Monthly Archives: December 2007

WinterCampers Cabin Outing

Friday Matt, Mark, Skip, Bob & I went over to the hunting camp on the West Sacandaga River where Skip holds a membership. View East from the porch:

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We got to the camp around 10am and started a fire in the wood stove. We sat around and talked for a while and fed the fire until it was going nicely. We strapped on our snow shoes and went for a short walk along the West Sacandaga. Group shot:
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It was a nice mixed woods and on our return we saw a flying squirrel. Mark and Bob each saw it fly/glide and all except Matt saw it sitting in a small beech tree.

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Skip and Bob returning to camp:

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In the afternoon and evening we played pitch and ate chicken stew. The wood stove kept the camp very toasty. We turned in at 9pm and slept until 7am. It rained overnight and the heat of the wood stove combined with the warming temperatures caused some snow slides off the metal roof.

Saturday I got home a little before noon, showered and put away my gear. It was Kathryn’s birthday and we went to a movie – Charlie Wilson’s War with Tom Hanks- out to a nice meal and were home by 9pm.

Christmas Celebrations

We had several Christmas Celebrations. Saturday, December 22 we drove to Barb & Joe’s house for the Muller/Hay party and gift exchange. On Sunday Billie Jo and Dakota visited our house. Dakota had a good time playing with her play timbales and pilfering through Eric’s bookcase for books to be read to her.

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On Monday Ed, Kelly, Phoenix and Izzabella came to visit. Ed and Izzabella check out the present process.

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Phoenix opens a gift card to Barnes & Noble.

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Christmas Eve we went to service at Unitarian Church and Christmas Day was spent at home. We played lots of games: puzzles, Sorry, Pick-up Sticks and, of course, Power Rangers.

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Of course, Santa brought the requested guitar.

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Eric’s Pre-school Christmas Party

Little Acorn School held holiday festivities including a Christmas meal and a visit from Santa Claus. Eric and Trevor got into the spirit with their holiday hats.

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Last year Eric was surprised by the visit from Santa and when asked what he wanted for Christmas Eric responded with “I haven’t really thought about it”. This year he was not going to be caught unprepared. For month’s preceding Eric has been stating he wanted a Red Power Ranger Rescue Truck – I must have heard it a dozen times. When I picked up Eric at the babysitters after preschool Eric informed me that Santa came to preschool and “I told him I want a guitar – a real one!” Where that came from I have no idea.

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Putting up the Christmas Tree

This was the weekend to get the Christmas tree put up. For the past few years we have gotten our tree from Buttenschon’s Tree Farm, on Luke Road in Marcy. They provide a tractor ride out the fields and someone helps cut the tree. They haul it back on a wagon and bag it for transport. On weekend’s they provide hot chocolate and Santa is wandering around. Here Eric, Kathryn and Jennifer load up on the wagon for the ride out.

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It is doesn’t count unless you wander around in the field for a while checking out all the trees.

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How about this one, Dad?

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Eric was scared of Santa and Jennifer was scared of the albino blond guy walking around with a double bladed ax, but we got out of there alive and took the trees home. After several hours in the basement warming up the tree was ready to set up in the living room. We put tarps underneath as the tree continued to melt and drip overnight on Saturday.

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Sunday morning Kathryn and Eric sorted out all the Christmas decorations and checked out the lights (thankfully!) before we were ready to put them on.

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Sunday afternoon we invited Skelly’s and Boucheron’s for a tree decorating party. Below Eric waits his turn to put on one of the ornaments he made in pre-school.

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The finished product (awaiting presents).

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Flock of Blue Herons

As I was driving into work today I saw a loosely organized flock of about 16 blue herons flying, in their own slow measured fashion, southeasterly across the air base.  I have never seen more than two herons flying together before, but a little research reveals that herons do flock together for their fall (but not spring) migration.

CRASH !

Kathryn and I take turns putting Eric to bed – usually at 8pm. On a ‘normal’ night our routine is that he gets some quiet time 30 minutes prior to bed. He has a snack (he is crazy about cheese, pretzels and dip) and then we get on with the business of getting pajamas on, brushing teeth, using the toilet,  getting the right combinations of lights turned on, playing soothing music on his CD player and reading a bed time story. Then when everything is done the other comes in for a kiss and goodnight.

The other night Eric was yawning during the bedtime story – Dr. Seuss’s One Fish, Two Fish, Blue Fish and when I hit the last page I looked down and he was out. The 1st time he has crashed enroute to sleep.

SOOOO peaceful……..

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Bundled Up for a Winter Walk

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What are the essentials for a 4 year old snow hiker?

1. Your walking stick/weapon/sword/whacker. Used on real and pretend monsters. Dead branches everywhere tremble in fear.

2. Waterproof boots, because if there is water it will be walked in.

3. A hood covering a black balaclava. The balaclava makes one look like a ninja – very important to a 4 year old.

4. Mittens and warm clothes, because the walk only lasts as long as one is warm.

How Cold Is It?

This morning, after our oatmeal breakfast, we decided the dogs and kid would benefit from a walk outside.  It was windy and cold, 18 degrees with a 12 mph wind yielding a wind chill of about 7 degrees.  We counted on getting in the woods and out of the wind, but with the wind coming in from the southeast we were pretty exposed during our short walk.  How cold was it?  We could watch the ice crystals forming on running water – that’s cold.

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