Memorial Day 2013

Good morning! It is a beautiful day out! Sunny and warm (54° compared to 50° and cloudy in Bonners Ferry, ID, 48° and rainy in Yreka, CA, 54° and cloudy in Dublin, Ireland, and 63° and sunny in Paris, France).

Amena did a wonderful job of making red and blue pancakes with white cream cheese glaze this morning. There are just a few left. She is now cleaning in the livingroom which makes her an especially awesome daughter today.

While Seth was taking the goats out this morning, I moved their stakes so they have nice fresh grass for grazing. Since the boys are nearly two months old, I figured it was time to rubber band them. Laura helped me with that chore. While so doing, I discovered that they are androgynous. Next to each rather obvious scrotum were two teats. Never in my years of having goats have I had kids so obvious.

On the agenda today is a lot of unknown. There is a parade in Hubbardston in 14 minutes. If Amena was going to be in it, she should have been there 15 minutes ago. As it is, there is no way we could get ready and be there in time so I won’t say anything about it to anyone. At 2:00 we are invited to the Goguens. Every Memorial Day they have a get-together at their house; grilling, eating, swimming, etc. I’m not sure swimming is very realistic this year based on the temperatures we’ve had the last few days but we might go.

Yesterday after church we had stroganoff and salad. After that most of us went to the Gardner State Hospital. At one time it was a nearly self-sufficient asylum for the still functional insane. Currently, part of it has been restored and is functioning as a medium-security prison. There is one building left of many and one barn that recently collapsed. Paul hadn’t been out there for eight or nine years and in the ensuing time, all the buildings he remembered have been entirely razed. It would have been fun to see them but it made for a nice walk nonetheless.

When we got home from that, we had Family Home Evening taught by Cedric and rhubarb/peach/apricot cobbler. Then, after reading chapter 7 of 2^nd Nephi, and having prayer, it was time for bed.

Once children were abed, I was searching for information on the Gardner State Hospital. There isn’t much online to be found unless I am searching in very wrong places. All I found is that it began operation in 1902 and stopped in 1975. In about 1981 the prison portion was completed and began taking inmates. Currently the prison houses up to 1,000 inmates and before the buildings were razed, there were sightings of paranormal activity. Actually, I think there have been in the prison portion as well but because it is now a prison, it would be hard to check it out in person.

Near the prison, there are two wind turbines and they were moving at a good clip yesterday due to the wind. Cedric mentioned that it would be funny if they were going so fast that they sucked someone up. What a good idea! I said that would make an excellent story. An eleven-year-old boy is exploring with his family in the area and a wind storm comes up which causes the turbines to move exceedingly fast. The boy is sucked up into the air and deposited 50 years in the past. He now has the difficult job of not only getting out of the asylum but finding his way back to his family in the future.

This is partly why I wanted to learn more about the place but it appear I will have to go to the library to find it because there isn’t anything online easily accessible.

And now, have a wonderful Memorial Day remembering those who have served our country in the military and in other was as well as those who are now serving in God’s military!