Author: Erin @ Cracker Crumb Life

I try to create a culture of celebration in our home. For life, for the little things, for wonder and for whimsy. I try to find the beauty around us and teach my son Wyatt to find it, and appreciate it and love it as well. We are a homeschool family, and we love it. We love the freedom it gives us to explore a topic or idea more deeply, and I like that I can adjust our schedule around Wyatt’s other needs. Wyatt has cerebral palsy and epilepsy, and his week often has therapy, doctor’s appointments, naps peppered throughout which would make a traditional school schedule difficult. He is also an asynchronous learner, and I love that I can tailor learning to where Wyatt is at that moment. We have a house full of animals and will probably add more because we like a zoo. We have one cat, Miso, who is a rescue. She is 14 years old and my little floofy girl. We also have one leopard gecko, Luna, a pictus gecko named Harlow, a pacman frog named Freddy, and two crested geckos, Applejack and Oliver. We love all of our little friends! My husband Billy, Wyatt, and I are all curious, creative, stubborn humans which makes for some fun times around here. We love the outdoors, except we are not made for high temps so we retreat inside when the temps start to soar. We are nature lovers through and through. We are trying to downsize our lives too, to live more simply, to buy things that last and eat real food from small local farmers. (and of course Goldfish crackers) We live seasonally and are always up for adventure. We love books and reading, and can be found at the library at least once a week!

Wednesday Morning Coffee Catch Up

On By Erin @ Cracker Crumb LifeIn Coffee Catch UP15 Comments

Hello my friends! I got a new to me laptop (Billy’s new within the last two years but old to him) and all my stuff looks weird now. Is this font different? Why? I need to do some investigating! (update – it’s not, I am just apparently crazy)

Let’s see, what has been happening since the last time I chatted? Well. We moved my mom to her new place last week and that sort of consumed the entire week, outside of school and appointments. We are still working out details of what she needs, what she wants to replace, etc. All that nesting type thing, decorating, so it is not completely done but this is the fun part at least.

Saturday we had a day without work, and it was awesome. We went to Greenfield Village to celebrate my dad’s birthday and it was hilarious at first, just pure chaos. We had no idea prior to arrival (at 10 am, mind you) that it was Thomas the Thank Engine day, where they make the train look like Thomas, and everyone on earth is there to visit. So there were virtually no parking spaces at all. Then after we all finally found a spot, my brother realized they had forgotten their stroller! So while they were making the long trek to the village from the lot they had to park in, Billy and my dad went into guest services and rented a wagon to put the baby and her car seat in. By this point, it had gotten super cloudy and it was absolutely freezing – and I only had on a thinnish t-shirt. So my stepmom and I went into the gift shop and my stepmom generously treated me to a warm and cozy sweatshirt. Phew. By this point it was now 10:45 and we could finally enter the actual village. The good part- all of the Thomas people were now inside and on the train at least. Lol.

We had a great day, hanging out with my dad and stepmom, and my brother, his wife, Mermaid Girl, and Tiny Bebe. We ate, we walked, we laughed, it was a good time. I have decided I need a version of Camp Mohwak in my yard to retreat to. Although I would like a better view than the house behind me – instead, it should be woods and a river or something, more of a view like the actual cabin pictured has.

Then Sunday I met my friends at the garden center for our annual flower shopping day!

We all had our specific goals, mine being to buy plants to spruce up the toad abode, to make it prettier and to give shade. I ended up buying a few ferns, a hosta, some tomatoes and basil and cucumbers for the garden, and then some petunias and snapdragons for fun. I also picked up a crazy foxtail fern, simply because it is called a foxtail fern. I have no idea where to put it but I love it so much. Lol. Our next garden task is to get more topsoil since we are still working on getting rid of that darn ivy our previous neighbors planted, and sprinkling wildflower seeds down. That will end up being in the area behind the toad abode and it will look so pretty when it is finally all done. But, that is gardening isn’t it? You can’t hurry it, it is something that requires you to slow down and take your time. Or at least, that is the way that I like to do it. My friend Kelly is my total opposite pretty much in all things (I call us Grace and Frankie on here all the time) and she powered through and had everything in place that she bought in like an hour and had her entire yard done in a few days. I am more of a meditative gardener, I guess. I like to think about where something is going, maybe change it, maybe do this… I am just very slow. Neither one of us does it better than the other, it’s just our ways.

Speaking of Kelly…she and her sweet daughter E. supplied the “toads” for our toad abode! Well, sort of. I have to raise them first. E. and Kelly went to a vernal pond near the railroad tracks near their house, and E. collected ten little tadpoles all by hand just for Wyatt!

They brought them over to us and hung out for a bit, and it was so fun. We exclaimed over the cute little tadpoles zooming around, E. enjoyed meeting all of our creatures, from the geckos to the isopods (although I think she liked Applejack the best). I was reminded of those summer nights when I was a kid, where time stood still for a while, the weather was perfect, the kids were laughing and playing, and it was just one of those perfect, everyday moments in time. We gave her an old praying mantis ooth to take home for her own nature collection, and for some reason it just really made me happy, tadpoles for an ooth.

So that is about it for me – I need a refill on this coffee, and I need to get ready for a big day of school with Wyatt. He is also getting a haircut, and hopefully we fit some time in for the library and then later tonight, time in the yard.

How are you all doing?

The Spring of Cary Grant: Operation Petticoat

On By Erin @ Cracker Crumb LifeIn Uncategorized13 Comments

So when Lisa at Boondock Ramblings told me she was going to do a Spring of Cary Grant, I knew I wanted in on it. She introduced me to the legend that is Grant last fall, and I am woefully behind on his films. So I am tagging along on her journey, posting along with her as well.

I have done absolutely terrible at posting my thoughts on these movies – things have been a bit crazy around here for weeks. Months even. I am hoping I am entering into a quieter and easier season. However, I have been watching!

Last week’s feature: Operation Petticoat (1959)

I have to admit, when I first looked this movie up to stream I looked up Petticoat Junction and was SUPER confused. Lol. Then I realized my mistake. Then I thought, I am not going to like this movie. I am not usually into military themed movies as a general rule. Then about ten minutes in I was hooked. Or maybe after Tony Curtis first stepped onto the screen, because wow what a looker! I don’t think I have ever watched a movie with him in it before and he was quite the good looking guy. I can see the resemblance between him and his daughter Jamie Lee as well – and I totally had no idea she was his daughter until I googled him.

Basically, for those of you who haven’t seen this movie, Cary Grant plays a navy officer who has become an Admiral. The movie starts with him returning to an old submarine he spent some crazy times on, and he is reminiscing about that time as he waits for the next officer to come and take the Sea Tiger away. The old Sea Tiger’s time is up, and is about to be scuttled but is having a last journey out before being retired.

Anyway, that time on board the ship – I think the date was Dec. 10, 1941 that Grant, or Admiral Sherman, is looking back on and the time that follows. The ship needs heavy repairs after being destroyed in an air raid, but finding parts was very hard and difficult. Enter Tony Curtis, or Nick Holden. His appearance on the scene draws some laughs from the rest of the men, as he arrives all in white like the “Good Humor Man” and expecting more of a luxury cruise than active duty on a sub. However, they all soon learn just how useful Holden really is. He can talk his way in or out of anything, and is quite good at his job of finding what the ship needs – no matter how he gets it, which is mainly through scavenging or theft. It is quite humorous honestly, what they say he and the men are managing to scavenge!

They get the sub mobile again and things are seemingly a bit back to normal although a bit untraditional in areas. And then things become very untraditional, when a contingent of Army nurses are evacuated from their situation and brought aboard by Holden. And all the jokes and hijinks and overtly sexualized gags that you can imagine begin, from ladies undergarments to showering situations to women in the engine room, to the men pretending to be ill so that they can get nursed by the women. Of course, while all this is going on, there is still a war happening out there! Grant is a Lieutenant Commander at the time, and he tries valiantly to keep things sane and normal onboard his sub, and tries like heck to get the women to a safe port. But no one will take them. Later Holden even adds more women and children from an island they stop at, who need to get to safety as their island is a heavy target, just adding to the confusion and crazy onboard. It was a silly funny movie, and the ending made us both smile. It was complete, that ending.

Overall, this movie was lighthearted and funny and we both really enjoyed it. We had a long difficult week and it was perfect. It is definitely one of those movies that would be hard to remake now, I would think, but we had a laugh while watching it. We also tried to recast the movie, but not for now, but for the 1980-early 90s. We decided Harrison Ford could have played Grant’s role, or maybe Michael Douglas which would have been cool since Kirk Douglas had a very small itsy bitsy role in it. Holden’s role could have been played by Rob Lowe. The Prophet character who was a singer maybe could have been Sean Penn, and Melanie Griffith as Lt. Crandall, maybe?

Anyway, we thoroughly enjoyed this movie! Next up is Suspicion- and I have my fingers crossed I get my post up Thursday!!

To see Lisa’s post, look here! To see Katja’s post, check here!

My Sunday-Monday Post

On By Erin @ Cracker Crumb LifeIn Uncategorized29 Comments

My Sunday Post is hosted by Kimba the Caffeinated Book Reviewer

Sunday Salon is hosted by Deb at Readerbuzz

It’s Monday! What Are You Reading? is hosted by Kathryn at Book Date

Hello everyone! I am actually sitting at my new/old desk this morning, drinking my coffee and typing this up and it is pretty awesome! It was a very busy week. We moved my mom from her condo into a senior living apartment building and it consumed almost all of my time that wasn’t spent with Wyatt. I hope to catch up on lots of things this week, including blog posts and visiting blogs – especially since I may not have a car! We were on the expressway a few weeks ago when we were hit by another car. None of us were injured thankfully, but my Jeep took some damage! It has been functional and the damage is mainly cosmetic but I still need it to be fixed. It was all down the driver’s side of the car too, and I was told it will take 7 days to fix. And somehow I don’t have rental on my car insurance! You know I am definitely adding it now! The auto repair place said they may have a loaner we could use but we won’t know until we get there tomorrow. Fingers crossed!!

Read Last Week:

Wow this book really sucked me in!!! I mentioned last week that I found it somewhat rambling, and I continued to feel that way, but as the story started to really pick up I was totally absorbed and had to know just what happened that night! It has been a while since I read a mystery/thriller type book and this was excellent.

Reading This Week:

Well, I didn’t make it to the library and I very rarely buy books so it is off to my Kindle I go! I do have a book on hold; if it comes in this week I will be waiting by the door for Billy to pull up from work so I can race off to the library before it closes. (although, I may do that even if it doesn’t come in!)

I am in the mood for a creaky old spooky house book. I blame The White Hare, which I STILL have book hangover from.

I have A House with Good Bones on hold, and I found Accidental Magic on Kindle Unlimited.

Posted Last Week:

Not much!

Tuesday Morning Coffee Catch Up

Watching/Listening:

Billy and I watched Operation Petticoat, which we both absolutely loved as part of my Spring with Cary Grant that I am doing with Lisa from Boondock Ramblings – although, I am doing abysmal at actually posting!! Look for my review on it Monday.

We also have been watching Murdoch Mysteries, When Calls the Heart (such a fall back for me when I am stressed and overwhelmed!), and the Brokenwood Mysteries. We are hoping to watch Dungeons and Dragons tonight!

As for listening, Wyatt had been learning about Kentucky last week, so we listened to a lot of Bluegrass music. I also started catching up with some podcasts, like Going West (true crime) and The Night Owl (ghosts).

And that is it from my part of the world! I hope all is well with you!

Tuesday Morning Coffee Catch Up

On By Erin @ Cracker Crumb LifeIn Coffee Catch UP14 Comments

Hello everyone! I am just about to take my very first sip of coffee, and I can’t wait. That is always one of life’s best small moments, that first sip of coffee in the morning. At least for me. And I am still missing my percolator!

This past weekend was a pretty good one. We have been running like crazy people for weeks and weeks and we wanted a super chill weekend. It was our citywide garage sale so we headed out in the morning to slow boat around town and just browse what people were choosing to sell. I am super nosy that way; I love to see what people had owned and what they are choosing to not own anymore. However, after two stops we were done, but for a very good reason. I found the perfect desk for my office! I have been looking for three years for something that just spoke to me, and Saturday I found THE ONE. Lol. It was marked $75 but Billy talked the lady down to $50, and I feel like it was a steal!

However, getting this home was a bit of a challenge! We had Wyatt’s wheelchair, which takes up all the room in the back of my SUV. So we thought we would head home, get Billy’s car, we would both drive back (like 4 blocks), Wyatt would stay in the car while Billy and I loaded it into Billy’s car…. but thankfully our neighbor was out and he agreed to help Billy instead – plus, he had a pick up truck! So Neighbor Eric came to the rescue! Billy spent some time on the porch with it, cleaning it up, since it was pretty dirty and then Billy and I moved it to the office. I LOVE it. And Miso does too! I love that it is a double desk, and can hide all my crap in there. Lol. It is the perfect Mother’s Day gift! And it is special for another reason as well. Billy and I met in third grade, when we shared a double desk. It was not as cool as this one of course. They sat us next to each other because I never talked and Billy never stopped. He would ask if I was going to finish my lunch, and I always said no because I was shy, and so he would eat my sandwich or whatever and then draw me pictures. So I am thrilled to have this desk that also makes me think of little Billy and Erin.

Sunday, we worked in the yard. Everything is a big giant mess out there, we are just so behind. Everything has been so crazy – even my seedlings died due to neglect. So we put some time in on Sunday cleaning things up, getting ready for planting. At least, Billy and I did. Wyatt played.

I joked that Wyatt might have been the camp cook in an old logging camp in a past life. Lol.

I worked on this garden bed, which is mainly flowers and strawberries – and formerly dandelions as well. Billy worked on constructing our toad abode! It is still rough right now, I am going Sunday to buy some plants to plant around it, and grab some more rocks. I would like to attract toads to our yard because they are just so cute. Right now though, it looks sad still. Lol. It’ll be spruced up soon. I am going to add some hostas behind the wood logs, and then ferns and smaller plants closer to the water area. I didn’t want a giant pond to maintain, but I was reading that we just needed a small water feature so we went for petite. So this is our petite bijou toad abode. I am also getting a small water aerator (it should be here tomorrow!) to keep it not super gross or stagnant, because mosquitoes…

Yesterday I met my besties (minus one) plus baby for lunch! It has been ages and ages since I had lunch out with them and we had such a fantastic time. I got there early and made sure we got a table in the shade for the Bebe, and by the time everyone arrived I was starving!! Lol. I ordered an avocado three cheese sandwich with a side of brussels sprouts and it was delicious. But the main attraction of lunch was this wee one. Her first girls lunch! She will be two months on Thursday and she was so funny. Her mother had thought she would nap during lunch, but instead she wanted to be part of the group and action. We all had a great time.

And that is about it for this morning! I hope you all had a good weekend!

My Sunday-Monday Post!

On By Erin @ Cracker Crumb LifeIn Uncategorized41 Comments

My Sunday Post is hosted by Kimba the Caffeinated Book Reviewer

Sunday Salon is hosted by Deb at Readerbuzz

It’s Monday! What Are You Reading? is hosted by Kathryn at Book Date

Happy Mother’s Day! I hope everyone has a lovely day! The sun is shining here, I have a hot coffee, a little chatty boy with hair in his eyes, and my husband making breakfast. Billy just asked what I wanted to do for Mother’s Day and quite honestly, I am content with this. I would like to get our outdoor furniture out of storage and put in back and build a toad habitat in the backyard though, so maybe we will do that too. And of course, we are going to see our own mothers for mother’s day so that will be nice as well!

What I Have Been Reading:

I have been reading all over the place lately. I was having a hard time finding something I could really get into. I’ve started and not finished so many books these past two weeks! A few I am keeping to finish up, but the rest I am marking DNF. And, I did finish one!

I am halfway through the Moth Keeper, and it is a beautiful book. The illustrations are gorgeous but I have actually never read a graphic novel this long before so it is a new experience, and sort of a strange one for me. I do plan on finishing it but it has been sitting neglected on my nightstand for a while now.

I abandoned The Wild and Free Family. I loved The Call of the Wild and Free by the same author, but this one was not what I was expecting and really not what I was looking for. There was a lot more talk about healing past trauma, etc then I was prepared for and it wasn’t what I wanted from this book. So, I am not finishing it.

Mandy is cute, I just haven’t picked it back up after getting halfway through. When I need something quick to read and light and easy I will grab it again.

Finally, Thornyhold! The book I actually did finish. Mary Stewart is a favorite of mine and I think after reading The White Hare by Jane Johnson I was in the mood for another like it – so Thornyhold it was! I have read it before so it is definitely a comfort read.

Currently Reading:

So far I am pretty immersed in this one! It is a bit rambly and I am not sure if I like the writing style, but I am enjoying the overall story and the descriptions that remind me of my own youth in the 90s. Lol. Plus, true crime and podcasts!

Posted the Last Two Weeks:

The Spring of Cary Grant: Holiday

Mini-Trip Part 1

Mini-Trip Part 2

Mother’s Day Gift Ideas for Mother Nature Lovers

Book Review: Shady Hollow by Juneau Black

Tuesday Morning Coffee Catch Up

Watching/Listening:

We haven’t watched too much this week. Billy was busy late every single night this week which was not fun for either of us so we didn’t have a whole lot of television time. Brokenwood is back on, and we love that so we are definitely watching that. When we need something fun and camp, we have been watching Murdoch Mysteries. We also watch at least one episode of Newhart a night, and it cracks me up because Wyatt loves watching it with us too. Lol. And then of course, we watched Holiday with Cary Grant.

I have been listening to more audiobooks lately! I have been picking them up to listen to from Libby, Hoopla, and Scribd. A few weeks ago I mentioned I was listening to Braiding Sweetgrass and I highly recommend listening to it then reading it. I don’t have one I am listening to right now but I plan on looking today for a new one to listen to. Sometimes I like to read and listen to the same book, if it is available. I can read when I am able to read, and then listen while I do chores around the house or before bed quietly, resting my eyes and body.

And that is about it from around here! I hope all is well in your world!

The Spring of Cary Grant: Holiday

On By Erin @ Cracker Crumb LifeIn movies, the spring of cary grant7 Comments

So when Lisa at Boondock Ramblings told me she was going to do a Spring of Cary Grant, I knew I wanted in on it. She introduced me to the legend that is Grant last fall, and I am woefully behind on his films. So I am tagging along on her journey, posting along with her as well.

I got behind though, and Lisa was gracious enough to allow me the time to catch up! We started Holiday last week, then didn’t finish it before our trip, then when we got home things were crazy busy, so we finally finished it last night (and just ended up watching the whole thing again because I can’t just go back to the middle of a movie and start watching again). So this post was supposed to be up last Thursday! But better late than never!

This one was a hit in our house! Billy declared it his favorite, while I am still deciding if I like it better than To Catch a Thief. But it makes sense that Billy loved this one, because Billy is a bit like Cary Grant’s character, Johnny Case. A bit silly, a bit of a free spirit, a guy who likes a good time. And Johnny is a good time guy, no doubt.

The movie begins and Johnny is wildly in love with a woman named Julia, and is head over heels for her dimples. They met on a trip and fell madly in love and decided to get married. But Johnny still needs to talk with Julia’s family and when he shows up to their house, is knocked off his feet in a different way by their wealth and enormous museum of a house, impressed but also..not impressed if that makes sense. He meets Julia’s sister Linda first, played by Katherine Hepburn, and the two instantly hit it off. There is a bunch of coming and going with Johnny and where he is and he ends up in the room designated the playroom with Linda. The playroom is an ordinary room, an oasis of normalcy in the palatial fancy mansion. And it is so cozy and just normal, with a blazing fireplace and comfortable couches, as well as musical instruments and yes, leftover childhood toys. Linda explains that her late mother wanted a room that was a room that could be comfortable and a retreat, and it is evident that the playroom is Linda’s favorite room in the whole gigundo house.

Linda and Johnny get to spend some time in the room getting to know each other while waiting for Julia to talk her father about her intention to marry Johnny. The difference in financial status might get messy though, and Linda and Julia know it. However, Johnny is good at his job, and so Julia has high hopes that her father will see his potential and give him a job. Then they can settle down and live a nice, upperclass, privileged life together just as she wants. However, is that what Johnny wants?

Linda knows Johnny’s heart way better than Julia does. She knows that the life Julia has in mind is not the same as Johnny’s plan for life. He wants to be a free spirit, he wants to explore and wander and have fun, and make only the money he needs. He is not a slave to the almighty dollar with aspirations of wealth. It is quite evident to the audience and most of the other characters that Linda is in love with Johnny, and that the two are way more well suited than Johnny and Julia. Linda is the black sheep of the family, and we see that Julia and her dad dismiss her as silly most of the time, behind her back.

Linda loves her sister though, and after their dad approves the marriage, requests that she throw the engagement party, just something small and intimate, not a big to-do. She tells Julia that if she is not allowed to do this, then she won’t attend the big party. Well, Julia and her dad sort of poo-poo this idea of Linda’s, and plan to have a big party anyway. And true to her word, Linda doesn’t attend, despite it embarrassing Julia. Linda instead hides out in the playroom with Johnny’s good friends the Nick and Susan Potter, Linda and Julia’s brother drunk brother Ned, and finally Johnny as well.

Anyway, long story short. Julia wants Johnny to give up his life. Johnny wants Julia to give up hers. Neither want to, and the two break up and Johnny leaves on a cruise (that he tried to get Julia to go on). Linda realizes that Julia doesn’t love Johnny at all, and knows this is her chance to escape her gilded prison and see the world with the man she loves. So she runs out to chase down her man. It was pretty clear that Johnny had been feeling the same confused feelings and in the end, the right two characters end up together.

I feel like Julia’s hat here should have tipped us off right from the beginning about her true nature.

Katharine Hepburn is fantastic in this movie. She is simply insanely gorgeous too. Damn. Cary Grant was so saucy in this movie as well – so much physical humor and fooling around and carefree. I loved it. He has such a range, doesn’t he? And apparently so does Hepburn, because I didn’t know she was so funny!

So what would you do? If you had a chance to live a life of wealth and privilege but had to give up your dreams to do so, would you? In my twenties I was totally Johnny. Forget about settling down and wanting stability, enjoy youth while we can, that was Billy and I in our twenties, so we would probably have 100% turned down any offer that did not align with our world view. In our 40s? Hmmm. That would take a little more consideration…. lol.

We loved this one, and we are looking forward to the next in the line-up, Petticoat Junction!

Lisa’s post is here! I am grateful she allowed me time to catch up since I am enjoying these posts and I didn’t want to be too behind! Katja from Breath of Hallelujah is also joining in, and her post can be found here!

Mini-Trip: Part 2 – Wolves!

On By Erin @ Cracker Crumb LifeIn travel21 Comments

I left off yesterday just as I got to the wolves, because this part of the trip deserve its own post.

I had made reservations for Wolf Park way way back at the beginning of the year. Our original plan was to go for Wyatt’s birthday trip and as his gift – however, Wyatt ended up having three emergency shunt revisions instead. Both the Airbnb and Wolf Park rescheduled our dates for us and were amazing to work with. I had purchased the insurance for the Airbnb on a whim, and I am glad that I had that little nudge from within to do that because otherwise I would not have been able to do so. Anyway, our trip changed from March to May, and to be quite honest, the weather was a million times better than it would have been, although we could have done without the surgeries obviously!

Wolf Park was started in 1972 by Dr. Klinghammer who wanted to study and research wolves’ behavior, and create a dictionary of human to wolf behaviors, called an ethogram. Over the years, the methods and research has continued to evolve and grow, and the park is currently home to six wolves, a herd of bison, two red foxes, two gray foxes, and a box turtle named Clementine! There is also acres and acres of protected land surrounding the Park, and this is home to many other wild species of birds and animals.

In addition to all of the scientific observation and conservation efforts, Wolf Park is open to the public, so that we all may learn more about these magnificent creatures, become wildlife advocates, and to dispel the myth of the “big bad wolf”. They offer so many different programs, from the evening wolf howls, photography tours, field trips, birthday parties, bison tours, and private tours, as well as many more. Because Wyatt loves wolves and this was his gift, we made reservations at the wolf howl in the evening, and then also a private tour.

Our first event up was the wolf howl! Guests have the option to explore the grounds, shop in the gift shop, poke about in the buildings, and hike a little on the trail in certain areas before the program starts, which we did. We stopped and looked at the foxes and I exclaimed over how adorable they are, we ducked into the nature center building where we learned about the different wolf howls, depending on the number of wolves (solo, duet, rally, chorus). Then we decided to check out the seating, since kiddo was in his wheelchair. They have stadium type bleachers in front of where the program is held, but also had a few regular benches as well, and those worked perfectly for us. Then we just had to wait for it to start! Waiting was way easier than it normally would have been, because the wolves were front and center, walking a path around the front of the enclosure, getting ready for their demonstration and the howl. And probably the treats they knew they were about to get!

Want to see the wolves?

The howl started with educating the crowd a bit on wolves, wolf behavior, wolf howls, and what they do at the park. It was very interesting, but Wyatt loved when the howling began, as did just about every other kid (and maybe adult!) there. Sometimes the wolves howl, sometimes they don’t. It just depends on their mood, and when we were there, the wolf in front of us, Khewa, was giving a low howl, and it was so adorable. She was so close to us that we were clearly able to hear her.

We ended up leaving half an hour early, but not because it was boring, but because Wyatt was tiring out and we still had an hour drive back to our rental – then we had to get up early and do the drive all over again! That was ok though, because the next day was our private tour!!

After a solid night of sleep and dreams full of wolves, we returned to the park for our private tour. Nikki, our education docent, met us at the door and they were all ready for my little guy. Since we were the only people there, we were able to just leave his wheelchair in the gift shop while we were on the tour, since the gravel path was too much for its wheels. However, Nikki had secured the use of a golf cart (also reservable with the tour) and had it all backed up and waiting for our little family. We were all so excited, but no one was as excited as Wyatt.

Wyatt is a loud kid, but only with people he loves and trusts. Generally, when he is with new people or in new situations he is pretty shy and quiet. So that is what Billy and I expected when we booked this tour. We were absolutely shocked however when Wyatt was a wild child on this tour. I think Wyatt just had a lot of excitement going on! He loved the golf cart, he loved Nikki, and would not stop trying to talk to her and stand up to be near her. He seriously did not pay too much attention to the tour, but Billy and I did and it was fascinating. Nikki drove us around all the enclosures, stopped and shared information, answered our endless questions, and handled Wyatt’s chatter all very well. She definitely has a gift not just for animals but with children as well, the sign of a very good person in my opinion. She gave off just a very calm, upbeat vibe. Nikki was brought in to work with the bison, so they are her favorites on the property. We learned not just a lot about the wolves, but also about bison! It was really cool.

Our tour finished up at the foxes and with Clementine. When we pulled up at the foxes, we were just in time for the keepers to work with them so we got to watch the feeding and working demonstrations and I loved it!! Wyatt could not get over how stinky they were, because dang, foxes stink y’all. Very musky. We also got to see Clementine and learn about box turtles!

What a great place to work!

After our tour we shopped, and since we were the only people there, had the shop to ourselves which was neat too. We picked a few souvenirs for ourselves and then for our four nieces as well.

Overall, this was 100% worth the effort and money spent, even if Wyatt did not get the “full experience”. He was just so very overstimulated and excited I think by being there, but it is still an experience he will remember forever, his vacation with the wolves. Billy and I got a lot out of the tour, which was amazing and I highly highly recommend booking the private tour if you are visiting, especially if you are driving a distance to get there. If we lived in the area, this is a place that we would visit all the time and probably visit for all the fun different events they have, like the upcoming picnic and the more seasonal holiday type events, as well as the howls.

The staff was amazing, from start to finish, including when I was emailing back and forth to ask about accommodations for Wyatt, rescheduling, and then finalizing our reservations. Just a great all around experience!!!

You can see the wolves and other ambassadors here, and then explore the website for more information, because if you are a wolf lover, or know one, then this place is a definite must visit!

You can read about the first part of our trip here.

Mini-Trip: Part 1

On By Erin @ Cracker Crumb LifeIn travel8 Comments

This weekend was a blur – we were on the move! We took a quick road trip to Indiana, with a special destination in mind – Wolf Park!

Our journey started though with a blur of farm country out the car window, as we hit the road and drove the four hours or so to where we were staying. However, we did make a stop halfway through our drive, in Fort Wayne.

My late stepfather was born and lived in Fort Wayne, and although he moved away to Michigan as a young boy, he was a Hoosier in his heart forever. His love for Indiana, his home state was deep and he loved going back to visit family and to explore his beloved Indiana. So our visit was special for me as well, like a connection to my stepdad.

We had planned to spend a little more time than we did in Fort Wayne, but ended up just hitting our main goal – to see the Johnny Appleseed gravesite. Our family holds John Chapman as one of our favorite historical heroes, for his way of life, respecting nature, making peace where there is war, sharing what you have. (although he did have some strange religious views that I discovered when researching him). So, when we learned we would be near where he is buried we thought we would make a stop.

It was quite a lovely and peaceful spot, on top of a hill by a park. The other side is a giant arena so maybe not so much when that is in use but time moves on I guess. But when we were there it was quiet and peaceful.

Then we got back in the car and made a choice – mess about in Ft Wayne a bit longer or get the rest of the drive over with. And we opted to get to our Airbnb, and get settled. So we hit the road, again! We arrived to our Airbnb about an hour and a half later. I love an Airbnb. I feel like it gives Wyatt a lot more freedom, with more space to move and get his energy out, especially after being cooped up in the car, and because he can be loud if he wants. That being said, you never know where you will end up sometimes, neighborhood-wise or city wise even at times, unless you know right where you are going. I tend to focus on what the house itself looks like in the photos, how it is set up, if it looks clean, and also I look at the reviews and rating. So the house we ended up at was super cute and clean and tidy and it appeared to be in a small town that was experiencing some revitalization which is awesome. The house we were at was completely refurbished and updated, comfortable, tidy, with seriously the most comfortable bed we have all laid in ever. And since it was vacation, we often chose to be super lazy and lay in bed and watch television instead of hanging out in the living space. Because why not?

The next day we had some different options for our day. We had our wolf howl in the evening and we had to be there by 6:45 and it was an hour from our rental, so we had to keep that in mind, that we had a two hour round trip drive in the evening. So did we want to spend the day driving to different places, or stay local and have a more chill day? We decided it would be best for Wyatt to have a chill day and not wear the kid out before the wolf howl, so we explored the local area and had a very relaxed and fun day.

It was free comic book day as well! We found a nearby comic book store that Wyatt could get his free comics, and then explored the rest of the city as well. We were in Kokomo, Indiana, and it was a cute little town with a quirky little vibe, with “Geek Street” and art alley. Geek Street was a fun stop. We stopped at the comic book store, Comics Cubed, picked up Wyatt’s free comic, and purchased their souvenir pin while we were there as well. Then we headed next door to Kokomo Toys and Collectibles, which is massive and if you are any kind of toy collector this would be a mecca to head to! SOOOOOOOO many Funko Pops! It was unreal. Mermaid Girl’s head would have exploded in there since she does like to collect them. And there were literally hundreds! Wyatt however, found a different something that he loved. A tiny collectible Bob Ross! He LOVES Bob Ross and that was his pick. I was happy we found that there, because we had considered heading to the Bob Ross Experience in Muncie, an hour south, to tour the Joy of Painting set but ruled it out due to the driving and Wyatt’s tolerance for being in the car another day all day, especially since we were going to be at least 5 hours in the car the next day. Maybe another trip to Indiana we can do that.

From there we headed to Chapter 2 Books, a simply beautiful used book store! It smelled good, like wood, and that is due to the fact that it is in fact, all designed from fresh wood. It was so pretty in there! The shop keeper was super nice, and… there was a store cat named Nancy Drew! She was beautiful as well. We ended up getting a book to read together later this year, in October, and the shopkeeper gave Wyatt a Pete the Cat pin as well, and some stickers from The House in the Cerulean Sea, which I certainly appreciated. LOL.

We continued to poke around, visiting a crystal shop where I picked up a strawberry quartz because I liked the name and it was pretty, and a jasper arrowhead for our nature cabinet. Then we grabbed a pizza from Pizza Co. to take back to the rental for a late lunch, early dinner. It was completely handmade, and it was delicious. We have a tradition of trying to find a non-chain pizza place to get a pizza from on vacations so this one was a happy find!

After our afternoon of exploring and pigging out on pizza, we took a quick little disco nap before we had to get ready for our wolf howl! Tomorrow, I will talk all about the wolves…. but let me tell you, it was awesome!

Mother’s Day Gift Ideas for the Mother Nature Lover

On By Erin @ Cracker Crumb LifeIn holiday gift guide12 Comments

Ah, Mother’s Day. I remember my very first Mother’s Day. Wyatt was only two months old, one month adjusted with his preemie age factored in, and I woke up early on a rainy day to realize I needed to go to the store and grab his special formula before he woke up. It was quiet, Billy and Wyatt were both sleeping, and I thought, this is what it is like to be a mom. I have no idea why that moment felt like that so much to me, but it did. It’s the small things though, those tiny little moments, the pockets of everyday where we do things behind the scenes all the time (just like fathers do as well).

Wyatt was a surprise. We didn’t think we could have children, then boom, one day there was Wyatt. The best surprise we ever had that is for sure. However, we are all different, and have different situations. And Mother’s Day can be a hard day for a lot of people, for many different reasons. So this list is for anyone who nurtures and loves, whether that nurturing is for a child or a furry or scaly pet, or a plant, or an elderly parent or a sibling – frankly, for anyone. But especially for someone who loves nature!

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First, the bracelet I asked for. LOL. I had a rabbit bracelet similar to this that I never took off and wore for years and then sometime over the winter it must have snagged on something or it fell off and I didn’t notice but I lost it. And I miss it!

I also totally dig that mug! Because, yeah, I’m crunchy too. This one is no longer available – this is a similar one.

Two adorable tees!! I love both of these and would wear them myself all the time. I love the fox among the flowers, it is just so sweet. And I would like to consider myself a wild mama, like wild as in liking the wilderness.

These socks are too cute!! And can be ordered with the names of children, or fur babies! And this family tree bar necklace is perfect for that boho-hippie in your life! (this shop is on break – similar item here)

So I am in love with this blanket! It looks so lovely to cuddle under! The company can also personalize the blankets as well, which would be a sweet touch. And this ring is beautiful to me – green, floral, dainty. Perfection!!

Owls!!!! They are not what they seem you know! (Bonus points to you if you recognize the reference..) I really really need to get my ears re-pierced because Etsy always has the cutest earrings like these! And I just can’t with the cuteness of this secret locket necklace!! I have developed a love for squirrels this year, partially because I have a little squirrel we named Jack who scratches at the window by where I sit to let me know it is time to feed him. And when I open the door, he is sitting on the welcome mat, then runs over and leaps to the porch rail and waits for his peanuts. It is so darn cute! Anyone, this necklace has both acorns and squirrels, plus you can add your little secret message to your loved one.

I hope that you enjoyed these fun nature finds! I know that I enjoyed browsing the Etsy site, as I always do….

Book Review: Shady Hollow by Juneau Black

On By Erin @ Cracker Crumb LifeIn book review5 Comments

Goodreads Summary:

The first book in the Shady Hollow series, in which we are introduced to the village of Shady Hollow, a place where woodland creatures live together in harmony–until a curmudgeonly toad turns up dead and the local reporter has to solve the case.

Reporter Vera Vixen is a relative newcomer to Shady Hollow. The fox has a nose for news, so when she catches wind that the death might be a murder, she resolves to get to the bottom of the case, no matter where it leads. As she stirs up still waters, the fox exposes more than one mystery, and discovers that additional lives are in jeopardy.

Vera finds more to this town than she ever suspected. It seems someone in the Hollow will do anything to keep her from solving the murder, and soon it will take all of Vera’s cunning and quickness to crack the case.

My Thoughts:

This book was absolutely adorable – or I guess as adorable as a murder mystery can get, which in this case is pretty darn adorable. Shady Hollow seems like a wonderful village to live in, with a bookstore named Nevermore owned by a raven named Lenore, a moose named Joe who runs the local coffee shop, and of course Vera Vixen, the reporter with a nose for news…and solving mysteries.

Shady Hollow is a sweet little woodland town, usually a sleepy little woodland town as well. But when the grumpy toad Otto Stumpf is found dead in the water, it sets the town a buzz. At first it is thought that he died accidentally, but circumstances and evidence soon begin to point to murder – you know, like that knife found in his back when they pull him from the water. But who did it? And why? Otto’s murder kicks off a series of events, revealing new mysteries and secrets and even more danger, especially for Vera who is hot on the case.

I loved this book. I love books with animals, although honestly I was a little overloaded this time around as I am also reading Wind in the Willows and a Heartwood Hotel book aloud with Wyatt – so many animals who talk and wear clothes and live like people! However, I enjoyed escaping into the world of Shady Hollow in my own free time, and I am looking forward to reading the next one in the series, Cold Clay, which I have on my list for autumn!