Category Archives: Personal

Orlando FL: Universal Studios and SeaWorld

Eric and Kathryn returned from their vacation in Orlando where they spent 4 days visiting Universal Studios and SeaWorld. They stayed at the DoubleTree Hotel and were within walking distance of Universal Studios and a bus ride from SeaWorld. There were several shops and entertainments between the hotel and Universal Studios. Below Kathryn and Margaret pose in front of the elephant.

Eric and Harrisen look to have a basketball dribbled onto their heads in front of NBA City.

Eric poses with Jaws.

Eric and Harrisen tackled an urban climbing wall.

Eric, Margaret, Harrisen and Kathryn pose with the characters from Madagascar.

 

They had a perfect seat for the Shamu Show, but the boys were disappointed they didn’t get wet! So the 2nd day they returned to the Shamu Show and sat in the Splash Zone and happily got soaked.

Eric got to feed the dolphins, rays, sharks and seals.

Feeding the dolphins was fund so the group returned to do a training session. They got pet the dolphins and teach them a couple of tricks.

They taught a dolphin to stand and make a noise.

The last day was the warmest so the group returned to Adventure Island in Universal Studios for water rides.

Eric and his souvenir stuffed seal named “Orlando”.

 

Camping Room

I moved our camping gear out of the upstairs rec room into the new room over the garage.  I got my shelving and racks up to accommodate camping equipment like stove

Backpacks are hung on a horseshoe board my dad made.  Stoves and cooking equipment on the rack along with coolers and freeze dried food.

Camping clothes are hung between the two racks and over the packer’s truck that holds crazy creek chairs and tarps.  The next rack holds sleeping bags and tents labelled in old computer boxes..

Finally more camping silverware and bottles occupy the dresser and a small bookcase for guide books.

50+ Degrees

The three days following Thanksgiving were unbelievably warm. Temperatures in the mid-50s and low 60s. The days dawned sunny and clear. On Sunday morning two deer grazed below the pond as the sun came up.

Saturday we had a cookout and saw an ermine that was living in our wood pile.

Saturday I picked up our lawn mower and managed to mulch leaves and mow the lawn.

I got multiple coats of waterproofing on the pine stair in the garage leading to the camping room.

I managed to open up the deck on the south side of the house for the dog to use in bad weather. We had to close off some potential escape avenues.

Last week my tractor blew hydraulic fluid all over. It took 3+ gallons to get a minimum reading, but at least my power steering is back. I put the double link chains on – always a heavy chore.

1st Snowfall

We got snow last Friday. Enough that Eric and Trevor went ‘sledding’ and built a small snow jump that lasted a couple days in the shade. Today’s snow was serious. 13″ of lake effect snow that closed HP and Remsen schools. Enough snow to keep the cat inside and delay my drive to work.

Kathryn’s Run

Kathryn has been running a couple of miles most days.  Her path takes her through our woods, along our meadow and up a long hill through our neighbor’s pastures and then back again.  She often sees wildlife, but more often sees their tracks or scat or spots them as they leave her field of view.  She composed this during her run this weekend.

I don’t look up when I run
Though I try, I look down.
A tripping branch or wet leaf
Pulls my eyes to the ground.

So when I intrude and
the hawk screams at me,
I see him flying away –
Not perched in his tree.

Leaf Pile

Saturday afternoon Eric began assembling a pile of leaves under the red maple tree in the front yard. He wanted to make a tall pile that would “be in the genius book of world records”. After some discussion about Guinness Book of World Records he decided a “Muller Book of World Records” might be more appropriate.

Entry #1 in the Muller Book of World Records: The Tallest Leaf Pile by an Eight Year Old Boy.