Where's Bunny? #4

Bunny and "Sister Bunny"

Earlier this week we were driving by a lake (Maine's second largest - hint, hint) and saw some ice fishing shacks. The kids wanted a closer look so we stopped. It turned out the ice glider/sailboat was what really ended up capturing their attention.

We didn't see it in action but have in the past and both girls want to try it out. Maybe next year, the ice was "groaning" and I wasn't feeling too confident venturing beyond the shore. And with warmer temps on the way, the ice will be gone really soon anyway. There's always next year - something I keep saying because this Maine winter has been so strange...

So tell me, Where is Bunny?

Game Rule Reminder: The first person to POST A COMMENT (it doesn't count if you email me) about WHERE Bunny is in the photo, wins a "really cool glitter pen" from MaineToday.com (a direct quote from L.). Anyone can win so if you know where Bunny is, post it (and don't forget to include your email address).

GIS/GPS is cool for kids

I was reading this morning's story about a new GIS exhibition at USM'S Osher Map Library. GIS is an acronym for Geographic Information System. To really over-simply things, GIS takes local information in combination with GPS coordinates and/or map to give people a sort of enhanced map view of a particular area.

My kids' 4-H club did a GPS/GIS project last year for a national 4-H website Youth Favorite Places. (It was actually one of the initial reasons I started this blog.)

The kids made a list of their favorite places then took a GPS unit to each location, marked the coordinates and took a photo. Then the kids submitted that information along with a street address and why they chose the particular place as a favorite to the website.

It was a fun project and quite educational. I had heard about USM's Osher Map Library last year and have been meaning to get there to learn more about cartography.

Since we started geocaching, the kids have really enjoyed learning about maps. Nothing like some techy geeks to get this generation of kids interested in something that was quite a dry subject for me in middle school social studies class.

Mismatched sock gene

I'm an after-holiday bargain shopper. I keep a particular eye out for socks because the kids love the various holiday designs and I can usually pick them up for less than a dollar on sale. And it doesn't matter the holiday - Halloween, Christmas, Valentines Day, Easter - the kids like them all.

I share this tidbit only to explain the reason G. has so many kinds of socks. She really likes them and in the past few months, she's developed her own special style in wearing them.

Now I may have perpetuated G.'s new fashion statement because I don't match socks from the laundry. Clean socks go in a basket for the kids to rummage through to match themselves. I think G. got tired of looking for a matched pair one day and it went from there.

She may have also gotten the notion from her genetic makeup. I went through quite a few years in junior high (and maybe even high school), wearing different socks, which my mother reminded me about recently after seeing G.'s feet.

There have been a couple of disadvantages with these socks though. Like the time she had an imprint of a Christmas tree on her leg from her downhill ski boots.

But that hasn't stopped her from wearing them with other sport equipment, like this past week when we went ice skating.

"My skates fit better with thin socks Mom. Plus, they do really match today. They both have snowmen."

Where's Bunny? #3

Do you know where Bunny is? If you do, post a comment below (with your email address) and win a cool prize!

This one might be a little tricky so if no one posts a guess today, I'll add a clue to the comments on this page tomorrow.

Game Rule Reminder: The first person to POST A COMMENT (it doesn't count if you email me) about WHERE Bunny is in the photo, wins a "really cool glitter pen" from MaineToday.com (a direct quote from L.). Anyone can win so if you know where Bunny is, post it (and don't forget to include your email address).

Quite a game

It didn't take a minute for a fight to break out at last night's Pirates hockey game. It took exactly one second.

Not being very familiar with the nuances of hockey, I didn't understand how players could get into a fight in the very first second of play. What was equally strange was that the refs let the fight go on for so long without trying to break it up. It seemed suspiciously more like a Smackdown act than the start of a real hockey game as the two players circled each other with their dukes up.

My kids however were upset about the fight and started yelling at the players.

"Stop fighting! That's naughty Mommy isn't it? Hey you, be nice, don't fight!"

Yeah, they are still hockey game fan trainees.

Grandpa came to the game with us and bought the kids some pucks to play the Chuck-A-Puck game.

The pucks were soft like nerf balls so I didn't have to worry too much if my kids' throws landed in the stands rather than on the ice.

Each puck we had (6 altogether) came with a corresponding number slip.

Between the second and third periods of the game we went to the lower stands' balcony (yes, we buy the cheap seats) to throw our pucks. And as sheer luck would have it, L. actually managed to throw her puck onto the Chuck-A-Puck mat and won a hat (what was even stranger was that out of all the pucks, I took the above picture of the one she actually won with). She collected her gift certificate and has plans to go to the store with her dad this weekend to collect her prize.

Another highlight of the game for the kids was the cotton candy. Not a usual concession item purchased by me or my husband, Grandpa decided to treat them to the confection. And true to form, the kids had a little fun with the blue stuff.

 "Look mom, a blue beard!"

Thanks Grandpa.

Maybe it's time for Peking duck

The other night I went out to collect our chicken and duck eggs. Usually the kids do this chore but we had a busy day and didn't get home until after dark.

I went into the coop with my flashlight and poked around to find the eggs (the hens like to hide them in different places so we're never quite sure where they are). While I was doing that, one of the ducks got spooked and managed to run past me and out into the woods.

If you don't know anything about ducks, let me just tell you that they are really hard to catch in a fenced area with two people, let alone in an open space by yourself. They're quick and have a good sense of strategy.

So there I was on a freezing cold night (single digits), trying to coax this errant duck back into the coop.

I first thought that if I walked away from the coop, she'd go inside.

Nope. The duck stayed right where she was, quacking loudly, as I watched from a distance.

Then I tried to walk around the coop in hopes of forcing her to walk towards the coop door.

Nope. She just ran past the door and into the woods, still quacking.

So then I walked around in the woods to try to coax her into a different direction, all the while hoping that the duck - let alone me - wouldn't run into some wild animal.

That attempt got the duck on the edge of the door but then she suddenly jumped and ran off into the woods again.

At this point I told the duck she was "(expletive) out of luck" and I shut the coop door. The whole situation was ridiculous. But as I walked away, the kids started yelling from the kitchen door that I couldn't leave the "poor duck."

"Mommy, you have to help her!" yelled L.

"Well you come out here and help me," I said.

"It's too cold for me Mommy, I'm in my pjs."

"Me too mom!" said G.

"You can't let her get eaten (by the wild animals) Mom! That would be so sad!" said L.

I knew the duck couldn't survive the night outside the coop. And we had raised her from the time she was a duckling and well, I am a bleeding heart.

So I stayed outside for a few more rounds of Walk Around the Coop. Then FINALLY, the duck waddled back inside.

When Fino got home and I told him what had happened he said, "Man, I think it might be time for Peking duck."

Mothers and fathers, they each have their own approach to things.

Where's Bunny? #2

Here's another chance to win a cool glitter pen...

Where is Bunny?

If you need some help, check out this month's Outdoors with Children column.

Game Rule Reminder: The first person to POST A COMMENT (it doesn't count if you email me) about WHERE Bunny is in the photo, wins a "really cool glitter pen" from MaineToday.com (a direct quote from L.). Anyone can win so if you know where Bunny is, post it.