Strawberry Picking

June 5

I happen to find strawberries one of the most fun berries to pick, now that I've finally done it. Growing up in Alaska, we didn't pick strawberries. We picked low-bush cranberries, raspberries, and blueberries.  Each of those are also great, but come at a price when picking in the woods of the wilderness where the bears also love berries and raspberry bushes have thorns which are usually surrounded by bees. I once picked some wonderful blackberries by my college in OR and made jam with my roommate. We fought off bees for an hour, but it was well-worth it. 

Picking berries in PA, well, not a problem. Pull up to the giant field, ask for a basket or bring your own, they direct you to a row, and have at it! Weigh and pay, it's amazing. The kids had a great time. I'm hoping strawberries are in season before we move next year because I'm all geared up to make more jam already :). 

I told my kids to take a good look at the berries across the counter because in the morning...
"Wham, Ka-Bam...Jam!"

“Are wild strawberries really wild? Will they scratch an adult, will they snap at a child? Should you pet them, or let them run free where they roam? Could they ever relax in a steam-heated home? Can they be trained to not growl at the guests? Will a litterbox work or would they make a mess? Can we make them a Cowberry, herding the cows, or maybe a Muleberry pulling the plows, or maybe a Huntberry chasing the grouse, or maybe a Watchberry guarding the house, and though they may curl up at your feet oh so sweetly can you ever feel that you trust them completely? Or should we make a pet out of something less scary, like the Domestic Prune or the Imported Cherry, Anyhow, you've been warned and I will not be blamed if your Wild Strawberries cannot be tamed.”

― Shel Silverstein, Where the Sidewalk Ends

Catching up with May: Graduation Edition

Among other things I am so behind on in my house, the blog is one of them. I've taken to napping while the kids do instead of writing,  knowing that once school starts again and my routine kicks in life will be different. This summer has been so busy, while enjoyable and relaxing at the same time. How that is, I'm not sure. I'm going backward and starting up with May, where it ended, which is with Ella graduating from Lutz Preschool. That weekend before we took a bike ride with some friends and had a picnic dinner out by the lake. It was a great night for it and it had been way too long since I rode my bike. We all had a very nice time. 

Ella's class did one last outing at the Montour Preserve, one of our already favorite spots to visit. I was alone with the kids, some kids had both parents there as well as a few less siblings :). Every one of my kids managed to get hurt in some fashion, resulting in my asking myself why I didn't go with my gut and get a sitter for "The Brothers."We stayed after and threw rocks in the pond which calmed us all down and made for a nice ending. 

The Graduation was at the preschool this year. I guess in years past it had been at the middle school on the stage where there would've been much more room, but the flood took out the middle school so there we were. In a small room with lots of kids and parents, but it was fun anyway. They sang songs and said a poem. Ella did a great job and made all of us laugh during the "Tootie-Ta" song. I'm so glad I got that on video. It was a bit surreal knowing we would soon send her off to the beginning of her 12 year school career by September, but she is so excited and really loved her teachers and class. 

So amazing how much she changed in less than a year.

Cameron and Ella. They were best buds at school.

"Tootie-Ta!"

Getting her diploma :). Ella said she wanted to be a construction worker.
A few days later she told me, "I should have said something else. I don't really want to do that."
I told her she could change her mind as much as she wants at her age.

Proud Daddy.

Us.

Graduation Poem
Original Author Unknown

Do you remember way last fall
When I was only just this tall?
Now look at me! I'm up to here!
And my, I've learned alot this year!
In fact, you think I'm really great!
That's why I get to graduate!

(The poem the kids did for us)

Montgomery House Visit

(photo courtesy of wikipedia)

For 4 years we have lived in Danville, and I drive past this place usually once a day if not more. It is 1 Bloom Rd. here in town. The first house settled in Danville. William Montgomery owned it, and it was owned by many family members after him. It is now a museum, open on Sundays from 2-4pm. I guess you can see why it's taken this long to be able to spend some time in there. It's usually nap time and Andrew works many weekends. After Mother's Day I told him that one thing I wanted to do in the next month was visit this house. So I finally did. It was well worth it. Being the old-stuff lover that I am, as well as very interested in history, it was a well spent 2 hours. I was greeted by a nice lady named Sue and given a very detailed tour of the home and all that is in it. Here is a link to more information on the home and Mr. Montgomery himself if you're interested.

http://www.livingplaces.com/PA/Montour_County/Danville_Borough/General_William_Montgomery_House.html

This is a link to the history of Danville itself and some of the others that put it on the map.

http://www.danvillepa.com/history/

Nurse headwear during WWI.

Confederate Currency and Notes from the Civil War time.

Many of the lovely decorations that were in the home originally.

There were weapons used in every war by men from Danville in the back room.

I took 2 war history classes and to see the actual weapons some of these men used was very 

interesting.

The jail, it is still in Danville, used to use these giant keys and shackles. 

These are pictures of Abigail and George Geisinger. She is the founder of the hospital where 

my husband works. 

There is a tiny one room schoolhouse on the way to Lewisburg on 642 with a sign next to it 

explaining that the inventor of the typewriter lived in that little town. These are some of the original designs.

Arrowheads dug up and found around this area. 

Aviator hat worn in WWII.

This is Abigail Geisinger's bed. As well as her settee, some outfits and a few sewing projects she made.

The bed was donated years ago and they made a small room of some of her things.

These are just wonderful. 

More war memorabilia, outfits and awards worn and earned by men from Danville.

The bed owned by the Montgomery's. 

A small toy room houses carriages from the early 1800's. 

Gowns of all kinds worn by the women of the house and others in the area.

They have an extensive historical library. 

An old stove outside the kitchen. 

Inside the kitchen, gadgets, signs and pictures from 100's of years.

This is what our downtown street looked like in 1860. Like something from an 

old western movie. The home I was in is at the end of the road facing the street.

Map of the original buildings of the town.

Danville is known for it's iron t-rails. These are some of the different kinds that were made.

An original signed letter from Benjamin Franklin to William Montgomery. They were

friends and apparently there are many more letters written back and forth between the two of them.

The casing of a drum used in the Civil War. This drum was played by a 10 year old boy from Danville. His brothers were going to war and he insisted he go also as the drummer boy. He made it back alive and here is his drum. I cannot imagine as a mother sending any child, but especially a 10 year old off to war. 

Well, I could have taken many more pictures, but hopefully if you're from here, you'll go see for yourself, and if you're ever in the area, check it out. I have enjoyed this town since we got here and after touring something so fascinating, it made me glad we've had the chance to live here even more. I saw on a map from 1890, our house. That is just neat.

Aunt Rebekah's Visit

I am getting behind on a lot of things right now, and this happens to be one of them. With the weather being nice and the kids wanting to be outside playing, it makes it hard to get much done indoors. Anyhow, I will be trying to gain some semblance of motivation back this week and I'm starting with the blog, since writing is more fun than putting away laundry by a long shot. 

For Memorial Day weekend we had a nice visit from Andrew's sister, Rebekah. The kids usually pronounce her name "Ree-bekah" which is funny, and endearing. It was over her birthday celebration time too, so we enjoyed using that as an excuse to indulge in foods of all kids. We stopped at the outlets on the way to see Andrew (he was working out of town) and ended up eating caramel apples with M&M's on them from Rocky Mountain Chocolate Factory. Also chocolate croissants from Au Bon Pain. So good.

That night we ate at Red Robin. It's not only so yummy, but when kids get impatient, the music is so loud that no one really cares. Ending with balloons. 

What is a birthday without a cake? This is not just any cake, mind you. An ice cream cake from DQ that is topped with 4 different kinds of treats. And more fudge. Wowza. We were at the hotel so we improvised using trays and plastic ware the first night and cups the next day. It doesn't really matter what an ice cream cake is put in or on. It's worth it. We also had to eat enough that it would fit in the tiny hotel freezer. No worries. We did.

I forgot to get a picture of Andrew and Rebekah together, so this is proof that we actually did see him while she was here. All the boys in plaid shorts. 

Ella has really sensitive eyes and it is apparent in any picture we take outside. We need to start remembering the glasses. 

Subs at Quiznos with Peter! 

The last evening and Ella with her lovely socks. 

I have said it before and I'll say it every time, but we always appreciate so much having family come see us. The memories made are priceless and it makes time go by much easier when Andrew is busy. Thank you for taking the time to fly out here to see us Rebekah, look forward to seeing you again later this summer!