How to make an origami dreidel

Dreidel, dreidel, dreidel, I made it out of ..... paper?

Surviving a Car trip with Teens Part 1

This summer we have taken a few long road trips and we have a couple of more coming up.  Keeping the kids at peace in the car is a primary goal.  They're older now, it should be easier you say - not quite - they tend to be fidgety, fight with siblings more, sleep less and not amused when you sing to them.  I'm passing on to you some words of wisdom and a couple of games, I hope will help you on your trip. 

ROAD TRIP - who's ready?

Games, yes they are primarily word games.  I do not like games where there are pieces, with one exception, that can get lost in the car:

StorytellersSomeone says a sentence, "Once upon a time there was a boy with green hair."  and then another person in the car adds a sentence, "He had a pink Turtle named George."  Continue this way and you may get some interesting or funny stories.  Warning: You may have to prepare your kids that the story may not go the way you planned, they must allow the story to take twists and turns.  At first, my daughter thought she set up the story to take a natural turn, however it did not.

3-wordsYou can modify the Storytellers game above by telling participants they can only say 3 (or 2 or 4 or whatever) words instead of a whole sentence.

License PlatesEach time we take a trip - for that trip we keep track of the license plates we see.   My kids usually say don't want to play but I keep track and they say, "oh hey mom there's Hawaii" - yes we found Hawaii once.  They'll even read off the list for me while driving or write it down for me.  It's also a great way to learn or remember the state's abbreviations.  At the end of the trip we count up how many we found.  If we found more than half, then it was a good trip :)

A my name is AnnieYes, we still play this classic game although this one is if they are really bored.  For those of you not in the know it goes like this - you pick a letter, usually we take turns alphabetically and say our name, who our boyfriend is, where we come from and what we sell, all starting with the same letter.  something like this ....

A my name is Annie and
my boyfriend's name is Al
we come from Alabama and
we like to sell Apples

---

S - Stop

Another Alphabet gameAs we look outside the window, we try to look for words that start with the different letters of the alphabet on signs, bumper stickers, billboards, etc.  Our rules (you may modify as necessary) are:

 we have to go in alphabetical order - so you have to find a word that starts with D before you can look for a word that starts with the letter E.

The word has to be outside the car.

Board games without the boardTake trival pursuits cards with and read the questions, have everyone give an answer and then see who's correct.  No competition, just answer questions.  If you are looking for something different, try taboo - just bring the cards with you. 

Tour and Tea at Rosemont Manor

My family recently visited Rosemont Manor, which was the home of Harry Byrd, a much beloved Governor and Senator in Virginia history.  In Virginia schools, they credit Harry Byrd with getting Virginia out of the depression before the rest of the country. It is a beautiful property in Berryville, VA.  Recently, a family bought Rosemont and turned it into a bed and breakfast, and a wedding destination.  They have tried to keep much of its historical identity.

Overall, it was a pleasant tour, half of which had historical value and half of which was a wedding promo.  Our group appeared to have consisted of a few young brides and their mothers checking out the place.  It would seem they attract a prestigious crowd.  Apparently, General Petraus' daughter had her wedding there and a president of a foreign country was planning a wedding.  I noticed the mother and daughter in our group who were dressed quite impeccably, was carry a Versace bag and sunglasses.

Largest holly tree I've ever seen

The family was also able to hold on to much of the property surrounding the house.  The property had many trees I've never seen including the largest holly tree I've ever seen.  Unfortunately, the tour is limited by how many guests Rosemont has that morning as the rooms were converted into guest rooms.  Lucky for us there were not many.

My kids got a kick out of the dial telephone and the owner, who took us on the tour, told us where we could find the two-way mirror.  We also got a quick look at the big copper sink in the kitchen and apparently, there is a hidden safe in the house.

The tea was my favorite part.  The tea, held inside the house, was not like teas I've been to before.  Teas I've attend, you get to pick which tea you wanted to drink.  There were three courses and with each course came a different tea blend.  Each one had its own flavor.  The last course is the dessert course and there appeared to be a little piece of wedding cake.

Overall, I enjoyed it and would consider going again.  (Of course, there are still many teas I need to attend.)We were able to attend for $39 a person however, their website says it is typically $60

Some tips:

• The owner us, we were the first tea that was not full so I suggest making reservation if you intend ongoing.

• It sounds like they are using Living Social quite often, so check it out for any specials.

• The manor has only been in business for 2 years but it sounds like it is becoming quite a success, so keep an eye on prices.

• I came mostly for the tea.  The tour was extra for me.  If I were to look at it objectively, I would improve the tour.

On the Go: Backpacking Training, finding my individuality

A little over two years ago, my family and I started back country backpacking.  Being that we were new to it, I always felt uncomfortable going out to areas where it would be at least a couple of hours before we can get help if we need it.  An opportunity arose for me to take a backpacking training class.  For a variety of reasons, I was the only one in my family going.  So Saturday morning, I woke up early, got in the car with my bag pack and drove off into the mountains.  

What I found most disconcerting was that I went by myself.  I was surprised.  Mind you, this was not a trip to the supermarket by myself, this was a trip to some unknown land at least a 2 hour drive from home by myself.  I realized that many of my adventures I always had my family or at least part of my family with me.  I realized that I always asked them to come along with me, not with the intention that I didn't want to be alone but rather that I was encouraging them to get out and see the world.  When I got to the training camp I found out that I would be in a tent by myself.  This also was a first for me.  I don't think I ever recall being in a tent alone.  It was truly a weekend of taking care of myself.

Call it what you may, but it seemed as if this weekend was sent to me as a life lesson to remind me of my individuality. So many times I've heard women say that they lost themselves in their families.  I've heard that they do not feel they have anything of their own and they no longer had their individuality. Yes, I've even heard this from working moms and wives.  I think this weekend has helped me understand that feeling.  I am not looking to break away from my family and "become myself again" but learn from this weekend to remind me that I should get away sometimes where the decision making is based on my needs and desires rather then that of another.

On top of Mount LeConte in the Great Smoky Mountains

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We came through the north entrance of Great Smoky Mountain National Park.  As we went through Sieverville, TN, Pigeon Forge and Gatlinburg, we were bombarded with touristy attractions - the McCoy and Hatfield dinner show, Magic Quest, Dollywood, Nascar Racetrack, Wonderworks ... the list goes on.  I haven't seen this many tourist traps since we lived in Orlando.  My kids had said "whoa" and "coooool" but to their credit they did not beg to go.  We made it to our hotel The Park Vista, just inside the park.  It was a pretty hotel with a beautiful view of the mountain we were going to climb the next day.  We were heading up to LeConte Lodge to spend the night.  It was on top of Mt. Le Conte, the 3rd tallest mountain on the east coast.

View from the Park Vista balcony. I THINK the high peak at the left is Mount LeConte

 That evening my husband and I drove into the park.  I said I wanted to get an idea of where to start.  It was a bit confusing from the information I got off the internet.  We wanted to climb the same way the llamas went up to deliver supplies to the lodge.  I found Rainbow Falls Trail head and it said Trillian Gap Trail 0.1 miles.  Great that was it.  Little did we know. :(

To make a long story short, hiking  3 miles we were in the parking lot of Grotto Falls where we found the llama trailer (empty) and the start of the 6 mile climb on Trillian Gap.  My kids were not happy.  Nonetheless, we went onward.  It seemed to go up and up without stop till we got to the top.  In the end, we backpacked 9 miles and 6 hours.

Want to avoid the tourists, take the Trillion Gap trail.

We met the llamas that bring supplies up to the LeConte Lodge on the trail - they were coming down.

There was a cloud sitting on the mountain, the lodge appeared as if coming out of a mist.  We were all sooooo happy.  The cabin was one room, with a queen size bunk bed, a twin bed, kerosene lantern for light at night, some cups, a wash bin and a propane heater.  I called it our Laura Ingells cabin.  The manager gave us a bucket to take down to the kitchen where we can pump hot water and bring it to our room.  (There is a limited amount of hot water.  I get the impression that once the kitchen closes then the hot water starts to runout.)  We took our bucket and our cups to the eating area where the lodge has hot chocolate out for the guests.  I had 3 cups.  We then got some hot water went to the cabin and sat on the porch while we washed our feet from the day's hike.

Through the mists we saw LeConte Lodge, ok so this isn't the trail we came in but we left this way :)

I just laid on the bottom bunk with the doors open and listened to the people talk in the other cabins.  They have been coming for 8 years, 20 years, 6 years, 15 years and they just told stories and I listened.   I loved it.  Then we heard the ring of the triangle to come down to dinner.  The food was delicious, of course, we could have been hungry from our long day hike or perhaps it was the altitude. :)  Either way, I loved it.  In the evening we went to the main house where they had lots of board games.  We spent a couple of hours there.  As it got dark, we lit the lantern on the table to see what we were playing.Many of the guests sat around the heater in the center and told stories. 

Left the door open and just listened to the people talk in the mists

I called it our Laura Ingells cabin, it's a little bigger then a tent but not much :)

 As we walked back on the slate pathway to our cabin, I remarked that the Lodge made me think of the towns that sprung up during the gold rush.  I said this is how I kind of imagined it.  That night, my husband and I slept on the top bunk (my kids had various reasons not to).  I woke up a couple of hours after dark smelling propane gas and having to go to the bathroom.  I told him I was feeling woozy and I thought it was the gas.  He said it's fine however he needed to go to the bathroom as well.  So, we grabbed the key and our flashlight and went.  Our host at dinner said to put all of the food we brought up the mountain in a container at the main lodge.  He said that they were having some problems with bears, not bad but some problems.  I thought of that as I walked to the bathroom.

Waiting for Hot Chocolate in the morning.

When we got back we opened the door to the cabin.  All I could smell was propane gas, it was thick.  I said, this isn't right, this isn't oxygen we're breathing.  I said we needed to sleep with the window open.  He didn't smell it (although he had a cold all week) but agreed to the window.  I slept under the covers.

When we awoke, the fumes were less.  My hubby had already went out exploring.  I opened the doors and went to see if the clouds had dispersed.  It was and I can see the mountain below us covered in mist, like mountains poking through snow.  Alas, it did not last too long.  Soon it was time for breakfast and we were ready to head down the mountain.

Ready to come down the mountain (Le Conte)

I'm happy to say we took Rainbow Falls trail home and it was only 6 miles and 4 hours.  My oldest child decided she was not going to pee until she got to the bottom.  She hates peeing in the woods however the last hour all I heard was how she had to pee. Once we reached the falls we couldn't really stop to pee anyway because there were so many people.  We reached the bottom and the potty!  We checked into a hotel, hit the shower and then the pool with the big slide.  We ordered room service and slept on soft beds with down feather pillows.  It was nice but LeConte Lodge was definitely memorable. 

A couple of tips I wish someone told me:

• Grotto Falls Parking for Trillian Gap and Rainbow Falls for rainbow falls trail up.  I think they are both the same difficulty however Trillian was much less traveled.
• Most hikers take the Rainbow Falls trail, Trillian gap is practically empty, we bumped into the lamas and a couple of tourists from Mt. Le Conte Lodge, but otherwise quiet.  Mind you, the trail is a bit more difficult but my teen and tween did it, as well as my 40 something yr old body :)
• We didn't need to pack so much, I think a couple of bottles of water and a change of clothes or at least just a change of underwear.
• We did not eat on the way down except a Cliff bar.  We all wanted to get down, however we had a bagged lunch that we bought at the lodge, which was a decent lunch when we got back to the room.  You do not have to carry it up the mountain - so I would consider purchasing it for the way down.
• You can go up to the Lodge and not stay the night.  They have lunch for day travelers but I don't think they can guarantee they will have it.
• We didn't have phone service on the trail, I didn't try at the lodge but my hubby said he saw someone on the phone.
• I hear the boulevard trail is quite an adventure (as is the Alum trail) trail and probably not good for the faint of heart.  Of course, that makes me want to go, perhaps when the kids are a few years older. ;)   

That was our cabin to the left. This my good bye picture of LeConte Lodge

Our path down Mt. LeConte (in the Great Smokey Mountains) was a stream of water

Into the mists of the forest, at the top of the Rainbow Falls Trail where few tourist seek.

Arizona: Walnut Canyon

My whole family will agree that our favorite stop in Northern Arizona was Walnut Canyon.  Keep in mind, we went in August during monsoon season.  The girls grabbed their junior ranger books at the visitor center then we walk to the back where a big glass wall allows you to look out at the canyon.  The canyon is much smaller then the Grand Canyon, no red rocks and lots of trees.  Of course we wanted to go into it. :)

It's 185 feet down (and up) to the canyon where the Sinagua lived.  They were the ancient tribe of Indians named by modern people, since no one knows their real name, that lived in the canyon.  The section that visitors could visit was on what was called an island in the middle of the canyon.  We made the climb down.  At the bottom step, we could hear the wind whipping and whistling through the canyon.  A storm was coming.  We saw a sign that said if you get stuck in a storm, seek shelter in the ruins - cool!  Unfortunately, my youngest was nervous, so we quickly went through the ruins of the canyon instead.  After we looped around the island and came to the stairs again, we felt a couple of raindrops. The whistling got louder and we could see the trees swaying rapidly as if someone or something was pushing them.   It was time to chug it up the hill, to beat the rain.  I think that was the fastest I went up any hill.  We passed a mom with two little ones and grandpa taking a break from the climb up - we kept going.  I think our vigor inspired them to move again.  We got to the top and as we stepped under the overhang the rain came pouring down.

I smiled and gave a woo hoo, we made it.  Then I remember the family we passed.  I turned to head back down to see if they needed help.  Luckily I saw them take the final step of the climb.  They were wet but OK.

I don't know if it was the excitement of the storm, or the ability to go into the ruins or that we were walking on the end of a canyon island but it was one of the most fun we had in Arizona.

To the left is the cliff down into the canyon, to the right is the ruins.

Across from the island ruins one can see other ruins, can you imagine having neighbors across the canyon with no bridge, no telephone -just wave and shout?

A door between two rooms in the ruins.

Can you imagine trick n treating in these houses :)

Quick take a picture before the storm hits.

The canyon develop by wind as you can see here.

Arizona: The Grand Canyon

I know it's early but if you want to get a room inside the canyon, which I suggest, make plans now.  I started late - February for a August trip.  There were no rooms available at the time however with persistance I checked regularly and sure enough a cancellation for 2 nights showed up.  It was not in either of the big name hotels, Bright Angel or El Tovar, no matter, it was on the edge of the canyon - I grabbed it.  The advantage, we were able to get up at 5 am and grabbed a shuttle to the trail heads and start our journey down.  We didn't go down far and we are making plans to visit again in 5 years to try rim to rim.

Some tips, make reservations early, make reservations early, make reservations early.  If you want to stay in the Grand Canyon and near the edge, make reservations early.  Think a year early.

If you want to hike down into the canyon, try to go early in the morning.  It's cooler, less crowds and the sunlight slowly rolling over the canyon is magnificent.

If you have kids and you are there for a couple of days - pick up the junior ranger book.  The kids learn something, they have fun doing it and they get a pin at the end.

The main visitor center is crazy busy.  Bus loads of people come to have a look.  The further you go away from the visitor center and the earlier you go, the less crowds.  One morning we left at 5 am.  There was only 6 other hikers on the bus and they did not get off the same place we did - heading to Hermit's Rest.  We had the canyon to ourselves.  It was our canyon. :)

Lastly, we went in August and although the southern part of Arizona is hot, the Grand Canyon gets chilly on the top.  I ended up buying long sleeve shirts for my girls because it was colder then I expected.

The cliff side we hiked down and then back up

Our decent below the canyon's rim.  Only 15% of visitors go below the rim, only 1% make it to the bottom.

A view of the canyon as the sun rose

First stop on South Kaibab Trail, we made it down to Cedar Ridge.