Saturday, August 20
Saugus Ironworks was very special to visit today. Rangers melted down an old radiator and poured the melted iron into sand molds that had carved designs into. We had to carve the letters backwards so that they would be the right direction when the plaque came out of the mold. I drew a dog on mine. One of Boston's first leaders wanted an iron factory, but the first location didn't work. A new factory was built at Saugus. The factory had the newest high-tech instruments for iron-making at that time. The location was much better. They dammed up the river to make a mill-pond. That powered the water wheels. We even got to see the old dump pile, on which they put the ash and iron leftovers from their hot fires. It is now overgrown with grass.
Nearby is the town of Salem. We saw a tall-masted ship from the old days. It was amazing!
Tuesday, September 13, 2011
Franconia Notch
Thursday, August 18
Today we went to the Franconia Notch State Park and saw the place where the Old Man of the Mountain used to be. The Old Man was a piece of granite was a cliff of granite that looked like a man's face. It had a forehead, spaces for eyes and nose, and a chin. On May 3, 2003, it fell in a rainstorm.
We went to 3 or 4 pullover stops, and at one of them we saw a 40-foot deep pool in the river. I could not see the bottom! At another stop we saw some people getting into the current and sliding down the smooth rocks. It was like a water slide and looked really fun.
Today we went to the Franconia Notch State Park and saw the place where the Old Man of the Mountain used to be. The Old Man was a piece of granite was a cliff of granite that looked like a man's face. It had a forehead, spaces for eyes and nose, and a chin. On May 3, 2003, it fell in a rainstorm.
We went to 3 or 4 pullover stops, and at one of them we saw a 40-foot deep pool in the river. I could not see the bottom! At another stop we saw some people getting into the current and sliding down the smooth rocks. It was like a water slide and looked really fun.
Mt. Washington
Wednesday, August 17
Today we went to the top of Mount Washington in a borrowed truck. Our truck was 10 inches longer than the limit. So we went to the manager of the mountain and he said that one of his staff offered her truck, which was smaller than ours. On our way up the mountain, we listened to a guided tour on cd.
When we got to the top, the first thing we saw was the fantastic view. Then we went to the Tip Top House which used to be a hotel. We took a picture by the summit sign, then back into the little black truck and slowly drove back down the mountain. We had to stop because another car had gotten stuck in a ditch beside the road. It was finally pulled out, and we got to see the rescue vehicles in action.
When we got to the bottom, we thanked Miss Regina, the lady who let us borrow her truck. Then we thanks the manager for figuring out a way for us to get to the top. It was a good day.
Today we went to the top of Mount Washington in a borrowed truck. Our truck was 10 inches longer than the limit. So we went to the manager of the mountain and he said that one of his staff offered her truck, which was smaller than ours. On our way up the mountain, we listened to a guided tour on cd.
When we got to the top, the first thing we saw was the fantastic view. Then we went to the Tip Top House which used to be a hotel. We took a picture by the summit sign, then back into the little black truck and slowly drove back down the mountain. We had to stop because another car had gotten stuck in a ditch beside the road. It was finally pulled out, and we got to see the rescue vehicles in action.
When we got to the bottom, we thanked Miss Regina, the lady who let us borrow her truck. Then we thanks the manager for figuring out a way for us to get to the top. It was a good day.
Mainly Maine
Sunday, August 14
Today we went on a four-hour bike ride. The first half had lots of uphill, and the second half was downhill. That was a lot easier and I did a lot better. I have a single-gear bike and my parents say it will be easier when I get a geared bike.
After the ride, we went to a lighthouse, and the fog was coming in. It was very cool. The light was turned on. It was red and blinking. Then we had lunch and drove into town for a slice of blueberry pie with vanilla ice cream. It was sooo good! The pie was chock-full of blueberries.
Today we went on a four-hour bike ride. The first half had lots of uphill, and the second half was downhill. That was a lot easier and I did a lot better. I have a single-gear bike and my parents say it will be easier when I get a geared bike.
After the ride, we went to a lighthouse, and the fog was coming in. It was very cool. The light was turned on. It was red and blinking. Then we had lunch and drove into town for a slice of blueberry pie with vanilla ice cream. It was sooo good! The pie was chock-full of blueberries.
Sunday, August 14, 2011
Acadia again!
Saturday, August 13
Today we did a touch tank talk and got to see and touch a starfish, a sea cucumber, a spider crab, a sea sponge, clams, mussels and a snail. The sea cucumber has cells that allow it to bulge and be flexible. I saw one turn into the shape of a snake's head and then into a ball. The starfish has little scissor-like bumps on its back. One starfish got put on dad's arm so that the ranger could show us how it grabs onto things.. When it was pulled off, it had grabbed hold of his arm hair and pulled out a couple of pieces! He said it felt like a bandaid when it gets pulled off. The colors on a starfish are for camouflage.
One type of snail will climb up onto a mussel and lick with its tough tongue that contains an acid. It eventually makes a hole in the shell. Then it will suck out the mussel and eat it.
Later in the day, we went on a carriage ride and I got to drive the horses for an hour! Mike, the driver, was very nice and put me up on Bea before the ride so that I could see how tall she is. Bea and Homer are brother and sister Clydesdales. They have the same father. Bea is grey, and Homer looks like a small Budweiser horse. When we started to head to stable on the second half of the trip, the horses knew that dinner was waiting. They started to walk faster and faster. Mike helped me hold them back. It was so much fun! I think it was the best day of the trip so far!
Today we did a touch tank talk and got to see and touch a starfish, a sea cucumber, a spider crab, a sea sponge, clams, mussels and a snail. The sea cucumber has cells that allow it to bulge and be flexible. I saw one turn into the shape of a snake's head and then into a ball. The starfish has little scissor-like bumps on its back. One starfish got put on dad's arm so that the ranger could show us how it grabs onto things.. When it was pulled off, it had grabbed hold of his arm hair and pulled out a couple of pieces! He said it felt like a bandaid when it gets pulled off. The colors on a starfish are for camouflage.
One type of snail will climb up onto a mussel and lick with its tough tongue that contains an acid. It eventually makes a hole in the shell. Then it will suck out the mussel and eat it.
Later in the day, we went on a carriage ride and I got to drive the horses for an hour! Mike, the driver, was very nice and put me up on Bea before the ride so that I could see how tall she is. Bea and Homer are brother and sister Clydesdales. They have the same father. Bea is grey, and Homer looks like a small Budweiser horse. When we started to head to stable on the second half of the trip, the horses knew that dinner was waiting. They started to walk faster and faster. Mike helped me hold them back. It was so much fun! I think it was the best day of the trip so far!
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| Homer and Bea eating dinner |
Acadia National Park
Friday, August 12
Today we went to Acadia National Park and we hiked the Ocean Path. We saw one of the few sandy beaches in Acadia. The water brings the sand in and onto the beach in the spring. Before winter, the tide takes all of the sand off the rocks and back into the ocean. It leaves the beach with only rounded rocks called cobblestones.
When we drove up Cadillac Mountain, we had a hard time finding a parking spot. It had a gorgeous view. After that, we went on a hike with a ranger. We learned that this area was French, then British, and then it became America.
Today we went to Acadia National Park and we hiked the Ocean Path. We saw one of the few sandy beaches in Acadia. The water brings the sand in and onto the beach in the spring. Before winter, the tide takes all of the sand off the rocks and back into the ocean. It leaves the beach with only rounded rocks called cobblestones.
When we drove up Cadillac Mountain, we had a hard time finding a parking spot. It had a gorgeous view. After that, we went on a hike with a ranger. We learned that this area was French, then British, and then it became America.
Cornish, New Hampshire
Monday, August 8
After we ate pancakes for breakfast, we went to Augustus Saint-Gauden's house. It's a national park site. He married a woman named Augusta, and they were called Gus and Gussie. One year they were looking for a summer house, and his friend offered them an old inn that was spider-webby and rundown. Gus didn't like it, but Gussie did. She thought the barn could be made into a studio where he could work on his sculptures and she could work on her paintings. They rented it and eventually bought it.
We also went to Marsh-Billings-Rockefeller National Park. All of the men named in the park, Marsh, Billings and Rockefeller, were conservationists. They took care of the land and wanted to protect it. Marsh could not see well when he was little. But he could see all of the de-treeing of the forests around his home. Billings became wealthy, and he replanted a lot of those trees around the home. When he died, his wife and daughters planted many more. Rockefeller married Billings' granddaughter, and they helped to preserve a lot of the land in our country. They turned the land around the Marsh-Billings-Rockefeller home into a park. I thought today was very interesting. It made me think about how I can help protect nature and how it is handled.
After we ate pancakes for breakfast, we went to Augustus Saint-Gauden's house. It's a national park site. He married a woman named Augusta, and they were called Gus and Gussie. One year they were looking for a summer house, and his friend offered them an old inn that was spider-webby and rundown. Gus didn't like it, but Gussie did. She thought the barn could be made into a studio where he could work on his sculptures and she could work on her paintings. They rented it and eventually bought it.
We also went to Marsh-Billings-Rockefeller National Park. All of the men named in the park, Marsh, Billings and Rockefeller, were conservationists. They took care of the land and wanted to protect it. Marsh could not see well when he was little. But he could see all of the de-treeing of the forests around his home. Billings became wealthy, and he replanted a lot of those trees around the home. When he died, his wife and daughters planted many more. Rockefeller married Billings' granddaughter, and they helped to preserve a lot of the land in our country. They turned the land around the Marsh-Billings-Rockefeller home into a park. I thought today was very interesting. It made me think about how I can help protect nature and how it is handled.
Cabot, Vermont
Sunday, August 7
First we enjoyed some apple cider doughnuts. Then we went to a creamery called Cabot. It is famous for cheddar cheese. This creamery makes all of the cheddars, yogurt, sour cream, cottage cheese and Monterey Jack cheese with the Cabot name. It takes 10 gallons of milk to make one pound of cheese!
Dairy farmers who participate in Cabot usually have 45 cows. When the milk truck arrives, the milk is tested for antibiotics. If it tests positive, then it is thrown out or given to pigs.
We also visited a maple sugar farm. We got to pick some blueberries, and the theater where we watched a movie about how to make maple syrup was a woodshed! On one of the sugar shacks, there was a real goat on the roof. We had some maple ice cream. I thought all of the tastes today were so good. My favorite was the darkest maple syrup, called Grade B.
First we enjoyed some apple cider doughnuts. Then we went to a creamery called Cabot. It is famous for cheddar cheese. This creamery makes all of the cheddars, yogurt, sour cream, cottage cheese and Monterey Jack cheese with the Cabot name. It takes 10 gallons of milk to make one pound of cheese!
Dairy farmers who participate in Cabot usually have 45 cows. When the milk truck arrives, the milk is tested for antibiotics. If it tests positive, then it is thrown out or given to pigs.
We also visited a maple sugar farm. We got to pick some blueberries, and the theater where we watched a movie about how to make maple syrup was a woodshed! On one of the sugar shacks, there was a real goat on the roof. We had some maple ice cream. I thought all of the tastes today were so good. My favorite was the darkest maple syrup, called Grade B.
Saturday, August 6, 2011
Stowe, Vermont
Saturday, August 6
Today is my dad's birthday! We celebrated it by going to an apple cider mill and having lunch at the Trapp Family Lodge. The Trapps were made famous by "The Sound of Music," which was about them. We found out that Dad's birthday is the same as one of Maria Von Trapp's grandsons, who still works at the lodge.
The Cider Mill made cider by putting mashed up apples into a stack of trays and draining the cider through cloth.
Back at the campground, I had some fun doing laps on my bike. Now we are going to have some cookies from the Trapp Lodge!
Today is my dad's birthday! We celebrated it by going to an apple cider mill and having lunch at the Trapp Family Lodge. The Trapps were made famous by "The Sound of Music," which was about them. We found out that Dad's birthday is the same as one of Maria Von Trapp's grandsons, who still works at the lodge.
The Cider Mill made cider by putting mashed up apples into a stack of trays and draining the cider through cloth.
Back at the campground, I had some fun doing laps on my bike. Now we are going to have some cookies from the Trapp Lodge!
Lake George
Wednesday, August 3
Today we went on a beautiful boatride on Lake George. There was one island that was all wilderness. It's name is Dome Island. We also saw some private islands, and others were tent-camping islands that anybody could reserve and use. We saw some pretty stacked stones by one of them. The place where we turned around is called Paradise Bay.
We also went to Fort Ticonderoga, where we saw some pistols that were given to George Washington. The museum also had a piece of Martha Washington's wedding dress.
This place changed hands between France, England and America. It was located on a very important place for an army to control because it's where a lot of big cannons were. At one point in the American Revolution, George Washington sent a man to get the cannons from the fort and bring them to Boston.
Today we went on a beautiful boatride on Lake George. There was one island that was all wilderness. It's name is Dome Island. We also saw some private islands, and others were tent-camping islands that anybody could reserve and use. We saw some pretty stacked stones by one of them. The place where we turned around is called Paradise Bay.
We also went to Fort Ticonderoga, where we saw some pistols that were given to George Washington. The museum also had a piece of Martha Washington's wedding dress.
This place changed hands between France, England and America. It was located on a very important place for an army to control because it's where a lot of big cannons were. At one point in the American Revolution, George Washington sent a man to get the cannons from the fort and bring them to Boston.
Stockbridge, MA
Monday, August 1
Norman Rockwell is a famous artist. We visited a museum about him and his paintings. He was born back in the 1800s but his artwork is still loved today. His first job in painting was a picture for the Saturday Evening Post. He loved to paint children in different circumstances. He painted in the Navy and then he came back and started up again with the Saturday Evening Post.
We also went to the Van Buren National Historic Site. The site is his former home, called Lindenwald, which he bought while he was in the White House. It served as many things after it left his family: nursing home, restaurant, tea room, antique gallery.
Both things today were really cool, and I learned a lot.
Norman Rockwell is a famous artist. We visited a museum about him and his paintings. He was born back in the 1800s but his artwork is still loved today. His first job in painting was a picture for the Saturday Evening Post. He loved to paint children in different circumstances. He painted in the Navy and then he came back and started up again with the Saturday Evening Post.
We also went to the Van Buren National Historic Site. The site is his former home, called Lindenwald, which he bought while he was in the White House. It served as many things after it left his family: nursing home, restaurant, tea room, antique gallery.
Both things today were really cool, and I learned a lot.
Saratoga
Sunday, July 31
Saratoga National Historic Site is where the British were majorly defeated for the first time in the American Revolution. The general on the British side tried to get some soldiers to Albany, overtaking forts on the way. But they were stopped at Saratoga.
The Americans had cannons and gunmen on a big hill. The British knew that they went that way, they'd be ruined. They decided to fight the Americans in a different direction. The British general, Burgoyne, couldn't push through them and had to surrender.
Saratoga National Historic Site is where the British were majorly defeated for the first time in the American Revolution. The general on the British side tried to get some soldiers to Albany, overtaking forts on the way. But they were stopped at Saratoga.
The Americans had cannons and gunmen on a big hill. The British knew that they went that way, they'd be ruined. They decided to fight the Americans in a different direction. The British general, Burgoyne, couldn't push through them and had to surrender.
Buffalo, New York
Tuesday, July 26
President McKinley was shot by crazy man, Leon Czolgosz, after giving a speech at the Pan-American Exposition in Buffalo. Doctors thought he would survive, so the Vice President went on a planned vacation with his family. Eight days later, the President's wounds got infected and he died. Mr. Roosevelt arrived in Buffalo eleven hours later. He had lunch, then went to Mrs. McKinley to comfort her, and then went back to his friend's house to take the Oath of Office and become President.
Roosevelt's first thing as President was to declare a day of mourning for Mr. McKinley.
President McKinley was shot by crazy man, Leon Czolgosz, after giving a speech at the Pan-American Exposition in Buffalo. Doctors thought he would survive, so the Vice President went on a planned vacation with his family. Eight days later, the President's wounds got infected and he died. Mr. Roosevelt arrived in Buffalo eleven hours later. He had lunch, then went to Mrs. McKinley to comfort her, and then went back to his friend's house to take the Oath of Office and become President.
Roosevelt's first thing as President was to declare a day of mourning for Mr. McKinley.
Saturday, July 23, 2011
Allegheny Portage Railroad
July 22
Two of Pennsylvania's canals back in the early 1800s went on either side of the Allegheny Mountains but they didn't connect. Engineers made a railroad that crossed the Allegheny mountains to bring them together. It was called the Allegheny Portage Railroad. It picked up boats on one side and dropped off on the other. We also went to the area of the reservoir that flooded Johnstown in 1889. The dam was made of dirt and rocks and gave way in the middle after a big storm. The wall of water took 45 minutes to reach Johnstown. The people in Johnstown had just celebrated Memorial Day when the flood came.
Two of Pennsylvania's canals back in the early 1800s went on either side of the Allegheny Mountains but they didn't connect. Engineers made a railroad that crossed the Allegheny mountains to bring them together. It was called the Allegheny Portage Railroad. It picked up boats on one side and dropped off on the other. We also went to the area of the reservoir that flooded Johnstown in 1889. The dam was made of dirt and rocks and gave way in the middle after a big storm. The wall of water took 45 minutes to reach Johnstown. The people in Johnstown had just celebrated Memorial Day when the flood came.
Southwest Pennsylvania
Thursday, July 20
Today I went to Friendship Hill. It was the home of a Secretary of the Treasury. His name was Albert Gallatin. He was the Treasury Secretary for Thomas Jefferson and James Madison. He helped to gather the money for the National Road, the Lewis and Clark Expedition and the Louisiana Purchase.
We also went to Fort Necessity, where George Washington fought his first battle. It was the start of the French and Indian War. Fort Necessity was a small, square fort with one small building in it. The battle with Washington sneaking up on the French with some Indian friends. After the battle, the French burned down Fort Necessity. Many years later, George Washington had a tavern built near where the fort had been.
Today I went to Friendship Hill. It was the home of a Secretary of the Treasury. His name was Albert Gallatin. He was the Treasury Secretary for Thomas Jefferson and James Madison. He helped to gather the money for the National Road, the Lewis and Clark Expedition and the Louisiana Purchase.
We also went to Fort Necessity, where George Washington fought his first battle. It was the start of the French and Indian War. Fort Necessity was a small, square fort with one small building in it. The battle with Washington sneaking up on the French with some Indian friends. After the battle, the French burned down Fort Necessity. Many years later, George Washington had a tavern built near where the fort had been.
President James A. Garfield
Wednesday, July 19
James A. Garfield was our president for 5 months. Before he was elected president, he fought in the Civil War. He was on Lincoln's side. His mother adored him, so much that she had a picture of him in every corner of her room so that when she woke up, she could see her beloved son. The first four years of his marriage were not the best. But it got better after that. He and his wife loved each other very much. They had 5 children. When he bought his house near Lake Erie, it was a small farmhouse. He doubled its size in his lifetime. His wife added a third floor and another section after he died.
A funny fact is that after his inauguration, he bent down and kissed his mother! When he was boarding a train, he was shot by a crazy man. He died 2 months later.
James A. Garfield was our president for 5 months. Before he was elected president, he fought in the Civil War. He was on Lincoln's side. His mother adored him, so much that she had a picture of him in every corner of her room so that when she woke up, she could see her beloved son. The first four years of his marriage were not the best. But it got better after that. He and his wife loved each other very much. They had 5 children. When he bought his house near Lake Erie, it was a small farmhouse. He doubled its size in his lifetime. His wife added a third floor and another section after he died.
A funny fact is that after his inauguration, he bent down and kissed his mother! When he was boarding a train, he was shot by a crazy man. He died 2 months later.
Wright Brothers
Monday, July 17
As we all know, the Wright Brothers invented the airplane. As young boys they were inspired by a toy their dad gave them. It was a toy of an early helicopter. To make it fly was easy. Just spin the blades that were on a rubber band and let go of it. When they grew up, they owned a bicycle shop in Dayton, Ohio. There, they thought up the idea of the airplane. They went to Kittyhawk to test their ideas. When they got back to Dayton, they borrowed a field to practice on. And that's where they made the airplane.
As we all know, the Wright Brothers invented the airplane. As young boys they were inspired by a toy their dad gave them. It was a toy of an early helicopter. To make it fly was easy. Just spin the blades that were on a rubber band and let go of it. When they grew up, they owned a bicycle shop in Dayton, Ohio. There, they thought up the idea of the airplane. They went to Kittyhawk to test their ideas. When they got back to Dayton, they borrowed a field to practice on. And that's where they made the airplane.
Sunday, July 17, 2011
Underground Railroad Museum
The Underground Railroad wasn't actually a railroad. Runaway slaves would be guided by people called "conductors". They would help the runaways from one safe house to another. Some escaped slaves returned to help their families get away. Some even became soldiers for the Union Army during the Civil War. Harriett Tubman went back and helped people who were strangers to her. There was a man named Henry "Box" Brown who escaped in a box like the one in the picture below. We got to go into one of the slave jails from 200 years ago. There were two floors. The men were on the top floor and the women were kept below on the first floor. It was hard to know that I was in the same place where so many people had been treat badly just because of the color of their skin.
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Hopewell Culture national park
Friday, July 15
Did you know that there were Indians in the time right after the Ice Age? One of the tribes was the Hopewell Culture. For burials, they made mounds and put the dead inside. Another tribe made a mound that looks like a snake. It's called Serpent Mound, and it has a coiled up tail and a wavy body. The mound was made of rocks, clay and dirt. The Indians leveled the ground and put rocks on it in the shape they wanted to make. Then they put the clay on top of the rocks and covered the clay with dirt so that grass would grow on it.
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The curvy body of Serpent Mount
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Did you know that there were Indians in the time right after the Ice Age? One of the tribes was the Hopewell Culture. For burials, they made mounds and put the dead inside. Another tribe made a mound that looks like a snake. It's called Serpent Mound, and it has a coiled up tail and a wavy body. The mound was made of rocks, clay and dirt. The Indians leveled the ground and put rocks on it in the shape they wanted to make. Then they put the clay on top of the rocks and covered the clay with dirt so that grass would grow on it.
The curvy body of Serpent Mount
Boonesborough
Tuesday, July 12
Fort Boonesborough was founded by Daniel Boone. He helped to build the fort. A village was inside the walls. The blacksmith was making S hooks today. They are used to adjust the height of pots over a fire. Another person was making soap bars. She told us how she does it. It takes at least 20 days to make a batch of soap. In another shop, a lady was weaving fabric. She said it takes four hours to make one yard. Think of how hard life must have been for the people in that village. I'm glad I don't live back then.
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The soap lady
Fort Boonesborough was founded by Daniel Boone. He helped to build the fort. A village was inside the walls. The blacksmith was making S hooks today. They are used to adjust the height of pots over a fire. Another person was making soap bars. She told us how she does it. It takes at least 20 days to make a batch of soap. In another shop, a lady was weaving fabric. She said it takes four hours to make one yard. Think of how hard life must have been for the people in that village. I'm glad I don't live back then.
The soap lady
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