As Latah’s class is rounding out the end of fourth grade she and her classmates are deep into the manifest destiny theme, particularly the Oregon Trail experience. Wanting to do an extra credit project I suggested she share her Papa’s covered wagon trip that occurred in 1979. Leaving Ft Seward near Jamestown, North Dakota, the wagon train covered 150 miles over an 8 day period. Latah made a poster of photos from that trip and practiced explaining each photo. She claimed It was a fun project. It was fun for me too bringing back great memories.
About Ft Seward:
Established as a U.S. Army post in 1872 to provide protection for the construction of the Northern Pacific Railway. The post was situated on a bluff overlooking the confluence of the Jamestown River and Pipestem Creek. Fort Seward was a three Company post with about 120 men. It guarded the Northern Pacific Railroad bridge crossing the James River and the railroad construction workers. Fort Seward is now a tourist destination. Also, the largest United States flag on display in North Dakota flies here when weather permits.
All in all, Latah’s school Oregon Trail projects have become fun family events.
MOVING ON: (so to speak)
I have been doing a few things to cheery up the place. I have a dividing screen near the entry that needed some work so I added color.
We have been in the woods hunting morel mushrooms and have had success. Taylor is especially good at spotting them. I found my first coralroot of the season while searching morels.
The real excitement comes when I find the first Ghost Plant or Indian Pipe. It is a rare plant but there seems to be plenty of them on my property. I have not located one this spring yet, however. They are a plant with no green parts, entirely lacking chlorophyll necessary for making their own food. The leafless stem, which is covered with bracts that look somewhat like the scales on a lily bulb, extends 3-10 inches above the ground, and curves at the top, with one single, downward-facing flower. Appreciate them if you are lucky enough to find them. As they age they become black and turn to a kind of black sludge.
Latah’s long time friend Lark spends Monday nights sleeping over with Latah at my house. These girls have been friends since toddlers. They attend school together in Trout Lake until covid hit. Lark then was home schooled and is home schooled at this time. These friends miss each other, thus the sleepovers. Latah has sleepovers at Lark’s house as well.
LAST BUT CERTAINLY NOT LEAST:
Since it seems the main theme of this entry is about Latah I will share one more thing. Yesterday I attend Latah’s Kung Fu test for her purple belt. For 40 minutes the students performed the movements of their forms, nonstop. It was grueling and by the end I could see the students kicks were not quite as strong as at the beginning. However, Latah followed through to the end.
I love all my grandchildren, but while Sophie, Teagan, and Sam are older and out and about in their own lives, Latah is young enough she still enjoys spending time with Grandma. Tomorrow morning Sophie and I are heading to Coeur d’Alene to spend time with Teresa. That adventure will be an entry for another time.
