A Weekend Adventure: High Bridge Trail State Park

Drew grew up in and around Farmville, VA. I began spending time there when my brother began college in 1992 and have been around ever since then. A little hidden jewel of history and beauty, Farmville hold one of the most magestic walking bridges in the state and the US.

High Bridge was originally built in 1854 crossing the Appomattox River connecting Petersburg to Lynchburg. Originally constructied of wood atop 21brick piers,  it was succesfully burned by Confederate Troops during  the close of the Civil War. It was rebuilt shortly after the war and converted to an all steel structure next to the original stone piers in 1914.

The Bridge ceased it's use as a railway bridge in October of 2004. It was donated to Virginia Department of Conservation and Recreation in December of 2006 and plans began to preseve and resurrect the gorgeous structure for recreational use. High Bridge Trail State Park opened on April 6, 2012 as a complete trail  - 147 years after the Battle of High Bridge.

Drew and I were excited to take the girls across the bridge after knowing its history and beauty all these years. I could go on and on about the gorgeous views and how much the girls enjoyed it, but I'd rather let the photos speak for themselves.  (And there are quite a few ;) )

Ready for our adventure.

Roo riding in style.

The girls enjoying all their Daddy's attention.

She really loved looking out at the trees.

Steel structure from 1914.

Piers from the 1854 structure.

The Appomattox River.

We DID get a lesson in on rapids, river movement, and construction.

On a mission.

 I would recommend this trail to any family with a love of history, adventure, and the outdoors. It is flat, well graded, and simple for children to navigate and explore. 

Happy Weekend!!

Sources and Further Information:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/High_Bridge_Trail_State_Park

http://www.dcr.virginia.gov/

http://www.dcr.virginia.gov/state_parks/hig.shtml

http://www.americantrails.org/resources/railtrails/HighBridgeVA08.html

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_High_Bridge

We're home...

But mama has been a little sick. Finally feeling better and getting some "office" time tomorrow!

Heading Home...

We're in transit today for a very welcome return home and to Daddy!

 I'm sure I'll have LOTS to say on Mama Monday so stay tuned!

Recipe Collection: Simple Salad Dressing

We are buying less "convenience" food and making more at home. One of my favorite ways to do this and explore in the kitchen is with salad dressing.  We tend to be a simple balsamic vinegar and olive oil family, but my Honey Vinaigrette is a favorite as well.

Ingredients:
1 tbsp champagne vinegar
1/3 cup extra-virgin olive oil
2 tsp dijon mustard (I like mine a little thicker and tangier)
1 tsp honey (I use raw, local honey)
1/8 tsp salt
pepper to taste
1/3 cup extra-virgin olive oi


Combine vinegar, mustard,honey, salt, and pepper in bowl and whisk until blended. Slowly whisk in the oil. Adjust mustard and honey as needed for the right consistency. Place in refrigerator before serving. 

That's it! This vinaigrette is great on a goat cheese and spinach salad. I crumble goat cheese over fresh spinach, sliced eggs, and bacon. You can also add grilled chicken for added protein and to make it a whole meal.


What dressings do you like?? Do you make your own??

A Birthday Treasure Box a la Miss Moo

One mermaid gift, as requested.

The Dilemma

Birthdays gifts are a challenge. (Well, really gifts in general, but I digress.) I don't like buying something just for the sake of saying I have a gift. I also don't like buying "junk" - things to just sit around, lotions or soaps, gift cards to restaurants people might not even like, etc. I always try to do something that I feel will be appreciated by the recipient that has a little touch of me in it.

Last month our beloved babysitter and friend, Lizbet, celebrated a birthday. I had been brainstorming for days on something special to do for her and had come up with nothing. I mentioned to Miss Moo on the morning of Lizbeth's birthday that we were going to her party.

The Solution

"We need a present for her, Mama!!" (Boy, didn't I know that.) She went on, "I can make something for her!"

That was a great idea!! Simple, homemade, kid driven. Just what Lizbet would LOVE! But I still had no idea what to make. After breakfast, the girls and I loaded up and headed towards Hobby Lobby. As we walked through the doors I asked Moo what we should make, because honestly I was at wits end.

"How 'bout....hmmmm," her brow wrinkled as she thought.  "How 'bout we make her a treasure box for her treasures!"

 My little pirate had handed me the perfect idea. Off we went.

The Process

Our supplies (which I forgot to photograph) were:

• one small, wooden box with latch
• purple soy craft paint
• gold iridescent glitter glue
• under the sea scrapbooking stickers

For this project to be driven by Moo, it had to be a less is more theory. We didn't need paint options, locks, jewels, or other additions. We needed a process she could follow and enjoy. Her involvement was simple but crucial.

Painting

I taped some newspaper to the kitchen table. I am usually a bit particular about painting and accuracy, so I had to let that go. It's about the process, I kept reminding myself. Moo used a sponge brush to first paint the bottom and let it dry. Then together we painted the rest of the box a very bright purple. Did we paint rivets and the latch? Yes, because Moo is two and that's what they do. Perfection wasn't the point. She really wanted to make this for her Lizbet.

Exterior of one purple treasure box.

Sealing

While we ate lunch, the treasure box dried. Moo was very anxious to move on to the next step of the process, SPARKLES!! (I find it very amusing that my little girl who loves trains, trucks, excavators, and pirates also LOVES sparkles.)  Using a clean sponge brush, we used glitter glue to paint the inside of the treasure box. I chose to use the glue hoping it would somewhat seal the wood so that Lizbet could actually put things inside the box.  After two good coats of sparkles, the box was ready to dry and the girls were ready for sleepy naps.

Final Touches

Before heading to the party, Moo put the finishing touches on the treasure box. She had wanted mermaids for the inside of the box but we'd had no luck finding any. Instead she settle for treasure. I helped her place the treasure chest and she did the rest herself.

The girls each made a card for Lizbeth. Moo folded her own card and placed all the sea creatures. Miss Roo mostly added stickers to hers.

From Moo.

From Roo.

Then, since we had found no mermaids, we had to wrap it to LOOK like a mermaid. The iridescent tissue paper I had on hand from the Dollar Tree worked perfectly. As I began to wrap the box, Moo suddenly ran from the kitchen telling me to wait. She brought back an acorn we had gathered from a trip to the park with Lizbeth.

"Her treasure box needs a treasure!"

Yes, it does. So we wrapped the box, holding the precious acorn, and took it to a very happy and grateful Lizbet.

Why a Child Driven Gift

This treasure box was a great idea for many reasons. It was low cost - less than $8 for all the supplies with paint and glitter left over. It was low mess - only three steps mean that there isn't a lot of clean up if you have limited space or time.  It was low stress - Moo was able to enjoy it because there weren't a lot of steps or rules to follow. It was high result - it gave Moo something to be proud of for having made it, it gave me something to use as a process teaching tool,  and it made Lizbet feel like she was truly appreciated by us all.

It was also inspirational - I have an idea for Moo's big Christmas gift based off this original design. Be sure to stay tuned in the coming months as that idea develops and starts taking shape.

Have you ever created child given gifts? How successful were they?

Stress Relieving Sushi - This Mama's DREAM!!

This week marked the launch of another terrific site, Modern Alternative Health. As you  may know, I am a contributing writer at the orginial site Modern Alternative Mama and I  am honored to have a spot as a contributing writer at the new site.

My first post at MAH is scheduled to debut on September 26th. It deals with ways to reduce stress naturally  through diet, herbs, and relaxation activities. As a family, we are evolving towards a natural based heath system in our house. I've done quite a bit of research in the past 6 months on ways to help accommodate this shift in lifestyle.

One thing that I kept finding, unsurprisingly, is how great fish is for us. Fish is loaded with naturally good fat.  In particular, fish contain large amounts of  OMEGA 3 Fatty acids.   These fatty acids have been proven to help brain function, help lower risks of cancer and cardiovascular disease, and increase immune system functionality.  The oilier the fish, the more Omega 3's - salmon is an example. Omega 3's also help reduce inflammation in the body.  Fish contain a large amount of vitamins A and D which promote healthy mood and immune function, critical for everyone but particularly those of us staying home with little ones.

I carried on with my research and noticed that a lot of articles that mentioned fish as something we should all be eating also mentioned SUSHI. Anyone that knows me really well knows that I took this information and ran with it!!

An evening of sushi with Drew.

Sushi rolls, be they traditional rolls or handrolls, are curled up in a little sheet of seaweed deliciousness called Nori. Nori is made of dried, roasted seaweed that has been pressed into thin sheets. It is versatile, tasty, and full of wonderful, health boosting surprises. Nori is LOADED with protein and essential vitamins, like A, B, and C. So much vitamin C, in fact, that it has twice as much as an orange.  Nori also has a tremendous amount of iron and magnesium.

Now consider that when you order a salmon roll, it carries some veggie in it as well - cucumber, avocado, etc. Add the goodness of oily fish, loaded Nori, and fatty avocado and you have a health roll to rival most vitamins! I am STOKED!!!


So consider adding some sushi, or even just Nori, to your diet or pantry. It's a great way to lower your stress levels, build your immune system, and satisfy your palate in one easy step!

I wonder if Drew has been feeding me sushi all these years for these reasons?? ;)

Would you add Nori to your weekly diet? Why or why not?

Direct links to sources in this entry:

http://www.parenthlete.com/2012/03/05/nori-the-healthiest-edible-paper/

http://www.sushishrine.com/sushi_seaweed_nori.asp

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Omega-3_fatty_acid

A Great Giveaway!

Lindsey of Road to 31 and a fellow contributing writer at Modern Alternative Mama has written a great post  on Hodge Podge Homeschool and it features a giveaway!! If you have any intentions of homeschooling, it's worth a look. The article works for anyone interested in homeschooling, not JUST those who want to integrate their faith into their educational goals. The giveaway features Christian curriculum for girls, The ABC's for Godly Girls. I'm learning about this curriculum for the first time, but it focuses on character training rather than discipline.

If you're interested, hop on over to Road to 31 or MAM and take a look, then enter the giveaway!!

**Mamas of boys, never fear! The ABC's for Godly Boys launches this fall!! **