Term 3

Term 3 saw us complete some interesting projects from over the year.
We finally got the skateboard deck put together.

Our two broken rotary phones were pulled apart to get one working rotary phone.  (These are a lot of fun to examine....how the dialer works, how the bell works,etc).

We mad a new colour-blended version, just because we could, and the front of the green had broken a bit.

We worked on means in maths.  Arden understands them pretty well these days (and usually like to complain about them..."How useful are these things?..."  I must admit I agree. )  But it was fun helping Irving work them out together.

We now have a pokemon gaming obsession happening around here.

Plus we did some botanical studies. 

Including growing our own mushrooms.

Also a bit of sprouting.

Enjoying the view from King's Park.

Down to river level.

River beach front

Arden's sketches from our nature walk.

Arden working on a pattern.

Irving trying out compass and protractor.

Some scrabble fun and a bit of teamwork, since Irving's still just learning to read.

A night at the Opera with the older kids.  Our view into the Orchestra pit at Dracula. 

Irving and I working on sewing the letter 'Q'.

Plus some things I've been doing.  A velvet dragon pocket.

Pyjama pants for summer.

Trying machine corded embroidery, as directed from my ebay win, singer illustrated dressmaking guide.

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2025

The Pokemon obsession continues- both as a card game and as Pokemon Go game time.

Now that we are at the stage of more grown up children, and even Arden, child no 3, has a phone we have adjusted how we integrate tech into our younger children's lives.  Irving has been allowed to play Pokemon Go on my phone, with Arden and his friends, within some boundaries.  

Botany 2nd time around, plus more

Gabriel and I have come to the end of another block- Botany is done, and I've got ancient Greece planned starting next week.  So here are some pictures.

Drawing in Queen's Garden

Fungi in King's Park

Painting a gum tree, colour mixing on paper

Fungus diagram

Drawings from nature

We had a lot of fun doing the botany- lots of outings and interesting activities, so Gabriel was a bit sorry when I said we're onto ancient Greece next week.  Over the last month, we've spent a bit of time exploring different areas quite local to us, but probably King's Park and Heirisson Island we're our favourite outings.  King's Park was great because all the Spring time flowers are in bloom, and Heirisson Island is quiet and secluded despite sort of being in the middle of the city- plus we got to pat and feed the Kangaroos, as well as see the giant flock of Pelicans that live there.

Willow is coming towards the end of  her physics block and will be moving onto world geography.  Her experiments have been working nicely and she's been doing the more complex one's with the help of her dad (Damien).  Currently she's working through mechanics, with a week of electricity to finish on next.

Gabriel's form from last week

Willow's geometry- she's been working on surds.

Finally for craft, Gabriel has been busy knitting his socks, which are coming along nicely.  Willow has been improving her crocheting skills, doing lots of mini-projects before she starts to crochet herself some slippers.

Gabriel's socks

Chopping Boards

This past weekend saw the older two (Willow and Gabriel) and I head off to learn how to make chopping boards using traditional hand tools and recycled wood.  The whole experience was totally exhilarating, and I am looking forward to trying out another class later in the  year.

Willow's blue gum Chopping board.

Gabriel's jarrah chopping board.

Feature nail holes (Gabriel's piece of jarrah was once a beam in a house).

My she Oak chopping board, with uneven back.

Everyone is also onto some new work- Gabriel is doing some botany- we went for a sketching walk yesterday, and Willow is onto physics- starting with a week of sound experiments.  As usual there are lots of interesting things happening around here.

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2025

This was my first woodwork lesson the Greg, at Joy of Wood.  We have done a bunch of his projects over the years, and Irving and I are currently taking private lessons with Tyson there.  At the moment we are making lund stools.

You can find more on our woodworking experiences here.

https://unicorn-pegasus.blogspot.com/2012/10/tidbits.html

https://unicorn-pegasus.blogspot.com/2012/12/recent-activities.html

https://unicorn-pegasus.blogspot.com/2015/10/woodwork.html

https://unicorn-pegasus.blogspot.com/2016/08/minimal-action.html

https://unicorn-pegasus.blogspot.com/2017/12/break-time.html

https://unicorn-pegasus.blogspot.com/2019/10/term-3.html

https://unicorn-pegasus.blogspot.com/2023/08/term-2.html

https://unicorn-pegasus.blogspot.com/2024/11/first-half-of-year.html

https://unicorn-pegasus.blogspot.com/2024/12/term-3.html

https://unicorn-pegasus.blogspot.com/2024/12/closing-on-another-year.html

Botany Block Work

Sketches from Nature walks

The Soil

Monocot and Dicot picture

Leaf Diagram

Spring is in the Air

What a lovely wet winter we've had. Even this morning, before a pleasantly mild and sunny day, there was plenty of rain. We planted some strawberries in the front garden last week, and they are looking as they're settling in well. And we're starting to have lots of lovely flowers appear amongst our bulbs.

We're also onto some new blocks. Gabriel has been doing some work on fabrics- with a bit of fabric dying happening. Willow is onto botany. So yesterday we headed out for a walk in our local neighbourhood to do some sketching. I was hoping to see some fungi, but there aren't many around here at the moment. Hopefully we'll see some to sketch before the end of the block.

And we've also moved onto some new crafts- Willow is doing her second sock. She did the first one last year, and it came out beautifully. Gabriel is now learning to crochet. Just starting simply for now, lots of chains, linking in to make loops.

And below is Willow's handsewing project that she's just finished.