June Part 1

Another interesting field trip... this time we went up to Glade Park (above the Colorado National Monument, up from Grand Junction's 4,600 feet above sea level to 7,000 feet above sea level. It's a bit of a climb.) We toured a guided hunt business where they facilitate hound-led hunts for wildcats and other animals. They breed their own hounds as well. The first two photos are of the kids admiring a hound puppy, and exploring the kennel area. Some of the dogs are very friendly, while others prefer to keep to themselves. It was interesting learning about their dietary needs, which vary between seasons. This company also leads hunts in Africa and South America. The African hunts can be for cats like leopards, which are much more dangerous than your typical mountain lion. A Colorado or Utah mountain lion, once cornered, will hiss and growl and try to find the safest spot possible because it is at the top of the food chain and doesn't really have the need for additional defense in its natural habitat. A leopard, or other wild cat in Africa, however, is likely to attack once cornered. So far, they have lost two or so dogs- and not necessarily from attack. They have guidelines in place to keep the dogs together with a handler during the hunt to help maintain a higher level of safety. The company keeps a separate set of dogs and guides in Africa, and there are more government officials who are required to attend the hunt as well. Our tour guide explained that this helps to create jobs. The meat from any hunt goes to the local villages, and is highly valued by those people.

 Does a guided hound hunt in Africa sound interesting to you? Be ready to pony up a good $80,000! By the way, that won't include your passport, airfare, lodging, or any expenses associated with bringing the skin back for taxidermy, though!

South American hunts are currently for purposes of assisting field biologists with a study on certain cats. The only "hunting" that occurs once a cat is treed or cornered is a "sleeping" shot so the biologists can collect blood samples, attach a tag, etc. for purposes of their study. Clients, however, are willing to pay big bucks to go along!

 I tried to get a picture with Lemuel and Rachel and this zebra bust from an African hunt. I took several pictures, trying to get them to smile for the photo each time, but their eyes were GLUED to the zebra!

Across from the zebra was a hippo skull and portion of skin. Lemuel still couldn't keep his eyes off from the zebra, though.

Some pretty flowers in one of the planters outside of the lodge...

Here our field trip group is gathering in the main room of the lodge facility to watch some video footage of their mountain lion hunts.

Here are the Baxter kids (and the smudge on our camera lense) in front of a large wagon-load of antlers. There were other decorative piles of antlers around the grounds as well.

The Grand Valley

Mount Garfield is in the sunlight on the left.

This is overlooking part of the Colorado National Monument near Cold Shivers Point.

One more fantastic view of the valley with afternoon storms sweeping through. The Grand Mesa is on the far right of this photo. The Grand Junction area is definitely more beautiful than I had ever imagined before we lived here!

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Come spring, and homeschoolers start cleaning out their extra curriculum and books. Our local homeschool support group is called SPICE at Home (Supporting Parents in Independent Christian Education at Home). I (Aimee) help some with the monthly newsletter. We put together resource bags and gathered some goodies from local businesses to give away in drawings throughout the event.

This event is always a good reminder to me that less is MORE!!!

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Happy 8th Birthday, Josiah!!!!!!!!

He picked out some wolf fabric in Hobby Lobby a month or two before, telling me that it would be what he would choose if he could pick fabric for a special blanket. He was so happy and surprised to open a special package with a blanket made out of that fabric!!!

The chosen cake... an ice cream cake. He has a sneaky way of getting a new toy each year as well... he picks out a plane or a car to go on top of his cake. :-) This year it was a plane.

It's always so fun to have all of the kids gather around the birthday person when its candle time. Sometimes it's a bit of a challenge, but this time was pretty smooth.

Mmmm....

Yum! Talenti ice cream had been on sale, so the center was extra good!

The cake was quite tall, though, so we had to cut the slices quite thin. 

Even then, it was too much for some of us!

Lemuel-tested and approved. This kid still has trouble eating his regular food (too nutritious), but when it comes to sweets, there are no holds barred!

 

Silas got creative and made a pop-up card for Josiah.

I can't remember if the boat slid back and forth, or not.

That's it for Mr. Josiah's 8th!