Murder Mystery this Saturday night!

The Murder Mystery takes place in the 1860s so I had to make sure my hoop dress was ready to go.  The last time I had worn this dress was last spring.  I had put a note on the outfit that the skirt and petticoat needed to be shortened.  In addition, I knew the bodice needed a little embellishment.

The front

I had already added 2 rows of dark blue grossgrain ribbon on the bottom of the skirt.  Anyhow, it now looks like:

I also shortened the petticoat and all is ready to go now.

Rail Faire!

Labor Day Weekend is alway Rail Faire Weekend for Ardenwood.  The Railroad group shows off all their train engines, some of which they bring to Ardenwood just for the weekend.  They give rides to our visitors and everyone has a great time!

Also, this year we had hosted the replica casket of Abraham Lincoln.  The casket was used in all the re-enactment of the train ride from Washington, DC to Springfield, Il on the 150th anniversary.  Since those ceremonies, the casket has been on tour throughout the US.

We were so busy with tours, it was a long weekend.

Earthquake! Prepare now! Week 4 - Sept 7, 2015

Earthquake! Prepare now!  Week 4 - Sept 7, 2015

Another week, more prepared!

If you do feel an earthquake you can help the scientists learn more of how the earthquake waves travel by going on to the USGS web site and telling them how you felt it in your area.

http://earthquake.usgs.gov/earthquakes/dyfi/   then click "Did You Feel It?"   Click on the incident you felt and they have a survey asking you questions about it.  I have even gone in when I didn't feel it because that is important too. You can then see how many other people took the survey, how far away from the epicenter you were, etc.

TO DO
Check your house for hazards. †

Identify which hazards you will reduce first. †
(Don't forget to attach monitors and TVs to the wall.  A TV toppled off a cabinet and killed a little boy!  OSH has Earthquake wax that you can put under knick-knacks to hold them from flying off a shelf.)

If you haven't already locate your gas meter and water valves and place the proper tool near each. † Obtain a collar-tag or microchip for your pet for emergency identification.

If you happen to have an extra nice large backpack you can start filling it up with the things on the shopping list.  You do want to have tools for your kit and not ones you use for working around the house because you want to know right where they are at when you need them.

SHOPPING LIST
Crescent wrench** †
Heavy duty rope** †
Duct tape †
2 flashlights - hand crank or battery operated †
Batteries for flashlights †
Bungee cords** †
Water proof matches †
Scissors

Rail Faire and Abraham Lincoln's casket (replica)!

Labor Day weekend is always soooo busy at Ardenwood.  I signed up for tours yesterday and today.  Tomorrow I am taking a break!

I must say, this year the kids and parents have been much better behaved than last year.  Maybe kids are getting field trips again through the school.  Last year, the parents, as well as, the kids seemed to have no sense of manners or how to act in someone else's house.  I even had one child run up and start jumping on the bed!  The mother just stood there until she saw the look on my face .... then she apologized to HIM for having to taking him off the bed!  Needless to say, I had my eye on them for the rest of the tour and knew they had better behave.

So glad to have well-behaved people!

Simone and Spencer joined our tour today.  And Simone took a picture of me in my newly "embellished" mourning dress.