Hestia's Homeschool

We packed up the kids and headed down to spend four days in Daniel Boone National Forest. We always go to the same campground (my husband is very much a creature of habit), but it is a very nice one and we are friends with the Forest Service caretakers now. They are the ones who helped us catch that poor dog last fall that needed to be euthanized.  Phyllis and George are in their  seventies, retired from the Air Force, and a delight to know. She calls me occasionally with some animal that needs a home.

While we were staying there some idiotic teen boy in the campground was pestering a copperhead snake with a short pointed stick. It was trying to escape and crawl under some steps, but finally bit him.  This happened at four in the afternoon---but the parents did not wake up the park rangers to let them out of the campground gate(it locks) until four AM.  They took him to a local hospital, forty five minutes away, which could not care for him, so then they had to airlift him to Lexington.

I belive the snake is okay.  Phyllis and I were shaking our heads at both the teen boy and his parents...fortunately, copperheads are not all that poisonous--or it did not get him too badly...If I had seen it I would have intervened.

I saw a Timberback rattlesnake while we were hiking in the mountains. Dave and the kids had charged ahead about fifteen feet, making lots of noise.  Since it was about ninety five degrees, plump little ole me was puffing along in the back when I heard that unforgettable rattle sound--like dry bones rattling together. I could not see the rattler's body in the dry leaves, but it was about six feet away and I could hear it very clearly, and see the tip of its tail warning me not to step on it.

I reassured it that I had no intention of bothering it, and waited until it quit rattling and moved away.  Of course, everyone was envious that I saw it.

See, it pays to be plump and slow.

The weather was recordbreakingly hot--reaching over a hundred one day. It was so stifling that for a few hours in the afternoon we resorted to longer van rides just to cool off in the air conditioning. At almost forty five years old I am not as robust as I used to be LOL but my husband has an even lower tolerance for heat. We kept the children very well hydrated. Sleeping was a bit uncomfortable, but I enjoyed hearing the whipperwills serenade us all night.

We had bought another tent, thinking that Darren would have a "boy tent", but Mandy slept by herself and Tabby and Darren had a tent of their own. They were very noisy and giggly, with apparently a lot of farting going on.

Darren has fit so well into our family. He is opening up more and more, and becoming more affectionate and silly.  He is a typical little boy, loving to talk about poop and farts and tease about gross stuff. 

David spent a  lot of time around the campfire teaching him the nuances of making farting noises under your arm, and then under your knee.  It was hilarious.

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• #6 Comment from hestiahomeschoolEntry Author 
  6/27/05 6:04 PM | Permalink

  Koomer Ridge is very close to Natural Bridge, in the National Forest.
• #5 Comment from my78novata 
  6/27/05 5:25 PM | Permalink

  My family was shocked to hear about that boy MAN those parents. Can you tell us where koomer ridge is?????? I loved the pics we are driving up to check things out one weekend soon
• #4 Comment from sugar1337 
  6/27/05 4:04 PM | Permalink

  Sounds like yall had fun.  :)
• #3 Comment from rgossett4195 
  6/27/05 3:59 PM | Permalink

  hot here too!  at our campground the poor lake is fed by the river but it's drying up too, we need rain so very bad...I am going to go out and do a rain dance if we don't get any by weeks end...Foolish teenager and even dumber parents!  Looks like your little family is doing very well! :)  rose
• #2 Comment from piperacharmed1 
  6/27/05 1:47 PM | Permalink

  Sounds like a great time! I love to look at pics of your kids....they always look so happy and carefree.
  Tracie