creek tale

 bark boat, one of a huge fleet from this week

When we were looking for a home in the country, we hoped for a creek running through it. A bubbling brook seemed to complete our romantic notions of rural life. We got our wish! Our creek(s) have been a magical part of every season over the last 9 years. Water and children go together. In fact, we hosted "creek life" science programs during our homeschooling years. Even now, at the first sign of spring, kids start arriving at our place for playdates creek-dates with tall boots and a change of clothes. This past week was gorgeous, and I've spent  every day  guiding children of mixed ages (and comfort levels with raw nature)out in the wilds of our land. (and taking thousands of photos!)

 through the meadow to the forest

The trail through the woods is beautiful, but rugged: roots and logs to climb over and under... sharp brambles of wild roses and raspberries line the trail and reach out to snag you when you're not looking.

 daughter with dad last weekend

There's a tiny, but  muddy, creek to ford before you get to the main one... and then the adventures really begin! Yesterday we had our biggest "adventure" yet. Settle in...  I have a tale to tell!
The day was hot. Over 80 degrees! My son and his buddy (referred to as Buddy from here on) went running through the woods in search of thrills and getting wet.

 I followed along with my daughter and her little friend at a slower pace.We crossed the log bridge and scrambled along the slippery bank, walking straight through the water at times.

I could feel how frigid the creek was through my boots. This time of year is not meant for swimming in fresh water... too cold, but a little splashing is harmless. By the time we reached the boys, they had made it to a little swimming hole and jumped in. They were soaked to the skin and ecstatic, triumphant in their success at getting as wet as possible. We cheered for them, but I told them, "one more jump and you're running back for dry clothes... immediately." I said this calmly with a smile. I knew it was cold, but they were fine and having so much fun. I'll never forget that next moment. They jumped.

 My son slipped under. When he came up he screamed... not from the cold... "my glasses!!" They were gone... sunk to the bottom of waist-deep water, churned to a deep brown from so much splashing. Panic. He couldn't see well enough to search. Buddy started looking frantically. "Stay right there girls," I said and waded in. The water felt like needles as it poured over the top of my boots and seeped up my thighs. I tried to see the floor of the creek bed. Nothing. I reached my hand down to the bottom and fumbled over rocks in vain. Once the water hit my chest, I knew it was far too cold for those boys to be in any longer. All of this only lasted a matter of minutes, but that was long enough to start having visions of hypothermia. I ordered the boys out of the water and through the short cut. "Run!Run! Get out of those wet clothes!" I yelled as I carried the girls across a shallower section. As we did our own running, more like shivery sloshing on my part, I thought about the price of this loss. My son had his old pair of glasses as a back up... not great, but ok until we could get to the optometrist. The cost of replacing both the lenses and frames kept making little cash register cha-ching sounds in my brain. We had to go back. We had to at least LOOK, calmly and in dry clothes, for those glasses.But we needed a device to see under the water. Not goggles. Putting our faces in was out of the question. We needed an aqua scope!! I had been meaning to make one with the kids for years. I shared my idea with the girls as we wound our way home and we all felt happier just knowing there was a plan. By the time we gathered at the picnic table (warm and dry) with our supplies, the panic had turned to purpose... and science. I've never experienced children working together with so much passion, motivation, and concentration. They were making something useful, worthwhile... and they knew it.  Together, the boys made two improvised aqua scopes with materials on hand. I did the sharp cutting. I wasn't in the mood for accidents. The girls were right at their big brothers' sides, both wearing that universal expression of total admiration that younger siblings all seem to share.

 A tutorial will follow this post...everyone needs an aqua scope! We returned to the scene with our water devices. The boys were thrilled when they first looked through their scopes...with cries of "these are amazing!" and "they really work!".

 But even though they could now see to the bottom, no glasses. And then... could it be... maybe? Both went back in deeper to confirm.

 YES!! Buddy, or shall we say Hero as we called him for the rest of the day, dove down and retrieved the glasses!! Elation! Followed by more dry clothes, grilled cheese sandwiches, and celebration smoothies!

A new chapter to add to our list of creek stories...