My girls have been making their own videos since they were little (6 and 7 years old) with my old camcorder. Then I bought a digital camera that could record video with sound (the first camera had video option but not sound) and that prompted us to create an account on YouTube in 2006. They have been sharing their movie creations ever since.
G. and I were going through our family YouTube channel together the other day and had a grand ole time laughing about some of her and her sister's earlier years antics.
I decided to share a few of these little gems to offer a chuckle to those who can relate to the various inspirations that happen when kids are given the opportunity, and the technology, to be their silly selves.
"Saving Toddy" is one of my all-time personal favorites. Toddy is our blind cat and the unwilling star of this movie. The girls are a bit embarrassed with this video right now because they're 12 and 13, but were pleased at punch with themselves when it was made (they were 8 and 9 at the time). The last bit when G. turns the camera on herself cracks me up, as well as L.'s karate moves as the "burglar."
Saving Toddy
Prince Toddy (his role is a little less active in this one)
Barbie Rani takes over Christmas Tree (the cats weren't the only ones who have caused Christmas tree problems at the Almeida homestead)
The video the girls made of their Barbie dog Tanner has the strangest history. Until recently I had never been able to figure out why it's such a popular video on our YouTube channel (6,370 views to date). Yes it's silly, but it's not that great. But looking at the expanded stats "audience" option on our channel, I discovered, "This video is most popular with: Males 13-17." I get it now.
Barbie with her dog Tanner
I wasn't home when the gem below was made otherwise I would have suggested they knock around dolls that didn't cost over $100 a piece.
Indoor bowling/golf with dolls
But the movie below was written purposefully and although I recorded the video, I was 'directed' the entire time to ensure I was getting the "right" footage needed so they could edit it in to a "real movie." (Both kids know their way around Windows MovieMaker to edit their videos.)
It stars an orphan who escapes her orphanage, an evil chicken king (yes, a live one from our coop), a princess and her cat king, a magical (sword-like) fork to protect the orphan and a magical leaf that saves the day. It's a 6-minute video so a bit overly long for general viewing but the bloopers they included at the end are amusing, and include a panic attack when one actor noticed a tick crawling on her co-star during a scene and both started screaming as well as L. forgetting her character's name. It's definitely one of those, "only a mother could love" kind of videos but I do cherish those years when the girls felt free to be silly (it was made in early 2007).
Quest for the Magical Leaf
I admit that I miss the girls' earlier years but there are so many more opportunities for fun now that they are older that I've moved on, as they have. But I still get nostalgic every once in a while and I'm glad I have these few gems to remind me what life was like before my babies really started growing up.
Friday, January 29, 2010
Thursday, January 28, 2010
Skiing up mountain a challenge, especially pole-less
When the girls were small and just learning to cross country ski, they had a hard time using poles. The poles would get caught up in their skis and create general confusion on how to get in a rhythm of gliding on skis and pushing off with poles. So for the first couple of years we mostly left the poles at home, myself included. I liked skiing pole-less so I had my hands free to assist with the kids' various 'issues' including glove fixing, boot tying, stepping in and out of bindings, taking a picture, grabbing a tissue for someone's nose, etc.
After a couple of years on cross country skis and the girls were showing some proficiency with the sport, I remember chatting with a coach from the Maine Winter Sports Center about our pole-less status. I was embarrassed about it because I hadn't taught the girls how to use poles up to that point. The coach actually thought it was "great" that my kids learned how to ski without them. Apparently skiing without poles is part of the MWSC's athlete training program. It helps skiers become stronger because your body has to work a lot harder to kick and glide without the assistance of poles.
But skiing without poles back then was always done on mostly level terrain and since we've expanded our trail horizons to include hills, now we almost always ski with poles (and the girls are much more proficient at using them).
But this season I've been having a pesky problem with my hand and gripping my ski poles for even a short time causes a lot of pain. So I've left them in the car on all of our cross country ski treks this season. And although I'm not always graceful in my pole-less form, I have been managing just fine until our ski adventure at Bald Pate Mountain in Bridgton.
After spending our morning at Highland Lake during the Musher's Bowl, we decided after lunch to head to Five Fields Farm to watch some of the dog sledding and skijoring races and then ski to the top of Bald Pate Mountain.
I had taken the girls hiking at Bald Pate when they were small and knew it was not a big elevation gain to the summit. We found the Moose Trail at the trail head for Bald Pate to be ungroomed and not being used by the races. From that trail, it's a short hike to the summit (about 1.5 miles round trip) so I didn't think we'd have much trouble skiing it.
Well, it was a bit harder than I anticipated because ungroomed trails are narrow by nature and not all that conducive to duck-walking up an incline on cross country skis. We were all having to lift our ski tips through a few inches of snow with every step and that was harder (even though it doesn't sound like much) and more tiring.
The girls have skate skis, which require regular waxing and don't have the fish-scales of waxless skis like classic and back country skis do, so they have a bit less "grip" on the snow. This means the girls have to work harder to keep their skis from sliding backwards up a hill. But the girls had poles to dig in to the snow and give them the leverage needed to climb.
I did not bring along my poles and I really, really missed them on this ski/hike up the mountain.
I fell down repeatedly as my ski tips were caught in the snow and/or I lost my balance with a slide backward as I was trying to make my way upward.
I'm OK with falling down, I do it all the time, but I couldn't keep up the pace Fino had set at the front of the line. He had waxless skis with poles and although a challenging climb even with those benefits, he had equipment better suited for the conditions than the girls or I did.
So being the good wife I am, about 1/4 mile in to the uphill trek I got snippy and told him to let one of the girls lead the way to set a more manageable pace for the group. And being the good and predictable husband that he is, he became annoyed with me. In a short video clip I took on the mountain you can hear him say, "Come on carpel tunnel." He's such a supportive and caring guy when I need him to be.
My friend Shannon came along with us on this adventure and brought along the comedic relief needed to find some humor during our uphill climb. When we made it to the summit we were treated to a beautiful view of the surrounding mountains so we hung out there for a while. Well, we also spent some extra time at the summit because I needed to catch my breath while I tried not to throw up. My body's reaction to the physical exertion of climbing a mountain on skis without poles had my heart pumping hard, my face bright red, and my stomach churning with a need for more carb fuel. A few Hershey kisses and some water fixed me up just fine though.
Our trip down the mountain was much more fun, although not without it's own share of challenges. As I've mentioned previously, we have not mastered the Telemark turn on our cross country skis so the traversing mountain trail was tricky. We basically skied a bit then intentionally fell down near the turns to avoid going in to the trees. There was a lot of laughing at ourselves, and each other, all the way down the mountain and everyone gave this part of the adventure two enthusiastic thumbs up.
Although this skiing adventure was harder than I had anticipated because of the elevation gain (550 feet according to my GPS) on cross country skis, it would have been much easier on snow shoes. I'd highly recommend the trail for families to visit in the winter if you hike it. The view of the surrounding area at the summit is one not to be missed at this time of year. And actually, everyone in our group thought that it was worth the effort to ski up to the summit because the view - and trip down - were that great.
TRAIL REVIEW
BALD PATE MOUNTAIN, BRIDGTON
LENGTH: 486 acres are managed by the Loon Echo Land Trust and include about 10 miles of looping trails
TRAIL MAP: Loon Echo Land Trust
GROOMING: Five Fields Farm does groom some of the land trust's trails but the Moose and summit trails were not groomed the day we visited.
PARKING: Yes
FEE: none on ungroomed trails but fee required to Five Fields Farm to ski groomed trails through the land trust.
EQUIPMENT RENTALS: None at the land trust but Five Fields does offer rentals and is 1/2 mile away from Bald Pate's trail head.
BATHROOM: No
ABILITY LEVEL: Intermediate to make climb on cross country skis to summit
DOG-FRIENDLY: Yes
KID-FRIENDLY FACTOR: OK on cross country skis, GOOD on snow shoes. For kids with only advanced beginner skills on cross country skis, the mountain trail could be more challenging than fun for them.
We took a couple of much-needed breaks on our way up the mountain. The kids were playing to the camera by throwing themselves down in the snow to show how hard they were working but I was appreciative of the photo op to take a breather myself.
At one point the trail was very narrow and the incline steep so the girls and I took off our skis for a respite and walked for a bit. Shannon and Fino kept their gear on the whole trek up. The girls and I did not mind being "shown up" by the waxless skis-with-poles people.
L. spotted a house on a mountain top as well as the snow-capped Mount Washington further in the distance. It was a clear day and the view of the White Mountains was fab.
The girls like to eat snow and say it helps cool them down on the xc ski trail.
We all did our fair share of falling on the way down the mountain trail. Here Shannon has an amused audience before I make my way down and end up wiping out in the same place.
After a couple of years on cross country skis and the girls were showing some proficiency with the sport, I remember chatting with a coach from the Maine Winter Sports Center about our pole-less status. I was embarrassed about it because I hadn't taught the girls how to use poles up to that point. The coach actually thought it was "great" that my kids learned how to ski without them. Apparently skiing without poles is part of the MWSC's athlete training program. It helps skiers become stronger because your body has to work a lot harder to kick and glide without the assistance of poles.
But skiing without poles back then was always done on mostly level terrain and since we've expanded our trail horizons to include hills, now we almost always ski with poles (and the girls are much more proficient at using them).
But this season I've been having a pesky problem with my hand and gripping my ski poles for even a short time causes a lot of pain. So I've left them in the car on all of our cross country ski treks this season. And although I'm not always graceful in my pole-less form, I have been managing just fine until our ski adventure at Bald Pate Mountain in Bridgton.
After spending our morning at Highland Lake during the Musher's Bowl, we decided after lunch to head to Five Fields Farm to watch some of the dog sledding and skijoring races and then ski to the top of Bald Pate Mountain.
I had taken the girls hiking at Bald Pate when they were small and knew it was not a big elevation gain to the summit. We found the Moose Trail at the trail head for Bald Pate to be ungroomed and not being used by the races. From that trail, it's a short hike to the summit (about 1.5 miles round trip) so I didn't think we'd have much trouble skiing it.
The girls have skate skis, which require regular waxing and don't have the fish-scales of waxless skis like classic and back country skis do, so they have a bit less "grip" on the snow. This means the girls have to work harder to keep their skis from sliding backwards up a hill. But the girls had poles to dig in to the snow and give them the leverage needed to climb.
I did not bring along my poles and I really, really missed them on this ski/hike up the mountain.
I fell down repeatedly as my ski tips were caught in the snow and/or I lost my balance with a slide backward as I was trying to make my way upward.
I'm OK with falling down, I do it all the time, but I couldn't keep up the pace Fino had set at the front of the line. He had waxless skis with poles and although a challenging climb even with those benefits, he had equipment better suited for the conditions than the girls or I did.
So being the good wife I am, about 1/4 mile in to the uphill trek I got snippy and told him to let one of the girls lead the way to set a more manageable pace for the group. And being the good and predictable husband that he is, he became annoyed with me. In a short video clip I took on the mountain you can hear him say, "Come on carpel tunnel." He's such a supportive and caring guy when I need him to be.
My friend Shannon came along with us on this adventure and brought along the comedic relief needed to find some humor during our uphill climb. When we made it to the summit we were treated to a beautiful view of the surrounding mountains so we hung out there for a while. Well, we also spent some extra time at the summit because I needed to catch my breath while I tried not to throw up. My body's reaction to the physical exertion of climbing a mountain on skis without poles had my heart pumping hard, my face bright red, and my stomach churning with a need for more carb fuel. A few Hershey kisses and some water fixed me up just fine though.
Our trip down the mountain was much more fun, although not without it's own share of challenges. As I've mentioned previously, we have not mastered the Telemark turn on our cross country skis so the traversing mountain trail was tricky. We basically skied a bit then intentionally fell down near the turns to avoid going in to the trees. There was a lot of laughing at ourselves, and each other, all the way down the mountain and everyone gave this part of the adventure two enthusiastic thumbs up.
Although this skiing adventure was harder than I had anticipated because of the elevation gain (550 feet according to my GPS) on cross country skis, it would have been much easier on snow shoes. I'd highly recommend the trail for families to visit in the winter if you hike it. The view of the surrounding area at the summit is one not to be missed at this time of year. And actually, everyone in our group thought that it was worth the effort to ski up to the summit because the view - and trip down - were that great.
TRAIL REVIEW
BALD PATE MOUNTAIN, BRIDGTON
LENGTH: 486 acres are managed by the Loon Echo Land Trust and include about 10 miles of looping trails
TRAIL MAP: Loon Echo Land Trust
GROOMING: Five Fields Farm does groom some of the land trust's trails but the Moose and summit trails were not groomed the day we visited.
PARKING: Yes
FEE: none on ungroomed trails but fee required to Five Fields Farm to ski groomed trails through the land trust.
EQUIPMENT RENTALS: None at the land trust but Five Fields does offer rentals and is 1/2 mile away from Bald Pate's trail head.
BATHROOM: No
ABILITY LEVEL: Intermediate to make climb on cross country skis to summit
DOG-FRIENDLY: Yes
KID-FRIENDLY FACTOR: OK on cross country skis, GOOD on snow shoes. For kids with only advanced beginner skills on cross country skis, the mountain trail could be more challenging than fun for them.
Cross Country Skiing at Bald Pate Mountain
Monday, January 25, 2010
The now annual dog sled ride at Mushers Bowl
We spent all day Saturday in Bridgton at the Musher's Bowl. The highlight of the day was of course, the girls' dog sledding ride on Highland Lake.
This year we took along our friend Shannon and the girls were eager to share their excitement about the sport. I decided to ride as well this year and paired up with L. while G. rode with Shannon.
This year I brought along my GPS unit because I was curious how fast the dogs pulled the sled. The musher L. and I rode with said his dogs were bred, and conditioned, for endurance rather than speed. When the team races, they typically do the 30-60 mile ones as well as the occasional 100+ mile type. That's some serious mileage for both dog and musher! My legs were a little tired standing behind the sled for our short adventure (a little over 2 1/2 miles).
The dogs' maximum speed, according to my GPS, was a little over 6 miles an hour pulling two adults and a 90-pound child. The dogs were not in racing mode but clearly enjoying themselves. To someone who has never seen a dog sled team in action firsthand, it's a remarkable sight to witness the canine excitement and enthusiasm for pulling a sled. Really. I am certain those dogs were grinning and as happy as they could be out there on the lake with us.
Unlike last year, G. refrained from begging for a dog. She still wants one, for that I have no doubt, but I did hear her explain to Shannon the arguments against getting a dog at our house right now (too many other animals to take care of was included as well as the logistics of what to do when an outdoor adventure was not dog-friendly).
But like last year, there were BIG smiles all around at the lake and we had a mushing good time on a gorgeous winter day.
This year we took along our friend Shannon and the girls were eager to share their excitement about the sport. I decided to ride as well this year and paired up with L. while G. rode with Shannon.
This year I brought along my GPS unit because I was curious how fast the dogs pulled the sled. The musher L. and I rode with said his dogs were bred, and conditioned, for endurance rather than speed. When the team races, they typically do the 30-60 mile ones as well as the occasional 100+ mile type. That's some serious mileage for both dog and musher! My legs were a little tired standing behind the sled for our short adventure (a little over 2 1/2 miles).
The dogs' maximum speed, according to my GPS, was a little over 6 miles an hour pulling two adults and a 90-pound child. The dogs were not in racing mode but clearly enjoying themselves. To someone who has never seen a dog sled team in action firsthand, it's a remarkable sight to witness the canine excitement and enthusiasm for pulling a sled. Really. I am certain those dogs were grinning and as happy as they could be out there on the lake with us.
Unlike last year, G. refrained from begging for a dog. She still wants one, for that I have no doubt, but I did hear her explain to Shannon the arguments against getting a dog at our house right now (too many other animals to take care of was included as well as the logistics of what to do when an outdoor adventure was not dog-friendly).
But like last year, there were BIG smiles all around at the lake and we had a mushing good time on a gorgeous winter day.
Dog Sledding on Highland Lake
Friday, January 22, 2010
XC Skiing around Otter Ponds, Sebago Lake
We've been cross country skiing on the Mountain Division Trail in Standish many, many times over the years and last Saturday we met up with some friends to ski the trail system for the first time this season. The kids thought a trip around Otter Ponds and on to Sebago Lake sounded like a good plan for the day.
It was a great trip and the most mileage we had ever covered on skis together as a group (the varying ages of our group generally keeps our mileage short).
The kids had some fun "posing" (i.e., action shots of the group jumping on their skis) for pictures but there were several other highlights on the trail.
Sliding
We found a steep hill once we got to the Otter Ponds. I wouldn't let the kids ski down the hill because of the curves and proximity to a lot of trees (I'd rather not deal with a concussion on the ski trail a mile from the car so I play it safe when I'm with the group). The snow was packed down and icy enough that the kids had no trouble flying down the hill without any additional equipment but the snowpants on their butt.
I thought the ice on the pond was a bit questionable (i.e., not thick enough) but there were ice fisherman out doing their thing so after a quick check in with them, we made our crossing to connect with the trail on the other side of the pond.
Ice Smashing, Licking, Eating
As soon as Sebago Lake came in to view the kids had to stop to check it out. The lake did not look frozen to me but again, there were a bunch of ice fisherman out on the ice.
The kids had a ball picking up ice chunks and smashing them on the ground. One of our young friends thought it was very funny to smash the ice over his head. His dad suggested he stop that activity (immediately) before he hurt himself.
Once the ice smashing demonstrations were over the group decided to find "clean" chunks of ice to lick and eat instead.
One of the kids told me that when water forms to ice it takes out all the "bad stuff." I'm not sure about that but since Sebago is our public drinking water source I let the kids do as theylicked liked.
And after covering 2.8 miles on our skis, the kids were tired (OK, moms and dad too) and happy to return to the trail head to enjoy our tailgating party with hot cocoa and G.'s brownies.
I took along my GPS to record our loop around the Otter Ponds and Sebago, which is not marked clearly on the trail system as we left the main Mountain Division Trail (MDT) to make our way to the big lake. The trail markers on the MDT are very good and offer mileage markers so you can gauge how far you'd like to go before turning back (it's not a looping trail unless you loop around the unmarked pond trails). It was a beautiful trek through the ponds but the one downside was that to make the complete loop as we wanted we had to cross Route 35 (and had to take off our skis to do that). But it was a quick route back to the car so the kids didn't mind the brief break from their skis to cross the road.
TRAIL REVIEW
Trail: Mountain Division Trail, Standish
Length: 5.7 miles one way
Grooming: No, but snowmobiles pack down snow so it has a groomed feel to it
Parking: Parking at Johnson Field on Route 35 in Standish
Fee: None
Equipment Rentals: none
Bathroom: Porta-potty at Johnson Field
Ski Level: Beginner
Dog-friendly: yes, on a leash
Kid-friendly factor: GOOD
The Porta-potty is a nice feature at the trail head. Snowmobiles are permitted on these trails so families skiing with kids should stay to one side and keep an ear out for approaching snowmobiles. My family has found snowmobilers on this trail to be courteous and slow down around skiers.
It was a great trip and the most mileage we had ever covered on skis together as a group (the varying ages of our group generally keeps our mileage short).
The kids had some fun "posing" (i.e., action shots of the group jumping on their skis) for pictures but there were several other highlights on the trail.
Sliding
We found a steep hill once we got to the Otter Ponds. I wouldn't let the kids ski down the hill because of the curves and proximity to a lot of trees (I'd rather not deal with a concussion on the ski trail a mile from the car so I play it safe when I'm with the group). The snow was packed down and icy enough that the kids had no trouble flying down the hill without any additional equipment but the snowpants on their butt.
I thought the ice on the pond was a bit questionable (i.e., not thick enough) but there were ice fisherman out doing their thing so after a quick check in with them, we made our crossing to connect with the trail on the other side of the pond.
Ice Smashing, Licking, Eating
As soon as Sebago Lake came in to view the kids had to stop to check it out. The lake did not look frozen to me but again, there were a bunch of ice fisherman out on the ice.
The kids had a ball picking up ice chunks and smashing them on the ground. One of our young friends thought it was very funny to smash the ice over his head. His dad suggested he stop that activity (immediately) before he hurt himself.
Once the ice smashing demonstrations were over the group decided to find "clean" chunks of ice to lick and eat instead.
One of the kids told me that when water forms to ice it takes out all the "bad stuff." I'm not sure about that but since Sebago is our public drinking water source I let the kids do as they
And after covering 2.8 miles on our skis, the kids were tired (OK, moms and dad too) and happy to return to the trail head to enjoy our tailgating party with hot cocoa and G.'s brownies.
I took along my GPS to record our loop around the Otter Ponds and Sebago, which is not marked clearly on the trail system as we left the main Mountain Division Trail (MDT) to make our way to the big lake. The trail markers on the MDT are very good and offer mileage markers so you can gauge how far you'd like to go before turning back (it's not a looping trail unless you loop around the unmarked pond trails). It was a beautiful trek through the ponds but the one downside was that to make the complete loop as we wanted we had to cross Route 35 (and had to take off our skis to do that). But it was a quick route back to the car so the kids didn't mind the brief break from their skis to cross the road.
XC Skiing at Otter Ponds, Sebago Lake
TRAIL REVIEW
Trail: Mountain Division Trail, Standish
Length: 5.7 miles one way
Grooming: No, but snowmobiles pack down snow so it has a groomed feel to it
Parking: Parking at Johnson Field on Route 35 in Standish
Fee: None
Equipment Rentals: none
Bathroom: Porta-potty at Johnson Field
Ski Level: Beginner
Dog-friendly: yes, on a leash
Kid-friendly factor: GOOD
The Porta-potty is a nice feature at the trail head. Snowmobiles are permitted on these trails so families skiing with kids should stay to one side and keep an ear out for approaching snowmobiles. My family has found snowmobilers on this trail to be courteous and slow down around skiers.
Monday, January 18, 2010
Kid Tracks column: Get into your skinny skis
Cross-country skiing is a great way to explore all the wonderful winter trail systems that make an appearance when the snow does. A trip to Five Fields Farm in Bridgton was all about exploring a place we've never seen during the winter months and discovering a hill there that offered some thrilling speed for the kids.
When learning to cross-country ski, we avoided trails with a lot of hills. The girls learned to downhill before they tried cross-country skis, and we realized that first-year "skinny skis" feel, and respond, differently on a hill. Doing a "pizza pie" to slow down and stop on cross-country skis takes some getting used to if you first learned the technique on downhill skis. The response time to actually come to a stop when you've built up some speed going down a hill is a lot longer.
But these days the girls love going down hills on cross-country ski trails. Although they can't stop quickly, they have developed a comfort level for speed on their skinny skis. As a mother, I have mixed feelings about this development, but can't deny there is a certain appeal for speeding down a hill, even for me.
At Five Fields Farm, there are some looping trails through the apple orchard that are fairly level, but if you really want to explore the area, you're going to have to do a little downhill, and uphill, skiing. We spent some time on the trails leading to Bald Pate Mountain's summit and enjoyed the beautiful mountain views before turning back to the orchard. There was a big hill the girls spotted earlier there and were itching to try.
For our trip to this trail system we brought along our GPS unit. The kids enjoy using the "trip computer" feature on the unit to determine our maximum speed when we're on the trail (i.e., the fastest hill). We also like to know how far we traveled on our skis.
At Five Fields Farm we skied about two and a half miles, but the total elevation gain on the looping trails we explored – nearly 500 feet – was a bit more than we usually do, according to our GPS. Typically our cross-country ski adventures are not more than 200-foot gains. T
o put this in perspective for people who do a bit of hiking with their kids, a trip to the summit of Douglas Mountain in Sebago is about a 550-foot elevation gain; Morse Mountain in Phippsburg is about a 100-foot gain. If you're a beginner cross-country skier, be sure you are familiar with how to do a snowplow down a hill, as well as duck-walk (i.e., herringbone) yourself back up one, before your visit to Five Fields Farm.
My kids' need for speed was well satisfied on this trail system. The GPS clocked us at 17 miles per hour skiing an open straight-away trail down part of the mountain. None of us have mastered the telemark turn on our cross-country skis yet (we had a primer from a high school Nordic coach recently, so we're going to give it a try soon). Until we do, we are more cautious on our approach to winding trails through the woods.
The kids handled themselves well on their skinny skies down the fast hill and did not attempt to stop until the terrain (and their speed) leveled off farther down the trail. I, on the other hand, felt like I was going too fast down the mountain and attempted a "controlled" fall. The control part of that plan didn't happen quite the way I had hoped and after skidding and bumping on my behind for at least 25 feet, my ski was caught under some snow and flipped me forward. I avoided a full face dive into a snowbank but did manage to get a pretty purplish bruise on my left knee. The kids came over to check on me as is their usual practice when I fall, which is (unfortunately) frequently, to ensure I was OK. Then they proceeded back up the mountain while giggling for their second, and third, runs down again. I opted to skip a follow-up trip.
The hills weren't the only thrill of the day for my kids at Five Fields Farm, though. We saw a dog sled team on the trail as well as a couple of harnessed dogs pulling a skijor racer. The kids stopped to admire the dogs running on the trails and briefly greeted them when they stopped nearby. My kids love animals and any opportunity to combine an outdoor adventure with an animal is always a treat.
My 12-year-old summed up our adventure this way: "These trails are for kids who have some experience skiing. I would have been scared on some of the hills if I had never been cross-country skiing before. When you go down the hill you feel like you are going to fall because you get going really fast, really quick. But it is fun!"
So for parents out there who have some experience cross-country skiing with their kids, Five Fields Farm offers some beautiful mountain views and some hills for your thrill-seekers to keep everyone in the family entertained.
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TRAIL REVIEW
FIVE FIELDS FARM, BRIDGTON
LENGTH: 27 kilometers of groomed trails that leads to backcountry
terrain in the surrounding 450-acre Loon Echo Land Trust and Bald Pate
Mountain
CONTACT INFORMATION: www.fivefieldsski.com, 647-2425
GROOMING: Yes, 12 feet wide for classic and skate skiing
PARKING: Yes
FEE: $10/adults; $8/kids 12 and under
EQUIPMENT RENTALS: Yes
BATHROOM: No
ABILITY LEVEL: The farm's trail map identifies novice to advanced ski
trail options but there is a hill or two to manage to get on the
looping trail system, so children will need some experience on
cross-country skis.
DOG-FRIENDLY: Yes
KID-FRIENDLY FACTOR: Great. For kids with some experience cross-country
skiing, the hills on this trail system offer a thrill. And the wide
looping trails through the orchard offer plenty of space to skate ski.
OTHER: Dog sleds and skijoring can be seen around the trails, but no
snowmobiles are permitted.
KIDS' REVIEW
THE 13-YEAR-OLD: "I liked the easy trail loops and skiing into the
preserve where the mountain was. But my favorite part was the fast hill
because that was fun! Our GPS said we went 17 miles per hour. That's
really fast for us on cross-country skis."
THE 12-YEAR-OLD: "I liked going down the hills. I didn't like how it
was flat for a long time because hills are much funner so I was happy
when I was skiing down the mountain part. And I also saw a skijoring
guy on his skis with a pair of huskies in their harnesses on the trail.
That was cool."
Originally published in the Maine Sunday Telegram, January 17, 2010
When learning to cross-country ski, we avoided trails with a lot of hills. The girls learned to downhill before they tried cross-country skis, and we realized that first-year "skinny skis" feel, and respond, differently on a hill. Doing a "pizza pie" to slow down and stop on cross-country skis takes some getting used to if you first learned the technique on downhill skis. The response time to actually come to a stop when you've built up some speed going down a hill is a lot longer.
But these days the girls love going down hills on cross-country ski trails. Although they can't stop quickly, they have developed a comfort level for speed on their skinny skis. As a mother, I have mixed feelings about this development, but can't deny there is a certain appeal for speeding down a hill, even for me.
At Five Fields Farm, there are some looping trails through the apple orchard that are fairly level, but if you really want to explore the area, you're going to have to do a little downhill, and uphill, skiing. We spent some time on the trails leading to Bald Pate Mountain's summit and enjoyed the beautiful mountain views before turning back to the orchard. There was a big hill the girls spotted earlier there and were itching to try.
For our trip to this trail system we brought along our GPS unit. The kids enjoy using the "trip computer" feature on the unit to determine our maximum speed when we're on the trail (i.e., the fastest hill). We also like to know how far we traveled on our skis.
At Five Fields Farm we skied about two and a half miles, but the total elevation gain on the looping trails we explored – nearly 500 feet – was a bit more than we usually do, according to our GPS. Typically our cross-country ski adventures are not more than 200-foot gains. T
o put this in perspective for people who do a bit of hiking with their kids, a trip to the summit of Douglas Mountain in Sebago is about a 550-foot elevation gain; Morse Mountain in Phippsburg is about a 100-foot gain. If you're a beginner cross-country skier, be sure you are familiar with how to do a snowplow down a hill, as well as duck-walk (i.e., herringbone) yourself back up one, before your visit to Five Fields Farm.
My kids' need for speed was well satisfied on this trail system. The GPS clocked us at 17 miles per hour skiing an open straight-away trail down part of the mountain. None of us have mastered the telemark turn on our cross-country skis yet (we had a primer from a high school Nordic coach recently, so we're going to give it a try soon). Until we do, we are more cautious on our approach to winding trails through the woods.
The kids handled themselves well on their skinny skies down the fast hill and did not attempt to stop until the terrain (and their speed) leveled off farther down the trail. I, on the other hand, felt like I was going too fast down the mountain and attempted a "controlled" fall. The control part of that plan didn't happen quite the way I had hoped and after skidding and bumping on my behind for at least 25 feet, my ski was caught under some snow and flipped me forward. I avoided a full face dive into a snowbank but did manage to get a pretty purplish bruise on my left knee. The kids came over to check on me as is their usual practice when I fall, which is (unfortunately) frequently, to ensure I was OK. Then they proceeded back up the mountain while giggling for their second, and third, runs down again. I opted to skip a follow-up trip.
The hills weren't the only thrill of the day for my kids at Five Fields Farm, though. We saw a dog sled team on the trail as well as a couple of harnessed dogs pulling a skijor racer. The kids stopped to admire the dogs running on the trails and briefly greeted them when they stopped nearby. My kids love animals and any opportunity to combine an outdoor adventure with an animal is always a treat.
My 12-year-old summed up our adventure this way: "These trails are for kids who have some experience skiing. I would have been scared on some of the hills if I had never been cross-country skiing before. When you go down the hill you feel like you are going to fall because you get going really fast, really quick. But it is fun!"
So for parents out there who have some experience cross-country skiing with their kids, Five Fields Farm offers some beautiful mountain views and some hills for your thrill-seekers to keep everyone in the family entertained.
Cross Country Skiing at Five Fields Farm
<
TRAIL REVIEW
FIVE FIELDS FARM, BRIDGTON
LENGTH: 27 kilometers of groomed trails that leads to backcountry
terrain in the surrounding 450-acre Loon Echo Land Trust and Bald Pate
Mountain
CONTACT INFORMATION: www.fivefieldsski.com, 647-2425
GROOMING: Yes, 12 feet wide for classic and skate skiing
PARKING: Yes
FEE: $10/adults; $8/kids 12 and under
EQUIPMENT RENTALS: Yes
BATHROOM: No
ABILITY LEVEL: The farm's trail map identifies novice to advanced ski
trail options but there is a hill or two to manage to get on the
looping trail system, so children will need some experience on
cross-country skis.
DOG-FRIENDLY: Yes
KID-FRIENDLY FACTOR: Great. For kids with some experience cross-country
skiing, the hills on this trail system offer a thrill. And the wide
looping trails through the orchard offer plenty of space to skate ski.
OTHER: Dog sleds and skijoring can be seen around the trails, but no
snowmobiles are permitted.
KIDS' REVIEW
THE 13-YEAR-OLD: "I liked the easy trail loops and skiing into the
preserve where the mountain was. But my favorite part was the fast hill
because that was fun! Our GPS said we went 17 miles per hour. That's
really fast for us on cross-country skis."
THE 12-YEAR-OLD: "I liked going down the hills. I didn't like how it
was flat for a long time because hills are much funner so I was happy
when I was skiing down the mountain part. And I also saw a skijoring
guy on his skis with a pair of huskies in their harnesses on the trail.
That was cool."
Originally published in the Maine Sunday Telegram, January 17, 2010
Thursday, January 14, 2010
Tunnel vision and the weird injury
Today I had a doctor's appointment and while I was there I asked about my right hand. My fingers have being going numb off and on for several weeks and the shooting pain from my wrist to my thumb has been less than pleasant. It wasn't why I was actually at the doctor's office but the pain has been downright irritating lately and I needed to find out what was going on.
I had myself convinced I had carpal tunnel because of all the time I spend behind a computer keyboard and using a mouse. I was more than ready for some professional advice about exercises and/or other non-invasive things I could do to alleviate the now constant pain.
After the doctor examined my hand and had me do a few simple exercises, she thought I had the signs of some minor carpal tunnel issues but that wasn't the real problem.
No, the diagnosis instead was arthritis.
Arthritis?! Yeesh, am I that old now?
The doctor's determination was based on several factors, including one I had not really noticed until she pointed it out. The palm area around my thumb joint was actually quite swollen and bruised. I'm a little embarrassed to admit I hadn't noticed this obvious (now) issue because I had myself convinced the evidence of my pain would not be visible with carpal tunnel. I had never bothered to look for visible signs of injury on my hand.
I was tunneled alright, but in the completely wrong direction.
The doctor asked me what I'd been doing lately to see if we could narrow down why the arthritis was flaring up (I learned from my doctor that the thumb is typically the first area to show signs of arthritis in the body).
After listing off a couple of things, including the iron grip I typically have on my cross country ski poles while on the trail, the culprit was none other than something totally unexpected (at least to me).
Crocheting.
So let me be the one to tell you that possible injury can lurk from any corner, at any time. Danger is everywhere, including sitting on your couch with a crochet hook and yarn to help your kids make an afghan with their 4-H club.
I'm now on an ibuprofen and ice regiment for the next two weeks before I start a few simple exercises to strengthen the muscles and joints in my hand.
But something tells me the bruise on my knee from cross country skiing last week will likely be the injury I whine more about even though it doesn't hurt nearly as much as my hand right now (and appears almost gone in comparison to how it looked last week).
I mean really, how can you not laugh at my declaration of pain when I am forced to admit it's a CROCHET injury?
Sometimes life is downright weird.
I had myself convinced I had carpal tunnel because of all the time I spend behind a computer keyboard and using a mouse. I was more than ready for some professional advice about exercises and/or other non-invasive things I could do to alleviate the now constant pain.
After the doctor examined my hand and had me do a few simple exercises, she thought I had the signs of some minor carpal tunnel issues but that wasn't the real problem.
No, the diagnosis instead was arthritis.
Arthritis?! Yeesh, am I that old now?
The doctor's determination was based on several factors, including one I had not really noticed until she pointed it out. The palm area around my thumb joint was actually quite swollen and bruised. I'm a little embarrassed to admit I hadn't noticed this obvious (now) issue because I had myself convinced the evidence of my pain would not be visible with carpal tunnel. I had never bothered to look for visible signs of injury on my hand.
I was tunneled alright, but in the completely wrong direction.
The doctor asked me what I'd been doing lately to see if we could narrow down why the arthritis was flaring up (I learned from my doctor that the thumb is typically the first area to show signs of arthritis in the body).
After listing off a couple of things, including the iron grip I typically have on my cross country ski poles while on the trail, the culprit was none other than something totally unexpected (at least to me).
Crocheting.
So let me be the one to tell you that possible injury can lurk from any corner, at any time. Danger is everywhere, including sitting on your couch with a crochet hook and yarn to help your kids make an afghan with their 4-H club.
I'm now on an ibuprofen and ice regiment for the next two weeks before I start a few simple exercises to strengthen the muscles and joints in my hand.
But something tells me the bruise on my knee from cross country skiing last week will likely be the injury I whine more about even though it doesn't hurt nearly as much as my hand right now (and appears almost gone in comparison to how it looked last week).
I mean really, how can you not laugh at my declaration of pain when I am forced to admit it's a CROCHET injury?
Sometimes life is downright weird.
Wednesday, January 13, 2010
Pin the tail on the donkey, err chicken
G. made up a game to play with her 4-H club to teach the group about basic chicken anatomy. Instead of a donkey (or a tail), it's a pin the body part card on to the chicken drawing. She designed the game so that each person could stick the name of the body part to its corresponding place on the poster.
I thought it would be fun to do a picture version of her game on my blog just for fun.
Want to play?
Post a comment below with the number and corresponding body part name.
Here's a word bank in case you need a bit of help.
toes, comb, waddle, hock, shoulder, shanks, beak, ear lobe, eye, breast, vent
The 4-H kids had the game completed in just a couple of minutes. How about you?
I thought it would be fun to do a picture version of her game on my blog just for fun.
Want to play?
Post a comment below with the number and corresponding body part name.
Here's a word bank in case you need a bit of help.
toes, comb, waddle, hock, shoulder, shanks, beak, ear lobe, eye, breast, vent
The 4-H kids had the game completed in just a couple of minutes. How about you?
Tuesday, January 12, 2010
Gifts of convenience give all year long
I received two of THE best gifts this Christmas that had me as excited as any child in the wee hours of Christmas morning. What gifts could make me as giddy as a school girl?
* A water heater for the chicken coop
* A camper potty
I know, these are things most people would not put at the top of their Christmas list, and truth be told I never thought to even put them on my list. But they are perfect none-the-less because they save me both time and energy. And for that reason alone, they are extra special because a lot of thought went in to each of these gifts.
CHICKEN COOP WATER HEATER from Fino
The coop's new water heater holds several gallons and keeps that water warm 24 hours a day in the winter. The chickens have been bee-gocking their happy little beaks off at this new development. (When G. was little she said her hens didn't say "cluck" they said "bee-gock" and if you really listen to a flock of chickens, you're likely to agree with her.)
For the humans in the family, there is no more boiling water before dawn and dragging a bucket of brimming hot water out to the coop, only to have to repeat the process in late afternoon because the water froze so quickly. The girls primarily do this chore but everyone pitches in regularly to get the job done. Now I won't have to nag the kids to do this as often and that's a BIG plus in my book.
Why we held out for 7 years without a coop water heater I can not say. I'm just eternally grateful that my husband made this purchase. It was $50 absolutely well spent and the perfect gift from my spouse.
Winter chicken chores (to give you an idea about the job we've left behind)
THE CAMPER POTTY from Grandma
Friends of my dad gave us an older fixer-upper camper a couple of months ago. (Thanks again Don & Beth!)
It needs a lot of work, inside and out, but there is a small space for a potty. Doing some research on the cost of a portable potty was on my list of things to do this spring while we were making repairs to the camper. But Grandma and her husband have a boat and are very familiar with portable potties. They surprised us with one of our own and I was thrilled. In retrospect I'm not sure any grown woman should have been quite so excited at the sight of a potty. But then again, I believe a lot of moms might understand if they were faced with Murphy's Law during the Cumberland Fair...
... because it rained every night we stayed at the fairgrounds this past September in the tiny (rental) camper that didn't have a potty. The chilly, wet midnight runs to the bathroom with the kids was a real drag. With our new camper and potty we'll be able to put those memories behind us (and because we'll have a potty it probably won't rain at all during the fair this year).
My Christmas might not have been glamorous, pampering, or even all about me. But I'll tell you, the gifts I received will be ones that will make my life so much easier in the months ahead. And that made it one of the most thoughtful gift-receiving holidays I've had in a long time.
* A water heater for the chicken coop
* A camper potty
I know, these are things most people would not put at the top of their Christmas list, and truth be told I never thought to even put them on my list. But they are perfect none-the-less because they save me both time and energy. And for that reason alone, they are extra special because a lot of thought went in to each of these gifts.
CHICKEN COOP WATER HEATER from Fino
The coop's new water heater holds several gallons and keeps that water warm 24 hours a day in the winter. The chickens have been bee-gocking their happy little beaks off at this new development. (When G. was little she said her hens didn't say "cluck" they said "bee-gock" and if you really listen to a flock of chickens, you're likely to agree with her.)
For the humans in the family, there is no more boiling water before dawn and dragging a bucket of brimming hot water out to the coop, only to have to repeat the process in late afternoon because the water froze so quickly. The girls primarily do this chore but everyone pitches in regularly to get the job done. Now I won't have to nag the kids to do this as often and that's a BIG plus in my book.
Why we held out for 7 years without a coop water heater I can not say. I'm just eternally grateful that my husband made this purchase. It was $50 absolutely well spent and the perfect gift from my spouse.
Winter chicken chores (to give you an idea about the job we've left behind)
THE CAMPER POTTY from Grandma
Friends of my dad gave us an older fixer-upper camper a couple of months ago. (Thanks again Don & Beth!)
... because it rained every night we stayed at the fairgrounds this past September in the tiny (rental) camper that didn't have a potty. The chilly, wet midnight runs to the bathroom with the kids was a real drag. With our new camper and potty we'll be able to put those memories behind us (and because we'll have a potty it probably won't rain at all during the fair this year).
Sunday, January 10, 2010
Dreaming, of pigs
L. is pig-crazy, as in the real livestock animals like the ones she raised last year. My worries that she would be crushed at selling her pigs (for food) last year, were unfounded. She is now eagerly anticipating buying two new piglets this spring and is always on the lookout - no matter where she is - of something pig-related.
It was a challenging task to track down some pig fabric for her for Christmas. She made it clear she wanted realistic looking pigs on the fabric she requested. None of that "fat, unhealthy pig" type stuff I was told after looking at the limited selection of fabric related to farm animals at JoAnn Fabrics.
With the help of some quilters on eBay, I was able to find something that fit L.'s specifications to make her a water bottle cover for Christmas. I purchased enough to have fabric left-over for her to make some other pig-related sewing projects on her own (she's still trying to decide what to make with the remaining fabric).
The highlight for L.'s Christmas was not this pig fabric though, it was a pair of slippers from grandpa. They are, without a doubt, her crowing (pig) glory and worn at every possible moment indoors.
After Christmas L. discovered a website with step-by-step instructions to make a variety of origami (activitytv.com is a great kid-friendly website).
Within a couple of hours though, she was on a quest to find a pattern this website did not have, much to her chagrin.
Life was not complete without a few pigs in her origami collection.
After a quick Facebook post, Julie came through for her with link suggestions to make a couple of different types of origami pigs. She now has a whole herd of them.
Then there is L.'s email signature (she's quite smitten with email and her signature), which always includes two icons to represent both of her pigs from last year.
But L. doesn't just settle for crafty pig stuff. Nope, she wants to share her pig love with everyone on the cross country ski trail as well.
And her regular reminders to me that I'm slow on the trail (when doing a trail review I often have to stop to snap a few photos and she gets impatient with that sometimes) includes a drawing as well.
Some girls are horse- or cat-crazy and although L. likes both, her heart is unquestionably in the pig corner right now.
Oink, oink.
It was a challenging task to track down some pig fabric for her for Christmas. She made it clear she wanted realistic looking pigs on the fabric she requested. None of that "fat, unhealthy pig" type stuff I was told after looking at the limited selection of fabric related to farm animals at JoAnn Fabrics.
With the help of some quilters on eBay, I was able to find something that fit L.'s specifications to make her a water bottle cover for Christmas. I purchased enough to have fabric left-over for her to make some other pig-related sewing projects on her own (she's still trying to decide what to make with the remaining fabric).
The highlight for L.'s Christmas was not this pig fabric though, it was a pair of slippers from grandpa. They are, without a doubt, her crowing (pig) glory and worn at every possible moment indoors.
After Christmas L. discovered a website with step-by-step instructions to make a variety of origami (activitytv.com is a great kid-friendly website).
Within a couple of hours though, she was on a quest to find a pattern this website did not have, much to her chagrin.
Life was not complete without a few pigs in her origami collection.
After a quick Facebook post, Julie came through for her with link suggestions to make a couple of different types of origami pigs. She now has a whole herd of them.
Then there is L.'s email signature (she's quite smitten with email and her signature), which always includes two icons to represent both of her pigs from last year.
But L. doesn't just settle for crafty pig stuff. Nope, she wants to share her pig love with everyone on the cross country ski trail as well.
And her regular reminders to me that I'm slow on the trail (when doing a trail review I often have to stop to snap a few photos and she gets impatient with that sometimes) includes a drawing as well.
Some girls are horse- or cat-crazy and although L. likes both, her heart is unquestionably in the pig corner right now.
Oink, oink.
Wednesday, January 6, 2010
Observing the night sky with kids, part 2
As I mentioned in my column this month, I'm not always so great at helping the kids identify star constellations beyond the most obvious and popular ones like the big and little dippers, Orion and Cassiopeia.
My digital camera, while it's a pretty good model, is not an SLR and therefore any hope of capturing the stars in the night sky with it is nearly zilch. But I still dragged it outside one night last month to catch some of the sky watching conversation with the kids.
As you'll hear, I'm no astronomy whiz but the kids' enthusiasm for identifying (right or wrong) stars and constellations is more important I think than being 100% accurate with our observations.
One of the "tricks" to help the kids orientate themselves with a compass and a map (or sky chart) we've used for years is Never Eat Salty Wheat.
The girls say this phrase while moving their arm in a clockwise direction to help them remember where North, East, South and West are. It seems kind of silly but it's quite handy and easy for the kids to remember. And even though I'm pretty good with directions, I can get confused when looking at the night sky. I feel a natural inclination to rotate my body, as well as my head, while looking at the sky and it's all too easy to become direction-challenged, especially when I'm with the kids who are pointing in different directions.
The constellations the girls mention in the video above looked like this:
The sky chart we tend to use because it's always on hand (in our Usborne Discovery Astronomy book by Rachel Firth) is a simplified kid-friendly version of the chart. The kids also really enjoy printing out and making their own star finder, which is also easy for them to understand.
So in case you thought you needed to be an expert astronomer to view the night sky with your kids, you don't. A few bits of information and a sky chart are all you really need to get the kids interested. Then they'll take over the adventure from there.
My digital camera, while it's a pretty good model, is not an SLR and therefore any hope of capturing the stars in the night sky with it is nearly zilch. But I still dragged it outside one night last month to catch some of the sky watching conversation with the kids.
As you'll hear, I'm no astronomy whiz but the kids' enthusiasm for identifying (right or wrong) stars and constellations is more important I think than being 100% accurate with our observations.
One of the "tricks" to help the kids orientate themselves with a compass and a map (or sky chart) we've used for years is Never Eat Salty Wheat.
The girls say this phrase while moving their arm in a clockwise direction to help them remember where North, East, South and West are. It seems kind of silly but it's quite handy and easy for the kids to remember. And even though I'm pretty good with directions, I can get confused when looking at the night sky. I feel a natural inclination to rotate my body, as well as my head, while looking at the sky and it's all too easy to become direction-challenged, especially when I'm with the kids who are pointing in different directions.
The constellations the girls mention in the video above looked like this:
Cassiopeia in Winter sky
Big Dipper in Winter sky
Cygnus ("cross" L. refers to in video) in December sky
The sky chart we tend to use because it's always on hand (in our Usborne Discovery Astronomy book by Rachel Firth) is a simplified kid-friendly version of the chart. The kids also really enjoy printing out and making their own star finder, which is also easy for them to understand.
So in case you thought you needed to be an expert astronomer to view the night sky with your kids, you don't. A few bits of information and a sky chart are all you really need to get the kids interested. Then they'll take over the adventure from there.
Kid Tracks Column: Fascinating night sky
Gazing at the night sky with children can be a challenge for a parent who is a novice star gazer. But stopping to look at the moon and stars on a clear night is all part of helping kids appreciate the world around them, especially from their own backyard.
I can identify a variety of stars, planets and constellations in a planetarium when a knowledgeable astronomer is there to confirm my findings. But when I'm outside with my kids looking at the real thing, it's a different story. I'm a wishy-washy mess of "umms" and "hmmms" in trying to definitively identify anything beyond the most simple of constellations. I have taken my kids to planetarium shows since they were preschoolers and they have always loved the experience. When my oldest daughter was 5-years-old and I asked her where we lived, hoping she would reply with our street address, she instead said, "Planet Earth."
These days my kids have found the mythology about the night sky particularly interesting and our visits to the planetarium are often prompted when we see a storytelling orientated program offered.
MOON PHASES Even though I'm not always sure I can identify all the stars and constellations in the sky, the phase of the moon is easier to point out. The moon's cycles affect ocean tides and although this is a complicated concept for young children, the basic premise can be explained in the context of visiting the beach in the summer. There is a reason why the waves are moving closer (or further away) from the beach blanket during the day - it's (mostly) because of the moon.
My kids know the best night of the month to view the stars is when there's a new moon. The absence of the moon means there is less light "pollution" so the dimmer stars and planets are easier to find. We're also aware of the full moon during each winter month because there are several cross country ski enthusiasts that plan guided tours on those nights. During the warmer months the Scarborough Marsh Audubon Center offers full moon canoe tours. Knowing the moon phases opens up all sorts of interesting and off-the-beaten-path outdoor adventures for families if you are interested to trying something new.
TELESCOPE NOT REQUIREDMy family has a telescope and we do use it periodically but a simple pair of binoculars works just as well for the kids and don't require an adult's assistance to use. The moon's craters are easily visible through our 7x50 pair of binoculars and the kids can scan the surface by moving their binoculars instead of worrying about knocking a telescope lens off track (a common problem in using telescopes with children). The key to night time viewing through binoculars is choosing an aperture value that allows a higher amount of light to pass through the lens (the second number indicates this value and 50mm works well for us). Prices can vary but an inexpensive pair will still likely appeal to kids who want to get a closer look at the moon, an object easily found through any lens.
MONTHLY SKY CHARTS
Having a chart of stars during the month you are viewing is key to ensuring you can identify what you are looking at. For instance, the Big Dipper (Ursa Major constellation) stands on it's "handle" in the winter on the north horizon while in autumn it appears upright and looks like the dipper it was named after during that season. It's helpful to know the dipper's orientation so you can start at a familiar point of reference before branching out to identify other constellations with the kids. The Maine Sunday Telegram prints a sky chart at the beginning of each month in the Outdoors section of the newspaper.
A COMPASS CAN BE HELPFUL
We use a compass when we're serious about trying to identify specific constellations so we can orientate ourselves precisely to our sky chart. This is not necessary when teaching younger children to identify Ursa Major and Ursa Minor but, it can be helpful in identifying Polaris (North Star) and explaining the basics of how a compass works.
BOOK RESOURCES
There are tons of books you can read to learn more about this subject. And even though I am capable of a more advanced reading level, I have found that the books geared for younger children are the best reference books on my shelf.
* "Stargazers" by Gail Gibbons
* "Exploring the Night Sky: The Equinox Astronomy Guide for Beginners" by Terence Dickinson
* "Bedroom Astronomy" by Klutz
* "Usborne Discovery: Astronomy" by Rachel Firth
VISIT THE EXPERTS
There are a variety of places in Maine where you can bring the family to visit to help you all learn more about the night sky.
* Maynard F. Jordan Planetarium in Orono, www.galaxymaine.com
* Southworth Planetarium in Portland, www.usm.maine.edu/planet
* Starfield Observatory in Kennebunk, www.asnne.org
* Brower Observatory in Whitefield, www.maineastro.com
* Challenger Learning Center in Bangor, www.clcofme.org
ON THE WEB, AND MORE
NASA features a "Month in Exploration" that offers notable historical facts related to space exploration for each month of the year. www.nasa.gov/exploration/thismonth/this_month_main.html
Print out a kid-friendly Star Finder, which is specific to each month: spaceplace.jpl.nasa.gov/en/kids/st6starfinder/st6starfinder.shtml
The International Space Station can be viewed from Maine several times each month. This website offers a region-specific monthly listing of viewing times: spaceflight1.nasa.gov/realdata/sightings/index.html
The Skywatch Hotline is updated weekly by the staff at the Southworth Planetarium in Portland. Call (207) 780-4719 to listen to a pre-recorded message about notable happenings in the sky over Maine each week.
I can identify a variety of stars, planets and constellations in a planetarium when a knowledgeable astronomer is there to confirm my findings. But when I'm outside with my kids looking at the real thing, it's a different story. I'm a wishy-washy mess of "umms" and "hmmms" in trying to definitively identify anything beyond the most simple of constellations. I have taken my kids to planetarium shows since they were preschoolers and they have always loved the experience. When my oldest daughter was 5-years-old and I asked her where we lived, hoping she would reply with our street address, she instead said, "Planet Earth."
These days my kids have found the mythology about the night sky particularly interesting and our visits to the planetarium are often prompted when we see a storytelling orientated program offered.
MOON PHASES Even though I'm not always sure I can identify all the stars and constellations in the sky, the phase of the moon is easier to point out. The moon's cycles affect ocean tides and although this is a complicated concept for young children, the basic premise can be explained in the context of visiting the beach in the summer. There is a reason why the waves are moving closer (or further away) from the beach blanket during the day - it's (mostly) because of the moon.
My kids know the best night of the month to view the stars is when there's a new moon. The absence of the moon means there is less light "pollution" so the dimmer stars and planets are easier to find. We're also aware of the full moon during each winter month because there are several cross country ski enthusiasts that plan guided tours on those nights. During the warmer months the Scarborough Marsh Audubon Center offers full moon canoe tours. Knowing the moon phases opens up all sorts of interesting and off-the-beaten-path outdoor adventures for families if you are interested to trying something new.
TELESCOPE NOT REQUIREDMy family has a telescope and we do use it periodically but a simple pair of binoculars works just as well for the kids and don't require an adult's assistance to use. The moon's craters are easily visible through our 7x50 pair of binoculars and the kids can scan the surface by moving their binoculars instead of worrying about knocking a telescope lens off track (a common problem in using telescopes with children). The key to night time viewing through binoculars is choosing an aperture value that allows a higher amount of light to pass through the lens (the second number indicates this value and 50mm works well for us). Prices can vary but an inexpensive pair will still likely appeal to kids who want to get a closer look at the moon, an object easily found through any lens.
MONTHLY SKY CHARTS
Having a chart of stars during the month you are viewing is key to ensuring you can identify what you are looking at. For instance, the Big Dipper (Ursa Major constellation) stands on it's "handle" in the winter on the north horizon while in autumn it appears upright and looks like the dipper it was named after during that season. It's helpful to know the dipper's orientation so you can start at a familiar point of reference before branching out to identify other constellations with the kids. The Maine Sunday Telegram prints a sky chart at the beginning of each month in the Outdoors section of the newspaper.
A COMPASS CAN BE HELPFUL
We use a compass when we're serious about trying to identify specific constellations so we can orientate ourselves precisely to our sky chart. This is not necessary when teaching younger children to identify Ursa Major and Ursa Minor but, it can be helpful in identifying Polaris (North Star) and explaining the basics of how a compass works.
BOOK RESOURCES
There are tons of books you can read to learn more about this subject. And even though I am capable of a more advanced reading level, I have found that the books geared for younger children are the best reference books on my shelf.
* "Stargazers" by Gail Gibbons
* "Exploring the Night Sky: The Equinox Astronomy Guide for Beginners" by Terence Dickinson
* "Bedroom Astronomy" by Klutz
* "Usborne Discovery: Astronomy" by Rachel Firth
VISIT THE EXPERTS
There are a variety of places in Maine where you can bring the family to visit to help you all learn more about the night sky.
* Maynard F. Jordan Planetarium in Orono, www.galaxymaine.com
* Southworth Planetarium in Portland, www.usm.maine.edu/planet
* Starfield Observatory in Kennebunk, www.asnne.org
* Brower Observatory in Whitefield, www.maineastro.com
* Challenger Learning Center in Bangor, www.clcofme.org
ON THE WEB, AND MORE
NASA features a "Month in Exploration" that offers notable historical facts related to space exploration for each month of the year. www.nasa.gov/exploration/thismonth/this_month_main.html
Print out a kid-friendly Star Finder, which is specific to each month: spaceplace.jpl.nasa.gov/en/kids/st6starfinder/st6starfinder.shtml
The International Space Station can be viewed from Maine several times each month. This website offers a region-specific monthly listing of viewing times: spaceflight1.nasa.gov/realdata/sightings/index.html
The Skywatch Hotline is updated weekly by the staff at the Southworth Planetarium in Portland. Call (207) 780-4719 to listen to a pre-recorded message about notable happenings in the sky over Maine each week.
Sunday, January 3, 2010
How to make water bottle warmers
I made fleece bottle warmers before our visit to Fort Kent a few years back in hopes of ensuring our water supply didn't freeze in our backpacks during our cross country skiing adventures up north. But these warmers don't fit the new water bottles the family received for Christmas this year. The new stainless steel bottles are taller and thinner than their old counterparts.
[ And I have to offer a side note that these stainless steel water bottles are nice but very, very cold to the touch at this time of year, even when filled with warm water. I had the feeling, in my very brief experience with my bottle on the trail yesterday, that my fingers would freeze to the bottle like a tongue to a steel pole. The decision was cinched then that I had to make a covering for it. And yes, we all could have used our old plastic bottles but when kids (and mom) get a new gift, we have to use it that very moment. ]
I made a simple pattern for the covering of our new metal water bottles. The main part of the pattern is a rectangle 9 1/2" tall and 5" wide (the 5" width is based on placing the pattern on the fold for a total of 10" wide). The circle for the bottom of the covering is 3 3/4" diameter (a straight line from side to side).
I first sewed a seam on the rectangle to make a tube. I then pinned the circle at one end of the tube before sewing that seam. I find sewing circles to be a challenge without the assistance of some strategically placed pins to keep things in place while on the machine.
The circular bottoms ensure the bottles can stand upright without tipping over with the addition of the thickness created by the fabric covering.
Once this part was done, I folded over the top of the tube to make a pocket for the elastic. I then fed an elastic through the top with a safety pin, sewed the ends and closed up the seam.
I made a couple of different types of bottle warmers for the kids based on their specific requests. L.'s request for a pig-themed warmer required double-duty with a fleece layer covered by the cotton pig material I gave her for Christmas.
The kids like the customized coverings and now I feel not one bit of guilt for buying the inexpensive solid color bottles instead of the fancier designs I saw (and cost about $10 more than the ones I purchased). No need for designs on the metal when we can just make a customized fabric covering instead.
Oh, and I have to share a tip for avoiding frozen water in your water bottles (even when covered/insulated and filled with warm water) on a day-long winter outdoor adventure from my friend Carl:
[ And I have to offer a side note that these stainless steel water bottles are nice but very, very cold to the touch at this time of year, even when filled with warm water. I had the feeling, in my very brief experience with my bottle on the trail yesterday, that my fingers would freeze to the bottle like a tongue to a steel pole. The decision was cinched then that I had to make a covering for it. And yes, we all could have used our old plastic bottles but when kids (and mom) get a new gift, we have to use it that very moment. ]
I made a simple pattern for the covering of our new metal water bottles. The main part of the pattern is a rectangle 9 1/2" tall and 5" wide (the 5" width is based on placing the pattern on the fold for a total of 10" wide). The circle for the bottom of the covering is 3 3/4" diameter (a straight line from side to side).
I first sewed a seam on the rectangle to make a tube. I then pinned the circle at one end of the tube before sewing that seam. I find sewing circles to be a challenge without the assistance of some strategically placed pins to keep things in place while on the machine.
Once this part was done, I folded over the top of the tube to make a pocket for the elastic. I then fed an elastic through the top with a safety pin, sewed the ends and closed up the seam.
I made a couple of different types of bottle warmers for the kids based on their specific requests. L.'s request for a pig-themed warmer required double-duty with a fleece layer covered by the cotton pig material I gave her for Christmas.
The kids like the customized coverings and now I feel not one bit of guilt for buying the inexpensive solid color bottles instead of the fancier designs I saw (and cost about $10 more than the ones I purchased). No need for designs on the metal when we can just make a customized fabric covering instead.
Oh, and I have to share a tip for avoiding frozen water in your water bottles (even when covered/insulated and filled with warm water) on a day-long winter outdoor adventure from my friend Carl:
- "Pack the bottles upside down. If they start to freeze, the ice will form at the bottom of the bottle. You will still be able to pour the water out then."
Saturday, January 2, 2010
A day for xc skiing fun, at home
We've been home for the second day in a row to avoid the snow-covered, and slippery, roads. The snow is still going strong and after a "movie marathon" yesterday and the kids uninterested in doing anything more indoors (they are movie- and crafted-out), we decided it was time for a cross country skiing adventure in the wooded lands behind our house.
The girls rigged up their new snow tubes on rope backpacks and we took to the woods to do some skiing, and some tubing.
It turned out that the little hill we like to ski down behind our house was not quite steep enough to get any momentum for the tube to slide down.
We improvised with a tow and L. enjoyed the ride while G. caught some video and pictures.
A neighbor was out on his snow machine to make some trails for the local snowmobile club and the skiing through the wooded trails was great. The skiing was easy, fun and very picturesque. It does not go unappreciated that we can simply walk out our front door and have a great skiing adventure.
After some time on the narrow trails and hearing some snow machines in the not-so-far distance, we decided to loop back to our house via our regular road since it hadn't been plowed recently and there was plenty of snow to ski on. It's always amusing to us to ski on the road (especially when we don't have to drive on it that day) and some of the dog walkers and kids playing outside seemed to share that sentiment.
"Today is definitely a day to be out on those (skis)," a smiling neighbor commented to us as we skied by.
Yup, and there's more to come with this snow "event" so we'll likely have another close-to-home adventure tomorrow as well. Since we don't have any other commitments to be anywhere else, after today's adventure no one is complaining about a repeat of the same for tomorrow.
The girls rigged up their new snow tubes on rope backpacks and we took to the woods to do some skiing, and some tubing.
It turned out that the little hill we like to ski down behind our house was not quite steep enough to get any momentum for the tube to slide down.
A neighbor was out on his snow machine to make some trails for the local snowmobile club and the skiing through the wooded trails was great. The skiing was easy, fun and very picturesque. It does not go unappreciated that we can simply walk out our front door and have a great skiing adventure.
After some time on the narrow trails and hearing some snow machines in the not-so-far distance, we decided to loop back to our house via our regular road since it hadn't been plowed recently and there was plenty of snow to ski on. It's always amusing to us to ski on the road (especially when we don't have to drive on it that day) and some of the dog walkers and kids playing outside seemed to share that sentiment.
"Today is definitely a day to be out on those (skis)," a smiling neighbor commented to us as we skied by.
Yup, and there's more to come with this snow "event" so we'll likely have another close-to-home adventure tomorrow as well. Since we don't have any other commitments to be anywhere else, after today's adventure no one is complaining about a repeat of the same for tomorrow.
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