The
kids rolled in Saturday night. As soon as we walked in the house, Andrew says,
"What's that Mimi?"
"What's what?" I asked.
"It went running across the
floor," and he pointed to the dining room. I went on ahead thinking mouse and it would be gone by the time I
got there but when I turned on the light, I found this guy.
"What is that?" I asked all
bent over trying to get a good look at him.
Kevin and Andrew both followed me.
"It looks like a wood roach," Kevin said.
I reached down and picked him up.
"Oh Lord, she's picking it
up," I heard from the peanut gallery. Okay, okay, Kandyce. It was Kandyce.
Roach or not roach, it was huge and I
didn't think it likely it would bite. My picture isn't very good for a couple
of reasons. One, he was trying to get away from me and wouldn't hold still. And
second, it was low light. Third, I was in a hurry! The kids had just gotten
there! With roach echoing around in
my head, I flushed him. I don't want to take any chances if it is — was a
roach.
I've since found out this is one of
the largest beetles we have. It's a Prionus Beetle and will rival the
Rhinoceros Beetle in weight. I'm sorry I flushed him now.
The
next morning, while waiting for everyone to get dressed, Andrew and I took our
cameras out. "Butterfly!" Andrew saw a Tiger Swallowtail.
Here's the picture he took.
Here's the picture he took.
One
place we knew we wanted to take the kids was to Steamtown National Historic
Site in Scranton.
Besides the trains, there's a trolley museum and we got there just in time to board the trolley for a ride out to PNC field and back. In fact, it was only minutes from pulling out of the station. I climbed on board and looked for seats for us and there weren't any. "Maybe we should wait until the next one," I suggested. I wanted us to be able to sit together.
Besides the trains, there's a trolley museum and we got there just in time to board the trolley for a ride out to PNC field and back. In fact, it was only minutes from pulling out of the station. I climbed on board and looked for seats for us and there weren't any. "Maybe we should wait until the next one," I suggested. I wanted us to be able to sit together.
"Oh no. There's room," the
conductor said. "I can put the seats down for you."
In front of the door on the opposite side, two benches came down and we got to sit together.
In front of the door on the opposite side, two benches came down and we got to sit together.
Our
conductor showed us how it was his job to count the passengers, pulling a cord
that added numbers to the box on the front wall. It was a way for the trolley
company to keep its employees honest.
This guy has been doing this job for
19 years. He was very interesting and knowledgeable. Then he came around and
punched our tickets.
"I want to take a picture of
that," Andrew said.
"What?" Kandyce asked.
"The ticket?"
"Yeah."
Later
the conductor tells us that each punch is unique. They always knew who punched
a particular ticket.
The original conductor, who worked on the trolley car we were riding in, still owned the original punch and donated it to the museum when he found out they were restoring the trolley. Our trolley, Number 76, was built in 1931 and is almost all original. The ads lining the walls are reproductions and the seat covers have been redone.
The original conductor, who worked on the trolley car we were riding in, still owned the original punch and donated it to the museum when he found out they were restoring the trolley. Our trolley, Number 76, was built in 1931 and is almost all original. The ads lining the walls are reproductions and the seat covers have been redone.
As
we chugged down the five miles of track out to PNC (a baseball field), we
traveled on the only three remaining miles of the Laurel Line. We passed an old
Anthracite mine that closed in 1900. Coal mining was the main industries for
this part of the country for many years with one of the richest coalfields
called the Northern Field. At one time, this area produced 75 percent of all
the anthracite coal for the entire world. The last operating coal mine closed
in 1967. The entrance had steel bars covering it and from my side of the
trolley, there wasn't much to see.
The
end of the line was at PNC and that's where the trolley museum had their
restoration shop. We all got off and went inside to see what they're working
on. Then he showed us a big map of the route we just traveled.
As we headed back out to re-board for
the return trip, I made the mistake of asking Andrew if he wanted a picture
with the conductor.
"I'm
not a conductor," he quickly corrected. "I'm a motorman."
So there you have it. A conductor
takes and punches tickets, whereas the motorman drives the trolley.
Back
where we started, we were halfway between the trolley museum and the train
yard. We decided to see the trains first and made it just in time to watch them
put an engine on the turntable.
Andrew taking a picture of a... what
do you call those things that are set up like miniature towns? A diorama? Is
that right?
He
used his zoom (he was good at that) and took this picture of one of the
buildings in the diorama.
They
had examples of different kinds of train cars set up and we were allowed to
walk through them. Kandyce took this picture of Andrew as he set up to take a
picture inside of a freight car.
Andrew's picture.
We walked through the buildings where
the trains lived when not in service and where they were worked on when they
needed it.
We headed for the trolley museum next.
"You'd better hurry," a lady told us as we passed. "They're
getting ready to close."
Luckily,
it isn't that big. The first thing we did was to hit the restrooms. The Captain
of the Guard keeps watch from a catwalk over the hallway leading to the
restrooms. I never saw him, but Andrew did.
"Mom, there's a creepy nutcracker
out there," he said once we were safely in the restroom.
Kandyce laughed a lighthearted little
laugh that sounds like music. "A creepy nutcracker?" she repeated.
"Yeah," Andrew says.
Andrew
climbed on every trolley he was allowed to. He pushed every button and lever he
could find. Like a typical inquisitive six-year-old, he just has to know how
things work.
Even
though they were getting ready to close, and we were the only visitors there at
the time, one of the gals came and turned on the John Oliver train for us,
which I thought was so sweet of her.
"John Oliver train?" you
query.
Yeah. I talked about it before and
didn't take any pictures of it this trip but in a nutshell, people made fun of
the small train that runs around a tree in the Backyard of the local news
station during the evening weather segment. The John Oliver Show got wind of
all the controversy and did a segment on it. They wrapped it up by unveiling a
huge train set they made comprising of many local landmarks and donated it to
the TV station. It was waaaayyyy too big for the Backyard and ended up in the
trolley museum. You can Google it and see the clip from the show if you're
interested.
Early
in the evening, we went to feed Vernon's fish. We hadn't been there more than a
few minutes before the clouds rolled in, thunder boomed, and lightning flashed.
I thought it prudent to head for home.
The rest of the evening we played Rummikub.
The rest of the evening we played Rummikub.
"I'm on vacation," Kevin
said. "There's too much thinking in this game for me."
And he's right. Sometimes you have to
get really creative moving whole groups of tiles around just so you can play
one.
"Then
let's play Rack-O," I suggested.
Kevin liked that one much better and even won one.
Kevin liked that one much better and even won one.
Monday,
the second day of the kids visit. We didn't do much, just toured our property
and went on a golf cart ride down to the creek. Passing Daddy's Old Machine
Shed (the Robinsons' daddy) we saw a doe had bedded down inside.
After a dinner of burgers on the
grill, potato salad, and fruit salad for dessert, we went to our favorite ice cream
stand.
"Andrew," I called to get
his attention. "Let me take a picture of you licking your ice cream."
It
seemed like I was always rushing them but we couldn't play too long if we
wanted to get to the Marie Antoinette lookout before dark. Andrew taking a
picture of the historic plaque...
...and Andrew's picture.
...and Andrew's picture.
The picture Andrew took.
By
the time we got up to the other overlook the sun was starting to go down. If I
focus on the foreground I lose all the pretty colors that were starting to
develop.
Kandyce, Andrew, and Mike sat a very
safe distance from the edge while Kevin and I ventured a little further out.
Trust me. I'm not big on plunging to
my death so I stayed a respectful distance from the edge.
Before
we left I took a picture of the colors and it's not quite as dark as my picture
makes it seem. It's just how my camera works.
We had enough light that we went on down to the Friedenshutten Memorial.
We had enough light that we went on down to the Friedenshutten Memorial.
We spent the evening playing Rack-O
and Kevin won the first three games in a row for a total of four wins out of
the seven hands we played.
"I like this game!" he says.
Who
wouldn't! Seriously though, it's a fun game and easy to learn. I'd say in
another year even Andrew will be able to play it.
Tuesday and their last day with us.
"Let's go to Forksville and see
the covered bridge today," I suggested. "We can eat Philly Cheesesteaks
at Big Mike's."
While everyone was getting ready for
the day Andrew and I took the garbage out and burned it, then walked down to
the pond in our bare feet.
"I want my shoes," Andrew
said when we were halfway there.
"Too late now Andrew. We're
committed," I told him. We didn't stay at the pond very long and heading
back to the house I said, "I can't walk on the rocks. They hurt my feet. I
just look for flat spots and go straight across," I advised. But I was
pretty sure I'd have to pick him up an carry him across.
"I can do it, Mimi. Watch
this." And the little showoff walked right up the driveway never uttering
a single ouch. My feet hurt just
watching him!
Before
heading down to Forksville we went out to the spring on 220. I'm not exactly
sure how far out of town it is but I know it's not ten miles because the old
Key's Pine Tavern is ten miles from Dushore and we didn't go that far.
Andrew loved the cold spring water.
Once he had his fill of drinking from his cupped hand, he filled his water
bottle.
I remember the first time Momma
brought me here. "This is the original road that took you into
Dushore," she told me. I didn't take a picture of the brick road, but
Andrew did. This is his picture.
At
Forksville we parked and walked across the covered bridge stopping to take in
the view from the windows.
It started to sprinkle. "I want
it to rain hard!" Andrew says.
"I
don't!" his mama exclaimed.
Kandyce
surprised me when she climbed the guide rail and took a picture of the bridge.
Kevin was on the other side of the road taking pictures of the old Grange
building — at least that's what I think it was. I snapped a picture as Kandyce
and Kevin both started to head back.
"There goes a deer!" Kevin
said.
"Where?" we all asked like
we've never seen a deer before.
Kevin pointed, "He went across
the road and down into the trees."
None
of the rest of us saw him but looking at my pictures on the 'puter I see I
caught him just moments before Kevin saw him.
I'll crop it so you can see him better but it's never going to be a good picture.
I'll crop it so you can see him better but it's never going to be a good picture.
It
wasn't busy in the middle of the afternoon and we had a late lunch. Mike got a
burger, Andrew just wanted fries, Kevin, Kandyce, and I all got cheesesteak. We
started with an appetizer of Dirty Jersey Fries and they were surprisingly good
— and filling. I'm glad we tried them but none of us had room to finish our
sandwiches. It's all good though. Later, when we did have room, we polished off
the rest of our sandwiches for supper.
We drove across the covered bridge
going in but going out we crossed over on the new bridge and had a nice view of
the covered bridge. Kevin had to turn around because both Kandyce and I missed
it the first time past.
We
came back through Dushore and stopped at the graveyard to visit Momma's grave.
We even paid our respects to my beloved Aunt Marie too as I showed the kids
where she rested.
We stopped at the school and I showed
Andrew the creepy bridge I had to cross to get to the playground.
We
took some of the back roads going home. Going past an old farm, Andrew suddenly
exclaims, "THERE'S A DEER!" He was so excited to have seen something
no one else saw.
Kevin is a good daddy and slowed the
truck. "Where?"
"Back there Daddy," and
Andrew pointed behind us. Kevin backed up until Andrew yelled, "Right
there!"
I don't think I doubted that Andrew
saw a deer, but I did think it was gone.
"Where is it, buddy?" Kevin
asked.
"It's right there!"
I
think Kandyce saw it before the rest of us but sure enough, there was a deer
bedded down in the weeds.
"I don't know how he saw
it," Kevin said, "but I'm taking him hunting!"
Andrew was so pleased he just grinned.
In
order to tell you what we did when we got home, I have to tell you something
else first. On the way home from Steamtown we stopped in Tunkhannock at an
eclectic restaurant named Twigs. There was too much food and we asked for to-go
boxes. When Jamie brought them, I was excited.
"Are those a number six
box?" I asked flipping it over looking for the recycle symbol.
"I don't know," Jamie said,
"Why?"
"They are!" I exclaimed.
"You can make Shrinky Dinks from these." I gave Jamie brief
directions on making them and suggested she Google it.
"I want to make Shrinky
Dinks," Andrew said.
"Okay
sweetheart. We'll make Shrinky Dinks before you leave," I promised.
Well
now it was Tuesday late afternoon and Andrew remembered. I printed simple
cartoon pictures from the internet and everyone got to make a Shrinky Dink.
Andrew did such an amazing job with his. For being six, he stayed in the lines and colored them whatever color he wanted. Just because Woody Woodpecker had a yellow beak in the picture didn't matter. In Andrew's world, it was black. His police car was green. I love it!
Andrew did such an amazing job with his. For being six, he stayed in the lines and colored them whatever color he wanted. Just because Woody Woodpecker had a yellow beak in the picture didn't matter. In Andrew's world, it was black. His police car was green. I love it!
Sometimes I get busy living life and
forget to take pictures. I know, right! Hard to believe, but it happens. And I
forgot to get a picture of the completed Shrinky Dinks for you. So I asked Kevin
and he sent me one.
"Can we feed the fish
again?" Andrew asked that evening.
"Sure we can," I told him.
We got some bread and loaded up the golf cart and headed out to Vernon's pond.
I found this picture on Andrew's
camera. Kandyce took it. I want you to keep something in mind when you look at
it.
"What's that, Peg?" you ask.
I want you to remember that people who
are happy tend to weigh more. And I'm pretty happy. Kidding aside, I love this
picture of the three of us (and Ginger) on the end of Vernon's pier feeding the
fish — and he had some awesome big fish!
We
had our third and final game night that night and played an old Parker Brothers
card game called Water Works. There's a lot of rules but once you get them,
it's a fun game and the kids enjoyed that one too.
Wednesday
morning found the kids packing. Andrew never had a chance to open the snacks we
bought for him so we sent them home with him.
But home wasn't where they were
heading. Andrew wanted to go to Washington DC to see the dinosaurs at the
Smithsonian, which you might expect from a six-year-old. But what I didn't
expect, and still amazes me, is that Andrew wanted to see the Lincoln Memorial.
"That's
a good one for him to wanna see," Patti, my oldest and much-adored sister
said when I told her. "I think it's the most interesting one there."
It sprinkled on and off while the kids
were packing and Andrew stood in the rain. I guess he likes it and his parents don't
sweat that kinda stuff. "He'll dry."
Andrew was ready to go before everyone
else was. His dad told him to do something (and I don't remember what anymore),
but my sweet little grandson turned around and gave a little sass. I don't know
that his dad saw but I did and laughed. I know, right! I shouldn't've.
We
shared hugs and kisses then they were gone — and my world became a little bit lonelier.
Sigh!
Next time I'll finish up the week.
Until then, know that you are all in my heart.
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