When I first found out the about this field trip to the Mass Audubon Society Wildlife Sanctuary via e-mail, I apparently relied on my memory, while going from the computer to the calendar. I guess I shouldn’t have done that, because there is a big difference between the 6th, and the 16th! Might explain why we were the only ones there, huh??  Good golly.  We were supposed to meet lots of other homeschoolers there, but all we could see or hear were birds.

So we decided to make the most of it, since we were already there. It was a beautiful day, and I got some nice photos our of our peaceful hike.  Don’t you love the photos above and below of the geese and their goslings? Whenever I have seen ducks and their ducklings, or geese and their goslings in my life, I just feel a little something inside. I can identify with them somehow, in a family/parental way. They seem to take such care in guiding their young ones, and are so very protective if danger or possible predators (like us) gets too near to their young.  Aggressively so, as if there is nothing they won’t do to protect their children. I can relate to that, and I’m sure many of you parents can, as well. Anyway, I enjoyed watching and photographing this feathered-family.

These acres at this wildlife sanctuary, owned by Mass Audubon, is just beautiful.  Wide open wet-lands and woods, and meandering, winding boardwalks throughout. (I love boardwalks too.)  It’s all conservation land of course, and is such a haven of all kinds of beautiful birds, and creatures big and small. I bet in the evening hours, as it approaches dusk, it’s a whole other world, equally as amazing and beautiful, but different.

There was so much to photograph, but I was wishing I had a much bigger zoom!  Many of these photos are extremely cropped, which I hate to do because of quality loss.  But nonetheless,  I’d venture to say we wouldn’t have seen (or been able to sneak up on) some of the little things we saw today, had so many more people been with us.  Like this little garter snake. Can you see him?

Or this little white moth, that’s as good as a butterfly to my kids. : )

There were little turtles, just soaking up the warm sun on rocks and limbs extending out of the waters, everywhere.  I think I would rather enjoy being a turtle here at this place, for a day or 2. As long as my turtle family was with me, and were feeling just as mellow.  : )

Here’s another shot I just love, because I love these kind of ‘craggly’ trees. (Is that a word?  Craggly?) I remember trying to draw them a lot as a kid.  I found it hard to really make every stroke different-as no 2 branches or twigs are the same. I found I would start balancing it all out without thinking.  Maybe it’s the Libra in me.

It was really nice just walking around together. It was so quiet there (except for my kids, who tend to have volumes we are working on.)  The weather was perfect. It wasn’t too hot, cold, or windy.  There were no bugs bothering us, and it was so…peaceful there.  Just following the trails and boardwalks, and keeping an eye out for anything of nature to appreciate, and marveling at the creativity of our God, everywhere we look.

Of course I can never keep myself from photographing the kids, and I got plenty of those as always.  But even I got in one today with them! I’m the big kid in the middle.

But this one below really melts my heart. <sigh>

The kids had such a great time there, and they even said they didn’t care that no one else was there as planned.  But….I think we’ll go back and make the field trip on the RIGHT day, anyway.  I’ve corrected my calendar. Now all I have to do is remember to look at it, and know what day it is when I do, and we’re there!  The kids have already stated though that they want to be sure to wear their t-shirts they made again (because I guess the point was showing them off!)– so if I take more photos, we’ll probably have the same clothing.  Even I may wear the same t-shirt again, since {S} asked me to lean down to him today for a secret, and he whispered in my ear “You look really beauty-ful today in that shirt.”  <sniff> (I know…I think I need a moment again here.)

Anyway….here they are all together, jackets purposely unzipped (and practically hanging off) as to not cover up their designs.  As I type this, they are sound asleep in their beds, and I am quite tired myself. But I feel like I just could sit and look at this photo of them all night, (and the one of my husband too) and wonder why God blessed me so greatly. Or maybe I’ll just spend it thanking Him, once again, that He did.