Winter the Dolphin {We Knew Her Before She Was Famous}

By now I am sure you have heard of Winter the Dolphin.

The star of "A Dolphin Tale"...you know, the newly released movie starring Harry Connick Jr? Too bad he's such a homely and unattractive man....

::crickets chirp::

Where was I?

Oh yeah...Winter.

Turns out we knew her before she was famous.

In July 2010 the kids and I made a road trip to Tampa to visit grandma.

As a homeschooling family, seeing Winter was on our list of things we must do while there.



We were lucky enough to walk up right when they were moving her from a private tank in the back, into the tank where the public views her. It was beautiful to watch.



Then she did what she does best.

She put on a show for us.

A "look at me defying all odds, doing exactly what no one thought a dolphin without a tail could do" kind of show.

The trust between this dolphin and her trainer was almost palpable.



After the show, a staff member happened to single out my kids and ask them if they would like to come into the "staff only" area {at Winter's private tank} and hold Winter's tail.

Would they ever?!?!?!

Literally we were the only ones there at that time afforded the opportunity.

It was super special.

While we were talking one on one with the staff, we asked them about the strange props we had see all around Winter's tank.

Notice the lighting rig behind my kids and the guy standing to the right?

There was a broom strapped to rope hanging horizontally over the water, a large plastic gasoline can painted black, a large board reflecting light, and about 6-8 people that were just standing in their places holding these objects around the edge of her private tank.

That was when they informed us that starting September 2010, filming would begin on a Major Motion Picture starring Winter herself.

Dolphins are so intuitive, and sensitive to their surroundings, that they had to condition Winter to the new people and objects that would be entering her world.

I was touched to find out that the people we saw standing holding these strange objects were volunteers that would spend 4-6 hours per day, for the next 3 months, preparing Miss Winter for her new life as a Hollywood star.

Seems Winter had stolen the hearts and the devotion of the folks in the Tampa/Clearwater area.

Next? The country.



The kids and I went to see this movie last night and it did not disappoint.

No language, no violence, no sexual content.

Just a good family movie.

Heck, they didn't even try to hook up Harry Connick and Ashley Judd. {My 15 year old thought for sure they would}

All throughout the movie, my kids kept looking over at me saying things like, "Mom, we stood right there!"...or, "That's where we parked."...and, "That's her tail that we held!"

It was a very neat experience.

I give "A Dolphin Tale" two thumbs way up.

Inspirational, funny at times, and the kind of movie that just makes you feel good.

I also give Clearwater Marine Aquarium two thumbs waaaaay up. A wonderful place to visit if you are anywhere within the Tampa area. You will not want to miss seeing Winter.

If you would like to see Winter right now, see a behind the scenes preview of the movie, or maybe even help support the efforts of the Clearwater Marine Aquarium {A rescue, rehab, release facility} you can click here.

The live webcam button is at the top of the page.

Winter shares an enclosure with a dolphin named Panama. You may see her in the video as well.

And just a side note...she only wears her prosthetic tail a few hours a day so she may or may not have it on.

And homeschoolers, you can also click here for a curriculum that Scholastic has put together to go along with Winter's story.



Linking up at the The Homeschool Post







"My every mortal breath, is Grace and nothing less"

A Walking Tour of Nashville

This month will go down as the month of field trips for sure.

Phew

As I watch my oldest preparing for ACT's and college, I am more and more determined to savor the time I have with Maggie and Aidan.

And I want them to enjoy this time of just having fun learning before they get to the serious stuff as well.

This week we met up with a few families in our Tutorial and headed downtown for a walking tour of Nashville with I'll Take Tennessee walking tours.

I cannot recommend this tour enough! And if you decide to take it, you MUST request Marilyn. This lady made the tour. She is so knowledgeable and so passionate about what she knows. No rehearsed tour lines from this lady. She can tell you the history of this city and Tennessee in general the same way I would sit and tell you about the birth of one of my children. It comes from a place deep within her and it is both moving and contagious.



Affectionately referred to by the locals as "The Batman Building"

Makes the Nashville skyline unmistakable.

Did I mention I love this city?



The Cumberland River...She looks so peaceful and forgiving here. What a difference a year makes.



Fort Nashboro.



Marilyn told the story of the first families to settle here in Nashville. She told of the tremendous adversity they faced and of the unwavering courage and fierce determination they had. And after last year's flood, I can see that not much has changed about Nashvillians.



Why was this area so appealing to them? A natural salt lick right on the river.



We sat on the lawns of the Capitol building and listened to the story of the integrity and character of a 21 year old named Sam Davis. I cried. Even Marilyn herself got emotional telling this one.

I am ashamed to say that I've lived here almost my entire life and I never knew this story. State History is so important and yet we sometimes know the least about the very place we call home. Yikes...Not sure what I was learning in school.



Another statue on the Capitol lawn...Andrew Jackson. Mr. "Trail of Tears" himself. It was only when my kids were Junior Docents at his home last year that I really knew that much about President Jackson. He was, to say the least, a character.

His home, The Hermitage is a must see if you live in Tennessee or should you ever find yourself in the area.

We will be heading there tomorrow for Junior Docent Day once again. :-)



Finally we ended our tour at the {third} burial site for President James K. Polk.
The only president to make only 4 promises for his presidency and keep them all.

Imagine that.

Did you know that at the age of 17 he developed gall stones? He was taken to a surgeon in KY. and they removed his gall bladder...with no anesthesia!! They gave him whiskey {as if butchering him wasn't enough, now he can bleed to death too} and a group of large men held him down. I've had this surgery...and whiskey would not have been enough even after the surgery. Poor man.



The only thing better than fascinating stories about history?

Sharing them with your best friend.



**Every bit of what was shared in this post, I learned on this tour. I could go on and on retelling the stories we heard. They were not only fascinating but extremely educational. Tyler and another Sophomore joined us for this one and even they loved it and learned so much. So I highly recommend this one for all ages.**



The Homeschool Post Field Trippin'



"My every mortal breath, is Grace and nothing less"