Archive for June, 2011

Anne of Green Gables

Wednesday, June 29th, 2011

Grandma Maureen was standing on the balcony smiling as she watched the ship docking at Prince Edward Island. “Why are you smiling, grandma,” asked Arthur J as he joined her on the balcony. “Yeah, why are you smiling,” asked Annie as she stepped out to see the ship come along side the dock.

Anne of Green Gables“Ever since I was a little girl I’ve  wanted to see Prince Edward Island and now I am here,” answered grandma. “Here is where my favorite childhood story took place. Oh, it wasn’t a true story, it was fiction, but the author used the places and the things and the people as they were in 1878 on Prince Edward Island  to tell a story about an orphan girl that comes to live here. The orphan girl is Annie Shirley and the book is Anne of Green Gables. It was written by Lucy Maud Montgomery who used her own childhood memories growing up in rural Prince Edward Island to write the book. Since it was published, in 1908, it has sold over 50 million copies.”

“I never heard of it , grandma,” said Arthur J. Grandma looked sad for a moment and said, “That’s too bad. When I was a girl Anne of Green Gables was required reading for school.”

Well, no matter, you will learn all about Anne of Green Gables today from our tour and walking around Prince Edward Island. Our first stop on the tour is Green Gables where Lucy Maud Montgomery, the author, grew up. So hurry and get dressed so we can have breakfast and get off the ship and start learning about Anne of Green Gables.”

After the tour of Green Gables, grandma took Arthur J, Kathy and Annie on a walking tour of Charlottetown, the main city on Prince Edward Island. There, on one of the corners in the downtown area was a store totally devoted to Anne of Green Gables. It had books and DVDS, music, clothes and, of course, dolls. They had a great time exploring the store for over an hour.

Arthur J took Kathy and Annie aside when grandma wasn’t looking and asked the girls to keep grandma busy while he bought her an the original story of Anne of Green Gables. The girls took grandma over to another section of the store and Arthur J bought the book with spending money his parents gave him for the trip. He hid it in his backpack.

Later that night, just before bed, Annie asked grandma to read them a story. “I don’t have any books with me,” said grandma. Arthur J reached into his backpack and pulled out the gift-wrapped book.

Grandma’s eye’s misted over as she opened the package and saw the book…Anne of Green Gables. She hugged and thanked her grandchildren for their thoughtfulness and said, “Under the covers you go, children. Where are my glasses? It is time to return to an earlier time and join Annie Shirley in her new life on Prince Edward Island.

For more pictures of Anne of Green Gables go to http://greengables-1.tripod.com/pictures/

Pocket

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The Biggest Fiddle in the World

Saturday, June 25th, 2011

Arthur J woke to the sound of voices that were coming from outside the ship. How could that be? They were at sea. He got up, opened the drapes, pulled open the glass door and went out on the balcony of  his cabin. He looked below. They were in port, tied to the dock in Sydney, Nova Scotia. The voices were coming from the people on the dock; he hadn’t imagined hearing voices. They were real.

He turned to the right and saw the biggest instrument he had ever seen. It looked like a big version of the violin that Yundi played in the “Can Do” Street Community Center orchestra back home.

Just then Grandma Maureen joined him on the balcony. Arthur J said, ” Look Grandma, a large violin.” Grandmas Maureen gave him a smiled and gave him a morning hug.

larget fiddle in the worldShe replied,”No Arthur J. That is a fiddle. The largest fiddle in the world.”

Arthur J looked confused and asked, “But why is the largest fiddle in the world here and not in a big city”?

Grandma Maureen answered saying, “It is here to remind visitors of how important fiddle playing is the the people who live in this part of Canada and just how many wonderful fiddle players and other musicians come from this region.”

Arthur J thought a moment and asked, “When we get off the ship, can I get my picture taken with the fiddle for show and tell at school in September”?  Arthur J and Grandma Maureen were too busy looking at the fiddle to realize that the girls were up and standing right behind them until they began to say, “Me too, me too we want our pictures taken with the big fiddle!”

So that is just what they did after getting dressed and having breakfast; they got off the ship and got their pictures taken with the Biggest Fiddle in the World!

Be sure to come back soon to read more about Arthur J’s,  Annie’s and Kathy’s continuing cruise adventures!

Pocket

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It’s Cruise Day!

Tuesday, June 21st, 2011

Arthur J, Kathy and Annie were so excited as they made their way into the cruise terminal with Grandma Maureen.

Their cruise ship looked so tall and long to them !

The night before their parents saw them off at “Can Do” Airport. They flew to New York City where they spent the night in a hotel. It was their first time on a plane and they loved it! They watched a movie and had a snack on the plane.

When they got in the cruise terminal, they had to go through a security check. Then they had their pictures taken and were given an ID card to wear on board.

When they got on the cruise ship they couldn’t believe their eyes! It was beautiful! Their stateroom had a small sitting area, bathroom, refrigerator, TV and bedroom area with four beds and an outside balcony. Kathy said, “I love this cruise already.”

Everyone quickly unpacked so they could have lunch in the buffet restaurant. For dinner they would go to the dining room. Kathy said, “Grandma, you went over dining room manners, but what do we need to know about eating in the buffet restaurant”?  Grandma Maureen thought a moment and said, ” Just use you school cafeteria manners and you will be fine.” Arthur J looked nervous and said, ” Um, my cafeteria manners aren’t so good. Please tell me what I should and shouldn’t do.”

Grandma Maureen sat Arthur J, Kathy and Annie down and went over the following manners for cruise buffet dining:

  • Get on line at the end of the line and don’t cut in line
  • Don’t jump ahead of someone as they are selecting their food; wait your turn
  • Take only what you think you can eat;you can always go back for more if you are still hungry
  • Once you put food on your plate you cannot put it back on the serving dish
  • After you get what you want, wait for each other and we will all find a table together
  • If you go back for seconds, get a clean plate; don’t use the plate you just finished eating from
  • Don’t look for napkins and utensils; they will be at the table when we get there
  • Don’t look for something to drink; when we sit down the waiter will get us what we want to drink

The “Can Dos” were amazed to see all the foods they had to choose from in the cruise buffet…salads, fruits, sandwiches, hot meals, breads, cakes and cookies.  They tried a little bit of everything and then went out to the ice cream bar and got cones.

After lunch they signed up for a crafts activity and Grandma Maureen took a nap. After the craft session, they all went swimming and then back to their room to change for dinner.

Soon it was time to use their cruise dining room manners. They were seated with a grandma and grandpa traveling with their grandchildren, Billy and Julie who turned out to be around the same age as Kathy, Annie and Arthur J . By the time dinner was over, they were all friends. The kids went to an evening movie in the kids cruise camp and Grandma Maureen went to a show in the theater with her new friends from dinner.

That night, as the kids were falling asleep, they all thanked Grandma Maureen. Arthur J spoke for Kathy and Annie when he said, I can’t wait until tomorrow. Taking a cruise is the best!”

To Be Continued…

Pocket

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Cruise Manners

Friday, June 17th, 2011

Grandma Maureen invited Kathy and Annie and Arthur J for dinner to talk about the cruise they were going to take together.

Grandma Maureen is so excited about winning a cruise for four to Canada. She’s thrilled to be able to treat her three grandchildren as a reward for their good grades. She wants to make sure they know what to expect on a cruise and know picture of grandma Maureenhow they need to behave.

Grandma Maureen set the table the way it would be in the dining room on the cruise ship and she played the part of the waiter.

Arthur J, Kathy and Annie practiced how to order from the menu that Grandma Maureen made for them. During dinner they brushed up on their table manners to make sure they knew when to use what fork during meals. Grandma gently reminded her grandchildren to; cover their mouths when they burped and say excuse me, not talk with their mouths full, and cut their food in bite size pieces before trying to eat it.

“Remember children, the two magic words…please and thank you,” said Grandma Maureen. Arthur J, Kathy and Annie nodded in agreement.

While her grandchildren ate ice cream and cookies as their treat, Grandma Maureen shared about cruise camp where they would meet other children their age, play games, go swimming, see movies and do other activities during the days they were at sea. On the days they were in port, in different places in Canada, they would take tour buses and visit interesting sites and eat lunch out.

Annie asked, “Are there any special manners we need for the cruise other than table manners”? Grandma Maureen smiled and said, “Why yes there are. Let’s go over cruise manners right now:

  • Take the stairs when you can and leave the elevator for those who need to use it because they have trouble going up and downstairs
  • Always hold the door and let adults go before you unless they say that you can go ahead
  • Its OK to be friendly with other adults when I am around
  • Always say please, thank you and excuse me and say it like you mean it
  • No shouting, running or throwing things”

“Wow, grandma, that’s so much to remember,” said Arthur J. “Don’t worry, I’ll be there to remind you of your cruise manners,” said Grandma Maureen with a smile.

Pocket

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Summer Fun…Summer Safety

Thursday, June 9th, 2011

Coach Campbell was already in the classroom when the “Can Do:” Kids arrived for the start of the school day. He greeted the students and asked that they take their seats so he could begin talking to them about summer safetpicture of coach campbell golding a clipboard and wearing a whistley.

“Summer is a wonderful time of the year,” said Coach Campbell. “A time for summer fun playing games, going swimming, riding bikes and skateboards, playing sports like baseball, going to camp and visiting friends and family. Summer is also a time when children who don’t practice summer safety rules can have accidents and wind up not having so much fun. So, let’s review some summer safety rules to be sure all of you have a great summer.”

The class all nodded. Coach began by reviewing water safety. He reminded the class to:

  • Learn to swim
  • Never swim alone
  • At the beach, pool or lake, never swim or even go into the water unless there is a life guard on duty
  • If you have a home pool, don’t go into the pool unless there is an adult there to watch over you
  • Don’t play rough in the water by holding someone’s head under water, or grabbing his or her legs
  • Wear a life jacket in a boat
  • Don’t use an inner tube or other inflatable device without an adult being near you

The “Can Do” Kids all nodded their heads to let Coach know they understood and would practice the water safety rules he shared with them.

Coach then moved onto safety rules for games, sports,  riding bikes, skateboards and scooters by reminding the class to:

  • Always wear a helmet when riding a bike, a scooter and a skateboard to prevent a head injury in case of a fall.
  • Don’t throw equipment around for others to trip on or get hit with during and after a game
  • Don’t ride your bike, skateboard, or scooter after dark
  • Don’t ride your bike, scooter or skateboard in street traffic, ride it in areas reserved for these biking, skateboarding and scooter riding.
  • When playing sports, use proper equipment, play safe and play fair

Coach ended his summer safety talk by wishing everyone a safe and fun summer.

Pocket

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