The snow geese migration back to the north passes through Middle Creek Wildlife Management Area in Pennsylvania. It isn’t far from where I live. This year the migration has already begun. Even though it is a few weeks earlier than normal (thank you global warming) it is no less of an exciting event. The babes and I went to Middle Creek today to catch a glimpse of the action.

It was our first time to this particular park. I was hoping for a midsize lake brimming with geese, one parking lot, and a lovely trail around the shoreline. I had visions of the three of us strolling along the lake, pausing to look at the thousands of geese. The girls would be thrilled to see so many birds at once. They’d be captivated for close to thirty minutes. We’d be hugging, laughing and pointing as we gazed upon the majestic annual event. After which we’d frolick on grassy knolls, maybe have a snack, and catch some sun before we hopped back into the car to cruise home.

Not so.

What actually happened fell a few inches short of the pin.

I found the park easily enough; and you can’t miss the lake because it is huge. It’s the finding of the geese that’s the tricky part. They are not a stationary mass of birds, and their location is not always obvious. The lake area had roughly 5-10 parking lots scattered around it. And likewise, roughly 5-10 hiking trails in and around the lake not always necessarily headed to the lake. I parked in the visitor center (which was closed!?!) parking lot, got the stroller out, got the girls out, and headed off to find the geese on the lake. I found the lake, we saw a goose, and in the distance I spotted what we had come for…a white mass of birds hundreds of yards away on the other side of the lake.

So we trecked back to the car, got back in our carseats, put the stroller away, and drove off in an attempt to find a parking spot, and trail, closer to the action. We were definitely not the only spectators on the lake today, nor were we the earliest. As I rounded the western side of the lake I could see some action. Not bird action mind you, people and automobile action. This tiny wildlife refuge parking lot resembled opening day of the state fair. It was overflowing and automobiles were parked on the side of the interstate for a quarter mile. The rangers were out directing traffic. It took us a while, but the girls and I got a sweet spot, got back into the stroller, and made the short treck through woods and marsh to the water’s edge to join the hundred other people in watching the snow geese do their thing. That’s right. We finally got what we came for. The girls and I watched a couple of thousand geese float on the water all at the same time. Unfortunately it was a bit less climactic than I had hoped. And it held the girls attention for all of thirty seconds. They were much more interested in staring at the wildlife photographers with their enourmous telescopic lenses and funnny hats and fishing vests, than the damn birds. In fact, I’d venture to speculate that the geese found the crowd of humans as intriguing (if not more) than the humans found them.

Nature works in mysterious ways.

So our experience looked more like this than the top photo.

We stood on the lakeshore for a total of two minutes and then began to take our walk back to the car. The girls walked themselves the entire mile to the car. Forget the geese. This walk was the best part of their day. They got to walk all the way by themselves! No mom holding their hand. They approached (and sometimes pet) close to ten dogs! And I didn’t count, but I’d venture to guess they were greeted by close to 50 people. They tripped a couple of times while trying to run, found some rocks, picked up a few sticks, put it all in their pockets, and even touched a few dirty napkins and tissues on the ground.

In all it was not a day wasted.

They are learning about the world. And most imortantly, learning that there is no length to the ends that their mother will go to in an attempt to find unique activities to enjoy.

The town that I live in is located next to Reading, Pennsylvania. Reading is a small city that, aside from a few restaurants and bars, I don’t know anything about.

Wait. I take that back. The Reading Railroad that is on the Monopoly board is this Reading.

In addition to that distinguishing feature the city of Reading also possesses a pagoda. It’s one of those things you exit the turnpike for, to stretch your legs and take a selfie, when you are driving from Pittsburg to Philly.

The Pagoda is located on a hill that also boasts a nice hike or scenic drive. I have visited the Pagoda a handful of times. I find it kitschy and charming. I want to have party there.

I most recently visited the Pagoda when my aunt and cousin were in town. Our sojourn was a bit of a bust, as we were too early in the day for the monument to be open and the ground was covered in ice. (Oops) We got out of the car long enough to peak over the wall at the city and take one obligatory photograph. The babies were in the photo. And seeing how this post is about the pagoda and not them I chose not to use the picture I took. Thus, you (the reader) only get an illustration of the Pagoda from the 1900’s.

Which brings me to the history of the structure…
With the price tag of $50,000, the Pagoda was built in 1908. It was orginally intended to be a luxury resort at the top of Mt. Penn, but due to a bank foreclosure and the denial of a liquor license, the Pagoda Resort never opened. By 1910, the Pagoda and surrounding 10 acres were deeded to a local business owner. On April 21, 1911 they “sold” the Pagoda to the City of Reading for the sum of $1. Since then the Pagoda has been owned, loved and cared for by the citizens and City of Reading.

It is 7 stories high. The Pagoda walls are 5 feet thick at the base tapering to 2 feet thick at the top of the second floor, from there to the top, they are frame-covered with terra-cotta shingles. There are 60 tons of tiles on the Pagoda.

There are thousands and thousands and thousands of pagodas in the world, and the Reading Pagoda may not make any Top 10 lists on Pagoda websites, but the Reading Pagoda is the only pagoda in the world with a fireplace and chimney.

Bam.

Go here to learn more about the Pagoda in the event you want to visit it.

Go here if I’ve just inspired you to get super-into pagodas and you want to plan your life’s travel around visiting as many of the important ones as you can.

#2.

Longwood boasts over 1,000 acres of outdoor garden space and over four acres of indoor gardens and greenhouses. The park also has three amazing treehouses on the property. Every inch of this space is transformed for the holiday season into a wonderland.

It was a chilly day, but we toured the outside first; visiting two of the three tree houses, the topiary garden, the open air theater fountain show, and the train set.

By that time the Conservatories were a welcome respite from the cold. It was a beautiful variety of rooms with over 6000 seasonal plants. This does not include the other plants that are always there, like the bonsai, the banana, or the orchids…over 500 types! Longwood even has an indoor children’s garden. The babes loved it. Another of the indoor highlights is the music room. The room itself is beautiful, and so is the Fraser fir decorated with music instruments. It must have been over 12 ft tall.

While we were in the music room we chatted up a nearby guard. (All of the staff at Longwood is very nice.) We were given a brief history of the place. It goes something like this.
As with most descriptions about land in America, the area that is now Longwood Gardens was once home to the Lenni Lenape Indians. In 1700 the 402 acre plot of land was bought by a farmer whose grandsons built a 15 acre arboretum on the land. It was one of the finest collections of trees in the nation. The 402 acre farm fell into neglect. It was purchased (rescued) in 1906 by Pierre du Pont. The du Pont family knew great corporate success in America. Pierre du Pont traveled frequently, maintaned a love for gardening and sought to use his riches wisely. The gardens of Longwood Gardens were built over many generations, but it was du Pont that began their design in a “piecemeal” style, having no grand plan to start. Pierre built the first garden in 1907, the Flower Garden Walk. By the summer he was throwing parties in this lovely space, and its popularity encouraged further projects on the land. The Open Air Theater would be completed five years later. After the fountains duPont built Longwood’s first indoor “winter garden.” The conservatory, as large and beautiful as it is today was completed in 1921. The music room was constructed in 1923; an elegant Music Room with walnut paneling, damask-covered walls, teak floors, and a molded plaster ceiling. It was built opening onto the central axis of the main greenhouse.

The public came in droves to see these wonders under glass, fulfilling Pierre’s childhood dream. The du Ponts also had the perfect place for grand entertainment, and they hosted many groups, family, and friends. The guests’ reactions were always the same. They thought it a place beyond compare. By the 1930’s the land had grown to 926 acres. Finally, in 1946, the government gave approval for the Foundation to operate Longwood Gardens as a public garden. Pierre duPont died in 1954. This was not, however, before he had outlined a plan for his property to be well-funded and adapt to life in the future. Some things change. And some things stay the same. I hope nature, and humanities appreciation for nature stays the same.

Merry Christmas.

Thank a tree.

The moment the babies and I came home from the hospital I started taking a walk everyday. In 446 days, I’m convinced I haven’t missed more than 20 walks. It’s my favorite daily activity. It beats brushing my teeth, showering, and drinking coffee.

A unique feature of walking in my current locale, Wyomissing, is all of its alleys. Quite frankly, the town is bilateral. One side is boulevards, big shady trees, lumpy sidewalks, gorgeous old homes, and manicured lawns. The other side is winding alleys with driveways, garages, backyards, cars, vegetable gardens, basketball nets, and piles of junk. Of course there is also an abundance of patio tables, swing sets, and pools.

The alleys can be so overgrown and cluttered. Neighbors let their ivy go wild. They also let their DIY supplies pile up. You can hear conversations, music, and laughter. It’s inviting. You feel a sense of home.

There’s no bustle on these obscure local roads. The only vehicles consistently using this lane are the trash and recycle trucks. They aren’t a neighborhood highway. It’s a great path to trace with the babes.

As I walk the alleys and peek into my neighbors’ backyards I think of Europe. There are many visual details in the scape that remind me of the time I spent living in Germany…Narrow drives…Old trees… Half timbered houses…Fabulous flowers… Cats… Tiny garages.

As a matter of fact, Wyomissing was designed by Germans in the early 20^th Century. It was previously inhabited by the Lenape indians until they were bought out by William Penn. Many years later, Wyomissing Industries, manufacturer of textile machinery, was established by the firm of Thun & Janssen along the Reading Railroad. It was in 1904-1905, that Thun and Janssen began designing the borough.

It’s quite interesting and beautiful here. No two houses are the same. Size or shape. No two streets are the same. No two lawns are the same. It’s amazing how old, and traditional, and settled a small town like this looks. With many of its structures still dating back to the early 1900’s, it is in stark contrast to the neighborhoods of El Paso from wence I most recently came.

And only the wind knows where my little family and I will end up next. But for the time as it currently be… we delight in our days one step at a time.

As my walking in El Paso inspired my #interestingtrash project on Instagram, my walking in Wyomissing has inspired a new project. In my perfect world where I have all the time in the world I will continue snapping detail shots (such as the above) and turn them into enormous, gorgeous, bright paintings. Once I have 10-15 large paintings I will display them in a gallery show titled Your Neighbor’s Yard. After which it will also be turned into a coffee table book. This will be my second published book, after the #interestingtrash coffee table book. Then, both of those books will be turned into coloring books. And by the time all of that is complete I will be old and gray.

Speaking of time… Finding the time to write these articles, on this here blog, has become a real challenge. I still enjoy it. Obviously. Even in its infrequency. So I thank you. From the bottom of my heart. For reading.

If I’m old and gray, but still alive I will make a documentary about my life. It will be called Thanks for Reading.