Category Archives: Family

Frog time!

Family, Nature, WV, , ,

Emily’s grandparents have a small pond at their place and every year Mr and Mrs Frog raise their babies there.  We usually try to time it right to experience the sheer joy of frog season.  I don’t know if you are familiar with how frogs work but Mrs Frog lays huge caches of gelatinous eggs which very quickly  hatch and turn into tadpoles and eventually frogs.  If you watch carefully, you get to see all of the steps in between tadpole and frog which might be the stuff of nightmares if you didn’t know better.  Seeing a pond full of tadpoles is simply amazing!  They swim so awkwardly and yet not.  When they start growing legs and losing their tails, things get really interesting.  It is an absolutely amazing transition and a lot of fun to witness!

Looking for frogs in the pond Tadpoles!

Anyhow, we were around the pond last week and got to enjoy the tadpoles in the pond.  Abigail loves to catch them in her hand and sing to them.  She caught a few and while singing, spotted Mrs Frog.  Mrs Frog had a protective eye of course (we could tell) but seemed content to watch us watch her babies.  Of course, what are her options?  We don’t have ferocious frogs here in West-by-God-Virginia.

Mrs Frog Mrs Frog!

Abigail decided she wanted to give Mrs Frog a pat on the back, congratulating her on a job well done with her latest crop of babies.  She squatted at the edge of the pond (I had my camera ready fully expecting Abigail to fall into the water) and reached out to touch Mrs Frog.  With a flash, Mrs Frog leapt into the water upon feeling Abigail’s fingers.    She swam across the pond and under a rock where we could see her one back leg hanging out.  We decided to leave well enough alone and just watch from afar.  Spring is just the absolute best time of year!  There are so many opportunities to experience in the spring.  The Frog family delights us every year!

Under a log

Family, Nature, WV, ,

We are doing a little bit of fancy building out in the back yard to convert a bit of space from grass to a food plot.  A few years ago I cut down and old tree that was both ugly and in the way.  I had high hopes of sawing the tree into boards (just to see if I could) and doing something interesting with it.  Three years later, the log is pretty well rotted…and in the way like the tree before it.  I rolled it out of the way so we could work and we found a regular entomological wonderland!

Big black beetle Big black beetle Big black beetle

These two huge beetles dashed around in circles.  I dubbed them vampire beetles because they just wanted out of the sun.  I think they were actually Patent Leather beetles (Odontotaenius disjunctus).  I let them crawl around on my hands and arms a bit, trying to get the kids excited (in a “my dad is so brave and awesome” kinda way).  It didn’t exactly work as I expected but I was delighted that the kids at least wanted to touch the beetles.  I am a country boy trying to raise city kids to not be too much city and a little more country…touching bugs is a good step on the path.  I delivered both beetles to a safe spot nearby…I do not want to harm such cool and beneficial bugs.

Long Brown Centipede

We also noticed a large millipede cruising around quickly once we moved a chunk of bark.  We could not pick him up but he was super cool though a little shy.  He had no interest in posing for a photograph.  I am not sure about exactly what type of centipede he is but I think he is in the genus Cryptops.  I also learned a little something about centipedes versus millipedes.  Millipedes have 2 leg pairs per segment while centipedes have one leg-pair on each segment.  Centipedes have venomous legs while millipedes do not.  Centipedes are fast while millipedes are typically not.  Gosh, there are so many other differences…read some more here.

Girl picking up a worm

Anyhow, I think what made me happiest about this log was the worm family we found there.  Abigail bent right down and grabbed up a worm.  It’s a simple little thing but I love that my darling little daughter will pick up a worm without worrying about it being slimy or wiggly.  She relocated a family of worms the other day while some other little girls looked on in shock.  I have city kids but even in the city, under a log, lies adventure and wonder and just a little bit of country!

Double digits!

Family, ,

While I am a little late in documenting it, Abigail moved from single digits to double digits this week!  It’s hard to believe it was a decade ago when she was born.  I still remember when I crossed the decade mark.  It seems like yesterday and that was three decades ago!  Anyhow, my little baby girl is growing up and it is so exciting to see her blooming into a cool kid!  Sh’e smart and interesting and still likes dirt and bugs.

A decade old! A decade old!

For her birthday, all she wanted was a new bedroom.  We live in an old house and her room could use an update…something from this century or even the later part of last century.  Her mom and her Granddad are helping her rip out the carpet and the old cruddy plaster so we can freshen up everything.  We are even going to install an overhead light which she desperately wants!  It’s funny how the simple things mean a lot to her…and that makes me happy.

She’s a great kid and I love watching her grow up into a great young lady!

More stuff in Cincinnati

Family, Fun, Thoughts, , ,

In addition to licking Abe Lincoln’s leg, we did a few other things on our recent Cincinnati trip.  Since the kids were less old than they are today, we have always enjoyed visiting public aquariums.  It just so happens that Ohio has a pretty cool aquarium.  It’s in Kentucky, but Ohio’s aquarium is pretty awesome!  I am always happy that the kids seem to enjoy wandering around aquariums.  We often see repeating species but it never grows old.  I guess it is a testimony to how incredible nature is.  I always stand amazed at the variety of creatures that exist and it makes me sad when I hear how so much of the diversity that exists is in jeopardy due to global climate change, habitat destruction or other abuses of nature.

Newport Aquarium Newport Aquarium Newport Aquarium

Newport Aquarium

Anyhow, we very much enjoyed touring the Newport aquarium and spent several hours enjoying all there was to see.  We also spent a bunch of time at the Contemporary Arts Center.  We had a great time touring the exhibits and what made it especially cool is that we got to interact with the art pieces on two entire floors in the ON! Handcrafted Digital Playgrounds exhibit!  When we walked in, I didn’t realize that the place was set up for kids but it couldn’t have been more perfect.  Of course, most art is regular museums is hands-off, but the kids and I both enjoyed playing Smash Pong (Ping pong on an artsy table where extreme hitting is encouraged), flying paper airplanes and rocking-and-rolling a patchwork quilt camper at the CAC.

03_23_2013 031 At the Contemporary Arts Center

At the Contemporary Arts Center

I think the place that was the most powerful during the trip was the National Underground Railroad Freedom Center.  I am not sure why it sort of touched a nerve with all of us, but seeing the “slave pen” when you enter the building spoke to us immediately.  It’s a simple display but when we walked into the wooden cabin, we all stood with our mouths open, not saying a word.  Seventy or so people were warehoused in a a room not much larger than a typical school classroom.  They were forced to live in terror, filth and shock until they were sold.

03_23_2013 148 National Underground Railroad Freedom Center

National Underground Railroad Freedom Center

Most displays within the center were simple and straightforward but I think that made it easier to understand the horror that faced slaves each and every day.  It seems so simple to see how wrong it is to take someone’s freedom and civil rights.  We learned so much about the economics of slavery, the politics of bondage and the bravery of people who worked to protect others.  I understand the economics of slavery I guess, but for the life of me, I cannot imagine how people can be so cruel to other people.  I cannot imagine treating animals as badly as slaves were/are treated, let along talking, thinking people!?  Both the kids and I continued onto the discussion of modern slavery and we were shocked at how extensive modern slavery is around the world and even here in the United States.  You know, it is one thing to read about what people did a long time ago…it’s easy to write off as how things were when people didn’t know any better, but now…how can people still enslave other people?  I don’t understand it and am pleased that the kids were equally shocked and disturbed.

National Underground Railroad Freedom Center

Despite the tone of this writing, these places were each pretty incredible in their own way and I was pleased to visit and learn something in each place.  I suppose it is fairly uncommon when you can experience powerful imagery with your kids and even more powerful when it changes how you see the world!

To the woods

Family, Land, Nature, Thoughts,

Abigail and I went to the cabin this weekend to do a little work on the place. We started out by planting onions. I like onions so we started with 60 sets. Abigail loves to get dirty and Emily hates it when she does, so it was a perfect opportunity since it was just the two of us. I emptied a few new bags of soil and a bag of manure (yeah, I bought it…I hope some neighbors will help me out with some next time around) into a raised bed we made. Abigail helped me space them out and we got as much dirt as we could under our nails.

Working in the dirt Working in the dirt

After we licked our fingers clean, Abigail wanted to take a walk into the woods. It was such a beautiful day, how could I refuse a walk in the woods? We started down a path we hadn’t walked before and found a really great log down on the ground for sitting. We decided to sit a spell. It took a few minutes, but after a bit, Abigail stopped rustling around and it got really quiet. She commented how quiet it was in the woods. It was nice…she turned back to the woods and just sat and stared over the holler without another sound. I suppose we sat like that for 10 minutes or so. Eventually, we got up and spotted a deer trail off to one side and decided to follow it in to the woods.

A bleached turtle shell Sitting a spell

We stopped again when Abigail spotted a hole in the ground. It was right where the deer trail went so it was easy to find. We stood still for a second and heard running water. There wasn’t a stream to speak of, but we heard running water down in the hole I suppose we discovered a spring though we never saw it come out anywhere. It didn’t matter…we had already cleaned our fingernails anyhow!

Mystery tree with silver bark Queen of the lichen rock

We continued on and spotted a small standing pool of water and another spring and an old bleached out turtle shell. We watched a pileated woodpecker for a few minutes and sat a few more spells on a couple of rocks. We saw some really cool trees that looked like birch trees but they were a a lot larger than any birch tree I have ever seen. We talked and picked out our favorite lichens. I must have brushed up against something on our walk as I now have a rash over my entire body. It’s just the price one pays I suppose. It was well worth it to have this great opportunity to spend some time with my daughter when she told me she wanted to go to the woods. It just doesn’t get any better!

Superior rating

Audio, Awesome, Family, WV

I have been remiss in writing about a significant event that took place last weekend.  Isaac plays in his school’s jazz band and they had a regional band competition and rating.  I had a certain expectation of how the middle school band would sound.  I mean, I have heard Isaac play a lot at the house, but getting an entire band to play together is another thing…and middle school kids…well, they aren’t always known for their attentiveness to detail.

Jazz band kid

We headed to Huntington to one of the high-schools  where school bands had been playing all day.  Band kids are super cool and mostly a lot of fun to hang around, but I wasn’t sure I wanted to spend my day sitting in an auditorium listening to a bunch of hormone fueled kids screeching out jazz tunes.

I couldn’t believe how wrong I was about pretty much all of my assumptions.  I still think band kids are really cool, but I had no idea how awesome they could play a huge variety of jazz tunes.  Most of these kids had only been playing 1-2 years but to hear them, you would think that they had been playing since way before puberty.  Anyhow, their music speaks for itself so without further adieu:

Song 1

Song 2

Song 3

Song 4

Extra points to anyone who can identify the names of the songs!  I am so proud of all of these kids.  They did one heck of a good job and all of their hard work definitely paid off.  They were given a superior rating, the highest rating possible!

My grandpa

Family, History, Thoughts

Last Saturday, my grandpa passed away.  He was 98 years old and a true gem.  I am posting his obit here but will likely write some more over the coming days.  His funeral was Wednesday and, as much as I miss him, I was delighted to hear stories people told about my grandpa.  He was a character and a great man.

WISE2 Wise3a

Homer Glenn Wise, 98, of Tionesta, died Saturday, Feb. 16, 2013, at Oakwood Heights (formerly the Presbyterian Home), Oil City.  He was born March 25, 1914 in Clarion, son of the late LaVern B. and Edith (Hoover) Wise.  On April 3, 1935 he married Florence B. (Gardner) Wise in Pittsburgh. His loving wife died on  March 21, 2003, after nearly 68 years of marriage.  Glenn and his wife owned and operated Wise Sunoco of Tionesta (now Greathouse Body Shop)  until 1959. He and his wife also ran a concession stand at the Tionesta Dam along with Wise Boat Livery where he sold boats, motors, chainsaws and accessories.  He was a foreman for 20 years at the Evenflo-Crator Manufacturing Plant in Tionesta retiring in 1978. He then went to work for the Forest Hardware also of Tionesta.  He was twice Past Master of Olive Temple Lodge #557 Free and Accepted Masons of Tionesta.  He was also a member of the Coudersport Consistory and Scottish Rite. He was one of the founding members of the Tionesta Volunteer Fire Co., and was a search and rescue scuba diver.  Glenn and his wife were devoted members of the Tionesta United Methodist Church where he held many positions.  Surviving are his daughter, Janice Patterson and her husband, Fred, of Tionesta; four grandchildren; five great-grandchildren; three great-great-grandchildren; and several nieces and nephews.

In addition to his parents and wife, Glenn was preceded in death by a daughter, Betty Mellon in 1992; a grandson, Jonathan Patterson in infancy; four brothers, Mervin, Hobart, Elmer and Stanley Wise; and five sisters, LeVera Reynolds, Ethel Wolfe, Grace Startzel, Blanche Wise and Doris Cooper.  Friends will be received from 2 to 4 and 6 to 8 p.m. today at Norman J. Wimer Funeral Home of Tionesta. A funeral service will be conducted on at 11 a.m. Tuesday at the Tionesta United Methodist Church with the Rev. J. Mark Hurst, pastor of the church, and the Rev. Bruce K. Merritt of the Nixon United Methodist Church of Butler, PA., co-officiating. Burial will occur at Mt. Collins Cemetery, Tionesta.

If it has to snow…

Family, Fun, ,

If it has to snow, I guess we might as well do something to enjoy it.  We didn’t get too much snow on Friday but Abigail in particular decided to make the most of it.  I bribed her brother to go and sled with her and it worked…he fell for it.

Sled riding! Sled riding!

I had decided earlier in the day not to wear any pants all Saturday.  Before you think me too creepy, I wore shorts all day, even out in the 25 degree weather.  I wasn’t cold for some reason and it had nothing to do with Uncle Bill’s special cold weather elixir.

Shorts in the snow      02_05_2013 069

Anyhow, hills in WV are plentiful but hills that won’t kill you are somewhat harder to find.  The kids spent an hour or so rolling up and down the little hill out back with sleds and without.  It was really a pretty awesome time.  The kids had a lot of fun together and any time we get that chance, I will take it.

Sled riding! Sled riding!

While standing out in the snow, I also discovered the my phone can take really awesome panoramic photos.  I took a few pics of the area from different angles.  I sort of hate to admit it but the whole scene was sort of pretty.

02_05_2013 011

I guess I might have had blood flow issues though as my body tried to warm my legs so I do not want to fully commit to claiming any part of winter is nice.

Sled riding! Sled riding!

I had the opportunity to enjoy my favorite holiday of the year with my kids and that was pretty cool.  I know you are thinking that Groundhog Day can’t possibly be Warren’s favorite holiday but, friends, I am here to tell you it is!  It means the days are starting to feel longer, the maples will soon be blooming and winter is soon to be over!  This year Phil was very kind also.  And just to go on the record, Punxsutawney Phil is the one true seer, the prognosticator of all prognosticators.  The others are all impostors!

Snow days

Family, Thoughts, , ,

Emily and the kids are off today because of the snow and the cold.  It was 11 outside this morning and the roads were a bit of a mess so it was the right thing for the county to call off classes today.  I just wish they hadn’t called at 4:35 am.  We are very lucky (I think) that the county uses a robocaller to alert teachers and parents to closures, announcements, etc.  We just need to work on the clock…

Brrrrr!

When I was a kid, we had to wait for the tv station to scroll our county across the screen.  The closest station was 100 miles or so away.  I am not sure it mattered but our little rural area was not terribly important to anyone else.  Honestly, they never cancelled or delayed anyhow so there really wasn’t much to watch for anyhow.  We just went to school every day.  More than once I remember sitting on the bus waiting for a plow truck to come so we could follow it down the hill and get to school.  I also remember one time when the bus tried to make it up the hill to the school.  As the bus started spinning and sliding (even with chains on), the driver stopped it and we had to walk the rest of the way in the snow (we weren’t barefoot but it was up hill!)

I don’t want to go on about how easy kids have it nowadays, but it was just different.  I am sort of jealous though!  Anyhow, I am sure that the family is enjoying sleeping in while I slave away at the office!  Snow days are special days in my book and I truly hope the kids enjoy a little extra time to relax.  Heck, by tomorrow it may be 70 again and we will be outside in shorts  (if only we were so lucky)…