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So, last night we went to see an interpretive storyteller portray Mary Hays, better known as Molly Pitcher. Fantastic. The presentation also focused on the women "who belonged to the army" by following their husbands during the American Revolution. Through her "memories" she revisited the winter in Valley Forge, the "march", and then the Battle of Monmouth. She debunked some of the myth and the legend. Did you know that her husband neither died nor was wounded at the Battle of Monmouth? Did you know that eventually she received a military pension for HER service...NOT her husband's service. It was a wonderful portrayal. Later this week, I am going to take Ginger to Monmouth Battlefield to see the ridge where she ran the ammunition and the stream where she collected water. "Living" history...I love it. Here is a picture of Molly Pitcher as Ginger holds her ramrod. (I just wish I would have thought to ask Molly to put on her hat and pack again.)
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Today, Ginger and I took a ride to "Historic Smithville Village" where they had a Civil War encampment taking place. There was no "battle", just a living history demonstration. Ginger learned quite a few things today. We have not studied the Civil War yet, but she left knowing:
All in all, for not yet studying ANY American History, I think she had a pretty productive day.
The commander gives his talk about his regiment. The group prepares to fire across the lake.
The group demonstrates different ways to hold their weapons.
Ginger at the campsite...women and children side.
Ginger poses with one of the Civil War ladies.
Then, after our big history lesson, we looked at all the shops. This was Ginger's big purchase (with her own money). She saw it early in the day. We waited and looked around. Then, before we left, she still wanted it. It is a large jellyfish paperweight. She LOVES jellyfish ever since our moon jellyfish touch tank experience at the aquarium.
Now, for tomorrow, we have a date with Molly Pitcher. |
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Jimmie, at One Child Policy Homeschool, had a great idea. She recently made a Squidoo lens for her daughter which includes links that she wants her to visit. What a great way to promote independent learning, safe surfing, and anything other than those Webkinz games. I loved the idea so much, in fact, that I was up at 5 am this morning making a lens for Ginger. It is indeed my first attempt at Squidoo, so don't expect anything fancy. I already decided that I need some sort of picture up there somewhere. And, so far, I don't know how much to post for the week. We'll see as time goes on. I told Ginger that if anything strikes her fancy, I'll add it to her jump page so she'll be able to revisit the site as much as she wants. I made Ginger's jump page to include links to kid friendly sites which she enjoys. It also has a kid friendly search engine to hopefully filter out any unwanted garbage. |
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For nearly a month, I have been reading blog after blog about different homeschool plans. I've been reading about different curriculum and different schedules. I've been reading about different classes and different field trips. The plans are all laid out ready to be implemented and enjoyed by moms and kids all over the world. Then, there is me, temporarily staying in my old home with my mom and dad, waiting to move from New Jersey to West Virginia. For the past month, I've been in a homeschool holding pattern. I've made lists upon lists. I've made a back to homeschool supply list. I've organized a weekly file crate tickler system. I've made a list of pages for my lesson planner. I have an ongoing list of subjects that I would like to get to this year (most recently addended to include snakes). I have a list for what books I would like to use which we own and have used in the past. I have another list for books I would like to use for this coming year which we do not currently own. Now, here is my dilemma. Now what? I can't do any more. I need to act on some of these lists.
So, what does this all mean for me? I'm frustrated. I have all of these started pieces and all of these unfinished ends. I'm starting to feel behind and yet we haven't even started. This is all in addition to knowing I will have to set up the schoolroom, and unpack, shop, and possibly paint, etc. when we finally get down there. I know, right now, I can't see the light at the end of the tunnel. I also know that I can't see the light at the beginning of the tunnel anymore. I'm located somewhere inside of the tunnel. I'm just hoping that when I do come out, all of my lists make it seem more downhill.
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Well, since we have been at my parent's, I have been trying to fit in learning opportunities when I can. It seems to be more of a challenge here. It is almost like Ginger feels like she is "on vacation", which is all good. After all, it IS summer. However, there are still things she HAS to do. She must practice her piano. She must continue her tae kwon do. She must NOT Today, I decided that we would go letterboxing again. (We also went last Friday or Saturday.) It was a great day for a hike. It was a little overcast so not too hot. I picked up the clues from the letterboxing site, packed our stuff, and we were off. We decided to grab a box off of the Batona Trail and then go to Batsto to pick up five more boxes in close proximity. On our way there, we stopped by the side of the road to take a picture of this:
I had to back up to get the picture. When we first went by, there were about 12 turkey vultures feeding on this dead deer carcass. As I was snapping the picture, they are all in the trees looking down and waiting for us to leave them alone. I was pretty happy when Ginger knew the birds were turkey vultures. For several months, I have been putting pictures of local birds up on my desktop of my computer. The screensaver is the name of the picture in the marquee setting. These two were recently on our "screen of fame". ( After the pictures, we finally came to our entrance of the Batona Trail. Batona stands for BAck TO NAture. It is a 50 mile wilderness trail. I have heard nice things about it because it is relatively easy. On our last camping trip, I met a woman in her 60's, who hiked the whole trail in three days. So, on this day, we were supposed to hike a short .35 miles to the box. It was pretty. Most of the hike was next to this cedar swamp.
We saw a lot of wild blueberries. We saw some toads. Then, all of a sudden, and just before we get to the bridge we have to cross to get the box, Ginger starts FREAKING OUT. She backs up into me, her arms waving wildly. She starts yelling and crying. "I want to go home. I want to go home!" I didn't know what happened. I thought she was hurt. Then, she says, "A SNAKE!" I looked up and caught just a glimpse of the last foot and a half of the snake take off into some leaves. My best guess is that is was a Northern Black Racer. It was a shiny black snake, no markings that I could see, but it was FAST. My next guess would be a Black Pine Snake, but I've seen them before, and this was very much faster than that. So, that was it. We turned around, tears streaming down her face. This time, I was in front and obviously not moving fast enough for her because she kept stepping on my heals. Eventually, we traded spots and she took off in a run out of the woods. Batsto, the trail and the village, was out of the question. She was going to have nothing to do with being in any wooded area today. She was done. In fact, when we got home, my mother and I had to laugh because she was so mad at ME, like I put the snake there for her to find. Tonight, before bed, we had a little talk about how most snakes are not poisonous, and how they are more scared of us. We talked about how that snake probably would have bitten her had she picked it up, but there was no need to carry on so, since she was not about to try to catch it. We also talked about how unsafe it was for her to act that way, for just in case she stumbled on a timber rattler, how she would have spooked it. I explained how she should react the next time. I don't know if we'll ever get her to go back on this particular trail, at least not any time soon. But, I do know, we will be revisiting this snake lesson, in detail in the not so distant future. I added it to my "list". |
I will have to include famous artwork since this obviously works. )
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Well, yesterday, I mentioned that I recently received all of these old pictures in my email. Well I wasn't kidding. The first few a cousin sent me and are of my grandfather as a teen. It looks like he was already in the military. (Eventually , he retired from the army.) That is my great grandmother with him in the first photo. The next two are of my grandfather with his sisters. Then, all of the kids at my great grandparents 50th wedding anniversary. And, then, the kids and some cousins at my great grandmother's 80th birthday party. I know they are small and difficult to see, but as I tried to enlarge them, I was losing so much in quality.
And then there were the pictures of me. I guess these were from about 1976 - 1978. Ack. In this picture I am the tall one in brown. Check out those crisp pointed collars and those oh, so very short skirts.
Here, I am the tall one again. (I'm always the tall one.) It was absolutely my favorite costume ever and much more lilac than this picture shows. But, it was all about the hat. I LOVED the hat. Dance picture day is never fun...even thirty years later...so no wonder I'm not smiling.
And, then finally, this was second favorite costume. Can you find me? Yep...the tall girl, 5th from the right.
Now, don't ask me how my friends from high school (20 years AFTER high school) remembered me from waaaay back then. I certainly did not remember that I was in dancing school with any of them, and I've got a great memory, if I do say so myself. But, what a complete surprise to me when these all showed up in my inbox. |
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Well, phase I is officially complete. We have moved out of our old home. Dh has moved all of our belongings to WV. I have the pictures (still in the camara) of the totally packed UHAUL truck. (I'll try to figure out my dad's computer to upload some.) It was a 26 foot truck...the largest that you can rent. It is supposed to be able to move a 4+ bedroom house. We only had two bedrooms and we still left things. I gave a wonderful art easel and two large bookcases to the neighbor. Then I left two other matching bookcases and our dryer for the trash truck. Oh, and another bookcase was destroyed coming down the steps. I am VERY sorry to see the bookcases go. However, they were that pressboard stuff so I know I can end up with pieces that are much nicer than THAT. Remember, if you want your Dh to make you some nice wooden projects around the house, a router is the perfect Christmas "toy". So, he left (with the birds in the front seat) and we went to my mom and dad's with the cats. I've decided my cats do not deal with change very well. For day 1 and 2 they did not eat, drink, or potty. UGH. It was heartwrenching. But, eventually, with closing the door and buying "the good food" they started to come around. Now, they have a bowl of dry upstairs in the bedroom but they come downstairs nightly for a little wet. Why don't they like coming around...well, it's the dog, of course. The 140 lb part Golden Retriever, part yellow lab, part HORSE mix. It was ok when they were the "big guys" on the block, batting at the birds, waiting patiently for one to escape. Now that they are the "little guys", well, the shoe is on the other foot, let's say. :o) It's all good though, the dog really doesn't bother with them. So, now that we are into Phase II, what have I been doing? -- I've been getting much more sleep then ever before. (I don't really know why that is.) -- I've been spending lots of time with my mom. My dad has been away during the last two weeks on business. -- On my computer, I have reconnected with friends of mine from elementary school. (My 20 year high school reunion is coming up, ugh.) But, it was really funny opening my email to find pictures of me from the early 70's. OH MY!!! -- I've reconnected with a cousin who is really into genealogy and he sent me some pictures of my grandfather from when he was a teen. -- We went camping, as a final hurrah for Ginger's pottery group. We had a great time. -- I've reconnected with nature in some county parks where I've been walking. A box turtle said hello on one occassion. -- Oh, and I've even reconnected with a "younger / edgier" me when I got a new haircut. Ginger now says I look like a "rock and roll mom". I'll close here. Have a great day. |