The Day After

Monster Nor'Easter dumped almost 10" of heavy wet snow. Widespread power outages. Thankfully I have a generator. I got to my mother's just as the rescue squad was going door to door to take the elderly to a shelter. She had told them she wasn't going. I went in and she was sitting in a chair with her ear muffs on. Turns out, she didn't comprehend that she was being evacuated. I had to navigate down power lines and trees to get to her, but God kept her safe until I could get there.

School Of 1798

The one room school house of 1798, taught what you needed to know. No abstract theories, just practical wisdom. And if you got out of line, the heavy hand of the teacher would show you the error of your ways.

The Storyteller

Inside the old school house are wooden desks that we are invited to sit in. The school house is over 200 years old. But yet I was asked, "Grampy was school like this when you were a boy"? Thankfully, the questions ended as the storyteller told us all about Mary and her lamb.

Redstone 1798

This is the real school house that Mary Sawyer attended. One day her lamb followed her to school and the story of Mary Had A Little Lamb was created. The lamb had been sick at birth and Mary had fed it by hand. Animals never forget the kindness and affection that they receive.

Why Does Water Flow

He asked Why does water flow? Many years ago his father asked me why is the sky blue when he was a boy. I get all of the difficult questions. But with diplomacy I have told them that I only answer the "what" questions. Like, "What is that"?

Crack Filler

Explorers climb rocks by sticking their hands and feet into every crack that they can find on the rock. They move upward, but not always straight. The path is undefined. The explorer will often stop to lean their head back, look ahead and adjust their direction. I need him and his instincts to guide me thru life.

Dr Who Of Hearts

Dr Who had a coat that was covered with question marks. The Princess of Hearts has her own special outfit for her collection of hearts.

Apple Cider Donuts

Up here in the Apple Kingdom of the Great North, it is apple picking season. We celebrate this season with hayrides, apple pies, apple crisp, apple cider that is heated, apple picking and throwing rotten apples at each other. But two of the highlights are fresh Carmel apples and fresh Apple cider donuts. Little voices from the backseat ask to go to the farm, just to get fresh apple cider donuts. And of course, we must go!

Helping Hands

I sealed my driveway last week, so I used the broom to sweep away some rain puddles. Eric saw me sweeping and went into the garage and found a broom that was his size. To receive help from others when you never requested it, is a reflection on the care and attitude towards others that they possess. I am very proud that all of our grandchildren have compassion for others and do what they can to assist them.

Water Therapy

Watch a child throw sticks and stones into a stream and then observe how they laugh and shout as their rock makes a loud plunk in the water. Then he says "come on Grampy, it's your turn"! So I join in and before I know it, I am acting like a kid again. Who says you can't go back in time?

The Miller

He emerged from the cellar of the mill with his future cast in stone (pun intended). When he grows up, he will be a miller. That way he never will grow hungry, and living at a mill is superior to living at Home Depot!

Gears

The big attraction at the mill wasn't the water wheel being turned by the water. It wasn't even the humongous grinding stones. The big attraction were the large gears in the cellar of mill. Little boys are in awe of the symetery and the loud gnashing sound from the revolving gears being turned to move the grain elevators and the grinding stones.

The Stone Age

Before the digital age and before the mechanical age, there was the stone age. The neat thing about going to a Grist Mill, is seeing these huge grinding stones that are used to grind the wheat. They are so cool, that Eric wanted to be a mill operator when he grows up!

Fall

Fall is finally here and we can all breathe easier. The humidity has disappeared, the temperature is cooler and the air is as crisp as a Macintosh apple.

Crawling To Walking

The mother child relationship is really very special. No one will feed you, train you, play with you, read to you and encourage you like your mother.

Man Time

Quality man time doesn't involve thinking outside the box, it is doing stupid man things outside of the box. Things you'll look back at and say "I did that"? But the fun is in telling the stories, and the journey in doing them together.