Hi all. My blog has moved to a new and improved site. Click the link below to see it:
www.kylecrocodile.com
www.kylecrocodile.com
Monday, December 1, 2008
Thursday, November 20, 2008
Katie's Travels to South Dakota
Hi everyone! After some delays because of snow, I finally made it to Mt. Rushmore and South Dakota.
It's a long way from Raleigh to South Dakota. I had to take two airplanes -- one from Raleigh to Chicago, Illinois, and then a second plane to Rapid City, South Dakota. Rapid City is in the western part of South Dakota, on the edge of the Black Hills. The hills are really dark green because they are covered by Ponderosa Pine forests, which look black from a distance.
Rapid City is called the City of Presidents because there are life-size bronze statues of the Presidents of the United States on downtown street corners. There are four statues at an intersection. This statue is of President John F. Kennedy, 44th President, and his son John. It was fun to have my picture taken with them.
It's a long way from Raleigh to South Dakota. I had to take two airplanes -- one from Raleigh to Chicago, Illinois, and then a second plane to Rapid City, South Dakota. Rapid City is in the western part of South Dakota, on the edge of the Black Hills. The hills are really dark green because they are covered by Ponderosa Pine forests, which look black from a distance.
Rapid City is called the City of Presidents because there are life-size bronze statues of the Presidents of the United States on downtown street corners. There are four statues at an intersection. This statue is of President John F. Kennedy, 44th President, and his son John. It was fun to have my picture taken with them.
At the same intersection, there are statues of Andrew Jackson, our 7th President; Martin Van Buren, our 8th President; and James Polk, our 11th President. Did you know that Pres. Polk was born in North Carolina?
I found this sign just outside of Rapid City. Reptile Gardens has the world’s largest collection of snakes, lizards and crocodiles.
Because it gets very cold in South Dakota in the winter, the reptiles all live under a gigantic walk-through skydome.
Because it gets very cold in South Dakota in the winter, the reptiles all live under a gigantic walk-through skydome.
I loved visiting Mt. Rushmore National Monument! Aren’t these the biggest statues you’ve ever seen? In 1924, a man named Doane Robinson wanted to be sure lots of people visited South Dakota. He thought that if there were enormous statues of famous people from the Wild West, visitors would come to visit his state. He imagined giant sculptures of Lewis and Clark, Buffalo Bill Cody, and the great Sioux warriors. He wrote a letter to a sculptor named Gutzon Borglum, who was busy designing a giant sculpture at Stone Mountain, Georgia. Has anyone seen the sculpture at Stone Mountain?
Mr. Borglum decided that it would be a better idea to carve sculptures of four of our presidents. He chose George Washington to be a symbol of the birth of the United States, Thomas Jefferson who expanded the country through the Louisiana Purchase, Abraham Lincoln who preserved the Union, and Theodore Roosevelt who built the Panama Canal and visited the Black Hills many times. President Coolidge helped dedicate the beginning of work on the monument in 1927, and it took 14 years for the crew to drill, blast and chisel the faces in the mountain. The flag of every state is on this walkway to Mt. Rushmore. Can you find North Carolina’s flag?
I found it - even though the wind was blowing hard and wrapped the flag around its pole.
Mr. Borglum decided that it would be a better idea to carve sculptures of four of our presidents. He chose George Washington to be a symbol of the birth of the United States, Thomas Jefferson who expanded the country through the Louisiana Purchase, Abraham Lincoln who preserved the Union, and Theodore Roosevelt who built the Panama Canal and visited the Black Hills many times. President Coolidge helped dedicate the beginning of work on the monument in 1927, and it took 14 years for the crew to drill, blast and chisel the faces in the mountain. The flag of every state is on this walkway to Mt. Rushmore. Can you find North Carolina’s flag?
I found it - even though the wind was blowing hard and wrapped the flag around its pole.
This is the base for our state’s flag. It tells when North Carolina became a state. Did you know that North Carolina was the 12th colony to become a state?
You can see the faces of our presidents here. Thomas Jefferson was supposed to be carved on the left side of President Washington. The workers started Jefferson’s face there, but when they were almost finished, they found out the rock was too soft to carve his lips. That’s why President Jefferson is on President Washington’s right side.
Starting from the left, you can see President Washington, President Jefferson, President Roosevelt and President Lincoln:
This is Gutzon Borglum, the sculptor who designed the monument. He died before the monument was finished, but his son Lincoln finished the job - and he also carved this sculpture of his father.
Mt. Rushmore is so beautiful. I hope you can visit it someday.
These sheep help cut the lawn at Mt. Rushmore. They came to South Dakota from Canada. Their coats are really warm. That’s a good thing because it’s very cold here in the winter.
At night, there are lights on the monument.
In my next post, I will tell you all about Custer State Park!
In my next post, I will tell you all about Custer State Park!
Thursday, November 13, 2008
Carlyle's Second Day in Baltimore
Hi again. Here are the rest of the pictures from Carlyle's trip to Baltimore with Sean and Zachary. It looks like they had lots of fun. Do you have any questions for them?? If so click "comments" at the end of this post. --Kyle
Carlyle spent the night on the warship USS Constellation with Cub Scout Pack 352.
Carlyle with Sycamore Creek 5th graders and Webelos Christopher, Zachary and Sean. These fine young men are with Cub Scout Pack 352.
Carlyle manning the wheel aboard the USS Constellation.
Carlyle ringing the bell for meal time on the USS Constellation. Dinner included a choice of beef stew or vegetable soup with hard tack crackers, dried fruit and lemon water.
Carlyle at the head of the Captain’s table at the beginning of his watch. As dawn breaks, he rests his head on the table, slipping off to sleep…
Carlyle succumbs to his weariness by crawling into the Captain’s berth, where he was found by his shocked watch mates. Luckily the Captain was topsides and didn’t find out!
Carlyle late for duty! Night watch is now over!
Dawn at the National Aquarium (building with pointed glass top and neon lights) on Baltimore’s Inner Harbor.
Carlyle visiting Amazon crocodile relatives at the National Aquarium in Baltimore’s Inner Harbor.
Oh My Gosh! Is that Carlyle catching a ride on a dolphin during the dolphin show at the National Aquarium??
Carlyle on his way back home to North Carolina on Interstate 95 south. He had a fantastic weekend trip to Baltimore, but it was nice to head back home to Raleigh!
Wednesday, November 12, 2008
Carlyle in Baltimore
My brother Carlyle, just got back from his trip to Baltimore with 5th graders Sean and Zachary. Here are some pictures they took and what they had to say about the trip. There will be more pictures posted tomorrow. --Kyle
Carlyle is buckled in for safety on the 300 mile trip north to Baltimore, Maryland.
Carlyle’s first stop is before the ramparts at historic Fort McHenry, where in September 1814 Major George Armistead and his men held off the invading British Navy inspiring Francis Scott Key to pen “The Star Spangled Banner”.
Carlyle was found sitting on the cannon balls in front of one of the big guns at Fort McHenry.
Carlyle takes part in the 30 ft x 42 ft Star Spangled Banner ceremony nearly 194 years after the original was raised in defiance against the invading British forces.
Carlyle, two Sycamore Creek Crocs and one future croc on the ramparts of Fort McHenry, overlooking the entrance to Baltimore Harbor where British naval forces unsuccessfully threw rockets, bombs and cannon balls to dislodge the Americans.
Pratt Street Pavilion and downtown development at Baltimore’s Inner Harbor.
Check back tomorrow to see where Carlyle spent the night (it's really neat)!
Friday, November 7, 2008
My Family
Hi! I've gotten some questions about my siblings, Katie, Carlyle, and Kirby, so I thought I'd introduce you to all of them.
This is Katie:
She's the most daring and adventurous of all of us. Katie likes to climb -- an unusual trait for a crocodile, but Katie is unusual! Her pink and purple make her really stand out in the crowd. We're lucky to have such a cool sister.
This is my younger brother, Kirby.
He's still a bit skittish around people and hasn't spent too much time at Sycamore Creek yet, so when he does come for an extended visit be sure to make him feel welcome.
And this is Carlyle:
He just got back from Baltimore and will have lots of pictures and stories about that soon.
We all love to read, write, and explore new places. Thanks for making us feel so welcome at Sycamore Creek!
This is Katie:
She's the most daring and adventurous of all of us. Katie likes to climb -- an unusual trait for a crocodile, but Katie is unusual! Her pink and purple make her really stand out in the crowd. We're lucky to have such a cool sister.
This is my younger brother, Kirby.
He's still a bit skittish around people and hasn't spent too much time at Sycamore Creek yet, so when he does come for an extended visit be sure to make him feel welcome.
And this is Carlyle:
He just got back from Baltimore and will have lots of pictures and stories about that soon.
We all love to read, write, and explore new places. Thanks for making us feel so welcome at Sycamore Creek!
Tuesday, November 4, 2008
Election Day
Hi everyone. Today is Election Day. I went to the polling precinct early this morning, but even so I was already the 500th voter there! Wow!
Before I went to vote, I read about all of the candidates and looked at a sample ballot.
After I voted, I got this sticker:
Why do you think it is important for people to vote?
Before I went to vote, I read about all of the candidates and looked at a sample ballot.
After I voted, I got this sticker:
Why do you think it is important for people to vote?
Friday, October 31, 2008
The Peabody Ducks
Hello from Orlando! Yesterday afternoon I went to the Peabody Hotel and watched the ducks. There are five ducks who live at the hotel and are taken care of by Duck Master Dave and his assistant.
At 9:00 a.m. every morning, Duck Master Dave leads the ducks from their home in the Duck Palace to their daytime home in the hotel lobby where they splash around in the fountain. People can sit and watch them, but you're not allowed to feed or touch the ducks.
Then at 5:00 p.m. every evening, they make their way back to the Duck Palace. I watched the parade for the afternoon journey back to the Duck Palace. Dave rolls out a red carpet and sets up a special staircase for the ducks. At exactly 5:00, the ducks' theme song plays, Dave makes an announcement, and the honorary duck master of the day helps Dave to lead the ducks through the hallway to the elevator.
In the afternoon, they are anxious to get back to the Duck Palace and eat dinner, so on most days, the ducks run very quickly through the lobby. They then run into their own special elevator.
After they get off the elevator at another floor, they run down the hall to the doors. They know it is nearly time to eat, so they run very quickly!
Then they go outside, en route to the Duck Palace. If they run too quickly, they need to wait for Dave to catch up to them so he can open their door and they can walk up the stairs and into their house.
Dave told us all about these ducks and their lives. Their home, the Duck Palace, was built specially for them. It has a roof that lets rain through the ceiling, and has a rubbery mat on the floor that the ducks like to walk around on and sleep on. If it rains, the ducks stay in the palace as they love to play in the rain. Dave said that the ducks are usually very sleepy the next morning after a big rain storm, because they stay up all night to play!
This is a picture of the Duck Palace:
If it is too cold outside (below freezing temperatures - which is rare in Orlando), the ducks stay inside the hotel and camp out in a suite just like people! They stay in the bathroom and fill up the bathtub with water so the ducks can play in the bathtub. But they don't like that nearly as much as the Duck Palace. They get confused and would rather be in their own home.
The most difficult day of the year for the ducks is this coming Sunday, when Daylight Savings Time ends because it throws off their schedule. They are anxious and ready to go back upstairs to the Duck Palace, but they have to wait around for an extra hour, which makes them angry. So they squawk to let people know they're not happy with the delay.
The hotel has two sets of ducks. Each set of five serves a six-month tour of duty, and then they go back to the farm for a six-month vacation. When they are on vacation, the female ducks lay eggs and ducklings are born. Ducklings grow very quickly -- within 3 months, they are entirely grown and can take care of themselves. They can even fly by that time. They are independent, too -- ducklings feed themselves immediately. The mother duck points out food, but ducklings eat on their own, even when they are only a day old!
The ducks I got to see are Duck Master Dave's favorite group. They are very well behaved. In two weeks, they will go on vacation to the duck farm and a different group will come to the hotel for 6 months.
Duck Master Dave suggested that if you want to feed ducks at the park, to feed them dry dog food. He said it won't make them sick. He also gave me a list of books about ducks to share with all of you.
My sister, Katie, is preparing for her first big trip. She is leaving soon for South Dakota. Before she leaves, she will visit Sycamore Creek so she can meet lots of you. Look for Katie next week. Then we will follow her travels to Mt. Rushmore and other exciting places! I can't wait to see where she goes and learn about her travels.
At 9:00 a.m. every morning, Duck Master Dave leads the ducks from their home in the Duck Palace to their daytime home in the hotel lobby where they splash around in the fountain. People can sit and watch them, but you're not allowed to feed or touch the ducks.
Then at 5:00 p.m. every evening, they make their way back to the Duck Palace. I watched the parade for the afternoon journey back to the Duck Palace. Dave rolls out a red carpet and sets up a special staircase for the ducks. At exactly 5:00, the ducks' theme song plays, Dave makes an announcement, and the honorary duck master of the day helps Dave to lead the ducks through the hallway to the elevator.
In the afternoon, they are anxious to get back to the Duck Palace and eat dinner, so on most days, the ducks run very quickly through the lobby. They then run into their own special elevator.
After they get off the elevator at another floor, they run down the hall to the doors. They know it is nearly time to eat, so they run very quickly!
Then they go outside, en route to the Duck Palace. If they run too quickly, they need to wait for Dave to catch up to them so he can open their door and they can walk up the stairs and into their house.
Dave told us all about these ducks and their lives. Their home, the Duck Palace, was built specially for them. It has a roof that lets rain through the ceiling, and has a rubbery mat on the floor that the ducks like to walk around on and sleep on. If it rains, the ducks stay in the palace as they love to play in the rain. Dave said that the ducks are usually very sleepy the next morning after a big rain storm, because they stay up all night to play!
This is a picture of the Duck Palace:
If it is too cold outside (below freezing temperatures - which is rare in Orlando), the ducks stay inside the hotel and camp out in a suite just like people! They stay in the bathroom and fill up the bathtub with water so the ducks can play in the bathtub. But they don't like that nearly as much as the Duck Palace. They get confused and would rather be in their own home.
The most difficult day of the year for the ducks is this coming Sunday, when Daylight Savings Time ends because it throws off their schedule. They are anxious and ready to go back upstairs to the Duck Palace, but they have to wait around for an extra hour, which makes them angry. So they squawk to let people know they're not happy with the delay.
The hotel has two sets of ducks. Each set of five serves a six-month tour of duty, and then they go back to the farm for a six-month vacation. When they are on vacation, the female ducks lay eggs and ducklings are born. Ducklings grow very quickly -- within 3 months, they are entirely grown and can take care of themselves. They can even fly by that time. They are independent, too -- ducklings feed themselves immediately. The mother duck points out food, but ducklings eat on their own, even when they are only a day old!
The ducks I got to see are Duck Master Dave's favorite group. They are very well behaved. In two weeks, they will go on vacation to the duck farm and a different group will come to the hotel for 6 months.
Duck Master Dave suggested that if you want to feed ducks at the park, to feed them dry dog food. He said it won't make them sick. He also gave me a list of books about ducks to share with all of you.
My sister, Katie, is preparing for her first big trip. She is leaving soon for South Dakota. Before she leaves, she will visit Sycamore Creek so she can meet lots of you. Look for Katie next week. Then we will follow her travels to Mt. Rushmore and other exciting places! I can't wait to see where she goes and learn about her travels.
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