Carl Sandburg Home

Greenville County Schools are on Spring Break this week. Cal's school follows the district calendar, so he is off as well. Since most people head to the zoo, local parks, Children's Museum, and other local attractions for the break, I thought we would get out of town for the day and go hiking. A friend of mine told me about the Carl Sandburg Home about a year ago. She mentioned there are goats located behind the house that you can go to see and pet. I was thinking it was a small area with a few goats wandering around and then you head into Flat Rock to enjoy a nice lunch. I was surprised to learn that the home is part of the National Park Service as a National Historic Site.

You are able to tour the home for $5/adult over age 15 and free for 15 and under. There are over 5 miles of hiking trails located on site. The goats and hiking are what Cal and I planned for, so I opted not to take the 30 minute tour with a 2 year old, but instead begin by hiking about 1/2 mile to the goat barn located behind the main house. The barn is named Connemara and used to be a goat dairy farm run by Mrs. Sandburg, where milk was distributed to local dairies and sold in stores. Now the park service raises the goats. On our visit, we learned that 6 of the females are pregnant, with one of kids due this Thursday. The goats were out in the field, so we headed out there to get a closer look at them. Callen was a little nervous about going up to the goats at first, but after watching several other kids petting and running around with the goats, he worked up the courage to pet two of them. He was so pleased with himself and was very proud to tell people he petted 2 goats!!

Goats with the barn in the distance

Finally worked up the courage to pet one!

After leaving the goat barn, we headed out on the hiking trails. The Orchard Trail began across the road from the barn, so we hiked down that over to the Spring Trail. We caught the Memminger Trail Loop and followed it to the viewing spot on a bridge. Cal and I stopped there for a small lunch and to allow Cal to rest his legs. With an expanding mid section, I am not able to carry him in the backpack as easily, so he was forced to hike the entire time! And when I say Cal hiked, I really mean he ran most of the way but had to stop about every 50 feet to pick up sticks, throw rocks, and climb on tree stumps!!! We continued on the Memminger Trail until it hooked into the Front Lake Trail that took us back to the parking area. The trails we chose were very easy and flat, but long enough to wear out the legs of a 2 year old! 

Playing with his hiking stick

Running down the trail

Jumping off rocks

Climbing on bridges

View of Front Lake through the trees

Cal and I had a great day. It took us no more than 45 minutes to get up there (the house is located right behind the Flat Rock Playhouse and about 2-2.5 miles past Sky Top Orchard). This is definitely somewhere I would go back (maybe even in the next 2 weeks to see the baby goats) on my own and with Doug for a family hike. There were several other trails that were a little more strenuous than the ones we opted to take, so I would like to try those out with Doug. For a Monday morning, there were quite a few people visiting the area, but it was nice to be away from big crowds of kids enjoying Spring Break! I like the peacefulness and ability to have one on one time with Cal without distractions from kids running all around us.

IPRA Rodeo

 

Several weeks ago we went to the IPRA Rodeo held at the T. Ed Garrison Arena in Pendleton. Doug had two coworkers visiting from France. One of the girls is here on a long term assignment and wants to see as much as she can, including a rodeo and a NASCAR race (this girl wants true southern culture!!). When we heard that the rodeo was coming to Clemson, we knew we had to take advantage of it and take her. The second girl was in from France for a week and decided to tag along. 

We had planned to go for BBQ and then head to the rodeo when it started. Well, that plan went up in smoke when we drove by Brushy Creek BBQ to see that they have closed their doors for good. We then headed to The Smokin' Pig in Pendleton only to find an hour wait. That wasn't going to work either. So, we headed into downtown Clemson and ate dinner at the Palmetto Smokehouse and Oyster Bar. (sidenote: We would not recommend this place! The food was barely edible and the service was so slow). By the time we found a spot for dinner, ate, and made it to the arena, it was 9:00. The rodeo started at 8:00, and we had planned to leave around 9:30 to get Callen home for bed. Oh well! 

Cal borrowed some cowboy boots from a buddy, put on a plaid shirt and jeans, and was ready to be a cowboy! We kept telling him he was going to see cowboys and cowgirls along with horses and cows. He was excited!

We made it in time to see several events including tie-down roping, steer wrestling, and cowgirl barrel racing. The bull riding was one of the last events but we were wanting to beat the crowds out of the parking lot, so we left a few minutes early and didn't get to see any of it. Between each event, there was a small 'intermission' that included entertainment. During one of the intermissions, a cowgirl stood between two horses and had two others harnessed in front of those horses. She ran around the ring multiple times and even did a jump over a horizontal pole once. This made quite the impression on Cal! He likes to talk about the cowgirl standing on the horses!

Cal absolutely loved the rodeo! He watched almost every minute of it while we there (over an hour and a half) and never seemed to lose interest. This was a fun adventure with Cal...one that we will have to go to again and hopefully get there a little earlier next time!

Happenings of Late

We been chillin' yo!

Just call me a slacker for not getting on here more and updating what is going on! We really haven't had any big and fun adventures lately...just enjoying the everyday with our growing boy. We haven't made too many plans on the weekend, allowing us to rest and hang out as a family before things start to get busy with the spring and summer months. 

I'll keep this post to mainly pictures so you can see some of the fun we have been having. 

Cal has been helping Doug with a lot of little house projects lately. He is such a big help and really steps in to hand Doug tools as well as take a turn or two to work on the project. 

Learning how to use the multimeter with dad! He's excited to see the numbers moving.

Getting everything ready to install the new light

My turn, dad!

The test...

Look...the light is on. It works!

Time to fix the door knob in my room

 

Cal has enjoyed the book How I Became a Pirate lately. While at Kindermusik one Thursday morning, Cal saw a poster for the play and got really excited about seeing the main character Jeremy Jacob. we purchased tickets for that Sunday afternoon (not thinking it was Super Bowl Sunday!). Cal enjoyed the show and sat there for almost the entire 50 minutes without moving! He got a little squirmy towards the end, but overall did very well. He wanted to stay and see the actors come out after the play to sign autographs (he was a little upset when the play ended), but mom and dad said no...we needed to get home to watch the Super Bowl!

Waiting for the show to start

Not wanting to act like a pirate!

We enjoyed a nice Valentine's dinner as a family. We cooked up yummy fish and chips and made a fun dinner setting for us all to enjoy. Cal did a great job making a Valentine's Day card for Doug. He cut all the pieces out on his own and glued them to the card. It was a little hard for this OCD momma not to have everything in a perfect spot on the card, but it was neat knowing Cal made the inside of the card all on his own!

We made it to the library to check out construction books...but we got a little sidetracked playing make believe with the castle.

Kindermusik is our weekly activity that has been so good for Cal. He loves the music and freedom he gets there, but overall enjoys the structure that Mrs. Rosalind provides him. He is usually running around and laughing like a wild man each time we go. Doug was able to go this time for the first time to see his boy in action!

Running around and around

Reaching for bubbles

Doing a dance of some sort!

Cal has been asking to build lots of forts recently. After taking the last one down, Doug made a grid of some sort that Callen likes to jump from one opening to the next. He has recently started playing a peek a boo type game in it. Who knows. His imagination is something else these days...but he has fun in all that he does!

Dressing up mom and making her play in his fort!

Reading books with dad in a fort

The boy is obsessed with hats. He found his buddy Wyatt's football helmet and has been wearing it nonstop. He calls it his 'baseball hat' and wants to wear it everywhere...including into the stores. I think he is scared of my driving because he wants to wear it in the car too. 

I'm ready for mom's crazy driving!

Hanging out in Trader Joe's with the helmet on.

Finally...we went swimming this past weekend. With the cooler temps, I have been trying to take Cal to the pool more often since we can't play outdoors as much. He has continued to do really well with his skills. He really impressed Doug and me this past weekend when he laid completely horizontal and kicked and moved his arms (and head) to get to where he was going. In the past, he has mostly kicked and floated to where he wanted to go.

That about sums up our adventures from the last few weeks. Cal still goes to school two days a week and has a great time. When I picked him up today, he started crying that he had to leave. I guess that's better than crying when I leave him! At least I know he is having a good time and they are taking care of him. It is amazing how much Cal is learning and changing daily. He has such a fun imagination and constantly wants to pretend play by himself or with us. He is content to sit on the couch in his room and read books, but will chase you around the house in a heartbeat if you or him say 'chase me!'  His memory and ability to recall is unbelievable...and kind of scary...at the same time. We have to watch everything we say and do or else it will come back to bite us! He is one fun little dude and we are loving all the fun times we are having with him these days.

Snow Day

Now that Greenville has 60 degree temperatures and rainy weather, I figure I will write a post on the snow that fell almost two weeks ago!

I remember as a kid spending hours outside in the neighborhood after a big snow. We would go sledding pretty much all day with the occasional return home for lunch and something warm to drink. However, all those memories were of me as a 9+ year old...not a 2 year old! 

Last year Callen lasted outside in the snow for about 15 minutes before he was frozen and we were returning inside with a thawing and screaming child. I hoped this year would be different with him, and we could spend a good amount of time outside playing in the snow. 

Cal thought the snow was really pretty and kept looking out the window at it. I got him pretty pumped up about getting dressed and going outside to play in it. So, we all bundled up, and headed toward the school playground to try and go sledding. By the time we got outside on Saturday, the roads were easily navigable by foot and we had no problems walking the few

tenths of a mile to the school while pulling Cal on the sled. There were several other families and a fair number of kids already at the school playing and sledding.

We got Cal on the sled and sent him down the hill...big smiles the entire time! However, once he was done with his run, he nothing to do with sledding anymore. He only wanted to run down the hill and watch the big kids have a snowball fight! So, we took the opportunity and went sledding ourselves before heading home. 

I think I'll just run down this time

Trying to keep warm with the biggest mittens EVER!!

Mom taking a turn sleeding

Here goes daddy!

Cal was pulled home on the sled, but this time Doug would run ahead and then send him down the hill towards me. Lots of laughs and giggles from Cal. He loved being pulled as fast as possible and then let go to slide on his own. If only we had figured this out sooner! 

 

That smile!!

Once home, we had a small snowball fight in the yard before Cal started complaining that he was cold. We have not had good luck finding waterproof gloves that fit Cal well and allow him to use his hands. He ends up wearing fleece or wool gloves/mittens, but the snow soaks through them all and he is left with cold, wet hands. I looked down and realized we had made it a full hour outside...a record for us!! 

Watch out!

Taking mommy down!

Maybe next few (if we have any snow), we will last 2 hours?!