Adirondack Family Time™

It is National Museum Day where museums around the country offer free admission. Where are you going to go today?

There are only 60 chairs on the double chairlift at McCauley Mountain, down about 20 from its winter route. All the unused chairs are lined up freshly painted and repaired waiting for the start of the winter season. It is a smooth and steady 2, 200’ ride to the top. It does seem odd to be riding a chairlift in autumn. The children are lined up waiting their turn, pretending they are going to hit the moguls on the way down. We even encounter the prerequisite lost lift item request from a couple already lift bound. We retrieve the shoe and are thankful it’s just a kicked off flip-flop and not a ski buried in the snow. It is a leisurely ride to the top so we are able to glance around at the view of the Fulton Chain of Lakes, Old Forge and Grey Lake. Our exit is uneventful without the cumbersome addition of ski gear. Cinderella is patiently waiting at top for her lost shoe. Picnic tables and Adirondack chairs are scattered about. The children run about finding playmates to explore the bac

My son was addicted to the pacifier, an addiction fed by his own parents. I thought if I just continued to throw "boks" into his bed he would just be able to eventually find one and go to sleep. His bed was littered with them. He couldn't roll over in the night without encountering one, which was the whole idea. The part I didn't foresee? That his attachment would grow. He soon needed three "boks" to sleep, one in his mouth and one for each hand. Before he turned three my husband and I decided that the pacifier had to go. We tried all sorts of recommendations from friends and family. With nothing working I finally just took a large needle and poked holes in the pacifier. Though it didn't seem to make a difference, I persisted. Tip: Take a large darning needle and work a few holes through the sides and top of the pacifier. After each use continue to widen the holes. The goal is that the child will suck on the pacifier and eventually the pacifier will flat

For a $10 processing free any 5th grader can get a 5th Grade Passport that is valid at participating Vermont Alpine and Nordic ski areas from December 1, 2009 to May 1, 2010 except on the blackout dates stated on the individual coupons and the application. It can take up to three weeks to receive the passport so fill out the application as soon as possible! The Passport may be used to obtain no more than three (3) complimentary one-day tickets or trail passes at each participating Vermont ski area between December 1, 2009 and May 1, 2010, subject to the blackout dates listed on the back of Passport coupons. The following resorts are participating for the season: The following ski areas are participating for the season: Ascutney Mountain, Bolton Valley Resort, Cochran's, Bromley Mountain, Burke Mountain, Jay Peak Resort, Killington Resort, Mad River Glen, Magic Mountain, Middlebury College Snow Bowl, Mount Snow Resort, Pico Mountain, Okemo Mountain Resort, Smugglers' Notch Reso

So it's not a real museum in the sense that you go inside but rather a living experience with adventures at every corner type of museum. This is the closing weekend of two weeks worth of events. For the price of a $10 button the Battle of Plattsburgh Society will have a host of events continuing through Sunday. If that isn't the museum of your choice New York Heritage Weekend will get you free admission to the Adirondack History Center Museum in Elizabethtown and Fort Ticonderoga this weekend as well as other museums all around New York State. Other children events in the area include Wilmington's Festival of Colors. This event is free! The event will take place from 10:00 a.m.-6:00 p.m. at the tee-ball field on Springfield Road. Thirty vendors will be on hand displaying everything from local produce to homemade toys. Performers from Santa's Workshop will kick off the show at 10:00 a.m., followed by local band "Organized Chaos", then at 1:00 p.m. "Pips

There are quite a few celebrations, festivals and events planned for this Labor Day Weekend. Port Henry will start the celebration this evening with music and fireworks on Champ Beach with a Labor Day Parade down Port Henry's Main Street @ 1 pm will have a Quadricentennial theme. Westport Marina celebrates its 43rd annual Lobsterfest Weekend with cardboard boat races, BBQ dinner and dacing. Sunday's Chix BBQ has been sold out but come for face painting, balloon art of the Kayak races. Long Lake's Mt. Sabattis Pavilion will host a BBQ, music from the Fulton Chain Gang and fireworks. For those interested in the Festivals, here are a few: The first annual Hobo Festival ( read more about the music scene in Adirondack Almanack ) which will take place on Depot Street in Saranac Lake not "the big rock candy mountain" and the Irish Festival which will include hay bale tossing and keg lifting. In my world that just spells "family reunion." To attend an Irish

I first saw this recipe in the Adirondack Daily Enterprise section "Lake Clear News" and wish to give credit to Charlotte Hall. I am not sure if now having the ability to make chocolate cake in 5 minutes in my microwave is actually a good thing. Tasty, yes. This is instant gratification at its best. Tip: Have your children help mix their own dessert. 5-Minute Chocolate Cake (This recipe is all over in the internet and I couldn't find an original source.) 1 large microwave safe coffee mug 4 Tbsp. flour 4 Tbsp. sugar 2 Tbsp. cocoa 1 egg 3 Tbsp. milk 3 Tbsp. oil 3 Tbsp. chocolate chips (optional) a small splash of vanilla extract 1. Add dry ingredients to mug and mix well. 2. Add the egg and mix thoroughly. 3. Pour in the milk and oil and mix well. 4. Mix in the chocolate chips and vanilla extract. 5. Place mug in the microwave and cook for 3 minutes on High. The cake will rise above the top of the cup. Remove from microwave . 6. Remove from microwave and let cool. 7. Enj