Making Root Beer

For years I have wanted to make root beer with real sassafras.  So a couple of weeks ago we did it.

After making a gallon of root beer we pored it into bottles and capped them.  I think it came out very good.  There was a complexity to the flavor that you just don't find in the dark sugar water you buy in the stores.  Next time we will add a little sarsaparilla.  Can you say YUM!

The Rooster is Gone

Roodie the Rooster has found a new home.  He is now leading up a henrom of 23 and is both happier and much more tired then when he was henpecked by our four hens.

😄

The Bynum's Buy a New Car

Well actually we didn't buy it yet mainly because Shawna doesn't see the value in an old dump truck for a family of five.  "What kind of gas mileage does it get?" she asks, completely proving that she just doesn't get it, and when I reply "Well, that depends of weather we can get it started, doesn't it?" She looks at me like I'm the one that doesn't get it.  I don't think I should have to explain that to a math teacher that if we don't start it (gas use, zero) and we push it even one inch is gas mileage is infinite.  That's better then a Prius any day.

Being fair the above conversation didn't really happen mainly because I'm afraid to bring it up.

Ksenia's Baby Shower

Hadrian was in heaven and Percy made a new friend at Ksenia's baby shower.  Later Lola (the dog) ate Trajan, that's why we don't have any pictures of him.

Koy's Birthday Party

Trajan and Hadrian had their tongues turn black after eating fondant off of Koy’s birthday cake.  Later in the day, both tongues atrophied and fell out, making it much easier to get the kids to eat the meals that they used to turn their noses up at. "etz asier do eot baba slot en oo ant ais ot" said Trajan a couple days after the party.  I am pleased to report that the tongues are growing back and should be in place before the Christmas photo season. 

Woodland Star Robotics Club Goes to Pixar

Using Hadrians visit to Pixar as a guide I decided to take the Woodland Star Robotics Club to Pixar on October 10th.  It was a fantastic trip.  What a place to work!  It was an inspiration to all of the kids.

Percy Goes to the Sonoma Challenge Ropes Course

The Woodland Star 7th grade class went on a field trip to the Sonoma Challenge ropes course.  The students went over a couple of rope bridges, a zip line, and several other challenges. Percy used his rock climbing skills and succeeded in all of the challenges he attempted.  I went on the trip with the class and actually attempted some of the events.  I was very proud of every one in the class, but Percy outshined them all.

Hadrian To Goes to Fort Ross

One of the field trips that the Woodland Star 4th graders go on is the overnight to Fort Ross.  Fort Ross was the southern most North American outpost of the 19th century Russian Empire.  For the field trip, the students wear period costumes and are broken into teams that work the fort for the day.  Hadrian was a hunter and spent the day spear fishing.

Rock Climbing Gym

One of the coolest things the kids are doing these days is indoor rock climbing.  The kids are in a club and each week work with a coach that has been climbing for more then 20 years.  It is fun and very good exercise.

Goodbye To The Kittens

It is with a heavy heart that I tell the world that this is our last day with on latest group of kittens.  We have had them for about a month and now they are all over 2.2 lbs.  So now they go back to the shelter and find new homes.  I love this arrangement.  Kittens are very cute, cats, not so much. As you can probably tell it is hard to give them up, but it is worth having them.

Hadrian's New Art

As a Waldorf student, a big part of our children's education is based on art.  This is an example of some of the spectacular are that Hadrian has been producing.

Baby Chickens

At about the same time we got our second batch of kittens (see below), we got five baby chicks.  They are very cute to, and hopefully will start giving use eggs soon.

Kitten Fostering

As you may know I am known to be a dog person.  I am NOT a cat person, but I have always been a kitten person.  At the end of last school year we fostered three kitten from a local shelter (according to our friend that works at the shelter they are always in need of foster families for kittens).  Starting in August we got another bunch and they are very cute.  The kittens are to young to adopt, but need to be taken care of.  They are unbelievably cute. And the best thing is that just as they start to be cats, we give them back.

If you count you will see that there are six. All from the same litter.  The little black one was born with no eyes.  It is amazing how well he gets around.

Clear Lake Summer 2018

This one is a little late, but here are some pictures of our trip to Clear Lake this summer.

Now That's a Burger

Hadrian Goes to Pixar

On August 15th, Hadrian went with his Friend Dre to the Pixar Studios.  He got these really cool pictures and couldn't stop talking about "The cereal room". I am SO jealous!