Friends

       Lately, the weather here has been vary variable.   Last Tuesday there was a "tornado watch" where the employees at Randy's work were sent to the bathroom (the most fortified room in a building) as there was spotted a tornado system which had not landed but was around the airport.    Sirens went off in our neighborhood and a "funny" noise vibrated down the pipes in the bathrooms.    Never having been in a tornado watch system, we did not catch some of the signs that a very active system was probably passing by and we should have barricaded ourselves into the closet for the duration of the immediate threat.
When we did not have tornado watch systems passing by, we had rain.   We are from Oregon, but never have we seen the water fall with the rate and force that we saw last week.   Instantly the ditches and drainage systems were filled and potholes formed on the roads.   Some were able to fit an entire tire in them.
      Needless to say, the parks were flooded again.    We could not go outside and even look for friends so the cardboard castle was the site of much activity.   Renewed interest in the little princesses and stuffed animals and the adventures to be had were happening all over our living room.   When the rains lifted and the parks were relatively dry, the animals continued the adventures.   Mango, the little flat monkey, had the best time at the park swinging from the "monkey bars".   He also enjoyed the slide and riding in pockets or shirts as Sabrina played on everything.    Yesterday, George the giraffe made the park trip.   There was actually another little girl at the park and it was nice to see that Sabrina was willing to share George with the little girl. This was HUGE as George is one of her most loved animals.   However, Sabrina is grasping in little steps that people are to be cherished more than things.

Sabrina, Mango and Big Dog!

Birthday weekend

After a long week of bad weather and sickness, Friday finally arrived.   This day we had to get out of the apartment, even if it was still raining.   Earlier in the week we had experienced rain, puddles and cold weather.   The monsoon rain has been so strong that it takes a couple of days to dry up the playgrounds so that Sabrina could slide and land on earth instead of a lake.   This concept is hard for young girl to understand.   The one day we actually had some sunshine, she had been sick with a fever.   So, when Friday arrived we went to explore new territory in Savannah.   Our destination:  The Old Pink House Restaurant.   Not exactly the playground Sabrina wanted to go to but it was the nice restaurant we wanted to go to celebrate Julie's birthday.   We were not disappointed with what Randy calls, "THE best shrimp and grits he ever had!"   After lunch, we had a tour of this grand old house.

From the exterior it looks like a basic four room old house.   However, after enclosing porches and adding on the back, this house has turned into a grand place for entertaining.   The old house was originally owned by a Habersham who signed the Declaration of Independence.   The guide told us is is rumored that the historic document was discussed and possibly signed in the room that was once the covered porch of the house.  The front rooms held the portraits of Habersham, Oglethorpe and other historic figures on the walls.   The front right of the house had been converted into a bank at one point in history.   Our lunch table was positioned right in front of the old bank vault!   At some point, the house fell into decay but was purchased and restored to its historical period and now is home to a fine restaurant.    Additions in the back of a ballroom and the piano bar downstairs and the dining table in the cellar give the house some modern touches but don't lose the feel of the historic gem that it is.  
We wanted to take Sabrina to the park, but the monsoon weather continued through Saturday.   To our surprise all clouds moved on and Sunday was clear and warm.   The ideal park day, so to Sabrina's delight we took a special trip downtown to Forsythe Park where she played for almost two hours!

Curvy monkey bars.

Swinging so high Mom can't watch.

Climbing up via climbing wall or other methods and sliding down as fast as possible.

Up to slide!

The curvy bars are a great but do-able challenge!

February 2013

A few strides towards benchmarks in growing up were noted this month.   As most three year olds, Sabrina is not alone when she declares, "I do it by myself!"  With this determination she has taught herself how to do flips off the bar on her trampoline, climbs rock walls, attempts the monkey bars and her latest task:  brushing her teeth.   There must be some power in squeezing the tube of toothpaste and directing it in her mouth over her teeth.   Also, there must be power in selecting clothing and putting on tights and shoes.   The other satisfaction she has received on her own is the ability to identify letters everywhere!    She sees her name and spells it out loud.    She even is reading short books from school.   We are working on identifying "the" in every day library books.   Her favorite library book has to do with lady bugs who are learning to fly.   She must see herself in the character who has to keep trying over and over again to actually fly.

Brushing her teeth.

Sitting in her nest on the floor soaking in the sunshine.

Smile!

Posing for the camera.

Waiting patiently.

Ferry Tour Across Savannah River

Saturday, we discovered a free ferry down on Rivers Street.   This ferry picks up right in front of the visitor center and takes passengers across the river to the event center and hotels.   We discovered the hotels have some nice restaurants in them in which at least one has outside seating.   The view from these hotels is of the river front of Savannah.   Also, in our sights was the cable bridge which looks like a mini Arthur Ravenal Bridge (Charleston area).
At the end of the day, we had had a nice walk downtown and Sabrina loved the boat ride which had the added attraction of splashing water she could see through the holes in the railings.  

Dr. Dolittle Jr.

This week has been one where we have had more contact with the animal world than with humans outside our family.   At the park, Sabrina befriended a ladybug.   She literally played with this ladybug on the slide and rock wall.   The ladybug would fly off and land.   Then it (or perhaps another--not sure how to tell them apart) would land on her hand or head.   This would happen over and over for fifteen minutes or so.
The next time to the park, Sabrina looked for the ladybug but only found a spider. 
To her delight on an evening walk to feed Wilbur the duck, she met Baquera (a black cat resembling the black panther from Kipling's Jungle Book).   For about an hour, this black cat enticed Sabrina and allowed her to pet him.   He even let her carefully hold him.   This memory we are told about in statements like, "I am so strong.   I can hold kitties!"
This afternoon, she met a new friend while visiting Wilbur.   He was a fledgling goose.   Young enough to not attack and friendly enough to allow us to feed him.   Wilbur, however, was not sure he liked competition while bread crumbs were being delivered and chanced him away until all food was consumed.    To the joy of Sabrina, the goose returned and watched us from a safe distance.   Now to name him.  
All these animal skills in Sabrina parallel the ability and confidence Julie's Grandma Agnes had with animals.   Grandma Agnes felt animals sensed confidence and being friendly and really did not meet a dog or cat that would not come for a petting.    She grew up on a homestead with the animals in the barn, out in the field or under the house as her main companions.

Farmer Brown

Somehow unbeknown to us our after dinner ritual of playing card games or doing puzzles was altered.   While the dishes were still being washed Farmer Brown (aka Sabrina) decided she needed to ride cow (Randy) around the living room.   She was giving him orders and then feeding him and checking his teeth.    Soon horse (Julie) was ordered to saddle up for the rides.   Horse was ordered not to neigh because it is suppose to be quiet here (probably repeating what has been said to her about apartment living).   
Horse and cow were ordered to take naps.   Farmer Brown even gave them pillows and blankets.   Next to cow, she curled up and pretended to sleep for the evening.   In the morning she ordered cow and horse to stand up and then she fed them pizza.    Water was provided to wash the pizza down.   Cow and horse had a hard time not laughing at the entire cuteness of Farmer Brown.   
Oh what a great farm to be living on!

Cardboard Castle

Friday a dryer box was donated to us by the apartment complex.   Immediately, the construction of Rapunzel's house (castle) started!

Windows of different shapes were cut.   The large circular window is Sabrina's favorite.

On top of the new addition is the previous constructed castle for the Disney princesses.   The small penthouse castle can be taken down to be played with or stored for the big castle feel.

Some decorating has started with crayons and stickers.   We hope to continue adding to the exterior and making it look less like a dryer box and more castle like.

Emergency Alert System

Last night while we were watching a documentary, an emergency alert announcement came on the television for tornadoes in our county.   I had no idea the bad weather was moving into Georgia.   However, the perfect conditions for tornadoes are happening all over the South.   We have had warmer weather:  70s to 80.   With the colder fronts moving in from the North, the perfect conditions have been in place for tornadoes! 
To be honest, being able to identify potentially hazardous weather is new to us.   Yesterday, we went strolling in high winds to a park and played for about an hour and then strolled back.    To our horror, this was about the same time trucks and cars were being turned over just a little northwest of us!   Yikes!
Can't wait for Comcast to reinstate the Weather Channel so we actually have an idea of the day's forecast!  

"I am mad I put the top up my nose"

Normally bath time is a fun time for Sabrina.   She loves playing with her little plastic fish and her little mermaid collection.   Today's fun time was interrupted by a high pitched cry and a plea to "get it out".   She had taken Ariel's bikini top and put it up her nostil where it got stuck.   Try as we could to see the purple plastic small part, it was up too far.   (probably pushed farther by Sabrina's finger trying to get it out).    After a couple of hours of monitoring, trying to blow it out, propping Sabrina up with pillows and praying that gravity would remove the top, we ventured to Urgent Care to have it removed professionally.
We could tell that the nose item was painful as she sat quietly most of the two hour wait patiently looking at a Hidden Picture magazine.   When the doctor finally appeared to look at Sabrina's nose, Sabrina was super cooperative and told the doctor everything about the mistake of putting the top in her nose.    Thankfully, the doctor was able to see the top and remove it with little problem.   Sabrina was super brave and still for the extraction.   On the way home in the car she announced, "I am mad I put the top up my nose."   This was followed by a conversation how nothing will ever go up her nose again.    We can hope!

Muscak

In our household, "music" is pronounced "muscak" by our smallest member of the family.   She loves it and has been playing her cds and singing her songs.   Randomly, she will make up rhymes and songs for everything events such as driving Dad to work and feeling hungry.   My favorite made up song had to do with spiders in their webs, butterflies fluttering and a dog.   Random but very cute!

Another funny saying lately was when she all of a sudden had letter awareness.   She announced at the park, "Mom, letters are everywhere!"    She knows her alphabet and identifies letters in everyday settings.    The park equipment is stamped with "GAME TIME" and Sabrina reads all the letters before advancing to the next step on a suspended ladder.   What a fun stage to see how reading and singing are developing!

Refueling Weekend

Last week our entire household was fighting a cold or allergies (maybe a little of both?).    The pollen has beenvisible as sheets of bright yellow on cars, sidewalks or parking lots.    All three of us wake up and sneeze for a good hour before going on with our day.    That with being tired tricked us into thinking we were sick when in reality, it was most likely our reaction to unknown pollens.
Towards the weekend, we decided to trek up the freeway to see our old community and friends in Daniel Island.  Saturday night felt a little bit like Christmas with the anticipation of seeing friends and going to our old church.   We had a hard time sleeping as we knew we needed to get up at 5am in order to prepare for our 7am departure time.  
At 9am we arrived just in time for the service.   Oh, how it was so nice to be surrounded by friends and sing songs in the contempory service!    The music leader played his guitar and sang with the other singers to bring the congregation to a level of worship that was refreshing and soul searching.   Words really can't describe the experience.    Truly an uplifting experience!
Hugs, laughter, reconnection with people we haven't seen in a couple of years was just fabulous!  (Sabrina loved meeting some of her old baby friends and ran around with them after church.   We also met a new  9 month old boy for the first time!)    We felt blessed, refreshed and so encouraged by our day's journey.   We hope to go up there again and have friends come visit us soon.   Next time we will remember our camera!

Hygiene- Amazing changes

A few weekends  ago we went to Fort Pulaski and saw a demonstration of a rifle firing.  The soldier talked about the importance of soldiers to have at least two front teeth.   These teeth were needed to tear open the powder packets for loading the guns.    Each soldier was issued a little bag and some carried a toothbrush (which was a new invention and often shared by groups of men),  a mirror (shared by many men), soap, and other small items.   Only the bag was part of the uniform.  The men had to purchased the contents.  
When we see these demonstrations, it really makes us thankful for the cleaning products we all have now.   I never would have thought about sharing my toothbrush with several people.    The soldier did not talk about toothpaste.   We will have to look up when it was invented.

Tom Triplet Park

This bar was intended for hopping over.   Sabrina thought it would be great for scooting up!

Another activity is hanging by knees.

Fun hanging upside down.

 

Saturday our park outing was to a nice recreational park named Tom Triplet Park.   Around a lake there is a walking/ running track where aerobic exercise is easy and scenic.   Along the perimeter of the path are strengthening stations for sit-ups, pull-ups, leg lifts, jumps, push-ups.   Sabrina liked these stations but usually would put her own twist on the activity.

Wildlife Park

 

Friday we decided to go to a wildlife park southeast of Savannah.   The park had extensive walking trails with a variety of animals.   The interesting point from the park is that it was owned by the school district and had many stations for learning.    It was easy to see how hands on learning would take place here at this park.  The ecosystems would come to life for the students.  

Cranes.

These bobcats were inerested in us.   The photos don't show how beautiful these cats are.   We liked talking with Sabrina about the markings and how they hid (camoflaged) themselves in the surroundings.

Red Fox.

There were three red foxes with their beautiful coats.

These two bald eagles were some of the birds of prey that we saw.   Others were falcons, owls,and red tailed hawks.

One of the best encounters was in the Grey Wolf exhibit.   Unlike the other exhibits, the wolves could come right on the other side of thick glass.   This pack consisted of five wolves and they were majestic!  Inside the wolf viewing room were aquariums with snakes.   These snakes were common to Georgia and were not poisonous.   One bright green snake looked just like a blade of grass and we watched him digest a cricket.   Sabrina found this fascinating.

The Animal Hospital

When we packed in Oregon, we decided to pack Sabrina's stroller for longer walks.   It has proven to be a useful tool the last couple of weekends as we have walked long distances.   Sabrina likes to walk but gets tired and needs breaks and the stroller provides her a break and keeps our arms fresh and backs strong.    Yesterday, Sabrina and Julie went on a long three mile walk around our neighborhood which included a stop at the park.   
On returning home, the stoller was parked in Sabrina's room where it stays.   Soon it was turned into an animal hospital for big dog and frog.   Big dog (her stuffed pillow) has been sick for a couple of mornings and had been resting in a clinic (her closet floor) which a bathrobe on him.   Sabrina decided it would be better to recline the stroller seat and give him a larger resting space off the ground.   That way also she could nurse him back to health and wheel him around the bedroom.

Random photos from Bonadventure Cemetery

These photos are of the artwork and statues in the cemetery.   The oaks with the Spanish Moss also added a nice softness to this calming environment.

This angel's shell bowl was full of rose pedals.

Reminded us of the Washington Monument in Washington, D.C.

Two built in benches in this family area.

The Aiken name was famous in Charleston and we wondered how these people may be related.

Bonadventure Cemetery

As with many places in Savannah and in the South in general,  the cemeteries are rumored to be haunted.   Bonadenture Cemetery most recently became famous from the story of Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil as it was where the voodoo was practiced for Jim Mercer.   The statue of the bird girl is now in an art museum and a copy greets visitors in the information center at the museum. 

Sabrina looking into a family plot.  

Spanish-American War Veterans

Several graves had ferns or Palmetto trees buried at the headston.

Gracie has a fence protecting her now.

Partly out of curiousity and partly from recommmendation from a website, we decided to take a family walk through the cemetery to see the old graves.   We were pleasantly surprised with the ornately decorated statues and memorials to people who once lived in the area.   One of the most famous memorials is Gracie, a life size statue of the little six year old who died of pneumonia.  Her parents ran the hotel in Savannah and Gracie was a gregarious little girl who unfortunately contracted pneomonia before there was a cure.   It is a reminder to us how life is so frail and how far medical practices have come.