Blackwater Falls State Park

Wow.  February is half over and I haven't posted since January.  Chalk that up to having youngest granddaughter here until February 6th and then who knows what else took precedence.

Dan and I escaped to West Virginia on the 11th hoping to have a winter interlude for four days but snow was nowhere to be seen except a few little piles melting.  The sled run had snow because they make it.  What snow the area has had has melted with warming winter temps.

Blackwater Falls State Park in Davis, WV is known for its falls of course.  There's not much to Davis anymore.  It was once a large lumber town.  Old photos show logs floating down to the sawmill and paper pulp factory on the banks of the Blackwater River up river from these falls.  Now that is all gone and summer tourism seems to be the major employment.

The river gets its name from the tannin in the water.

This view of the falls was by way of the handicapped access.  There are steps down quite close to the falls on the other side but because of slippery conditions those were closed.

Enlarge the video before starting it.

I'll share sled run and a hike photos another time.

Foto Friday Plus

Another selection of photos from Barcelona all involve looking up!

This statue intrigued us and after some research we discovered it was a phoenix ridden by a boy.  It was the symbol of an insurance company.

This is one of the houses on the Block of Discord.  Looks like masks.

Sagrada Familia and below what's on top of those spires.

Above and below the old Hospital of Saint Peter and Saint Paul.

I'm not recalling very well where this stained glass was from.

Old Roman wall in Terragona.

The balcony of the Palace of Music -  each column is different.

The funicular taking us to the top of Montserrat.  To get any higher required a hike.

And Dan looking up or maybe not on the wall overlooking the Mediterranean in Terragona.

Life is busy this week and next.  Daughter, Sarah and granddaughter are here until the 6th.  Sarah is commuting to DC for work and granddaughter is with us.  Since July when they moved to Buffalo Sarah has been telecommuting!  It's very fun to have granddaughter here, but when she naps I nap too!

Thankfully the playground is right next door.  That's our home Residences at Vantage Point in background.

There's another park across from that at a church.  The pond has. net to keep the leaves out this winter.

That was yesterday.  Today was a trip to story time at library.  I could put granddaughter in carseat but once at the library I couldn't push the button to release her.  My thumbs have no strength.  I asked a woman passing by to do it for me.  When we returned to Vantage Point I called Dan to the garage to do it.  Next time I'll try a tool before we leave.

Granddaughter brings joy wherever she goes here in this "old folks home"!

National Geographic Museum and Jane Goodall

Last Monday I went on a trip organized by Vantage House where we live to the National Geographic Museum.  

One of the two exhibits was on Jane Goodall, known for her stellar work with chimpanzees.

The introductory video as you enter featured these three screens.

 As we watched one of the chimps left the screen and sat on top!  We all laughed out loud.

Jane at an young age was entranced by animals.  This was a much loved chimpanzee.

Two of her favorite books.

She finally got to Africa by saving up her money and once there landed a secretarial job with the famous Louis Leakey.  He was the one who suggested she study the chimpanzees who lived near by.  She devised her own methods of observations.

He mother accompanied her to the camp they set up.  While Jane went to watch the chimps her mother offered medical services to the nearby villagers.

Just when Jane's funding was about to expire she observed a chimp using a stick to gather termites from inside a termite mound.  The chimpanzee had made a tool which was astounding to all who had studied animals up this time.  Jane got more funding and the rest is history.

The exhibit included a 3D movie that made you feel you were sitting in the jungle observing the chimps.  There were stations to learn how to vocalize like a chimp.  Lots to read and lots to look at.  A worthwhile trip.

Foto Friday

Oneida Lake north of Syracuse, NY. where we vacationed as a family last summer and will return to in August.