Family Vacation Part II: Creation Museum

Rather than drive straight to Georgia, we planned to break up the trip into manageable chunks to allow ample time for nursing/eating/potty breaks and visiting attractions along the way.  Our first stop was the Creation Museum, a family favorite near Cincinnati.  Click here to read all about one of our past “field trips” and see plenty of pictures of this awesome museum.

We only had a few hours to spend during this visit, and the most popular attraction for us was the Lucy exhibit, a stunning display utilizing holographic technology.  This revered “missing link” is demonstrated to not be quite the lady many seem to think she is, and I highly recommend this Answers in Genesis article if you would like to read more about this. 

In the new museum exhibit, a number of Lucy heads have been created, cast from the same mold. Each head, however, is given different skin and eye coloration, as well as variations in the amount and color of hair. This was done to demonstrate how significant artistic license can be employed by researchers in interpreting what Lucy resembled as they “put flesh to the bones” of the creature. There simply isn’t enough information found in the fossil bones for anyone to determine what Lucy looked like.

The kids had fun aligning themselves with the “Lucy heads,” making for some unique reflections, as you can see.

Scary, huh?

Elisabeth had also been hoping for a camel ride this trip since she’s a little older and less intimidated, but Mr. Camel was not giving rides on the day we visited, and we ended up not having time for the museum’s petting zoo at all.  She had to settle for a perch atop the ever-popular triceratops instead.

There is a lot to see here, folks—all state of the art.  As always, I highly recommend a visit.  No matter which side of the debate you’re on, you’ll come away with a lot to think about.

Blackberry the Mouse . . . by Hannah, 7

If you do not know about our mice, then I recommend you first read my other mice post. 

Unfortunately, Spot got a tumor and died, so we wanted to find another mouse so Nibbles wouldn’t be lonely.  We went to a pet store that had different colors of mice.  We wanted a boy mouse, so we could have baby mice.  We held some to make sure they didn’t bite.  We checked a black one, because some others were too jumpy.  There was also a gray one, but when I held it it bit me very hard.  The black one nibbled Mom a bit, but not very hard, so we got it.

All the way home Nathan, Caleb, Joseph, and even Elisabeth were giving me suggestions on a name.  I had wanted to name it Spot, but it didn’t have spots.  Mom helped me too, and suggested that I think of something black.  I tried, but I couldn’t think of anything but trash bags and garbage cans.  We wouldn’t want to name it that, would we? 

So I kept thinking.  Finally I thought of Blackberry.  Mom liked it, and Caleb said it was a good name.  So, Blackberry it was.  When we got home, we put Blackberry in with Nibbles, but they didn’t like each other at all.

They nipped and squealed and fought for a few days, but they like each other now!  We played with them today too, and Blackberry didn’t bite!  A man at the pet store said that if you have just finished eating, and you hold mice, then if they smell the food they might bite you.  When we were holding the mice at the store, we had just finished eating Chick-fil-A, and so that is probably why they bit.

No More Guinea!

Perhaps I’m speaking too soon, but our guinea problem has gone away.

Yesterday, when Mr. Guinea showed up at 7:03 a.m. with his obnoxious clamor, Nathan went out and chased him away, as usual (minus the rebel yell, since it was early.)

Then something  w o n d e r f u l  happened.  He never came back!  Not Nathan (for that would have been terrible!)  The guinea!  The guinea did not return ALL DAY.  I’m not sure how to explain our peaceful turn of events, but we’re smiling here.

It is now 7:38 a.m., and still no guinea.  He is always here by now.  I think he decided to go make some new friends since we were not so, er, friendly.

Ahh, looking forward to another peaceful day.

 

Pesky Guinea

Yesterday we noticed a lone guinea wandering about our yard, seemingly attracted to our chickens.  I didn’t think much of it but was perhaps a little hopeful, since I’d occasionally thought of getting a few guinea keets on Craig’s List.  Guineas are supposed to be fantastic for bug-control.  I had heard they could be a little noisy, and then in a sudden moment, experience confirmed that fact and taught me two things.  1) “A little noisy” is a serious understatement and 2) I am no longer interested in owning guineas.  Ever.

After spending much of that afternoon and evening with us, he paid us another visit early this morning, and I could not believe the intensity of his call, even though he was way out at the chicken coop, perched atop the run.  I must say, it’s an interesting way to wake up.

In my half-dazed state, I kept wondering what that incessant and obnoxious screeching, scratching, scraping, machine gun noise was, and then it dawned on me that our feathered friend fiend had returned.  A short time later, as Hannah reluctantly roused from sleep, she kept pleading, “Pleeeease stop that scraping sound,” thinking it was one of us making some very inconsiderate noises too early in the morning.

Guinea vocalizations are unbelievably LOUD as they reverberate through the neighborhood.  If you’ve never heard guinea fowl, watch the following video.  In order to get the full effect, you’ll have to turn up your volume as high as it will possibly go and place one ear directly against the speaker as you click “play.”  This is what it sounds like if there’s a guinea in your back yard waking you up in the morning.  And one guinea calling is only slightly less annoying than a whole flock of them you hear on the video.

See what I mean?

This guinea refuses to be thwarted.  Every time he came to call today (I lost count), the kids would dash outside, grab a big stick, holler the rebel yell and chase him as fast as they could to scare him away into the woods, but that would only last a short while until he returned.  Still, it was a fun show.  I’m sure the neighbors thought so too.

I read online that guineas do not like to be alone.  So I’m wondering how this one has come to be alone, and I assume he likes the birdly companionship he finds out at the chicken coop, as he looks down on our chickens through the deer netting atop the run.

The chickens to not share his affection, however—particularly our rooster.  At first they were understandably rattled by this newcomer, especially during his raucous greetings.  After several visits, they seemed to be rather nervously resigned to his presence (as were we).  And now they’re a bit more comfortable with him around, although still cautious.

I wouldn’t mind him staying if he could simply be quiet (especially in the morning), but guineas apparently don’t speak that language.  Does anyone have a brilliant idea of enticing him away?  Our neighbors down the road have chickens too; why can’t he go stay there?  We can’t catch him and don’t want to shoot him (in case we find out he belongs to someone around here.)

So bring on your best ideas and/or off-the-wall advice!  Any guinea experts out there?  We need some help!

Linked to Homestead Barn Hop

Family Farm Field Day . . . by Hannah, 7

We had a fun, exciting day today.  We went to this Family Farm Field Day thing run by a group of Amish people.

There were a bunch of tents and there was a homemaker tent, a children’s tent, a farmstead tent, and many more.  In the homemaker tent, a person talked about vegetables, food, soap making, growing berries, etc.

In the children’s tent, the Akron zoo was showing tarantulas, even a llama, snake skins, raccoon skins, skunk skins, etc.  There was also an incubator with about 18 hatching chicks, Indian arrowheads, a hay bale maze leading out of it, and even a treasure garden where there was a “garden” with candy, pens, toy fans, etc. where you throw 3 rings for a quarter, and whatever the rings land on (if they land on anything) you get to keep.  I was the only one who wanted to do it, and I got 1 pen.

In the farmstead tent they talked about cutting up beef, composting, and just farm stuff.

There were so many Amish people you could barely spot people that weren’t Amish.

There was also a tent that you could eat in.  We ate in it.

Yum, yum, yum. Mommy's homemade sandwiches.

Look kind of Amish with those hats, don't you think? (But Amish don't like having their pictures taken.)

Then we walked around, went into the children’s tent again, “milked” a giant plastic cow, and made our legs tired.

Just a plain tent where people sell stuff.

And it was all free!  (Except for the ring-throwing.)  Free is the best price, is it not?

Sir Francis Drake . . . by Hannah, 7

Mr. Duck is so pretty!  Yes, I said duck!  He’s so pretty as he waddles around, and especially when he swims!  By the way, he’s a Mallard, the kind with a green head.  I don’t know how anyone would want to give him to someone, especially for free!

Beautiful!  Don’t you think so?

The van was full of commotion on our way home.  We kept arguing over what its name should be.  John!  No, I want Jonah!  William!  Green Beauty!  Elisabeth even cried because she wanted Nathan and we said no.  Leonard!  Jeremiah!  No, I like Francis, Short for Sir—no, Beauty!  Green Neck!  Finally, we all decided on Francis, short for Sir Francis Drake, because he’s a drake.  Get it?  Hahahaha!  (by the way, a drake is a male duck)

getting that duck for free is a really good deal!

By the way, do you even know who Sir Francis Drake was?  He was the first Englishman to sail around the world, a privateer, and a knight.

Mini Vacation

We just returned home this afternoon, after several days away visiting friends as well as touring the Creation Museum and the National Museum of the U.S. Air Force.  What a busy, wonderful time we had.

I plan on posting some specifics about the two museums on my field trip blog next week, but here is a quick recap in pictures.

Craig's List scores again!

The day before we left, we realized that stuffing the van with the stroller, coolers of food, and clothes and bedding for the family (not to mention the family itself) was going to be a challenge, if not an impossibility.  A quick search on Craig’s List revealed a bargain on a rooftop carrier, which gave us all a bit more breathing room. Yeah!

Excitement filled the air as we loaded up for our road trip adventure.

Three-and-a-half hours of airplanes, and Elisabeth was tuckered out.

So was Joseph. Good thing he found a buddy to carry him for awhile.

I had lots of girl snuggles in the hotel room. Ever sleep in a lumpy roll-away bed with a 3 yr old who flops like a fish out of water and a 7 yr old who talks in her sleep? Me neither!!!

Camels and dinosaurs are among the many attractions at the Creation Museum.

We had a great time, and even the van ride was pleasant and peaceful . . . well, mostly.  We would have loved to stay longer, but it’s always good to be home.

Saturday Snapshots

Here’s the young painted turtle Nathan found near the back patio.  We enjoyed it for the afternoon, then later gave it a safe escort across the road to our neighbor’s pond.

Our “chicks” at nearly 7 weeks of age.  Yes, really—they’re that big already.

Sweet Elisabeth modeling her newly embellished hat.  You guessed it—Sublime Stitching again.

Mice! . . . by Hannah, 7

You may wonder why we have guinea pigs and mice, but that is not how it is.  (If you have not read my other post named “Guinea Pigs”, click on it to see some pictures of them.)

We had to give away the guinea pigs because of allergies to them.  So mom was looking on Craig’s List to see if she could find any other small, fun, free pet.  The mice are so cute and fun!

One is named Spot and the other is named Nibbles.  They have a little wheel that they can run on.  It is so cute to watch them!

Nibbles is such a curious little girl!  (They are both girls.)  Whenever you hold her, she either wants to crawl on your arm or wiggle loose and take a jump to freedom.

Spot is more shy.  Whenever you try to hold her, she just squeaks and runs until you corner her.  Then when you catch her, she doesn’t move.  Here are some pictures.

Hannah holding Spot

Hannah holding Nibbles, with Elisabeth waiting her turn

10 Best Pictures of 2010 . . . by Nathan, 12

To say goodbye to 2010, I thought I’d show you some of the best (in my opinion) pictures from last year.  I don’t believe any of these are already on the blog; I tried to pick new ones.  So here they are:

Caleb took this one at our old house.

We just had to get a picture of this one, after how long it took to build.

I actually don't remember this, but that's what's nice about cameras - they can bring back memories.

We took this one specifically for the blog. Hope you like it!

Genesis 1:14-19

We can never eat an apple without this little one wanting a bite!

Isn't he so cute?

Mom took this great picture while Dad was pulling us around in the trailer.

We're having a delicious homemade Italian dinner tonight!

This giant snow heap was at least ten feet long. We never did make it to the other side!

Well, there ya go – great memories from January to December!