Norton Simon Museum
May 22, 2011
I arranged a field trip to the Norton Simon Museum in Pasadena, CA. Here are some pictures of our time in the sculpture garden.
Mishy by the lily pond, eating her red apple.
A mother duck with her ducklings.
Mishy with Y and J watching the tadpoles.
Mishy and I love going to art galleries. I let her decide what she wants to see and then we talk about what we see in the paintings and sculptures – the different colors, shapes, what she sees in the painting, what the painting might be called, what do you think the artist is trying to convey or not, any feelings that come out of seeing the painting? I don’t think there is a right or wrong answer, because art is subjective and it’s just fun looking at art together and also be in nature. The Norton Simon Museum has a beautiful and peaceful sculpture garden.
Details:
Norton Simon Museum
Mishy inspired by a Rodin sculpture.
Organic Strawberry Picking
May 12, 2011
Notice the legs and feet? Those are Mishy's.
As part of my need to build community, I organized an organic strawberry picking tour at Tanaka Farms in Irvine, CA. Over thirty parents and children of various ages joined my daughter and me on a wagon ride throughout the farm as our guide brought us an array of organic and incredibly fresh fruits and vegetables to sample and learn about. How do you know if something is a fruit? If it has seeds. Is a pepper a fruit? Yes. A squash? Yes. How about a cucumber or avocado or even zucchini? All fruit because they all have seeds. What is the one vegetable that has flowers? Chinese greens. This tour was educational and delicious.
Mishy eating the roots of a spring onion.
Two years ago, my husband, daughter and I went on this very same tour. Our daughter wasn’t even a year old so I wanted to bring her back. My husband had to work. Perhaps this will become an annual tradition? I would love that. I think my daughter would love it too. Maybe next year my husband will join us? He still remembers the sweet spring onions and he normally detests onions. Mishy nibbled on the roots of the spring onion. She said they were sweet. (Later I went home and used the onions for a shrimp broccoli brown rice dish.)
When we got off the wagon and onto the organic strawberry fields, after a quick tutorial on how to pick strawberries – with two hands and with care so that you are just breaking the stems off and not hurting the rest of the plant, especially if there are any flowers on the plant because each flower is a potential strawberry. The group walked carefully along the strawberry fields and ate as many strawberries as our bellies could contain. The tour includes one pound container of strawberries per child and while the parents were eating, the children were adding to their containers. Mishy said she was on a quest to find the most delicious strawberry in the world. Right before we were to go back on the wagon, Mishy found it and ate it and said, “I just had the most delicious strawberry in the world!” Mishy told this to the tour guide as well.
Mishy on the organic strawberry fields.
Tanaka Farms has been offering tours of their certified organic farm for a number of years and they have it down to a science. It’s really a fun and educational adventure on a real working organic farm in Orange County.
Here are a few tips about organic farming: Tanaka Farms plants their strawberries with their spring onions to deter insects and other animals from eating their strawberries. Want an easy way to stimulate this in your home garden? Crush a clove of garlic. Mix it with water and put it in a spray bottle. Spray the strawberry plant or any plant in your garden to deter insects from eating in. Unfortunately, there is nothing you can do about rabbits eating your vegetables or fruits – maybe read Peter Rabbit by Beatrice Potter?
A scarecrow with our guide by banana trees.
I remember when I was younger my favorite field trips were going to the farm. I dressed in my jean jacket and jeans and wished I could live on a farm. Now, I wish my daughter and I could go visit Tanaka Farms once a week and continue to find the best strawberry in the world. I’ll be organizing a watermelon tour for July. Details to be posted on the FieldTripsSOCAL yahoo group.
Details:
Tanaka Farms
They offer organic strawberry tours yearly from March-June, watermelon tours where you pick your own watermelon from June-August as well as Pick Your Own Pumpkin tour in the fall and a Christmas tour in the winter. Please check their website for other special events and information on their CSA – to get organic produce delivered to your home or near your home and continue supporting Tanaka Farms and organic farming.
African Cats!
April 21, 2011
I’ve been so excited about this film. For months, I have been anticipating Earth Day – April 22nd, 2011 because that is the official opening of Disney Nature’s African Cats. It’ll be showing at the El Capitan Theatre in Hollywood for numerous performances throughout the day. Prior to each show, Wildlife Learning Center will be presenting their wild animals on stage. Wildlife Learning Center is a locale not for profit animal rescue organization located in Sylmar, CA. (They offer family visits as well as educational tours for pre-schools, schools, homeschoolers, and any children and children at heart organization/group.)
If you purchase tickets to see African Cats in its first week, a portion of your ticket sale will be donated to help preserve wild animals in Africa to African Wildlife Foundation.
Today, Today, I just saw on Family Finds they are having a deal today – $16 for 2 admission to see African Cats, plus $5 to spend at the Disney store near El Capitan theatre. This is an excellent and affordable opportunity to see this educational and entertaining movie. African Cats is rated G and is a documentary. Please see all aspects of the deal via this link:
We will be going on Monday, April 25th because I arranged a field trip for 40 of my community of friends and family – prior to hearing about this deal!
For those unfamiliar with the El Capitan Theatre, parking is very easy and affordable. If you park at the Hollywood Highland Complex, which is across the street, parking is $2 for four hours and the El Capitan validates. Go walk up to the street level, cross the street and you will find the El Capitan Theatre. It’s beautiful in a Hollywood, glamourous night at the movies way.
Going to the Farm Walk
April 17, 2011
Pierce College Farm Walk
I impressed my husband when we attended Pierce College’s Farm Walk. This is an annual event where they turn their 235 acre animal learning/teaching center into a farm. They had wagon rides, a petting zoo, an equestrian show, pony rides, students walking around with animals – a parrot, a python snake were two we saw, as well as food – including farmers market fresh strawberries, which we gobbled up, and a special surprise – a guest found a baby opossum.
Mishy feeding the Momma goat.
Mishy gathering hay to feed the wild burros.
Pierce College recently brought the wild burros from Nevada to protect the goats and cows from coyotes. Coyotes are scared of them.
Cows grazing.
They do sell the cows for beef to raise funds for their school. This Farm Walk is one of their many fundraisers they have throughout the year. Just to cover the cost of feed, they need to raise over $50, 000. Due to budget cuts, they have been forced to close down and lessen some of their stock of animals. They currently only have one pig because it was too costly for them. They did recently open up a chicken coop.
A tractor.
Wild sheep.
The animals are able to graze on much of their 235 acre property and the students are continuously planting seeds to grow into grass so they don’t just depend on hay as their primary source of food for the animals. The animal college would like to become as self-sufficient as possible.
Taking a rest.
Walking through the fields.
On the wagon ride.
Touching the Do Not Touch pretend horse.
Finding a baby opossum
Mishy petting the baby opossum
Playing with the hoola hoop set for a pretend horses and children to jump through.
Farm folk, fire fighters and the Forestry Division of the Los Angeles Fire Department, and the group, California Woman for Agriculture and Agriculture in the Classroom were also on hand to answer any questions.
Details:
Pierce College
Making Matzah and Traveling Back In Time
April 10, 2011
Mishy hiding in the wooden pyramid.
On Friday, I organized three tours of 200 people in total to visit a local matzah factory located in Westwood, near UCLA. It’s part of my need to offer families educational and fun experiences.
Every year for ten days, as a lead up to Passover, a local Chabad gives the opportunity for children and adults of all ages to watch a re-enactment of the exodus of Israelites from Egypt and then let all the children make matzah. It is a secret field trip destination for those in the know – if you’re not affiliated with a Jewish organization.
Moses telling us his words from God.
The first room we sat in was decorated with images of pyramids, with a wooden pyramid/door. When we entered, my daughter quickly wanted to go inside pyramid and hide. We hid until I had to check people in and then short video played where we went back in time and met Moses, who told us God has mentioned it was time for him to ask the Pharaoh to free the Israelites in Egypt. He said we must all go to see the Pharaoh and if he doesn’t free the Jews, to boo him.
Moses mentioning the coming plagues.
We were led into another room where we met Pharaoh and his sidekick. This section, while informative, had some humor I wished could have been left out – references to Charlie Sheen and other current events that took me out of the re-enactment. Being a mother of a three-year old, there were also certain aspects of the plague I would have liked if it were handled simpler. That being said, I was impressed with the actor’s commitment and production values. The Chabad didn’t skimp.
Exiting Egypt.
After the Pharaoh agreed to free the Jews, we were free to learn about making matzah.
Mishy feeding the ram wheat.
Another actor, dressed as a farmer, introduced his ram and talked about why matzah was made – because the Israelites did not have time to make bread due to the time constraint in leaving Egypt. He then talked to us about the ingredients of matzah – any type of flour and water and showed us how to separate the wheat from its chaff. We all got a chance to do that with our own individual piece of wheat.
Grinding the wheat kernels.
Asking for two volunteers, he demonstrated how to grind the wheat kernels into flour and then lead us into another room where another volunteer got us well water.
Is that a nail in the water?
Mixing flour with water and getting his hands dirty, he told us how long it takes to bake matzah – 18 minutes.
Mixing the flour with water.
Finally, it was time for all the children who wanted to, to make their own matzah and we were led to our final room – the bakery!
Rolling the dough.
Each child was given a work station with a small amount of dough, a rolling-pin, and a special instrument to create holes into the flattened dough.
Putting the holes into the dough.
Carrying the raw matzah to the baker.
Placing the raw matzah on the pan.
The baker puts it in the oven.
Then we ate the matzah! No pictures of that. We were too busy eating. Mishy said it was yummy.
A World Record of Bubbles and Giveaway
April 6, 2011
Mishy holding on to her Media Pass as people set up to break the world record.
How many people can fit under a bubble? On Monday, April 4th, 2011, it was 118 and a new Guinness Book of World Record for Fan Yang, Bubble Master extraordinaire at the Discovery Science Center in Santa Ana. Mishy and I were invited to be one of the many people inside the bubble. When we arrived after the quota of children under five feet tall was already filled, we became part of the Press. Mishy wore her own Media Pass. It’s a different perspective being part of the press. We were treated differently. Instead of waiting in line to get inside the Bubblefest tent, we were able to walk right in and there was food for us to snack on. Mishy had a bit of a sandwich before she mingled while photographers took pictures of her. They called her cute.
Fan Yang being interviewed.
Being a reporter felt like being on a movie set. There was a lot of waiting. The photographers waited with their cameras sitting on the seats, while newscasters and reporters interviewed Fan Yang. I opted not to interview him, because I felt kind of funny being surrounded by reporters from major news stations. Instead, I interviewed a mom, Olga, who had been going to see the Bubblefest shows for ten years and was extremely excited to be part of the world record with her son. Olga said she found out about the event by the Discovery Science Center’s website and would have arrived earlier to check in if she parked in the other Macy’s parking lot. Unfortunately, the mishap caused her to arrive later and her daughter didn’t make the quota. Her youngest daughter wasn’t able to participate inside the bubble due to her size. She sat with us as the 118 walked on stage to take their place in history.
Pricilla, the host of Bubble Fest.
Priscilla, the host of Bubblefest appeared and started the proceedings. Groups of people made their place on stage and waited as others got into position.
Fan Yang preparing the bubbles for the Guinness Book of World Record.
Once everyone was on stage, Fan Yang, fluffed up the bubble solution which had already been placed around the edges of the stage by his assistants. He then attempted three times to break the world record. Once the world record was confirmed, more bubbles filled the stage as we all celebrated.
118 people inside a bubble to break the Guinness Book of World Record.
Mishy playing with the bubbles.
Fan Yang and his co-workers with the owner of Discovery Science Center and the representative from Guinness with his official certificate of his achievement.
After the celebration, Mishy and I headed inside to play. Discovery Science Center is a fun, educational experience. Currently, the temporary exhibit, Sesame Street Presents: The Body, is one of the highlights for us. Throughout the day, visitors are able to meet Elmo. I wrote about our time at the exhibit in another blog post: Elmo, Idolatry, and Never Let Me Go – http://wp.me/pN7Op-iu
Mishy lying on a bed of nails.
After visiting Elmo, we naturally lay on a bed of nails. Mishy went first and she gave me instructions – “Put your arms around yourself like you’re hugging Momma. Put your legs together and don’t move.” She said the nails tickled a little. I told her the nails hurt me. They were sharp. She didn’t find it so.
We then spent time in the earthquake room, took in the Bubblefest show and went back home to Santa Monica. Well, first, Mishy picked out a large T-Rex dinosaur figurine. She hugged it while she dozed off in the car as I drove and missed most of rush hour traffic.
Need more information about Bubblefest? Here’s the link: http://www.discoverycube.org/programs.aspx?q=74
* Natural Traveling Momma is excited to be giving away 4 tickets to see Bubblefest 15: A Mega Dose of Bubbles as well as entry tickets to Discovery Science Center – a retail value of over $100 to one lucky winner. The tickets are for any Bubblefest show on April 21st, 2011. To enter, please comment below. To gain an additional entry, click on to the Discovery Science Center and comment below again. The contest ends on April 12th, 2011 at midnight. Good luck!
We’re Off To See The Wizard In Thousand Oaks!
March 31, 2011
Mishy with "Dorothy."
On Tuesday, Mishy and I were invited o see The Wizard Of Oz at the Thousand Oaks Civic Arts Plaza. This outing was arranged by Field Trips 4 Kids, an organization dedicated to providing quality, educational and entertaining shows for children of all ages. I personally was concerned that The Wizard Of Oz would be a bit scary for Mishy because I remember seeing the movie and the flying monkeys scared me. My husband assured me that if it says it’s for all ages, it’s for all ages and the monkeys don’t exist in the musical version. Just to be sure, I let Mishy know I will hide her face if any scary bits come up. She said that would be fine.
This was our first time at an outing by Field Trips 4 Kids and also the first time Mishy saw a musical. She loved it! She sat on my lap and watch and listened. In between scene changes, she hugged and kissed me for taking her to see the show and then once the scene change was over, she quickly sat back on my lap to continue to be entertained. This musical version was pared down and featured a cast of seven – with all cast members doubling roles, except Dorothy. It featured a multiracial cast who all acted and sang with gusto. The songs were different from the movie version, though they had the same spirit. Mishy wasn’t scared at all and neither were others in the audience. It was a truly fun and entertaining show for all ages.
Mishy giving "Lion" a high five.
After the show, Mishy eagerly rushed to meet all of the actors who were waiting outside to greet the audience. She was fascinated by the Wicked Witch of the West and asked her why she was green – she was born that way. She also asked why she’s so wicked. The answer? “I’m not always wicked. I was just having a bad day.” I was glad to hear even though the characters may be labelled, “wicked” and “good,” in reality, no one is truly “wicked” or “good” and it opened up a discussion with my daughter as we drove home, with a stopover at Noah’s Ark at the Skirball Center – it’s on our way home.
Field Trips 4 Kids has several upcoming shows this year. They include the ballet, Sleeping Beauty, on May 20th, 2011 at 9:30AM and 12 NOON as well as The Super Scientific Funny Stuff Circus on July 13th at 10AM. Tickets are only $10 for groups of 15 or more and $14 for individual tickets. Both shows are recommended for all ages.
Mishy with "Scarecrow" and "Tin Man."
Parking is free and easy – it’s lot parking right by the Thousand Oaks Civic Arts Plaza. On the other side of Thousand Oaks Civic Arts Plaza is a beautiful garden – Gardens of The World, which is free to enter. On the other side of the Thousand Oaks Civic Arts Plaza is a mall with plenty of restaurants and a small playground for the children. Visiting either after seeing a show makes for a full, fun, and educational day.
Details:
Field Trips 4 Kids
http://www.fieldtrips4kids.com/
Gardens Of The World
Leonardo da Vinci’s in Los Angeles
February 23, 2011
Nadine, an amazing homeschooling mother for her varied and fun field trips, organized a field trip for fellow homeschoolers to visit The Da Vinci Exhibit in Hollywood. It’s an interactive exhibit with replicas of many of da Vinci’s inventions. It includes a military gallery, a transportation gallery, and a mechanical gallery. His inventions include a glider, bicycle, water shoes, and a chamber of mirrors – which was Mishy’s favorite invention. (She loved saying hello and good bye to her and my many reflections.) It was fascinating to go through the galleries and see how his inventions are used today – his mechanical pulley invention for elevators, for example. The exhibit isn’t big and we were able to see the entire exhibit in an hour. There is a short film about Leonardo da Vinci – which we missed – Mishy was more interested in pulling the various levers of the inventions and trying to figure out how they worked. The people who work at the exhibit were incredibly enthusiastic and enjoyed having the museum filled with homeschoolers. One even mentioned, it felt like the best part of Thanksgiving – when all the family is there to play.
Parking is inside the Hollywood and Highland Center. It’s $2 for 4 hours of parking. Be sure to get your tickets validated before exiting the exhibit. There are plenty of places to eat in the area – including Chado Tea Room at the h.Wood – I love the simple elegance and restful quality I feel at the various Chado Tea Rooms in the Los Angeles area.
Details:
The Da Vinci Exhibit
Hollywood and Highland Center (across from the Kodak Theatre) 6801 Hollywood Blvd., Hollywood, CA 90024
For additional information and tickets, call: 888 998 4624
The exhibit runs until December 31st, 2011.
I just saw that for the next four days, the exhibit is on sale at perks daily. Here is the link to get $6 admission. The regular price is $18.
Chado Tea Room at H. Wood
Exercise & Idolatry – Elmo Comes To Visit – Hug & Never Let Mishy Go
February 6, 2011
We were invited to a special media event to celebrate Elmo’s third birthday at the Discovery Science Center in Santa Ana. Currently, they have an exhibit – Sesame Street Presents: The Body in support of Michelle Obama’s stance on healthy eating and exercise to prevent childhood obesity in America. We were given a VIP pass where we could meet and take pictures of Elmo. Mishy didn’t want to leave. She loves Elmo. We don’t have a television, but we let her watch some DVDs and Youtube videos. Two Youtube videos she loves is Pizza Elmo and Elmo on the potty. Her time with Elmo and pure delight in seeing him made me think that celebrity idolatry starts young.
The exhibition itself is hands on and interactive that supports ways to eat and exercise to help a child’s healthy growth. Mishy loves to sing the Raffi song right now, “I’m wondering if I’m growing,” so this exhibit has special meaning to her.
This was our first time at the Discovery Center. While it is far from us, there are several exhibits at the center which are worth the drive. Their earthquake room – with three buttons to push that stimulates difference earthquakes and a video monitor that explains three different earthquakes was fun for my daughter who loves shakes. She laughed while she was sitting in the room while some adults were clearly nervous. Their outdoor rocket exhibit where children can launch rockets into space by using different methods was a particular favorite of mine. I also enjoyed the hand pump which stimulates how blood flows, that is located on the second floor.
Parking is $4 and it is located off the 1-5. Elmo will be visiting every Saturday and Sunday during the run of the Sesame Street Presents: The Body exhibit – which runs to April 2011.
Details:
Natural Traveling Momma Blog 