GFE Train Room Open House (12/23,24,26,27/2020)

Wednesday, December 23, 2020
Due to tightening of COVID-19 restrictions, this year's Granite Farms Estates Train Room Open House was limited to two visitors at a time and restricted to Independent Living residents; no guests. A sign-up sheet was provided by Jan B, Director of Life Engagement. Between the hours of 15:00-17:00, there were eight 15-minute slots, allowing 16 visitors per day over four days.

Photo from 2019 was used on the flyer
announcing the 2020 Train Room Open House (KSS)

The Open House flyer warned that this is a "work in progress."

"Bare" Mountain (KSS)

Coal mining operation at the base of the mountain (KSS)

Freight station "along the wall"

We haven't yet added "water" to the stream

The "other" side of the tracks (KSS)

Railroad crossing (KSS)

View cross town (KSS)

Industrial section of town (KSS)

Power plant

Steam locomotive barn with access to coal and water

Diesel fuel facility

General view from the railroad yard (KSS)

Here are some videos following a freight train.

Sunday, December 27, 2020

We had 57 visitors, including some walk-ins and folks who came on the wrong day or at the wrong time. However, it all worked out for all those who wanted to see the GFE Train Room.

Merry Christmas Project (12/25/2020)

Friday, December 25, 2020

Merry Christmas?

What do you do on Christmas Day during the pandemic when you are discouraged from seeing your family in person and essentially are stuck in your abode all day?

Reupholster the dining chairs!

We purchased a pair of chairs from Second Chances.

If you notice the front of the seat cushion, one of these had the seat installed backwards!

Another view of the chair.

Now the chair has a new fabric cover, and the seat is properly positioned!

We won't tell you how "inexpensive" the total cost for these two chairs was!!

Natural Lands Stroud Preserve (11/28/2020)

Saturday, November 28, 2020

Stroud Preserve was bequeathed to Natural Lands in 1992 by Dr Morris Stroud, with the stipulation that it always be available as a study site for the Stroud Water Research Center.
Today we tackled the 4.1 mile red loop trail.

Well! The parking lot was overflowing, but the preserve
is so large that social distancing was not a problem

The East Branch Brandywine Creek, wide, but shallow

Field stone bridge over the creek

Giant hay bales dotted the landscape here and there; but
first we would climb the hill along the snaky path to the right

We made it to the first scenic overlook!

Next we were in a grove of Picea abies/
Norway Spruce

The bark of a Norway Spruce tree

A path to/from a horse farm, but we must stay out
until January 24, 2021 (after hunting season?)

More acreage for cutting hay (KSS)

A couple horses and their stable (KSS)

This tree has more horizontal branches (KSS)

Here the acreage was used to grow corn

Apparently self-seeded Rumex sp/Sorrel

Bright red leaves of a Viburnum sp perhaps

Nesting box trail marker

Evidence of sharing the trail with horses

See the prints of horseshoes?

Solanum carolinense/Horse Nettle fruit (poisonous!)

Scenic overlook at the grasslands; there is a serpentine
barrens at Stroud Preserve, but it is not well-marked

Neighboring Deborah's Rock Farm with 1815 farmhouse
(with many additions!) and a field stone barn

Is that a springhouse down by the pond? (KSS)

A kestrel or screech-owl nesting box sits
above an electric fence

Looking back up at the last scenic overlook

Kent views the wetlands

Afforestation (planting trees where there were no trees before)
is taking place in the former man-made pond (KSS)

The homestead in the center of Stroud Preserve remains private;
the original farmhouse of the former Georgia Farm was built in
1740 (with additions c 1835 and 1890) using green serpentine stone

The Georgia Farm barn with an addition looks as if every
horse has a covered patio!

Probably a Liquidambar styraciflua/Sweetgum
with a multitude of seed pods (KSS)

Tales on Trails, Newlin Grist Mill Park (11/26/2020)

Thursday, November 26, 2020

We have seen something like Tales on Trails in a couple locations, so decided to record the one from Newlin Grist Mill Park in Glen Mills, PA.

One Duck Stuck (1998) by Phyllis Root,
illustrated by Jane Chapman

Down by the marsh, by the sleepy, slimy marsh,
1 - One duck gets stuck in the muck, down by the deep green marsh.
Help! Help! Who can help?

We can! We can!
2 - Two fish, tails going swish, swim to the duck.
Splish, splash. No luck.
The duck stays stuck deep in the muck down by the squishy, fishy marsh.
Help! Help! Who can help?

We can! We Can!
3 - Three moose munching on spruce plod to the duck.
Clomp, clomp. No luck.
The duck stays stuck deep in the muck down by the swampy chompy marsh. 
Help! Help! Who can help?

We can! We Can!
4 - Four crickets chirping in the thickets leap to the duck.
Pleep, pleep. No luck.
The duck stays stuck deep in the muck down by the pricky, sticky marsh. 
Help! Help! Who can help?

We can! We Can!
5 - Five frogs hopping on logs jump to the duck.
Plop, plop. No luck.
The duck stays stuck deep in the muck down by the creaky, croaky marsh. 
Help! Help! Who can help?

We can! We Can!
6 - Six skunks climbing over trunks crawl to the duck.
Plunk, plunk. No luck.
The duck stays stuck deep in the muck down by the soggy, loggy marsh. 
Help! Help! Who can help?

We can! We Can!
7 - Seven snails making slippery trails slide to the duck.
Sloosh, sloosh. No luck.
The duck stays stuck deep in the muck down by the slippy, sloppy marsh. 
Help! Help! Who can help?

We can! We Can!
8 - Eight possums nibbling on blossoms crawl to the duck.
Slosh, slosh. No luck.
The duck stays stuck deep in the muck down by the reedy, weedy marsh. 
Help! Help! Who can help?

We can! We Can!
9 - Nine snakes leaving little wakes slither to the duck.
Slink, slink. No luck.
The duck stays stuck deep in the muck down by the messy, mossy marsh. 
Help! Help! Who can help?

We can! We Can!
10 - Ten dragonflies zooming through the skies whir to the duck.
Zing, zing. No luck.
The duck stays stuck deep in the muck down by the muggy, buggy marsh. 
Help! Help! Who can help?

We can! We Can!

splish | clomp | pleep | plop | plunk | sloosh | slosh | slink | zing

They all help the duck who got stuck in the muck.

Spluck!

"Thanks!" said the duck who got out of the muck
down by the deep green marsh.

The End.