Daisy Field Trip: Build A Bear

Saturday was a big day for Girl Scout Troop 5097. The girls sold cookies all winter. In order to celebrate all of their hard work and spend their money, the troop planned a field trip to Charleston. The first stop on their day was a visit to the Build a Bear Workshop. Each girl chose an animal to become their new love.

Bethany chose a sweet little brown rabbit with pink ears. She named her bunny Katie. The girls chose the animal body, made wishes on the animal's heart, stuffed the body, and washed and dressed them. They played many games while waiting for the store party clerks to stuff and sew the animals. The girls all has a splendid time at the workshop.

Bethany was really happy when she made her wish on her Bunny's "I love you" heart. Bethany wished for $100. She would then go all around the world, and give poor people money. The little hearts were then slipped into the animals bodies before they were stuffed.

Molly is also a Daisy this year. Molly wanted them to have matching bunnies. Bethany picked the bunny, so Molly wanted one too. In the end, the bunnies had matching pink outfits. Molly did choose pink bows for her bunny's ears. Molly named her bunny Sara. The bunnies were like identical twins, with different personalities.

Lumoanya

Sunday morning, Bethany rolled over on to me in the bed, and woke me up out of a sound sleep because she was on fire. She had been coughing in the night, so I knew she wasn't feeling well. I immediately took her temperature. It was 102 degrees. She had a cold, so I figured it was her ears. She is prone to ear infections, and has had two already since Christmas.

I decided to take Bethany to the Urgent Care in Liberty Square. Jeanne had gone there recently, and she said there was not much of a wait. We signed into the waiting room just past noon.

Bethany now had a temperature of 103. She was pitiful. I held her for four hours waiting for the doctor. Yes, I did say four hours until the doctor came. I enjoyed holding her for the first couple of hours because she never lets me hold her anymore. She slept most of the time, waking only to ask how long we had been there.

We were put into this little brown room with absolutely no decorations, no magazines, no mental stimulation what so ever. I started having arm cramps, leg cramps, back cramps, and mental hysteria about hour number three. Forty pounds is really hard to hold onto after awhile.

The medical staff tested Bethany for the flu and strep throat. The doctor came in after four o'clock. He was excellent. I suppose I will forgive him for the wait. He was super with Bethany, and answered all of my questions. He said Bethany has pneumonia, which Bethany says, "Lumoanya". She will have to take an antibiotic, and be out of school this week. She is feeling much better today. She is still coughing and has a runny nose. The fever went away last night sometime. She is much more chipper today. She is up, and playing around. She is checking her temperature often, and reports the numbers to me.

Natalie and Bethany are Bouncing Buddies

During our visit home, Jeanne took us to a new place in Barboursville called Pump it Up! The girls spent the morning bouncing around on seven different inflatables all inside a pleasant building. The building has a seating area for parties and parents. Snack machines are available for drinks.

This is an awesome way to spend a morning on a dreary cold day, or an incredibly hot summer afternoon. I am really excited about this being available for the kids. I could not determine an age limit for the facility. Most of the kids were no older than early elementary age. The weight limit on the inflatables was 150 pounds and height limit was 5 feet. I am guessing the kids can go until the end of elementary when most of them will be approaching the five feet mark.

The entrance fee was seven dollars. The schedule is odd. They have what is called pop in times on Thursday and Friday mornings right now. It would be best to call ahead if you are interested in going with your children. It is off of Route 60. Take the Merritt's Creek exit, and drive past the Target shopping center for a bit. It is located in a warehouse looking building on the left.

An Egg Hunting Weekend

The weekend following Easter was the weekend of egg hunts. Natalie and Bethany hid eggs in the house and outside the house multiple times. We hunted eggs all day and all night. Bethany was really good at hiding eggs. We lost a couple of eggs, which Grandma will find someday in the house.

Papa got in on the fun during our last egg hunt of the weekend. It was very warm and sunny on Saturday. We spent a pleasant hour or two hunting and hiding in the backyard.

This is a back porch swing picture of the family on Egg Hunting weekend. Bethany says she likes hiding eggs before the hunt because, "It is fun, and I get to have some alone time."

The Windmills

One of our stops during our Spring break trip was the foot of one of these gigantic windmills, which are producing electricity in the Cannan Valley, Blackwater Falls area. There is a lot of debate about whether these windmills are beneficial or not to our world. They do produce clean energy. The world is trying to solve the problem of diminishing fuel sources and carbon dioxide production leading to global warming. The windmills appear to be a viable way to be a source of "good" energy. However, they are causing other environmental problems by slicing up bats and birds as they travel through the area. Migratory birds use the ridge as a travel path because of the air currents, which is exactly why the windmills were put there in the first place. Here is a website that has a discussion about the windmills: http://www.heartland.org/policybot/results/15553/Windmills_Ruining_Scenic_Views_Producing_Killing_Fields.html

Miles, Stones, and Milestones Part III

An Easter Sunday drive to Dolly Sods resulted in a spur of the moment trip to Smokehole Caverns. Brian's only wish for the Easter weekend trip was to visit Dolly Sods. It rained all day Saturday, so we didn't do any roaming around that day. Sunday was a clear cool and sunny. We decided to drive up to Dolly Sods to see the view. We drove almost there, only to find the road closed. We were disappointed, and decided to come off the mountain a different way, than we had come. The different route landed us on the road to Petersburg, and we just happened by Smokehole Caverns. We decided to stop in for a look.
It was very pleasant in the cave, which stays at a constant temperature of 56 degrees. We had a guided tour of the cave. We saw many beautiful stalactites and stalagmites. The white colorations indicate the mineral calcite, gray colors are supposed to contain magnesium, and the reddish hues are compounds containing iron.

This mound seems uneventful in the picture, but it is an artesian spring. You can barely see the water bubbling up in the center of the stone. Water was flowing down the sides. In the cave you could see just a bit of a large underground lake. The cave managers kept some golden trout in the lake with colored lights. They called it the rainbow falls.

One of the most interesting features in the cave, I could not get a clear picture of even though I tried numerous times was a vertical wall of rock layers. Layers of rock are laid down horizontally when they form. This wall of vertical layers was pushed up when the mountains were formed. It was really awesome to see rocks turned up like that inside the earth. The website for Smokehole Caverns is www.smokehole.com. There are incredible features in the cave that no camera could ever capture, such as little brown bats and crystal coral. It is something which is difficult to describe in words and pictures. It should be experienced. If you get the opportunity visit the cave, you will enjoy the adventure.

Miles, Stones, and Milestones Part II

The Purple Fiddle is fabulous folksy fun. Located in Thomas, West Virginia, the Purple Fiddle is a center of musical artistry and family dining. The establishment serves unique meals. I had the Green thumbs wrap, which had a layer of humus, cucumber, shredded carrots, and greens. It was quite yummy. Bethany had a peanut butter and jelly wrap. Brian had a roast beef sandwich. Beverages were of interest too. I had apple cider, and Bethany had a Chai Latte. The atmosphere was old general store in appearance. The tables were a collection of anything and everything from the last one hundred years of furniture manufacturing with a wide assortment of chairs and stools. There were some church pews and old movie theater seats too. Little children gathered for the show on the church pew, and wrapped themselves in grandma made afghans, eating homemade ice cream in sugar cones.

The Purple Fiddle hosts a different band every weekend evening. The Matthew Lambert band was there the evening we went. The first part of the show was Matthew playing by himself, and
Bethany really enjoyed it. The second a half of the show the whole band played including drums, bass, guitars, harmonica, and a mandolin. Bethany was getting tired, and the volume of music overwhelmed her a bit. We stayed for a whole hour, which was amazing to me that she was interested for that long. My favorite song of the whole evening was one Matthew had written about being single in Tucker County, called "City Girl come visit me in the Country." We really had a nice time. We definitely plan a return visit in the future. We left the Purple Fiddle, and returned to the lodge. Bethany went to bed right away because the Easter Bunny was going to come. She wanted to sleep in her clothes. I let her. :)

Miles, Stones, and Milestones Part I

Our Easter adventures began Good Friday afternoon. I was at school sitting through meetings and fighting a horrible cold. Brian and Bethany were out doing last minute chores. Our plan was to leave around two o'clock for Blackwater Falls. I was released from school and traveled home to pack. Brian called to say Bethany couldn't get her hair cut because she had lice. Well, being the educator that I am I was upset, but prepared. I had purchased a shampoo at the beginning of school, so that when Bethany did come home with lice I wouldn't have to go shopping. I didn't want to be going to Walmart in the middle of the night. I, however, didn't anticipate two things. First, how my own head would start itching convincing me that I too had lice. And secondly, I was not aware that those people who have allergy to ragweed and are asthmatic should not use the type of lice shampoo with the pesticide in it I had bought. Bethany has both of these issues, so I sent Brian to the store for different and more lice killer. Bethany remained incredibly calm, even though it was her with bugs in her hair. While he was gone I started stripping beds and gathering up pillows and blankets. Upon his return our debugging ordeal continued with applying shampoos and combing out every last bug and nit. Bethany was extremely interested in the little animals, so we got out a magnifying lens and checked them out. They are better looking than fleas. Brian took his turn at the lice ridding efforts by treating me. He didn't see anything on my head, but I still feel like I've got critters on me. I suffer a bit from paranoia at times.

Our departure from Bridgeport was delayed from two o'clock to eight o'clock that evening. We still managed to attend a Good Friday walk at our church. Each part of the story leading to Jesus's death was put into a touch and see station. The stations were put together very solemnly with great care to detail and art. I could not get any pictures because it was a time of worship, not a tourist attraction. Small groups traveled with a narrator through seven or so stops. When we got to the station with the cross. We were to hammer a hand onto the cross with a prayer. Bethany began weeping. She was so upset that her Jesus had been nailed to this thing. Her little heart was broken. The last station was communion. The pastor gave us a history lesson about the passover meals. He said that the meals included at least ten grown men, so that All of the lamb could be eaten. The whole sacrifice had to be consumed. I had never heard that bit of information before. He also gave us communion cups made of olive wood he had purchased when he had gone to Israel. Bethany felt better after communion.

We ate dinner at McDonald's before we left Bridgeport to travel to Blackwater Falls. Bethany and I watched her new movie,"The Tale of Despereaux", she had received from Gigi in her Easter basket from her. I kept falling asleep watching the movie. What I saw of it, it was a nice little film. By the time the movie was over we were in Blackwater Falls. We checked in, and went to bed exhausted from the miles we had traveled on Friday.

The skies were gray, foggy, and rainy Saturday morning. My college friend, Karen, met us for brunch at the lodge. We played a rhyming Dr. Seuss game by the fire. Bethany was introduced to the game of Ping Pong. We attended an Easter egg hunt hosted by the Easter Bunny. Bethany ran all over a soggy wet field with Karen's niece, Clare, collecting eggs. Bethany had her picture made with the Easter Bunny. She played hide and go seek with some random little girls she met at the nature center. Little children are so friendly, they just play with everyone. The encounter went something like this. "Hi, I'm Bethany. Want to play hide and seek?" The little girl responded, "Sure, count to a hundred. We'll hide first." Off she and her little sister went, and a twenty minute game began. Brian, Karen, and I chatted while they played until the Easter Bunny went home, so we thought we better go too. Despite the rain, we had a splendid time together that afternoon.

Palm Sunday

We have been attending Bridgeport United Methodist Church. They are having several activities to celebrate Easter. Last Sunday was Palm Sunday, and there was an Easter egg hunt for the children, and a donkey was present in the yard before and after church. The children carried in palm branches to the alter before the service began.
The donkey's fur was very interesting. It was soft, but very coarse. The donkey was so very patient. At one point, probably ten kids were trying to touch the animal at the same time.

Maple Lake Easter Party

On Saturday, Bethany and I attended the Maple Lake Easter Party. We had a fantastic time. I was greatly impressed with the thought, and care put into the event for the children of the community. Bethany collected many colored eggs with treats inside during the Easter egg hunt around the lake.
There were craft tables set up for the children to make things to take home. One table had items to make a bunny puppet. Another table was set up for plastic egg chicks, and there was a table for play dough and cookie cutters.

The Easter Bunny made an appearance at the party. He gave every child a treat from his basket. Bethany chose a piece of bubble gum. She was sad that he didn't pat her on the head, like he did some other children.
A beautiful table was set up with refreshments for the party. There were pepperoni rolls, fruit, vegetables, assorted cookies, chips, and this beautiful bunny cake.
This egg decoration is an edible arrangement of chocolate covered marshmallows. The birds nest cookies around it were very tasty. I ate three!

The hall was decorated with all sorts of spring decorations. There was a tree with eggs on it in front of the fire place, which had a spring wreath and rabbits adorning it. The ceiling had these giant cut outs of flowers and animals.

The porch was decorated too. Bethany stopped on the bench to investigate her loot from the hunt. I took her picture between these rabbits.

We played on the playground with the kids for an hour after the party. Bethany met two very nice little girls, who we hope to play with a lot this summer. We had a great time on Saturday!

Playing Beauty Parlor

Friday evening after school, we had an adventure with Molly and Bethany. Trina and I took the girls for a surprise trip to the Beauty College in Clarksburg. The students at the college are always looking for people on which to practice their hair styling skills.

Bethany decided she wanted her finger nails painted pink, and her hair curled like Sleeping Beauty.

Molly wanted her nails pink too, but wanted her hair like Cinderella.

The girls were very excited to get out of the chairs, by the time their hair was curled. And they were very hungry too. So we went to Minard's again for dinner with our two little sweethearts, who ate spaghetti and meatballs. A pleasant evening was had by all. Molly was exhausted and fell asleep on the way home.

Bethany went to spend the night with Grandma in Weston, and fell asleep on her own by nine o'clock. She was truly a Sleeping Beauty.

Water Fowl Update

When we moved into Maple Lake two white ducks were in residence. They would visit our yard almost daily and forage for edibles. Winter came, and things were difficult for people and animals. At some point, there was only one white duck. The lonely white duck wandered around by herself for awhile before befriending the geese. The geese were friendly, but there was still a void in her little ducky life. In the last few weeks the white duck has befriended this Mallard duck. They are inseparable. The Mallard is never more than a few feet from the Lonely White duck. He swims as fast as he can to keep up.

Bethany and Brian saw the Herring this week in the early morning with another Herring! So, we have a Herring pair! I am so excited about this. We might get a Herring nest built with Herring chicks. I haven't seen them, yet. I might just go on a Herring hunt some morning.

Songs of Spring

When I was a child one of my favorite spring memories is going for walks at night with my folks around our neighborhood. A creek runs through the development in which Spring Peepers come to mate every spring. The males sing their little songs in hopes of finding a friend. Their little love songs are so cheerful and bright. The peepers herald in the spring season with a happy melody. If you want to hear them this website has a recording: http://www.dnr.state.md.us/wildlife/northern_spring_peeper.html

A second vivid spring peeper memory occurred during my days at Glenville State College. I can not remember if it was my Sophomore or Junior year, but one of the two I took Vertebrate Zoology. We had to collect animals from all the different categories and preserve them. It was quite the gruesome task. One evening my friend, Mountain Man, and I went looking for amphibians. We found a marsh-like area behind Foodland in town, where there were hundreds of frogs. Mountain Man collected a couple dozen of the little creatures for his zoology collection, and I'm sure to feed his snakes. He put the frogs on his desk next to the window. They sang out for several nights in the courtyard of the dorm. We could all hear them because we did not have air conditioning in the dorms, so our windows were open year round.

I was reminded of these happy memories when I was driving home from yoga on Wednesday night this week. I zoomed past a ditch with a chorus of peepers, and I got really homesick for a walk with my folks for a few minutes. I hope I can find a place to let Bethany hear Spring Peepers this spring. The water moves too fast here at the lake, and there is not much vegetative cover for them since the caretaker keeps the grass mowed down. Maybe we will have a frog quest this season. There are so many different and interesting frog songs. Toads sing too. Happy Listening!