Suburban Nature Explorations

Rainy Day Fun: Snail Watching

After a night of rain, my son usually rushes outside to see if any snails came out. He found this one yesterday morning on our front walkway. He crouched there and watched it for about fifteen minutes, then rushed inside to tell me all the cute things the snail did. Photos taken March 28th, 2013Continue reading “Rainy Day Fun: Snail Watching”

Thank you! Top 25 Outdoorsy Moms 2013

Thank you to everyone who put in votes for me in the Circle of Moms Top 25 Outdoorsy Moms 2013 contest. The contest ended today, and I’m in the top twenty-five! Thank you, thank you, thank you! There were so many wonderful nature-loving mom-bloggers entered in the contest. Here are my favorites (in no particularContinue reading “Thank you! Top 25 Outdoorsy Moms 2013”

Weekly Photo Challenge: Future Tense

First light on the hill behind our home… a prelude to a beautiful day. Photo taken March 23rd, 2013 *** WordPress Weekly Photo Challenge: Future Tense

In the Bird House

It looks as if House Sparrows have moved into the bird houses in the front of my son’s school. I know these birds are considered to be pests, but they sure are cute! Photos taken March 22nd, 2013

Dublin Hills: Spring

I enjoyed a lovely hike yesterday morning along the Calaveras Ridge Trail in Dublin Hills Regional Park. The wildflowers are beginning to bloom, especially the lupine. A few photos from the hike… Photos taken March 23rd, 2013

Silent Saturday: School Flowers

Photo taken March 22nd, 2013

From the Window: Hawk

I saw this beautiful hawk land on one of the oak trees behind our home a few days ago. I frequently see them soaring in the sky or perched on telephone poles, and have even had one attack the birds at our feeder, but I rarely see them land in the trees. Now, maybe oneContinue reading “From the Window: Hawk”

Kid Science: Owl Pellet Dissection

Owls are fascinating creatures. They have a special organ (gizzard) that stores the undigestible parts of their prey, preventing these parts (bones, teeth, fur, feathers) from proceeding through the digestive tract. The gizzard compresses these parts into a pellet which is later regurgitated. This is a pretty simplistic explanation. If you’d like to learn more,Continue reading “Kid Science: Owl Pellet Dissection”

Little House in the Big Woods…

I started reading Little House in the Big Woods by Laura Ingalls Wilder to my son before bed last night. I was afraid it would be too much of a “girl” book for him to find it interesting, but, so far, I’ve been proven wrong. The first chapters have been primarily describing what life wasContinue reading “Little House in the Big Woods…”

Sacramento: Sutter’s Fort State Historic Park

If you’re ever in Sacramento, Sutter’s Fort State Historic Park is spot you must visit. Growing up in Sacramento, this was a regular outing on school field trips, so I take it for granted. My husband, however, hadn’t been before, and he thought it was amazing. It was fun to see the fort through theContinue reading “Sacramento: Sutter’s Fort State Historic Park”

Great book! Friends of the Earth: A History of American Environmentalism

In preparation for Earth Day next month, I’m currently reading a wonderful book… Friends of the Earth: A History of American Environmentalism by Pat McCarthy. The book, written for children ages 9 and up, introduces the efforts, struggles, and triumphs of men and women (scientists, artists, authors, naturalists) who dedicated their lives to protecting theContinue reading “Great book! Friends of the Earth: A History of American Environmentalism”

Signs of Spring: The Return of the Turkeys

Early yesterday morning, my son ran into the living room and screamed, “The turkeys are back! Come look at them all!” Sure enough, there was a gang of ten or so, walking across the hill behind our home. The turkeys can be seen around Dublin throughout the winter, but only return to our neighborhood inContinue reading “Signs of Spring: The Return of the Turkeys”

Silent Saturday: Neighborhood Walk

Neighborhood Walk (Run and Climb) Photos taken March 11th, 2013 Related articles Looking for Signs of Spring: A Walk Around the Neighborhood (anaturemom.com)

Sausalito: San Francisco Bay-Delta Model

Apparently, back in the 1950’s, engineers were considering building two dams in the San Francisco Bay to create fresh water reservoirs, right in the bay. Luckily, the US Army Corps of Engineers decided it would be a good idea to study the potential impacts that such a huge undertaking might have, both environmentally and economically,Continue reading “Sausalito: San Francisco Bay-Delta Model”

Photography for Kids: Fun with an iPhone

I enjoyed a fun walk around our neighborhood on Monday with my son, looking for signs of spring. My son loves to take photos, but he’s become frustrated with the quality of the images he takes on the kid camera we gave him for his birthday last year. He wants to be able to takeContinue reading “Photography for Kids: Fun with an iPhone”

Looking for Signs of Spring: A Walk Around the Neighborhood

After school on Monday, we went for a walk around our neighborhood to look for signs of spring. As an extension of the WordPress Weekly Photo Challenge (Phoneography Challenge: My Neighborhood), I gave my iPhone to my five-year-old son and asked him to take photos of what he could find. The signs he saw wereContinue reading “Looking for Signs of Spring: A Walk Around the Neighborhood”

I’ve been entered in the Circle of Mom’s “Top 25 Outdoorsy Moms 2013” contest. In order to be placed in the top 25, I need your help. Please take a moment to vote.. it will truly only take a few seconds of your time! Click on this link… http://www.circleofmoms.com/top25/Top-25-Outdoorsy-Moms-2013 Scroll down to find “A NatureContinue reading “Please vote for me! Top 25 Outdoorsy Moms 2013 Contest”