Today we went to a local farm that every fall is transformed into a corn maze. This was a great trip that a few of our Scout Dens went on. The maze was separated into two different mazes. The first was 1.8 miles long and the second was 2.5 miles. We ended up doing both sides. Due to the drought this year the corn was not as tall as it normally can get (normally it is about 8 ft. tall), so we could at times see over the top of the corn stalks.
We also went on a hay ride that lead to a field of pumpkins (not exactly the sea of orange I would like most to be in today! GO VOLS!). There were lots of pumpkins in an area that I would guess to be about 5 acres. They dropped everyone off and we roamed around until we found a pumpkin to call our very own. Butch was trying to find the biggest pumpkin that was lightweight. That was a fun task. Joe was the human scale for this hunt!
Even Otter helped in the search!
Finally the pumpkins were decided on and we got on the hayride back to the farm. We all had a fun day and some of us were plumb tuckered out!
Yesterday was Butch's field trip. We went on a hike from the Metcalf Bottoms picnic area up to the Little Greenbrier Schoolhouse.
At the schoolhouse we met with Ms. Robin who taught us about the school days that followed the building of the schoolhouse, which also served as a Church. She taught about the four subjects that the children learned about, reading writing, arithmetic, and spelling.
Next we hiked up to the Walker sister's cabin. It was the location where several of the Walker sisters continued to live after the National Park was established. The last sister died in the 1960's. They lived in the cabin without electricity or running water. Imagine that!
Last week I went on a field trip with Bubba to the Museum of Appalachia's Homecoming. They have this great event with vendors, food, games, demonstrators and music every October. We had gone two years ago with Bubba's class and we really enjoyed that trip and we were thrilled to get to go back. Overall it was a good time. It started out cool and foggy, but ended up being sunny and warm.
We started our tour looking for the "penny man" as Bubba called him. He was there before and he did the pressed pennies. Bubba loves those and took about ten pennies with him. To his great disappointment there was no sign of the penny man after 30 minutes of searching. He later found some older men sitting at a table playing checkers, a game he likes to play. So after waiting his turn he had a chance to play.
I was eager to find a lady who was making lye and goat milk soap. I had purchased some on our last trip and loved it. It was a lilac lye soap. Good Stuff! This time I bought several different scents and varieties. We also found a booth with a lady and her daughters who were making rag dolls. Of course I just had to get one for Otter (who was being carried in her "pouch" the whole time). I got to pick the fabric for the doll and we watched as she made it. It was a smaller doll so it was easier for her to hold. Bubba decided that he wanted to purchase one that was larger for her for Christmas. He was so excited about picking out the fabric himself! I have to admit that it turned out very well.
Since the guys were out of school today we loaded up in the car and headed towards the Zoo. It was nice since we had not been in a while. We were also excited about letting Otter see her other "family." The boys seemed to have such a good time and I was happy to have Bubba tell me that this was much more fun than staying at home. It was a gorgeous day, too.
Also we got Otter her very own otter. This is just a small one that is just her size. She loved it! She wanted it when we were going through the gift shop before I had even bought it for her. She was asleep with it while we went to dinner and it was so cute seeing her holding her otter.
Today we got to see BJ not BK, M, L, and S. During the course of the afternoon M and I laid the babies on the floor together. It was so funny. They both started reaching for the others face and they were talking to each other. It was adorable!
Tuesday was a fun evening at our home. Otter has been laying on the floor beside me while I am at the computer. I was hoping to encourage some movement out of her. Well Ma, she done it! I had been helping her learn to roll over from her back to her belly by holding her hand. She would then pull up by holding on to my finger and roll over. Well, Tuesday evening she did it all by herself! She then discovered that she cannot do anything else, though she was working hard to push herself forward with her legs. We would turn her on her back again, but back she went to her belly. Now she thinks that she cannot lay on her back anymore. She needs to be on her belly. Too bad her blanket is hindering her moving forward.
For a little bit of information about me here goes…I am a born again believer, wife to my dear husband, mother of four wonderful sons and a beautiful daughter, a daughter to my parents, a sister to my brother, genealogist, Janeite, photographer, crocheter and more.
