Sacandaga Camping!

Friday night we headed up to the Scandaga Campground. Its a favorite close by spot for us to camp on the weekend. We needed to try out the new tent before we take a bigger and longer trip later on. We arrived just as it was getting dark so I took these photos on Saturday.

20 pounds of field guides, books, knitting, games, plant press and .......

Setting up the tent for the second time in the semi-dark means we got the door on the wrong side! Whoops! 

Momma's knitting and reading

Oh, there is the door! Better luck next time. 

We found lots of good things during the day. A millipede or centipede of some sort on the old rotting stump, a damselfly, some plants we could identify and some we couldn't, chipmunks, oak trees, mushrooms and glacial erratics. I also saw a hummingbird while down at the river with Maddie. It flitted by drinking from the red flowers. 

The hummingbird's snack! I am not sure what this flower is and couldn't find it in the wildflower book. I'll add it to iNaturalist.

small flowered white aster

These were so pretty but I couldn't find them either! 

damselfly

the millipede stump! 

I spent some time with Maddie down at the river. Unfortunately it was a bit of a trek from our campsite to the river so Maddie didn't get as much time there as she would've liked.

In the evening, just before dinner we headed down to the bridge so Maddie could try out the new tripod anad remote shutter release that Poppa Bill sent to her. I kept taking pictures of Brian working with her on it until I finally got the one I wanted!

What Maddie was taking a shot of! 

Working away...

more working....

don't mind me I am not taking photos of you....

hmmmm.....not yet

still not it....

Aha!! There is that big totally unscripted "This is the most awesome thing EVER Poppa!" grin that I was waiting on.

In the morning we stopped to check out so Maddie could turn in her Jr.Naturalist book and get a patch. This year it is a bat. The ranger looked through the book and talked to her about it. This happens sometimes but not always. We all appreciate it when they take the time! 

So now its time to unpack, clean the house and get ready for the week. The fair is starting up next weekend so we have lots of 4H things to accomplish this week! 

Camp Fowler Drop Off Day!!

We headed up to Camp Fowler this morning to drop Maddie off at camp for the week. She was so excited that we were up and off in time to make the 10:30 church service and have brunch after in Fenimore Hall. Maddie loves to show us how the routine at camp works. Then it was time for the long wait to check in.....long....2 hours or so. Maddie and Brian spent some time playing tetherball while I sat in line (although I didn't know I was in line yet!) on the porch doing some sock knitting. This was as much of them as I could see from my spot! It was a lovely spot though with a breeze blowing by and keeping the bugs away.

They came to join me on the porch and Maddie got out her drawing pad. I noticed that the schedule for the week was up and walked down to take a photo of it. The day care kids, Brian and I all enjoy checking it to see what she might be up to!

Then we went through the registration process which was not as easy as normal. Someone forgot to print out the paper we are supposed to take from table to table and it threw everyone off a bit. We were patient and the counselors were too and we made it through! Then it was off to Goose Cabin. Maddie was in this cabin 2 years ago so we knew exactly where it was located and off we went. Maddie's friend Norah will be in the cabin with her but they arrived much later and were still working their way through the line when it was time for the kids to head off to games.

She is an excited kiddo!! The weather looks great too so I think she will have an awesome week! 

Summer Reading Program...for Grups!

Here is one of my current projects and all of my reading! I am working on a Companion Scarf from the book Geek Knits for Maddie. I got the book out of the library and Maddie promptly asked for about 10 different items from it! This one is based on Doctor Who. I told her I might make the Dragonrider Shrug but only time will tell.

Maddie and one of the day care girls convinced me to sign up for the adult summer reading program at the library. The reason was that we are all working on the same bingo card to get raffle tickets! Fortunately I finished the Beatrix Potter biography and was able to check off a box right away. Then I read a book on my kindle called The Sisters of St.Croix which let me check off another box. I read a couple of knitting books and checked off the "read a factual book box". I knit the mitten bookmark that came with the Little House Shawl pattern and that was another box (make a bookmark). So I seem to be steaming right along and catching up to the girls. I needed to read a Sci-Fi or Fantasy book to make a row so I picked up Eragon . Maddie had started this and put it down but now that Momma is reading and enjoying it she is eyeing it again! I am also reading, and will be reading for a while to come, The History of the Ancient World by Susan Wise Bauer. This will be Maddie's history text next year. I decided to read it over the course of a school year so I will have notes for next year and know the speed we should be moving in order to get through the whole thing!

What are you reading and knitting or crafting? Joining Ginny at Small Things for the Yarn A Long.

Eighth Grade!!!

Today is the start of 8th grade. Where has the time gone? It has flown by rapidly! And yet slowly all at the same time. 

Every year I say I am not going to do the back to school fairy any more, she is getting too old, it is silly and yet, somehow all the things for it end up in my cart any way! So she woke up to some fun things this morning....

We took a few more first day shots being silly.....

Then Maddie was telling Harry, the dog next door, not to worry about us. It was only the first day of school after all. I got a good real smile in the photo that time! Between us I think Harry is always worried about us. We get a lot of strange looks on going in and out.

Maddie finished up her work well and quickly today. We are taking it easy for the first two weeks then Maddie is off to Camp Fowler for a week. Then back at it and a week off at the end of August for some camping fun. 

Here's to a good year for all!! Then, oh my goodness, high school......

Mother Bear Yarn Along

I just recently learned about the Mother Bear Project and sent for a pattern. The pattern arrived yesterday and I sat down to cast a bear on last night. It looks like it should be easy to accomplish!

I am still reading about Beatrix Potter but the end is in sight. I have loved every minute of the book however! She was quite a character in her old age and the reading has been enjoyable.

What are you reading and knitting?

Joining Ginny at Small Things for the Yarn Along.

Camp Fowler....just because!

We made a trip up to Camp Fowler this morning for the church service then walked about for a bit looking for items to send in our nature exchange package! Maddie wanted to include some things from one of her favorite spots. It is so pretty there!

We packed lunch and stopped by the Sacandaga River to eat on the way home. This means, of course, a trip down to the river bank! I had to get some shots of Maddie in her new hat too! 

Now we are home to bake bread, try roasting strawberries from the leftovers from jam making and generally banging about! One more day of rest before work again!