Kid Tracks Column: Big Night for nature watchers this month

April might typically be one of our wettest month’s of the year but it’s also when thousands of amphibians leave their winter homes in search of vernal pools to breed. That makes it an exciting time to be a nature watcher.

"Big Night" is a big deal in the environmental world and if kids know what to look for, they can easily become a witness to this annual amphibian journey.

Vernal pools are key to the survival of certain species of amphibians. These 'spring pools’ are basically depressions in the ground that fill will water in the early spring. They do not stay wet all year; they usually dry up by mid-summer. Because the pool is not full year-round, it can not support fish. That makes these pools conducive to vernal species that would not survive if there was a fish population (a predator to vernal species).

The interesting thing about vernal pools is that they are identified, not by geological indicators (although there are some clear signs to identify the possibility of one), but by the species living in the pool of water.

Last April my family became involved a vernal pool research project with the University of Maine and Maine Audubon. We were among many volunteers - a lot of us with little to no experience in formal scientific research - in various communities across Maine that were trained to identify possible vernal pools.

At this time of year egg masses for both wood frogs (an indicator species) as well as spotted-salamander (another indicator) and a couple of other species can be found in vernal pools. These eggs might seem elusive to the untrained eye, but if you know what to look for - a jelly-like substance just below the surface of the water - you can find them easily in vernal pools across the state.

My family is going to continue with the vernal pool research project again this month to count egg masses in pools that were identified during last year’s research. And although this sort of experience is great for families with pre-teen/teens, it would be a challenge for parents of young children. But luckily there are lots of options for learning about the many creatures spring awakens for all ages this spring.

A "Big Night" Out
April 12, 7:30-9 p.m., Gilsland Farm Audubon Center, Falmouth
Most people think that a "big night" out involves getting dressed up and indulging in an elaborate dinner. But for the adventurous, donning rain gear and scanning the ground for migrating amphibians (salamanders and frogs) can be even more satisfying.  If you think you might enjoy finding slimy, wiggling salamanders and hopping wood frogs as they lay their eggs in vernal pools, then this trip with Susan Gallo, Maine Audubon wildlife biologist, is for you. Weather date: April 20
* Family program, children 5 and up (Pre-registration required)
* $10/$15 - 781-2330 x209

Frog frenzy
April 19 at 10 a.m., Wells Reserve at Laudholm Farm, Wells
Search for frogs, learn frog songs, and make a froggie snack to take home.
* For ages 3-5 with caregiver. (Pre-registration required)
* $8/$10 - 646-1555 x117

Songs of Spring: More Than Just a Mud Puddle
April 22 at 11:30 a.m., Children’s Museum & Theatre of Maine, Portland
Learn about vernal pools and the singing frogs that lay their eggs in these fleeting wetlands. Then we’ll create a fabulous frog chorus. Program also offered May 13 and June 24.
* Geared for preschoolers, all ages welcome
* Free with Museum admission - 828-1234

Special Family Presentation: Live Reptiles and Amphibians
April 23 at 10 a.m., Gilsland Farm Audubon Center, Falmouth
Do not miss out on this fantastic vacation-week family program. A variety of frogs, toads, turtles, salamanders and more will be up close and personal.  Children will learn all about the fascinating lives these animals lead as well their adaptations, habitat associations, and what they can do to help protect them.
* Family program, all ages (Pre-registration required)
* $5/child and $10/adult for members; $10/child and $15/adult for nonmembers - 781-2330 x209

Amphibian Action!
April 24, 10 a.m.–12 p.m., Fields Pond Audubon Center, Holden
We’ll practice frog serenades, leap like frogs, and try to catch amphibian prey-then go outside to look for amphibian habitats.
* $8/$10 - 989-2591

Visiting a Vernal Pool
May 2, 1-3 p.m., Wells Reserve at Laudholm Farm, Wells
Venture to a vernal pool to hunt for salamander and frog eggs, plus elusive invertebrates, while learning about the ecology of temporary wetlands.
* Ages 6 and older. (Pre-registration required)
* $5/$7 - 646-1555

The Maine Vernal Pools Project
This citizen science initiative is already underway but the website has some great slide shows to help the lay person understand what a vernal pool is and how to identify the species that live in them.
www.umaine.edu/vernalpools

Maine Amphibian Monitoring Program
MAMP volunteers are assigned a road route with ten survey stops identified at or near wetlands. The routes are run three times a year, once in early spring, once in late spring and once in early summer. Volunteers are needed for northern and western Maine routes this spring.
www.maineaudubon.org

The Frog Call Quiz
This website provides a resource for learning breeding calls of frogs and toads. To test your ability to identify frog calls in your state, use the Public Quiz option.
www.pwrc.usgs.gov/frogquiz

Join the Wildlife Watch
Wildlife Watch is a citizen science initiative to encourage people of all ages to report information about the wildlife and plants in the area where they live. This is a national nature watching program sponsored by the National Wildlife Federation.
www.nwf.org/wildlifewatch

Get Outside to Explore
Lowell Preserve in Windham (on Falmouth Road at fire barn, www.windhamparksandrec.
com) and Libby Hill Trails in Gray (behind G-NG Middle School - www.LibbyHill.org) have well-marked woodland trails along permanent and ephemeral water features that may support indicator species.  The drainage pond at the Windham Fire Barn is not a vernal pool, but it does generally have wood frog and spotted salamander eggs, as well as bullfrogs. It’s an easy "park & peek" location.

  When looking for vernal pools remember to respect the environment and the creatures that live there. And remind kids that collecting living creatures (or eggs) to take home will not help these creatures survive. Take a peek - with a picture to remember the adventure - and then leave things as you found them.

Originally published in Raising Maine Magazine, April 2010 edition

Outdoor adventures, of the backyard sort

Even though we have not done much hiking the past couple of weekends we've been outside plenty. Our theme is Backyard Outdoor Adventures right now.

With the acquisition of a small new-to-us greenhouse (thanks Cindy!), the girls have been busier than usual filling seedling cans. The girls have dug up top soil near our sand hole supply area (this was started thanks to the pigs and a wet summer last year). Fino decided on a thrifty approach to planting seedlings several years ago with cans. He drilled a hole in the bottom of the cans we normally recycle and although they are bulky and not particularly attractive, they get the seedlings growing without costing us any money (those little plastic trays can add up when you have a large garden).

We aren't just busy with gardening. Nope, we've been plenty busy with the anticipation of the girls' 4H animals arriving.

We decided to expand the pig pen in hopes that if we have another really wet spring/summer, we have more space to deal with the mud issues. We were given some old rod iron fencing (thanks Mike!) but before it could be used, I had to grind off all the chipping paint. We don't want the piggies getting sick by nibbling on the fence, which we assume they will do since they like to nibble and stick their noses into everything.

I've also been digging out the especially muddy area as part of the pig pen improvement project and filling it in with sand. After 8 wheelbarrows full of sand (not to mention the half dozen trips I made hauling stinky mud out), I'm hoping the pen is a little better with water drainage. Although I did see some puddles forming in there this morning so I know I'm not quite done with this job yet.

Fino and L. have had the biggest job though - building the sheep pen. L. is anxious to bring Midnight Minette and one of her cousins (a second black Romney lamb) to our house. She can't do that until we have a small shelter and pen for them. L. has spent plenty of time as the construction "nurse," standing by her dad for hours handing him various power tools when asked to get her sheep shelter operational.

Last night they were working on the roof so with another weekend or so, the sheep will have a new (temporary) home. (They're only living with us until October until they go back to their real farm home to be bred.)

And while we've had a lot of work projects going on in our own backyard, the girls have also been spending time in other backyards as well.

L. has been visiting the sheep farm twice a week to halter train Midnight Minette. L. has resorted to grain bribes to get her to walk and so far the lamb is liking that program. Although she is being weened from her mama and she was grouchy yesterday. L. basically just sat with her on the hill while she did her baaaaahhh routine. It's amazing to realize in the short time we've been around Midnight Minette that L. and I can identify that lamb's bah inflections. Yesterday she started off with a short bah, then went to a longer bah and then moved in to a feet stomping BAAHH in less than two minutes. L. dealt with one p--ssed off little lamb yesterday who wanted to know where the heck her mama was (in a field grazing about 1/4 mile away).

And speaking of opinionated animals, G. is still working with Sparkles the cow at the beef farm and that very large girl (over 1,100 pounds now) was up to her usual "sparkly tricks." (This is G.'s euphemism for Sparkles' feisty nature.)

But G. has also started working with a young heifer named Bailey. She's going to be G.'s show cow this summer and she's a much calmer personality (and about half the weight).

G. and Bailey are getting along great and should make a nice team this year. Sparkles will of course, still get some attention every week from G. but I would bet Sparkles is as relieved as G. to take a pass on teaming up for the show ring this year. Bailey seems to be a bit better suited with G. for that.

Yup, it's been a busy couple of weekends close to home. But the early spring preparations are almost done and then we'll be back to our weekend adventures in the woods not-so-close to home.

It's good to mix up things up a bit. It keeps everyone in the family happy.

Preview: Maine Maple Sunday

The sweetness of early spring is almost here, which in this state means Maine Maple Sunday. Sugarhouse treats abound next weekend, with plenty of free samples to be found around the state.

John Wallace of Harvest Hill Farms says he's looking forward to another great event at his Megquier Hill Road location in Poland.

"We're going to have the Grass Hole Band playing all day and Emmett Pickett, a real dyed-in-the-wool Maine character (played by Barney Martin from the Maine Hysterical Society), walking around to entertain everyone," he said. "And there'll be plenty of free samples."

According to the Maine Maple Producers Association Web site, 40 sugarhouses will open their doors to visitors March 28 for tours and demonstrations of their sugaring operations.

Each sugarhouse offers its own array of treats, from maple cookies, glazed doughnuts, fudge and taffy to cotton candy, lollipops and whoopie pies. But one thing that's sure to be plentiful is the maple syrup, both for sampling and for purchase.

"We've been boiling every day since Feb. 24," said Kristi Brannen of Spring Break Maple and Honey in Smyrna Mills. "We've never made maple syrup up here in February before. We're having a really good year."

Maine Maple Sunday -- which, for some sugarhouses, is a weekend event -- is especially appealing to pancake lovers. Breakfast is served through lunchtime at most locations, but there are specialty lunch items as well.

"We served about 300 people pancakes last year," said Jo-Ann Merrifield of Merrifield Farm in Gorham. "We also serve maple baked beans, maple chili and steamed hot dogs for lunch. But sometimes people are asking for the beans at 9 o'clock in the morning."

Merrifield said the farm will offer more than breakfast and lunch on March 28.

"We've been doing an icehouse demonstration for the past three years," she said. "There's a gentleman who talks about the tools and about how they are used to harvest ice. And the Brass Knobs 4-H Club comes to the farm and does oxen demonstrations. They usually bring carts to give the little kids rides."

Spring Break Maple and Honey offers tours of its sugarbush that include following the pipeline system through the woods and back to the sugarhouse. And there will be many treats awaiting visitors after the tour.

"We will be doing sugar on the snow. And yes, we still have snow up here," said Brennan, who also explained why their sundaes for sale are extra special. "We use a local dairy everyone loves, Houlton Farms Dairy, for our sundaes. We put syrup, whipped cream, maple-coated nuts and a piece of maple candy on top."

There is something for everyone in the family to enjoy on Maine Maple Sunday with the wide variety of food options and entertainment, much of it an educational history lesson on the time-honored tradition of sugaring. And there really is nothing like the taste of early spring in Maine to satisfy your sweet tooth.

MAINE MAPLE SUNDAY
WHEN: March 28, some sugarhouses will be open Saturday.
WHERE: Statewide
HOW MUCH: Many sugarhouses offer free samples. Pancake breakfast prices range from $6-12 per person.
FOOD OPTIONS: Pancake breakfast and maple syrup samples. Depending on location, maple baked beans, maple glazed doughnuts, ice cream and other sweets may be available.
PARKING: Roadside parking might be required.
DON'T MISS: Sampling a variety of maple treats.
KID-FRIENDLY FACTOR: Great.
BENEFITS: Supporting local agriculture.
IN CASE OF BAD WEATHER: Rain or shine.
MORE INFORMATION: For listing of sugarhouses participating in Maine Maple Sunday, go to GetRealMaine.com.
See video of the boiling process and footage from previous years on Wendy Almeida's Kid Tracks blog at RaisingMaine.com/maplesunday.

Originally published in Maine Sunday Telegram March 21, 2010

The afghan(s) are almost done

Back in October I put out a call for knit/crochet squares for a Warm Up America! afghan project I was coordinating with the girls' 4H club. This is the third year we've done the project (see previous years here and here) and it's a rewarding and enjoyable experience for everyone involved.

My girls especially love this service learning project, as do many of their 4H friends. And although it's quite an undertaking for me to organize, I find it's absolutely worth it to see the kids' excitement when it's time to sew the squares together to make the final product. Plus, it's great that the kids' work can help someone in need.

It's a win-win for everyone.

This year we had a super fab response from square-makers, some returning as well as some new (and talented) hands who joined the fun this year.

This outpouring of help translated to 389 squares donated for the kids to sew together six (4 large, 2 baby) afghans.

It was a truly wonderful community effort!

As I've done in previous years, I crocheted borders around each of the donated squares (hence the crochet injury a while back due to the amount of hand work required to get the border job done). There were very few places I went without a crochet hook and squares in my backpack these past few months.

I make these borders to keep things easy for the kids so it's clear to them where to place their stitches. And using yarn to sew the squares that matches the border color hides a multitude of sins, which is great when you have less-experienced hand sewers. Even our group's youngest 5-year-old boy had no trouble sewing his squares.

The trick this year was in the variety of sizes donated (the original request was for 5"x5"), which is not usually a problem because it is expected. When you have 20+ people crocheting or knitting with a variety of yarns and needles/hooks - not to mention our young novice knitters who made some colorful almost-squares - you're bound to have a significant variation in shape and size. But this year's volume of squares, and their range of sizes, required a new approach to piecing together the afghans.


Once I figured out how to make the squares fit together, I took a photo of the layout and created a worksheet for the kids to follow.

Then I organized the squares in to rows and banded each row with an elastic and a label. This part is familiar to the club members because I have done that every year and I know it works well for them. It keeps all the kids - and their squares - organized on sewing day. But the parents and the older kids in particular seemed to like the new chart feature. It helped them visualize the final product and figure out where the larger squares fit in the final product.

Note the labels and elastics on the table. The older girls did a great job staying on task and getting their rows sewn together neatly and efficiently.




Initially I thought I was a bit over-the-top with my chart-making but no one laughed or told me I was crazy at the club meeting. So I've decided to come clean about making them here and have no regrets. Bring on the teasing - I set myself up and I'm ready for it!

The kids (10 total) managed to sew together four afghans in three hours. There was a lot of friendly bantering and laughing going all afternoon so I know everyone was enjoying themselves. And although I thought it was overly ambitious to even attempt that much sewing time from the club, the kids (and parents) did an amazing job to get the afghans together and looking great and securely sewn.

But I admit I am breathing a sigh of relief today even though there's a few finishing touches to be completed (weaving all the yarn ends in and adding a small border around each afghan) before the kids deliver the final products to the food pantry and family shelter.

It was a multi-month project and I'm looking forward to letting my crochet hand rest for a bit before delving in to my next fiber activity.

But when I see a bunch of smiling faces doing something to make a difference in their community, I can't help but agree to do it all again next year.



So to all our crochet/knitting square-making peeps, here's fair warning the kids will be contacting you in the fall to help us again.

Korner Knitters, Isabelle Temm and the White Rock Extension ladies, Hope Lanza and the inmates at Cumberland County Jail, Baxter Library's (youth) Sewing Club, Uschi Carhart, Carole Prokey, Sarah Hamill, Millie Rich DiStasio, Erika Dube, Sheryl Adams, Wendy Brown, Libby Woodhead, Kelli & B. Keliehor, Annette Salvadori, Lisa Graham, Tina Crea, G. Almeida, L. Almeida, Julie Anderson and Nicole Foster. And a special shout-out to Standish Town Hall for donating the space for us to do this project.

Thank you!

The collage above is missing two of the afghans that are still in-the-works. I'll re-post this picture when I get those final details finished.

Customizing requires sewing/crocheting skills

Since the girls were 6 and 7 years old, they've participated in the annual Fashion Revue sewing competition every year with 4H.

This year neither of the girls could figure out what to make because to their minds, they've "made everything." (See previous years.)

The dress G. made last year, with zipper, was a great project to build on her sewing skills. But she wasn't interested in making another dress because she hardly has occasion to wear the one she made last year. She decided to go the more practical route and make a tote bag.

She needed a large bag to carry her riding gear to the horse farm and couldn't find one at the store that fully met her needs. I knew she was capable of a more advance sewing project for the Revue but decided it was more important to encourage her to make a project she actually wanted to make - and could really use.

Grandma gave her some great horse material for Christmas but it was white and she was sure that within one to two visits to the barn, the bag would be a mess.

So she found some durable brown quilted material for the exterior of the bag and used the white horse material for the lining.

It turned out to be a more challenging pattern than she had anticipate with sewing curving lines for the bag handles and matching the lining and pockets correctly. Then there was the added challenge of working with thick material on a standard (and cheap) sewing machine.

But the bag, which is very large, easily fits her size 11 riding boots, helmet, water bottle and other things she takes to the farm every week. And for the most important outcome after doing this project - she LOVES it.

L. on the other hand, decided not to sew this year. She opted to try a crochet project and make a "pig something." After much indecision about what sort of pig thing to make (trust me when I say that she explored *all* options from stuffed "amigurumi" pigs to slippers with pig faces and drove me crazy with her indecision), she finally decided on a scarf.

She crocheted 40 granny squares and sewed them together to make the base of the scarf. Then she tried a couple of different ways to crochet a circle, which was easier said than done for her, and for me (teachers should be able to do the thing they're teaching but it turned out she got things figured out despite my lack of ability). Depending on the pattern, circle stitches have a tendency to curl and not lie flat. But after a lot of practice (it requires an even, consistent stitching hand, something hard for beginner - and lefty - crocheters) she made a flat circle to use for the pig face.

And then she decided it would be fun to make another circle for the back of the scarf. But instead of a face she had a different idea.

A curly pig tale.

This project was quintessential L. and like G., was the perfect project for her this year.

I have no idea what the girls will come up with next year for the Revue but there is one thing I have come to truly appreciate through their years of participation...

They have the skills to make - and customize to their specific interests - anything they want to.

The Fashion Revue was larger than in the past couple of years. I didn't get pictures of all the adorable Clover Buds (the 5-8 year olds who made pillows and scarves) but I caught a few of the great projects the older kids (and a couple of the younger ones) made for the revue this year. The projects were as diverse as the kids who participated. Projects starting from top left - tote bag, party dress, balaclava, skirt, historical costume, linen pants for historical re-enactments, crochet purse, grocery tote bag, pillow, historical costume, pillow, crochet scarf and tote bag.

Fort Knox chicken coop... and tired mothers

I should not have collected chicken eggs from the coop last night. I knew I was dragging butt and needed to go to bed. I had a long, intensely busy day with tight deadlines at the office and then spent my early evening serving as a taxi service to the kids' classes. But Fino was off to a class himself and the girls have been a little nervous about going outside at night after our fisher incident last week so I took the flashlight and basket and headed to the coop.

And then the final straw dropped on the camel's back. I locked myself in the coop with no easy way to get out.

Let me just say that a tired brain is a STUPID brain.

I'll let my photos tell the story.

The lock that closed behind me as I entered coop.

The long L-shaped ruler found in the coop and fit between the doors did not have the correct angle to move the lock.







So I climbed through the hole between the two sections of the coop and tried to exit via the other side.

Then I remembered I locked both doors on that side of the coop already and it would have be even harder to get through those locks from the inside.

Lock #1

Lock #2 is a screen door that closes over lock #1.











So back through the little hole for a new plan.

All the while I am well aware the girls will not be missing me. They were watching a video when I walked outside and are tuned out to everything else around them when it's movie time. And I'm not in the habit of bringing my cell phone to collect eggs so I couldn't alert them to my dilemma.

So I walked around in circles for a couple of minutes trying to think. That's when I noticed the big door. It had rotating screw tabs to pull out the window insert.

Note G. outside the door to ensure I don’t have a repeat performance while taking pictures after the fact.

And even though there are tools like shovels and rakes in the shed, there are no hand tools like screwdrivers, wrenches or pliers of any kind.

But I did uncover this handy item.

And I used it to push the tabs of the window insert, which was not so easy but it did get the job done.

I was only locked in the coop for about 15-20 minutes but when I walked back in to the house - to find the girls still glued to their video - I asked them if they missed me.

"What are you talking about?" G. asked.

I told them about being locked in the coop and L. said, "Mom, why didn’t you just climb out the window?"

Huh?

"I'll show you," she told with a big grin on her face.

The screen-less window behind the tools would have been an easy escape (I got through a smaller door on the floor between the coop sections after all).

But clearly this was my lesson to learn to listen to my body (and brain) when I'm tired. I should simply go to bed when I know I'm spent because that "one quick last thing?" It might not turn out to be quite so quick.

Kid Tracks Column: Carson Refuge great hike for little ones

Level terrain that's easy on little legs, numbered stations to find and a trail map with descriptions to read at each stop provides a gem of a place for parents with young children. Rachel Carson National Wildlife Refuge in Wells has all that and more to compliment its natural beauty and makes it a great destination for families.

The one-mile loop trail at the refuge is well marked. Maps at the trail head includes information about each numbered station that help visitors identify the aspects of a specific view. I always appreciate this sort of resource when hiking with my kids, as they ask 101 questions and rarely do I have more than the most basic of answers. But with the trail map and supplemental brochure from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, I can answer the kids' questions like a ranger. Well, sort of. My daughter took over the map to read each station description to me, so she was the ranger on the trail on this trip.

We explored this trail system with birding in mind but it was quiet on that front the windy day we visited. A woodpecker, chickadees and a mourning dove could all be heard, but we never did spot them. There were a couple of black specks near the open sea in the distance, but moving too fast for our novice bird identification skills. Birding in spring and summer should be more productive at the refuge than this late winter trip, so a return visit is in order.

Our hike was an easy, leisurely one, and we found a lot to enjoy along the way. The benches were a highlight for my 12-year-old. They were positioned to appreciate the surroundings at various stations, and she decided she needed to assess the comfort of and view from each one. She also always has had an affinity for walking on boardwalks, so any trail with more than one is tops in her book (there are three at the refuge). Most kids like hiking on varied terrain.

My daughter also enjoyed another less noisy, tactile experience by tracing the carved wooden numbers at each station with her fingers. Over the years I have found that in order to keep kids interested in hiking, especially when they're very young, it's helpful to give them something to look forward to finding. That's not always possible when parents don't know themselves, but there's no guesswork here. The markers are fairly close together -- there are 11 on the one-mile loop -- and kids will find them easily.

Most parents encourage kids to look for wildlife while hiking, but that might not keep a young child's attention for long. Little ones have a tendency to scare off birds and critters with their squeals and chatter, so wildlife can be elusive. But when there are numbered stations, boardwalks and benches -- things that can't run away and hide -- it makes for a better hiking experience for everyone. And with a bathroom at the trail head, a trip to the refuge has everything a parent needs to make this a fun outdoor destination for the whole family.



TRAIL: Rachel Carson National Wildlife Refuge
TRAIL HEAD: 321 Port Road, Wells
MILEAGE: One-mile loop
DIFFICULTY: Easy, level terrain
FEE: Free
BATHROOM: Yes
DOG FRIENDLY: Yes, on a leash
OTHER: Open seven days a week, except for federal holidays
12-YEAR-OLD'S REVIEW: "I liked sitting down on all the benches. I liked walking on the boardwalks … We thought the trees creaking were woodpeckers until we saw them moving because it was really windy. Then later we heard a woodpecker and a mourning dove. We got to go on the observation deck to see the marsh and that was pretty. The marsh looks like rivers with hay."

Published in the Maine Sunday Telegram, March 14, 2010

Halter training a lamb, and life lessons

I think every child should experience halter training an animal. It's a humbling experience for the child and one with many lessons in patience and understanding. It's also an interesting observational experience for a parent to see which stubborn personality is going to win each battle. (Hint: it isn't going to be your child the first week.)

L., dubbed the "family lawyer" by her parents and sibling for arguing points she believes are always right, could not talk or reason her way in to convincing her 3-week-old lamb, Midnight Minette, to do any sort of directed walking with a halter yesterday at the farm.

The farm owner suggested L. simply put the halter on the lamb and let her graze without trying to direct her. But L. thought she'd be able to convince Midnight Minette to follow her lead and gave me multiple reasons why she thought she could do this, which included talking to the lamb about finding her mama.

But in practice L.'s ideas did not work out. No, Midnight Minette shared her opinion on that quickly - and effectively - so L. is going to try some new tactics (i.e., follow the farm owner's advice) when she works with the lamb again this weekend.

I took some video to share Midnight Minette's ideas about halter training. It's an interesting notion - and one I saw from my children many, many times during their toddler/preschool years - of throwing yourself down on the ground and defiantly refusing to move when being told what to do.



Oh yes, watching that epiphany - how the young react to things they don't want to do even after a reasonable explanation has been offered - cross L.'s face yesterday just made me smile. (She asked if she did this when she was little and I was truthful, "more often than I would have liked honey").

But I know L. will find a way to work through her lamb's resistance. It will take time, dedication, love, patience and understanding. And the reward of a great relationship in the end will have made it all worthwhile.

That reward is something I know for a fact is worth every second of time - and love - invested.

Oh yes, spring time is upon us

At 3 a.m. this morning I woke up with a start because of some screeching. It sounded like screaming, but not. I wasn't sure if it was a bird or a wild animal or a screaming person. I compared notes with Fino and then with each of the girls because everyone was up and looking out a window within seconds of the first screech.

Fino grabbed a flashlight and poked his head out the door to see what was making the noise. We all agreed right off the sound was coming from the area around the chicken coop but couldn't see anything we could identify. That could have been in part because we were all so bleary eyed at being awakened so abruptly. We agreed to chalk it up to "a crazy bird?!"

I posted on my Twitter account about the strange wake up call being our "welcome to spring" alert that predators were coming around the coop again. And then a friend posted a comment in response that she thought it was a fisher cat.

After a quick web search on the sounds fisher cats make, I'm 99.9% sure that's just what we heard.



This also confirms, once again, how useful social networking can be to the average joe/jane who hears weird sounds in the night.

It turns out that it's breeding season for fishers according to the information I read about these animals. So Fino and I will be putting our heads together tonight about options to discourage the fisher cat from a repeat performance. This will likely include borrowing our neighbor's dog to brush her hair outside the coop and encourage her to pee around it because fisher's tend to - not always though - stay clear of a dog's territory.

If you've had fisher issues previously and found a way to discourage them from visiting, let us know. We have some farm animals (pigs and sheep) moving in to our backyard in mid-April and although we have found that the electric fence does deter predators, we'd like to do all we can to ensure a safe backyard experience for all our guys/gals this year.

Speaking of which, L. spent a bit of time introducing her sheep, Midnight Minette, to a halter at the farm yesterday. It was an entertaining hour watching the lamb's reaction to that halter experience - tipping herself over on the ground in refusal to walk with L (next time I will be taking video) - and L. can't wait for her "little lamby" to come live at our house for the spring/summer.

Ahh yes, this all confirms spring is just about here.

Preview: Bath's Blarney Days

I wrote a preview story about Bath's Blarney Days for the Maine Sunday Telegram's  Next Maine Event feature and thought I'd post it here. The St. Patrick's Day parade sounds like great fun for families and the YMCA is free all weekend for those wearing green.

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Bring out your green for Bath's Blarney Days, a week of fun starting Thursday and wrapping up on St. Patrick's Day, March 17.

For its second annual Irish heritage celebration, Bath has a fun-filled calendar of events, including the largest St. Patrick's Day parade in the state on Saturday.

Jennifer Geiger, director of Main Street Bath, is excited about this year's Blarney Days.

"Bath really lends itself to a festival because it has a nice attractive and compact downtown and you can get to things easily," she said. "The friendly people here really get into the spirit of things and that makes it fun."

Blarney Days will kick off at 7 p.m. Thursday with a talk by city historian Robin A.S. Haynes about the Irish immigrants who came to Bath to work in the shipyards. The program will take place at the Winter Street Center.

Friday's Moonlight Madness Sale, sponsored by downtown businesses from 5 to 8 p.m., has added a new Passport Challenge. Shoppers can get a stamp from the 44 participating businesses (no purchase required) for a chance at the "Pot o' Gold" -- items and gift certificates worth more than $800. Passports can be picked up at Cafe Creme, Byrnes Irish Pub or the Main Street Bath office, and must be turned in at City Hall by March 17 for a chance to win.

Saturday's events begin with a kids' Fun Run at 9 a.m. and the Shamrock 5K Sprint at 9:30 a.m. Those interested in participating can register at 8:15 a.m. at the Admiral Steak House.

If running isn't quite your speed, head over to the YMCA for a dip in the pool or to climb the rock wall. Admission is free to those wearing green on both Saturday and Sunday.

The parade, a sure crowd-pleaser, begins at 11 a.m. Saturday at St. Mary's Church on Lincoln Street and ends at Library Park. Bagpipers, decorated recreational vehicles courtesy of the local RV club, a marching band and Byrnes Irish Pub's kazoo-playing Pub Scouts are just a few of the groups that make up the festival's parade this year.

Other events on Saturday include a strongman tug-of-war challenge at City Hall, an Irish soda bread-baking contest at Now You're Cooking on Front Street and antique firetruck and trolley rides.

Saturday concludes with the Battlefield Band performance (advanced ticket purchase recommended) at the Chocolate Church at 7:30 p.m.

On Sunday there's an Irish sing-along for the 21 and older crowd at Byrnes Irish Pub.

March 15 features a different sort of green activity, with the Cool Bath-sponsored workshop, Biochar. This environmental program at City Hall will look at the benefits of burning your garden for charcoal.

On Tuesday, the Winter Street Center will host a showing of the classic, "The Quiet Man." The $5 entrance fee for the movie benefits Sagadahoc Preservation Inc.


BATH BLARNEY DAYS
WHEN: Various times, March 11-17
WHERE: Downtown Bath
HOW MUCH: Most events are free except for the Battlefield Band performance and the benefit programs.
FOOD OPTIONS: Lots of eateries in downtown Bath to choose from.
PARKING: Municipal lot behind Front Street and Waterfront Park.
DON’T MISS: The parade Saturday.
KID-FRIENDLY FACTOR: Good on Saturday with the parade and antique firetruck and trolley rides.
BENEFITS: The Shamrock 5K Sprint benefits Morse High School’s Project Graduation. The movie at Winter Street Center benefits Sagadahoc Preservation Inc.
IN CASE OF BAD WEATHER: All events are rain or shine.
MORE INFO: www.visitbath.com

Originally published in the Maine Sunday Telegram March 7, 2010

Leather belt making - great crafting fun

I like making crafts and have done a variety of them with my kids over the years but I had never made anything with leather. Well, I've done some leather lacing projects with the girls but had never ventured in to the realm of leather stamping. So when the opportunity arose for the girls to take a class at Maine Line Leather in Lewiston to make leather belts, we jumped at the chance to give it a whirl.

Everyone - including parents - had a great time and learned a lot about leather crafting.

Making a leather belt is actually a very do-able project for kids 5 and up (with younger kids getting some assistance from a parent). The kids in the class the day we visited ranged in age from 5-15 and each one left with a unique belt and a request to take another class.

The kids were offered a couple of different width strips to make their belts and the option to use simple buckles or purchase more fancy options from the shop.

The instructor lead the kids through the steps of sizing the belt to their waist and then securing a buckle on the leather before the stamp designs were applied.

The younger kids needed a bit of assistance with the hole punching and buckle assembly but the stamping was no problem for them to do on their own.

In order to get the best embossed impression of the stamp, the kids were instructed to use a wet sponge to dampen the area. This needed to be done every few minutes to ensure the leather didn't dry out.

L. wants to make a pocketbook and G. thought a new collar for her cat would be fun to make. One of their friends plans to make a leather halter for her cow to match the belt she made. Fino would like the girls to make an arm band and sling to wear for target shooting. A source of creative inspiration, the possibilities seemed endless by the time we left the place.

There is not a formal class schedule at Maine Line Leather but the owners said they were happy to offer classes to groups when requested. So if you're one of those moms who work with youth groups who might be interested in this sort of project, just FYI.