Robert Frost's home

One of my favorite poets is Robert Frost. So when we went to New England to see the fall colors we stopped by Robert Frost’s home in New Hampshire. It couldn’t have been a more perfect time to see the house and grounds. The leaves were turning colors as we drove to the white house and dark roof stood majestically among the colorful trees. We had the opportunity to walk the grounds and take the Hyla Brook Trail. Along the trail were markers with Frost’s poem describing the beauty of the scene.  There is a children’s garden and in the summer they have lectures and poetry readings on Sundays.

If you have the opportunity to go to New England and happen to be in New Hampshire, be sure to stop by this amazing place and take a tour. You’ll be so glad you did.

Making Kites

For my family, flying a kite was  a wonderful traditon for the month of March for my family. We made and flew kites from March until the early part of summer. As long as the wind blew I was out there with a kite running and watching it soar and dance in the sky. Making a kite meant spring was here, a well anticipated break from the freezing cold weather of winter in New York.

I found a web site that gives extensive directions for making three types of kites:

-Diamond kite—the usueal or traditona kites

-Delta kite—well decorated and colorful V shaped kite

-Paper kite—i.e. using brown paper bags to make a kite.

Paper bag kite: Make 4 reinforced puncture holes at the corners of the bag opening.  Loop 2 lengths of string through holes to support all 4 corners then pull down to one string for a handle.  To finish, decorate bag and add streamers.

This makes wonderful family activity. Just click on the link below:

http://www.wikihow.com/Make-a-Kite

Have fun!!

Date Festival

 

Date Festival

February is not February without a trip to Indio, California.  The Date Festival is a yearly jaunt for us. Actually, it's the Riverside County Fair, California  turned into Arabian Nights Theme. This includes camel races, Ostrich races, music by big name artists and Arabian clad workers.

Everything is made of dates: desserts, ice cream, shakes, smoothies, bread, muffins, name it.

It’s a fun day trip for the family but an even better overnighter.

February 14-23, 2014, fair closes at 9pm, so stay overnight and drive to the many date farms with delicious products to purchase and tasting of the many types of date gown in the area.

Totally great family time.

Symphony

One of my goals this year is to attend more cultural activities in my community. So a jaunt to the symphony is planned. I created an animation to mark a new adventure for us.  I also chose my all time favorite music, Music Box Dancer. Just click on the link below and be sure your sound is turned on.

http://www.thosedesigners.com/Jan_14.html

 or

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zDU1rcIV6B8

HAPPY HOLIDAYS1

Thanksgiving

One Thanksgiving was made unforgetable by a cruise we to the Mexican Riviera.

It was a wonderful week of sunshine, and gentle breezes. Of course there was an occasional rough sea.

The ship was full to capacity with families and couples celebrating the holiday week in an untraditional way. The evenings were full of activities for singles, couples and families.

We had a choice of a traditional sit down Thanksgiving dinner or a full buffet. We chose the buffet. However, seating arrangements were with other people:  large families were with large families and small families were with small families.  Singles and couples chose where they sat. We chose young families.

Not only did we experience foods we never would have thought of for Thanksgiving, deliciously prepared, we also had a wonderful time with young couples with the most adorable children! And couples from all over the US and the world. Lasting memories and friendships were forged that day.

Though over the years we have had many, many wonderful thanksgiving experiences, this was added to the top.

Autumn

One of our most memorable trips was a 10 day drive through New English during peak fall season in late October. The colors of autumn extended any palate of colors you could imagine. It was impossible to take a bad photograph no matter where you pointed your camera.

We happened to be in Salem, Mass. on Halloween weekend. Believe me it was not planned, it just happened.  A lovely city with beautiful autumn colors, they take great pride in their sordid history of witches and warlocks.

A most fascinating part of the city is the House of Seven Gables. We took a tour of the house with a wonderful docent that took us on a journey of the house’s history.

Should you be in the New England area in October, be sure you stop in Salem and visit the house. You will be captivated.