JourneyLeaf: Life a Page at a Time

Autumn Leaves!

  

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Ride the Pink Pig

Saturday morning, Eli and I headed to Atlanta for the day.  Our first stop was Lenox Mall.  Workmen were in the parking lot, putting together the huge annual Christmas tree.

 

Our goal, though, was on the horizon...

 

The Pink Pig is a children's ride that pops up in Atlanta every year during the holiday season.  After debuting in 1953, it was a part of the Rich's department store Christmas scene every year until 1991 when the downtown store closed. From 1992 to 1995, it appeared at the Festival of Trees.  In 1996, the original Pink Pig ride was retired and given to the Atlanta History Center.  In 2003, a new Pink Pig arrived at the Lenox Mall location of Macy's.  (Rich's was purchased by Macy's but operated from 1867 to 2005.)

 

Many of my friends have fond memories of riding the Pink Pig.  Although
I had a rich childhood, my parents were somewhat Atlanta-phobic and wouldn't have gone near holiday traffic on Peachtree Street, so it isn't an memory I share.  After living near Atlanta and San Francisco for a while, I've largely lost my fear of big city bustle.  And I wanted Eli to have memories of the Pink Pig.  

 

  

With a jolt, I realized my little guy is almost six.  At story time at the library last week, he suddenly was too cool to participate in all the finger rhymes.  
It was time to ride the Pink Pig!  Anybody can enjoy it, but the magic is deepest for the wee ones.  Enter a world of strawberry juiciness!  (Or is that Pepto-Bismol?)

 

 

 

 

 

 

The original Pink Pig was a monorail.  Now the Pink Pig is a miniature train on tracks that makes a loop through a holiday-decorated tent.  (Riders get to go around twice.)

 

 

   

Despite the fact that the ride is small, they did a pretty good job creating a little magic and mystery thanks to artwork panels, a stretched-fabric tunnel, lights, and mirrors.  I could tell Eli really liked it because he got quiet, absorbing it all.

  

We had a good time!

The old Pink Pig monorail car...
(I'm so glad the Atlanta History Center allowed it out on loan for a display!)

   

Click HERE for the Macy's Ride the Pink Pig website.
Click HERE for Atlanta History Center information on the Pink Pig.

  

One Mama's Two Cents:
In 2014, the Pink Pig is open daily from November 1 to January 4 except on Thanksgiving and Christmas.  Lap riders are not allowed, but any child old enough to sit can ride with a grown-up.  Tickets are $3 per person but there are price breaks for multiple rides.  Lenox Mall is located at 3393 Peachtree Road NE, Atlanta 30326.  Click HERE for their website.  When you get there, head for Level Four of the Lenox Road Garage near Macy's.  The ticket booth is located inside of the mall -- upstairs, in the corridor between Abercrombie and Godiva.  There are also public restrooms in that corridor -- so handy for the kiddos!                

We went on a chilly day.  The tent keeps the wind down, but doesn't add much warmth, so bundle up.  We went when the Pig first opened for the day on a Saturday before Thanksgiving and the line was short -- about five minutes.  From what I saw, there isn't much room for strollers inside the tent, but I imagine you could park one outside.  Upon entering the tent, there is a chance to get your child's photo with Petunia Pig that you purchase later in the gift shop.  (No personal photos allowed.)

We had a very good experience.  I particularly noticed is how nice and patient all the staff were.  The tent was chilly and full of excited tots, but everybody was so calm and welcoming.   I'm glad we went.

   

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Lantern Walk 2014

When Eli attended a Waldorf preschool in California, we participated in an autumn lantern walk for kids that was quite magical -- sunset, kiddos, and candles glowing in homemade lanterns.  Thus when I heard there was a similar event here in North Georgia, I tracked down information about it.  
We found the group wonderfully welcoming.

This morning after breakfast, Eli and I made a candle lantern out of a jar, tissue paper squares, thinned glue, and some wire.

 

This evening as the sun began to set...   

 

We found the group and hung out with them in the cool evening.  
Kids ran across the grass in packs and waited for the darkness to settle.

 

Apple cider made it a little easier to wait.

 

Lanterns were ready.

 

There were extra lanterns for folks who forgot theirs.  The organizers thought of everything -- spare candles, lighters for the grownups, and even flickering electric tealight candles for the lanterns to be carried by wee tots.

 

There were various designs of lanterns, everybody bringing what they'd like.  Next year we want to try this sort of lantern made from paper wrapped around a balloon and stiffened with glue.  Once the glue is try and the balloon popped, the resulting lantern is held aloft by strings and a stick.

 

But Eli was pretty happy with his lantern too.

    

The group paused to read a poem in unison from little cards printed out on thick paper and brushed with autumn watercolors.  (Such a lovely little touch!)

 

 Ready?

  

 

Off through the Historic District...   

 

  

We made a detour through our favorite independent book shop...

 

Then through a dark, leafy alley...

 

 

Into the neighborhood...

 

 

 

And back at last for a rest on the grass. 

   

 

 

To see our lantern walk in California beneath the eucalyptus forest, click HERE.
 

Halloween Candy Buy-Back

We had a fun Halloween!  It started with a trip to the pumpkin patch earlier in October...

  

There was a costume parade at school...

 

In the afternoon Aunt Jennifer and Cousin Margaret came over to help carve the pumpkins... 

 

Then it was finally time for Eli Robin Hood (and Papa Banana) to venture forth for Trick-or-Treating...

 

 

Woo hoo!  Loot! 

   

Eli sorted by color and then by shape, stacking and restacking (while munching).  It was great that he was having so much fun!  But...um...what do you do when your kindergartner owns five pounds of sugar?!

   

We've taken Eli Trick-or-Treating every year of his life, but we're lucky that so far he's never asked about the candy the next day.  (The first three years he didn't even ask to eat the candy after he got it!)  We always put the candy away after Halloween night hoping out of sight meant out of mind -- which seems to have worked.  Regardless, I felt like he might start asking for it and I certainly didn't want to start picking out of the bag.

I'd heard about candy buy-backs where health food stores, pediatricians, or dentists purchase Halloween candy for kids.  One in our town offers $1 per pound and then ships the candy to troops deployed overseas.  Eli would get money, the house would be free of too much sugar, and those in the military missing out on holidays back home could enjoy it.  Win/win/win!  

I floated the idea to Eli and he instantly wanted to do it.  (Whew!)  We agreed to go after school, so that morning I went through our pantry and pulled out all the leftover candy and wrapped treats I could find leftover from birthday parties and such.  Anything fresh enough for the troops to enjoy went into the stash!

 

Eli dumped his haul into a big collection bucket at the dentist office...
Despite the fact that we just walked in off the street, they were super nice and friendly.  

   

Part of the swap is that I told Eli I'd match what the dentist gave him.  Along with some money relatives sent him in Halloween cards, he had enough to buy a Lego set.  I took him to the toy store and let him look as long as he wanted.

 

I hope he'll want to do the candy buy-back again next year!