Waves on rock watery scene

We move this fall, and the thing I will miss is the changes in the lake on a daily basis. I can read the weather through sky and lake, watching for the dark clouds, and change. 


There is a relaxation that comes from sitting beside a body of active water.

Josephine has had much fun in the lake. She's been feeding cracked corn to her ducks.

Watching the boats and water skiers has been entertaining, as they cheer one another on! This differs, of course, from screaming kids and adults.


Reading the weather is important. With the last few days of August being cooler, we have found much to do indoors.


We bought some inexpensive second hand books from the library for an eager toddler book worm. And I bought a book with space for a drawing at the top, and a place to write a story at the bottom. I recommend this for work with both young and old. It is a great form of memoir.

Josephine wrote about her canoe trip, and mummy working on the Habitat build! (Mummy drew the canoe!)

What to do at the cottage

On this rainy day in Muskoka, I know there will be complaints. Canadians always complain about the weather. A couple of my Facebook friends have been complaining about those who are complaining.

The rain is a welcome break in the heat and humidity. We have been careful to open up the house at night, and close up, closing curtains in the day time.

This post arises from my experience as a teacher. While visiting the library yesterday, I noticed a drawing program for kids, as well as an intriguing box.

Our local Muskoka Lakes libraries have some great programs, as well as the books available!

They are hatching some monarch butterflies. Cathy released a butterfly while I was waiting for my hubby who was in a meeting!

As they emerge from the cocoon, and sit for awhile, eventually they can be released into the outdoors.

Specifically for kids: especially for kids with any learning disability, they need to keep up their reading and practice literacy and numeracy skills over the summer.  Good readers get to be great readers by... reading!







Here are some things you can do to keep kid's brains working:

1. Keep a journal. (Do not mark their spelling, ask them to choose 3 words they want you to check. No more!)
   
2. Keep track of money spent: how much per day or per month does your family spend on vacation for groceries, transportation, accomodation, entertainment?
   
3. Create a dream location: locate your holiday destination(s) on a map, find your location on Mapquest or Google maps.
   
4. Create some skits about cottage life. Write a play. Do some improv plays.
   
5. Write a creative story about where you are or would like to be this week.
6. Write about Fridays, or Someone Who Understands.
   
7. If you have access to Internet &/or TV, do an Olympic Project.
   

8. Create a bird watching list, take photos, make a scrapbook, study insects, rocks, trees.
9. Visit the MNR info page and collect pamphlets and flyers about wildlife, ponds, turtles.
   
10. Create a scavenger hunt.
    
11. Do book talks as a family.
12. Create a written or verbal Reading Response.
13. Ask kids to earn computer time by writing an essay.
14. Purchase writing books and drawing pads, bring new coloured pencils or crayons.
15. Buy the kids a disposable camera, let them plan a photo show, and teach them photography.
    
16. They can used the photos for a scrapbook for memories.
    
17. Blow bubbles.
    
18. Create a slide show or video of cottage events.
19. Scrabble, Monopoly, Backgammon, Sorry, card games, activity books (Soduko or crosswords!).
    
20. This is a great time to do a BIG puzzle - set it up out of the way and work on it when you feel like it.

Lots to do. Don't believe the Cottageocracy!