Adirondack Family Time™

Here are some ideas for parents, Adirondack (ADK) kids, retired or seniors and anyone wishing to go for a hike around the Long Lake area. Sargent Ponds Start from Lower Sargent Pond for a walk of 1.5 miles on the Northpoint Road to make the loop. Upper Sargent Pond —1.3 Miles, well marked, about 1/2 hour each way. Well marked trail markers. Lower Sargent Pond via Grass Pond —2.1 miles, well marked. Lower Sargent Pond is less than 20 minutes beyond Grass Pond. There is a lean-to overlooking Lower Sargent Pond. Lower Sargent-Upper Sargent by way of Middle Pond —1.7 miles between Upper & Lower. Sargent Pond Loop —9 miles includes distance between the trail heads. It is possible to make the Upper and Lower Ponds into a loop by way of the trail by way of Middle Pond. Owl's Head Mountain —3.2 miles to summit, well marked trail, relatively difficult after about 2 1/4 miles, scenic views of the Fishing Brook Range with the High Peaks in the distance. The trail head is

This is a celebration of choice, to have the freedom to read without censorship. This is a celebration to have an open dialog with children to understand and discuss why (not that I agree) some countries or communities take a stand against certain books. I try not to ever let an opportunity to teach tolerance pass by. Books Banned at One Time or Another in the United States according to Adler Books A Clockwork Orange by Anthony Burgess A Wrinkle in Time by Madeleine L'Engle Annie on My Mind by Nancy Garden As I Lay Dying by William Faulkner Blubber by Judy Blume Brave New World by Aldous Huxley con't Bridge to Terabithia by Katherine Paterson Canterbury Tales by Chaucer Carrie by Stephen King Catch-22 by Joseph Heller Christine by Stephen King Confessions by Jean-Jacques Rousseau Cujo by Stephen King Curses, Hexes, and Spells by Daniel Cohen Daddy's Roommate by Michael Willhoite Day No Pigs Would Die by Robert Peck Death of a Salesman by Arthur Miller Decameron by Bo

“I’m off to the Opera!” Now those are words we don’t get to hear everyday from my six-year-old. I am thrilled every time she surprises me with her ever-expanding interest in the arts. Though there is a part of me that wonders if it has more to do with the costumes. It really doesn’t matter as long as the end result is the same, an open art conversation. My son feels a bit more ownership over High Peaks Opera. He attended a performance in Long Lake this summer and now speaks with assurance that George Cordes sings like thunder (which in case you’re wondering is a good thing, a really, really good thing). My child wants to make sure I remember that the chairs shook with the force of the song. It was like an earthquake he assures me. Music does have a way of sweeping us off our feet. This Saturday he and anyone else will have the opportunity to witness that power as bass Cordes, Crane School of Music’s soprano Tiffany Conn and tenor Robert Soricelli will recreate their sold-out Little Ita

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

Today is the first day of school for my now 1st and 4th graders. After doing a meet and greet with the 1st grade teacher, I moved along to my son's classroom. There is something disheartening to have to explain to a teacher that your child, who receives wonderful grades, thrives in school and enjoys learning is unable to distinguish between the red and green markers used on the Smart Board. Luckily, his teacher is amazing, thoughtful and willing to watch out for any issues. For most people being colorblind (a misnomer) is never an issue. If anything, it should be more accurately called color deficiency. It only effects 8% of males typically of European descent and 1% of females. The most common type is red/green from an inherited mutated X chromosome. Yes, he received that from me as well as his sparkling wit. My father carries the same trait and assures me that it never hindered him at all plus we were able to place blame on his fondness for mixing patterns and a flair for black

This is long overdue but I am honored to announce that I have been asked to contribute a weekly family activity to the Adirondack Almanack blog. I hope you enjoy! -Diane

By Diane Chase Only in the Adirondacks can a person go for a walk and come across a museum. The Adirondack Mountain Club’s (ADK) Heart Lake Nature Museum seems more nature center than museum but what’s in a name. As in the Gershwin song, “You say either and I say eyether; you say neither and I say nyther.”* It’s not the name that matters but what is inside that counts. I double-check the meaning of museum and it is simply a building where objects of artistic, historical or scientific importance are kept and studied. My child’s collection of rocks, old bottles and action figures only partially meets the criteria. For all I know major scientific discoveries could be found in his room as well but would I want them on display? We are not ready to open up to the public and I’m not sure what the interest level would be anyway. On the other hand, the Heart Lake Nature Museum’s one room schoolhouse appeal gets children and adults alike to examine the natural world. The “Cranium Case” sho