Posts

Computer issues are universally inconvenient

I type this from a computer that was designated the "children's computer" because when I got my new Mac I knew that my old one would give my kids so much frustration that asking to be online would be as much fun as cleaning the house. Yes, a passive aggressive  way to limit screen time. Now those sentiments have come back to nip me at the heels as I wait 7 days for computer parts in hopes that my computer's tracking pad will once again allow me to work with ease.  This computer chug, chug, chugs along. Internet searches are drawn out and wireless is non existent.  It is giving me a completely new perspective on how much I depend on my computer to get my job done easily. So the next seven days will be challenging and I will be spending more time at the local library while my computer is made functional once more. Taking a break, willing or not, is sometimes just what we all need.

Easy Short Adirondack (ADK) hikes: Roaring Brook Falls Keene Valley (NY)

Image
A family walk in the Adirondacks (ADK) is all kids need! Roaring Brook Falls/ Giant Mountain Wilderness Area Distance - 0.3-mile Elevation - n/a Vertical ascent - n/a snowshoe: yes cross-country ski - yes Roaring Brook Falls as seen from Route 73, 3.5 miles south of Keene Valley  in the Adirondacks of New York Park at the Giant Mountain/Roaring Brook parking area and this is a quick 0.3-mile journey for all ages. The path forks for a variety of hiking options. The easiest is keeping the river to your right and heading to the base of Roaring Brook Falls

What to do with your Jack-O-Lantern?

Image
If you don't have a compost pile  think about donating  your Halloween pumpkin  to a local farmer to feed his/her pigs!

Saranac Lake for Kids: Fall/Autumn at Tucker Farm's Great Adirondack Corn Maze

Image
Just outside of Saranac Lake is a great family activity for ADK kids of all ages, The Great Adirondack Corn Maze. The view from Tucker Farms, Gabriels, N.Y. Finding the way out of The Great Adirondack Corn Maze Care to try some of Tucker Farm's red and blue potatoes? 

Diane Chase: Adirondack (ADK) Hiker Safety Tips During Hunting Season

Image
Don't be afraid to wear that Blaze Orange vest. It's a color that goes with everything! It will bring out the safety in your children's eyes.  When I first moved to the Adirondacks I never took in consideration  hunting season  as having an effect on my outdoor activities. Yes, I realize that was naĆÆve of me but I have no experience with hunting and had only hiked in the summer. During those warm months gun safety is not on a non-hunter’s radar. Since I can’t be the only person in this predicament, here are some simple rules to keep in mind. There is room enough in a six-million-acre park for hunters and hikers. My children are well aware of what they need to do to be safe while hiking in the woods. We unpack our blaze orange vests and hats and stick to the trail. It is this time of year that I encourage them to talk loudly and stick together. Playing it safe during hunting season 1)     Don’t be afraid; be cautious. 2)     Be informed of what is “in season.”

Adirondack First S..NO!

Image
It's only October! Is this really necessary? I have just a few more gardening things to button up. 

Adirondack Family Activities: Puppet People at LARAC

Image
Puppetry combines elements of problem solving and creativity. It can also segue children from watching television to seeing a live performance. According to  Puppet People   co-founder, Mark Carrigan, puppetry can spark the imagination where watching television can not. “I got into puppetry as a small child. I remember watching a puppet show when I was in third grade, running home and making my own puppets,” says Carrigan. “After receiving a degree in sculpture, I worked with Bennington Marionettes sculpting the marionettes’ faces. I met my wife there.” Read more here 

Auditions for Pendragon Theatre’s Holiday Show

Image
Is your child interested in theatre? This year Pendragon Theatre , the Adirondack's only year-round professional theatre, will present performances of “A Christmas Carol” as its Holiday production. For the past several years a variety of different plays have been performed but the Theatre felt it time to return to a much loved holiday classic to conclude the 30th year celebration! Auditions and an informational meeting will be held on Saturday the 23rd of October at 1:00 p.m. Kent Streed will direct. The auditions will consist of readings from the script. The production will open on the18th of December and will have a couple of performances at the Lake Placid Center for the Arts after Christmas – the schedule will be available at the auditions. For other information or questions please call the Theatre at 518-891-1854.

Adirondack Museums: Almanzo Wilder Homestead

Image
The renovated barns at the Almanzo Wilder Homestead Farmer Boy!

Adirondack Green Energy Tours

Image
This Saturday, October 2nd, there will be a green energy open house around New York and the Adirondacks supported by the Northeast Sustainable Energy Association . With over 140 homes to tour across the state, people can find any example of sustainable energy from pellet stoves, geothermal, passive, solar and more. The opportunity to to see how these processes have worked and meet with people that have taken the step toward energy efficiency is invaluable. As a parent, I always try to be a good example for my own family. Taking kids on green energy tours like this may seem like its a bother but the payback will be well worth it. Just like any other activity, be prepared. Depending on the ages of your children inform them of what you want to look for. Are you interested in getting solar panels or just passive solar? What inventive ways are kids able to come up with to solve your own energy issues?  Let them ask questions, follow the tour around and be a part of the solution. Give the

Adirondack Family Activities: Almanzo Wilder Farm Museum Fest

Image
Honorary Laura Ingalls and Almanzo Wilder Most people have heard of the “Little House” books that preserved a personal account of Laura Ingalls Wilder’s frontier life. If you haven't read them it is never too late. Perhaps a trip to the library so you can share these memories of a challenging pioneer lifestyle with your child would be fun. The tie-in to the North Country is the third book in the series,  Farmer Boy , which chronicles the childhood experiences of Laura’s husband Almanzo Wilder.  From 1840 to 1875 the Wilders made Burke, NY (just outside of Malone) their home. Since 1987 the original homestead has been used as a museum and educational center.

Trivia: What three children's songs have the same tune?

You hear these songs all the time. They are some of the first songs your child will learn and it's not "Wheels on the Bus."  Answer is here 

Adirondack Moose Festival: Adirondack Family Fun

Image