The Big Muskie

"Big Muskie" was once the World's Largest Earth Moving Machine http://www.roadsideamerica.com/story/2184adsideamerica.com/story/2184 The Bucket weighs 460,000 pounds empty and when loaded carried an additional 640,000 pounds. It’s volume is equal to that of a 12 car garage

Really amazing thing and well worth a stop if you are in Noble County traveling along OH 78. Be warned though, it is a very curvy road and little boys just might find out for the first time that they gets car sick and might throw up all over himself and his car seat. Just might happen.

The Wilds

We went to the The Wilds while on vacation--see a pattern here, either water or animals! But really, The Wilds is this really great place. It is one of the country's only animal conservation center that is open to the public. It is nearly 10,000 acres of reclaimed mine land in rural southeastern Ohio. They have cheetahs, giraffes, camels, onegers, rhinos, bison, mongolian horses--just to name a few. And yes, all is SEOhio. You take a bus, enclosed or not, around the park with tour guide and the animals are in large open grassy savannah like environs. Rather cool.

Water, Water, Water

The next day of our stay-cation was all about water. We headed out the the creek for a morning splash around, then we gathered tadpoles up at the park in the poorly drained upper portion that is full of mosquitos, tadpols, and frogs. Then we headed to the pool (again--we actually spent a lot of time at the pool this week).

The we search for tadpols....

The Zoo and Ms.Fun

We are on vacation this week--kids are off school and I am taking the week off with them. M is hanging out with us too, which is a lot of fun. Speaking of fun--I made a comment to M the other day about wanting to be a fun mom and hope my kids have fun with me and the things we do. He has decided to name me Ms. Fun! I am not sure I can live up to the new name. We'll see....



Headed to the Columbus Zoo on Monday. Forecast was iffy, but we went anyway and had a good time--minus the major Bean meltdown over....I am not sure what now. I am not a huge zoo fan, to be honest, but I do and can see the educational value and conservation need for them. For example, most of the Manatees at the Cols. Zoo are rescued and will be rehabilitation and returned to the oceans, but one with a missing fin/flipper will live it's life there, taken care of by the kind manatee keepers.

They do have a really neat polar bear exhibit now. I am not sure how new it is but, I really enjoyed it. This is Aurora, from the bottom and from the top. I loved the way we could watch them play from under the water.

They had these curved glass pieces, kind of like a sun

room glass enclosure with water and the bears above. Looking at them from underneath, they did not look all that big but in reality, they are big bears.

Of course, a picture of Bean and a hammerhead--where else would Shark Boy pose?

Rainy day in MacArthur

MacArthur. This strange little town in Vinton Co., Ohio. I am convinced that there is something about that place that just isn't right. Just not quite right. I seem to have odd expereinces there--nothing to weird but just makes me a bit uncomforatable. I suppose it is basically the east coast girl in rural southeastern Ohio Appalachian small town. I have had my car engine blow up there and had to wait at the spooky gas station with the creepy men, I got my only speeding ticket in many many year there and the state trooper creeped me out. I would see the strangest things a the gas station there in town--strange people and strange behaviour. See, I used to drive through there everyday on my way to Chillicothe when I worked for the National Park Service at Hopewell Culture National Historical Park. I always hoped that I would not have to stop there along the way to work or home. The only bright spot about the place is the tiny ice cream stand that made the best milkshakes.

Anyway, we went to the Vinton County airport this morning so M could try to do some RC flying at the local fly-in. Well, we got rained out and headed into town to find something to eat. Did see two or three Amish horse and buggies. We went to this place on Main St. and it was weird. We walked in and the entire place went quite and they all stared at us--or course we are the outsiders. And of course, my kids are not behaving themselves all too well, and the food took forever and it was not all that good and everybody had to check us out--like I said creepy and not quite right.

Chocolate Chip Cookies

I love to make chocolate chip cookies! Really! It is one of my favorite things to do of all things to be done. I actually like it when M or the kids ask me to make them. They are so simple to whip up and taste so much better than any store bought kind--even if you screw them up they are way better. I feel so domestic, like I am doing something so fabulous for my family, but in reality I secretly love it. I know, I know, building memories with my kids.

I know I am and that makes me happy.

Curated Chaos*

Okay, I try my best to be original on here. But, with the number of blogs that I like to follow (oh, you'd be surprised!) I often find one or two that I like to emulate. The red gravy tomato one is an example. So, I really liked the recent posting on http://www.digthischickmt.com/2010/06/curated-mess.html called Curated Mess* and I decided to check my surroundings for such things. I too would rather go outside than clean up the mess. In our house, there is a reason the playroom has a door on it that closes!.

I will update this one.

A collection of items Yaya was playing with--monkey, doll made by M, duck that plays annoying quacking song, baby dino, little peoples girl and dog, and a baby. Interesting?!?!?

Love this girl!

I want my tomatoes to grow!

I am so ready for summer time tomatoes to grow in our little garden. I just put in another large tomato plant and am hoping for a nice crop this year. I want to make this--recipe come from http://www.digginfood.com/

DiAgostino’s Red Gravy (Stovetop edition)
Serves 4, Pour over 1lb of fresh cut pasta

You’ll need
12 plum tomatoes
2 tablespoons of olive oil (Preferably first pressed olive oil)
1 medium onion (Diced)
5-8 garlic cloves (Chopped)
½ cup fresh basil (Whole leaves)
Salt to taste
Fresh Italian parsley to sprinkle over pasta before serving

To make our red gravy, first bring a large pot of water to a boil and add 12 plum tomatoes. Let tomatoes cook for 2 minutes or until the skin visibly starts to peel off. Next, drain the hot tomatoes in a strainer, and use your hands to peel off all tomato skins. Put these tomatoes into a blender, and run on “high” for about 20 seconds. In a separate deep pot, heat oil on medium heat and cook onions until they become clear. Add the chopped garlic to the pot, and sauté for about 2 or 3 minutes more. Pour the puree tomatoes from the blender into the pot. Add salt (to your own taste) to gravy mix. Cook covered for 2 hours on low, or until smooth and thick. Add whole basil leaves (from your own garden if you have it in stock!) to the simmering gravy during the last ½ hour. Adding the basil at the end will ensure the fresh flavor of the herb doesn’t get cooked out. That’s it! Pour gravy over 1 lb of freshly cut pasta. Garnish with parsley and sprinkle with grated cheese. Serve and enjoy!

Weird plant

We found this weird and very large plant out by Dutch Creek the other day. It was huge and had very soft and fuzzy leaves and a center almost like a cabbage. Strange--no idea what it is, but it sure likes it where it is!















Okay, as far as I can tell from some investigation is that is a COMMON MULLEIN
Verbascum thapsus

http://www.oardc.ohio-state.edu/weedguide/singlerecord.asp?id=750

Backyard fun!?!?

We have decided to put this up in our little backyard. We don't have nearly the room that is picture in this picture or the grand mountains behind our yard either, but I hope I will fit and work for our little side/front yard. Yes, we do have a park across the street, but what kind of mom would I be to sit on the deck drinking a beer and have the kids across the street and not with in sight? This way I can sit on the deck, have my beer or what ever and see them playing. And once we tackle the problem of them running into the street in front, we should be good to go! I will try to post some pics as it goes up. There are 1500 pieces, yes you read that right, in the package and from the reviews I read, takes a very long time to put up! Glad M is doing it while I am at work! :)