Farmer Boy and J (and some friends)

This school year we are going to read through the nine books written by Laura Ingalls Wilder about her growing up on the prairie. The first book written was actually "Little House in the Big Woods." We decided to start with her second book, "Farmer Boy" which is about her husband's childhood in upstate New York.

The reason we began with that book is that Almanzo's childhood home is now a museum and will close at the end of September. Since it's relatively nearby, we decided a Road Trip was in order! I invited another homeschooling mom and her lovely daughters to join together for this trip and off we went.

(As a side note, we visited the farm back in 2008.  I wrote a tear-wrenching saga regarding a huge disappointment that I experienced on that trip.  If you'd like to read that post, click HERE.  Please have your tissue box nearby.)

The house is the original restored structure. We were able to tour the inside of the house which is furnished as it would have been when Almanzo lived there. It was so wonderful to see the layout and recall passages from the book as we went around. (Picture from the website. I forgot to take one.)

If you've read the book, here is the stove placement between the parlor and the dining room. This was where Almanzo was when his sister pushed him too much and he responded by...well, I'll just let you read the book if you don't know the reference! (Picture from the website. I wasn't allowed to take any pics inside the house.)

The barns in the back of the house are reconstructed (the originals having burned many years ago). You can't see it in the picture, but the barns were built in a U-shaped pattern with a tall fence in the back that created a penned area for the stock in the winter. We saw where Blossom, Starlight, Lucy, Star and Bright were all housed. The whole farm is so ingeniously laid out and self-sufficient it (almost) made me want to homestead. Almost. (Picture from the website. Now I wished I HAD gotten one to show the cool plan. Another day, another road trip.)

Having stepped back in time, J tried on a straw hat and was instantly transformed into Almanzo II. (By the way, his name was pronounced "Al-MAN-zo." The TV series had it wrong.)

After the tour and a delicious picnic lunch, we crossed the road to see the Trout River where Almanzo and his father fished. Can you tell the youngins were a bit excited? Can you feel the energy zipping in the air?

"Wait!" declared J. In their minds they were all back in 1866 and he felt the need to remind the girls that they were wearing hoopskirts and should be careful when walking to the river. He's a cautious boy.

That lasted until we got to the river and it was discovered that many rocks were available for chucking. J was working on a small boulder while the girls collected their missiles.

Before we left, the children gazed upon the river with thoughts of 1866 in their minds. They were sad to go. They wanted to buy the house and live in it. I said no.

If you'd like to see more about the Wilder homestead, click HERE.

Swimming like a (beginner) fish

On our trip to Plymouth, we made it a point to stay at a hotel that had a pool. J has felt timid in the past about anything to do with swimming. Sure, it's fun to be in the water, but inserting the ENTIRE body under the water has eluded him. We hoped that he would find a new level of confidence on this trip.

First off, the gear. It's important to be properly suited up for this endeavor. Equipment check: A way to keep water out of the eyes? Affirmative. A way to continue to breathe as God intended humans to do? Affirmative.



Let's test this mask out and see if the water stays where it's supposed to:

Amazing! I'm under the water and I can breathe! What will they think of next?

Let us pause for a joyful thrashing about in the water in honor of these revelations.

Testing out the fancy footwork. Yes, all seems to be in order.

With all this proof that I won't drown, I wonder if I can put my head under that water and survive? I'll hang on to the edge of the pool just in case we have a malfunction.

I did it! No drowning occurred! Perhaps this pool stuff CAN be fun!

This verifies what my parents have been telling me. (For years). I suppose I should have believed them. (Yes.) They've proven trustworthy in the past. (Ya think?) I think I will receive their words as completely true in the future! (Finally.)

Except when they tell me that broccoli tastes good.

Happy (Educational) Thanksgiving

We're doing Thanksgiving a bit differently this year.

We are currently sitting in a hotel room watching the parade. Guess where? Plymouth, Massachusetts. We arrived yesterday and, while traveling, went back in time to 1620.

Our van transformed into this vessel:

As we came aboard, J was selected to help out on deck. First job was learning to swab:

Then he and L helped to "batten the hatches." Below those hatches is the 'tween deck. That's where we (all 102 of us) will be living throughout the voyage. Only the crew is allowed on deck for the most part.

Below I attempt to create a "cabin" area for our family. The curtains provide a bit of privacy, but 100+ people, 40 of them children, will make for a dark, noisy, smelly situation.

Finally, after 66 days, we arrive. The Native People are reasonably friendly considering that some of their group had been kidnapped five years earlier by other Europeans. We stay on the ship for the winter. By spring, half of the Mayflower's inhabitants are dead. The men that are healthy enough begin work on the shelter needs.

This house size would be comfortable for a family of six.

Some of the men pause in their work as they discuss the important matters of the colony.

Only four married women survived the winter. As each dwelling is completed, we begin to make it as homey as possible. The curtains provide privacy and a bit of warmth, but it is very, very cold in the house. The Native People live in what they call a Wetu. They are considerably warmer because they use woven mats on the wall to trap the heat as it rises. Perhaps I can construct something like that for our walls . . .

Despite the friendliness shown by the Native People, it is still wise for us to be wary. Other tribes in the area are not fond of the fact that we are here. Armor needs to be at the ready.

These strafing guns are positioned so that the streets can be defended if there is an invasion.

Despite the constant concern about attack, we must continue to prepare our homes and take care of our livestock. Each adult 16 and over will be granted 100 acres of land. J, being 8, will be granted 47 acres. It takes only 2 acres to feed four people, so the extra land will take quite some time to cultivate. That means we have land to pass down to our descendants. In Holland we lived in poverty. In this new land we have the potential to live like kings!

Fresh eggs from the chickens that wander about the town are much appreciated.

For those who have survived, life is good. We have much to be thankful for. We are blessed.

(Returning to 2010 . . .)

What a contrast. I'm typing this on a wireless computer while sitting in a climate-controlled hotel room. We just finished watching the parade. Life is filled with comfort and ease and I am grateful for all that I have. More than that, though, I am grateful for the people in my life.

No matter what the circumstances--I am blessed.

Goin' to the Fair!

In our neck of the woods, the fair arrives for Labor Day weekend. It's a combination of agricultural-type stuff and the carnival. We enjoy both, though I'm partial to the animals. And the food. And the rides. OK, I guess I like it all!

These are entries for the vegetables. The youngins were mildly impressed. When we got to the "largest" vegetables competition, though, things picked up for them. (Unfortunately, no pics.)



Next was getting to enjoy the baby animals. These piglets were taking a nap.

An opportunity to milk "Bossy." The cornstalk yielded a volunteer.

This was really cool. They had REAL tigers and a lion doing tricks. This was the closest I've been to these animals in a long time. Very impressive.

This big boy is TALLER than the (already tall) trainer. Very happy the fencing is there. Very happy.

This was a nice, safe ride. The other boy and J were enjoying the echo-effect of the bear's belly. A lot.

What is this? It looks quite tall. Stories and stories high. J probably won't want to go on this.

Dizzying heights, I tell you. Definitely, J won't like this one.

J liked this one. So did Miss Girl. What is this world coming to? Aunt T and I were skeptical. Daddy/Uncle L was inclined to agree with J and Miss Girl and offered to accompany them.

As Aunt T and I watched the bucket ascend, we noticed bodies flopping around from seat to seat as pictures were being taken. This did not bring comfort to the ground-bound mamas.

Still going up. Can you see me and Aunt T? We're right there in front of that middle building. Hyperventilating.

Ahh. The view from the top. Lovely.

After this ride, J wanted to go on a space ship that went so fast it held the bodies against the sides. Miss Girl wanted to go on a roller coaster.

Maybe next year when Aunt T and I are older.

Field Trip #2

We JUST returned from this trip.  We really did stay home for a month between excursions.

 

For this outing we decided to go to Lake Placid and Ausable Chasm.  Since it rained the first day we thought it best to go somewhere INside.

 

We went way up into the mountains to the place where the 1932 and the 1980 Winter Olympics were held.  One of the famous names in 1932 was Sonja Henie.  Here are her PINK (yes!) skates:

 

 

She was so popular they even had song sheets with her picture:

 

 

The rink where Sonja skated her way into the history books is open for everyone to use.   It isn't the actual ice of course (77 year old ice--yuck), but it is the very place.  Next to that rink was a building that housed the 1980 Games.  The museum was in this building:

 

 

Each Winter Olympics has a mascot.  The Lake Placid 1980 Olympics had "Roni the Racoon."  This is the actual costume worn at the games:

 

 

From the front of the building you can see the national flags and the oval speedskating rink where Eric Heiden won FOUR of the five gold medals for the United States that year.  (For those who remember Eric, let me just point out that he is now 51 years old.  I'm sorry to do that to you.)

 

 

The fifth gold medal was won by the "Miracle on Ice" guys.  A hockey team made up of college boys who took the world by surprise.  Here are the doors...

 

 

...Leading to the rink...

 

 

...where the US gold medal was won by THESE guys:

 

 

We emerged from Memory Lane, did a little shopping and headed back to the campground.  The next day was 72 degrees, and lightly overcast, so we decided to see another gorge.  We like big holes in the ground.  This time it was called a chasm. Ausable Chasm.  It was, of course, amazing:

 

 

J's favorite formation was "Elephant Head."  If you'd like to see more of the formations, click on the link above.

 

 

Now, I was very much enjoying the hike.  We descended 80 feet to the river and were able to walk along with a lovely light breeze keeping us comfortable.  Comfort.  I like comfort.  There was a gentle smile on my mosquito bitten face.  Life was good.  Then, I was informed that we would be rafting on said river.  Oh.

 

Here are the strangers in the front of our raft.  Notice the thick life vests.  Evidently it was also 80 feet DEEP in some places.  And, I was told, there would be a small rapid.  Oh, again. 

 

 

Our confident 20-year-old guide assured me that all would be well.  He also gave me instructions on what to do should we capsize.  I was not amused.  The picture below is how our faces looked as the rapid (small) appeared in front of us.

  (NOTE:  That is a picture of me.  Yes, it is.  It counts.  Yes, it does.)

 

 

I have to say that it was fun, even the (small) rapid.  At the end of the ride J announced he wanted to go again.  I agreed.  My gentle smile returned.  I scratched my itchy bites and decided that, indeed, life is good.