Seagle Music Colony 2009 Schedule

Since 1915, Seagle Music Colony has been training talented singers in opera and musical performances in Schroon Lake. Located on the web at www.seaglecolony.com.

Where to see fireworks in the Adirondacks

Tupper Lake: July 3: fireworks at dusk at the Municipal Park
Hague: July 3: fireworks at 9 p.m.
Westport:July 3: fireworks at Lee Beach 9:30 p.m.
Lake George: July 3: fireworks at 9:30 p.m.
Lake Placid: July 4: fireworks at Mirror Lake Beach 9:45 pm - 10:05 p.m.
Saranac Lake: July 4: Summerfest, Kiddie Parade (10:00-11:00 am starts at St. Bernard's Church) Fireworks: 9:00 p.m.
Inlet: July 4: fireworks over Fourth Lake: (rain date July 5) at dusk
Long Lake: July 4: fireworks 9:30 p.m.
Indian Lake: July 4: fireworks at dusk
Old Forge: July 4: fireworks at dusk
North Creek: July 4: fireworks at dusk
Bolton Landing: July 4: fireworks at Roger's Memorial Park at 7 p.m.
Speculator: July 4: fireworks on the public beach at 9:30 p.m. (rain date July 5)
Raquette Lake: July 4: fireworks at dusk
Ticonderoga: fireworks at 10 p.m.
Schroon Lake: July 4: fireworks at dusk
Minerva: July 5: fireworks at dusk
Athol: July 6: fireworks at Veteran’s Memorial Field at 7 p.m.
Essex: July 11: fireworks at Beggs Point Park at dusk
Chester: July 11: fireworks and Summerfest

Paddle on Osgood Pond

My husband and I are alone. My daughter is worried as she goes off to a play date that we will be lonely. We are soon in the middle of a pond, completely alone. There are no young voices yelling to see a cobweb, bug, rock, or floating stick. There are never long moments of silence. The dynamic children bring to any activity can fill the air and allow one to see things differently. The enthusiasm for the simplest of things is refreshing.
That said, they also have the ability to vacuum the positive energy right out of a given situation with life altering decisions like they no longer like bread while dramatically claiming starvation at the same time they wave a sandwich overhead. Another way is when is when they have to go to the bathroom only after being life-jacketed and paddling in the middle of a lake no matter how many times they are asked before to take care of business. It happens and we survive but during all that I am not always tuned into the hermit thrush’s call.
I don’t want to get philosophical on the joys of parenting. It is a pleasure and a joy. Still, there is a part of me that wistfully listens to the wanderings of my childfree friends. So for today I enjoy a few hours of quiet while my children are invited elsewhere. Today the only constant stream of chatter is that going on is inside my head. It is a unique situation for us to be surrounded by still. Even the wind is taking a reprieve.
An easy entry to Osgood Pond is the Osgood Pond Waterway Access on White Pines Rd. on Rt. 86. This pond does not allow personal watercrafts (Jet Skis), which only adds to our quest for quiet. We put in the canoe and hit an easy pace that is unmatched with children. We glide through the shallow weedy water startling a mother merganser. She attempts to lure us away from the shore. We are happy to oblige. Later we will describe the snapping turtles, calm water and gentle call of the hermit thrush to the kids. It will be some time before my daughter understands the difference between being lonely and being alone.

Parenting Tips: School Projects and Clutter

Items needed: photo album, color printer, photo paper, digital camera

In our household children and clutter go hand in hand. I do my best to keep ahead of the paperwork coming home but it can become overwhelming.

On the same thought, children put a lot of work (and sometimes glitter) into their school projects. In the house it can create a mess and a build up of projects. I want to create an environment that acknowledges their creativity but also doesn't overrun the rest of us with egg cartons and shoe box dioramas.

At the beginning of each school year I give my children an empty photo album just for school projects. We set a time limit that each project will be "on display" in our house. Our time limit is one week after the school presentation takes place. Of course if family is coming to visit then we will postpone so our children can demonstrate for the grandparents.

We make a big deal when it is time to take the photos. Take as many angles as necessary and let the child select a few that summarizes their special project.

My thought is that it helps the child focus on what is important to him/her while acknowledging a job well done. It also strengths the idea that pictures.

You do not have to limit the photo album to just projects but charts, artwork and that special A+ on a math test. I usually slip a few plastic 8 1/2x11 sheet protectors in the back of the album for other memories.

Have fun!

Clearly not my servant

My son turned to me the other day, after I asked him to pick up his clothes, and informed me that he was not my servant. Clearly, this is true. Since sarcasm is not an appropriate response, I cock my head to the side and go over the course of an average day. He has to put his own clothes away after I wash, dry and fold them. He has to set the table while my husband and I alter between cooking and cleaning up the meal. He has to pick up the toys, books, and games he plays with. He has to make sure his lunch and snack (that I make) get into his backpack. He has to buckle his seatbelt while he is shuttled from baseball, birthday parties, play dates and other activities. He has to take off his own dirty clothes and put them in a laundry basket, not around a laundry basket. He has to make the bed that he sleeps in. He has to get himself dressed. He has to make sure his own toys are off the floor when I vacuum. Those are some of the things he has to do. There are additional tasks but that is the quick mental run-down.
To give credit where credit is due, he asks to help cook, helps his sister clear the table and volunteers to walk the dog in an attempt to sway his parents that there is a hamster in his future. (This is such a remote possibility to the point where I have asked him to just start thinking of the dog as a hamster.) He is kind and he gets along with his sister more frequently than not. That all said he is clearly not my servant.
With school coming to a close this is always a challenging time of year for our family. There is all the excitement as children transition from one grade to the next. Awards, accolades, field days and graduations meld together with slices of cake decorated with the seemingly same congratulatory words. Summer programs haven’t started and the kids are still riding that sugar high. Soon all will come to a crashing halt. Now is the time to be proactive and to establish the summer ground rules before I hear the words, “There is nothing to do.” Now is the time for a new routine, more responsibility and fulfilling part of this parent’s secret agenda of training my children to be my servant.

(published in the Adirondack Daily Enterprise)

The circus is coming to town

I realize not everyone is in the midst of school finals, half school days and science projects that I find myself finishing. Yes, that I am finishing, if the number of times I’ve reminded my son of the importance of penmanship and timeliness counts toward my partial credit. I repeat to my child that I did finish the 3rd grade and find no need to repeat the curriculum. We are dealing with last minute details and lessons (we hope) learned that waiting to the last minute is not an effective way to plan.

We are not above taking away privileges or dangling the occasional carrot (or should I say circus) in front of my child’s head. I only hope he will remember that procrastination causes stress. This is a lesson I already know well. I do not need to keep reliving that as well as the awkwardness of 3rd grade.

This Saturday the Saranac Lake Youth Center will be holding its first annual circus at Lake Colby beach from 11:00 a.m. – 4: 00 p.m. There will be a traditional midway where the various games will be held like ring toss, knockdowns, beanbag fishing, lollypop tree, darts, games of skill and a large bounce house. The Little Tykes Paradise will house a smaller bounce house, sand toys and other age appropriate games. Gift certificates will be awarded for the talent show so sign up from 3:00 – 4:00 p.m. Relay races will be ongoing throughout the day while the ringmaster mingles with the crowd and clowns create balloon animals and paint faces. Prizes will be awarded for all games.

Tickets will be used for all games, food and assorted beverages. Each ticket is priced at $1.00 with the average game being one ticket. For those bargain shoppers various value packs are available: the family pack (65 tickets for $50), Super Value Pack (30 tickets for $25) and “SLYC” Special (12 tickets for $10).

According to SLYC Executive Director Elizabeth Carless, Mayor Thomas Michael will be in the dunking booth. This may be an opportunity for anyone wishing to discuss local policy. My husband is debating whether to take a turn so those disputing his/her math grade, get your pitching arm ready.

The funds raised from this event are targeted for the SLYC’s operational costs. The SLYC provides a much needed after school program for area youths aged 12-17.

As my son sits at the dining table, finishing a book report he shakes his head and lets us know his list of current woes and how he could really use a vacation. I shake off my first reaction, which is, from what, recess? My second is, “Couldn’t we all?”

as published in the Adirondack Daily Enterprise

Make Your Own Face Paint*

1 tablespoon corn starch
1 ½ tsp. water
2 tsp. cold cream
food coloring

In a small container, mix the water and corn starch until it is smooth. Blend in the cold cream. Make sure there are no lumps so the when the color is added it will be consistent. Add a few drops of food coloring at a time until the color you wish to achieve is created.

Basic colors:
Blue = 4-5 drops, more for darker color
Red = 7-8 drops
Pink = 3-4 drops
Yellow = 4-5 drops
White = leave as is
Orange = even amounts of red and yellow
Green = even amounts of yellow and blue
Purple = even amounts of red and blue


*Please do not put anything on your face or anyone else's without doing an skin allergy test first. Apply a small amount on the skin and wait at least 5 minutes before applying to larger an more visible portions of the body. If any food coloring remains gently scrub the area with toothpaste. It should come right off and you will smell minty-fresh.

To wash off use mild soap and warm water. The cold cream that is already in the "paint" will help get the colors off as well.