Today we enjoyed a nice morning and afternoon at Highland Retreat Camp in Bergton, VA. Our church was meeting there for worship service this morning, and just as we left Broadway, it began to rain. It rained throughout the service (which was held under open shelter), and it was really quite peaceful to sit there and listen to the rain, enjoying the beauty of God's creation while participating in worship. The rain ended just as the service ended, and we enjoyed a delicious potluck meal together.
Afterward, the girls took us on a short hike around the camp. Hannah and Sophie had spent the previous week at Highland for a day camp, and they both thought they were experts. Hannah was surprised to learn that I attended camp there when I was young and actually knew my way around. We hiked first to the mountain swing, which is a grand swing that takes you out over the treetops. Then we hiked to the pond. Along the way we stopped for play in the creek, as catching minnows there is always a fun past-time.
Catching minnows in the creek
Our catch
Sophie on the mountain swing
Hannah taking her turn. It's more fun upside down!
This is the first year that we've had a full-fledged garden, and we are enjoying eating all the fresh produce. It's so easy to eat healthy in the summertime! I joke that I've made everything there is to make with squash and zucchini! I've frozen it in shredded and chopped form (for later use), made zucchini bread, made (and frozen) squash casserole, roasted zucchini and squash, sauteed them, and discovered a new favorite, squash and zucchini "chips," made by dehydrating sliced zucchini and squash on a low temperature in the oven. I like to season them with garlic powder and a little salt. The finished product is yummy to dip in salsa, hummus, or to eat plain.
Here's a video (created using Animoto, which I learned in my class this week) of images of our garden. Enjoy!
Check out GoAnimate to create animations in scenes (kind of like a comic strip but with talking and action). Here's an animation I created that shows what an evening in the Hendricks household might be like ten years from now.
Another assignment for my class is to create a Voki, an animated Avatar. My brain is whirling thinking about the possible educational uses for this tool in the classroom.
This week I am taking a technology class through EMU and held at the Shenandoah County School Board Office. This is my third day of the class, and it has been incredibly beneficial so far. I am learning about so many wonderful technology tools that can be used in the classroom to engage students in learning course material. Here's a sampling of what I've done so far:
created a podcast about the life and prophecy of Isaiah (for my 8th grade OT Bible class) using the free audio program Audacity
created a digital story about the Paleolithic art found in the Lascaux Cave in France (for my 7th grade World History class) using Microsoft's PhotoStory 3
learned how to edit photos using a free online photo editor at Picnik.com
While I am at school this week, Hannah and Sophie are enjoying attending Day Camp at Highland Retreat in Bergton, VA. They are enjoying swimming, hiking, playing in the creek, catching minnows, playing games, and fixing their lunch over the fire. Our church services will also be held at Highland this weekend, so they are getting their fill of life in the "wilderness" this week! Special thanks to Grandma Elly for driving them back and forth to camp while I attend classes.
Welcome to the Hendricks' family blog, where we challenge you to keep up with the Hendricks! Check here to find periodic news about what we're up to and photos of our escapades and daily life. We hope you enjoy Keeping Up With the Hendricks!
