Science Saturday: Ladybugs, Blueberries and Rainbows

A few mediocre things that may spark your interest: 

• Ladybugs are very helpful with pest control in orchards and fields. 30,000 Ladybugs can protect 10 acres of produce.
• Ladybugs are one of the most recognizable insects to children.
• Ladybugs have a high birthrate, and a high survival rate which is surprising. They are a bright red to tell predators that they don't taste good. If that doesn't work, they play dead. If that doesn't work they emit a foul smelling fluid and then they are (usually) safe.
• Blueberries are native to North America. They thrive just about anywhere.
• There are many types of Blueberries. If they are cross pollinated (which often occurs) then they produce small berries at a later time.
• Many birds including grouse, scarlet tanagers, bluebirds, robins, and thrushes enjoy them. Bears, foxes, raccoons, skunks, deer, rabbits, chipmunks and mice also enjoy the tasty berries!
• The basic components for rainbows are water and rain. Most often they are seen after a storm.
• You can make your own rainbows with a water hose if the sun is low enough in the sky. Takes a bit of experimenting though.
• Rainbows are beautiful! I've seen quite a few partial ones, a few full ones, and few times I've seen full double ones! Those ones are REALLY cool!!!! :~D

Science Saturday: Raspberries, Snapping Turtles and Bullfrogs, oh my!

Winslow LOVES raspberries! He was so excited when he heard that it would be one of the topics for Science Saturday! T-Tot actually picked some to go with dinner today! Mmmhhhhmmm good!

A few interesting things about Raspberries, Snapping Turtles, and Bullfrogs:

• Raspberry bushes have a 2 year growth pattern. The 1st year the canes grow. The 2nd, they bear fruit. After they produced their berries, the 2nd year canes die.
• Raspberries (and Blackberries) are actually not berries. A true berry has seeds in the center. Some examples of true berries are oranges, lemons, grapes, and tomatoes.
• Raspberry prickers aren't as sharp and poky as Blackberry prickers.
• Most turtles are slow, but comparatively Snapping Turtles are "fast". Their neck and head move quite quickly. Which is an advantage for when they are snapping at people or things.
• When Snapping Turtles are in the water they are not as aggressive as if they are on land.
• Snapping Turtles' shells grow to be about 1ft long. Occasionally they will be larger than that. They also range from about 10-20lbs. In a few select cases they've gotten up to 80lbs. 
• Bullfrogs usually don't awaken from hibernation until late spring.
• Bullfrogs are well-known for their deep resonating vocal calls they make. 
• Bullfrog tadpoles hatch in about 4-5 days after they are laid. It takes 2 years for them to become an adult, and another 2 years for them to mature and repeat the cycle.

A Windy Friday Hike

A little Chipmunk collecting berries with his mouth for winter.

I found the biggest sycamore tree leaf. T-Bug is trying to see around me. :)

Finding forest treasures. Leaves, nuts, sticks, and more. 

A wee bit of baking!

Remember that AWESOME new stove we got? 

Well we did some baking with it yesterday! Boy the house smells GREAT! 

We had 2 and 1/2 cups of black raspberries from our berry patch and we made muffins!!!!!!!!!!!!!

(Too yummy, we only have 6 left as I speak. ;)

We used The Pillsbury Cookbook for our recipe. 

(For 2 dozen muffins or 4 dozen mini muffins {We had 1 dozen reg. and 2 dozen mini} :)

4 cups of flour

1 cup of sugar

2 tablespoons of baking powder

1 teaspoon of salt

3/4 cup of milk

2/3 cup of oil

2 eggs

Dash of cinnamon and sugar

Mix the dry ingredients, add the wet and mix it all up! Pour into greased muffin pans and bake at 400* for 18-22 minutes. We added blackberries. :) 

We also made banana bread!!!!!!!!!!!!! 

We used the Fanny Farmer's recipe.

3 ripe bananas well mashed

2 eggs well beaten

2 cups of flour

3/4 cup of sugar

1 teaspoon of salt

1 teaspoon of baking powder

Mix the ingredients, pour into 1 greased pan and bake for an hour at 350. Makes 1 loaf. 

Breakfast was delicious!