One Saturday...

This morning, we all went to a rock and fossil show, hosted by the Peoria Academy of Science's Geology Section. Of course, there were lots of shiny, bright, lovely pretties! But also fossils that Big Sis readily identified, meteorites that held Little Brother's interest, and a rock cutting and polishing station that had us all mesmerized.

We talked for a long time with a Geology Section member who explained the REAL needs for any rock hound- the rock hammer is a classic tool, but not necessarily the best piece of equiment. Instead, he recommended a chisel and heavy hammer, a sturdy, long screwdriver, and leather gloves as a first basic kit. We learned a lot from this gentleman, and Big Sister is excited to try her hand digging in Arkansas... We shall see what we can do.

Then the kids chose a geode to break open at a special station. Upon asking what to look for to find a 'good' geode, the host said, lightweight (hollow!), dark in color, and as spherical as possible. These are the external features that hold promise for a good interior geode.

Big Sis traded a perfectly spherical option for one that was darker in color, and when it cracked open, she had a gorgeous quartz geode, dark in color with a large quartz chunk.

Interestingly enough, a good friend just gave Big Sister five big boxes of rockses to go through. Said friend's father is a rock and fossil collector and has too much stuff in his house. So after the trip to the show, the kids enjoyed checking out all these rocks and fossils that they can keep! A several week project is in store here.

THEN, we spent the afternoon at Shore Acres Park near Chillicothe, watching a Native American group drum and dance. THe music and rhythm were very moving and for several hours afterwards (until I put on some Bach) I had echos of the drumming and the cries of the drummers in my mind. Both meditative and moving!

The kids of course, headed down to the riverbeach to collect fossils and wild things... They examined the bones and tendons of a dead coyote, poked at dessicated fish, discovered ancient artifacts, fossilized sea life, and many other treasures.

This wonderful oak tree is a favorite of mine- every time I come here I like to sit or stand under its drooping branches!

We saw a large wasp investigating the oak galls, which are formed by tiny little wasps. I wonder what the connection is.