Quartermaster Night at the Museum

Awesome is all I can say about last nights event at Ft Lee when the Quartermaster hosted a free event for kids, A Night at the Museum.. From the moment we arrived til long after we left, we were excited ! Live actors portraying the likes of General Eishenhower, General Grant, Betsy Ross and a host of other persons who were part of history coming to life to tell stories and interact with the children. Actual artifacts from the museum were used in the stories like Eisenhowers RV that even had a shower for the general during the war to Pattons jeep with those big trumpet horns.
I cannot say enough how wonderful this event was to help teach the kids history and no child was left out of participating. The museum even supplied real dog tags for each child among a cool goodie bag filled with many items, homemade cookies and so many snacks for the kids to either eat there or take home with them. Every person involved with this event was super nice and very helpful.
If you ever get a chance, you should visit the Quartermaster Museum and right beside it is the Womens Museum which was also fun for the kids as they dressed in uniforms, held military weapons and checked out the displays there.
Ft Lee holds a special place in my heart anyways as I grew up here as an army brat and later an army wife. It made me happy to take my grandchildren there to show them where I danced as a teenager, where my mom worked at the PX, my fathers pictures when he was with the Rifle Team and where their dad was born in the hospital on base.
One last thing we did was to watch the Honor Guard do the end of day Flag ceremony and teaching the girls respect for the ceremony and to have them observe something people take for granted each day.
And for this, once again our soldiers who not only protect our freedom and fight for us, have given us some of the best entertainment we have had in a long time.
We salute you Ft Lee !

Kite Festival Dorey Park

We had one of our family days yesterday at Dorey Park for the Kite Festival. WOW it was awesome to see so many kites in the air at one time. This was one of the best events we have been to over the years and so worth it to see my little Perrin have the time of his life. He loved everything there and so did I LOL. We flew kites together, gobbled down some of the good food offered at the festival, met lots of new people and animals of course, took a million pics and listened to some great music. I only wish my video recorder was working when Perrin was dancing to the Chattanooga Choo Choo.
Our friend Angela was late arriving as the traffic was so backed up getting there. but she finally found us and Perrins best friend Tyler and he really stepped up their fun together. They visited the petting zoo touching all the animals and being amazed at how soft the baby lambs were or how hard the goat horns were. Perrin rode his first horse named Rebel who was a good match in character for Perrin by bucking when Perrin got on the horse. The boys didnt get to see the fire trucks but did shake hands with some of the firemen there. They both love the fire trucks but this day seemed to belong to kites and animals for those two.
We ended our day there with Iron Man popsicles with lovely red faces and two little boys who will remember Kite Day for a long time to come.

Wish we Had More Like Him

I sat down the other night to watch one of my favorite TV hosts from my childhood. Sailor Bob can only be one of Richmond and Virginias best treasures that we ever had and will probably never see again. This documentary that they made of him had me crying and smiling within a few minutes bringing many happy memories of watching him drawing, laughing and introducing Popeye to us. Going to the local new mall Walnut Hill at the time to see him was a dream come true not only for me, but for many of my friends and my younger brothers.
I can not say how much he meant to so many, but looking at the throngs of kids and families who would come to see him, you know that this man and the people who helped him on his shows were more than just an entertainer for kids. He became our friend and to many our inspiration.
How his show came about was such a surprise to many of us watching this documentary and how it ended on channel 12 was kind of mean or like a slap in the face to kids that they didnt care about children. I guess they forgot who helped them get to where they are.
I was also surprised that the director of another channel who had him come to their station was another favorite childhood entertainer of mine - The Bowman Body !
How I wish there were more like them for the kids of today and I am glad that I am able to share this documentary with my family of how things were when I was a little girl.
Thank You Sailor Bob and Bowman Body

A day at Heritage Museum In Prince George

I had a little free time this week and wanted to find out about doing some research on county family cemetaries that are not on record here, and decided to go visit the local Heritage Museum in Prince George.
The museum opened just a couple of years ago inside the old courthouse and I have been wanting to see the place so off I went.
I was rather surprised at what was on display inside when I was inside. I was most impressed by some of the stories of items that were donated or loaned to the museum. I am hoping that a few things I asked about will soon come there as it seems only right that they are in the museum for all to see.
One item i really liked was an old whale flipper bones. Long ago when I was in 6th grade, a whale beached itself along the river. My children have never believed me when I told them about that so I took a picture of it just for them LOL.
Some other items I liked was a trunk of old Bohemian family items, quilt, dishes and even some canned food there. Prince George owes a lot to these families who settled here and farmed. I also seen a Civil War chess set made out of bullets and a World War 2 collection from a bride here in the county along with her scrapbook, letters and things like that. There was also an old grindstone from Flowerdew Plantation that was used to grind corn for cornmeal. There were some old pictures of schools and some history on them. But what I really wanted to see was from my generation - The Years of the Amazing Mezza. John Mezza was our band director at Prince George High School and he was the best. Over the years, he directed our band and make our school a national name. He took the band to so many parades including return trips to the Rose Parade and Macys Thanksgiving Parade. Many bowl games including the Sugar Bowl, Cotton Bowl and Orange Bowl. They even performed in Canada where our friends in Canada were impressed that our band was the first to play its National Anthem for the game.
My memory of the band that is one of my favorites is when they danced the Tea Berry Shuffle all the way thru the Rose Parade with the crowd applauding the whole way. The majorettes wore holes in their boots halfway thru. Tea Berry was a popular chewing gum at the time and they came to the school to tape the band doing the shuffle !
So this was my day out this week and I hope you enjoy the pics !
see you soon

Ghosts to Groundhogs

Happy Imbolc and Happy Groundhog Day !
I started this morning making groundhog pancakes for my little grandson Perrin which he gobbled down while we watched the party near my hometown in Punxatawny Penna. for Phil to make his annual prediction. Being 4 years old, Perrin had a lot of questions about everything but we got our dancing shoes on listening to the Love Shack watching the gopher cheerleaders heating up the crowd in that bitter cold up there. I remember those cold mornings walking up to Gobblers Knob with my grandparents dressed in our Sunday clothes then going to the local firehouse for some hot breakfast after Phil told us whether it was 6 more long weeks of winter or spring was just around the corner. Times sure have changed since I was a little girl cuz it wasnt like this at all then. A radio station may have covered it then but mostly newspaper reporters and then only a few came.
At school, Perrin made a cute little groundhog that popped in and out of a cup today and I took his picture at his school where they decided that this was ok to have a sign out on the marquee. It no less surprised me for that as they are not the type of school to celebrate an old Pennsylvania German custom.
Last week on January 24th, I took some friends on the annual Ghost Brigade Ghost Walk in Centre Hill Mansion in Petersburg. My favorite author Mr LB Taylor was there and shared a few laughs with me on some of his stories especially Crazy Lucy down in Williamsburg. He has a wonderful way of writing a story and when he speaks, I can feel them come to life.
We seen no ghosts that night but seen more paranormal people there than usual. I havent been in a couple of years where I used to go faithfully each year. I have seen many unexplainable things in that house especially the white dress that is no longer in sight there. I chatted a bit with a few of the Tri City Paranormal guys and watched old Ben with his cameras outside where he said there was more activity out there than in the house. Several years ago he took some photos of my group and several had some wild looking lights around their heads. My favorite guide Ms Franklin wasnt with us on tour although she was there that night. Ahh the times she and I have had in that house and on the Blandford Cemetary tours with spirits and ghosts. I so wished we would have had any other guide than the one we had though as she went too fast thru the house, missed telling the group some of the main ghost stories like the melodium piano playing by itself, forgetting to take the second part of the tour group upstairs and not telling any of them about the bullet hole in the door. what should have been a 45 minute tour at the least ended after 20 minutes. It is a shame because the place was packed and they were turning people away that they had one guide at least who only wanted to share the historical value of the furniture and not the history of the home. But I will go back and somehow will make it up to my friends who came from out of the country to attend this event. Hopefully we can get to Shirley Plantation so they can see Aunt Pratt happly hanging on the wall these days or go see if the fruit stays in the bowl on the table at Berkeley Plantation.
Last but not least I need to make note that today the local army base was playing the music tones to Close Encounters again. I now know the reason behind it but cant even begin to imagine anyone who doesnt know what is going on and hears those tones thinking aliens may be coming or we are trying to contact them. I know the first time I heard them I was so excited but it scared my family and some friends when i rushed in the house to tell them and they heard.
I love living near the base as I have for many many years. One thing I miss on this side of Ft Lee is that I can no longer hear the soldiers singing during their morning exercises. But then I can hear all the bugle calls each day and end my nights with Taps thinking of all our men and women who are out there for my family, friends and me keeping me safe and free to do these things we sometimes take for granted. May they always be safe and in our prayers ! Good night my friends

Family Day Trip

Sunday we took Perrin and Flat Stanley on an adventure to the Air Power Park in Hampton, Va cuz Perrin suddenly started asking questions about space and rockets. Thanks to another blogger for writing about this park -Carolina Biker ! Perrin was in 7th heaven as he climbed on a few jets and walked under a couple of the rockets. Mike and I were amused to with the history on the aircraft in the park. The only drawbacks was that it was very cold and windy when we were there, and part of the park was closed at this time. But it was still the greatest thing for my little grandson to see real rockets and wonder what it was like to go out in space in them.
Flat Stanley came along for the ride too as he wanted to see the Mercury Capsule there and have his picture taken for the 50th anniversary of Mercury coming up this May.
Perrin's mom decided we should just ride on down to the beach and go to the aquarium since we were close by. So off we went so Perrin could check out his favorite beast - the sharks ! He just loved seeing the sharks in the tank swimming around and coming close enough that he could see those pointy teeth. It has been awhile since I went to the aquarium and was impressed with the new changes there. I also like the tanks with the sharks, and the crocodiles were really big. Perrin didnt want to leave the crocs at all til we told him he could go touch a sting ray. Such slimy feeling creatures ugh ! but interesting to watch how they flow thru the water. We also enjoyed seeing the jelly fish and seeing different kinds. I always thought there was only one type. Shows you how much I know LOL. There is also a tank to touch horseshoe crabs and starfish. I think there were a few other things in there but Perrin held my attention watching him learning new things.
We stopped at Abbey Road to eat dinner, Perrin had his shrimp that he loved. Ours wasnt so great, but it was also off season there and late in the evening. I did like all the Beatle items displayed on the walls though.
Last but not least, Mike and I did a virtual cache so we could mark off an area of our De Lorme map. We found the Norwegian Lady and I remember her being there when I was at the beach long ago. There were several new additions to the area saluting our Armed Forces. But the wind was so so cold coming off the ocean we had to hurry back to the car. Another trip we will plan to do more caches and see the new sights they have in place there now.
I hear people all the time saying they are bored and have nothing planned to do with their family. I dont understand why not take a few hours and go visit some sights. Except for the aquarium, there were a lot of free interesting things to see and do down there. Pack a picnic lunch, jump in the car and do something fun and educational, and get in touch with your family. Til next time ..........

Facebook reunions

ahhh Good ole Facebook, the people I have been reunited with after many years and now I find my long lost cousins too. My family is scattered all over the USA and being part of a military family when I was growing up and married, I kind of lost track of family. But the past two months has brought us a few of us out of the woodwork and a bit of catching up. It has been interesting to see thanks to the glorious Facebook, how much we have in common being family and not really knowing each other at all. It has also been sad to hear of those who have gone to another world and sadder that family fueds exist in ours too. I had a wise lawyer one time tell me, that the people you should fear the most with your possesions and money are those closest to you - your family. How right he was ! My grandma left her family farm to the 2 youngest out of 6 kids. One because she lived there on the place with her family and the other because he was the only one who truly loved the farming life. Of course this made the rest mad because they felt they had earned their share during their younger years working on the farm. Well however they worked it out, wasnt really my concern as inheritance stuff just wasnt my thing. All I had really wanted was some pictures of the way things were back then that told my familys story and history. But my grandma did leave me a small amount which I bought my daughters first camera with, and gave a small amount to my youngest for her towards becoming a nurse. Both were wise investments for me as it has turned out.
But now us cousins are trying for a new approach in some odd way to rekindle that sense of family. I guess we chose the easiest one first which is our love of the Steelers since we come from Steel Mill City and prolly the Pirates which is my one passion in sports. I only confess to seeing the Steelers during playoffs as football is not my sport of choice at all. But the Pirates bring memories of being on the front porch in the mountains of Pennsylvania with a cold bottle of pop while my grandpap and his brother and my uncle listened to the game on the radio. No tv back then LOL
So tomorrow afternoon, I will find me some pop or soda as we call it now, maybe a can of beer LOL whoops no Iron City in this town down south, grab a snack, watch the game while facebooking my cousins and enjoy a new approach to a some sort of reunion with my long lost family and enjoying the game.
I end this post with
GO STEELERS !