Take this home

“Here, Grandpa, I advise you to take this home.” The advice came from Riley Lane, 4, and “this” was a small portion of hydrangea blossom picked up from the trail at Middleton Place. Middleton is an old rice plantation outside Charleston, SC. It is a National Historic Landmark preserved in its 18th century state.

It’s a grand place for families to visit. We spent an entire afternoon there, soaking in the beauty. drinking in the history, learning new things and enjoying each others’ company. We talked to animals like water buffalo, goats, horses and cows. We talked with a blacksmith about metal working in the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries. We had experience shucking and grinding corn.

After a mid-afternoon supper, we helped milk Rio, an 18-year-old Jersey cow. Supper itself was something of a Southern country experience for the grown-ups. The girls settled for chicken fingers and fruit.

We then spent some time expatiating the grounds, touring the gardens, and (as the girls said) “venturing off into the wilderness.” Along the way, we visited an old mill on the Ashley River, next to some of the rice paddies where Middleton grew “Carolina Gold,” a strain of rice prized through the 18th, 19th and 20th centuries.  Near the paddies was a terraced lawn perfect for rolling in the grass.

Earlier in the day we had the opportunity to see how to cook outdoors over open fires (much like we do in Boy Scouts. At the blacksmith shop, Jenna asked about the bellows and got something of an historical account of how bellows evolved between the 18th and mid 19th centuries. In the process, we learned several things about working metal and a few things about colonial supply and demand.

Then we had the opportunity to shuck corn using a 150-year-old machine and we ground the grain by using stones we had to turn by hand. Nearby was a clothier dressed in leather breeches, and out in the common area, Middleton Place occasionally a drummer and fife player would perform and then explain the role that drummers and fife players assumed in battle during the Revolutionary and Civil wars.

We visited Liza’s House to see how plantation slaves lived at Middleton. On one wall of Liza’s house is a registry of several hundred slaves who had been listed as Middleton’s “property” and the prices paid for them. It is as sobering as “The Wall” on the mall in Washington.

Caprock overnight

Sometimes even a simple overnight camp out can be a challenge.

Grandson Davis Hindson spent July with us, and we had plotted an overnight camp out at Caprock Canyons State Park just for the boys. So we loaded Davis, Aiden, Grandpa and Jake into the Element right after lunch on Monday, July 20. The trip to the canyon was interrupted only by a half hour construction delay south of Floydada.

We registered for a camp site, and enjoyed the drive into the park, taking in red cliffs over the green vegetation. When we reached the Little Red campground, someone else already occupied our favorite site; so we had to do a little scouting around. We found a fine place and proceeded to set up camp.

By the time we had the tent up we were feeling the 104 degree temperature. We could tell by impressions in the campsite sand and by the nearby creek beds that it had rained recently. We built four lizard catchers and set out to see what we might find. Jake almost caught one, but the little guys were just to active and too fast.

I spent a fair amount of time examining crystals in the soil and studying the flora. On one slope I found what I had thought was peyote cactus (Lophophora), because its form and habit resembled a photo I had seen in the 60s. I now doubt that conclusion, but the plant was in blossom and was interesting.

As the afternoon wore on, we all became somewhat enervated, and vainly sought relief from the heat in the shade. At night we all slept on top of our sleeping bags.

We had gone to bed without putting the rain fly on the tent, but lightning some time after midnight inspired Jake and me to put the rain fly in place, despite the warming effect it had on the inside of the tent.

Turned out to be a good thing. It wasn’t long before the thunderstorms came blowing and crashing through the canyon. The storm had more wind than rain, but enough moisture to get many things wet. And there was enough wind to blow around anything that wasn’t tied down.

Aiden and I went to Honey Flat to fill our water jugs, and then we had breakfast before breaking camp and looking for more lizards. We found more horseflies than we did lizards. Next year we may go earlier in the season!

iPhone number!

Hey everyone! I just got a new iPhone!   My number is 1 (707) 267 4794.  I get free At&t mobile to mobile, but I don’t know if anyone else uses ATT for their cells.  Anyway, call me up ^_^;

Love,

-Elijah

Say Hello to My Little Friend…

 

Wait, we’ve added one more to the bunch. Honey is a (approximately) 3 year old chihuahua. Abel is tolerating all 4 pounds of her. She on the other hand bears her teeth and snarls when he looks at her wrong.

 

The vet explained there is nothing to worry about – Like all married couples they will work it out.

Atarah Atkinson Photography

Atarah’s been hard at work with her new camera, and has lots to show for it.

Check out her work at:

http://www.myspace.com/atarahatkinsonphotography

or email her at sallyjoe@gmail.com

For a small sample in this space, you can see her work in the 2007 entry, “Atarah Atkinson Moves.“

Cousin Davis Visits Texas

Arriving three hours early via Uncle Jacob and Aunt Andrea’s Honda, cousin Davis wearily staggered out of the car into Texas early this summer. During his stay, while he was not playing video games with cousin Aiden, swinging in the backyard with cousin Lilly, hanging out in the playhouse at Aunt Jenni’s house, he could be found floating in Grandma’s pool. Davis ruffed the rugged Texas terrain twice during his stay. Once in Gaines County with Grandpa Randy and once with Uncle Kenneth at White River.

Davis reported that his favorite part of camping was riding in the back of Uncle Ken’s pickup while Ken drove through giant puddles. While camping, Davis discovered that funyons roasted over an open flame taste like hot funyons. Cousins Lilly and Aiden pointed out native wildlife such as jack rabbits, wild turkey, and Aiden’s favorite, frogs as they explored the campsite and lakeside.

Davis even got the opportunity to walk alongside Aiden and Lilly with Aunt Jenni across Texas Tech campus to visit with her Professor. (A good two mile trek – round trip) Although he and his cousin Aiden moaned about the death that would surely come from such activity on the way back to the car, as soon as the doors were unlocked and windows rolled down Davis called out, “Now can we go to the park?!”

Before Davis left Texas to spend the remainder of his vacation in sunny California, his cousin Aiden asked Aunt Jenni if Davis could stay and be his brother. Needless to say, Davis’s family in Texas, looks forward to the next time he visit’s the lone star state.

Atarah Atkinson Moves

Atarah said a temporary good bye to Humboldt county as she moved to the south to live with he father. Atarah now lives in Madison, Alabama.

Working hard, learning new things, and meeting new people she has taken a huge leep into her future by working in her fathers media company Good News media (www.goodnesmedia.tv/) as the General Production Manager.

If any one is interested in phone numbers, or addresses, email Atarah at sallyjoe@gmail.com

The following are some photos of Alabama, by Atarah Atkinson (taken with her camera from Randy and Nancy)

Hannah’s CD Released

Hannah recently released her first demo CD during Arcata Highs Arts Institute Fashion Show “Lucent”.

After working on her demo CD of four songs it was finally shown to the public on April 27, 2007. Not only was the CD released but Hannah preformed one of her orignial tracks entitled “Been Waiting”.

For the price of only $10.00 the CD has been selling well. If anyone is interested in buying a copy of Hannah’s debut album “Unforgettable Face”, please email Laura.

Current Life in the Atkinson Household

Life in the Atkinson household has changed considerably in the past few months. Even so most of you wont know the difference, considering this is the first time someone From the actual Atkinson clan has written on this web site. And even though you may not have any prior knowledge to how things are at my home, I think you will still be able to understand. Here is the basic outline:

The Boys:

Elijah…
Elijah has been going to HS where he is exceeding in math and many other skills. He still lives at home, and is still with his lovely girlfriend Sarah. In his free time these days he plays World of War craft, something he is also exceeding in. Elijah’s days are simple yet joyful for him and overall he seems happy.

Isaiah…

After graduation he traveled around a bit, up North and down South, and he has returned home with hope of going to school and getting a job. He too spends time playing World of War-craft, and ironic enough Isaiah has a girlfriend named Sarah as well. Overall Isaiah is busy [Read more]

New photo gallery

Hey all, the Humboldt contingent has shared with us a selection of photos from 2006. They include some shots of Isaiah’s graduation, a family trip to Redding in the fall, and Zia’s adventure at Burning Man (pictured here). There’s also a few pictures from Atarah’s visit to Lubbock in 2006. Laura has some images of the new additions to her family, but she needs to tell us about them and upload the stuff herself.