Back in Maryland

Jul 14

Everyone,

We made it back to Maryland safe and sound. It was a long 4 days in the road. But I’m so proud of us because we fit 6 people and our stuff into Fern Tree the van. Oh, and a dog and her stuff too. Which was bulky. Next time I’m taking the travel dog crate that is soft. If there is a next time that is.

I’m trying to get back into the habit of blogging every day so you’ll have to forgive me if these posts are a little sparse/travel log-ish for awhile.

Yesterday I took my dad to the airport and got my car fixed. It squealed almost the whole way home. Apparently the new belt I had put in it before we left had bad tension and it broke one of the pullies. We also went to the library and signed everyone, including Flower, for the summer reading program.

Can I just say I love having Flower with us? Seriously, I need a nice helpful 15 year old of my own. Juice and I were able to go out on a date last night (to Target for soap and m&ms and then to my friend’s house to fix her computer) and it was fun just to be us. We didn’t have to worry about getting anyone out of the car or herd people around the store. It was nice. So yay for Flower and all her help!

Today we met up with a lot of other Maryland mommy bloggers in a park about 40 minutes from here. My friend Lolli and her son AJ came along. It was fun to see everyone in person, although I don’t know if any of them read this. Mostly Lolli knows them. It was nice to have some adult conversation and Butterfly played really well at the park.

Professor has decided that he can take 4-6 steps in a row! Both the boys had their first steps in Utah but just today Professor is starting to walk more and more. It’s only a matter of time before he’s off running!

See ya tomorrow!

Safire

SafireMaryland, P and P firsts, Professor mile stones, road trips

Learning about Maryland

Mar 24

Everyone,

This weekend marks the 373 birthday of the state of Maryland. So, since we live here, I thought I’d let you know a few things about the state.

1- The state sport is jousting. Yes, jousting. As in men covered in metal on huge horses hurtling towards each other and trying to knock the other off their horse. The state team sport is lacrosse.

2- Maryland is known as a border state because it exhibits both Northern and Southern characteristics. The more rural areas of Maryland are more southern, while the cities are more northern.

3- Maryland is the second richest state in the Nation. New Jersey is the first.

4- State symbols:

bird: Baltimore Oriole
boat: skipjack
cat: calico
crustacean: blue crab
dinosaur: Astrodon johnstoni (looks like a mini t-rex)
dog: Chesapeake Bay Retriever
drink: milk
fish: striped bass
flower: black-eyed Susan
folk dance: square dance
fossil: Ecphora gardnerae gardnerae (it’s a snail)
gem: Patuxent River Stone
horse: thoroughbred
insect: Baltimore Checkerspot Butterfly
nicknames: “The Old Line State” and “The Free State” (which I wonder about because aren’t all the states free?)
reptile: diamondback terrapin (it’s a turtle)
song: “Maryland, My Maryland”
tree: white oak

5- Maryland is 42nd is size. It is 12,417 square miles. It is also 21% water.

6- It is 19th in population density, with close to 6 million people in 2000. It is the 5th in population density per square mile, with 542 people per square mile. Or so. I am surprised at how packed the cities are, and how open the country is.

7- Highest point is Hove Crest at 3360 feet above sea level. Lowest point is the Atlantic Ocean.

Happy Birthday Maryland!

Safire

SafireMaryland