45under45: Day 8: Baseball Hall of Fame & Farmers' Museum

The Baseball Hall of Fame!

My dad, Shawn, and Nicholas were thrilled. (Me? Not so much.)

Truthfully, I can't comment much about the Hall. I really have not much interest in baseball. In our brochure/map of the Hall was a scavenger hunt! Ooo...something to do! Summer and I worked on trying to complete it. My mom tagged along with us. My dad went at his own pace. Shawn and Nicholas viewed each piece of memorabilia, also at their own speed.

Obviously I know a little bit about baseball, having lived near baseball towns for all of my 45 years. (Cincinnati, Boston, Miami, Tampa) Also, as a teacher in Hillsborough County, I have read and taught a few baseball related books. And that is about the extent of my knowledge of baseball...despite my best efforts to ignore it, a little baseball seeped in through osmosis.

In our HCPS reading series there is a story called, Mighty Jackie, about Jackie Mitchell - a female pitcher who struck out both Babe Ruth and Lou Gehrig. The book has only cartoon type illustrations. It was nice to actually see the real Jackie!

She's not a bad lookin' gal!

Another reading series we have in Hillsborough County has a piece about Roberto Clemente. There was a large section in the Hall about Hispanic ball players. But, I just snapped this one set of trading cards as a souvenir for when I teach that story next year. Summer and I continued on with our scavenger hunt.

Even though I am not a baseball fan, I pride myself in knowing all of the baseball/softball cheers and one-liners. In case I run out of inspirational chants, here's a whole wall full of sayings!

Needless to say, Summer, my mom, and I were done with seeing what we "needed" to see. We turned in our scavenger hunt and earned a package of trading cards for our hard work. We gave them to Nicholas. He was pleased with the set.

We met up with my dad and headed to the Cooperstown Diner. One of their claims to fame is that they have the biggest burger in the smallest diner. The diner is so small that it only has half of an address.

I ordered the "Lo-Cal Burger". Ummm... This is NOT low in calories! The burger was enormous!!!

Summer and my mom split a cheeseburger. You can sort of tell the scale of the burger by looking at Summer's blue phone on the napkin. She has a a 5C iPhone and half of the burger is bigger than her phone!

(Later, Shawn and Nicholas went to the diner too. This is Shawn's bacon burger.)

After stuffing ourselves, we went to do some OTHER things of interest...I'd had my fill of baseball and shopping for baseball memorabilia.

Summer and my folks took a boat tour of the lake. And I took myself on a walk.

I walked down a street that ran away from town, towards the lake. Then turned left, and just walked on. I came to a sign that said that the Farmer's Museum was nearby. So, I kept on walking...and walking...and walking. And then I finally came to it. Ahhh... Critters! Farming! My people! Something on my level! And not swarming with people carrying selfie sticks.

I happily paid $12 for my admission! I strolled through the garden, looked at the crops, read each and every sign, and just relished in being in that place at that moment.

I sent this picture to Shawn to see if he could guess the plant...

HOPS!

Hello, Friend!

I tried to call this cow over to me. "Heeeeere cow!" She wouldn't budge from her shady spot under the tree. Obviously my reputation as a world class cow petter has not preceded me.

I moved on to visit the other critters and get my animal petting fix that I sooo much needed!

Hi, pig. Ooo... What a nice puddle. And in the shade too. You must be a happy little piggie. Bring your little face here. Let me pet you. Ooo...you like that, huh? Ok. Gotta go. I've got other animals to see.

Hello wittle baby lamby. Oh goodness. You are so soft and fluffy. You need me to pet you? Ok. Ah...you like that? Lemme get under you chin. Yeah...? I know. Tell me all about it. Well, it's been nice being here with you but I've gotta go see the kitties.

Hi there big guy. I bet you like it here. Are there enough mice for you? Oops. You're not in the mood to be petted. That's ok. I'll just pet you friend over there.

Hi. Ooo. You're a biscuit maker. Well, then. And so soft! You don't look much like an old barn cat. Mmm. Ya like that? Sweet kitty. A little scratchy scratchy under the chinny winny.! I've gotta go see the bun bun over there. See ya later.

Hi! You're so big! What a nice wabbit. Do you need a little scratching between the ears? I'll bet you do. Alrighty then. I've gotta go see the others too. No, I'm so sorry. I can't stay with you. Be a good bunny.

Well. Hello, my handsomeness! Gimme a kiss. Lemme pet you. You are so good lookin'! What nice horns you have. And such a good wet nose. Oh dear. So many flies. I'll get rid of them for you. How 'bout I rub your whole face? That's right. Close your eyes. I'll get that part too. Kissy kissy. I love you.

"Heeeeeere cow!" Nope. Your loss, buddy.

There was much more critter petting, but you get the idea.

Eventually, I moved on to the "town" and went through all of the buildings and saw all of those sights as well. (Homes, broom maker, printing, post office, blacksmith, pharmacy, school, church, general store...etc.)

I continued to attempt to photograph a yellow jacket...