Snips of Snails, and Puppy Dogs' Tails

Angry Birds goes big screen

2012-02-12T16:46:00.001-08:00

There's something humorous about watching Patrick play Angry Birds on the big screen (iPad connected via HDMI to the TV). Who needs Wii? Or cable? Or Dish? LOL

Board Buster!

2012-01-11T04:01:00.001-08:00

Patrick was very unhappy about having to go to Tae Kwon Do today (not one of his usual days), but it turned out to be a good class. Since becoming a Red Stripe, it's all about the pushups; Red Stripes and Red Belts have to do pushups at the drop of a hat. Today, he broke his first board. He was very proud.

(Jörg also broke his first board.)

Patrick and his Nerf armory.

2012-01-04T16:50:00.001-08:00

20 kids and a teacher at our house!

2011-12-21T06:02:00.000-08:00

Animal Rescue Day

2011-12-14T19:06:00.000-08:00

Today we went to the Vermont Wildlife Animal Rescue. I go there once a week to clean cages, feed and water the animals, and (when there's time) interact with the animals. My favorites are really Ana the Red-tailed Hawk and a group of ferrets that are really friendly.

I had a chance to work with Ana for a while and even got her to go on the glove. And, once all the work was done and we were ready to go home, I had a few minutes to play with the ferrets. They are SO fun.

A birthday party

2011-12-12T08:38:00.001-08:00

Me and my friends celebrate my eleventh birthday. It was so fun to have my friends from different places all come together for a party!

My birthday dinner (we saved it for the weekend)

2011-12-10T14:53:00.001-08:00

Birthday fondue

2011-12-06T16:32:00.001-08:00

Finally back at the Animal Rescue

2011-11-21T14:03:00.000-08:00

New ski boots

2011-11-20T12:23:00.000-08:00

A couple of cowboys

2011-11-19T14:12:00.000-08:00

Play-date with a best friend!

2011-11-19T13:39:00.000-08:00

School pictures: 2010 (left) and 2011 (right)...same shirt!

2011-11-04T08:33:00.001-07:00

Intruders Beware - we are protected by Nerf

2011-10-28T20:49:00.000-07:00

A Red Tailed Hawk (two) in the field across from our house!!!

2011-10-26T12:55:00.001-07:00

School picture

2011-10-18T11:34:00.000-07:00

Helper of the Day

2011-10-03T14:30:00.001-07:00

When I was a kid, I was reasonably certain that parents had children to have someone to do their dirty work. Now I know it's true. :)

A few months ago I broke the pump on my soap dispenser. Of course they don't make the same pump anymore, so we had to replace the whole unit. The job is not that complicated, but it means climbing under the sink, and behind the sink bowl, in tight, cramped quarters. Eager to earn some money, Patrick was willing to climb under the sink and do the dirty, cramped work. It's a good thing too, because there is no way I could have gotten underneath the sink like that!

Thank you Patrick!

Patrick's Presentation (in two parts)

2011-09-23T15:22:00.000-07:00

Patrick made a presentation to his class of 4th, 5th, and 6th graders. The presentation compared some key characteristics of raptors, specifically the Golden Eagle and the Red Tailed Hawk.

This was a volunteer project - not part of a classroom assignment. He did well with eye contact and visuals (behind him was a PowerPoint slideshow, which you can download below if you'd like) filled with great pictures. His teacher referenced his good use of eye contact - having memorized most of his report - as a key to making a good presentation. Next week, the class will be making individual presentations on a specific dinosaur that they have each been researching.

If you would like to download the slideshow (I'm sorry I couldn't see it on the screen in his room; the lighting was difficult), you can get an idea of what the kids were seeing. Click here to download the presentation.

Professor Mellmann

2011-09-23T13:11:00.000-07:00

Today Patrick gave a presentation comparing Red Tailed Hawks and Golden Eagles.

His presentation included a Power Point slideshow, which he did entirely on his own, and a few questions/answers at the end. Like other presentations he's done, this was not a classroom assignment and he was the only student making such a presentation.

Another day of painting!

2011-09-22T11:59:00.000-07:00

Today's accomplishment in Patrick's room; the coral cave.

I'm not certain, but I think I'm done painting. Now I can begin the rest of the decorating!

Patrick's new glasses

2011-09-10T06:29:00.001-07:00

Patrick and Calvin fishing

2011-09-03T15:53:00.001-07:00

Fishing with Calvin

2011-09-03T15:53:00.000-07:00

What a clown!

2011-08-31T14:21:00.000-07:00

Partners in Crime

2011-08-31T14:11:00.000-07:00

It's always fun to see a best buddy at the fair!

2011-08-31T13:30:00.000-07:00

First Day of Fifth Grade

2011-08-22T04:52:00.000-07:00

Last Day of Summer Vacation - Activity #3; more fishing!

2011-08-21T17:45:00.001-07:00

Last Day of Summer Vacation - Activity #2; shopping at Classic Outfitters

2011-08-21T11:54:00.000-07:00

Last Day of Summer Vacation - Activity #1; fly fishing

2011-08-21T06:35:00.000-07:00

Photo of the Day

2011-08-19T07:19:00.000-07:00

Today is Patrick's last day of raptor camp. After working with a goshawk, large owls, and a red-tailed hawk at the Animal Rescue, this little one-eyed screech owl is not quite as exciting, but Patrick enjoys it anyway. He even received some kudos for his handling of "Screech" when he tried to fly away; Patrick calmly held on and helped Screech back to a perch position.

While he poses for the cameras, he tells the leaders how he was feeding a goshawk once and...well, his story went on for awhile and he just held that little guy still the whole time. Patrick was also proud to be able to wear his own gauntlet and not one from camp.

Breakfast of...falconers!

2011-08-16T05:19:00.000-07:00

The first day of raptor camp.

2011-08-15T06:05:00.000-07:00

Photo of the Day

2011-08-09T11:32:00.000-07:00

Patrick's next "wish list" item...a recurve bow.

Eye exam time...do we see glasses in our future?

2011-08-08T08:21:00.000-07:00

Another fly fishing catch!

2011-08-03T07:14:00.001-07:00

Photo of the Day

2011-08-02T18:44:00.000-07:00

Patrick is enjoying a little alone time with Oma and Opa in Isle LaMotte today (Katherine stayed home with me...she'll get her turn another day).
Of course fishing was on the top of his to-do list, especially since he is trying to hone his fly fishing skills now that he has had his fly fishing camp.
This is Patrick with his first ever fly casting catch. He was very excited!

Photo of the Day

2011-08-01T11:20:00.001-07:00

Shopping for a new (larger) bike helmet before mountain biking camp starts tomorrow.

Photo of the Day

2011-07-29T09:00:00.000-07:00

Today is Patrick's last day of fly fishing camp. He says that it's been a good camp and that he's learned some things, and he has enjoyed being in camp with his friend, Trevor.

Playtime at the local pool

2011-07-17T11:38:00.001-07:00

Patrick standing in front of the snow pack along Beartooth Scenic Byway

2011-07-10T17:29:00.001-07:00

In front of Old Faithful

2011-07-09T20:49:00.001-07:00

Patrick's first Montana catch

2011-07-09T20:48:00.000-07:00

Patrick's big catch

2011-07-09T20:47:00.001-07:00

Helping Mama shop...

2011-06-10T09:27:00.000-07:00

Helping Mama shop for new planters for our rental properties. After this, we shop for the flowers...yippee!

Patrick's prize

2011-06-04T17:16:00.001-07:00

Patrick was the winner (raised the most money in pledges), for his age group (4-6th grade), in the run-a-thon at his school. He won this motorized scooter, and boy was he excited.

The money raised in this event will be used toward the purchase of a new play structure for the school's playground.

Last day of school

2011-05-27T11:50:00.001-07:00

Patrick and his friend, Calvin, after their run-a-thon, on the last day of school.

Patrick ran 22 laps and earned $506 toward the playground for the school.

Today is my last full day of school. We celebrated with a water fight.

2011-05-26T11:53:00.001-07:00

A visit to the Pet Advantage

2011-05-15T12:22:00.000-07:00

First fishing (second actually) of the season

2011-04-11T11:11:00.000-07:00

A sewing project at school

2011-04-08T07:32:00.001-07:00

Goofing around in the maple sugaring pot.

2011-04-04T16:29:00.001-07:00

Using My New Glove

2011-01-15T09:28:00.000-08:00

For Christmas I got a falconry glove. At the Wildlife Animal Rescue, where I volunteer, they have a Red-tailed Hawk and a Goshawk. Here are two pictures of me with these beautiful birds of prey. If you would like to see more, visit our website (click here).

This is me with the Red-tailed Hawk.

This is me with the Goshawk.

First Skiing of the Season

2011-01-14T11:37:00.000-08:00

When I switched schools from public school to Trinity, we weren't sure that I would be able to ski with the Alpine Program in Williston. It turns out that on Friday afternoon, when ski lessons take place, I am having P.E. at school. It's perfect! Instead of P.E. at school, I get to go to Cochran's Ski Area in Richmond and ski. Both are physical exercise so I'm not losing anything, and the Ski Program is open to all Williston students, regardless of what school they attend. This is me on the first day of ski lessons. I'm at Level 5 (out of 8).

My School Picture

2010-11-09T04:53:00.001-08:00

This is my school picture. 4th Grade at Trinity Baptist School. Taken in October 2010.

Birthday Party for Ross

2010-11-07T09:07:00.000-08:00

My friend, Ross (we've been friends for almost six years), had a birthday party this weekend, and we went to the Petra Cliffs for some rock climbing! It was cool! This is me climbing.

Ross is a fisherman like me so I gave him some carefully chosen lures and I even made a few flies for him. Next summer we're going to go fishing together.

Halloween 2010

2010-10-30T07:00:00.000-07:00

Every year since I was little we have gone to a Halloween Party with our "international" friends. This year I went as a gorilla (the gun was a prop from someone else at the party). There was lots of food and lots of people; we had a good time seeing our friends.

My first guitar performance!

2010-10-28T07:05:00.000-07:00

This is my first guitar performance (for someone other than my family)! I am playing with some friends from my fourth grade class at our school chapel.

This is the fourth grade class singing a little song.

My first pike!

2010-10-18T19:18:00.001-07:00

I spent the weekend with Oma and Opa in Isle LaMotte Vermont. On Sunday afternoon Opa and I went fishing and I caught a 19-inch Pike!

Me...playing guitar yesterday

2010-10-13T07:07:00.000-07:00

My first day of school

2010-08-23T05:29:00.000-07:00

This is me on the first day fourth grade.

Raptor Camp is the BEST!!

2010-08-17T21:12:00.000-07:00

Today was my second day at Raptor Camp. I LOVE it. We are learning so many new things, and the birds are beautiful. On Friday I will even get a chance to hold one of the birds (but probably not this wonderful hawk)!

Hiking Camel's Hump

2010-08-03T14:08:00.000-07:00

Papa and I hiked to the summit of Camel's Hump on Saturday. And I was the youngest person on the mountain!

SNAKE!

2010-07-29T12:39:00.000-07:00

Today, while Mama was helping Katherine, she spotted a black tail slide past the front door and hollered to me that there was a snake outside. So, as fast as I could, I got my shoes on, yelling "where?! where?!"

We followed the snake as it slithered along the house and made its way to the forest. I tried to catch it, but I think we made it mad and...I think you'll have to visit the website to read the rest of the story. :) Check it out here!

Blue & Gold

2010-06-16T07:02:00.000-07:00

I was published in the Blue & Gold. Check it out!

Me and an American Kestrel

2010-04-23T04:39:00.000-07:00

This is me trying to get the American Kestrel to calm down and perch on my hand. This Kestrel is one of the birds of prey at the Vermont Wildlife Rescue Center where I volunteer once a week.

This is me holding the Kestrel. I have him so well trained that he looked right at the camera when I said "Smile". (*grin)

Tae Kwon Do - a mini tournament

2010-01-25T10:04:00.000-08:00

Last week my Tae Kwon Do gym (Dojang) hosted an inter-association tournament. Here are a couple of my favorite pictures. My mom will (surely) put some pictures on the family website soon, but in the meantime you can see some at the Dojang site or my mom's Facebook page.

About Beavers

2009-12-26T20:27:00.000-08:00

The week before school let out for Christmas break I had the opportunity to make a presentation to my house at school. The presentation was about beavers. It was way cool and I had a lot of fun giving a lecture to my class. Check it out.

My First Article

2009-12-04T09:13:00.000-08:00

If you don't know me then you may not know that I like to write. I have written *lots* of stories, poems, and songs. I think my mom keeps most of them. This is the first thing that I have written that has been published in the school newspaper, the Blue & Gold. If you can't see it very well here that's because the image was reduced in file size by my blog host, but you can see the article in full size at our website. Check it out here.

School Pictures

2009-11-23T06:53:00.000-08:00

This is me. It's my third grade school picture. Mama made me take my glasses off...she said they come down too far on my nose and block my eyes. I think that's because I scrunch them into my face and bend the nose pands so that the glasses don't sit up on my face anymore. The lady at the eye doctor always bends them back. She also said that they reflect during pictures, but I think they're actually too dirty to reflect anything.

Hanging out with my family

2009-11-08T08:41:00.000-08:00

We go on a bike ride that takes us by the Ethan Allen Tower and this park is along the route we take so we stop for a little play time.

Halloween with Friends

2009-10-31T08:34:00.000-07:00

For Halloween this year I decided to be a fisherman. This is me standing next to my friends' (Craig and Scott) mom. She was Octo-mom, but I don't know who that is.

Carving Pumpkins

2009-10-25T08:26:00.000-07:00

This is me and Katherine cleaning the goopy stuff out of our pumpkins.

This is me carving my pumpkin.

This is me with my finished work of pumpkin art.

My Turn with the Leaf Blower

2009-10-10T08:23:00.000-07:00

This is me giving Katherine a new hairstyle with the leaf blower. (he he he ha ha ha!)

Silly in Stripes

2009-09-29T08:25:00.000-07:00

This is me with my silly sister in our silly striped pajamas.

Wiesn - Stowe

2009-09-26T08:17:00.000-07:00

This is me in my Lederhosen at Oktoberfest in Stowe. We go to Oktoberfest almost every year. THIS year we got to go with Oma and Opa because they just moved to Vermont (where they will spend the summers). Below is a picture of me with my dorky little sister, Katherine, in her Dirndl.

My Third Grade Class

2009-09-18T08:11:00.000-07:00

Oma's House

2009-09-15T08:57:00.000-07:00

At Oma's house I can do lots of fun things. Their Vermont house is on Lake Champlain where I can go fishing. This is one of the biggest fish I have ever caught!

This is a garter snake that I caught in Oma's garden. I wanted to show it to her, but she's afraid of snakes...when she saw that I had a snake in my hand she screamed and slammed the door. After we were done laughing she came out and looked at the snake.

My Backyard Captures

2009-09-12T07:55:00.000-07:00

When we were moving logs from the front yard to the side of the house, under the logs we found animals beyond my imagination. First we found this fat toad (two of them!).
This little Red-backed Salamander was quick! He kept trying to bury himself in the rocks when I was trying to dig him out. Eventually he was in my hands and he settled down and we took some pictures.When we were done moving logs everyone went inside, except me who stayed outside looking for more amphibians. That's when I caught him, this little toad. He was almost two inches long. The toad perfectly blended in with the dead crabgrass in the rocks. It was the most animal-filled day I have had in the wild.

I FINALLY got my balloon ride!

2009-09-06T07:35:00.000-07:00

When I was six my parents promised me a ride in a hot air balloon after I helped on the ground crew of the Energizer Bunny balloon at the Champlain Valley Balloon Festival. By the time we finished helping the balloon rides were closed and I couldn't get a ride. So we have spent the past three years trying to get a ride. This summer I finally got my ride. AND, I got to take the ride with my friend, Maddie.

Here is Maddie, Maddie's mom, and me (and the pilot) in the basket. We're ready to go.

Here we are...Up, Up, and away!!

After Maddie and I had our ride then it was Papa's turn. Bye Papa!!

In the evening, after the tethered balloon ride, we went to the balloon glow. The balloon glow something that happens after dark; it is when the hot air balloons burn their fires to heat the air in the balloon. When they do this in the dark it makes the balloon glow.

On the First Day of First Grade...

2009-09-02T06:30:00.000-07:00

Actually, I'm in third grade now, but it IS the first day...
I wish that I could say I was excited about school starting, and I am in some ways, but mostly I just wish I could stay home and fly my kite, build my zoos (Zoo Tycoon 2...video game) and play with my snakes (no, they're not living snakes). I do look forward to seeing my friends again and maybe making some new ones, and it should be fun to get to know Mrs. Wirsing...maybe third grade won't be so bad. Oh, and this afternoon we get to go to the Fair and watch the Demolition Derby...that'll be cool. And Oma and Opa are arriving this weekend for their move to Vermont! Now *that* is totally cool!

This is Me with Katherine getting ready for Mama to drive us to school.

Last Day of Summer Vacation

2009-09-01T11:35:00.000-07:00

It's our last day of summer vacation. After we went to Montessori School to visit Katherine's classroom Mama took us miniature golfing at the cool place with the big waterfall.

This is me taking my out on the 3rd hole.

And this is me standing in front of the big waterfall.
I haven't been mini golfing in a long time so it was really fun.

Flying a Kite

2009-08-31T11:30:00.000-07:00

This is me flying a kite in my back yard! (I can't tell you what my little sister is doing on the slide...she's just goofy.)

I can drive!

2009-08-28T20:06:00.000-07:00

Today was a great day...well, if you don't mind shoe shopping and going to the grocery store. The rest of the day was great. Mama let me get the lawn mower out and drive around the yard with Katherine in the trailer!!

And when we were done doing that Katherine and I acted out stories that we made up and then Mama said, "How fast can you get your fishing stuff ready?" and I said, "I'll be in the car before you can say 'SHARKBAIT'!". Then she took us to Lake Iroquois. I fished and Katherine played in the water until she was cold. And dinner wasn't yucky! It was a great day.

Pictures of Me

2009-08-26T22:37:00.001-07:00

This is a picture of me with a fish I caught.

This is me with my friends from Tae Kwon Do - we went to Ben & Jerry's for ice cream.

This is me with my friend, Frau Schumann, from the International Ladies Group that my Mama goes to. We are discussing some of the flowers at the Shelburne Inn.

This is me doing a guitar concert with Grandpa Widaman.

This is me rowing the raft with Grandpa Widaman on the Yellowstone River.

There are lots of pictures of me from this summer as my family traveled and did many fun things. Check us out at www.mellmann.com!

My Tae Kwon Do Tournament

2009-05-31T10:51:00.000-07:00

Yesterday I participated in my second Tae Kwon Do Tournament and I received two second place medals; one for my "forms" and one for sparring.

This is me doing my forms. I had to do it twice. The first time Papa said I did a picture-perfect job, but I lost to the other participant. The second time I hesitated on one of my moves, but I still won. Over all I received a second place finish. The video is from my second round.

I also had to spar. Sparring is when you fight against an actual opponent. Unlike the forms where you are only competing against yourself - whoever does a better job on their chosen form wins - sparring involves actually kicking and punching (and getting kicked and punched). Sparring isn't my favorite part of the sport, but I did okay and managed to take a second place. Here you see me sparring with someone from another school. I was trying score a head-shot (worth two points), but I'm not sure if I made it. The following video is from one of my sparring rounds.

If you would like to see more pictures of the tournament you can go to my family website and see it here.

Tae Kwon Do

2009-04-02T23:30:00.000-07:00

I have been doing Tae Kwon Do for about two and a half years. This is me (on the left) sparring with Seth in athlete training class today. This was my second match of the evening. The athlete training class is to help us prepare for a tournament coming up in May.

This is is Me suiting up for sparring.

At the end of class, just before we are let go to get dressed and go home, Master White has us "circle up". He gives us last instructions and reminds us about things we should be working on. Today he reminded us that we should help each other up when we fall. Here I am helping (or getting ready to) demonstrate this lesson. Seconds after Mama took this picture Master White kicked me and I pretended to fall down...well, I did actually fall down, but he barely kicked me so I didn't have to fall, but I did so that he could help me up.

Garter Snake

2009-03-20T05:51:00.000-07:00

This is a slide show of the time we found a garter snake by the front door. Okay, Mama found it and took pictures, but *I* got to pick it up. Picking it up is way cooler than taking pictures of it. And even cooler is that it was eating a frog.

My new blog

2009-03-20T05:41:00.000-07:00

My name is Patrick. I am in second grade and I am trying to decide if I will be a herpetologist or a wildlife photographer. While I try to figure that out I thought you might like to join me on my adventure of being a boy.