Apple Valley Escape

This week Palenque school has taken learning on the road for a little R&R and family time. Which to us means so much more discussion than normal because we have so many more things to look at and ask questions about! We came to a little hide away in Southern Utah called Apple Valley and have been spending most of our time enjoying the geology and red buttes in front of us. Our window looks out on Smithsonian Butte. A great introduction to everything we've been doing since arriving, basically diving into fossils and science! It seems to be our specialty lately. 

On the first morning here there was snow melting and large redrock boulders just a few feet from our window. Ada and I watched the little birds drinking from the melting snow. On top of the rocks were rounded out bowls where the snow melted creating natural bird baths. Ada watched and wondered what kind of bird they were, she thinks they're finches. I think we'll find that out today...But it opens up the question of how the natural bowl forms were created...Possibly we had just watched how it happens.

We brought bikes with us, as the weather is generally better here. Ada has fixed up her bike all on her own, adding a basket and lights and adjusting the seat. And Leonardo got a new bike! His previous tricycle was just too small and had a flat when we left home so he acquired one when we went to Walmart. It's blue! His favorite color. 

Astor has been spending most of his time Rockhounding! Papa created an adventure kit with a small hammer/axe, magnifying glass, brush and carrying case. We've been observing the sandstone and used our tools to open up a few, noting that younger sandstone holds more moisture and even found some fungus or the beginning of a lichen growing on the inside of the sandstone on one of our hikes. 

Nahuel is enjoying all of the games and things the house we're renting has to offer. Foosball, pingpong, legos...and a game of Chess with Papa. Astor got in on the fun with chess too and has been learning some new chess skills practicing on Papa's tablet so he can beat Papa some day.

Yesterday we took to the hills and found a nice secluded spot to hike, It's great to be here in the winter when the only people out enjoying the scenary are the locals. We went to Water Canyon, where we had most of the hike to ourselves. But one of the fellow hikers was a beautiful chestnut horse! Talking to it's owner we found out that he was a rescued mustang that is well versed in climbing canyon rocks and though sweaty, was obedient in the narrow jagged passageways. 

We took a few pauses in our hike to look at the rock formations and discuss how different things were made, specifically the rocks that had lichens vs. those that didn't, why certain rocks had slanted seems while others were horizontal. 

We discussed plant materials and helped the kids understand the different things they found. Astor found 'porcupine needles' that were actually from the ponderosa pine trees. Leonardo found 'rose bushes' that had thorns that were actually blackberry brambles.