Summertime, and the living's easy

Lauris caught and reeled in his very first fish, a beautiful bluegill that posed for a couple of pictures before swimming off back to his friends to tell a story of “the littlest human he’s ever caught.”
 

 

We’re spending a lot of time on the lake despite the rainy weather that has followed us from Greenville. A few days cooler temperatures kept us out of the water, but if I let them, the boys would live on the beach.

 

We’ve had the opportunity to try out a few new sports, including pier-jumping, flipper-walking and minnow-catching.

 

Wednesday my cousins arrived, and Lauris and Mikus have already learned all sorts of new tricks. Plus, they have access to the tree fort…

 

Near the beginning of the week the boys’ cousins and Lauris’s godmother were here. I’m so happy for them to have relatives so close in age, and sad that the distances keep them apart for such long periods of time.

 
Lauris’s godfather also managed to get some time off work, and we spent some time digging in the sand with two more of our favorite people.

 
Despite the vacation atmosphere our time in Gaŗezers has been jam packed, slowly ramping up to the volleyball weekend. With large numbers of friends and family descending on Michigan it’s sure to be a good time. The best part? The boys get to see their dad soon and I might get a moment’s peace…

Things to do in Three Rivers, Michigan

Lowry’s Books, on Main Street, is Michigan’s third largest used and rare bookstore, with over 150,000 volumes. With a new book section, a kids’ book and toy section (educational, fun and classic toys) and a brand new coffee shop on site, I could spend an entire day browsing the shelves full of favorite and local authors. Originally just one storefront, they’ve expanded to five with the renovations, including the café finished a couple years ago. We stopped in one morning while Lauris was in Bizbiz, trying out one of the wraps, a cookie and a coffee from Boundary Waters Coffee and Café. The wrap was fresh and the coffee strong, and I imagine I might have spent more time there if it weren’t for an impatient toddler anxious to get going. I hope to get a chance to return and try some of the other baked goods as both the scones and muffins looked appetizing, and what better place to enjoy a great cup of coffee than a bookstore? I’ve heard the soup is worth the trip, too.

The Three Rivers Public Library isn’t the largest but has something for everyone and can be ideal for a rainy day. During the summer they host programs for children on Tuesday mornings, and the day we stopped in we stayed for a puppet show of Sleeping Beauty by Rick Morse. With a teen book club and movie day as well as gardening, music and crafts, there is a diverse program, and the newest releases and shelves full of books make me think I could easily find a ton of beach reads for the sunnier days!

 

A little further down Michigan Avenue is the petting zoo and Scidmore park. Although the petting zoo is only open on weekends, the animals are there all week. We always spend time on the brand-new playground which is always clean and well-maintained. For the history buffs make sure you check out the 1847 “town cannon” on the other side of the zoo. Already obsolete in 1888, it was purchased by Three Rivers from the state of Michigan for 12.5 cents/pound to use for ceremonies and celebrations, and although retired due to safety reasons it remains a testament to the days as a frontier state.

 

Just across the street is L.A.s Coffee Cafe, a great local coffee shop to stop in for coffee, lunch or just ice cream to fill an empty stomach after playtime at the park. We vote for the peanut butter ice cream and a blueberry muffin! If dining inside you have your choice of interesting rooms (all sorts of nooks and crannies!), or if taking your coffee to go, you can enjoy the natural beauty of Rocky River, Memory Isle Park and several bridges and walking trails just adjacent to the parking lot.

 

If you’re in town on a Tuesday afternoon you might want to visit the Farmers’ market. Located in Scidmore Park, the vendors set up shop from 2 to 6pm and provide an ideal opportunity to buy fresh, local produce.

Whenever I'm in town I always swing by the church where my husband and I tied the knot

But if it’s fresh, local produce you are after, and you have time to venture a few minutes outside of Three Rivers, make sure you visit Corey Lake Orchards. Located about 10 minutes west of town, they started out in 1962 selling only their own produce but have expanded in recent years and now are the best source for everything local: in-season fruit, vegetables, flowers, you-pick, herbs, brandy and honey. A new bakery has just been finished, guaranteeing a steady supply of delicious breads, pies and cookies. I can vouch for the blueberry pie!!! They also have a weekly update to keep subscribers in the loop about what produce is in season, and you can sign up for that here.

We always enjoy our time in Three Rivers, but the fact remains that the best times are had at the Latvian Center, Gaŗezers. It's a good thing we have another week to spend in the lake, hanging out with family and enjoying the beautiful weather. This is what summer is about!

It's a mom's life.

We’re back in little Latvija, Gaŗezers, amongst family and friends. First the basics: it is 20˚ cooler here than in SC, I’ve brought with a total of two pairs of pants for each of the boys and (0) warm long-sleeved shirts for mom. But isn’t that how it goes, it’s harder for mom than it is for the boys?

Lauris attended his first day of Biz Biz yesterday, the morning program for 3-6 year olds. As I left him crying with the more than capable counselors I repeated to myself all the reasons we had decided he would attend – the Latvian atmosphere will be good for him, he needs to learn to interact with other children, I can’t keep him with me forever, a week of mornings with only Mikus will do us all good – and then I cried, as what kind of mother leaves her 3 year old behind, crying for her, without looking back? It’s harder for mom than it is for the boys. (And of this I was sure upon returning, as Lauris came flying towards me with tales of all he had done, the cepumiņi he had eaten, the other boy he had met… and of course the refrain of mēs ejam caur’, mēs ejam caur, caur veco Rīgas tiltu which was repeatedly sung all afternoon.)

Mikus provided me with the biggest parenting scare of my life so far, after taking a tumble down some stairs on Saturday night. Used to his antics resulting in various bumps and bruises and not having seen the fall, I scooped him up – only to have him loll back in my arms, seemingly unconscious. All the years of first aid training I’d received during my years as a firefighter were replaced by pure panic as I calculated our distance from the closest ER, so luckily I was surrounded by calm and rational friends that guided us to the first aid station where we were met with a pediatric ER doctor, an EMT and my mom. When it became obvious that Mikus had just had all the air knocked out of him and was emerging from the experience with just another bump, all attention turned to the frantic mom – it’s harder for the mom than it is for the boys.

We attended the boys’ cousin’s birthday party on Saturday, where both Lauris and Mikus were truly in heaven; surrounded by kids and loving family members they enjoyed an entire day of play in the sand and surf, with almost unlimited access to shovels and trucks for the sand, fishing poles for the lake, and cupcakes for the stomach. Meanwhile mom tried to remain calm despite the close proximity to all kinds of dangers; water, stairs, cars, cupcakes… It’s harder for mom than for the boys.

That evening was a wonderful program at the Gaŗezers summer high school, muzēju nakts. On the campus are three museums: Klinklāva galerija (the art museum), Skautu un gaidu muzējs (the Latvian scout and girl guide museum) and Grīna muzējs (the museum of Latvian culture). Based on similar museum days in France, the museums had coordinated this festival to introduce visitors who might not otherwise visit these wonderful cultural resources to the treasures within their walls. This free event allowed us to participate in various activities such as baking bread on a campfire with the scouts and guides, painting a masterpiece with the art museum and listening to kokles being played by students from the high school. In addition we feasted on foods specially prepared to reflect the three museums, including pīrāgi and Jāņu siers at “Café Ūsiņš,” representing Grīna muzējs. The boys loved being the center of attention, getting messy with oil-based paint, getting up close and personal with a campfire and occasionally taking off into a throng of people. Again I repeat – more difficult for mom...

The adventures will no doubt continue, as tomorrow marks the arrival of my cousins from Chicago and this weekend is the annual volleyball weekend that brings hundreds of Latvians to the Latvian Center every summer. Maybe at some point I’ll have the mommy angst more under control to be better able to enjoy these summer days, however until then we’ll try to keep ourselves busy in the sand and sun.

PS I’ve heard ice cream (for the boys) and wine (for mom!) helps, I’ll keep you posted…

Summer is for kids!

We received a package in the mail from Congaree National Park, which we visited a few months ago on our way home from Charleston. The deluge kept us from hiking the boardwalk trail that day, but we obtained a Junior Ranger booklet to complete at our convenience. Lauris and Mikus took turns coloring and drawing animals, and I worked with Lauris on some of the more difficult activities; when we had finished all we could I sent a copy in. What was in the package? Both boys are now proud owners of Congaree Junior Ranger badges.

We were lucky enough to buy one of Greenville Drive’s “Playcation" packages, a family-friendly bundle that includes 4 tickets to a Drive baseball game, the Greenville Zoo, The Children’s Museum of the Upstate and a Greenville Rec waterpark all for only $35. I will admit that I missed the advance sale, and therefore stood in line for over an hour with the boys to nab ours. On the other hand, the game that night against the Asheville Tourists was rained out, and so Roberts and Lauris have their pick of which game they want to attend.

Luckily we were closer to the front of the line...

On Saturday we tried out the Greenville Rec’s Otter Creek waterpark with our Playcation passes, and although crowded it was a hit with the boys. Lauris refuses to cut off the wristband, and asks to go back at least twice a day. The splash pad and “zero-depth entry pool” were appropriate for both kids, while the tube slide and tadpole slide were more for Lauris (and on the tube slide mom or dad had to go with). Once they’re older I’m sure the two body slides will be the favorites. Note to self: arrive as early as possible to beat the heat (and the crowds), bring snacks as to avoid the expensive concessions and nab seating in the shade, making that your central location to store stuff, relax and take breaks.

Zero depth entry pool, my boys tubing the blue slide and cooling off in the pool

I’m very proud of both boys, Lauris especially, for completing the Greenville library’s summer reading program. Lauris read (with a little help from parents) over 60 books to receive his prize, and together with mom & dad Mikus finished his early literacy checklist to get a free board book. On our stop at the library to pick up the prizes we found this yarn-bombed bicycle, to match the theme of “Books and Bikes Summer Reading 2013.”

At another Greenville library program we heard a concert from Roger Day. With popular tunes such as “It’s a no no to kiss a Rhino” and “Ghost Crab” he’s found a fan in mom, too. Educational, environmentally sound yet still catchy – and he was kind enough to autograph a sticker for Lauris to put in his sticker book.

Sunday we made a trip to a co-workers home in Woodruff to help with the veggie harvest while they’re out of town. The heat was oppressive, but we managed to gather enough to last us for the week. In addition to the exploring the garden, the boys insisted on petting the horses, watching the goats, meeting the two dogs and checking out the chickens, ducks and geese; sometimes I wish for a home in the country. Thanks to Jack for all the veggies and a super-fun Sunday!

Afterwards we visited the last of the parks on our list for the Annual Park Hop Scavenger Hunt. A quick reminder to send in your sheet or fill out the online questionnaire before August 9^th, and the closing celebration will be held at Conestee Park on Wednesday August 14^th. In addition to a scavenger hunt there will be a short ceremony and prize drawings will be announced – see you there!

P.S. Creating Artists for Tomorrow, the local art studio we go to for "table time" is having their annual Living Social deal right now; the 10 and 3 visit passes are half price. Table time is ideal for children ages two and up, although Mikus has been attending since we moved back to Greenville. For those who have not yet tried the art sessions, this is the perfect time!

https://www.livingsocial.com/deals/646408-three-or-ten-visit-passes-for-table-time?rui=145452233

P.P.S. Now that the construction on Main St. is winding down, the Mice on Main are all back in the game. For the clues to help find Marvin and Marcley, the two mice who have been relocated to new homes, please visit the Greenville Mice on Main scavenger hunt page.

Weather forecast for the Upstate: more rain

We’ve had our fair share of rain recently – maybe more than our share. The drought was officially declared over in April, and although it can take a couple of years to replenish groundwater reserves after a drought cycle ends, the spring rains have done that and more. So far this year rain totals taken at GSP put the Upstate on track to meet the record for most rain in a year, which was in 1901. For example, the month of June saw 5.5 more inches of rain than average. Lake Hartwell, which saw the lowest water levels in years last summer, has overfilled, and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers had to open all 12 of the dam’s floodgates. The last (and only) time the lake was this full was in 1964, two years after it was built.

Hartwell dam with floodgates open, source here

 

I will not complain, especially with the dry and hot conditions out west wreaking havoc for firefighters and farmers. In fact the rain has really not disturbed our daily routine, nor has it changed many plans. We were in Latvia for a few weeks of the constant rain which worked wonders on the garden; the rate of production increased trifold while I was not tending it (check out this cucumber, it’s a pickling variety!).

 

A spur of the moment baseball game at Fluor Field (Greenville vs. Asheville) was delayed due to rain, but we stayed warm and dry at a nearby restaurant, watching the lightning and deluge while enjoying a BBQ plate and local beer. The blueberry festival, a hike on the Swamp Rabbit Trail and a few other outside activities might have been cut short by storms, but mostly we have found enough indoor activities to keep the stir-crazies at bay.

 

What have been suffering from the heavy rains are our trees. One of the main reasons the North Main area is such a sought after neighborhood to live in are the gorgeous mature oak trees that line the streets of this historic community. We’ve lost too many to developers squeezing oversized boxes onto subdivided lots; now they’re falling of their own accord. A few weeks ago we lost electricity when a giant limb took down some power lines, and a lightning strike broke off a large limb off a neighbor’s tree last week, assuring that the whole tree will probably have to be cut down.

 

An old, mature water or live oak is usually not a threat to homeowners, as oak is dense, strong wood that resists rot, disease and insects. Too many times homeowners or the city will react in fear, pruning branches to “prevent” future problems. Oftentimes it’s the pruning that causes the problem, allowing insects or disease entry to the healthy tree, forming a space for water to collect to cause rot. Nearby construction can hurt the root system, increasing potential for wind or water to topple a tree. Even irresponsible mowing and weed-wacking can wound trees, leading the way for insects and disease to cause eventual problems. A few months ago the city did a hack job on several of the large trees on the block, but they left the rotten limb that eventually caused the power outage; of course hindsight is 20/20, but there was no reason to lopsidedly trim healthy trees, leaving large rotten limbs (that had been reported ) to do their damage.

Crate myrtles and a shower of flower petals

 

When the sunshine does emerge, it reminds us that it’s July in the South. We stay in the shade (of the large trees we are fortunate to have in our backyard), hide out indoors (where the AC is on but is boosted by the shade thrown on the house by those same trees), head out early in the morning or in the late afternoon to avoid the hottest hours of the day, and wonder how or relatives and friends are faring through similar hot temperatures… only they live up north, in Illinois, Michigan, New York…

Watching the yard waste truck deal with the pile of debris

 

Yep, the rain I will not complain about, and the heat we’ll deal with, but the mosquitos, now that’s a different question. Hope everyone had a great weekend, and wishing everyone a cool week!

The very first instruction...