Archive for July, 2009
I remember musty cabins with rickety bunk beds and funky green blankets. I remember the craft cabin with it’s requisite stock of popsicle sticks, plastic lanyard material and little wooden beads; campfires, canoeing on the Cuyahoga River, and eating Turkish Taffy. I remember some of Doc’s staff: the guy who was a burned out Vietnam vet who liked to show us his knife; a another young man—his face blurry but his gentle and conscientious nature still in my mind. And then I remember Freddie. Freddie was a stout fellow; he was well liked because of his sense of humor. But Freddie liked to spank the girls. I thought he was creepy (he was!) so I kept my distance.I’m not sure how my usually over-cautious father ever found this place, or why my parents thought this was “the place.” For my 10 year old self, it was a million miles from home.
![[Bloglines]](http://fromskilledhands.com/wp-content/plugins/bookmarkify/bloglines.png)
![[del.icio.us]](http://fromskilledhands.com/wp-content/plugins/bookmarkify/delicious.png)
![[Digg]](http://fromskilledhands.com/wp-content/plugins/bookmarkify/digg.png)
![[Facebook]](http://fromskilledhands.com/wp-content/plugins/bookmarkify/facebook.png)
![[Google]](http://fromskilledhands.com/wp-content/plugins/bookmarkify/google.png)
![[kirtsy]](http://fromskilledhands.com/wp-content/plugins/bookmarkify/kirtsy.png)
![[LinkedIn]](http://fromskilledhands.com/wp-content/plugins/bookmarkify/linkedin.png)
![[Reddit]](http://fromskilledhands.com/wp-content/plugins/bookmarkify/reddit.png)
![[Squidoo]](http://fromskilledhands.com/wp-content/plugins/bookmarkify/squidoo.png)
![[StumbleUpon]](http://fromskilledhands.com/wp-content/plugins/bookmarkify/stumbleupon.png)
![[Technorati]](http://fromskilledhands.com/wp-content/plugins/bookmarkify/technorati.png)
![[Twitter]](http://fromskilledhands.com/wp-content/plugins/bookmarkify/twitter.png)
![[Yahoo!]](http://fromskilledhands.com/wp-content/plugins/bookmarkify/yahoo.png)
Nearly Wordless Wednesday
The Python Has Landed: A My Town Monday Post (with a Mug Shot on the Side)
Who’d a thunk I’d be spending hours editing photos of a festival that commemorates a reptile. Me. Of all people. Who jumps when a wee little snake is seen in the garden.
The Village of Peninsula, population 601, enjoys its celebrations. From the Quarry clean up day, to the 4th of July, to Peddlers’ Day, to Christmas in Peninsula. We know how to celebrate. And the 55th anniversary of the sightings of the Peninsula is no exception. If you want to read more about the Python, slither on over here.
As promised, here is a video of this year’s Python Festival. And I have a new skill: I uploaded it to You Tube!
If you are unable to see the video here, click on this link.
And the winner of my high tech contest (where I drew a name from a hat) for one of our favorite mugs is Rudeek. She will be receiving a mug in the mail soon. Thanks to all who posted comments and sent mug shots 
My Town Monday was started by Travis Erwin. Travis has retired from the MTM helm, and has passed the torch to Clair Dickson. She has created a blog just for MTM, where she posts links to bloggers who write about their towns hither and yon.
Late July Harvest
The mandala garden is in bloom, and Nature is sharing her bounty. Each year, I am reminded what happens when it rains for 2 days and I forget to go out and check the zucchini plants. Humbling…
Boogie On Down the Aisle
I’ve still not had a chance to finish editing the Peninsula Python Festival photos, but I think you’ll enjoy this video. Ever been to a wedding like this one?
If you have trouble viewing the video here, you can follow this link.
(Almost) Wordless Wednesday
Don’t forget to send me your mug shot for a chance to win one of our favorite mugs.
Mug Shots: Send Me Yours. More Updates
Send me a shot of your favorite mug and I will enter you in a drawing for one of our favorite mugs. (from skilled hands AT Gmail DOT com). I will post the winner on Monday, July 27, 2009.
Here are some mug shots:
“This is one of my favourites – a Royal Alma mug by Staffordshire. I love anything English and stone or potteryware..”
Kat Mortensen
“They are big enough for two measured cups of coffee, keep the contents warm, and big enough to warm my hands in the winter (all three weeks of it!). They tend to be the favorite mugs of all the younger folks that come for coffee because of their size.”
Patti Carter
“Though I have my favorites, any mug will just about do in the morning. This one was given to me by a friend when I resigned from the ICU. I miss Freddie and think about her when I pour a cup of coffee into this mug.”
Rudeek who works nights as a hospice nurse.
“Meredith’s Lake Catherine mug, which Mark brought her from Hot Springs, and my local Ashland Coffee and Tea mug Now, I feel like a cuppa coffee …”
Laura
“Here is my favorite mug.”
Mary
“Here is a picture of me with my favourite mug. Not sure how clearly it shows the glories of the mug itself, but it does show just how huge it is and that’s what I love about it most. It holds at least a pint of coffee which is what I need to get me going in the morning, sad but true! Not only does it hold a pint it keeps it hot too for as long, pretty much, as it takes me to drink it, which is a good forty minutes. It has no handle, and doesn’t need one, sitting perfectly in both hands as it does. Ideal for the Scottish climate: it’s a mug and hot water bottle in one! The glaze is a luminous cream with splendid green stripes all around it. Another thing I love about it is that it was hand-thrown by a particularly handsome potter who evidently loved his job. My fingers fit neatly in the ridges that his hands created and thus I feel comfortably connected to its origins.”
Eryl
Peninsula Python Festival: A My Town Monday Post
It was a beautiful day to celebrate the infamous Peninsula Python. I am still editing photos, so enjoy a look at last year’s festival.
Take a look at other My Town Monday posts. You’ll read about places all over this fine blue planet.
P Minus One
Signs of the python are all around: Larry has been getting his python ready for tomorrow’s parade; the Peninsula Art Academy’s artful python has emerged from it’s winter resting place. Our python has been enjoying being outside.
We are getting ready for the python scavenger hunt in the Gallery. If you can find them all, you win one! Lots of activities are planned in the Village tomorrow. Slither on over here to see.
While you’re in the Valley, wander on down the Towpath to Deep Lock Quarry. Hobo Days will be in full swing. It starts tonight with the Hobo Jungle Campfire, the official lighting of the hobo campfire. You can enjoy potlatch and hobohemia. Bring a can of soup for the hobo pot. Breakfast will be at 9:00a.m. tomorrow, and there will be activities all day. The election of the Deep Lock Quarry Hobo King and Queen will be at 3:00 p.m.. The campfire will be at 8:00p.m., and there will be more hobohemia Sunday, from 11:00a.m.-1:00pm. For more information, check out the MetroParks, serving Summit County website.
I talked toNaturalist Pat Rydquist (whose hobo name is Hummingbird) about Hobo Days. Thie is the 6th year of the event at Deep Lock Quarry. 30-40 hobos will camp in primitive campsites there. Hobos were really the first “leave no trace” campers. Number 8 of the Hobo Code of Ethics reads: “Always respect nature, do not leave garbage where you are jungling.“ For more information about the Code of Ethics, hobo terminology and hobo symbols, go here.
And don’t forget to send me your mug shot. You could win one of our favorite mugs.
Thursday Musings
Love this song. Perfect for a July day. Remember to send me your mug shot for a chance to win one of our favorite mugs! Check back for news about the Peninsula Python Festival and Hobo Days this weekend.
All content copyrighted. Please don't steal. It's not nice.
