Website Wednesday, 10/24/2012

It's Website Wednesday!! I'm hoping that today's sites will be useful to you in generating new and interesting ideas for classroom management and lesson plans. It is also great to read how other teachers deal with the day in and day out drama that education can sometimes bring. These three ladies also have some interesting and incredible ideas for how to celebrate classroom successes. I highly recommend reading and following all three of these blogs.

State Fair Part 2: The Animals

One of the piglets just hanging out at the fair

When I was a child one of my favourite things to see at the local fair was all of the farm animals. I enjoyed seeing the animals even though I lived in a small country town as it allowed me to see them all in one spot. The animal houses may have had that musty and the unmistakable barnyard smell but it was worth it. Plus it was a lot more interesting then all of the new cars and farm equipment that was on display because I wasn't allowed to play on them.
     

One of the more unusual breeds of chicken at the fair.

 

      As an adult I still enjoy seeing the animals at the fair. Several years ago I went to a local fair in the western part of the state and was very disappointed that there was no animals on display and it just didn't feel like a real fair without them. The state fair did have all of the farm animals and it made the fair experience complete. Some of the animals brought back memories from my childhood as many of my family members had farms or farm animals.  Many of these were memories I had forgotten all about until I saw a particular breed of chicken, cow or sheep. Seeing the goats reminded me of the time that I was at my great uncle's farm and the goats kept head butting me until I jumped over the fence so they couldn't headbutt me any more. Some of the goats looked like they were trying to escape and this reminded me of the goats that we had on our farm that used to jump the fence from one paddock to another. I guess they did this to ensure they always had the greenest grass. The chickens brought back more memories. For example my dachshund Enzo used to chase the chickens on the farm until one of the roosters latched onto his side and kept pecking him until someone hit it with a broom. He left the chickens alone after that. There are many more stories but that is for another time.

Hungry goats

Even today viewing the animals is still one of my favourite activities at the fair even though I have seen many of these animals dozens of times throughout my life. I appreciate that it gives the average person a chance to see many different breeds of animals up close that they would not be able to otherwise. They are always a big hit with the kids and you can see their eyes light up but sometimes the adults have just as much fun.  Sadly there weren't as many animals at the fair this year but the fair was in doubt until mid summer so the organizers did what they could and I am sure they will have a wider selection next year. The animals help make the fair a showcase of agriculture and not just a bunch of fairground rides that you can find at any mall parking lot. I look forward to returning to the fair next year and seeing all of my furry and feathered friends again.

Sean

Howl-O-Scream, 2012

Halloween is a favorite holiday of mine. I am a fan of most holidays but for some reason when I see Halloween approaching on the calendar it makes me smile. I love the costumes and the idea of being able to transform yourself into someone else for a few hours. I love trick-or-treaters who come to the house in their cute costumes. I also love decorating the house with all the spooky and fun things that represent Halloween. 

Another tradition Sean and I have had for the past few years is going to Howl-O-Scream at Busch Gardens, Williamsburg. We are season ticket holders and we go to the park several times throughout the spring and summer but there is something about going in October, fighting the insane crowds (they always reach capacity on Saturdays during this time), and seeing the different areas of the park decorated for the country's Halloween traditions. 

Saturday we focused on some of the smaller rides that we love (Da Vinci's cradle, the Teacups, Scrambler, Cars, etc.) rather than waiting in line for 30+ minutes for the coasters. We also went to many of the Halloween-themed shows. Here are some reviews:
"Dr. Freakenstein" - Ireland - 
Amanda - I thought this show was a little disconnected. I didn't understand why some of the songs were chosen to be a part of the show. I also did not like the dancing that was done during the show. I would give it three stars out of five.
Sean - The basic plot of the show was loosely based on Frankenstein. However it is a bit different as it had almost a dozen scantily dressed nurses dancing around the stage. The show had a decent flow and kept my attention but was not spectacular. The other thing of note was that it had several adult references and would not be appropriate for children. I would give it 3.5 stars because it didn't loose my attention.
"Casket Club" - Festhaus, Germany - 
Amanda - I liked this show. It was done as a caberet type show with singing and dancing. The dancing was more like ballroom dancing which I love anyway. I liked the songs and found myself clapping along several times. The main male character was funny which was also great. I would give it four and a half stars out of five.
Sean - Not a fan, I had a lot of trouble following the story line and at times I wasn't sure it had one. The first half was a lot of dancing and I lost interest very quickly. The second half had some disco music and bright costumes which held my attention better. I was glad I had some lunch to focus on during the boring parts. I would give it 2 of of 5 stars.

Here are some of the photos that I took yesterday while we enjoyed our time at the park:

Creepy clowns lined the bridge on the way to Italy

Near the Clydesdale stables

Next to Ireland's bridge - the show in Ireland was "Dr. Freakenstein"

Ireland's bridge

Welcoming you into Aquataine, France

Sean harnessing his inner werewolf

Building tops in New France

Decorations in Festhaus where we ate lunch

What is your favorite thing about Halloween? Whatever you do to celebrate, have a spook-tacular time! :)

Happy Halloween,

Website Wednesday, 10//17/2012

We are starting something new here on the blog and because I love alliteration today seemed like the perfect day to start...

Website Wednesday

Each week we will try to highlight one fabulous website. This week that website is TeuxDeux (found here). I was first introduced to this site through a friend. She said she couldn't live without it and now I know why. 

Source

TeuxDeux is an online to-do list website. You sign up for an account - it's free!! - and you will see a screen with the days listed (dates are there too) and lines. In one of the boxes, on the day you want to add something, you type what needs to be done and hit enter. It is now added to your list. When you have finished the task, you click on it and it is struck out. What you don't get completed today, automatically rolls to tomorrow.

I love this site because it keeps me from having multiple post-it notes with my to-do list on them. I can type it onto the website, prioritize the things if I want by moving them within their list, and keep track of everything that needs to be done. I also love that you can pull up your list on any computer so my TuexDeux list is my home screen for my home and work computers. This way I always know what needs to be done.  

Check out this YouTube video tutorial for a more detailed and graphic description of how this site works. Then you can head to TeuxDeux and sign up for your account. I know you will love this site too!

Happy Wednesday,

Apple Picking

Two years ago, Sean and I were visiting friends in the mountains of Virginia and I decided I wanted to go apple picking. I had never done this before and thought it sounded like fun. We searched and talked to our friends and we chose Carter Mountain Orchard in Charlottesville, which is almost next door to Monticello (Thomas Jefferson's house). We went and had a blast so I decided that this fall we had to go back and pick more apples! 


When we arrived, it was bumper to bumper traffic climbing the hill/driveway. I could not get over how many people were there. 








Kristin, my good friend, and I love Fuji apples and that was one of the options to pick this past weekend. We were both excited but to get to the Fuji apples you had to climb up a mountain with three switchbacks. We grabbed our bags and off we climbed.







Picking apples is not a super fun and exciting event. But it is fun to walk down the row of trees, try to spot the perfect apple, then pick that "just right" one to take home. I love it! Kristen, Robert (her husband), and the two kids loved it too I think.






Sean and I ended up with 12 beautiful (and tasty!) Fuji apples. We also stopped by the store on the way out and got some apple butter for me and my parents. I love apple butter and there is just something wonderful and apple butter that is made with three ingredients - apple, water, and spices. Yum yum!!






I am almost sad now that we are not going back to the mountains before apple picking season is over. I would so go again later this month when Pink Ladies are available at the orchard. Oh well, I guess I can wait until next year!
















Happy Fall,

State Fair Part 1: Food

Just some of the culinary delights on offer at the State Fair

 As a child one of the highlights of the year was going to the Tamworth Show (fair). Although the format of the show was similar each year it was exciting to see what was on offer. Part of the fun was seeing the demolition derbies, fireworks, crazy cars and clowns that entertained the crowds near the main grandstand. There were also the animals and seeing all of the different breeds of each animal and trying to guess which one got first place before seeing the ribbons. The midway was another exciting part of visiting the Show as it was the only time of the year many of us got to ride something more exciting than the swings or slide at the local park. However, one thing that was lacking at the Tamworth Show was the range of food choices that you can get at many American fairs. The most exotic food option at the Show was a corn dog.

Just some of the fried foods on sale at the state fair.

     I had not been to a state fair since moving to America and that was a little sad as I enjoyed it so much as a child. I bought tickets and convinced my wife and in-laws to come with me to the fair last year. We all had a blast and returned to the fair again this year. The fair is everything I remembered as a child with one notable exception: the menus at the food stalls.

  When it comes to food options the state fairs in America have dozens of choices. With every step it seems you will come across a new smell and another sign advertising new items for fair-goers to try. The signs are often big, bright and eye catching to draw customers in. For those who want something a little more standard there are plenty of hot dogs, burgers, fries, corn dogs, turkey legs and many more options on offer so there is something to suit all tastes. For those wanting something different there are plenty of deep fried foods to try. At one vendor they offered about a dozen different deep fried options including peanut butter and jelly sandwiches, Oreos,  Reese's peanut cups, snickers bars, pecan pie, Kool aid and macaroni and cheese. This was in addition to deep fried bloomin onions, ribbon fries and funnel cakes. I am sure they are all delicious but had I tried them all I would likely have gained 10 pounds and clogged many of my arteries. However, the fair only comes once a year and a few treats never hurt anyone.

Enjoying a deep fried Pecan Pie

Amanda's favorite deep fried treat is the fried Oreos. They place the cookies into a batter and then place them in a deep fryer and a few minutes later you have a delicous treat. The cookies are warm, soft and taste great as they have a mix of the chocolate from the cookie and the fried batter. I decided to try something different this year - the fried pecan pie. I am a huge fan of pecan pie and thought this would be worth a try. I was not dissapointed with my decision as the mixture of the batter along with the sweet taste of the pecan pie made a delicious treat. I ended up getting powdered sugar all over myself and probably consumed more calories than any person should in a day but it was worth it! Besides it's only once a year so it's not too bad. Next year I will try something different and see if it is as good as the pecan pie but fried foods be warned, the pecan pie was awesome and will be hard to beat!

     

His: Go Biscuits!

A few weeks ago I was sent to Alabama for 10 days for work. Part of this time was the Labor day weekend so I had 3 days to entertain myself. I was able to plan ahead for this and discovered that there were two minor league teams nearby and several disc golf courses. This essentially meant that I had plenty to do and wouldn't spend the whole weekend in a hotel room.

    The disc golf tour of Birmingham is another story and will likely be featured in a future post. This story is about me partaking in America's Favourite Pastime, Baseball. I strongly believe that no visit to America is complete without visiting a professional baseball game. No where else can you savour the experience of open air, sit with peanuts, hot dogs and a nice cold brew and listen to the crowd heckle the opposing team's batter. If you are looking to experience a true American pastime then a local baseball game is what you need. The major league games are an experience their own and should you get a chance to see one in person, I highly recommend it. The atmosphere can not be rivaled. However, the minor league games are still a great night out and are very affordable. A professional football or basketball ticket can set you back well over $100, but a good seat to a minor league game is no more than $10-12.

The Logo for the Montgomery Biscuits.
It's a little biscuit (which is what they call a
scone in Australia) with a pat of butter for a tongue

      There is a story behind why I chose to drive 80 miles (130km) to go watch a minor league game in Montogemery, AL. A few years ago during a quiet time at work, some workmates and I decided to look at up the strangest names in minor league baseball.  One of the team names that stuck out was the Montgomery Biscuits. I thought it was a cool name and would like to have seen a game but since it was 800 (1300km) miles from Virginia it was something that was never likely to happen. However, once I was sent to Birmingham for work I discovered that the Biscuits home field was just an hour away and they would be at home over Labor Day weekend. There was no question, I had to drive down to Montgomery and see the Biscuits in action.

Big Mo, the mascot for the Biscuits. 

     The field is built around an old railroad depot which is fairly unique. This alone was pretty cool plus it had an active railroad track just outside of the stadium so you could see trains go by during the game. Tickets were about $8-12 depending on where you chose to sit but I ended up getting tickets for free as a nice gentleman had some extras he wanted to give away. After entering the stadium I looked at the concession stands to see what I could have for dinner then headed to the team store (named the Biscuit Basket) to get some merchandise. The team had the coolest logo ever and I had to get a T-shirt if nothing else. I ended up with a T-shirt, fridge magnet, baseball and a coffee mug. Whoever in the marketing department came up with the idea of calling the team the Biscuits obviously knew they were on a good thing in regards to merchandise sales.

     Now that I had bought one of everything in the store it was time for dinner. The food at the stadium was actually well priced. They had a meal deal for $8.00 which included a entree, fries and a drink. This is by far the cheapest meal I have ever seen at a ballpark. The food was pretty tasty too. I went to find my seat and it was right behind home plate so I had a great view. Soon after I finished my dinner the game started and I found it hard not to laugh when the announcer called "and here are your Montgomery Biscuits!".

The Biscuit Bunch tossing buttered biscuits into the crowd.

    The game itself was quite entertaining as both teams played good baseball. The mid inning entertainment was just brilliant and quite varied to what I had seen at other parks. First up was the Biscuit's mascot Big Mo who is a creature who loves to eat biscuits. I am convinced that he is actually Mr Snuffleupagus' mutant cousin. The following inning was a baby race where two babies had to crawl along a sheet of plastic to win a prize. They also had various other contests which were cool but by far the most interesting thing was the biscuit toss. In many parks they toss T-shirts into the crowd but not here. They have a Biscuit toss where they toss buttered biscuits into the crowd but thankfully for the recipients they are wrapped. Having seen the biscuit toss I decided it was time to try a biscuit for myself. They sold them either buttered, strawberry shortcake or a chicken biscuit. I tried the chicken biscuits and they were tasty.

The first base side and the old railroad depot behind it.

The Biscuits ended up winning the game 10 runs to 4 and clinched the division title. There was a fireworks show and then it was time to head back to the car and start the journey back to Birmingham. I thought it was fitting that they played Sweet Home Alabama as the crowd left the stadium. As we left the management and office staff were at the gates and personally thanked everyone for attending, wished us safe travels and urged us to come back again. This was probably something they did after every game but something I thought was a nice touch and made me feel very welcome and a valued customer. I now understand the meaning of southern hospitality as well after being at the game as this does not happen at the games at home.

I am very glad that I decided to make the trip down to Montgomery for the game as it was one of the best baseball game experiences I had ever been to. I will return there again one day and take Amanda so she can watch the Biscuits. Thank you Montgomery for your hospitality and for the entertaining ball game. You definitely have gained another fan in Virginia!