Yesterday we hosted the third instalment of Farmschool - 'Air'. Mother Nature hosted us with another glorious day, perfect in which to examine this ethereal element that surrounds and survives us at all times, filling our lungs with life and our days with fun...such as flying kites! After a brief bit if science (what is air made of? 21% oxygen, 78% nitrogen and 1% other rare earth gases), we played with the idea of how we can 'see' air...in popped popcorn, in a balloon, moving a fluttering streamer and when the trees move in the breeze. Breeze! Quick - carpe diem kids!!! And so the kites flew in a colourful cacophony of running legs and twisted strings, laughing adults and serious children. As the gusts came and went we played with creating flight.

Then it was time to think about those creatures that fly every day as part of their lives....the birds. We began by telling the kids the story of the gorgeous little golden whistler who had 'given its body to science' by flying head first into a window. The kids got to hold and examine this beautiful creature (if they wanted to - some were understandably squirmy) and feel how incredibly light it was. Tiny thin leg bones, hollow structural bones and even air pockets in its skull make the flying birds able to maintain flight.

Armed with our new bird knowledge we set off for a 'twitch' (bird watch) around the property. We saw magpie, a hawk, a noisy friar bird, swallows, willy wagtails and wild black ducks. We also chatted about airborne pollen and how some seeds can 'fly'. We spotted a large raptor nest and tried out some bird calls. Such vibrant and curious learning! The kids are starting to feel really comfortable at the farm now and explore with open minds, developing their love and respect for the world around us.

Then it was time to make our own flyers...and the great paper plane challenge was underway! At one stage I think there were 15 kids on one trampoline all sharing their paper plane making know how and together designing the ultimate creation!!! We marked out measurement lines with spray paint and tallied up the results of how far the planes flew. Paper clips were then attached to the noses of the planes and the experiment repeated - with clear results that an increase in nose weight increased the distance the planes would fly. Aerodynamics people!!!

And now another day awaits...what will it hold?

So that's a picture of me in year 5. Miss Kim was my (beloved) teacher, there was a fun mix of personalities in the class and I was, without doubt, the tallest girl for miles around.

I had braces.

I rode horses.

I liked people.

I loved having friends and spending time with them on the weekend, and the ultimate social experience was the sleepover. Armed with your favourite pillow and strict instructions not to "stay up all night!" sleepovers were the funnest form of friendship gluttony. A gorging out on chips, giggling, movies, secrets and each others company.

However, I never had a boy for a sleepover...well, not until I was 17 and that was ENTIRELY different!

Sleepovers with boys in primary school just weren't done. You could be friends with a boy but not best friends and certainly no pillow fights or sharing bags of lollies under a doona while watching The Dark Crystal.

What a shame.

And then, around this time the pressure started to mount about having a 'boyfriend' or in the 80's, 'going round with' a suitably impressive specimen from the male two rows of the class. And then friendship with boys disappeared to be replaced by awkward passing of notes and clandestine and uncomfortable games of spin the bottle at birthday parties. I kinda wish I had had a bit longer to be simply friends with boys.

The reason for this blog is not simply nostalgia, it is sparked by the fact that my two boys are not here.

They are both at a sleepover.

At the house of their two friends.

Who are both girls.

They are all fun and quirky kids who share a love of animals and Doctor Who. They can all giggle and joke and pillow fight with the best of them and genuinely enjoy each others company. They are not 'boys' and 'girls' - they are just kids.

Enjoying a sleepover.

Today has been a day of celebrating the random. We randomly stayed at a friends last night and then randomly decided to hit the city today. On our way to the Powerhouse (usual) we took a random short cut through the ABC building and hit an awesome Doctor Who display celebrating 50 years of the good doctor and his adventures. The boys have only just discovered Doctor Who and were thrilled to get up close and personal...

This morning we walked through the Turramurra Community garden and for me, this was the most inspiring piece of random of the day...

A randomly wonderful day out with me boys and 'doctor qui' - 'ave a banana'!

Last night we entered a dark and whimsical world. A world of soft music emanating from a felt seashell, carved cuttlefish bone and nostalgic memories of holidays at the beach.

This enchanting exhibition featured children showing the way with excitement and torches, a selection of delicious and fragrant teas served in proper teacups as well as a wandering magician who completely captivated the boys.

But the star of the show was a dugong. Created by Erth puppeteers, this gorgeous creature swam and fed in her own shop front aquarium, even making time to nuzzle with some of the children...

Her head was operated by a young homeschooler who did a great job of animating this creature with grace and charm...

A wonder-full exhibition. Go see it if you have the chance...lucky and I were interviewed and our faces may feature on the website. Make art, people!

This is an indulgent post. I am alone, in a cafe with free wifi and delicious empty time to fill...so Im going to share some moments that, for whatever human reason, are stand outs from the last little while...

Lucky baked this cake from scratch and decorated it in what he described as ' a yin yang style'. He presented it to Flex and I who were busily building a model of the Opera House in front of the cosy fire on a frosty Winters night. Yum.

This divine little bird flew into a window and died instantly. We got to hold it and admire its beauty, feel its lightness, explore its feathers...thanking it for its contribution to our learning.

We spent a glorious afternoon at our 'magic beach' jumping, running, and practicing our running writing in the sand. The earth beneath our feet was our slate, our paper, our playground all at once.

We created a 'cakelele' for Gav's 40th birthday...and shared it with a roomful of friends, family and fabulous music.

We house sat for some neighbours and spent about 12 hours in their amazing spa. And hung out with their hilarious dogs. Come on, you've got to smile at a sausage dog!!!

Simple experiences, in every way wonder - full.

Today was a whirlwind of Shakespeare and seagulls, sunshine and train stations. We chugged along into the big smoke to join a hundred homeschoolers for the Bell Shakespeare's current production of 'A Midsummer Nights Dream'. The train ride was quiet with Flex reading his first Mad magazine and Lucky finding the Opera House on google earth.

On our way through the rabbit warren of Wynyard station we got some scrumptious noodles which we ended up sharing...

Check out the bird in the back left corner...being seduced by my noodle ;)

Strolling down to Bennelong Point, passing buskers singing and an amazing pavement artist, tourists happy snapping and the water glittering in the sunshine I was once again struck by the vibrancy of this city we call our own. Stunning.

The play was fab. Cleverly presented with a young and handsome cast, it had the whole room cringing and guffawing. The boys loved their first Shakespeare experience! I am happy that they get to enjoy it without dissecting it...they will always remember the ridiculous Nick Bottom, the cat fighting girls and the cheeky, sarcastic Puck as part of a living experience.