Halloween 2015

We celebrated Halloween early with Grammy Red and our cousins, Lily and Izzy.  We dressed up and went trick-or-treating around the campground on the 24th.  We filled a big bag with candy. We made ice cream.  At night we walked around our campground, Gettysburg Farm, to see all the lights. We went on the Haunted Hayride and had hot chocolate.

Near Halloween Grandma Carol and Grandpa Eddie came to Circle M in Lancaster to see us.  We went to Valley Forge, the Tabernacle, and my favorite eating at Shady Maple.  The last day they were there we dressed up and carved pumpkins.  It was fun to have two Halloweens.

Written by Marcus W. Perry

Valley Forge National Park

We went to Valley Forge with our grandparents while they were with us in Lancaster. We drove about an hour and arrived around 12 o’clock. We went in the visitor center to get our Junior Ranger books and look around the museum. We went to the movie next. It gave us information about the winter during the Revolutionary War,that the American army spent there. It was the winter of 1777 to 1778. They called that winter the Winter of Red Snow. Washington’s troops poorly fed, ill equipped, weary from long marches, staggered into Valley Forge. Only one in three of them had shoes. They began to build huts to move into before winter settled in. In the end they had about 2,000 huts. After we finished watching the movie we went to the car to go and drive around to see all the sights. We had driven only a little way when we reached the first stop. We got out and went to the replica of the huts. They had about five that you could go in. They we cramped and were not built to stand a long, long Pennsylvanian winter. We moved on. There were many statues inside the park, honoring many different men who fought bravely in the Revolutionary war. We stopped at a couple more pull offs on our way around the loop. One of our last stops was Washington’s headquarters. They had built a train station there in the 1911. They used it as the visitor center until 1960. The actual house that he used was owned by Isaac Potts. He had rented it to his Aunt Deborah right before Washington came in the winter. It was sublet from her. Washington rented the house for the winter for 100 pounds a month. We toured the house. While it was Washington’s headquarters, twenty-five people lived in the house. We continued on, until we reached the visitor center. There we were sworn in as  Junior Rangers. I am glad that we got to stop a Valley Forge with Grammy and Grandpa.

Written by Cali

The Biblical Tabernacle

In our study of world history we learned about the Tabernacle.  Grammy Carol and Grandpa Eddie have been leaning about it in their Bible study as well, so we decided to visit the reproduction while we were in Lancaster.  At the Biblical Tabernacle Reproduction we took a tour of the Tabernacle. It was pretty cool inside.

The guide described what we saw. The tabernacle is comprised of three parts; the courtyard, the Holy Place and the Holy of Holies. They are all in closed by a wall of 100 cubits by 50 cubits. The gate always pointed east with Moses and his family in front of the gate with the Levites on the sides, the twelve tribes were behind it. 

The first thing inside the courtyard is the brazen alter, then next is the wash basin. Inside the Holy Place there is the lamp stand, table of bread and an incense alter.  Then there is the Holy of Holies where the ark of the covenant is located. Inside the ark of the covenant is Aaron’s staff that blossomed, a bowl of manna and the ten commandments.

I thought seeing this reproduction gave me a good idea of the size of the original described in the Bible.  I am glad we had this opportunity to see it.

Written by Marcus

Martin Guitar

 

Out Front

About 2 weeks ago we went to the Martin Guitar Factory in Nazareth, PA. We went there to go on the tour and learn about guitars. When we arrived we got our ticket to go on the tour and while we waited we walked around in the muesam. It told about the history of guitars. My favorite display was about Martins millionth guitar. Soon it was time for the tour.

Different Woods

Fronts and Backs

First they cut out the fronts and the backs with a laser cutters. Then they press them to make them flat on the machine that kind of looks like a Ferris Wheel.

Bending

The Sides

 

 

Then the cut out the sides and bend them in to the shape they want using heat.

Ready for the Neck

 

Then they brace the front and back using a technique that they came up with.  They glue the front and back pieces to the sides next.

The Necks

Finger Boards

In a different department they have assembled the necks and attached the fret boards.

Custom Guitars

Next they put the necks on the body and send it through a glosser. The polish it about three times and then it goes to the testing room.  You have to be able to play guitar to work in the testing room.  After they are tested they are ready to be shipped.

Ready for Testing

After the tour you could try out some of their guitars and other products. I am glad we got to go to Martin Guitar Factory.

Written by Cali

Pennsbury Manor

Pennsbury Manor was the historical New World home of William Penn. William Penn was the founder of Pennsylvania with sylvania meaning woods, so Pennsylvania means Penn’s woods. This historic home is a re-production of the original 3 story manor house. It had a barn smith shops, a kitchen, a garden and small houses for other Quakers. Do you have Quaker Oats Cereal? Something you might find interesting is that the man on Quaker Oats Cereal is Bill himself.

Written by Marcus

Bethlehem Steel Works

We stayed at the casino built near an old steel plant, so we decided to tour the closed plant. The company was Bethlehem Steel, the inventors of the Bethlehem beam. You may not know the name but you know the recognize it. They could produce one destroyer battle ship a day. It opened in 1857 as the Saucona Iron Company in  closed as Bethlehem steel company in 2001. If not for them the US would have lost wars.  They produced enough steel to build 12000 golden gate bridges. The Bethlehem Steel Company and Bethlehem Shipbuilding Company were both leading industries in America before plastic and imported goods came along. I think it looks like a castle. If it were it would be huge.

Written by Marcus

The Raid at Gettysburg

At our Thousand Trails park, Gettysburg Farm, a Civil War re-enactment took place. They had a gun demonstration and encampment. Lily and Izzy came over to enjoy it with us. This was a cavalry unit, one of the only cavalry units in the Northeast. That evening they had a battle, the winners had breakfast in the lodge the next morning. I am glad we got to see the Raid at Gettysburg Farm.

Written by Cali

Trenton, New Jersey

We visited the New Jersey State capital. I know your probably thinking: What! I thought you went to all the state capitals! We did. We went to the New Jersey state capital when Marc and I were five. It was our first state capital. Mom and Dad only got a couple of pictures so we went back. We left our camper (which was parked at the Sands Casino) at 9:40. We were going to go on the 11:00 tour but we were too late, so we waited to go on the 12:00 tour. While we waited a family came along, also going on the tour. Mom started talking to them, and come to find out they were also full-timers and they were trying to visit all fifty state capitals too. Our tour guide had visited all fifty state capitals, so we talked about which one were the grandest and which ones were our favorites. While we were talking, the New Jersey state Governor walked by, Chris Christie.

We started the tour. First we went to the Senate and Assembly. We went to the Senate first. Our tour guide talked for a little bit and then another tour group came in so we left and went to a little room behind the Senate, where most people can’t go. We went to the Assembly next. She told us about the chandelier in the middle of the room. Thomas Edison made it for the state house. Nobody knows for sure what it means but it was very pretty.

We moved on the Governors Office. While we were in there, Chris Christie came by and said ” Hello, do have any questions? I am headed to lunch but I could answer a couple of questions.” One of the guys on the tour asked ” Where are you going for lunch?” He replied ” Well actually I am going to Pennsylvania to eat.” Then he gave us the directions to the restaurant. He shook our hands and then headed for the door. When he left the tour guide finished telling us about the governor’s office, then we left. At first I wasn’t sure if I wanted to go back, but I am glad we did.

-Cali

The Benefits of Staying at a Casino

 

We left Gram and Eddie’s house around 12:30 in the afternoon.  Our destination was Sands Casino in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania.  Yes, you read that right a casino.  We have discovered that casinos are great places to boondock.  They have big parking lots, welcome overnight parking, have security and are sometimes in convenient locations.  We had emailed a few days earlier to make sure overnight parking was permitted.

We arrived about 3 o’clock in the afternoon and found the long term parking.  We hopped in the car and drove to Dunellen, NJ to meet up with Mama and Papa Scott.  We couldn’t miss seeing them!  We had a great dinner at Kerwin’s.  Mama brought us lots of goodies.  Sadly we didn’t take any pictures.

We drove back to the casino for the night.  The next morning we headed to Trenton, NJ to tour the state Capitol.  We will tell you about our visit in the post.  Then we headed over to Pennsbury Manor.  We will also write a post about that.

Last thing for that day we went to the Cappetta’s.  We built a fort, ate pizza and played Labyrinth.  It was so great to see them if it was only for a couple hours.  Then we headed back to the casino parking lot.

After school and work on Wednesday we headed to Metuchen.  I wanted to catch up with my friend Nate.  We picked him up when he got off the bus and we headed to the park!  We had pizza and spent a few hours hanging out.  It was great to see him.  We had a much fun as we did when I lived in NJ.

Our friend Sams just happened to be visiting his mom in New Jersey so they met us at the park too. He and Cali had fun on the monkey bars. It was really nice to see him and his mom.  Afterwards we headed back to the camper at the casino.

When we got back we went for a walk by the Bethlehem Steel blast furnaces.  I will write all about them soon.  We went to the outlets in the casino and dad bought a new pair of shoes.

On Thursday morning we toured Martin Guitar. Which was really cool! I’ll tell you all about how they make guitars in a later post.

So you can stay at a casino and not spend any money.

Marcus

 

Antique Car Parade

This year we were in Tunkhannock while the Tunkhannock carnival was going on. Every year there is a antique car parade. It is called the John and Bill Stroka Antique Car Parade. It is named after my Grandpa William and Great-Great Uncle John. They both helped with the parade in the past. Our Uncle Bill and Aunt Krysta came up to drive my Grandpa Williams Model A in the parade. Uncle Bill and Dad got the car ready. We drove it down and got there a little early. We went and looked the other cars while we waited. Soon it was time to go. We went first. Our cousin Megan rode with us. They let the tractors go before the cars so we were way ahead. On our way around the loop we stopped and talked to several people. We were around before the last car had started, so we got to watch the end of the parade. When I asked Marcus what he though of the parade he said ” It was neat to ride in an old car my grandfather owned. I wish I gotten to meet him.” When we went home we had pizza and a fire. It was a great way to end a fantastic day.