Author Portrait: megan

Geocaching!

Posted on May 29, 2014 by megan

Maybe you’ve heard of the phenomenon geocaching—it’s traveled far and wide. It’s been mentioned in many publications (Mom devotes an entire page to it in her Glamping book). We went geocaching as a family for the first time last weekend. Who wouldn’t love a real-life treasure hunt for folks of all ages that’s based entirely on the honor system?

It starts with a map of your current location from the official Geocaching website.

Photo May 25, 3 26 29 PMSome best friends to help navigate are always handy. And hiking shoes for a cache in the woods are a good thing. Spiderman goulashes are also helpful.

Photo May 25, 3 28 15 PM

Off we went! Geocaching will give you actual coordinates for using a compass, and we’ll do that when we’re a bit older. We chose the GPS route this time and …

Photo May 25, 3 44 49 PM

On a wild goose chase we ventured!

Photo May 25, 3 45 24 PM

We searched high and low …

Photo May 25, 3 28 33 PM

while we worked together to find the treasure …

Photo May 25, 4 14 23 PM

And when we did, the kids could barely lift their bounty …

Photo May 25, 4 15 22 PM

But the score was definitely worth the three-mile trek. The master rule of Geocaching is that if you want a treasure, you must leave a treasure for the next person and ALWAYS sign the guest log! We hope someone likes the mini John Deere tractor my daughter traded for paddles and a ball.

Photo May 25, 4 52 25 PM

Geocaching is a wonderful adventure for family and friends. Thank you, Geocaching, for encouraging our kids to head outdoors. We’re hooked and can’t wait for our next adventure!

 

  1. Winnie Nielsen says:
    May 29, 2014 at 5:05 am

    What fun! I have never known anyone who actually did this together. It is a great way to learn compass skills and enjoy being outdoors. And who doesn’t love a treasure hunt?!

    Reply
  2. CJ Armstrong says:
    May 29, 2014 at 6:25 am

    My daughter has done this in the past. I personally have not, at least as it was called “geocaching”. But it would be a great family activity!
    Looks like the Rae family had a splendid time!
    CJ

    Reply
  3. Lisa A says:
    May 29, 2014 at 7:00 pm

    We’ve been geocaching for about 10 years and have almost 5000 caches! We’ve made friends and found out of the way sites that we would never have known about. It’s great exercise, getting out in the fresh air. I’m glad you enjoyed your experience!

    Reply

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Author Portrait: maryjane

Caution: Fun Ahead! Vintage Trailer Rally & Tasting

Posted on May 25, 2014 by maryjane

StrandedemailR 2014

Register online at CCSPA.info

Camp with us:
3 nights, 1 camper: $220

Ticket price includes a single spot for three nights, and the following for one camper:

  • three breakfasts
  • welcome happy hour on Thursday evening
  • beverages for camper potluck/s’mores cookoff on Friday night
  • BBQ lunch on Saturday
  • wine-tasting event on Saturday night

 

  1. Winnie Nielsen says:
    May 25, 2014 at 4:48 am

    Wow, that photo of the ocean view is stunning. This sounds like a fabulous weekend for a very reasonable price. I can just imagine how fun and festive all those trailers are going to look decked out in their 1950s finest too. Plus, it would be fun to put together some outfits from the 50s to wear all weekend just to give it the real feel. I remember all the moms in the 1950s wore “house dresses”, including my mom. They always had big pockets too. I wonder if they left these at home in favor of fashionable “pedal pushers”? We never did camping except with the Girl Scouts and then the leaders always wore official GS attire.

    Reply
  2. CJ Armstrong says:
    May 25, 2014 at 5:58 am

    Boy, wish I could! Love that part of the world. My hubby, daughter and I were in that area a few years ago, camping at San Simeon State Park, visiting San Luis Obispo and other attractions. It was a great trip! Someday we’ll make it back there!
    CJ

    Reply

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Author Portrait: maryjane

photo-of-the-day

Posted on May 24, 2014 by maryjane

farm_romance-2648

  1. Winnie Nielsen says:
    May 24, 2014 at 4:47 am

    What a way to start my day; viewing all these photos of the day!

    Reply

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Author Portrait: maryjane

photo-of-the-day

Posted on May 23, 2014 by maryjane

farm_romance-2684

  1. Winnie Nielsen says:
    May 23, 2014 at 4:35 am

    Is somebody great with calf? Or just well nourished on that beautiful green grass? Don’t you love the airplane ears? My kitty can do the same thing and I think it is so cute!

    Reply
    • MaryJane says:
      May 23, 2014 at 5:12 am

      Just well nourished. This gal doesn’t put any weight on her hip bones, just her stomach. She does look pregnant in this photo but she isn’t.

      Reply
  2. LISA VONSAUNDER- seed woman says:
    May 23, 2014 at 5:47 am

    She isn’t a cow-ardly animal at all, not spooked by those blackbirds.

    Reply

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Author Portrait: maryjane

photo-of-the-day

Posted on May 20, 2014 by maryjane

farm_romance-2095

  1. Winnie Nielsen says:
    May 20, 2014 at 4:52 am

    Another beautiful flower I have never seen. The deep pink/red colors are so beautiful against the yellow stamens.

    Reply
  2. Deborah McKissic says:
    May 20, 2014 at 6:09 am

    This columbine is just beautiful! I have columbines in my garden…from my grandmother’s garden..they are purple and some double pink ones…I just so enjoy them in the spring when they bloom! I love the colors of this red/pink one with the yellow! My mom has some that are all yellow..they are a great addition to the perennial garden…now, off to weed some in my gardens..the rain is coming in so it might be time to transplant some tomato plants from my tiny greennhouse and out to the garden today….

    Reply
    • MaryJane says:
      May 20, 2014 at 6:15 am

      Enjoy your garden and your columbines!

      Reply
      • Deborah McKissic says:
        May 20, 2014 at 6:34 am

        Thanks, Mary Jane! Enjoy your day there and your farm animals, fields and gardens…oh…I want chickens so bad..maybe a cow or two…I need to move…we have farmland all around us..but those farms were “grandfathered” in years ago..so, off I go to buy eggs from the farmer out behind me..and, gaze at his cows…and, dream! Then, home to plant those tomatoes!

        Reply
        • MaryJane says:
          May 20, 2014 at 6:54 am

          The antics of our chickens provide us with constant entertainment-our version of reality TV. Can’t you have just two chickens? There are so many cute homes for sale now for just two chickens.

          Reply
          • Deborah McKissic says:
            May 20, 2014 at 7:28 am

            I wish I could have one chicken! I bought books and read up all about raising chickens and then asked our borough..even our borough manager said for years he has wanted chickens…I could have got them and no one would have known till I was turned in and had to pay fines…oh, my..can you believe it? In the city you can have chickens! Even the lady from rent the chicken.com tried to help me and suggested fighting the ordinance…I am not a fighter..so, I might have to be a mover…I really like my little cape cod house and cottage gardens, though…years of raising my family and grandkids here…I guess I will have to stick to “farm gazing” out back to my neighbor farmer…

  3. Debbie Fischer says:
    May 20, 2014 at 6:57 am

    So happy to see that so many farmgirls in other states are growing our state flower the Columbine. We as Coloradans love their many colors and delicate flowers. In the Pikes Peak Mountains there are fields of them and they are a sight to see, all the vibrant colors.
    Thank you Mary Jane for sharing my State Flower with everyone.

    Reply
  4. Karlyne says:
    May 20, 2014 at 9:32 am

    This color of Columbine I do recognise! Gorgeous!

    Reply

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Author Portrait: maryjane

It’s a …

Posted on May 20, 2014 by maryjane

Several of you asked WHAT the variety of flower was featured as our photo-of-the-day on May 18, 2014. Well, it’s in my perennial flower garden and it’s a …

columbine_2099 columbine. columbine_2293

  1. Winnie Nielsen says:
    May 20, 2014 at 5:00 am

    I have heard of these flowers but have never seen them that I know of. What a delicate and colorful garden addition to enjoy!

    Reply
  2. Debbie Fischer says:
    May 20, 2014 at 6:51 am

    The beautiful Columbine, Colorado’s State Flowers, a sight to see in the Mountains of Colorado when they are all in full bloom in their many colors. What a beautiful flower to have for my state flower.

    Reply
  3. Karlyne says:
    May 20, 2014 at 7:36 am

    From the slightly fuzzy look of the flower, I thought it was a type of mountain bluebell. I’ve never seen a blue Columbine! How pretty!

    Reply
  4. CJ Armstrong says:
    May 20, 2014 at 7:50 am

    It’s not like the Colorado columbines that grow wild in our mountains. And it’s not like any that I have planted in my yard. It is GORGEOUS!! What variety is it?
    CJ

    Reply
    • MaryJane says:
      May 20, 2014 at 8:52 am

      Variety? Now where did I put those garden notes? I do have it written down and will find it when I have more than two shakes of a lamb’s tail. Or two swats of a cow’s tail.

      Reply
  5. Terry Steinmetz says:
    May 20, 2014 at 8:50 am

    Thanks MaryJane. I have seen them in the U.P., but farther north of us.

    Reply

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