Blog candy: US residents & claimed within 3 days. If you ever have any questions please email at susanslomski@yahoo.com. Thank you for visiting

Wednesday, September 24, 2014

Children's Museum in West Hartford

On 9/17 I took Damien to the Children's Museum in West Hartford. It not only had things to do but a planetarium, animals, butterflies, and of course it had all kinds of reptiles. Taking him here was a learning experience for both him and me. I learned things about him I never realized. For example:

In certain parts of the museum it is dark, not pitch black but dark (like where the nocturnal animals are kept) and the first thing I learned was Damien was afraid of the dark. We were going to go to the planetarium movie (about a cat in space for preschoolers) but obviously that wouldn't work out since they turn the lights off to show the movie and stars and things. So we skipped it and just did the museum.

This picture was taken on our way out, not in because even though the dinosaurs in the background are statues and the smaller one is only maybe 5' tall, he was terrified of them. It took me over an hour just to get him this close. (Of course I had help by a 'whale' of a friend which you will see later). So going to Dinosaur State Park is out of the question, their dinosaurs are 20' high and more.


His favorite toy was this over sized Lite-Bright type toy and.....


this simple wavy rail against the wall of the ramp down to the next level. You put the ball (in his hand) on the ramp at the top and watch it 'roll' all the way to the bottom where it lands in that red basket.

 I can see where he'd like the top toy since he likes lights but there was a race track with cars and you did races.....I fingered for sure he'd love that and we would be there all day racing. Nope, he liked this better.

He loved the fish tank and his favorite animals were these foxes, not the ferret or bunny.

He was afraid of the lizards and snakes.

This whale is huge yet he isn't afraid of it but was afraid of the small dinosaurs so size don't matter.....it is the shape/look. The dinosaurs must look lizard-like to him so he is afraid of them.

I used this whale to show him it wasn't real and a sort of statue which is how I got him to stop being so terrified of the dinosaurs in the first picture. He liked this whale which he kept calling a "fish".
We had a nice time there but I was glad when he wanted to leave. It was a lot of walking. We both came home and took a nap.

Monday, September 22, 2014

Hummingbird Don't Fly Away!

Every year I set out my feeders and I am entertained by Hummingbirds. They have been here for a few years now and I so enjoy taking my coffee on the back deck and watching them. It is to the point now that we have to be careful because they try and land on us or fly by so close and quick if we take a step in the wrong direction we could end up in a crash.

I haven't seen the male hummingbird in a couple of weeks, I wonder if he left already to fly south. I have the three (or more) females still here but I know the days are short. They too will be leaving. I know I have spring and can look forward to seeing them again but it is so sad to think of all the days in between when I don't see my beautiful,  feathered friends.


Good thing I caught this picture on Monday. Tuesday, first day of autumn, they took flight south.

I will be waiting for your return!!!

Sunday, September 21, 2014

Damien takes his First Train Ride!

Damien has never been on a train, in fact, he hasn't even seen a real one up close so on Tuesday 9/16 we went to Thomaston and took a scenic 1.25 hour train ride on the Naugatuck Railroad in the rain.


When we arrived the train wasn't there but it wasn't long until it came.


Damien seemed a little unsure of this.

 

A little nervous when the train started to move so he hung on tight.


It didn't take long until he realized what it was all about and relaxed.


 The view was pretty in parts, even in the rain. 


 Damien stayed glued to the window for a long time.



We even had snack on the train.


He even got up, walked around, pulled me to take him outside of the train in back. We stood there for a long time but he just got too heavy (I had to hold him, too dangerous to let him stand as he could fit between the bars on the railing and fall onto the track) so we went back inside to our seats. It wasn't long after that the station came into view.


Someone knows where he is!


It was a fantastic time for both of us! Once we got off we went to the back where another train was.
Notice he sure wasn't nervous any longer....he ran right over to it and tried to go up the stairs.


He liked being on top of the train like he was driving it. 


It was a long train (don't move) and what was even better is when they opened one of the cars so Damien could go in and look around. I found it really interesting and Damien had to check out what was behind every door in there, not once, not twice, but like three times. Like if he shut the door and opened it again something different would be in there. Naturally that never happened but he had a great time doing it. 


It was a long day for both of us so when he was done checking the train out, we went home.

Friday, September 12, 2014

Lighthouse for Ben

Ben's Wheeler would have been 8 years old on September 12. Unfortunately his life was cut short because while attending school in Sandy Hook someone came in and shot him along with 19 other children and 6 adults. They all died. We remember Ben, a young boy who was in love with lighthouses so on September 12 people from all over the world put out either a candle or a lighthouse to celebrate a life that once was.

I was going to put out my candle but decided Ben really needed a lighthouse so I was going to make him one. Unfortunately Damien was sick that day so I got nothing done since he couldn't go to school he was here all day. (Ever try and do anything with a clingy, sick, two year old at your heels?) I was determined to get him his lighthouse by the 7:30 deadline (every candle and lighthouse was to be lit then) but by the time Damien was picked up and meals made and eaten I was left with 40 minutes to get a lighthouse together.

It didn't turn out anything like I wanted it to. I wanted to paint it and really make it realistic looking but that isn't what was meant to be however I did get this somewhat primitive one together and lit it right on time. What it lacks in looks, it is full of with love.

(Because it is light out when I took the picture you can't see the 'light' but it is working.)





Here is my lighthouse I built just for you.
I know it isn't the best but it'll have to do.

Looking down from heaven I hope you see.
All the love and sorrow put into it by me.

Happy Birthday Ben!