Day 102 / 103 - Warrior Dash

We headed  up to our favorite Ohio county (Athens!) today, so our son could run his first ever Warrior Dash.  In case you are unfamiliar with the obstacle-course-racing-world, the Warrior Dash is a 5K event, held on rugged, muddy terrain that includes 12 extreme obstacles.  Our children have witnessed us complete similar events for the past couple years and have been eager for the day they would be old enough to participate.

He finished the course in less than an hour.  He claimed his favorite obstacle was the two-story tall Goliath, which featured cargo nets to climb, slippery balance beams to cross, and water slides that landed him in a muddy pit.  He loved every minute of it, and I believe another Warrior Dash type event will be in his future.

Day 101 / 103 - Rust Reducing Electrolysis

Over the winter, while sledding in our backyard, my son crashed into this rusty old axle.  My husband is in the process of restoring an old Schwinn bike, and he wanted to attempt an experiment using a direct electrical current to see if it would remove rust.  This would speed up the restoration process for him.  We figured this axle would be an adequate guinea pig. 

My children attempted this experiment last weekend, and I made them walk me through their process.

Purpose:  To see if rust would pull off the axle with electrolysis.

Materials:  water, baking soda, steel rods, clamps, bucket, battery charger, wires

Procedure:  Attach rods to the inside of the bucket and connect them with electrical wires.  Place axle in bucket.  Add 4 gallons of water to bucket to cover half of axle.  Add 4 tablespoons of baking soda.  Hook up battery -- positive lead to the steel rods and negative lead to the axle.  Turn on electrical current.  Wait 24 hours.

Observations:  Water bubbled.  Rods began to attract rust.  Water filled with rust.  Could see the portion of the axle in the water being cleaned.

Conclusion:  Removed some rust, but not all.

Factors That Could Be Changed for More Success:  Submerge axle fully.  Use more baking soda.  Use more wire and rods.  Use higher battery charge.

 

[The left side is the side that was submerged because it is lighter in color and more recently exposed to oxygen.  You are seeing the sub-layers of rust that haven't been exposed to oxygen in many years.]

Day 100 / 103 - More New River Gorge

My children and I spent the morning at the Canyon Rim Visitor Center of the New River Gorge for a park-based ranger-led educational program.  Along with learning about distinct characteristics of all National Parks, we also discussed specific regional features of our park.  We focused on the connection of coal and the importance of the railroad to the New River area.  Finally, we spent some time enjoying the park and the view of the bridge.

Day 99 / 103 - Beauty and the Beast

My daughter and I made a quick trip to Dayton, Ohio yesterday to see the Broadway production of Disney's Beauty and the Beast.  This is the third time we've seen a Disney film transferred into a Broadway musical.  Like the other times, we were thoroughly impressed.  Naturally, we are quite familiar with the film, and the additional songs from the stage performance were just as delightful.

Personally, Beauty and the Beast remains one of my favorite fairy tales, and Belle has always been my favorite Disney princess.  Throughout any version of the story you clearly see the themes of forgiveness and redemption as well as Belle's ability to love the unlovable.  All characteristics that I hope my daughter will genuinely comprehend someday.

Day 98 / 103 - The New River Gorge

As we are finishing up our second full year in wild and wonderful West Virginia, I realized I have not posted as much about our outdoor excursions as I did last year, even though we've had just as many.  We have spent the majority of our holiday weekend entertaining family and enjoying the rustic amenities of the area, so I thought I would share a few photos.

Day 97 / 103 - Duct Tape Lamp

I was gone today for about 90 minutes.  Upon returning home, my daughter greeted me at the front door with this.  The picture really doesn't do it justice.  The shade is rather detailed and has a ruffled trim at the top and bottom.

Day 96 / 103 - Do You Even Lift?

This post is long past due, but rarely do you see my living space on this blog.  It's usually just pictures of my children and/or their assignments.  There's good cause for that.  However, one of the reasons we bought this particular house when we moved to Beckley was because of the amount of space to design a home gym.  So, be prepared.  You are about to venture into our garage.

We love our garage.  We spend a lot of time here.  I guarantee you that it is more equipped than most commercial gyms you have been in.  We have lots of heavy things to lift.  We have things to climb.  We have things to throw.  We have things to swing.  And swing from.  And hang from.  We have things to kick.  And jump on.  And jump over.  We have invested in equipment that has made our children (and us!) incredibly strong and healthy during our two years here.

We have always been an active family.  Sometimes I chuckle to myself when I'm asked about how I incorporate Phys Ed as a homeschooler. Since my children have always spent the majority of their days running, skipping, jumping, dancing, and kicking, I've never really been concerned.  But, the weight lifting aspect has been new to my children and I over the past two years.  They are getting to the ages where they realize that by being stronger it drastically affects your performance in the activities you love.  Fortunately, we have all the equipment to help them get stronger within their reach.

We have attempted a regular weight lifting schedule with our children.  Usually they accompany my husband into the gym when he's lifting.  He's helped to design and facilitate a program for them that will allow them to build muscle and gain strength as they age.  Like any workout program, we've encouraged them to be consistent a couple times a week.

Of course, we the parents have enjoyed this added benefit to our home.  Personally, I have realized that weight/strength training, like any other subject, can be learned and understood at any stage of life.  Knowing you have the right tools to learn gives you all the confidence you need.

Day 95 / 103 - Mountain State Miniature Golf

Beckley has a fun, yet incredibly challenging, miniature golf course with an educational twist.  Every hole incorporates a piece of West Virginia History or Geography.  More than once we've been challenged as we have attempted to putt our way through these historical mini models and clever elements.  The detailed, shaded course includes the New River Gorge Bridge, White Water Rafting, Civil War landmarks, Seneca Rocks, a coal mine, and a moonshine distillery.  Each hole includes information on the history and/or the geography of the region.  You can tour the course here.  It's an inexpensive course and always worth the visit.

Day 94 / 103 - Wilderness Survival

On Saturday, my son earned his Boy Scout Wilderness Survival Merit Badge.  He spent 24 hours in the wilderness and was responsible for all his clothing, gear, food, and a personal survival kit to manage any risks that might occur.  Part of his requirement was to construct a natural shelter using techniques that have zero impact on the environment, and then spend the night in that shelter.  If you remember, he's a pro at this (here).  This time, the weather was a little more agreeable, so he used two tarps and a pine tree.  He also had to learn several ways to start a fire (including one method using steel wool and a 9-Volt battery) as well as demonstrating three ways to treat water to prepare it for drinking.

This year, he has gone camping with his troop probably every 4 - 6 weeks.  Naturally, this camp out required a little more upfront work from him ahead of time.

Day 93 / 103 - Once Upon a Time

My daughter is spending the weekend being a part of the best dance recital I have ever experienced, and I truly am being objective when I make that statement.

I've posted before about the phenomenal dance school that we've located here in Beckley (here and here).  Well, just when I thought it couldn't get any better, our director put together his annual recital that combines our family's love of literature with our daughter's love of dance.  When a dance recital begins with a fully clad Gandalf/Dumbledore character rising from center stage, you know you're in for a spectacular show.  The theme is Once Upon a Time, and in the first 15 minutes you encounter wizards and witches, Peter Pan and Indians, Dorothy and the Munchkins, Alice, Mother Goose, Snow White, and other fairy tale characters brought to life with the music of Tchaikovsky, Judy Garland, and more!   As I sat through the rehearsal for the opening, I felt as though I was witnessing a program performed by a professional dance company.  It is worth far more than its meager price of admission.

My daughter performs several times over the course of the three recitals as a munchkin in the Land of Oz, a Mary Poppins chimney sweep, and a Lost Boy in Neverland.  She's having a blast !!  As an added benefit for all of us, there's a little Aerosmith and Guns N' Roses thrown into the mix, too.

Day 92 / 103 - Scout Sunday

On Sunday, my son's Boy Scout Troop actively participated in their host church's service.  My son played the piano twice during the service, for the prelude and the offertory.  He did a fantastic job.

One of his Scout Masters asked him several months ago if he would consider playing the piano for the service.  From the beginning, he was not sold on the idea.  In fact, he would probably say it was not even on his list of top 1000 things he would want to do in his lifetime.  But, after several conversations regarding that being a Scout (or an adult) often means being responsible to do things we sometimes don't want to do, he agreed.  He was to start the prelude at 11 a.m., and I believe at 10:56 a.m. (even though he had been practicing for months) he was strongly considering ways he could break his own finger in order to get out his performances.

He really did a beautiful job playing.  Above all, people enjoyed it.  He received a ton of compliments from most of the congregation.  We told him music blesses people, and he was a part of that Sunday morning.

Day 91 / 103 - Community

I use this blog primarily as my year-end homeschooling assessment.  Because of that, I rarely post links to other blogs, but I profile activities I complete with my children.  However, this post has been special to me.  It's about our community.  Yesterday I mentioned that we did not have to sacrifice a quality piano teacher when we moved to West Virginia.  Today, I will boast that we didn't have to sacrifice Classical Conversations or the community that comes along with that program when we moved to West Virginia.  Educating your children alongside others who share in your mission and vision is truly a beautiful thing.

Firmly I believe that life isn't only about the journey, but about the people you meet along the way.  Please read this.  It's worth your time.