Incredible Field Trip and a Nice Thrift Haul

I've been making my way through the piles of research writing I have to do this weekend. It's due Monday and the pressure is on.  I'm about halfway through, but had and still have other things on my calendar, such as a last visit with Tiffany tomorrow before she returns to Japan :(

  Today, I chaperoned my son's field trip and I have to say it was the coolest field trip I've ever been on.  I've posted some pictures below.  I also made a quick little thrift trip and found a few treasures that I will share with you below.

The forecast today called for sunny, cool weather.  It was 50 when I left the house today for my son's field trip and I didn't know if we would be inside or out or how much it would warm up....so I chose carefully.  The dress is a cotton knit Gap item that I purchased at Goodwill.  It has 3/4 sleeves and is very comfortable.  I wore the super lightweight chartreuse flyaway cardigan (Express, purchased at the little church resale for $2.00) as a removable layer.  I love this piece; its as light as a tee shirt and a striking color.  Black tights, equestrian boots (that I've had for four years...ahead of the current trend) and a black pashmina scarf (not pictured) at my neck kept me nice and cozy.  It wasn't my most polished outfit, but it did the trick and I still felt like I looked presentable.  Since we were riding a school bus to the field trip site....I couldn't bear the thought of wearing jeans.  Good decision. 

Oh so comfy boots.  I love the button detail and the leather and fabric texture mix.

On my little mini-thrift trip I couldn't resist this little navy blue dress.  I had really wanted to add more navy into my wardrobe.  If nothing else, I can wear it as a house dress.....

.....and the same goes for this dress.  It's not a high quality piece, but it will make an adorable little hot day dress next summer.

Classic forest green card.  So happy to have found this basic piece.

My favorite find....a Calvin Klein dress.  The color is vibrant and the fabric feels very luxurious and smooth.  I'm considering pairing this will black tights, boots, belt and cardi for one of the days leading up to Halloween.  I have a sweet little pair of black cat earrings that would work well.  I don't do cutesy holiday earrings, but my son gave me these and I actually love them.  Speaking of Halloween.......I have several intriguing ideas for costumes for the dance parties......looking forward to this.....

This is a great chunky and durable ramie cardigan.  Since my fisherman's sweater is ramie and has held up so well for so long, I though I should invest in another one.  Its actually a very pretty heathered navy blue, but looks so grey and unflattering here.

So..now on to the incredible field trip!  My son's second grade class visited the TriTown Safety Village.  TTSV is a safety project that's funded by private donations and provides top notch safety training for kids. The village is a model of a community with streets, real buildings (about the size of a garage) that were built to represent businesses in the community. The businesses sponsor their own buildings and their names are displayed.  Home Depot even has a building there.  There are railroad tracks, sidewalks and street signs which are all props used in the trainings.  There is also a real antique box car (100 years old!) the the kids got to tour.  Police officers and firefighters teach kids street, railroad and fire safety in 'danger' simulated scenarios.  There is even a small house in the Village that is engineered to simulate a real fire situation.  Smoke alarms sound, lights flash and the house fills with smoke (non-toxic).  The kids have to put their new skills to work; check the door to see if its hot and crawl down stairs backwards and out the door to a previously agreed upon safe meeting place.  My favorite tip; if you can't get out through a door and you live on a second story....start throwing things out the window.  If you see a fireman...throw things at him to get his attention.  He won't hear you....he's encapsulated in his bunker gear and there are all kinds of other noises that will drown out voices ; but he will be able to find you if you are throwing things out the window and at him.

This is a picture of one of the fireman watching the kids escape the smoke filled bedroom.

This is what they saw while they were escaping....firefighters assisting them....

The railroad safety presentation was dynamic.  Do you know that railroads own the 50 feet of property on either side of the tracks and that no one is to be on this property.  Did you also know that throwing a tiny object at a train can cause it to ricochet back toward you and double its speed making it a dangerous object which can impale you?  Did you know that railroad police officers are real police officers and can give you a ticket for violating any of their safety rules?  They don't give warnings, due to the serious potential for life threats.  $500 ticket no matter what.  Did you know that the doors on the box cars weight 1500 lbs and that when the train takes off they can slam shut and trap you inside for a nice long distance trip?  Yikes.  The kids were riveted; thirty second graders sitting and listening in total, still, silence!!!!

Cute fountain....

The old boxcar...it was like a little apartment inside....The windows at the bumpout on the top of the car were for expert marksmen.  Back in the early railroad days...horses mounted by Indians or robbers could outrun the trains...and posed a robbery threat.  There were two seats in that tower..one facing in each direction...so that they could see if they were being approached from either direction.  There was an icebox, an old black iron heat source and a toilet.  There was also a wooden box that served as a tiny bed.

This is officer G.  He delivered the dynamic railroad lesson.  And...ummm...he was eye candy too :)

Yes, I'm married and not looking....but I sure was enjoying the scenery.  That's okay, isn't it?

What an important and relevant service this Village provides.  I've never enjoyed a field trip so much.

Hope the weekend goes well for everyone....as for me, with the exception of my visit with Tiffany....I'm going to be pounding away at the keys of my computer...homework, homework, homework!!