Pottermania

Once again, sorry for the lack o'blog.
I've been sick a lot lately. Blech! I've spent most of my time reading the blogs of others and watching youtube vids.
So tonight is the big night!!! Where will I be? Asleep.
I'm to old to go to the release party, right? Yes. Here's why.
Several years ago, I went to the release party for HP3(I think). I arrived at Barnes and Noble and realized I was the only person there over 14 (aside from the 12 and unders' parents who didn't seem at all interested in HP). I was soooo embarrassed. I felt too silly to get in line for the free HP glasses or to participate in the wand making project. I started following random kids around and spouting out an occasional "Billy, get over here!" so I would look like a parent. These days I'm ashamed of my shame. Now that HP is supper huge I should feel great about being an HP die hard when HP wasn't cool. Actually there was never a time when HP wasn't cool, but there was a time when many adults purchased the book with that boring grown-up cover.

The above tale of woe really has nothing to do with why I'm not going to the party. H and S are too young to take out that late so we'll be heading to B&N after lunch. Maybe they'll be passing out some fun freebies early in the day! Simon has agreed to let me draw a lightening bolt on his forehead. Wish us luck in our quest for free Potteraphanalia to clutter the house.

We're having a great summer...

Roadside Feast

Snack's ready and you can find it on the side of the road! And by that I don't mean roadkill pizza.
The blackberries are ready! Woohoo.
I took the kidlets for a walk down the rentals dirt road to eat the berries. We didn't bring a basket because I only like them fresh and warm off the vine. I guess I should wash them first but who worries about a little acid rain wash and bear drool? Not me!

Speaking of bears.. I was so worried we would come across one. There is one living nearby and has been making nightly visits and was spotted on my mom's front porch a few nights ago.

Many of the berries are still too pink and tart but the big juicy black ones were dilish. I just wish the seedless variety grew wild.
The berries should be at their prime in about a week so come by and eat 'em all. I often see locals and travellors parking their cars along the edge of the road on the mountain passes and climbing into the bushes. If you do this, watch for snakes and cars!!!!

Why are the ponies so big in Chincoteague?

On our way from St. Micheals to Avon we decided to drive the eastern shore and pass through all those islands separating Virginia from the Atlantic. We decided to spend the night in Chincoteague and site see a little.
In case you weren't aware, Chincoteague is the host of an annual Pony Swim and auction which is a fund raiser for the local fire department. Every year, the healthiest wild ponies are rounded up on the island of Assateague and made to swim a very short distance to the island of Chincoteague were zillions of people come to watch and then purchase the ponies. What these people do with a wild pony is anyone's guess. I suppose the put them out to pasture. I suspect that many of these "wild" ponies are a little more tame than wild so maybe they make nice pets.
Needless to say, the pony theme runs rampant in the town. The local businesses and government milk it for all it's worth. I happen to like ponies so I didn't really mind. The real wild ponies reside on a Federal Nature Reserve on the island of Assateague. On our way to the reserve we asked Holly to count all the ponies she could see (meaning pony signs). She was getting restless in the car so we thought a fun counting activity would keep her happy. Subconsciously, I had begun counting as well. When we got to the bridge over the channel separating Chinc from Ass I asked Holly how many ponies she counted. She said two. I had counted at least 30 so I was surprised her keen eyes only counted two. I questioned her further and discovered that she thought she was supposed to be counting REAL ponies and that she saw two at McDonalds. Yes folks... even the local McDonalds is in on the pony action.
We paid our car fee and entered the park. We saw a nice old lighthouse, drove to the Assateague beach and searched for real wild ponies. I half expected to see them all over the place, like heards of deer in the Shenandoah. We didn't see a single one. They had a nice welcome center and museum.
Disappointed we decided to head over to the Pony Center which is a gift shop/pony stable in Chincoteague. There we saw several captive wild ponies. All of them supposedly descended from the famed Misty. After seeing the ponies at the pony center, I have to say I'm glad we didn't run into any of them in the wild while walking in the park because teeny cutie pie ponies they are not. They're friggin' huge!!! Small horses, really. Definitely ridable... (Is ridable a word?)
We then realized that we were hot and starving and decided to try out an ice cream place I visited as a teen. We each got a cone of fab home made ice cream at the Island Creamery. The wait was rather long but soooo worth it.
Finally we decided that we were not leaving Chincoteague without first seeing a wild pony, in the wild. We drove to the park where the ponies arrive after the swim. With the binoculars we scanned the Assateague coast line and there they were. Running wild.. the very large ponies/small horses. We left happy.

ETA.. Don't forget your mosquito repellent!!!