Grandpa's Visit

Grandpa, me and Seth

Yesterday my grandpa came on the 8:35 ferry that arrived at 9:15 at the Pender Island terminal. When we arrived at the house Seth and I built a fort out of a big box (Grandpa brought stuff in), a few blankets and some weights like books, chess board and some other things. Then the family had brunch, toast, cereal and eggs. After that we went swimming, had lunch and then Seth and mom had a nap. When they were napping, Grandpa and I went rowing around the lake. When we finished it was time for dinner. We went out for dinner at Browning and then took Grandpa back to the ferry. It was a great day!

Grandpa leaving on the ferry (red jacket)

BC Ferry System

This is the Stand, really yummy food!

To get to Pender you need to take the ferry. On Pender there is a small ferry terminal where there are five lanes. One to four are for drive on and lane five is for pick up and drop off. There also is a walk on cabin with restrooms and seats in case of overcast weather. Also there is a take out window called the Stand that has ice creams of different flavors (black cherry is my favorite) and burgers and grilled cheese sandwiches and stuff. There is a small cabin at the top of the ferry terminal where you have to check in for your ferry.

Check out the ferries at: http://www.bcferries.com

This is the Mayne Queen, the smaller of the ferries that comes to Pender

Trees

Hemlock in my right hand and Douglas fir in my left.

On Pender there are lots of trees. There are around 600,000 trees on the island (my guess). Some of the trees are Western hemlock, Douglas fir, Western red cedar, yellow cedar, red alder, big leaf maple, bitter cherry, crabapple and arbutus trees (here is some specific information about arbutus trees as most people don't know what they are). That is a lot of different kinds of trees...wow! Seth also has a blog on trees...see his too.

You can also look up more about trees in the BC Tree book available online.

My mom's birthday

Today (June 20th) is my mom's birthday and we are going to do something really nice for her. First I am going to give a green mug that I got at the free store (see previous post about the free store). Then we are going out for a nice lunch at Browning. After that we are going to make a cake,  chocolate with carmel frosting, almonds and chocolate drizzle....yum! This day is going to be so much fun!

The Library

On Saturday my family and I went to the library to get some books. We got 9 books total on my mom's and my library cards since I have my own. I got a book called 'The Lady With the Ship on her Head","Warriors - Into the Wild" and "Warriors - Fire and Ice".  In the kids zone there are trains with wheels and seats with picture books on the sides of the train carts.  When I am 10 I can be a junior librarian and help a librarian.  I think that will be fun!

Nu Tu Yu

On Pender there is a place that you can give stuff away to called the Nu-Tu-Yu. All you have to do is bring something you don't want anymore and go the Nu-Tu-Yu on the bottom floor and hand it in.  The people there will decide how much the thing is worth and put it in the store. I got a squirrel candle for 25 cents and a  small lion cup for 10 cents! Wow!   That is the Nu-To-Yu for you!

Fun jumps off the dock

Almost every day since we got here I have gone swimming in the lake. I slide in on my tummy, then get myself used to the water, get out and jump in! These are some of the jumps that Seth and I do: cannonball (curl up into a ball), double-omega (make 2 crooked poses in the air), meditater (go into meditating position)  and ballet (ballet spin).

The Picnic

At the dragonfly picnic a few weeks ago, Sitka and I went into the ocean (since it was at a beach). I was the first in the water closely followed by Sitka. The water was very cold at first but got warmer as you got used to it. Some other kids were there and we had a water fight. Sitka and myself were the only ones that dunked our heads! Brrr, brrr!! A couple of times. We laid down in the oceans with our heads sticking out by themselves (that is what the picture shows).

Gardens

Sunflower seeds in sunny garden 

We have 2 gardens!  One at our house and a plot at the community garden (a plot is a part of land that you get and plant on).  Our home garden has 2 trees, 2 lemon balm plants, 2 kiwi vines and other stuff. At the plot we just planted seeds.  Carrots, radishes, beans, sun flowers, marigolds, lettuce and kale. We got the plot because of the low sun on our property because of all the trees.

Dad rotatilling in sunny garden

Deer outside of deer fence in shady home garden

The Cabin

In the house/cabin/studio we have a downstairs and a loft upstairs.  Downstairs there is the kitchen, table, living room, Mom and Dad bed and bathroom.   All in one room, except for the bathroom.  Upstairs is Seth and my bedroom/storage.  

The Bike Rodeo

Today Mom, Dad, Seth and I went to the bike rodeo.  Only Seth and I could do the rodeo "5th grade and under" the rules say.  In the rodeo we have to do skills like:

• avoid cones
• do figure 8s
• do the balance test
• intersection turn

Then we went with our group to the forest trail over roots, under tree branches, through clusters of grass and settled down and talked.  That was so much fun!

Here's me dodging cones ...

Pokemon

Pokemon are make believe creatures that play their part in Pokemon games and movies. Some of my favorite Pokemon are Persian and Liepard. Persian is a normal type, weighs 70.5 lbs, height is 3'3" and lives in Kanto.  I like bite attack for her. Liepard is a dark type, weighs 82.7 lbs, height is 3'7" and lives in Unova. Scratch is my favorite attack for her.  learn more about Pokemon at Seth's blog: http://sethioslife.blogspot.ca

The Weekend

The past weekend two wood cutter people cam e and cut the wood in the front of the house.   The wood was a log pile but is now small rounds (chunks of the log ... they look like wooden wheels) in piles and some are stacked  between trees and in the wood shed.  The logs came from the trees that we had to cut down to make space to build our cabin.

Free Store

I got two bowls at the free store at the recycling center.   Also, I got a green mug too.  It had the shape of a hexagon for the cylinder.  The pink bowls made good drums and the cup too.  Everything in the free store is free ... magazines, cards and other things.   It is so cool to have a free store.

Driftwood Shopping Center

When we need to go shopping there is only one place to go ... the "Driftwood Shopping Center".  We drive to the center and come across some buildings.  They look like this:

You can only find these stores in one spot on Pender!

Deer

I saw lots of deer today. On Pender Island there are approximately 1000 deer. Right now, some of the does are pregnant and are ready to drop their fawns. I have not seen a fawn just yet but it won't be long!

Last year I saw a fawn ... it was so cute.   It blended in with the dead grass and rocks.

Did you know : On Pender there is a rule that you cannot hunt deer.

The Trip to Duck Island

This weekend we had a get together and we borrowed our neighbor's paddle boat and Grasee, Sadie and I set of off to Duck Island. There are two islands but only one is saf
e because of the Canada Geese on the other island. On the safe island there is a harbor with an arch. This arch is really cool.  The vines created it, we call it the arch of nature.  This island is so cool.

Homeschooling

Today is the last day of homeschooling for this week. In our homeschooling we have four independent things we have to do in the morning. These things are journal, math, read to self and language (spanish and french). Canadian social studies is with mom and we have piano with dad. For more information on homeschooling go to:

In Canada
http://homeschoolcanada.ca

In Colorado:
http://www.cde.state.co.us/choice/homeschool.asp
http://aurorak12.org/schools/alternative-schools/options/
http://apexhomeschool.wordpress.com

[Parental Note: While homeschooling is not for everyone it is meeting our needs for the month remaining in BC schools after leaving Colorado for the summer and may in the future provide us with mobility at important times]

The Royal Game - A beginning

Sky missing her twin.

Today I played a game where I was a 13 year old snow leopard and Seth was a peregrine falcon. His eyes could shoot lasers. The tips of his feathers shot chains. His wings were shields and his whole body could move the speed of light. On the other hand, I could mind read and had tele-kinesis plus the ability to run really fast and jump really high. In the game Io (Seth's character name) is helping the king and queen of Sosoraita (the island floating in the air where the King and Queen rule) when I, Sky (my character name), sneek in the castle for shelter and food. I am noticed on the third day in the castle. The queen adores me and decides for me to be her intuiter (a magical companion). The adventure begins with the search for my twin sister, whom I have been separated from and who must be the King's intuiter.

Crowns must be united with their owners.

The Zip Line

Today I went on the zip line. When you zip it makes your happy nerve pop up. It is a sensation you have not experienced ever before. And then you hit the end with a bump an laugh. Then the next kid does it and they laugh too. Watch this video for the experience you will want!

We bought the zip carriage online at : http://www.amazon.com/Spring-Swings-Ride-Original-Line/dp/B00000J4BN

May 20, 2013 - A visit to Sitka and a day at the lake

Today I went to my friend Sitka's house for 5-10 minutes. Then got news that another friend was waiting for me at the cabin. When I got home she was still there, mom said to call Ona and say that she could come if she wanted. 5 minutes later we were all playing outside. We played till we all got hungry and figured out that the time was 12:07. Mom, Ona, Grasee, and I
had toasted bread ,eggs, cheese, and tomato sandwiches for lunch.  A few hours
later Seth came back from Sitka's with Sitka and Lluc. At the time I was
swimming with Ona and Grasee, Sitka decided to come too when she got her
bathing suit from home. It was a great day.

Also if you would like to see my brother's, Seth Io, new blog, check it out at http://sethioslife.blogspot.ca