Creaky Bones 5K

The NewGate-Field running team ran the Creaky Bones 5K today. There were kids' races as well as the 5K. Both Braeden and Teagan ran in the kids' races and placed.

Teagan was the second girls in her age group (7-9)
Braeden was the first boy in his age group (10-12).
Leah, Braeden, and Teagan who all placed in the kids' races.
There were people at the race coloring hair since it had a halloweenish theme. Teagan of course needed hers done-red pigtails and green head.
Braeden and some of the running team: Amber, Coach Annie, Leah, Baylee, Harley, and Braeden. Braeden and Baylee came in together and actually had the same time-31.32. They were the first to come in from their team. He is thinking he'll try to com in under 30 next time. We think he did great!

Baby Bunnies

These baby bunnies were found on the school playground and their mother had expired. Annie gathered them and brought them to Joyce who took them for the night and then delivered them to a sanctuary which specializes in abandoned baby animals.

Family Night

We had a fun family night. Teagan made cookies and we opened a new puzzle. Slinky thought he puzzle was so much fun that we had to put the puzzle away for awhile.

Braeden makes dinner

For a homework assignment Braeden made dinner for us. Quesadillas with blueberry cake and strawberry smoothie for dessert.

Dessert
Dinner
Cooking on the gas stove.
Making blueberry cake.

Horseback Riding

Teagan had her first riding lesson today! She was so excited, she could hardly wait. Teagan says, "I think I did well for my first time and I want to keep on doing it." Teagan is just about the luckiest girl ever because our friend Annie keeps her horses here where we are living. Annie comes out here to ride her horses and offered to take Teagan riding. It became lessons when Annie said she barely even knew how to microwave soup and I offered to trade cooking lessons for horseback riding lessons.

Teagan discovered that horseback riding is more difficult than she thought. She just thought that she would need to sit on the horse and let it do everything, but she discovered that she needed to use a lot of muscles to ride!

Teagan getting ready to ride.
On Dovey with Annie helping.

Holding Gideon

Making Wine, part 1

It is time to harvest the grapes and begin making the wine here at the Old Mission Vineyard. We all helped out by picking the grapes.

We filled two of these each time we picked grapes and I believe that we went to pick four times.
Picking in the vineyard.
Sometimes we found some cute surprises in with the grapes. I tried to pick this little guy--who expects a frog in with the grapes? We did shake the wire the vines are on each time to encourage any wasps to leave before we picked.
Braeden picking. You can see how many grapes there were, it was easy picking, just hot.
The grapes are muscadine grapes with a thick skin so they are tolerant of the Florida heat.
We cleaned and sterilized the "primary fermentation device", otherwise known as a six gallon bucket, and the grinder before starting this part of the process. Before we ground we would pick out and leaves that got in and most of the stems. Some stems stayed and they will come out when we press the skins.
Many, many grapes. It takes two of these to fill a six gallon bucket once they are ground. Each filled bucket will make about 30 bottles of wine.
Grinding by hand.
We ground each batch twice, so here Jeff and Braeden are pouring it in for a second grinding.
Grinding away. You could hear the grapes pop which was neat.



Bill, Bessie, and Butch (Bessie's brother) came out to see us and experience a little wine making. They helped pick, helped grind, tasted some of last year's wine, and went to lunch. It was so much fun to see them!

We will need to monitor the wine for the next couple of weeks, adding sugar in a couple of days to help the fermenting process. In November we should be bottling it.

cat

We have taken in a cat for the night, maybe for the weekend while a home is found for her. The kids are calling her Slinky. She and Braeden get along very well!

In the Paper

Our class was spotlighted by the Observer. Braeden volunteered to be interviewed for this article!

Classroom Spotlight

Mote Marine

While Lila's Mom and Dad moved into their new house with some assistance from Jeff, Braeden, Teagan, and I took Lila out for a day of fun. First we went to Mote Marine, our local aquarium.

We could pet stingrays. They had the barbs removed, so they would not sting. We all noted they were very soft (except for Lila who liked the water better than the stingrays).
Lila would only let Braeden carry her or pick her up to see and he was great about it! Here they are able to touch things in the touch tank. Lila liked splashing in the water best. The rest of us were thrilled to touch sea urchins and sea stars.
Lila loves Teagan's flip flops. Actually I think she loves all flip flops, but Teagan's are especially great!
Inside the shark tank!
Posing as divers and sea turtles.

octopus
hammerhead
Earl the sea turtle
manatee

Island Park and Allen Play Area

We stopped at this fun play area after Mote Marine. It is on Sarasota Bay and the little fountains make a great play area for children and adults. There is also a playground.

Lila exploring the fountains.
Teagan conquering the cat.

Braeden wrestling an aligator.