Raising Maine

Flat Stanley (and friend) visit almost every continent

Our family's Flat Stanley has had some really interesting adventures since L. drew him almost two years ago.

He's been a really great cultural exchange activity, as well as geography lesson, for the kids. The goal this past year for us was to try to get Stanley to every continent in the world. But, we've been limited based on the people in the group that we trade flats with.

Then a couple of months ago, G's former ballet teacher told us she was spending a semester in Ghana and would be happy to take along our Flat Stanley for a photo op.

She sent us the photo this weekend of Flat Stanley and said,

"The picture was taken on the campus of the University of Ghana on the day of the solar eclipse in Ghana. The eclipse was a really big deal; it was the first total solar eclipse to happen in Ghana in many years. "

She also sent us a link to a story about the eclipse that was really interesting. The kids especially liked the video clip.

So with this latest addition from Africa, Flat Stanley has now been to almost every continent in the world (except Antarctica) and we have a photo from each one for our world map at home.

Europe: Saw Bison in England

Australia/Oceana: Auckland, New Zealand

Asia: Hung out in a garden in Japan. And of course there was also his incredible trip to Iraq as well.

One of the kids' other Flat Stanley characters, Black Beauty, is currently in Chile.

South America: Ronco Beach in Chile

Anyone have a connection to a person willing to host Flat Stanley on "The Ice" for us?

April showers. No wait - snow

A view of our yard this morning...

Pink Panther is a visiting Flat Stanley that G. posed for the photo. There was enough snow that G. could stand it up on its own.

After hiking in t-shirts and capris last week, the kids were not pleased with this development. But, the snow is already melting and we're optimistic spring isn't going to try to make up for the winter in snowfall.

A really sweet day

Oooh, we love sugaring season and spent the afternoon at a couple of maple sugar farms today.

The kids are hosting some international Flat Stanleys right now so we took the travelers along to learn about sugaring season since only a small portion of the world actually produces the stuff.

The circled area on this globe at Snell's Family Farm indicates the only area in the world that can produce maple syrup.

The kids love the maple cotton candy at Merrifield Farm in Gorham.

The open fire boiling at Merrifield Farm was actually pretty interesting. We had never seen a demonstration like this before.

At Snell's Family Farm in Bar Mills (yes, we did some driving today), the kids tasted the sap before it was boiled (clear liquid on right) and agreed with their assesment last year that it's "not that good (sweet)." Well, 2% sugar content from the tree's sap (how it comes out of the tree) versus the incredibly sweet syrup that is produced after boiling isn't a fair comparison anyway.

And if you were wondering, both kids drank at least a full cup of syrup today.

I bought Light Amber syrup at Merrifield Farms since that was what was available in the size jug I wanted. Then I bought a bottle of Dark Amber from Snell's. We did a little comparison at home and although you can see the slight difference, they both tasted the same. Yummy.

When we got home, L. decided to show our Flat Stanley friends all the treats we like to eat during this season.

My favorite is the maple cream, especially on crackers and toast. G. loves the maple fudge and cotton candy. L. likes the syrup on vanilla ice cream and drinking it directly from a cup. Fino likes the syrup on pancakes but he hasn't got the same kind of sweet tooth as the rest of us. He doesn't get nearly as excited about sugaring season as the females in our household.

I also must make a note here that although I lamented more than once about the lack of snow this winter, it was really nice that the mud was minimal today at the farms. There wasn't any snow to create the mudfest L. enjoyed last year.

That really broke me up.

Flat Stanley went to war

A friend of ours had a sister serving in Iraq. We asked if she might be willing to host our family's Flat Stanley and she agreed. She's a former 4-Her and was happy to help out some young 4-Hers.

We sent the soldier our Flat Stanley and a disposable camera several months ago. The soldier came back to the states recently and gave the camera to our friend. The camera just landed in our hands the other day and we had the photos developed yesterday.

WOW.

The kids loved the tire swing and thought it was "cool" that "big people" played on swings there.

Flat Stanley visited during Christmas.

The kids certainly have some perspective on our soldier's lives in Iraq now. And I hope that our goofy Flat Stanley was an enjoyable distraction in an otherwise serious and scary situation.

Visiting the State House and ... toots

The kids and I took a field trip yesterday to Augusta to participate in the
Liberty Kids Day program in Maine.

March 16th, 2006 is the 255th anniversary of the birth of James Madison, the 'Father of the Constitution,' and the official Liberty Day as recognized by the Congress of the United States. Kids will be going into their respective state capitols all over this country to give out free copies of the US Constitution and to quiz legislators, lobbyists, employees, visitors and guests with their factual questions from the text of the Constitution.

"Quizzing" people at the State House yesterday really taught them more about the historic document better than I ever could have imagined.

And I have to say, the lawmakers and visitors at the State House (lobbyists, lawyers, realtors there for a meeting and lots of other people) were really great. They stopped to answer the kids' questions and all seemed pleased to wear the "I got quizzed" stickers the kids gave out to thank them.

Here's a couple of questions the kids asked.

• What's the 19th Amendment?
  
• Who is the Commander-in-Chief of the Army and Navy?
  
• What are the five rights in the First Amendment?
  

Out of all the questions the kids asked the one that very few knew the answer to was the five rights in the First Amendment. And after several adults didn't get it right (although the lawmakers knew, visitors could only name a couple), the kids took pleasure in telling them the answer because they did know. It's one Amendment I don't think they'll forget because of this experience.

Of course, Bunny and Flat Stanley came with us.

A view of the dome from the inside.

We went in the Law and Legislative Reference Library just to look around and L. found a copy of the state's Constitution from 1821.

"Take a picture with Bunny. Look at the old pages. It's like a million years old." she whispered.

Well, we weren't at the State House to learn math...

Then a helpful tour guide told us about the State House Dioramas in the basement so we went to check them out.

"Look, the moose is sniffing Bunny!"

After spending the morning at the State House, we had lunch and went to the State Museum. The kids loved exploring the museum but the highlight of the visit was the 1920s car display. It was classic "potty humor" and L. couldn't resist.

"Mommy, you have GOT to see this. It is so funny!"

Quiz Answers:

1st Amendment - freedom of speech, religion, press, assembly and petition

Posted by Wendy Almeida at 07:52 AM
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Kindred spirits

Flat Blossom (another flat character L. drew to have adventures like Stanley) is in Texas. We just got an update on Flat Blossom from her hosts and the pictures were somehow... familiar.

According to the email, this photo was taken on the freeway in Houston.

"... she took pics of the sky/clouds (from the car window). She thought they were pretty that day."

Yup, L. has a fellow car photographer kindred spirit in Texas.

Oh... she's so cute

It feels like every week (OK I'm exaggerating a bit here), that we have to stop by the lobster tank in the seafood department at Hannaford to "visit" with the lobsters. And it's usually under the guise of, "We have to take a picture of Flat Stanley with the lobsters mom."

The seafood manager is very indulgent with the kids and usually pulls one out of the tank.

"Oh, isn't the lobster soooo cute! And it's a girl!"

The kids know which claws to look for that indicate gender thanks to the helpful seafood manager.

My kids used to eat lobster until their visit to the Oceanarium in Bar Harbor this past summer. The educational tour taught them a lot about the sea creatures and they've been enamored every since.

So I don't think there is a question as to which side of the lobster debate they are on....

New season, new road sign

A couple of weeks ago, snowmobile crossing signs were put up around our town. Since we don't have a snowmobile, the kids found an alternative way to introduce a Flat Stanley we're hosting from France to the snowmobile season in Maine.

Where in the world is Flat Blossom?

It continues to be all about Flat Stanley at our house this fall. We just received an email with some photos of Flat Blossom (our Flat Stanley's "sister") from her host family in Texas. Turns out she went to Tuesday night's World Series game in Houston. The host family was disappointed their home team didn't end up winning the game (or the series), but it sounded as if it was quite a game. Flat Blossom stayed until the very end, all 5 hours and 41 record-breaking minutes of it apparently.

This Flat Stanley project the kids are involved with reminds me a little of Carmen Sandiego ... sans the TV show.

Actually, the photos and letters my kids receive from their hosts about their flat's adventures are amazing - much better than anything on TV.

Our flat lived through Katrina

We sent Flat Blossom (one of our flat stanleys - we have a couple of different flats that travel) to a family in New Orleans about a week before Katrina hit. We had emailed the family a few times after the hurricane to see how they were but never heard back from them. There wasn't any other way to contact the family since we didn't know much about them. We hoped they were OK and assumed Flat Blossom wouldn't be making it back home to Maine. Obviously there were much more important things for that family to deal with.

But today, to my complete surprise, we received an email from Flat Blossom's host family:

Flat Blossom is all on the way home. She is tired of hotel life and is looking forward to being reunited with her family. She was very patient and well behaved. Please let me know when she arrives home.

Karen now in Memphis, TN

Wow.

I'll post Flat Blossom's story about her trip to New Orleans and Memphis when she arrives home.

Beautiful day for an island celebration

Yesterday the MaineToday staff celebrated our 10-year anniversary on the web with a trip to House Island in Casco Bay. My kids were envious and wanted to come but since the day included a staff meeting and some business-related discussions, it wasn't the time for family members to tag along. I did however agree to bring their Flat Stanley with me. Flat Stanley travels to places the kids can't see for themselves sometimes so it seemed the perfect time for me to "host" the flat guy.

It was a gorgeous day and during our boat ride to the island, we were treated several to fly-overs by the Navy's Blue Angels. According to our captain aboard the "Chippewa," the Blue Angles were having some promotional photos taken at Portland Headlight that day. But if you missed the short Casco Bay "show," don't worry. The flying team is performing at the Brunswick Naval Air Station this weekend.

House Island is a small island with an interesting history and our staff was treated to a walking tour of the island and Fort Scammon along with a traditional lobster bake lunch.

Once home, I shared the story of my day with the kids and although upset they couldn't go, they did enjoy the Flat Stanley photos I took.

Blue Angles flying over Casco Bay.

Flat Stanley enjoys the view of Portland (and the distant MT offices) from the island.

Editorial staffer, Carl Natale goofing around inside one of the dungeons in Fort Scammon.

The full MaineToday.com staff with Fort Gorges and Portland in the background. The kids loved the bunny ears on Flat Stanley donned by editorial staffer, Colleen Stone and marketing director, Monica Wright.

Flat Stanley assisted the captain of the "Chippewa" on the ride back to the mainland.

The captain thought the kids should have a photo of me and Flat Stanley aboard the boat as well.

Flat friend almost eaten by pig

Scenario:

G. is taking pictures of her flat friends from New Zealand at Wolfe's Neck Farm after hiking at the state park.

Decides to stick the flat friends on the pen to get a shot with some Maine pigs.

Pigs sniff out the situation.

Pigs decide flats are suitable for eating.

Flats rescued by L. in nick of time.

Talking maps today in the car

My family is involved in a group that exchanges Flat Stanleys. He's a character from a book that travels through the mail to meet new people. It's been a great geography lesson for the kids to map out where each Flat Stanley we host is from and where he's been. And the whole family has had fun taking goofy pictures with the flat friends too.

L.'s Flat Stanley in Deering Oaks Park

We just received a new flat friend from Texas and opened the envelope in the car. L. was trying to figure out where Texas actually was. We didn't have a US map at the time so I was trying to describe it. I'm not sure which clue I offered prompted her to remember (bottom of the US map, it's big, it's between New Mexico and Louisiana) but suddenly she remembered.

"Ooooh mommy I know now. It's the state shaped like underwear!"

OK, hadn't thought about it that way but I guess there's a couple of leg holes there.