Field trip to Oak Ridge

Yesterday was a fun filled day spent with my eldest son and his fellow classmates. We went on a field trip to the Children's Museum and the American Museum of Science and Energy in Oak Ridge. I not only had my son, but a buddy that I was in charge of watching. So, here I am once again (just like always) surrounded by boys! Really, I am so use to this strange phenomenon of being surrounded by boys that it no longer bothers me and I have come to enjoy them all.

Well, we make our way through the different areas of the Children's Museum (ex.: Train room with model trains, a dollhouse room, a rainforest room, local and international history areas, and animal rooms). I think all the kids enjoyed the model trains. The dollhouse room was great! It was a two-story dollhouse proportionate for the 9-11 year old kids. It had four rooms (two up and two down). Also in the room were glass cases with toys from 1900-2000. It was so neat to see these toys. Of course it was funny to see the ones from my childhood and a few were like the ones I still possess. The local history areas were very interesting. There were displays of a cotton plant, quilts, clothing, spinning wheels to show how the early pioneers had to make there own clothing and textiles. Then there was a room that had three partial cabins. One was set up as a living area, one as a bedroom and the other showed off the tools. There was an area set up on the outside of one to show all the things needed for the washday routine. The lady who did our tour explained the process to the children about exactly how they washed and rinsed the clothes.

Next we went to the Science and Energy Museum. The kids got to look around at the different exhibits and also had a class where they put together series circuits and tested different objects to see if they were conductors, insulators or semi-conductors. The boys loved doing that! Later, we were able to hear a man talking about static electricity. Of course all the kids wanted to go to the stage so they could experience this. I have to admit that my son has some of the most obliging hair for this sort of thing as you can see. It was neat to see the different displays on coal, water, and nuclear energy sources. There were also areas that had information on the Oak Ridge "Secret City" times.

Where are all the Cowboys?

Ok, I was listening to Rush yesterday and heard a bit about the "Wussification of the American Man." During this segment he was talking about a father who went to confront a teacher's assistant who his daughter had said was inappropriately touching her (and she was not the only one). The father was mad that when he went to the school for a meeting the teacher's assistant was not in the meeting. The father asked the daughter to take him to where the man was so he could bring him to the meeting. The assistant was said to have "smirked" at the father when he confronted him, so the father punched him. The father was arrested for assault and a local radio station has dubbed him "Father of the Year." This brings me to the Cowboys. Rush said it well when he stated that women want to know that the men in their lives are going to defend them. He then plays a song that came out in 1996 called Where Have All the Cowboys Gone by Paula Cole.

Now, that said (and sung) I have to admit that most women want the John Wayne cowboy type of man. Rough, tough, doesn't take lip from anyone, stands up for what is right, yet also knows how to be a gentleman around a woman and how to treat her right. That does not make a man a wuss. Yet, there are so many men who were raised to be wusses and almost inferior to women. Many are not the protector and in charge of their families. The Bible states that men are to be the head of the household, but also to love their wives as Christ loves the church (His bride). It is a delicate balance and I like to think it is the best of men like John Wayne and Cary Grant.

This also makes me think of how wonderful times were when a man could be arrested for using foul language around women or children. I would love to see that kind of attitude displayed in men (even society as a whole) today. There are things that women and children should not hear and see. I guess you can call me old fashioned, but so be it. That was a time when men were men and women were women. Now, I am not saying that women should be treated like possessions (which most feminist will argue we are if we are not completely equal with men).

As for myself, I know that my Cowboy (AKA, Joe) would do whatever he could to provide and take care of me and at the same time would stand up and defend me if it was needed. That is just one of the things I love about him.

A day in the woods

I must say that I had a good weekend so far. Our cub scouts had a "winter camping" trip to Wesley Woods yesterday and today. We started out last night with a wiener roast and an evening by the campfire. The boys all loved cooking hot dogs and smores. There were also patches and awards to hand out. We then went back to the lodge we were staying at and had a game night, so to speak. For a few hours the boys (and a few girls) all gathered in the floor of the main room and played card and board games.

This morning we got up to the sound of boys playing Guess Who as well as other games. While two of our hardworking leaders cooked breakfast the kids were content to play games. After a wonderful breakfast we went to learn about orienteering. This is where you are given a map that shows structures and the contours of the land. You then use the landmarks around you to find several set markers. The markers had a type of punch that you mark your paper with, but you must be careful because there are decoys. It was fun to see some of the kids just taking to this and to see how they succeeded. Later we took the boys on a hike to see a waterfall nearby. It was a pretty hike. The scouts then played some games and made some pinecone birdfeeders. From what I saw the boys all had a fun time and most of the families did as well.

Crochet like crazy

In the fall of 2004 I asked my mother to teach me the basics of crocheting. I had been interested in learning for years, but she was always too busy. Well, as my mother says, I have taken off with this new hobby. My first project was a scarf for myself. Then for Christmas that year I made scarves for both my mother-in-law and sister-in-law and a hat for my Chinese "sister-in-law". After that I made the some baby gifts. I made blankets and hats for two babies. It was fun to make the blankets and doing the different designs. Since then I have made 6 hats, 3 scarves, 3 flower pins, and in the process of making a shawl for myself. Here are pictures of the first baby blanket.

Family come and gone Part 1

Talking about my family in Monroe County made me want to post about one of the special people from there that I miss very much. When my mom and I would go for a visit we would most often be found at my aunt Della's house. Della was the first of the thirteen children belonging to my grandparents. My mother was number twelve and Della was just two weeks shy of her 24th birthday when my mother was born. When my grandfather died my mother, who was six years old at the time, went to live with Della and her family. So Della and Kinley (her husband) were more like parents to my mother and hence more like grandparents to me. I remember spending time with her. She was always welcoming to anyone who came to her house. She surrounded herself with family and pictures of her loved ones. I can still in my mind see her living room. All walls were covered with many picture frames that held these precious pictures. When Della welcomed you into her home you were always offered food. She was a wonderful cook (especially at breakfast time). She would keep macaroni and cheese (one of my favorites) in her kitchen just in case we came. She even let me help her cook a few times, which I later found out she never did when my mom was growing up. Though they had little money she was constantly giving a few dollars here and there to me when we would visit. She was very brave and strong after finding she had cancer. She fought it and tried to still do everything she had done in the previous years. During her battle with cancer I watched her weaken so much as to be unable to lift one of her iron skillets with which to cook. She was always upbeat and her faith kept her going. Even when her cancer returned with a vengeance years later, her faith was a wonderful testament to those around her. Although my eldest son does not remember her, I am happy that she was able to see both of my boys before she went home to be with the Lord.

The beauty of the hills

When I was growing up my family never hiked. It is very strange that somehow both my brother and I now really love to hike. I grew to love hiking when I met Joe and he took me on my first real hike. Now saying that my family never hiked does not mean that I did not wonder around through the hills of Tennessee before Joe came along. My mother's family is from Monroe County, Tennessee and they all lived in the hills that border on the Cherokee National Forest. I would love to go there and hike around their houses as well as play in the creeks nearby. It was and still is a quiet peaceful place for me. If times seemed rough I would long to be in that area and just find the peace in the beauty of nature. I often wonder how "city dwellers" can handle all the hustle without that sort of retreat. I am thankful that God created these beauties just for us and that I am privileged enough to live here.