Another super fun thing we did when we were in Pennsylvania is we went to visit Opa's hunting and fishing club, Hiawatha. Hiawatha is a place where Mama and my 3 uncles used to go to lots as kids and they have such amazing memories from there. Mama was really excited to share it with me and Papa. Unfortunately, Papa could not make it this trip, but I went and it was like Heaven for a toddler.
First thing, my 16 year old cousin Eva was there and I fell absolutely in love with her the moment I re-met her (we met when I was just a little baby before), then the caretaker had a daughter, Kalli, who is 5 years old and she had tons of really fun toys and stuff that I got to play with. There were also muddy puddles, sidewalk chalk, a kid-sized jeep that really worked (much to Mama's terror when it started up while I was sitting in it alone!), and a huge sand pit area, a forklift and Bo the dog. There was a kid sized vacuum (which I just adore) and warm brownie dessert one night, and a sprinkler to play in (first time I ever did that), and a tractor to climb on, and a lake with docks!!! I had no fear of the water or the very wobbly docks and wouldn't even let Mama hold my hand when we were down at the lake...this made Mama VERY nervous and she decided we'd play most of the time up the hill away from the lake.
It was so, so fun! I'm so glad Opa and GranSmoky took us there and that cousin Eva was able to spend all that time with us.
Working hard in the sand pit.
Playing in the mist with Eva.
Posing for a picture on the dock with Eva.
No fear on the wobbly docks!
Eva took this amazing shot of me.
Mama and I touching the lake water.
I'm King of the Mountain!
Opa, Mama, me, and GranSmoky in the "back yard" of Hiawatha.
1 comment:
My granparents, Bertha and Theodore Heim, were caretakers here when I was a baby in the early 1960's.I used to love to come here and spend summers with my grandmother.From your photos, the only thing i recognize now is the 'backyard'. I have so many happy memories playing back there as a child... Hypnotized by the hummingbirds that fed at the feeders that hung from the back porch,while rocking away on the big rocking chairs. Or feeding the very tame squirrels and "chippys" peanuts right from my lap!My brothers and sisters and I used to spend summer afternoons catching salamanders in the shallow waters at the shores of the lake and walking the path through the apple orchard to go out to the road and get the mail was a daily adventure.There was always wildlife all around us...deer, bears etc (we had to RUN back sometimes if we happened upon a mother and cubs!)It was truly a paradise there. Inside the lodge in the 'game room' was a piano where I would "play" and make up songs to sing to the "animals". I think of those times often and I wonder if all those things are still there. guess I'll have to make a day trip up there to see what it's like now!
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