Maps

Here is a blank map of the United States.  Jonny, can you identify Florida, Colorado and Massachusetts?

Where in Florida is Miami Beach?

A Map of Massachusetts -- Arlington is north west of Boston.

Detailed Map of Arlington, Medford and Watertown with markers for the places Flat Stanley Went:

H – Steph & Lori’s House, 107 Oakland Ave, Arlington, MA 02476‎

B – Hike in the Fells, Long Pond Parking Lot, South Border Road, Winchester, Massachusetts 01890‎

C – Lunch at a Chinese Restaurant, Chilli Garden, 41 Riverside Avenue, Medford, MA 02155-4605‎ - (781) 396-8488‎

E - Old Schwamb Mill, 17 Mill Lane, Arlington, MA 02476-4189‎ - (781) 643-0554‎

F – Car Repair Shop -- Boston Volkswagen, 43 N Beacon St, Watertown, MA 02472‎ - (617) 783-1300‎

G - Deluxe Town Diner, 627 Mount Auburn St, Watertown, MA 02472-4103‎ - (617) 926-8400‎

Back to Miami Beach

Today we sent Flat Stanley back to Jonny via United States Postal Service Priority Mail.  (Another trip to the Post Office!)

Looking at Pictures

Thursday December 29,2011

Aunt Stephanie, Aunt Lori and Flat Stanley look at all the pictures from Jonny's trip to Vail Colorado.

Breakfast at a Diner

Lori, Flat Stanley and I went out for breakfast at the Deluxe Town Diner near where we were getting our cars serviced.

Lori noticed that they had a special kind of pancake with a special kind of name . . .

Of course, we had to have some.  Flat Stanley was especially pleased to learn about the Rhode Island Jonnycakes because of his friend and our nephew, Jonny!

After breakfast, we went shopping.  Then we went to the Post Office (again!).


We walked the dog and at the end of the day, picked up one of our cars from the repair shop. 

Old Schwamb Mill Historic Site

Tuesday - 12/27/2011

Wood Mill/Factory which dates back to 1860's.
A Living History Museum


Today, Lori and I took Flat Stanley to see a very old woodworking factory just a down the street from where we live. It was first built in 1860's before they had electricity. Before electricity, they used coal fired steam engines and before that they used a water wheel which harnessed the power from the flow of water in a nearby brook. At the Schwamb Mill, they transformed (cut, shaped and finished, painted and polished) wood into furniture, wooden picture frames, even the wooden parts of musical instruments such as pianos, various string instruments and guitars. The machines which were used to create oval picture frames are still working and on display in the museum.


http://www.oldschwambmill.org/main.html

**I did not take these 2 picture, I grabbed them off the web.

The Plaque Reads: Commemorating the inventive genius and practical ability of New England's millwrights and millers, who have operated grist, saw, spice and woodworking mills on this site for three centuries.

Placed by Massachusetts Society Daughters of the American Colonists
June 1, 1974

Three Centuries = 300 Years!  That means that there was some sort of manufacturing going on at this location since 1711!  (2011 -->1911 --> 1811-->1711)

We Took a Tour:

These are the machines which make oval frames. They use special 'eccentric' lathes.

You can find a detailed explanation of how they work here, click on "How the Lathes Work" in the middle of the page:   http://www.oldschwambmill.org/theframes/theframes.html

These are the cutting blades to fashion different shapes for wooden square and rectangular wooden picture frames.

Be sure your dad has a close look at the sign. (Click on the image to enlarge)

 

The Glue Room -- where they glue the wood frames together

Lori and I with Flat Stanley at the end of the tour.


Of course after the fun tour of the mill, we had to run more errands.  We went to the dry cleaners, the Post Office and the supermarket.

Playing Fetch with our dog, Laila and Her Friends

Monday - 12/26/2011

Clean Catalog Records

Went to the Park and played fetch with Laila, our dog and her dog friends, Ruby, Zoe, Henry, & Murphy. 

After lunch, we hung out, relaxed and watched movies.

A Hike in the Woods

Sunday, December 25, 2011
We all slept in on this grey, cold Christmas Day. After reading the paper and having some breakfast, we dressed warmly for a long walk in the woods. There is a large Conservation area just a few miles east of our house called The Middlesex Fells.

After about an hour's hike with our dog Laila, we decided to go out for lunch. It is a tradition with us to go out for Chinese Food on Christmas Day.

Now we are settled in back at home. Not sure what is in store for us for the rest of the day.