Weekends on Wednesday!

Get Ready!
Get Set!
Go!
We are off to the Holiday Races!

It's Wednesday again! Time to figure out what fun things you are going to do for the weekend!

And it is such a busy time of year, there is no shortage of options.

Here's the list, organized by Date.

Have fun out there.

Cheers!

Boyd


NOV 28th

Turkey Trot Charity 5k by the Y of Central Maryland
YMCA sponsored races in 5 different locations. Take your pick! They all occur on Thanksgiving morning, so you have time to burn a few calories before packing them in later on in the day.
  • Baltimore City
  • Bel Air
  • Catonsville/Ellicott City
  • Towson
  • Westminster
Find some unique gifts at the German Christmas Market in Baltimore's Inner Harbor.
It runs from November 28 - December 24.

Nov 29th

Located in Upper Marlboro.
Looks like fun!

Fireworks and a giant Christmas Tree.

The B&O Rail Museum: Ellicott City Station kicks off it’s annual Holiday Festival of Trains celebrating toy trains and model railroading..  Visit during this opening weekend and meet Railroad Santa who’ll be handing out special treats to children.

New this year is a custom built 360 degree LEGO model train layout created by The Washington D.C. Metropolitan Area LEGO Train Club. This masterpiece made completely of LEGO toy pieces is interactive for children of all ages. There are push buttons along the sides that will activate lights, motors, and sounds. Other model exhibits featured at the Station will include a popular Thomas the Tank Engine G-scale layout, a small N-scale layout.

The exhibit will run Wed – Sundays from Nov 29 – Jan 26, 11 – 4 pm.
$6 Adult non-members     $4 Children age 2-12

Get 50% off admission when you bring a new, unwrapped toy to donate to Toys For Tots 11/29 – 12/15!

Nov 30th
If you've never visited the Lights on 34th Street in Baltimore, make this your year to attend. They are fun, unpretentious, and creative displays. And it truly is only one block of very intensive lighting displays and decorations. I discovered this for the first time last year. It was great!

Do you love parades? Then visit Westminster to view their Electric Parade at 5 pm.

Dec 1st

(Performing Arts Series for Children)
Located at HCC, at 2:30 and 4:30 pm

Ongoing

Use this map to spot some art (and see a bit of Howard County!)
(Except I think #7 has been moved to the Mall at Columbia. Can you find it, there?)

Visit the Classic Plastic Bricks Store, with Lego Train, City, and Star Wars displays

If you love Christmas, and you love the Ocean, then why not combine the two, and visit Ocean city at Christmas time? You'll always find something to do there.

Drive to Cumberland to catch the North Pole Express! It travels up to the Depot at the North Pole, where you and your family can see Santa and be served milk and cookies.

The round trip takes 3 1/2 hours.

I have to tell you, this is a great museum any time of year, but it looks like they really make a big deal out of Christmas. I'm sure it's worth a visit!

Maryland Monday

Brrr! It's cold out there!
So I'm warming myself with memories of an August boat tour.
Spa Creek, Annapolis

Lincoln's Gettysburg Address

My mother-in-law clearly remembered the day when she was in the first grade, and an old woman visited her class. The old woman had been present when Abraham Lincoln gave his Gettysburg Address. She had been a young girl at the time, but remembered it clearly. She shared her memories with those young children, way back in 1924.

 This week we have commemorated the speech given 150 years ago.

 Here's to remembering a great man, and his great speech.

Can you recite it?

Cheers!

Boyd

Four score and seven years ago our fathers brought forth on this continent, a new nation, conceived in Liberty, and dedicated to the proposition that all men are created equal. 

Now we are engaged in a great civil war, testing whether that nation, or any nation so conceived and so dedicated, can long endure. We are met on a great battle-field of that war. We have come to dedicate a portion of that field, as a final resting place for those who here gave their lives that that nation might live. It is altogether fitting and proper that we should do this. 

But, in a larger sense, we can not dedicate -- we can not consecrate -- we can not hallow -- this ground. The brave men, living and dead, who struggled here, have consecrated it, far above our poor power to add or detract. 

The world will little note, nor long remember what we say here, but it can never forget what they did here. It is for us the living, rather, to be dedicated here to the unfinished work which they who fought here have thus far so nobly advanced. It is rather for us to be here dedicated to the great task remaining before us -- that from these honored dead we take increased devotion to that cause for which they gave the last full measure of devotion -- that we here highly resolve that these dead shall not have died in vain -- that this nation, under God, shall have a new birth of freedom -- and that government of the people, by the people, for the people, shall not perish from the earth.

-- Abraham Lincoln
Nov. 19, 1863
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Weekends on Wednesday

Have you planned your weekend, yet?

 Here's the scoop on some local stuff... Thanksgiving stuff,  Christmas stuff, Music stuff, Exercise stuff, Outdoor stuff, and History stuff - there's something here to interest everybody!

 Back County Hike--Discover the wilderness in Oella's backyard on this guided, moderately strenuous hike to the far reaches of the land where Banneker lived and worked. For 10 and up.

Half-Moon Hike with S'mores: Bring your family out to experience nature’s “dark” side. Discover the adaptations that nocturnal animals use to survive at night and see how well your own senses compare as you wind your way through the woods at Robinson Nature Center. Warm up under the moonlight with s’mores by the fire. Dress warmly. Children must be accompanied by an adult. Recommended age is 7 yrs +. Family fee is for three or more immediate family members. $10 individual / $25 family

Dazzle Dash: Rain or shine, kick off Symphony of Lights with a run/walk through the lights as well as games and activities for children of all ages, food, music, entertainment and giveaways. Dazzle Dash takes place Saturday, Nov. 23 for runners only and Sunday, Nov. 24, for walkers only $30 per participant with discounts for group registration; children under the age of 3 are free.

Historical Tour of the Manor House and Shrine: Have you ever wondered about the Franciscan Monastery on Folly Quarter Road? You can tour it!
Join us on the last Sunday of the month for a walking tour of the Manor House and Shrine of St. Anthony. The tour will last approximately 1 hour. Families are welcome. Please meet at the Manor House. There is no charge for this event.

  • Puppet Show - for 12 and over, due to strong language 
  • Opera Studio - In honor of the centennial of Benjamin Britten’s birth, the Maryland Opera Studio proudly presents his rollicking 1947 comedy. In an English village, the imperious Lady Billows strikes a blow against the immorality of the local girls by breaking with tradition and crowning a King of the May. Albert Herring, the hapless lad selected, unfortunately chooses this moment to change his “good boy” image.
  • Wind Ensemble - On this concert, UMWE performs wind arrangements of popular choral works, including Morten Lauridsen’s O Magnum Mysterium and Carl Orff’s Carmina Burana. 
Maryland Christmas Show:  Artisans and Merchants in the Frederick County Fairgrounds. 10 - 6 Friday and Saturday/ 10-5 Sunday. Adults $7/Children (10 and under) $4

Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays
1:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. 
From Friday, November 22, 2013 to February 23, 2014
Additionally, Thursday, December 26, 2013 and Thursday, January 2, 2014

The Trains of Christmas Show features an "O" Scale 3-Rail Christmas layout with steam and diesel trains by Lionel, MTH, Williams, Weaver, and other operating in snow scene on four levels. The smoke and sounds of the steam and diesel locomotives fill the air with railroading past and present. Our "O" and "HO" trains will also be in operation. Railroad artifacts, photos, trains for kids to run, and a gift shop too.



For all you Sports Fans, The photography exhibit will be housed in the Museum’s Thomas Winstead, Jr. Gallery and feature 54 images including many of his memorable Sports Illustrated photos, such as Muhammad Ali’s 1965 knockout punch to Sonny Liston.

The race itself if full, but there is room for some "Charity" runners. Whatever that means...

Two-Mile Turkey Trot in Denton Maryland
Just in case you feel like driving over to the Eastern Shore


Maryland Monday

From a few years ago -
My Dad standing in front of
one of my favorite trees.
A Japanese Maple that turns
brilliant orange in the Fall.

Money-saving Tips for the Cold Months Ahead



People often close vents and doors to the unused rooms in their homes in an effort to save some money on their heating costs. But it actually hurts you! Here's the explanation....


Installing a Door Sweep on an Entry Door WILL save you money - both when you are heating your home AND when you are cooling it. Click the link to go to a video that tells you how to do it yourself.

Tired of water ruining your stuff? Look at this! It looks like magic in a bottle. Watch the video. It's impressive.

Maryland Monday

Wilde Lake, Columbia

Digital Survival - Staying Safe on the Internet


I  recently read this great blog post that has been floating around on Facebook. Well-written, each object in the "Virtual" kit is linked to a concept or habit that will help teach children (AND adults) how to protect their reputations and their identities while surfing.

 What do the following items have to do with being smart about using the internet?

  • Padlock
  • Toothbrush
  • Permanent Marker
  • Tube of Toothpaste
  • Packet of Seeds
  • Plug 
  • Mirror
  • Sheet of Paper
  • Magnifying Glass
  • Strainer
  • Tattoos
  • Notebook
  • Soap
  • Band-Aids
  • Pet Tie-Out Cable

Digital Survival Kit

 Read the blog post and see! It's well worth your time!

Weekends on Wednesday

Veterans Day Parades
Here is a site where you can find where the parades are on Veteran's Day...Veterans Day Parades in Maryland

Waterfowl Festival
Ninon and I went to this several years ago. She wanted to buy a duck decoy for one of our kids for Christmas. The first decoy we saw was $20,000! So if you like to look at beautiful, pricey things, and watch dogs compete, and eat deep-fried Snickers bars (it was my first and my last), then this is the place you should be! Located in Easton. It is well worth the drive. Waterfowl Festival

 Go for a Hike
Here is a link to a great article on how to hike with kids. If you scroll down, there is a list of 6 Kid-Friendly Hikes available in our area. It's a good excuse to get out and enjoy Mother Nature before it gets too cold. Family Friendly Hikes

Maryland Monday

An old stone home in Beaver Creek.
(There's some great fly fishing in this area...)

Happy Halloween



Should you be afraid if you need to sell your house when it is located close to a cemetery?

 On October 21, Redfin released a study showing that homes near cemeteries take longer to sell, but sell for more per square foot. On average they take 48 days to sell, instead of 39. And the homes closest to the cemeteries sold for (on average) $162/sq ft, as opposed to $145/sq ft for homes located  just 500 ft farther away.

 Seriously!

 The top five cities in the nation with the most homes for sale near cemeteries?

 Our very own Baltimore tops the list, followed by:
Philadelphia
Chicago 
Boston 
and Atlanta
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