Story: The Three Robbers

This is my first story book video. I chose this book because it was a favourite with my own children and I have never seen any reprints of it. This means that few children will have ever heard the story and that is a shame because it speaks to our present age as well as having powerful visual illustrations that touch the emotions deeply. Click here to have me read this story to you.

Moorhens and Guests

The Moorhens are the birds with the blue feathers. They are waders in that they don't have webbed feet like ducks, swans and Eurasian Coots (the birds with the white beaks). There are also cute little Eurasian Coot chicks swimming about as well. This time I made a seven minute movie of this visit to the wetland, called ‘Moorhens and their Guests’ and include the famous scherzo from Litolff's Concerto Symphonique No. 4 to create a nice lively mood. You can access the video here.

Internet Woodcraft

I have worked toward creating a woodcraft experience for children that is somewhat online except for having to go out and purchase the materials and physically make the puzzle pieces. 

So is it really online? People are able to leave their homes and purchase the things they need from the shopping centres. The wooden cubes and the glue are easy to obtain from the variety shops that are quite prevalent. That part is not online. 

The instructions are online. The results can be shared online. Children need some physical activity away from online gaming and this project offers physical "hands on" time, creating the seven puzzle pieces which then leads into a new activity - figuring out the puzzle. It can even become an economical gift to paint to give to someone afterward. That's two activities in one and can be shared by a number of family members during these days of relative isolation. Enjoy.

Eurasian Coot Chicks

It seems right to start this new blog series with something about what's happening at the wetlands close by to where I live. Only a few days before this video footage was taken, four little Eurasian Coot chicks had hatched and they were out and about on the wetland lake. If you notice, one or two of these chicks were particularly clingily and mother (or father) s/he was occasionally frustrated by the attention. I edited what I filmed into one movie with music composed by my brother. You can access this under four minute movie here. The chicks are very cute.