Walking on water at Hanford Mills Museum

One of the benefits of being a parent is that you are the cruise director.  One of the challenges of this role is that there are many events to choose from.  For my family, the choice this weekend was between the Cooperstown Winter Carnival and the Hanford Mills Museum Ice Harvest.  No doubt my girls would have enjoyed the Cooperstown event, which had many wonderful activities for children and families, but I wanted to walk on water - frozen pond water, that is.  I am still beaming about the experience that gave me and my two young children each a turn at cutting a block of ice from the pond using old-fashioned tools; followed by the kids, themselves, pulling more than 100 lbs of ice on a wooden sled to the storage shed.  Now, if you are wondering whether such an activity is appropriate for a young child I can assure you that it was a very family-friendly event.  The museum staff, respectful of safety, attached special cleats over our shoes to ensure traction on the ice.  Even my two year old was keenly aware of the necessity of the cleat and knew what to do with the saw and chisel (for lack of better word).  She looked powerful and determined as she took the large tools in hand and began to cut through 21 inches of ice with the help of museum staff.  I don't think it is an exaggeration to say her experience was liberating - her facial expression and triumphant cheer as the ice dislodged and fell into the water, said it all.

And, by the way, this was as much fun for the adults as the kids.  Other highlights of the event were a blacksmith demonstration, horse drawn carriage & tractor rides, roasted peanuts, tasty soups supplied by local restaurants and volunteer chefs, tool & farm equipment displays, and impromptu building of a mini ice fort with scrap chunks of ice.  This was my first visit to the Hanford Mills Museum and I was really impressed.  It is worth a return visit with the family in the spring.  If you missed the ice harvest this year, no worries, it is an annual event and you still can partake in the products of this year's harvest at their ice cream making event on July 4th! http://www.hanfordmills.org/