon so it was the perfect day for seaside adventuring. Our plan was to head to shell island as we love it there but on route we made a stop off in Welshpool. We've driven through there so many times and it's a lovely looking place and we had noticed there were lots of charity shops so we stopped for some book hunting for reading on the beach. It turned out to be a great idea and we managed a great book haul with lots of great books containing a certain bear that Opeie has fallen in love with.

After Welshpool we continued our journey but before we went to Shell island Opeie wanted to go book hunting in Barmouth first. We had packed a lunch but the smell of chips on the sea front drew us in so with wooden forks in hand we marched to the beach with the sweet smell of chips trailing behind us.

The sky started to go a little gloomy but we were not going to let some dark clouds spoil our day so we ran along the beach talking about the tide while collecting shells and pretty rocks. 

The weather was desperate to ruin our fun though and when the rain started thrashing down, as lovely as it was watching it on the beach, we headed back to the car. Luckily our four wheeled escape pod was full of snacks and plenty of new books to read, which we took full advantage of as the rain pelted off the windows.

At that point shell island didn't seem like a great idea, so as the rain showed no sign of dying down we decided to head home and play the look out for brown attraction signs that we love to play hoping to find somewhere new to investigate. On the journey back we spotted a sign for Lake Vyrnwy, it was only 10 miles out from our route home and even though the weather was still bleak we made a joint decision to go for it and I'm so glad we did.

As we pulled on to the lake we drove across a huge dam gushing out water and Opeie's little eyes lit up. The area is absolutely beautiful and despite the grotty weather we were having an awesome time. First we headed over to the information centre and met a lovely chap who's name i cant for the life of me remember (even though i thought i had written it in my phone). He filled us in on all the things we could see while there and gave us loads of information about the lake/dam along with a activity book for Opeie. It's days like this that make me realise even more that the home ed path was a great choice.

After our chat we braved the downpour and went investigating, heading first toward the sculpture park. Opeie loved the Giant mermaid and all the other pieces on display. It also gave us a great chance to be right at the bottom of the dam which was really interesting and spurred on A LOT of questions from Opeie.

At this point the weather really started giving it its all and I think Opeie was getting a little fed up of being wet so we headed back to the car. It was such a great place to find and we can't wait to go back and drive the full 10.5 miles of the lake as there are lots of things to do and see along the way including a waterfall.

It turned out to be the perfect day of adventuring and the sort of education that you don't get everyday being confined to a desk. I wonder where our next adventure will be?

"Climbing is unadulterated hard labor. The only real pleasure is the satisfaction of going where no man has been before and where few can follow."

Opeie has been so under the weather this weekend so we've barely left the house for the last three days. This afternoon though Opeie decided he wanted a nap late afternoon and me and Seth saw that as a great chance to throw his skateboard and pads in the boot and head over to the park to practise Seth's board skills. I assumed this evenings post was going to be about skateboarding but something else took over this afternoon. We did get a little skate in, but the board and pads soon got left on the floor so that Seth could work on something else...

Since our walk in the woods last week and Seth's failed attempt at climbing a tree he was desperate to give it another try. We were in Ironbridge park and there are some great trees for climbing so it was the perfect spot to give it another go. I loved climbing trees when i was younger so there was no shortage of stories to tell Seth while we climbed from branch to branch. Because of Seth's muscles i need to be so much more careful when doing things like this but as far as I'm concerned as long as he is safe and comfortable i just let him get on with it. Seth always tells me when hes had enough or his legs start to hurt and then he just gets on my back and i carry him to the car. Today we made the most of the time we had just me and him, we can't really do these sorts of things with Opeie at the moment so it was a nice change...

Seth was doing great today but it wasn't long though before he needed to rest his legs so he jumped on my back and we headed back to the car, we hadn't quite had our fill of climbing though so on the way home we made a brief stop at Apley woods to see if our den in the woods was still standing (which shockingly it was) and also to see if there was any trees to shimmy up...

yes the 80's have returned, after our recent visit to see our friends Sam and Jamie sweatbands have become to recent 'must have' with the boys???... Thanks Jamie!

  

we didnt stay long and as we got in the car to head home i recieved a text from Mrs M to let me know that her and Opeie were having a bath (extra adventure time for me and Seth), so we made a slight detour and went investigating in a rapeseed field before heading home for tea, i knew it would be a great chance to get some colourful pictures. It was a great unexpected couple of hours in the sunshine and it was so lovely to hear Seth say 'This is so nice spending a little time just the two of us'.

"If you're walking down the right path and you're willing to keep walking, eventually you'll make progress."

Being a stay at home parent is amazing it's the most rewarding thing I've ever done and the time I have with Opeie is cherished. Along with Mrs M and Seth he is my best friend. Spending the bulk of your time with a three year old though does come with minor disadvantages. When everyone is happy and all smiles it's amazing but when things are playing on your mind, your life's having bouts of negativity or your upset, the day times (especially when Opeie is napping) can sometimes feel a little lonely. 

Last night our friend Lucie text to ask how we were in light of things that had been going on, Seth's operation etc and asked if I fancied meeting up this morning, I jumped at the chance. Opeie is the best entertainment I could possibly ask for but sometimes I really need some adult conversation. I tend to avoid friendships with moms I meet in fear of upsetting over protective partners, it's happened in the past and I didn't like the way it made me feel. There are a couple of you moms out there that I really get on with though which is lovely and Lucie is one of them.

We arranged to meet up at Apley woods for a walk about and to let the kids have a run about together. Even though it's not far away I'd never been but I knew the fresh air and adult conversation would do me some good. Lucie has recently joined the blogging world also and writes Magee and Magoo so we got to talk about writing, life, parenting and general chit chat. It was such a nice change and Opeie and Mrs Magee loved exploring together.
 

Apley woods is great for walking about, its quiet and tranquil and there is plenty to explore if you're in an adventuring mood, there are carved sculptures dotted about, a lake with ducks and plenty of trees to climb if that's your thing.

As i said before the meet was well needed and did wonders for my sanity but it was clear that Opeie needed it just as much as i did. He loves being at nursery, spending time with his friends and today was no different. I forget sometimes that Opeie needs time around children his own age and getting to run around with Mrs Magee today was lots of fun for him.

Here's to many new adventures with our friends.