Ma Walking Wolf

In My Absence

2011-06-02T10:57:00.000-07:00

Much has been happening since my last post. As for many things, things had to get worse before they can get better. I have much to catch up on. The plan is to look over the past year and pick out the better projects and the ones I can laugh at or learn from to post over the next few months.

Green Holidays

2009-12-21T06:00:00.000-08:00

This year the holiday was a bit greener. I've been trying to use less wrapping paper. Sure it is pretty but it is used once, maybe twice and then it goes into the recycle bin or worse the landfill. I've been meaning to make some reusable fabric gift bags but haven't seemed to be able to find the time.

This year I came across an article on "furoshiki", a Japanese style gift wrapping. This simple and beautiful form of gift wrapping uses fabric to wrap presents. The fabric can be single or two sided, a specially made piece or a scarf or bandanna. The Care2.com article (http://www.care2.com/greenliving/eco-friendly-wrapping.html) was complete with a YouTube video and a link for a wrapping guide posted by the Japanese government (http://www.env.go.jp/en/focus/attach/060403-5.html). It seemed too simple not to try. For the kids Hanukkah presents I wrapped 5 of the 8 nights gifts in dark colored bandannas. The kids didn't even blink. They still recognized a present when they see one and were able to get them open to see what surprises were within. We also reused a few gift bags too for the larger gifts.

We might not be up to a carbon neutral holiday but every little bit to make it greener is a good change.

Juice Box Straws

2009-12-11T06:00:00.000-08:00

I love the Rubbermaid juice boxes. They add a nice flexibility for the kids of juices I pack for the kids and they reduce the waist of buying juice in juice boxes. But hate that it is so hard to clean the straw out. I have discovered that a nicely soaped up skewer will nicely clean out the inside of the straws. So simple and something many of us already have handy.

Shawl "Pin"

2009-12-10T06:00:00.000-08:00

I have just received a beautiful shawl, which is perfect for keeping my shoulders warm and looking business like. The problem was all of my shawl pins are very dated and I do not mean in a good “vintage” way. Therefore had a dilemma of how to keep the shawl in place as I went about my day. I found a quick solution, which looked nice and worked well, my hair scrunchie. A basic black fabric scrunchie wrapped around the ends of the medium weight woven fabric worked very well. I plan to get a fancier beaded scrunchie to see if it will work as well and look a bit dressier. Having a multifunctional piece in the jewelry box makes organization and packing to travel much easier. It also fits the reduce part of the overall recycling plan J

Flock Party: Final Fleecing

2009-10-28T06:00:00.000-07:00

I will sheepishly admit there is just one more Shaun the Sheep item to write about.

Before the party, I spent some time with the kids. No cable TV. No Wii. Just the three of us and a big quiet lake. It was a wonderful long weekend. It was a great opportunity to show the kids some of the things I grew up with. One of the things I shared with them was my Mom's shape board. Mom made us felt boards and many shapes to move around and just be creative. We did have some Colorform kits but mom's was best. I gave each of the kids a full size sheet of felt. They both asked many questions to figure out what I was doing. Then I started to cut out shapes. Squares, triangles, circles, trapezoids, hexagons, and any others I could using my single quilting guide and things left in the kitchen cabinets. They thought it was great. They made all sorts of pictures from the shapes.

They were happy and entertained and I was getting bored. I did not want to just keep cutting shapes. I wanted to make something too. I pulled out a copy of Shaun the Sheep and started to cut free hand a sheep's head, then a set of ears and eyes out of a piece of glittery black felt. The scraps were trimmed up and added to the kids shapes. I arranged the sheep parts on a piece of white felt. By then I had the kids' attention again. After saying, I was thinking of making a pillow. I was told I needed to make two. I cut out a second set and they were packed up to be brought home with us. A month later after the party they were finally stitched together and stuffed.They are being loved to death. I might need to make another pair out of a more durable fabric.

Flock Party: Take Homes

2009-10-22T06:00:00.000-07:00

Shaun the Sheep website has a lot of coloring pages and other activities. I took advantage of these wonderful items for the kids to take home and hopefully fall in love with Shaun and the flock as much as my kids have. Each birthday bag had print outs of the coloring pages and directions on how to make a bobble Shaun from recycled yogurt cups and a Shaun note holder. The goodie bags also had a small stuffed sheep for them to play with. The kids also had their flying disc creations to take home.

I had printed out mask from the site for the kids to make at the party but we didn’t use them this time. I’m holding onto the print outs for the next flock gathering.

Flock Party: Carnival Toss

2009-10-21T06:00:00.000-07:00

Shaun the Sheep has an episode where the flock goes to a carnival. In the episode Shaun is left behind to cover for the missing sheep while Blitzer tries to find and bring back the flock. While at the carnival the sheep play the bottle game – throw a ball to knock down the bottles. I decided we could have our own version of this game. If you want the show the field has the farmer’s junk pile which the sheep managed to salvage things to make whatever Shaun dreams up. So for our version of the game we saved some of our own junk. I saved several cat litter containers (14 pound size). I had purchased bean bag for a different game.

We stacked the containers in pyramids of three on top of picnic tables and gave each child several bean bags. They took turns trying to knock down the stacks. A brave parent volunteered to fetch bean bags and re stack one of the pyramids and we tried to keep up with the overly enthusiastic kids. They loved the game!

Flock Party: Sleeping Bag Races

2009-10-20T06:00:00.000-07:00

Shaun the Sheep has a camping episode. In the episode one of the sheep crawls into a sleeping bag to check it out and gets stuck. For awhile she jumps around before her back legs tear through so she can walk again. This was my inspiration for our Sheepish Sleeping Bag Races – sack races.

Sack races can be done with old feed bags or store bought bags made just for them. I found sacks for sack races at Oriental Trading Co. They had several kinds but I decided to get the 6 smaller kids sacks with handles and ‘racing’ numbers.

The day of the party had light rain right up to when the party started. I was concerned about doing sack races on the potentially slippery grass. Luckily the volley ball game ended well before we were ready to do sack races. The sand provided a fantastic surface for hopping kids. It dried more quickly then the grass and made for a softer landing as they scurried (or flopped) from one end to the other.

Flock Party: Frisbee

2009-10-19T06:00:00.000-07:00

Shaun the Sheep can be seen playing catch with Blitzer (the dog). The two playing Frisbee is the opening scene for Blitzer’s love story.

I found design your own flying disc at Oriental Trading Co. When I was shopping for the party they were priced $13/24 but if you bought 3 or more the price went down to $8. At those prices I ordered 3 pack. That’s 6 dozen flying disc. I experimented with a poster paint marker which was suppose to work on plastic and Sharpie permanent markers. The markers worked better. They do smear a little and can rub off but it was far better then the paint option. If you scuff up the plastic it will adhere better, but who wants to scuff up 72 flying disc. I purchased 3 colorful packages of thick and thin tipped markers and tossed in the markers we used for the cup coloring. We handed out flying disc to all of the kids and encouraged the parents to do one for themselves too. The art work was amazing. All of the kids young and old seemed to really enjoy the activity. Some finished quickly and took their disc for test flights. Others used them to dig in the nearby volley ball court. They were having such a good time I didn’t interrupt .

The samples shown were done by my little ones and their big sister.

Flock Party: Flocking The Hall

2009-10-18T06:00:00.000-07:00

Shaun the Sheep has a full flock to watch over. The flock was going to be turned into decorations for the party. I made the mum, baby Timmy and an anonymous sheep.

The white corrugated plastic I salvaged was perfect for making sheep. I pealed off the film with the conference information to get a clean white surface. If I planned carefully I could get a one sheep out of each poster board. The head I cut free hand and colored with Sharpie permanent markers. I drew random lines, squiggles, and spirals in black and gray crayon and markers to add depth to their wool. The head is attached to the front body piece with sticky Velcro squares. I used a metal kabob skewer to punch small holes on either side of where their ‘necks’ are so I could loop twine through and tie them to the shelter’s post or a near by tree.

Flock Party: Shirley Toss

2009-10-17T06:00:00.000-07:00

If you have seen Shaun the Sheep you know you are not likely going to be tossing Shirley. She’s just too big. BUT you can toss things into her wool. In several episodes things get thrown or fall into Shirley’s wool and in the ‘goat’ episode the goat and Shaun go right trough her. These were the inspiration for the Shirley’s Toss.

I made a small model out of paper to and started to think about how I could make it work. I initially thought of using cardboard but beanbags would destroy cardboard. I decided pingpong balls would be an option.I was still trying to decide between recycling cardboard boxes or cut the shapes out of wood. I came across some white corrugated plastic and decided it would be more earth friendly and easier for me to manage.

I salvaged white corrugated plastic which was used for conference signs. I pealed off the film with the conference information to get a clean white surface. I used 3 sheet s: the head, front & back.I found that kitchen scissors worked fairly well. The head I cut free hand and colored with Sharpie permanent markers. I cut the front and back separately and free hand trying to get the fluffy curvy look of a sheep. I used a glass as a patter to cut circles in the front pieces. I used a small bowl to cut one in the center of the front and the back pieces (straight through). The head is attached to the front body piece with sticky Velcro squares. I used a metal kabob skewer to punch small holes to attached the front and back pieces. The top edge is attached with 1 inch ring binder rings which act as a hinge. On the sides there is a place for twine to keep it from opening up too wide. Shirley looked a little 'flat' so I used black and gray crayons and markers to draw random swirls and squiggles to look like curly wool. I found neon pingpong (table tennis) balls at Oriental Trading Co.

The game is adorable but the day of our party was too windy to actually play it. I’m tucking it away to bring out at the next party.

Flock Party: Shirley’s Wool

2009-10-16T06:00:00.000-07:00

In Shaun the Sheep’s flock there is one very large sheep called Shirley. She is so big she is often pushed from place to place. She has been used as a trampoline and the bottom of sheep pyrimids. Her wool is like a magnet for stuff. It is amazing the things they find when they go searching in her wool. Shirley’s Wool inspired several kids’ games for our Flock Party.

I purchased a bag of Poly-fill stuffing from the local craft store and a bag of 50 assorted small party favors from Oriental Trading Co. I used my Excess Baggage Tote by Baggallini to hold my “wool”. Any bucket or bag which won’t easily tear will do. I used about 1/3 of the Poly-fill stuffing. You could also use real wool or cotton, scraps of yarn, or even fabric in place of the stuffing. If you use wool you may want to make sure none of the participants have a wool allergy. I pulled small pieces of the stuffing apart and stretched it before putting it into the bag. Then I added the bag of party favors. Mixing the stuffing and toys together stretched the stuffing out more and tangled the toys so they all didn’t just sit on the bottom of the bag.

As the party wrapped down I pulled out the bag of Shirley's Wool and let the kids reach in to pull out a toy. They were told not to peek but there was definite peeking and even some toy trading, but that was okay. They had lots of fun trying to find what was hidden in the ‘wool’.

Flock Party: It's in the Can

2009-10-15T06:00:00.000-07:00

My family spent many summer vacations at the National Seashore. One of the signs we saw at many of the historical sites, parks and beaches said "Leave only footprints and take only pictures". As a kid I loved the idea of leaving no trace so no one could tell if you were there. The idea to tread light and to leave place as nice or nicer then the way you find it is just the right thing to do.

This idea was the reason for taking trash bags to the park for the party. It is so gross and inconsiderate to leave overflowing trash cans at a park. I knew out pizza boxes alone would overwhelm the one trash can in out reserved shelter. By having bags with us we were able to bag up all of the pizza boxes and leave the can for all of the messy little things.

The park didn't have containers for recycling so we brought our own. I picked up two Bungalow Trash Caches (collapsible trash bin). These are very sturdy containers which go "from flat to all that", really. It has snaps to hold the trash bag in place, washable and reuse able. At nearly $40 at the Container Store these are definitely an investment for this party and future gatherings. I had hoped to use one for recycling (paper, plastic, and glass) and one for compost. After some farther thinking I decided against collecting compost. The vegan chili is fully compostable as is the breads, but... I don't compost bread out of concerns of attracting rats, opossums, or other nasties. The neighbors have accepted the compost bin but I have been trying hard to keep it "neighborly" even in our hot muggy summers. I also had purchased regular paper plates and bowls. Both had a thin plastic coating. Not the best for compost. After this batch is used up I'll be looking for reasonably priced compostable bowls, plates, and cups. The bins worked very well for collecting our recyclables. They were sturdy enough to hold up to the windy damp day and to carry everything back home for our weekly pick up.

I like having things which are multi functional. I was able to re-purpose one of the trash caches. It is sturdy enough to hold our yoga mats and small rugs. The remaining one fits in the center and could be used as a divider if I find we need his and her sides.

Flock Party: Drinks

2009-10-14T06:00:00.000-07:00

During the planning of our Flock Party we had to decide if we wanted individual cans and bottles for drinks or large 2 liter bottles and cups. We decided there would be less waste if we went with cups. We chose caffeine free child and adult friendly drinks such as 7Up, Orange Crush, root beer, and lemon aid. We also had 2 gallon containers of water available too.

Then there were the cups. We have several friends who make sure there are markers next to the stack of cups so everyone can write their name on their cups. Since this was a kids party I wanted to make the same idea a bit more kid friendly. Many of our younger guest can't write their names, yet. I purchased paper cups and Sharpie markers. Then I did a bit of recycling. I get tons of mailing labels each year with beautiful pictures in the margins. I never use most of the labels I get. I have been neatly cutting off the beautiful designs and using them for kid reward stickers and for craft projects. I had a small stack nearly 2 inches high. The kids and some of the adults seemed to have a great time decorating their cups with their own artwork or/and the stickers.

By the time they were done decorating their cups pizza arrived. Those who had run off to the play ground were able to pick theirs out from the others for their lunch time drinks. We weren't able to reuse the cups for the latter cupcake break because the wind was blowing them around too much. We needed fresh cups. In spite of the craft project not reducing the number of cups we used I definitely would do it again. The guest had fun and if the wind had cooperated we would have saved a tree.

Flock Party: Cake

2009-10-13T06:00:00.000-07:00

Since our Flock Party was also the celebration of 2 birthdays we needed to have cake. I decided that cupcakes might be a bit more work to bake but much easier to serve at the park. I let each of the kids pick a cake mix. They chose strawberry and white confetti mixes. I decided we needed to have chocolate too. Each mix made 24 cupcakes. My Sistema 5 litter Clip-it containers held 24 cupcakes with some room to spare.

I was contemplating how I was going to get 6 dozen frosted cupcakes to the park without making a mess. I had an inspiration from another party. The weekend before we were at a party where one of the crafts was decorating your own cake. This super mom baked a small cake for each of the kids to decorate. The boys had cars and the girls had cakes with doll bodies to decorate. She mixed different color frostings. She put out bowls and made bags of each color for the kids to frost their cakes. Then there were various bowls of cake decorating sprinkles and candies. Each of the kids got to take their creations home with them. Then she baked a birthday cake for the party.

I would let everyone decorate their own cupcakes. Everyone was able to choose the flavor cupcake they wanted and then was able to put as much or little frosting as they wanted. The kids cheered and some of the parents looked horrified and dove in to help supervise. I purchased several cans of cupcake frosting and used the tubes of cake decorating gel I already had. Add in a few large sprinkles and oh what edible messes did they make. KISS: To keep things simple we only put one tip on each can of frosting and passed out the cans. The kids never knew there were options of different tips and didn't miss them.

Gluten-Free

I did mention that I had a few guest who could not eat gluten. I made a batch of Gluten Free Pantry Spice Cake cupcakes. I ran the oven for 15 minutes at 500 degrees after baking all of the other cupcakes to burn off any stray gluten. Then I baked the cupcakes in new disposable aluminum cupcake trays. I'll reuse the trays. I washed them and wrapped them in a plastic bag to keep them separate from the others. I'm not this sensitive to wheat but some others are. These guest were given the opportunity to ice their cupcakes before the others so the tips of the can wouldn't be exposed to the wheat cupcakes before hand.

The gluten-free cupcakes were definately appreciated. None of them made it back to my home. It is a good thing I had stashed a few in the frig before heading to the park.

Flock Party: Lunch

2009-10-12T06:00:00.000-07:00

Our Flock Party menu was determined by convince, allergies and... What do sheep like?

I chose the menu keeping in mind I was inviting young children, vegetarians, several people with food restrictions and others who might have religious food restrictions too. I wanted to avoid all nut products and wanted to have choices which did not contain gluten. I decided to stick with a vegetarian menu. Some of the items would include eggs or dairy but there would be alternatives in case any one had problems with those items.

According to Shaun the Sheep (http://www.shaunthesheep.com), sheep love pizza and apples. In one episode of Shaun the Sheep the flock watch the farm get pizza delivered to the farm and decide to get their own. The episode is about how they get to town to bring pizza back to the farm for the flock. We decided that ordering cheese pizza would be a nice covenant food to feed our flock. We called ahead to make sure the local pizza shops would deliver to the park.

But for those who have wheat, gluten or dairy allergies or intolerances pizza just wouldn't do. So to supplement the cheese pizza I made a homemade vegan chili. (KISS Vegan Chili recipe below.) I had a chafing dish to keep the chili warm but the wind was blowing enough there was no chance to keep the Sterno can lit. I kept half of the chili warm in a recycled Styrofoam cooler in the van and one tucked in a bucket surrounded by party favors. Since lunch was one of the first things we did the chili was still plenty warm for the guest.

In another episode the flock take on the naughty pigs to have fresh crisp juicy apples. Another healthy simple food to serve. We purchased 3 varieties of apples to serve. Our guest didn't have to take on naughty pigs but were able to choose between gala, Macintosh, and red delicious apples.

KISS Vegan Chili
(Keep it simple :)

2 - 16oz cans of each (drained & rinsed)
Corn
Pink kidney beans
Dark kidney beans
Garbanzo beans (chick peas)
1 -16oz black beans (drained & rinsed)
2- 28oz crushed tomatoes
1 tsp ground cunim seed
2 tbl ground red pepper (or/& crushed red pepper seeds or chopped jalapeño peppers to taste)
1/2 tsp Salt
1 tsp black ground pepper
1 med sweet onion, chopped
1 small green pepper, chopped
1 tsp garlic
1 tbl sugar

Place all ingredients in a large pot or slow cooker. Choose a cooking time: 1) Low flame or setting for 12 hours. 2) Med for 6 hours. 3) Boil for 20 min then simmer for 30 min

She did WHAT? (Explanations):

I used canned corn to avoid wheat but frozen can be used. Some frozen foods spray the inside of the plastic bags with a plant based product which has traces of wheat/gluten. This stuff keeps the contents from sticking to the bag, but it can make some people very sick.

I used canned beans for convenience but an equal amount of soaked dry beans can be used.

Adjust spices according to how fresh or how "strong" they are. Herbs and spices dry out with age and can loose their potency. You may also adjust according to you taste. If I have guest I often make it on the milder side and serve hot pepper slices or hot sauce on the side. Guest can always add "heat". If it is too hot it may be a problem for some.

Cumin seed is often uses in bean recipes. It is added because it has natural anti-gas properties.

I add a little sugar to many of my recipes which use tomatoes. Tomatoes can be sweet or a bit on the acidic side. A little sugar can bring out the sweetness of the tomatoes and be a nice contrast to the hot spices. If your tomatoes are already sweet leave the sugar out. If they are very acidic add a little more sugar.

All of these ingredients can be eaten as is. Cooking is more for the blending of flavors. Like most stews they always seem to taste better when they cook longer.

Flock Party

2009-10-11T06:00:00.000-07:00

Life has been a bit crazy. It's time to get back to the keyboard. :)

I've been planning a Flock Party for the past few months. What is a Flock Party? Glad you asked. It is a party for friends and family. It is a play on a block party. Ours was to celebrate family, friends and 2 little ones making it to their next birthday. Luckily the birthday kids didn't mind sharing the day. They know and play with each other friends. It also made it a bit easier to invite the the whole family. So the party invites went to family, the kids friends and their immediate family.

Several of the guest were allergic our cats and our home is small so I needed an alternate party place. After a bit of research I chose a wonderful county park with restrooms (flush toilets), picnic shelter, and a nice location. Since small children were attending having flush toilets and places for hand washing were an essential. I hoped we wouldn't need the shelter but since it was rain or shine I wanted to be prepared. It rained over night and through setting up so it worked out for the best. We had dry tables. No I won't reveal the name of the park, but I will tell you a bit of research and planing can make a big difference.

Our Flock Party also had a bit of a sheepish theme. We love Shaun the Sheep (http://www.shaunthesheep.com). Many of the things we did were inspired by episodes of the show. Over the next few days I'll share some of the recipes, crafts, and activities we did at our Flock Party.

Peanut Butter Raisin Chews

2009-07-23T06:00:00.000-07:00

My grandmother and mom studied child development and nutrition in college and our meals and snacks reflected their knowledge, skill, and wisdom.Wee had treats in moderation and often those treats were healthy. One of the ones I remember fondly is mom’s Peanut Butter Raisin Chews. These slightly sweet confections are quite tasty and healthy.

Peanut Butter Raisin Chews

½ cup peanut butter (if crunch style, a little more)

2/3 cup no-fat dry milk solids

1/3 cup corn syrup or molasses

½ cup confectioner’s or granulated sugar

½ cup raisins

Mix all ingredients together.

Roll into balls

Chill in refrigerator

Makes about 2 dozen

Tip: Measure out the dry ingredients first. You can then use the same measuring cup to measure out the wet ingredients.

Trashy to Classy

2009-07-22T06:00:00.000-07:00

I just moved our trash center from a hard to get to place to one that is handier to the back door. The move has left a sightly dirt patch which will need to be seeded this fall. The new location is more convent to the back door and is a spot that appears to only allow weeds to grow (wild strawberries, garlic mustard, and moss). Even though the spot is handier I didn’t want the same unsightly dirt patch to appear in the new location.

I decided to make the new trash patio nearly twice the size of the current trash containers to allow for extra bags and cans. I dug out the weeds and some of the dirt to below the grade of the grass and the crawl space access. Leveled it was nearly 2” below grade.

I back filled the whole with three 50 pound bags of paver sand.

Then came the hard part, moving the stones. I dragged the largest piece of flagstone (slate) from the pile in front of the house to the back of the house with the family’s little metal red wagon (they get to play with it and I get I to haul heavy stuff). The one stone covered over half of the area I was working with. The other smalles stones were much easier to bring around to work into the oversize puzzle. I used another 25 pounds of sand to leveled the stones and fill in the cracks. I used 2 bricks to hold the crawl space cover in place and allow for easier removal for access.

In one afternoon I took a potential eyesore to a spot that looks neat and tidy.

Tomato Stakes, Blight, and Anticipation...

2009-07-21T06:00:00.000-07:00

The first year I had my garden I used tomato cages to prop up my plants. They worked but they are hard to store and easily get twisted if you hit a stone or something while installing them. They are also a bit cumbersome to put around a plant if you wait too long. In spite of my best efforts I usually broke off multiple leaves.

Last year I used Velcro plant ties to tie my tomatoes to the movable fencing in my garden. It worked very well, maybe too well. Not only did the fencing hold the tomato plants security in place it also provided seating for the squirrels to dine on my tomatoes.

This year the fencing was occupied by peas when I planted my tomatoes. The fencing was also in the same bed as the tomatoes were last year. I truly believe in crop rotation. It is better for the soil and the plants. Rotation is becoming even more important here in the northeast since late blight is on the rise. It can devastate tomato and potato crops. Think Irish potato famine. Mike McGrath recommends a compost tea sprayed on in the morning as a preventative precaution. The over all recommendation is to removing any affected plants double bagged and trashed it. There is also a call to report any blight to your local exchange so they can track the disease. This is nasty stuff in the plant world. (Tomato/potato disease warning: late blight is here! http://www.wtopnews.com/?sid=1714789&nid=47 )

With that said, this year’s tomatoes were grown from seed and are located in a different raised bed to help decrease the chances of infection. I’m staking them to keep them off the ground to help… and as painful as it is I’m taking out one or two to keep good air flow around them. On a recent cable segment by Merrifield Garden Center I heard a recommendation for a Rainbow Tomato Spirals for tomato plants. I was skeptical if a single metal pole would work. I picked up a few to see. They were easy to install. I was able to gently guide the plants around the spiral. I was able to do ti without breaking any leaves off and they are surprisingly sturdy. I have occasionally have to cokes the new growth to continue up the spiral with very little effort.

Now I just wait for that tasty summer treat of fresh vine ripen tomatoes right out of the garden.

Garden Walkway Begins

2009-07-17T06:00:00.000-07:00

The clutter in the driveway is starting to get to me. I really need to clear out the last of the flagstone to free up some space and make it look a bit more presentable. I had held onto the leftovers from the front walk way for a garden path between the raised beds. I had also hoped to use some of the stone for under the trash cans to decrease the potential muddy mess when it rains.

I worked on the garden path between the raised beds first. As I dug out the foundation for the flagstone I decided I really need to redo the center raised bed at the same time. It rearranges project orders but it was in the plans. I started by digging out a 4-5 foot long section of the old walkway. The garden weed cloth did little to stop the weeds. Two types of grass grow right through it and many things just grew on top of it. I’m tossing the weeds into the compost, sifting out the remains of the weed cloth to toss in the trash, pulling out the big rocks (fist size), and all of the dirt and old multch is being set aside for a new raised bed. The old bed edging was removed and the edges trimmed to fit the new garden wall retaining stones. After leveling the dirt, I added three bags of sand were spread out across the bottom. The garden stones were carefully set in place. To be honest I didn’t use a level, I did it by look and feel. After the section of retaining wall was done I sorted through pieces of flagstone for the walkway. After a lot of rock lifting, sand shifting, stomping and jiggling I think I got it. I even worked in one of the pieces of rock I dug into the walkway. It had a nice smooth side and fit the space wonderfully. I used two pieces of the old garden edging bricks to separate the portion I finished and the part yet to get done. If the stones weren’t there a summer rain storm could wash out the sand and require repairs before it was even finished.

I finished a small section. Hopefully I can do this bit by bit and have it still work out well. I’m going to need another pallet of stone but it keeps me busy and out of other trouble along with increasing the appeal and value of the house so I guess it is worth it.

Sand Box

2009-07-16T06:00:00.000-07:00

The kids’ recently got a new sand box. I was hoping to give them a constructive play space to dig so they would be less likely to keep digging up my freshly planted seeds and such in the garden. I managed to find a nice size sand box with a very attractive design which would blend in with the yard while still being a lot of fun for the kids.

Once I had the new Step2 Naturally Playful Sandbox home I had to find a good place for it in the yard. As I pulled the big brown box out of the van I realized it was going to be one more thing to mow around. I have been trying so hard to decrease the number o things I need to mow around. I tested it next to the slide on their swing set but I was afraid it would be too tempting for them to jump into the sandbox instead of sliding down the slide. Then I noticed it was about the right size to fit under the fort portion of the swing set. It is a perfect fit. It has a little space around it to allow access to the swing set for reapplying water sealer. The fort provides some protection from the weather which should help the sand box last longer. It provides some shade for the kids while they play. AND I don’t have one more thing to mow around. They love it and have been spending a lot of time in it.

I’m happy to say the box came with a lid. I have explained to the kids that some wild animals like to use sandboxes like cat litter boxes and we need to keep the lid on. They have been very good to keep the lid on when they haven’t been playing in it. They even announced that the lid will keep dirt and leaves out of their new sandbox. They have been very happy to play in the sandbox instead of digging in my garden but they still expect to be called if I find any earth worms or interesting bugs while working in the garden.

Rose of Sharon

2009-07-15T06:00:00.000-07:00

When we first moved into our home we could barely see the neighbor’s house through the hedge. Actually ‘hedge’ isn’t the right term. It was an over grown combination of 50+ year old trees, bushes, bulbs, and vines. Over the past 3 years I’ve done some trimming but it barely kept up with the grown of this mini jungle. It was time to tame the beast. I went in armed with a pair of pruners and a small handsaw. Over the month of June and into July I have cut down all but 3 of the 15-20’ high Rose of Sharon, pulled vines and trimmed the remaining bushes waist high. I stacked two piles of Rose of Sharon branches 5 feet high along with 25 bags filled with leaves, twigs, and weeds.I’ve sacrificed the fast growing Rose of Sharon hoping the other bushes will now fill out and will still allow some light in for the white azaleas, day lilies, lily of the valley, and other plants that have been struggling for light and water to thrive.

The project isn’t done. The Rose of Sharon is doing its best to come back from their wood stump remains. I’ve tried scoring the tops and painting on herbicide but they are determined. I’ve been cutting off the green leaves as they reappear. My next attempt to kill them off will be splitting each of the stumps with a small hatchet to encourage natural micros and rotting process to kill them off. I really rather not use more herbicide. I don’t want to risk hurting the remaining plants, my kids, or any wildlife.

I left 3 of the Rose of Sharon plants because they are nice bushes when maintained. According to all of my web surfing they can be trimmed to be more tree- like and looking around the neighborhood I found several beautiful ones that have been. Out of the three I have saved I hope to see how they do with more light and space and choose one to trim for a more beautiful and controllable shape. I’m holding off trimming the three for a few weeks since they are starting to bloom. The kids and I really enjoy their big trumpet shaped purple blossoms.

I’m happy to say after 6 weeks of slowly taming the ‘hedge’ the neighbor said it looks better then it has in any of the 30 years they have lived there. So I have a better looking property line and happy neighbors. It is definitely a win-win.

Natural Sponges

2009-07-13T06:00:00.000-07:00

I started to consider growing luffa after reading an article in the Sierra Club blog. The blog had a link to a web post about growing your own luffa sponges called How to Make (and grow) a Luffa .It sounded simple enough so I planted a few at the base of the old maple tree near the garden. I’m hoping I can train the vines to climb up the tree. The spot I picked seems to be a bit dry for the plants but they are putting up a good effort. The surviving 6 plants are currently are less than 2 feet tall/long and I’m trying to train them to climb up the tree.

The kids are currently concerned that I’m grown another ‘strange’ vegetable for them to eat. Even though luffa is edible we won’t be eating them. I plan on letting the fruits mature and try to process them to make home grown sponges. I believe the kids might have lots of fun squishing the fleshy parts out to make the sponges. I’m hoping to have at least a few for the kids to make some for themselves but if the plants take off and are fruitful we may have nice holiday gifts to share with family and friends.

Look for a posting in the fall for the next stages of this gardening experiment.

Airline Water

2009-07-08T06:00:00.000-07:00

I have heard warnings not to drink the water from the holding tanks in commercial airplanes. I’m not sure what procedures are currently followed for cleaning, treating, and filling the holding tanks. Over all water in air planes or even remote parks which is provided through holding tanks is acceptable to becoming contaminated. Tanks that are used heavily don’t have the same risk as tanks that may just sit. Anything which drops into the tank such as bacteria, plankton, etc has time to grow and can make you quite sick. If you are camping it is safest to sanitize your water and if you are on a plane, pack it.

On a recent trip I also I tried to reduce waste and take a water bottle with me. I took an empty 20-oz Rubbermaid bottle in my carry-on. I cleared security and then filled it from a water fountain in the waiting area. I purchased a 1 liter bottle of water at one of the concessions before boarding. I was able to use the larger bottle to refill the smaller bottle which was easier to drink from and keep in the pocket in font of me. The Rubbermaid bottle also had markings to measure the amount of water so I could mix in an instant drink packet if I wanted something other than just water. It worked out very well. If I had had a layover I could refill both. On my return flight I purchased another large water bottle after clearing security for my return trip. I was able to use the 20-oz bottle throughout my trip reducing the amount of cups and bottles I might have elsewised used.

DEEP Indian Vegan Lunch

2009-07-07T06:00:00.000-07:00

At a local international grocery store I came across several DEEP Indian Gourmet vegetarian frozen meals which did not list any gluten or wheat ingredients. The allergy information does state it is manufactured in a facility which does process wheat. I picked up the Chhole (chick-peas simmered with onions and peppers) and Navratian Korma (vegetables and cashew nuts) to try. Each box served 2. The first one I tried was the Navratian Korma. I heated it in the microwave and divided between 2 dishes and added a wild rice and brown rice pilaf. It made 2 very filling and tasty lunches to have at work. The Chhole I popped out of the plastic try it came in to cut it in have with a sharp knife. I then placed each half in a dish with some rice and placed it in my insulated lunch bag. The frozen food helped keep the contents cool and was softened to heat up more quickly for lunch. It worked very well and was delicious. Both dishes were nicely seasoned in a rich sauce. It had enough bite or heat to be interesting but not enough to leave me speechless. I would definitely get both again.

Toilet Troubles

2009-07-06T06:00:00.000-07:00

Well it was nice while it lasted. Last November I blogged about getting a self-closing toilet seat. We really liked our Bemis® Whisper Close™ toilet seat but it didn’t hold up well. The seat and the lid were still in good shape when it went out to the trash but the hinges were gone. Over the past 2 months it slowly died. The lid went from gently closing it self to needing to be pushed closed. The silver color on the hinges was pealing off. The bolts to hold it to the toilet haven’t been holding for at least 3 months. There have been 2 young kids sliding on and off but it still wasn’t staying tight and was getting worse with time. The other day I heard a scream from the bathroom, "MOM! I REALLY need you!”, one of the bolts came out and the seat pivoted when my son lifted the lid. It was time for it to go and it was less then a year old.

The kids and I went shopping for a replacement. I told them they could help me choose a new seat. I looked at the options and told them they could chose between the Bemis® Whisper Close™ toilet seat and the Bemis® toilet seat with a little seat for the kids. After much debate and explaining we were getting a white round one and not the other pretty shapes and colors my son made a decision. We had to the dual seat one because it had one to fit him and one to fit little sister. Hooray decision made. We brought it home and it was installed shortly after. The kids have been careful not to let the lid slam. They are each enjoying a seat that fits them. My daughter is enjoying not having to use a separate one. I’m just hoping this one last longer then the 7-8 months its predecessor.

A/C Curb Appeal

2009-07-05T06:00:00.000-07:00

I'm learning to take before and after pictures. I find that some projects progress so slowly or turn out differently then planned that the full appreciation of the improvements can be lost in the process or over time. Usually I try to take the before and after pictures from the same spot but there are times the angle needs to be changed to show the extent of the change. Luckily I remembered to take pictures before I started this week's project.

This week's project was a small one but should blossom. The area by the air conditioner is visible from the street and is not a pretty site. It has a northern exposure and is partially shaded by the house and a large silver maple. There is a large window just above the space. I decided to get a new hydrangea to put in the space. My existing hydrangea (pictured above) on the other side of the house is a beautiful blue but I don't know if the color is from the soil or is a hybrid. I went to Merrifield Garden Center to see what they had in stock and ask a few questions. After describing the area and my desire for low maintance plants their helpful staff helped me pick a Hydrangea mac. 'Nikko Blue'. The Nikko Blue is bred to get big round blue blossoms and about 4 feet. It will get 4' in diameter so I can give it space away from the wall and the air conditioner. It will get to be about 4' high so its blue blossoms will be visible from inside but won't block the view. I added a few ferns from under a very over grown bush in the yard. Then finished the bed with some new red brick Techno blocks and wallah! A beautiful new low maintance flower bed that should fill out to give the neighbors a better view and a beautiful foliage and flowers for those inside.

Happy 4th of July Charlie Brown

2009-07-04T18:00:00.000-07:00

I was wondering how to pass on the wonder and celebration of the 4th of July to the kids. I grew up going to Grandma's and seeing the whole family at Kuka Lake. It was a wonderful holiday frozen in time. A quaint country road lined with small summer homes with flags waving and banners draped on white picket fences. Long gravel driveways down to rustic lake beaches and wooden docks. The family would spend the day fishing, sailing an swimming. Aunts and uncles would teach the kids how to skip stones, spit watermelon seeds, and card games. Family photos and stories would get passed around after dinner until bedtime. If we were lucky there was a bomb fire for toasting marshmallows and making s'mores . On the 4th of July evening all the docks had flares set out. The lake was circled with red flickering lights. It was a timeless picture perfect family gathering. My grandparents are now great grandparents and having a harder time hosting big family gatherings in their small home so the gatherings ended a few years ago and now I'm just not sure what to do over the holiday weekend to fill the void.

This year the kids and I hung out at home. They splashed in the blow up pool while I worked in the garden. I wanted to make it a little more meaning full yet still simple. I came across a DVD I thought might help me accomplish just that. I found a Peanuts Classic This is America Charlie Brown. It is a collection of 8 patriotic Peanuts animated stories about the founding and development of the United States. For me the DVD was a moment to remember watching Charlie Brown specials as a child and the simpler times and family gatherings. For the kids it was something new and interesting to watch. They hadn't seen any of the Charlie Brown cartoons before. They really enjoyed it. They mentioned they had learned parts of some of the episodes at preschool. We only had time for 3 for 'quiet time' and they begged to see the rest for their next 'quiet time'. They were definately a hit and I'm hoping to make the DVD apart of our patritic holidays.

Perogies

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

Perogies (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pierogi ) are wonderful little dumplings I had occasional growing up. Wonderful little pockets of pasta were filled with a blend of potato, cheese, and onion. There were boiled then fried with a little butter and sauted onion. Oh, were they good and something I hadn’t had for years because of my wheat allergy.

I was making a stop at MOM’s Organic Market (http://www.myorganicmarket.com ) and I stopped short in the aisle. I found a gluten-free perogi. The kids were amazed at my excitement in a frozen food aisle so I had to explain that I hadn’t had one since I was diagnosed with a wheat allergy and missed them. I placed a bag in the cart and two other customers who overheard me and came over to get themselves a bag, too. All three of us were from the same region of the northeast and had fond childhood memories of perogies.

I’m glad to say none of use should have been disappointed when we cooked up treasure. I had discovered Contes Pasta pergoi, a wheat-free gluten-free perogi made by Contes Past Company Inc, that is absolutely wonderful. The pasta cooked up quite nicely. It didn’t break apart at all while boiling. The filling was a very nice blend of potato, cheese, and onion. I just boiled them and put a little butter on them when they were served and they were divine.

Luckily I found traditional wheat perogies at Trader Joe’s which had with a potato cheese filling for the kids. They were less expensive and the kids just have quite learned an appreciation for onion, yet. It was their first time having perogies and declared I was ‘allowed’ to pack them for their school lunches. Yeah, we have success. The kids like perogies and I found ones I can enjoy every wheat-free nibble.

Mischievous Wildlife

2009-07-01T06:00:00.000-07:00

To reduce what my family sends out with the trash I will separate out all of the recyclables the county picks up (glass, plastic, metal, paper, etc) and compost all of my vegetable, fruit and other non meat, oil or carbohydrate (pasta, bread, ec) waste. I also put out the cereal, old nuts and dried fruit, partially eaten peanut butter sandwiches, and a few other similar half-eaten and mutilated foods for the birds and the squirrels that are brave enough to challenge the crows for a portion. Okay so some of that is equivalent to wildlife junk food but it is better then sending it to the land fill and I do supply them with a steady supplement of black oil sunflower seeds and suite blocks.

I have an old soup take out container with a lid that I keep on the counter to hold the ‘critter treats’ until morning so I am less likely to attract animals that might cause more problems, aka mice, raccoons, fox, or worse opossums. Yes, these critters are native to the area and have a right to be in the neighborhood but they tend to be more destructive and ‘nastier (especially the opossums) then the critters that feed in the daylight. The mushed fish sticks that got tossed out under the feeder were obviously nibbled on by mice (probably deer mice) which is okay but I really rather not make them think they can come any closer to the house. During the day it was the crows that flew off with the remains of the fish sticks.

Last night I was exhausted and I tossed a quarter of a warm leftover cheese sandwich from one of the kids' lunches (just cheese and bread) out for the critters. Evidently none of the daytime critters found it before the sun set. I really should have put it in the critter container. This morning it was gone. I went about my normal routine and I did my usual morning check of the kids little pool to scoop bugs and stuff out and I found this strange milky white substance at the bottom of the pool that had gathered in the center and a little floating off to the side. I tried to get it out with the strainer abut it just slid through. After a little more poking and thinking….

The neighborhood raccoon found the cheese sandwich and washed it off in the pool! That ‘stuff’ was the dissolved bread. Mystery solved. We just need to get the stuff out of the 500 gallon pool and remember not to put food stuff out at night.

The National Zoological Park

2009-06-23T06:00:00.000-07:00

The National Zoological Park in Washington DC is part of the Smithsonian. It is an amazing maze of natural habitats and buildings housing hundreds of animals. It is a fantastic “free” day in DC with the kids. Why do I say “free”. Well like all of the Smithsonian buildings there is no entrance fee BUT if you drive you will most likely have to pay for parking. Metro does have day passes and can be much less. Then there is lunch. You may pack in a lunch but on the day we went packing lunches PLUS rain gear, snacks, and refillable water bottles seemed like a bit much for me to carry. If you plan ahead you can control the cost and have a fantastic day out with the family.

We had a late start and found parking in the last lot at the bottom of the hill. This did mean we worked our way up the hill and had gravity helping us at then end of the day make our way to the car. We wound our way from the ‘farm’ with alpacas, cows, pigs, goats, and donkeys to the Amazon jungle. Unfortunately part of the building was closed for cleaning so we only got to see the first few rooms with tanks of fish, sting rays, snakes, and frogs. The kids loved it. Then we went to the other side of the building where they have their public lab/educational area. There were more tanks of colorful frogs along with interactive stations to watch movies, touch bones, research books, view bugs in microscopes and much more. The kids loved checking out the bugs under the microscopes.

Some how in the 7 hours we were there we managed to visit the farm, Amazon jungle, wolves, beavers, big cats, reptile house, great ape house, the elephant house, cheetahs, backyard, the panda house and so much more. We were very lucky we got to the panda house as it was closing and they let us and another family in. The kids were thrilled to have their 7 minutes with those beautiful creatures. Their other high light was getting to see the baby girl gorilla. She was a cuttie. Even with all we saw there is so much more to see. The kids wanted to go back the next day but we’ll have to plan a return trip on another day.

Dressing Nake Mole Rats

2009-06-22T06:00:00.000-07:00

On a recent trip to the zoo I decided to test my ability to say “no” and took the kids to the gift shop at the National Zoo. I did let them each pick one toy to commemorate Selena’s first time (William’s second). I picked up some zoo stickers and a wonderful new book for them. They had told me they didn’t want to get a book since books were “boring” but a I suspected they loved the one I got and asked me to read it twice the first night and the night after too.

Now you are probably wondering what book would get that kind of attention from 2 preschoolers. Well it is a very well written book about naked mole rats. The book is the “Naked Mole Rat Gets Dressed” written and illustrated by Mo Willems . This cute book is about a naked mole rat who likes clothes. The kids think it is great and now they REALLY want to get back to the zoo to see the naked mole rats which were one of the many animals we didn’t see this past trip

Dinning in Seattle

2009-06-21T06:00:00.000-07:00

I did a quick search on my PDA and found there are at least 20 gluten-free restaurants in the Seattle area. Unfortunately none of them are close to the convention center. The schedule I had for all of the convention events didn’t allow me to wonder to any of them this trip. Hopefully I’ll be able to next trip.

Dinning in Seattle was much easier they I had expected. I went prepared with my note explaining I was allergic to wheat but I never needed it. Every place I stopped from a quick diner at the market to very nice restaurant to the convention center they were very well educated about wheat and gluten intolerant. Each was very helpful helping me choose something from their menu I could safely enjoy or more then willing to leave off the bread, without any reminders.

Queen City Grill

http://www.queencitygrill.com/

I only ate out a few meals but this had to be the best one. I sent an message to a friend asking ifI could go back to Seattle just to have dinner here again. The waiter was wonderful in helping me choose a meal. I had a hard time deciding between the beef and the salmon but decided to go with the salmon in the end. Poached salmon on a bed of Heritage beans- black eye, pink kidney, etc topped with crisp apple and fennel was to die for. Each bite was a treat.

For desert he recommended fresh berries and Coconut sorbet (Grand Marnier, black pepper and balsamic) which was very good. I loved the coconut sorbet. The sauce was a bit strong for me but letting the excess drip off before taking the next nibble did the trick.

Coldwater at Westin, Downtown Seattle

http://www.coldwaterbarandgrill.com/

Often the hotel restaurant is good but not worth writing home about. I told the waitress that I had a wheat allergy and was trying to decide between two dishes. I asked if she could ask the chief if either had wheat. One did but, she came back with a strong recommendation for their poached halibut in olive oil on a bed of heritage tomatoes. It was wonderful. Each tender morsel was divine. After savoring each bite she recommended their creambule with fresh blue berries for desert. It was also very good.

Mobey's at Washington State Convention and Trade Center, downtown Seattle http://www.mobysseattle.com/

While I was in Seattle for a conference I had this FANTASTIC dressing on a wonderful salad. The day I dropped in they were having a lunch special of poached arctic clam, avocado, red onion, tomato, on mixed greens with wasabi dressing. Okay I thought the clams were a bit 'fishy'. I think I would prefer our New England little clams then these big slices that were more reminiscent of sushi. But did I tell you the salad and dressing was wonderful! I asked if they sold the dressing. They don't but they shared their list of secret ingredients. The atmosphere was warm and friendly with a touch of old world charm. The staff was pleasant and welcoming. They were very responsive to my wheat-allergy concerns. If you are at the Washington State Convention and Trade Center you should stop by the Moby's restaurant.

Wasabi Dressing
(Amounts by volume desired and taste)
powdered wasabi mixed w/ boiling water
Add whole or brown sugar, stir until dissolved
Add lemon or lime & vinegar to taste
Whisk in olive oil

Poo-Pooing Poop

2009-06-20T06:00:00.000-07:00

How do you get a 5-year-old to stop saying “poo”?

His dad had tried to ban the word but that just seemed to make it more fun to say and more irritating for his dad.

I decided I would give him permission and see if that would take away the fun. At least that was the idea when I came across the “Who Pooped in the Park? Scat and Tracks for Kids” book while I was traveling in Seattle. This very well written and illustrated book takes the reader through a walk in Olympic National Park. The reader learns to identify what animals live in the park by identifying the poo (aka scat) and tracks the animals leave behind.

When I presented the book to the kids I hid it behind my back and told them they were not allowed to say the ‘word’ on the cover over and over again. Their curiosity peaked. I pulled the book out and they couldn’t wait to hear it for their bedtime story. Their father took it rolling his eyes at me. I could hear the thoughts – YOU bought them a poo book! By the time he finished the book the kids were still excited and wanted to hear it a second time and he proclaimed it was really educational and well done.

I have since rarely heard the word “poo” or “poop” out my son. If we find scat in the yard he wants to figure out who left it there. So hopefully we have taken a 5-year-old’s fascination with a ‘dirty word’ and changed it into a fascination with science and nature.

Thriving Backyard Wildlife

2009-06-19T06:00:00.000-07:00

A while back I bought a few pocket guides to for the kids and myself. I wanted to show them how to look up the names of the birds that come to our feeders and our yard. I put out black oil sunflower seeds, suit blocks, and treated thistle seeds to attack various birds.

Using the guides, I decided to make a list of ALL the critters I've seen in my little yard and the streets it is on. I decided the street in front of my house is close enough to my lot since I don't think the rabbit or red tail hawk understand property lines. Then I thought I should extend to the neighborhood which would be about a mile in each direction. So the list below has "Y" for critters in my yard and "N" for the neighborhood.

Mammals:

· Eastern Cottontail (rabbit) (Y)
· Virginia Opossum (N – roadkill)
· Deer Mouse (Y – Err, actually they got into the house)
· Eastern Chipmunk
· Eastern Gray Squirrel (Y)
· Black Squirrels (N)
· Red Squirrels (N)
· Wood Chuck (N – roadkill)
· Striped Skunk (N – roadkill)
· Common Raccoon
· Red Fox (Y )
· White-tailed Deer (Y – hoof prints & eaten plants; N)

Birds:
· Canada Goose (N)
· Mallard duck (N)
· Little Blue Heron (N)
· Great Blue Heron (N)
· Laughing Gull (N)
· Herring Gull (N)
· Common Tern (N)
· Rock Dove/Pigeon (N)
· Morning Dove (Y)
· Red-bellied Wood pecker (Y)
· Pileated Woodpecker (Y)
· Red-headed Woodpecker (Y)
· Hairy Woodpecker (Y)
· Downy Woodpecker (Y)
· Northern Flicker (Y)
· Red-tailed Hawk (Y)
· Black-capped Chickadee (Y)
· Carolina Chickadee (Y)
· Tufted Titmouse (Y)
· Blue Jay (Y)
· White-breasted Nuthatch (Y)
· Red-winged Blackbird (N)
· Common Grackle (Y)
· Brown-headed Cowbird (Y)
· Cedar Waxwing (Y)
· American Robin (Y)
· Northern Mocking Bird (Y)
· Song Sparrow (Y)
· Rose-breasted Grosbeak (Y)
· Dark-eyed Junco (Y)
· House Finch (Y)
· American Goldfinch (Y)
· Northern Cardinal (Y)

Butterflies:

· Eastern Tiger Swallowtail (Y)
· Pipevine Swallowtail (Y)
· Cabbage White (Y)
· Monarch (Y)
· Pearl Crescent (Y)
· Red Admiral (Y)
· Spring Azure (Y)

Moths:

· Lo Moth (Y)

The booklets I used were both written by Kavanagh/Leung and published by Waterford Press.

· A Pocket Naturalist™ Guide: Eastern Backyard Birds - An introduction to Familiar Urban Species
· A Pocket Naturalist™ Guide: Virginia Wildlife - An introduction to Familiar Species

Creators vs Pirates

2009-06-13T06:00:00.000-07:00

Why are the hours of writing and experimenting reduced to “worthless” when the out come is works of art such as books, music, paintings, etc? But if they form a bottle, television, or computer it is priceless? How can a book be priced by the number of pages not the hours of writing, editing, illustrating, printing, marketing, and distribution? Why does the value decrease even more when it is available online?

I hear stealing a VCR is stealing something “real”. Does that mean only the weight of the plastic and metal make it real and valuable? Does only that deem its price? A lump of plastic can represent a sale and carry a price tag but it is only a sale when it is purchased. If it is stolen, destroyed, or discarded it is not a sale. It is a waste of resources. There is no money to pay the shop keeper, truck driver, manufacture, nor the designer who figured out how plastic and metal could play music or show a movie.

Stealing the copyrights – shoplifting CDs; illegal movie, music or book downloads; using music without permission; etc – dose the same. If the writers, creators, experimenters don’t get paid to have a roof over their heads, food on their tables, clothes on their backs and the tools they need, how can they continue to create the things we use everyday or the things that make each day more enjoyable? Illegal downloads, counterfeiters, pirates, p2p (pier to pier), and others steal from the people we need and pays the leaches of the world who would rather steal then contribute to the world. It is wrong when the pirates our taking island vacations and the most of the world’s writers, artist and inventors are working hard at one or more jobs to pay their bills.

Copyright Education

2009-06-12T06:00:00.000-07:00

Before the digital age only authors, creators and the print shops needed to know about the rules surrounding copyrights. Now when we all have the ability to get and use information and images through physical and electronic forms we ALL need to know about copyrights.

When anyone writes, composes, or creates they are making a work that can be copyrighted and THEY own the rights to that work. The creator or owner of the work may allow someone else to use their work for a set purpose or unlimited use for free or for a fee. It is their work and their right to determine how it is used. They are the ones that toiled to create their work from nothing and they are the ones that need to pay for the roof over their heads and food on their plates. Now they may work with someone like a royalty collection group or an agency to represent, market, and collect fees on their behalf. How much of their rights they give to these groups and how much they collect is up to the creator and their ‘partners’. The money they earn supports them, their family and their ability to create more works.

Intellectual property laws have been developed to protect these creative people, their works, and to allow new creations to continue to flow for our enjoyment and to improve our lives. It was intellectual creativity that figured out how to changes metal into the Statue of Liberty, plastic and metal into computers, rock into The Thinker, paint and canvas into the Mona Lisa, note into the Twelfth Overture, and so much more. It was once side that you can bang a broken pipe but you pay a plumber to know where to bang it. Yes you might be able to paint, sculpt, write or design but you should value those who have the touch to create something new and wonderful. The laws have been set up so those people can provide for themselves and their families.

Many how have created some of the most beautiful music, art, and literature find it is amazing that there are people out there who feel it is not stealing to just take their work without permission to redistribute or to use. These are the same people who would not think of stealing from a store. The person who wrote the book still spent hours, days, weeks, or years writing, editing, marketing and trying to sell their work. When you buy counterfeits or get illegal downloads you are stealing from the very person how you should be thanking and reimbursing for all of their work for your enjoyment. It is heart breaking to learn that many of the people responsible for the things we enjoy will never see a royalty check for their work.

As a granddaughter of an artist (Ben Wolf of Philadelphia), I want to see his work used as he wanted it to be and for it to live on to influence generations to come.

As a blogger I use only MY photos. If I use anyone else's I will ask permission first. I hope anyone who wants to use mine will ask me for permission. I only post my own writing (typos and all). I try to link to official sites for products and services I mention. They know how they want to present their stuff and legalize far better then I do. The images I use I created, commissioned and/or have permission to use.

Resources

US Copyright Office http://www.copyright.gov/ (not very user friendly)

Copyright Clearance Center about copyrights http://www.copyright.com/ccc/viewPage.do?pageCode=cr10-n (very user friendly)

The No Cookie Cookie

2009-06-06T06:00:00.000-07:00

The No Cookie Cookie from The No Bakery

www.nocookie.com

Vegan, wheat-free

No Dairy, no egg, no refined sugar

Quick take a picture before it is gone… These cookies are sooo good. These are not gluten-free, but they are wheat-free. This barley cookie is a fantastic tasting soft cookie. I especially like their chocolate chip, ginger, and oatmeal raisin cookies.

Naked Watermelon

2009-06-05T06:00:00.000-07:00

On a hot afternoon running errands with the kids and I toss out a bribe to them. One more store and you can get a drink while we are there. They had no idea that I was heading to one of the My Organic Market, commonly known as MOM's. My daughter announces she wants watermelon juice. Watermelon juice? Who knows what is going to come out of the imagination or mouth of babes? Well we were going to a health food store so there might be watermelon juice but just in case I suggested we might get a watermelon instead. We did pick up a cute little seedless melon when we first arrived. We walked around picking up the things I needed. This is one of my regular gluten-free shopping stop. The kids searched through the chilled drinks for something that they wanted. Low and behold they found and picked the new Naked Bare Breeze Watermelon Chill juice. They loved it and both bottles were dry by the time we got home. They raved so much about how good it was I might need to get one for myself next trip to MOM's.

Airplane Food

2009-06-04T06:00:00.000-07:00

The airlines now nickel and dime you for everything from leg room that would not pass any animal cruelty laws, to luggage of any kind, to you formally complementary bag of 14 nuts. Then the airports are now stocked with $3 bottles of water and food prices to rival the expensive professional ball parks. But what can you possibly get through the ever changing rules of the USA TSA and even worse the airport by airport decisions as to what to enforce. Okay it is obvious that metal silverware of any kind could cause problems. But a Beatle spoon in its travel case is completely non threatening and easy to tuck in your carry on. The existing 3 ounce fluid rule is probably here to stay. Therefore anything you pack shouldn't be fluid bases. These folks are not known for having a sense of humor, don't push your luck. My last trip I packed packs of pre-cooked rice dishes. The two I packed from Trader Joe's 90 second pre-cooked rice dishes for under $3 each. One was Indian Biryani rice and the other was a Vegetable Jambalaya. Both are gluten-free and come in an easy to open pouch. Both pouches and my spoon made it easily through security. I had the Indian rice on one flight. It was quite tasty straight out the pouch and filing. Much better than any of the things they were offering for $6-9.

Roadside America

2009-06-03T06:00:00.000-07:00

We recently stopped by Roadside America (http://www.roadsideamericainc.com ). Considering all of the places I have been to in the south east and south center of Pennsylvania, I had never been to this roadside stop before. It was definately an enjoyable and amazing place for a short visit. The one room interactive museum of model trains, houses and much more could keep you busy for an hour or two.

It definitely has that 1960’s cold war feeling. They run a “God Bless America” show every 30 minutes definitely shows the era it was made. The painted walls and detailed models are fascinating. There are several buttons for the kids to push to make some of the trains and other parts of the display move. The kids had blast.

Pennsylvania's Cabela's Outdoor Sore

2009-06-02T06:00:00.000-07:00

I recently went to the Pennsylvania Cabela's outdoor store (http://www.cabelas.com) for the first time. I've done some mail order through them but this was the first time I actually went to one of their stores. Cabela’s store has an incredible display of stuffed wildlife and large fish tanks of regional fresh water fish. The kids loved it. They got very excited watching all the fish in the tanks and trying to find all of the catfish including an albino one. They couldn’t get enough of the taxidermy critters displayed through the store. There was a very well done display of numerous African animals. It looked like an action snap shot made into a 3-D presentation. There is also a mountain in the middle of store with animals from 2 climates displayed up and down its sides. Lastly there was a room full of different kinds of deer, typical and atypical. I have to say I have seen smaller zoos and museum than what was on display at this commercial retail store.

While we were there I picked up 2 adult cots for the kids. They are out growing their toddler travel beds. Selena might have another year or so but William is already too big for his. I wanted ones that we could slide duffel bags and suitcases under so we have SOME floor space in the hotel rooms and the tent.

New England Baked Beans (Vegetarian)

2009-06-01T06:00:00.000-07:00

I was recently visiting with my parents and they cooked up a wonderful batch of New England Bake Beans. They modified a friends recipe by just removing the traditional pork. It was very good and worth sharing.

New England Baked Beans (vegetarian)

To serve 10

1 1/2 lbs dry Navy beans (3c)

1 whole med onion chopped

1 c ketchup

1 c brown sugar

1 c water from cooking beans

2 tsp dry mustard

3 Tbl dark molasses

1 Tbl salt

1 tsp balmsamic vinegar

2 whole cloves of garlic

1/2 tsp liquid smoke

Simmer beans in 3-4 time their volume of unsalted water until tender.

Drain and place in crock post add all remaining ingredients and mix well.

Cover and cook on low for 10-12 hours or high for 4-6 hours, stirring occasionally.

(Beans must be soft before mixing with sugar or molasses.)

Amy’s Bowls Teriyaki

2009-05-30T06:00:00.000-07:00

Amy’s Bowls Teriyaki

Gluten-Free Non-Dairy

Contains soy

Calories 290

www.amys.com

Once again Amy’s has a wonderful tasting tofu dish. The Teriyaki bowls has a wonderful mix of brown rice, vegetables and tofu with a very nice teriyaki sauce. The vegetables were crisp-tender and delicious.

Since I had an opportunity to join co-worker for lunch it stayed in my insulated lunch bag until I had a late dinner. It was still cold but had completely defrosted. I reduced the cooking time and it came out wonderfully. So while the children had their favorite Trader Joe’s Chicken Shu Mai I was able to enjoy my on Asian delight dinner.

It was a very satisfying dinner and I would definitely get it again.

Only my kids

2009-05-29T06:00:00.000-07:00

I have two young kids who like so many others love candy. We don’t believe in the clean plate club but when they do finish all of their dinner they are allowed to have a piece of candy. They also are typical kids and eat the frosting off of their cake first. So with that in mind I thought adding a little cake decorating frosting and large sprinkles would be a hit. For this bento I added faces to their cream cheese with large sprinkles and a dot of frosting for their eyes. I also added a bouquet of flowers to their peanut butter and Nutella spread. Both kids scrapped off the frosting and picked off the candies. When they came home from school they told never to put that stuff on their food again. Sigh, I tried. I’ll wait a few weeks and try again.

2009 National Trademark Expo

2009-05-16T06:00:00.000-07:00

This month the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) held its 2009 National Trademark Expo (http://www.uspto.gov/main/homepagenews/2009may11.htm ). It was open to the public and free. We went Saturday taking advantage of the free parking. As we walked from the parking garage to the expo we could see giant USPTO balloons tethered to the buildings. The kids shouted with excitement to see the big balloons. They were even more amazed as we climbed the steps and could see the others staked to the ground. The Cat in the Hat white glove and hat poked out of the ground before them. Off to the left was a life size Thomas The Tank Engine. Tucked in between was a bright red Jelly Belly. And behind them all was a gigantic USPTO shield on a balloon. In front of the building was a smaller balloon of the Jolly Green Giant.

Travelers insurance had an interactive screen. If you stood between the projector and the screen you could make their red umbrella trademarks scatter like a pile of fall leaves. It was a hit with the children and the adults who seemed torn between playing and figuring out how it worked.

Hershey’s chocolates were there. Really, there were 3 bowls that seemed to magically refill as everyone took samples of their famous trademarked kisses’, peanut butter cups, and candy bars. Their booth was filled with informative posters and fliers between other merchandise from their factories and theme park. The kids thought it was even more amazing to see life sized Reese’s peanut butter cups, Hershey’s Kisses’, and a Hershey’s candy bar walking around. As my son hugged a HUGE chocolate kiss the peanut butter cups walked up. The handler asked which he liked best, with that my son ran for the peanut butter cups shouting “PEANUT BUTTER!”

The USPTO said 25 characters attended. We saw at least 20 of them. My son shook hands or hugged 20 of the ones we saw. He said “hi” to Olive Oyl, Dennis the Menace, Betty Boop, Curious George, Peter Rabbit, Maisy Mouse, Reese’s peanut butter cups, Hershey’s Kisses’, Hershey’s candy bar, 4 Crayola Crayons (yellow, red, green, & orange), The Grinch, The Cat in the Hat, Faux Paw, Energizer Bunny, Pillsbury Dough Boy, and T. Markey (the USPTO Trademark mascot). Sprout got away without getting a handshake or a photo. Popeye and a few others didn’t come out while we were there.

My daughter is at the age where the characters are just a bit too scary. Those eyes don’t move and they are soooo big. Even when she saw Peter Rabbit she hid behind her dad. She refused to touch all but the Hershey's Kiss. But then, towards the end of our visit, Maisy Mouse came out to say hi. When she saw Maisy Mouse she went running to her, paused for a moment and then gave her a hug with a big smile.

The kids each had a chance to putt at the Callaway Golf Company. They sat still long enough for one story in the kids’ story time corner. The books featured the characters or the exhibitors attending the expo. The kids received ‘silver’ coins and water bottles from the US Air Force, who gave me a flyer on the right way to use their trademarks. I picked up a few trademark publications from the USPTO booth and more at the United States Department of Energy about their solar home competition. The booth that caught my attention the most was Internet Keep Safe Coalition. They were demonstrating their products featuring Faux Paw, the web-surfing techno cat (www.ikeepsafe.org ). This is a series to keep children safe on the internet and responsible use of technology. It is definitely something to check out since the kids will be surfing the web before long.

It was a very informative event with exhibits and seminars in the USPTO National Inventors’ Hall of Fame Museum Theater. The booths had trademark owners explaining their trademarks, showing the difference between their products and counterfeits, and activities for everyone. Who knew trademarks could be so much fun?

Yard Make Over: Making it happen

2009-05-15T06:00:00.000-07:00

The May rains broke for part of a day giving them a chance to get to work. They started by moving the end azalea in the porch bed because it over hung the new walkway and would be in the way of the mason. Next was removing the 3 azaleas by the bay window and repositioning the white one so it would better fit the space. The 2 pink ones are waiting to be replanted over in the front corner of the property where they will have room to grow. A salvaged down spot cement stone was positioned to help direct water away from the house and into the garden.

The edge of the walkway was evened out and braced with salvaged scalloped edge cement blocks. The end of the walk used a few pieces of the same type of cement blocks with smooth edges, sunken so it won’t trip anyone. The gravel was leveled and then covered with sand. The mason started sorting through our salvaged rock and the addition rock they purchased. He started the gigantic puzzle which will be our walkway. The cracks were filled with blue sand stone dust. It is beautiful contrast to the lighter stoned. I’ll have to go back and fill in some more stone dust as it settles but then I’ll be able to try to grow some moss between the stones.

The 3 remaining azaleas then came out. To our surprise there weren’t three plants. There were 3 large ones and 7 smaller ones. All were a beautiful dark pink. The 4 large dark pink from in front of the porch and 2 large light pink ones were moved to the front edge of the property. They are set a few lawn mowers’ width with away from the curb to allow visitors out of their cars and room for the plants to reach their natural 6 foot diameter.

The remaining small dark pink will be planted between the drive way and the vegetable garden, on either side of the lilacs (lavender) I just planted next to the tree stump. This should help break up or block headlights coming into the windows as cars come around the corner. It will also "balance" the other azaleas on the other front corner of the property.

I moved some green on green variegated hostas my sister gave me to where the dark pink azalea was by the porch along with some mystery spring bulbs (white flower) from under another azalea on the property. I know they have a white flower and nothing else since they were in such a bad place before. Now we'll be able to see them as soon as they come up next spring. I planted a new small lilac bush at the far end of the flower bed in front of the porch. It will have lavender flowers and will only get to about 3 feet high and 3 feet around. A much better fit then the azaleas which get 6 feet around. I planted more green on green variegated hosta at the end to match the other end. A large flower pot of day lilies (from a co-worker) went down the middle of the bed. In front of the day lilies I transplanted some more of the mystery white spring flowering bulbs. Hopefully all the plants will enjoy the sunlight and space. The sheppard's hook with hanging flower pot is all back in the middle of the bed.

Under the bay window I pulled a thick rug of sprouting weeds. I moved the solid green hostas (also from my sister) so they could work than moved them back and transplanted the rest which were still in pots along the edge of the walkway. I repositioned 4 other plants in the bed under the bay window to make it look more finished. The following day I purchased a few pots of marigolds, pansies, Angelonia (Serena White) and Vista Red Salvia to fill out the bed. I picked up 2 new solar lights to match the ones lining the longer section of walkway.

Yard Make Over: Preparation

2009-05-14T06:00:00.000-07:00

I’ve been working on the yard since we moved in over 3 years ago. Things are slowly improving one plant and one stone at a time.

Two years ago a friend found flagstone which was being thrown away to make way for a new patio. My husband dragged home what seemed like a driveway full. I had a section of the driveway cut and removed to improve the drainage near the house’s foundation. At the same time I had a walkway foundation dug out and filled with crushed stone.

A year ago I installed plastic edging along both sides of a narrow flower bed I want to run the length of the new walkway. I used and over grown clump of green and white variegated hosta to fill the bed. That one clump was so tightly packed that divided it covered the 30 plus feet of the walkway with some space to grow. This year it looks wonderful especially with the Hamilton Bay Solar lights. Last August I was so frustrated with the azalea by the front door I cut one down to 6 inches. It’s come back and needs to be moved before it starts to attack the front door again.

So 2 years latter there is still a pile of salvaged flagstone and other miscellaneous bricks and cement blocks. After gathering bids from 3 reputable local landscapers and masons we choose one for the lingering project. The winner was Oscar and his mason.

Yard Make Over: The Problem

2009-05-13T06:00:00.000-07:00

Part of the driveway was used for the foundation for the sun room addition. Water from snow falls and heavy rains accumulates at the base of the foundation which could damage the foundation. In front of the bay window and next to the front door there are 3 full size azaleas crammed up against the house in a space that was more appropriate for a mums or hosta. The cramped space forced the plants to hanging over the walk. I’ve been constantly trimming them just to get the groceries by.

In a 3 foot wide flower bed against the front porch there are 4 full size azaleas which would love to fill a space twice the size. They share the bed with two small pine trees. One of the pine trees leaned a little more with each snow fall and couldn’t be propped back up so it came down.

Then no walk way to the front door and a narrow driveway lead to very muddy feet on rainy days.

Lilac Take A Front Seat

2009-05-12T06:00:00.000-07:00

I have beautiful old fashion light lavender lilacs along the back of my property. Every spring they bloom beautifully but so few get to enjoy them. Honestly there at times we only get to see them is when we take out the trash. Each spring they also send up shots close to the base of the main plant. In the past I have cut off a number for my sister to sell as a fund raiser at a school sale and I have given some to a friend to put in her yard. This year I decided some of the new plants needed to be moved to the front so we could enjoy the blooms and to help block headlights as cars come around the corner. I picked a place next to a tree stump since the two together will be easier to mow around and the lilac will take attention away from the stump.

The new plants are easy to pluck from the ground. A quick chop of a shovel disconnects them from the main root ball. Digging a new hole for them to go into is a little more time consuming. I have yet to hear anyone say digging in Virginia clay soil is easy. Once they were planted I lined the new bed with salvaged bricks. This not only looks good but will help protect them from “run away” lawn mowers, dog walkers, and kids chasing balls. Well at least they will see it’s not just more grass to trample.

Gardening Gizmos

2009-05-11T06:00:00.000-07:00

I’ve recently picked up 2 new gardening gizmos to help out in the yard. First I picked up a Tubtrugs flexible tub. Since the bucket can be used for food along with pretty much anything else in the garden I thought this would be a useful and versatile addition to the shed. The day I brought the tub home I used it to collect sticks, weeds, and trash from the yard, hold plants I was transplanting and water for them, and gathering lettuce from the garden. I intentionally picked up a color which was not one of the kids’ favorite colors in hopes to being able to keep it for myself. It didn’t work, within a day they had confiscated it for their pool toys. I picked up two more in their favorite colors so I could get mine back. If we need a few more ice buckets at the next pot luck I might need to use all three.

The second gizmo I picked up was a Magic Ring. This simple flexible plastic ring is used to hold open paper lawn bags. In our area yard waste is supposed to be put at the curb in clear plastic bags or paper bags. Yard waste would be grass trimmings, leaves, sticks, sod, etc. The bags are also good for composting leaves, etc. Many of the local gardening stores carry these super sized paper bags. I found the ring took a little practice to get just right in the bag so I wouldn’t rip the bag or have it slip and fall to the bottom. Once I got the hang of inserting the ring it worked great. I could toss invasive weeds in without the bag flipping closed.

Office: Spring Peeps

2009-05-10T06:00:00.000-07:00

After I decorated my co-worker’s cube with spring flowers her supervisor mumbled ‘do I have to get sick to get that’. I told her it had to be more then the flu. She may have been teasing but she sure seemed a bit jealous. I started to think of what I might be able to do to/for her. It couldn’t be more flowers. I’d already done that.

A friend on FaceBook posted pictures of her office after her boss “peeped” her. For several years now her boss has decorated her office with marshmallow Peep chicks. Then for even more inspiration there is the annual Washington Post Peeps Show. These dioramas are amazing with the contest winners spending hours or weeks designing and building their entries.

Luckily this co-worker has a sense of humor, likes flowers, and seems really down to earth. So the idea was developing. I would go back into the office after she left for the day and decorate her office. Armed with 10 boxes of 10 packs of various colors of Peep chicks, that would be 100 Peeps, marshmallows, pretzels and Wilton’s 4 tubes of cake decorating frosting the invasion began.

First pink Peeps popped up in her large potted plant. They were later joined by yellow Peeps.

Then green and yellow Peeps sounded off and marched along her filing cabinets.

Others decide to start pecking out a message on the wipe board.

Some camped out on her computer. I did insist they have a Peep poop (sugar) drop cloth so our technical team didn’t panic.

Some insisted on having a coffee break.

But most of the Peeps wanted to party.

They dressed up with flowers on their heads, leis hanging from their necks or mini bouquets and started to dance around a bomb fire fueled by pretzels with flaming marshmallows.

They were joined by 4 Peep drummers and a Peep choir. Others hung around in the background chatting while enjoying the music and the dancers twirling around the bomb fire.

It is truly amazing what you can do with a kid free hour in a quite office. Needless to say she was VERY surprised and will be watching what she says around the office from now on. It took her most of the day to give away most of the Peeps but I think by the end of the week all but one was eaten and it was put on my desk.

Office: Spring Flowers

2009-05-09T06:00:00.000-07:00

One of my wonderful co-workers was out for a medical reason and I thought I had to do something for her. I may have seen too many of those emails which are floating around showing what people have done to their co-workers while they were out. I thought I needed to fill her cube with silk flowers. Since I didn’t know when she would be back I thought silk would be the best choice. I set a budget and luckily a local craft store had a half price sale on their spring silk flowers. I have to say $25.00 even at a half price sale does not go very far when you are buying silk flowers. The vision of filling her cube with flowers changed to a pleasantly decorated cube. There would be no worries about her getting to her chair or opening any drawers.

I used clips designed for hanging things in fabric covered office cubes to hang 2 strands of spring flower garlands around the top of half of her cube. The gracefully scalloped garland hangs beautifully over the shared printer and her certificates. For the other side of her cube I ‘planted’ a forsythia bush consisting of 2 springs. Two mixed spring flower bouquets fitted nicely into her existing vase.

I had a little more money but not enough for more flowers. I picked up a gardening kneeling pad which I hoped she could use for her recovery or when she gets back out in her garden. I found a pretty journal book covered with spring flowers to brighten her desk too. Lastly, with less than a dollar left I picked up two gourmet butterfly lollipops to fly out of her pen holder.

My initial plan had been transformed into a beautiful cube that she was pleasantly surprised to come back to. She likes enough that she said she was going to leave it up… weeks latter it’s still there adding some cheerful color to her cube and a reminder that she was missed.

Amy’s Tofu Scramble

2009-05-08T06:00:00.000-07:00

Amy’s Tofu Scramble with hash browns & veggies

Gluten-Free

Contains soy

Calories 320

www.amys.com

I would never describe myself as a fan of tofu. It seems it can be hit or miss for me. Some things like hot and sour soup I love the tofu ‘noodles’ and other things I wonder why they were ever made. The picture on the box of Amy’s Tofu Scramble with hash browns & veggies made it look tempting enough to try and I’m glad I did. It was very tasty and satisfying. The hash browns were well seasoned with just the right touch of black pepper. The texture of the scramble was very pleasing and tasted delicious. It was a very satisfying breakfast and I would definitely get it again.

Pre-Made Meals: Tortilla Casserole & Black Bean

2009-05-06T06:00:00.000-07:00

Amy’s Bowls

Tortilla Casserole & Black Bean

Gluten-Free

Contains Milk & Soy

Single serve

Calories 390

www.amys.com

It isn’t often when I have a gluten-free lunch and I have people flocking to my desk to find out what smells SOOoooo good. I decided I needed a change from my homemade lunches and took an Amy’s Bowls Tortilla Casserole & Black Bean meal to work for lunch. It was really tasty. The textures of the tortillas was good and distinctive from the layers of other ingredients. The tofu was diced small and well seasoned. The black beans were delicious. I would definitely recommend it and get it again.

Shopping: Catalog/Online Ordering Verses Store Front

2009-05-01T06:00:00.000-07:00

In a recent Sierra Club’s The Green Life posting the topic was “Green Your Shopping Habits: Gifts”. After a few postings including one about shopping on line to save gas, gift wrapping, etc I had to put in my two cents.

Shopping: Catalog/Online Ordering Verses Store Front

I really consider the shop online or locally a lot like the paper or plastic bag dilemma.

There are things that, depending on where you live, can only be gotten via mail order or ordering online. If you would have to drive great distances to get something it would save money, time and gas to order the item and have it shipped to you. The postal service and other companies who deliver packages have devised systems to save as much time, money and gas to deliver packages. It is in their best interest to because it affects their bottom line ($$$). One of the major carries in the United States maps out delivery routes to decrease the number of left hand turns their drivers need to make since left hand turns often lead to delays at lights or waiting for traffic, both cost the company time and gas – in other words money.

Now if you can find the item in your local area and can combine trips you are going to save gas and money by shopping locally. In addition to eliminating lots of shipping packaging and saving gas you will support your local economy. Amazon.com and other online stores are great and often cost lest but then money goes a long way from where most of us live. If you buy locally you still may be shipping some of your money to far off lands for the manufacturing but you are paying the store clerk, local and state taxes for your roads, schools etc, and if it is locally owned the higher ups also are local and spending their hard earned money in YOUR city or town therefore paying more clerks, landlords, taxes, etc. Virtigo Books (formally of College Park MD) posted on their blog “Why Buy Local?” which explains why should support our local business. Their example states that for everyone $100 you spend locally $45 stays local; at national chains only $14 stays local; and internet purchases $0. Unfortunately not enough people heeded their post and their store closed this April.

So, just as we need to think about our choices for paper, plastic or reusable shopping bags, we need to think before we shop and make the best choice for where we purchase things.

The Bento Scoop

2009-04-30T06:00:00.000-07:00

The beetle spoons and sporks are working out very well for the kids. Yes, we have had to replace one or two that accidentally went into the trash. We also had to replace two because they broke. The wing hinges can crack and fall off. The kids have gotten use to using them and love having them in their school lunches. But in the replacement process mine was confiscated by one of the kids. This left me using the silverware from our home set which I don't want to loose or plastic from the office which is not very earth friendly.

After checking out several local international grocery stores I found a set of silverware in a case designed for bentos. The set is a "My Melody" (from Hello Kitty series) set. It has adult size metal fork, spoon, and chop sticks in a reusable plastic case. The chop sticks are a little 'slippery' but I'm adjusting and they are getting easier to use. The pink case is not in your face and neither are the characters imprinted on the clear plastic lid. In other words people in the office walking by don't notice but the ones who stop to chat occasionally point and smile.

The kids were a little disappointed to find out it was for my lunches and not thiers. When the kids are a bit older and have mastered chopsticks I may buy each of them a similar set.

Neighborhood Critters

2009-04-29T06:00:00.000-07:00

It is so cool. In mid April after the late night news, I saw a red fox scoot through the yard. At first glance I thought it was a strange looking dog. It was just holding its body oddly for a domestic animal roaming the neighborhood. When I realized it was a fox it made complete sense. The lighting was too poor to be able to tell if it was a red or gray fox, both are native to the area. Okay if it was daylight and the kids were outside I would have dragged them quickly into the house. Our area has had too many rabies cases not to be cautious. But watching it dart through the yard from inside is very cool.

Then two days later I’m making my rounds through the house before calling it a night and I look out a window to see another shadow moving through the yard. My first reaction looking out was “My, that is a fat cat!” then its tail swished to the light- it's a raccoon!

It is hard to believe that so many critters hiding around here. There are over a million people living in this county and among us there is a great diversity of animals who still share this land with us. It is hard to believe they find such good hiding places to continue to thrive.

SOLAR TIKI TORCH

2009-04-28T06:00:00.000-07:00

I couldn't help myself. I saw these Friki-Tiki solar accent lights and had get them. I found my lights at Kmart while hunting for a new kiddy pool. We had found a pool we could all agree on and were headed out when these caught my eye. The kids didn't seem to think much of it until we brought them home and I started to assemble them. Assembly was just unwrapping the mounting of your choice and removing the protective strip for the battery. As soon as the kids noticed the light sensitive on switch they were hooked. They helped me put them in the tree stump garden. Then came the hard part... waiting for it to get dark enough for them to turn on. As the tiki faces light up so did the kids'.

The tiki lights are definitely a subtle, fun addition to our whimsical garden. Two of our neighbors have made glowing comments about them and asked where we found them.

The Friki-Tiki solar accent lights can be mounted on a stake, hung, or used on a table top. The yellow LED light flickers simulating a candle.

Friki-Tiki solar accent lighting

Home Styles, GSI Homestyles

www.home-styles.net

Sold at Kmart

Earth Hour

2009-04-15T06:00:00.000-07:00

The Earth Hour, aka Earth lights out night, causes mixed emotions for me. I now it is meant to be a way of raising awareness but I keep hearing people say how much energy was saved during that hour. Unfortunately along with the awareness I hear a lot of people saying how crazy it is. I’m a tree hugger and I have to agree with them. One night of turning the lights off at the Sydney Opera House sounds wonderful but did they also turn off their security? What of the other landmarks? Wouldn’t it be more cost effective in the long run if all of those landmarks switched their lights to more effective lighting? I mean really, wouldn’t smaller more efficient, well placed lights be better for decreasing energy use, decreasing light pollution, show off the architecture better, and be a better long term solution.

Years ago I saw a show about a program trying to bring the stars back to Parris. They showed a building with traditional flood lights before it was refitted with new smaller lights and after. The after picture looked so much better. They changed the lights on famous buildings in such a way that the building’s structure was better displayed (not washed out), less light ‘escaped’ into the atmosphere, and there was sufficient lighting for personal safety and property security. The large power draining flood lights and replaced them with strings of small or LED lights spaced 1-3 feet apart. They installed them in window archways, under ridges, etc which better showed off the famous buildings. And all of this was going to cost less in electricity, carbon foot print, and fewer bulbs changed.

I couldn’t find anything about the show I saw when I searched the web but I did find these related sites….

Turn Your Lights Out For Earth Hour: March 28, 8:30 p.m.

http://sierraclub.typepad.com/greenlife/2009/03/turn-your-lights-out-for-earth-hour-march-28-830-pm.html

OUTDOOR LIGHTING GUIDE by Institution Of Lighting Engineers (Author)

http://www.amazon.com/OUTDOOR-LIGHTING-Institution-Lighting-Engineers/dp/0415370078#

Light pollution From Wikipedia

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Light_pollution

Seder Plates

2009-04-14T06:00:00.000-07:00

Living in chaos can sometimes be the mother of invention. I have 3 seder plates but they are all currently safely packed up in one of the what seems like 100s of boxes crammed into one room. Okay there aren’t that many but between the attic work and shutting down the storage unit to save money my organization became very disorganized. Rather than spend hours or days searching for my beautiful plates I made an interesting make shift plate. I used one of the metal trays I purchased for Shabbat dinners. Then I added a colorful assortment of silicone cupcake holders and plastic bowls to hold each of the elements. To complete the child friendly plate I added plastic snake spoons. The frog forks just didn’t quite work. I was missing a shank bone in the end but I’m hoping the kids decorated plates from school would do.

It worked well and when the kids wanted to help set the table there was no panic of great grandpas seder plate getting broken. And when it was nearly tipped over part way through the meal there were still no worries of broken pottery, just a potential spill. Hopefully next year things will be more organized again and the kids will also be a little older.

Passover Dinner

2009-04-13T06:00:00.000-07:00

Simple Compote

(A sweet blend of vegetables and fruit)

* 1 16 oz pk of Gourmet Kitchen Harvest Medley turnip, yams & butternut squash (or equivalent)

* 1 c Trader Joe's non-sorbated pitted prunes

* 1/4 c Trader Joe's 100% dark amber maple syrup

* 1/4 c water

* 1/2 tsp ground cinnamon

Combine all ingredients in a pot and bring to a simmer. Cook until vegetables are tender.

This turned out to be wonderful. The kids who are at a finicky stage for all but hot dogs and mac & cheese, well they didn’t quite agree with me. If their father would have joined us I would have used cardamom instead of the cinnamon.

Brisket

1 brisket, salted kosher for Passover

3 cloves of garlic, fresh, whole

7 black peppercorns

1 pk Trader Joe's Savory Broth Beef, reduced sodium liquid concentrate

1 c mushrooms, washed and trimmed

8 Morning Kiss organic golden potatoes

Water to cover meat

Put all ingredients in a crock pot/slow cooker. Cook on low for 11 hours.

I chose the number of garlic cloves and black peppercorns for both taste and for some luck. Lucky numbers have to have that reputation for a reason, right? The only thing I would have changed for the brisket recipe would be adding more mushrooms. The gravy turned out wonderfully and since I do eat rice for Passover (it is NOT listed in the 5 forbidden) I can report the leftover gravy was wonderful over a hamburger and rice (buns, no matter what it is made from is fluffy like the forbidden bread).

Dayenu!

2009-04-12T06:00:00.000-07:00

Dayenu! A Passover Haggadah For Families and Children By Carole Boyd Leon Illustrations by Connelly

I recently bought 8 copies of this family friendly haggadah at a local book fair. This beautifully illustrate 30 page book was perfect for young children. It is a well written short version of a traditional haggadah. Yes, my 3 and 5 year olds did ask if we were done yet but it could have been worse with a longer or traditional haggadah.

We did put the book to the extreme test. I had to work Passover eve day. This meant I cooked the main dish in the slow cooker while I was at worked. After picking up the kids we stopped at a local store for a few last minute things. Once home they played and helped get the table ready while I boiled eggs, made a vegetable compote, and other foods along with filling a seder plate. We were ready by sunset and started the seder by lighting the candles. We often eat late but this was a bit latter than normal.

Then to add to the "test" for the new haggadah, I was the only adult at our seder. Because of last minute business trips, etc. The possibility of cooking for 12 at a friend's house changed to just me and the kids. I was the hostess, cook, leader, and mom. Okay a normal mom event for a big holiday and it all went well.

Honoring Those Who Have Served

2009-04-07T06:00:00.000-07:00

For years I have watched as the news post photos of fallen military men and women who have given their lives in Afghanistan and Iraq. As George Stephanopoulos (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/George_Stephanopoulos ) has scrolled and read his weekly memorial list of the fallen with respect and a sense of loss, I have read the names and ages along with him trying to imagine the pride and overwhelming grief their families and hoping not to see a name I knew. Each name represented some willing to server and defend my family and our country. Each name, each person deserves our respect and honor. I know not all of them were perfect. Some might have even been real jerks, while others were truly saints called to duty but each gave their lives for our country. We can question the government and circumstances that got us into both of the current wars but we should never question the sacrifice these men and women have made. Nor should we forget those who are wounded, or witnessed or experienced more than most of us could imagine.

Last night I watched ABC World News air the first coming home from Dover Delaware in 12 years (http://abcnews.go.com/US/wireStory?id=7265092 ). Phillip Myers wife granted the media permission to attend the ceremony. They still showed his photo with his name and rank but this time we could see the solemn ceremony transferring his flag draped coffin from the aircraft that brought him back to the truck which will take him closer to his final peaceful resting place. For all of the news announcements before I felt sorrow for this one the tears came. I know why some didn't want us to see this for all of these years and I know why others want us to. The pallbearers performing their solemn duty made the loss seem like more of a loss, more human.

The news handled the ceremony with great respect and dignity. The Myers family shares their grief with the country. I respect each of the families who will decide to share this moment and those who want it to be private. The decision now lies with the ones who matter the most since they too made a great sacrifice for our country. I just hope we find ways to have fewer of these ceremonies.

Attic Project Creep - The Explanation

2009-04-01T06:00:00.000-07:00

Here are two articles from Planet Green (a Discovery Channel station) which explain some of the attic project creep.

Save Energy With Motion Sensors

Motion Sensors attached to lights in certain areas of the house can reduce your lighting energy and costs.

Between two small children and an absent minded husband the old porch light was left on for hours or even over night at least once or twice a month. Not only was that adding to the neighborhood light pollution but it was also wasting energy. By switching the fixture to one with a motion detector we'll save energy. The plan is to replace the light bulb from the manufacture with an LED or compact florescent bulb when it burns out to save even more energy.

Save Energy with an Attic Stair Cover

An attic without a stair cover is like having a hole in your ceiling.

As I said before when I first came across the attic stair cover it was pointless to install it in an attic so inadequately insulated. Once the attic insulation was upgraded not having the stair cover was like having a whole in the roof to let all of the heat out around the new insulation.

Attic Project Creep – 2 the expanding floor and shelves

2009-03-24T06:00:00.000-07:00

We emptied the entire attic into our small first and only floor. There are stacks of boxes everywhere leaving pathways with the promise it will only be there a short time. The attic project was to insulate the entire floor and cover a third of the attic with a secure floor to stack boxes, camping gear, etc. The plan was to latter go back and build more flooring. Um, excuse me but the attic is empty now. The help is here now. Can’t we do the whole floor now? With that we had the next project creep. The entire 800 square feet was going to be covered so there would be no risk of things falling through the ceiling. The next project creep came with a suggestion of shelves around the chimney. Um, no that would be a possible fire hazard so instead of one set of shelves there we went for 2 in the roof peaks.

Okay, the construction should be done now. But, excuse me…. We have this beautifully done storage area with these rickety old wooden folding stairs that look (and feel) like they have seen better days. Can’t we install new heavier duty aluminum stairs? Consider it curb appeal to really show off the rest of the work upstairs. Understand I just talked the guys (husband and handyman) into the entire floor and 2 sets of shelves (be it for the husbands stuff). I was meeting some resistance so I went out and bought one and had it ready for them. I have to say when I got the email telling me it was installed and SO MUCH BETTER than the old one that they both wished we did it first I felt vindicated. Then there was just one more thing and I would be done with expanding this project. Yes, there was one more thing to complete the ‘attic project”. It was actually what sort of started the whole mess. I saw an advertisement in the Sky Mall magazine for an attic tent. It is a great way of reducing draft for folding attic stairs. Just when the whole attic was under insulated it really didn’t make sense. So after the new stronger more stable stairs were installed the attic tent was installed over it.

Needless to say the project went over budget. We doubled the wood needed and added the cost of news stairs too. BUT I think it went well and all involved are REALLY happy with how it turned out and that is finished…. Well all but carrying all that stuff back up. Hmm, might be time for a trip to the thrift store or have a yard sale.

Unveiling the Porch

2009-03-23T06:00:00.001-07:00

Tim took a nap yesterday morning. I took the kids outside to play. And that darn ugly old carpet was taunting me. It was ripped and worn. It had to go. I ripped up the green carpet off of the front porch. I stopped just short of over doing it. There is still a spot between two roof supports and under the cement bench.

The kids helped weight down sections so I could rip off strips. They also held the contractor bags open for me. They had a blast playing with the ants at the edge of the flower bed we disturbed. They were just those little black ‘sugar’ ants (aka moving black specs). The kids decided to feed them and started to pick the leaves off of the daffodils which are just starting to come up. I think I caught them in time so we’ll have some flowers this year. When Tim woke up he said he could move cement bench. I tried to warn him before he tried. Luckily he stopped trying to lift the top section before I would have to take him to the hospital. It is definitely a 2 person job and I wasn’t up to it. When I recover some we’ll team up and move the bench so I can get rid of the last bit.

Unfortunately I discovered the gross carpet was covering a problem. I should have known after seeing the patch job on daughter's wall when I took down that fake paneling in her room. One of the former owners should have never been allowed to work on the house. The front porch was poured in 2 pieces. The original entry step which is about 4’x6’. Then they added the rest of the porch onto that. There is a crack near corner of the original piece to the front edge. Then there is a break in the cement on the other side. A 3-4’ section of the porch has broken off and shifted. The far edge is a 1” lower than the rest of the slab. I’m guessing they didn’t put in a proper foundation (rock) or any rebar. We don’t have the funds to jackhammer it out and doing the whole thing right, which would include unbolting the porch roof from the slab. I’m thinking I need to patch and resurface the whole porch so it doesn’t get worse from ice and looks good. Sigh, one more thing on the “to do” list.

Attic: Project Creep - 1

2009-03-19T06:00:00.000-07:00

“Project Creep” is that awful thing that seems to happen with almost every home project. We wanted to improve the insulation in our attic. The house is over 50 years old and the insulation in the attic is close to nonexistent. We called in a handyman to help out. While he was here to give us an estimate he found all of the electrical covers were off. He gave us an estimate but would not do any work until we had an electrician in to fix the problems.

Before the electrician arrived I was asked if there was anything I would like to add to his to do list. My husband wanted to add a second attic light. I decided outlets outside in the front and back would make using the weed whacker and other tools and lights much easier. I also the kitchen ceiling fixture had to be replaced. It was going though 2-3 sets of bulbs a year. And then there was the porch light. I had it replaced with one that goes much better with the house and has a motion detector so it wouldn’t be left on all night when we didn’t need it. So after a trip to the local Home Depot store we had all of the additional fixtures for th e electrician to install.

We had an electrician in and with the problems he found in the attic we were lucky the house hadn’t burned down. He had to put caps on all the wires and secure the box covers. When they went to install the second light they had to take down the first light and reinstall it since they didn’t use a box. All of it was fixed. Installing the two new light fixtures went smoothly. The new electrical boxes didn’t go as well. Nothing that will burn down the house but we now know that any simple home repairs will be involving rewiring just about every room in the house.

With the wiring done we were now ready to call in the handyman to have insulation and flooring put into the attic.

Light Up My Life

2009-03-18T06:00:00.000-07:00

One of the reasons why I want to plant fruits and vegetables in the garden is so the kids know where their food comes from and appreciate the effort it takes to get it from seed to their table. When I heard there was going to be an olive oil demonstration I thought it would take those efforts one more step in that life lesson. The gentleman asked different kids to come up and help with each step of the process. A whole basket of fresh black olives, about 2 pints, were poured into the hopper. The top of the press was put into place then all of the turning and cranking started. After lots of twist and turns, liquid stared to pour out of the bottom. The juices were then poured into test tubes and put into a machine to spin out the oil. After a few minutes there was olive juice and a table spoon of olive oil. Yup all of those olives for only drops of oil. The oil was poured into a lamp and lit to show it was really oil and would burn

It is something to think about. The amount of effort to make olive oil is one of the reason why whaling for blubber became such a commercial success. The whaling industry killed thousands of whales to fuel the lamps of Europe and elsewhere. Whaling waned only when fossil fuels replaced it. If we want to replace fossil fuels we’ll need to find something to replace it. We changed the balance of the sea and now we are changing more ecosystems for cheap fuel.

Here Fishy Fishy

2009-03-17T06:00:00.000-07:00

Continuing with the love of science the same holiday festival had Under the Sea (http://www.touchthesea.org ) come for an hour long educational program. The marine scientist brought out critter after critter with explanations of who they were and other information. Some of the critters were held up high so all the kids (and parents too) could see them. Others were put into a small tank in front of a projector. Things such as shrimps were projected larger than life onto the screen so we all could it in all of its glory. The show was wonderful and the kids were told they could touch the shells, models and skeletons and ask all the questions about the coolers full of critters, but please no touching, after the show.

Kid Hover Craft

2009-03-16T06:00:00.000-07:00

I love science and want encourage my kids to have the same love. I was thrilled to find one of the holiday festivals included a demonstration by Mad Science. The kids got to see flash paper, tricks with water absorbing powder, and Styrofoam melting chemicals. They thought that was great and then… Well then they got to ride a hover craft made with a board and a leaf blower. They had a blast.

The Girls' Night Out That Went Wrong

2009-02-03T06:00:00.000-08:00

I was hoping for a night out with a friend. I had arranged for the kids to have a night with their friends at school. I dashed off to meet my friend for dinner and a few kids’ free hours to discuss costumes and other fun things. We each told the waiter I was allergic to wheat. I sent back my crouton encrusted salad to receive and extra bowl of croutons. The next try got me a wheat-free salad. I ordered shrimp scampi with rice instead of pasta and asked if it was plain rice or with pasta. I was ensuring there was no wheat after the waiter checked with the manager. I happily enjoyed my dinner until... Something isn't right... Oh no what is that in with the rice? It had little rice shaped wheat pasta mixed in. I quickly dove into my purse to get my Benadryl pills. They weren't there. I called my husband to bring me some. I felt my cheeks flush. A wave of ick radiated through me. My red splotchy face reminded me of the Gluten-Free Girls blog about being able to diagnose people with Celiac as she drove by them on the street. I looked and felt terrible. We sat there and talked until the Benadryl worked its magic and it was safe for me to drive my car home.

I spent the past two days taking Benadryl, Tylenol, Bufferin and Zantac pills to control the reaction and all of the symptoms. A day at home with the kids turned into a day of me sleeping alternated with me slumped on the couch drinking fluids to flush the wheat out. A day of work making presentations also turned into a day of rest and fluids. After 48 hours of feeling foggy headed, sore muscles, achy joints, flushed skin, and very unhappy insides I think it may finally be over. Life can return to normal.

Recently the Gluten-free Club offered advice to carry a card to present to waiters and managers when you go to a restaurant along with a sample. I had forwarded the information to my sister and two friends. One responded with a copy of her card and a very positive experience when she used it while traveling. I was trying to decide if I really needed one. The cards are designed for those who cannot have any gluten. My allergy is not that broad nor as sever as some. How would I word it? How would it be received? Well after this past experience I'm making up a card for myself and will test it out. Anything is worth trying to avoid missing out on two days of my life because a waiter doesn’t know the difference between wheat and seeds.

I think this is what I’ll put on my card for eating out…

I am allergic to Wheat

I CANNOT eat anything made of wheat including:

Breads
Beer
Pastas
Malt or malt flavoring
Croutons
Sauces or soups thickened with wheat flour
HVP from Wheat
Soy sauce (if it contains wheat)
Teriyaki sauce (if it contains wheat)

I CANNOT eat foods deep fried in oil used for other food that is breaded or floured. Please check the ingredients in seasoning mixes, marinades, and salad dressings.

I CAN eat:

Rice
Oats
Rye
Barley
Potatoes
Fruit
Seafood
Meat
Vegetables
Butter
Corn starch
Poultry
Eggs

Please be sure that anything made for me is cooked in a separate clean pot or pan, or an area of the grill that has been cleaned, using clean gloves and separate utensils.

I am happy to accept your suggestions for a delicious mean that I can eat safely. Please feel free to ask me any questions. Thank you for your attention to my needs.

Baked Zitti with Rice Penne

2009-01-30T06:00:00.000-08:00

I’ve been a bit excited that I have discovered nice rice pasta. I’ve been trying to find ways of testing its versatility. There are many pasta dishes I have not had since I was diagnosed with a wheat allergy. Too often I miss something I enjoyed eating before and when I find a wheat-free or gluten-free substitute find I’m still missing it. The taste and texture just isn’t right.

Since discovering the Tinkyada® gluten-free pasta I have been trying to expand beyond just spaghetti and mac & cheese. I thought my next attempts at making a childhood dish would be baked ziti. I grew up with lots of Italian friends include some who were only first or second generation American. They were insulated by jarred pasta sauces and what was often passed as authentic Italian dishes. To live up to the memories of those grandmotherly Italian dishes would be quite a feat.

I searched the web and found two baked ziti recipes on Cooks.com. I followed my usual protocol and read both directions and then did my own thing.

Baked Ziti

1 16 oz bag of Tinkyada® gluten-free rice penne

8 oz pasta sauce

8 oz ricotta cheese

½ c milk

8 oz grated mozzarella cheese

1 tsp each: basil, garlic powder, Italian seasonings blend

Cover the bottom of a baking dish with pasta sauce. Mix together milk, ricotta, 6 oz of mozzarella cheese, cooked pasta, and spices. Spread over pasta sauce in baking dish. Sprinkle top with remainder of mozzarella and pasta sauce. Bake for about 30 minutes in a 350 degree oven until bubbly.

It was wonderful. The kids even liked it… well all but the mozzarella on top. The mozzarella didn’t melt and was a bit more crispy then they like, but the kids ate the rest.

Bento: Salad Dressing Containers

2009-01-29T06:00:00.000-08:00

I’ve been searching for the perfect salad dressing and sauce container for our packed lunches. So often the ones I’ve found leak especially if I pack a nice vinaigrette for my salad. They might work great for thicker sauces like catsup or even salsa but for the slippery oils and thin constancy there can be a leaky mess for salad dressings.

I think I have found the prefect container. Years ago I attended a Tupperware party and received a small pill container for attending. For years it sat in my kitchen drawer since it was huge for pills when I could reuse smaller prescription bottles. Since I had tried everything else I decided to give it a try. That little blue container has become a near permeate fixture in my lunch box. If I’m having a salad it is there. It is the perfect size for salad dressings and it doesn’t leak.

But of course they are not easy to find. It seems these wonderful little containers can only be gotten by attending a Tupperware party and may have been discontinued. I’ve asked family and friends to search flea markets to get a few more for the kids and myself.

Pot O’Stuff - Chamin

2009-01-28T06:00:00.000-08:00

A dear friend of mine was from France and grew up in Morocco. Her cooking reflected those areas along with a strong influence from Israel. She loved to cook for everyone but would share her recipes with nobody. She took all of her secretes with her when she passed.

For Shabbat she would seemingly just throw random meats, vegetables and spices into the pot and the results were always fantastic. It has taken me years to find the name for this dish (chamin) and I have yet to be able to reproduce it. Part of the problem is I don’t always follow recipes and neither did she. With years of practice and experimentation you develop a knack to know what goes together and what combinations you want to avoid. Another part of the problem is the use of herbs and spices. Each region of the world has their own idea of what herbs and spices work well together and what they should be used with. When sampling one dish I might be able to identify all of the herbs and spices used while another dish may leave me clueless. Since I love sampling different foods and have to work around various food allergies, mine and others, I have learned to try new combinations. For example growing up having cinnamon sugar on French toast or pancakes was common. Now that I cook for someone allergic to cinnamon I now use cardamom in place of cinnamon in many recipes.

So after years of trying to reproduce my friend’s version of chamin I’m getting a little closer but still not there. A new coworker found a new recipe for me to try and translated it into English for me. Of course as soon as I got the recipe home, I ignored it. Well, okay I didn’t completely ignore it. I used it as a guideline along with my memory of what I saw her do as she tossed together this simple delight.

The new recipe called for…

1.25 cups dried chickpeas (soak overnight)

.25 cup vegetable oil

Cow leg (optional)

1 chopped onion

4 garlic cloves (chopped)

1 cup of rice

3 lb of cubes of lamb meat

1 chicken (in pieces)

6 eggs

3 pilled chopped carrots

1 small chopped cabbage

2 mint springs

3-4 cups of water

1 spoon of Cumin

Salt and black pepper

And then there is what I used….

1 can chickpeas

olive oil

1 pk boneless beef ribs

1 onion quartered

2 garlic cloves

1 c rice

2 chicken boneless breast

2 carrots – pealed

2 red potatoes

3 pinches of dried mint

1 pinch of cumin

salt & black pepper corns

I heated the oil with spices and seared the beef before tossing everything in the pot. I brought the mixture to a boil then turned it back to the lowest flame on the smallest burner on the stove. Three hours latter it was wonderful…. But still missing something. One of the other recipes he didn’t translate called for paprika, hmmmm, maybe in the next chamin experiment.

The recipe called for a special bag for the chickpeas. I didn’t bother for the chickpeas but I did use cheese cloth and a cotton string to contain the rice. I made the bag about 1 ½ times the size of the rice so it would form the solid rice mass that I remembered my friend making. The texture is very different and a nice change when you eat a lot of rice dishes.

Blog catch up …again…

2009-01-27T06:00:00.000-08:00

I know I have been suspiciously absent from this blog. The sure fire way of making sure you don’t meet your goals is to take a moment to pat yourself on the back for being on track. A few months ago I was so pleased that I was posting an entry nearly daily for several months life has thrown me a few twist and turns. Now it is time to try again to meet those goals and get blogging.

Party Decorations: Balloon Clips

2009-01-11T06:00:00.000-08:00

The large “Mylar” balloons I purchased didn’t come with any weights or anything to help keep them in place. Once I had them home I decided to attach them to the arms of the family room futon. Rather then tying the ribbons, I decided to use the plastic bread bag clips. I looped the ribbon around the arm and back up towards the balloon. When the balloon was at the height I wanted it I simply clipped the ribbons all together. The clips are holding the balloons securely in place. The kids are able to unclip the ribbons and move the balloons to pieces of furniture or to different rooms as they please. I’m not sure if this would work in a breezy outdoor environment but they work great inside.

Sparkling drinks: Champaign

2009-01-10T06:00:00.000-08:00

My husband doesn’t drink and my children are too young. So when I was trying to find beverages for our New Years Micro Party I was concentrating on sparkling apple cider and sparkling cranberry. Trader Joe’s carries a very nice line of sparkling drinks which I tend to only pick up for those special occasions with kids or non drinkers. This past holiday season I noticed they had these really cute little bottles of Champaign. Their resident wine expert said it was a very nice Champaign so I decided to pick up a bottle for myself. This ¼ bottle by Nicolas Feuillatte Brut Champaign is just enough for 3 Champaign flutes. It was a very nice, not to dry Champaign. I would definitely get it again.

New Years Micro Party

2009-01-09T06:00:00.000-08:00

What is a New Years Micro Party? Well it is a very exclusive party for a few very special New Year’s Eve guest – My kids.

I needed party hats but these guests deserved something special. I stopped by the local craft store to pick up 2 foam hats, one princess hat and one crown, and some sticky foam ‘gems’ to decorate them with.

Then a stop at the party store for 2 mylar balloons. I really don’t like the risk of the latex balloons and for the venue 2 special balloons was much more fitting. I picked out one large super hero balloon and one large princess carriage. I rounded out the decoration with a simple “New Year” center piece (no date so reusable), a table cover, paper cups and plates, and four small chip bowls.

One more stop at the grocery store for cheese, healthy chips and popcorn, bananas, apples, crispy pea pod chips, salsa, and sparkling cider. The menu would be rounded out with a cake already at home. Then I was off to pick up the guests of honor for an evening of movies and crafts.

The kids thought the ‘micro party’ was fantastic. They decided they needed fancy party clothes for their party. My daughter pulled out her Disney Princess Bell dress and my son found his Lego king cape. Once they got going on the crowns they decided to also decorate their existing water jug crowns I made them last spring. It was a perfect party. They got to eat party food for dinner, do crafts and watch movies until THEY wanted to go to sleep. About an hour after they normally go to bed they were tucked into bed and I got to watch the Times Square celebration with my own little ‘micro’ bottle of Champaign.

Let Them Eat Cake

2009-01-08T06:00:00.000-08:00

I was hoping to make a cake for a birthday party that would stratify several dietary restrictions. I was hoping to find a nice firm cake that would work in my Nordicware® Castle Bundt® cake mold and taste good. A co-worker who has won awards for baking recommended the Wilton® basic cake recipe which I could find on their website. I substituted the wheat flour with spelt flour and did a test run in 2-9” round pans. The resulting cake was quite tasty but seemed a little too soft to nicely slide out of a fancy Bundt cake pan. We at one of the cakes over the next few days and the other one was slid into a freezer bag and popped into the freezer.

While I was planning a New Years Micro Party the kids announced we had to have cake for a party. It sounded like a good idea since I had one in the freezer waiting to be eaten. I purchased frozen blue berries and strawberries to top the cake. The kids were not thrilled with this part of the plan. I offered Nutella® spread as an alternative. They were liking that a bit more. My son thought peanut butter would make an even better frosting for his cake. So there you are personalized cake slices. I used silicone cup cake holders to hold 1-2 tablespoons of peanut butter or Nutella spread which I placed on a plate next to a slice of cake. The kids had fun ‘frosting’ their own piece of cake. I didn’t have the heart to tell the two kids who will typically lick off all of the sugary frosting and leave the cake that they picked a much healthier alternative.

Training Them Young

2009-01-07T06:00:00.000-08:00

The Scots in the family will be proud of my young son. I drove past a bunch of stuff that had been put out at the curb and stopped to check out what was there. The family was cleaning house. They had carefully put things in the street along the curb so passerby could see the treasures they were discarding. The day before there had even been a ‘free’ sign placed on one of the items to make sure there was no mistake this stuff was going to go one way or another. There was a nice sturdy coffee table that looked more child-friendly then my antique yard sale find from years ago. The problem was it was too big to put into my little car. It was getting late and kids were over due for naps. I told the kids we would take the van tomorrow and see if it was still there. My son announced we should go straight home to get the van and come back for the table so no one else would get it. Since both kids were up for the plan that is just what we did. We swung by the house, swapped cars and went back the 5 blocks to see if anyone else had beaten us to it. It was still there so it was quickly loaded up and taken home. It took a few days before we had the time to bring it into the house to clean it up. Other then a few marks from cups it is in very good condition. I could possibly even refinish the solid wood table but for now it is the perfect sturdy surface for the kids to use their hand-me-down refurbished laptop, to create their next crafty creation and to much on snacks. The marks are reminders to use the child-friendly rubber coasters for their drinks.

The kids are quite proud of THEIR new table and we had a nice lesson in recycling: use, reuse, reduce, and recycle.

Kinnikinnick Cinnamon Sugar Donuts

2009-01-06T06:00:00.000-08:00

I'm so disappointed. For the longest time I craved donuts as the rest of the family devoured Dunkin Donuts. The kids would beg for donuts with pink frosting and their dad would walk them to the store only 3 blocks away for fresh donuts. With my wheat allergy I would be left there watching them gobble them. Then I discovered Kinnikinnik® chocolate glazed gluten-free donuts at Healthway Natural Foods. These donuts were so wonderful, I no longer missed their wheat cousins. I allowed my husband to try a sliver. He compared it to the wheat donuts he had just had and announced they tasted good, like a donut and just a little heavier then the ‘real thing’. For a gluten-free pastry this is very high praise. The disappointment came when their vendor discovered there was an artificial ingredient and discontinued the product. For some strange reason they don’t believe in the best of nature and man blended to make a great product. It has to be 100% natural. I have disturbing news for them. Arsenic, mercury, and other natural things are not good for you. Sigh!

So after nearly a year of being donut free I decided to give in and try one of the other Kinnikinnick donuts. The vanilla glazed just didn’t sound appealing so I tried the cinnamon sugar donuts. I like cinnamon and I liked their chocolate glaze so I should like these right – Wrong! They were not a donut. I’m not sure what they were but they are not the delicious donuts I know they are capable of making. Luckily the store has a good return policy for products you don’t like.

Tinkyada® Fusilli Brown Rice Pasta

2008-12-28T06:00:00.000-08:00

My sister gave me one of the most thoughtful presents this past year. She knew that I really didn’t “need” anything and live in a relatively small home. So she went grocery shopping for me. She bought a bag full of gluten-free pastas and flours for me. Most of the ones she found were things I hadn’t tried yet. It was time to do some experimenting.

Tinkyada® Fussilli brown rice pasta is one of the pastas she gave me. I decided to try it in the kids’ favorite homemade macaroni and cheese. Usually I use Ancient Harvest® quinoa corn elbow pasta. In the past when I have changed just the shape of the pasta I have met resistance at the dinner table. This time though there was no resistance. The kids loved it. The noodles cooked up very nicely. They held their shape and had a wonderful taste and texture.

Okay the kids can eat Kraft Easy Mac but that is usually reserved for their school lunches or quick meals at home when I fine with just a salad. But if I want to also enjoy the warm gooey cheesey comfort food I need to make it from scratch. Usually there are no leftovers but if there are they can keep for a few days in the frig, but rarely last past lunch the next day.

My quick and easy working mom Mac & Cheese

1 box of wheat-free elbow noodles
6-10 slices American cheese
¼ cup low fat milk
dab of Golden’s spicy brown mustard

Cook the noodles according to the directions on the box. While the noodles are cooking I melt the slices of cheese with the milk and spicy brown mustard in the microwave. After the noodles are drained they go back into the pot and the cheese mixture is mixed in.

Pictured is homemade macaroni and cheese with homemade lentil soup.

Food Allergies and Intolerances

2008-12-27T06:00:00.000-08:00

In early 2002 I was diagnosed with a wheat allergy. Some members of my family were quite resistant to my new ‘fad diet’. Their lack of support was a surprise especially since there was at least 10 years in my grandfather’s life where he also could not touch the stuff. Over the past nearly 8 years my family has slowly come around. For the past 2 years they have even purchased flour to make pie crust I could eat and stuffed a small part of the turkey with a rice stuffing I could also have. To get to this point seemed like a small miracle. During this slow transition I have been telling them some of the facts and tips I have learned along the way.

Over this past year my sister has had some major health issues and scares. There is nothing like a doctor saying you might have an aggressive form of cancer to scare you to death. She went for regular check ups and for a biopsy that was inconclusive. She is a wife and a mother of two and was concerned for her own health and being there for her family. Over Thanksgiving we talked. She told me more of the symptoms and things she and her doctor were considering. I asked if she had been tested for a wheat allergy like mine or a gluten-intolerance like Celiac disease. I told her of the vendor I have known for years. I told her how this time last year she was sick in bed with the doctors planning exploratory surgery to find out what was killing her. Yes, killing her. She was in so much pain that she was working from bed with the help of her husband. She decided to try one more doctor before having major surgery that may or may not find the problem. The last doctor she saw told her to cut gluten out of her diet and see if that helped. After only a week or two on a gluten-free diet she was feeling better then she has the rest of her life. Yes, adjusting to the diet was a pain but she was able to get out of bed and enjoy life again. When I saw this vendor in October she looked great and we compared notes. She had found out that Celiac disease is common in those of Irish decent. It may have even contributed to her father’s death. I relayed this to my sister. We are of Celtic decent, grandpa had a problem (and still may), and I have a wheat allergy. In other words it rounds in the family. My sister said she might not remember all of this when she got home so I volunteered to send her an email.

She had an appointment with the doctor for something else and talked to him about it. She was hoping the doc would just say her big sister was crazy. Instead he paused and thought. I had recommended getting tested but he said the test were inconclusive and the best thing was to go gluten-free for a few weeks to see if it would help and if she could live with the diet. He said some find the diet so hard to live by they would rather live with the health problems. My sister decided to try the diet. Just over a week later I got a call saying I had won. I couldn’t remember entering any of her kid’s fund raisers and was a bit confused at first. Evidently after less then 2 weeks on the diet she had eaten something that convinced her she needed to stay on the gluten-free diet.

She is feeling better each day. She has a new “hobby” looking for recipes and products she can now eat. I’m hoping the years of eating gluten hasn’t left damage that time and a better diet can’t heal.

The moral of the story is… doctors are not always looking to allergies for the cause of medical problems and allergies and food intolerances show different symptoms in everyone. If something is ailing you talk to your doctor about the possibility of it being a food allergy or intolerance.

Here are some web resources for Celiac:

National Institute of health - http://celiac.nih.gov/

Connie Sarros - http://gfbooks.homestead.com/author.html

Gluten-Free Girl - http://glutenfreegirl.blogspot.com/

Sweet n Sour

2008-11-15T06:00:00.000-08:00

The other night I need to whip up a quick dinner to please the family while avoiding wheat, oranges, and cheese with the ingredients on hand. With just 6 ingredients I was able to make a healthy tasty meal that pleased everyone. Two of the four were frozen peas cooked in the microwave and some Jasmine rice I had made a double batch of 2 nights earlier. The remaining 4 created a very tasty sweet n sour chicken. I did my usual toss into the pan method but I believe it comes to the following measurements. Adjust them to your own taste.

Sweet N Sour Chicken

2 T Canola oil

3 boneless chicken breast, cut into month size pieces *

1 c Abbott Farms Peach Chutney

½ c Ketchup

In a sauce pan brown the chicken with the oil. Stir in chutney and ketchup. Heat until bubbly. Serve.

* The peach chutney is a fruity spicy preserve and can be replaced with one of your choice.

To make sure I did please ALL I pulled out enough cooked chicken to feed the kids before adding the sauce. They greatly appreciated it. They only begrudgingly tried a piece with ‘that stuff’ on it. Overall it worked. It was a relatively fuss free quick wheat-free dinner.

His and Her Germs

2008-11-14T06:00:00.000-08:00

I never thought of myself as a germ-a-phobic but I really would like to keep the family healthy. I would like to slow down or avoid any potential cold epidemic that might try to infect the house. The kids have a stool so they can easily reach the sink to wash their hands and faces after dinner. There is liquid soap that can easily be dolled out and rubbed all over their hands before scrubbing it and al the dirt off. I also have a bottle of the hand gel so when you hear a scream for help in the other room you can get a squirt and clean your hands on the run.

They each have their own cup to hold their own toothbrush, tooth paste and Reach flosser. This should help the brush to dry out between uses and keep his and her germs separated. We each have our own tube of tooth paste. This also helps separate the germs and allows for each person to have the flavor of their choice. The Reach Flosser makes it easier for them to try to floss their own teeth and for us to do it for them. Tim was able to find a cute little robot timer to make sure they both brush for 2 minutes. I’ve gotten them each a child’s electric toothbrush to make sure they can scrub each tooth while they are developing their hand coordination and it is easier when we help them brush, too. The dentist praised us for both the timer and the electric toothbrushes. And finally paper cups. I know I try to be so green but with 4 people sharing the bathroom it is much easier to use paper cups. Both kids have sports bottles in their room for water so they are more for bathroom use then a quick drink.

Fall’s Playground

2008-11-13T06:00:00.000-08:00

One of the beautiful things about living in the mid-Atlantic region of the United States is we have season. We have beautiful seasons that each has their own feel, colors, scents, foliage and so much more. Our falls are known for crisp cool air, deciduous tree leaves changing from greens to yellows, oranges, reds and browns. My little ones have been having a great time looking for the most beautiful leaves they can.

This past weekend was on the warm side for fall and was a perfect sunny day to be outside and play in the leaves. The kids started out hunting for the most beautiful red silver maple leaf in the yard. They were having fun with their treasure hunt while I started to rake the leaves to a big open area in the side yard. I had a small pile about half way around the house when I was discovered. The leaf play began. The only rule was you could only throw, kick or push the leaves towards the designated spot. The kids were human bulldozers. They tossed leaves in the air, tumbled, and jumped in to watch the leaves fly up. I had the leaves from the back yard piled up and they thought I was done. I raked more from the side yard and doubled the pile. I tossed rakes full of leaves to tumble down around them and bury them a bit more. They giggled, laughed and shouted with joy. They took turns with my rake and a small child’s rake to stack the leaves as high as they could before jumping back in. I managed to get a good part of the yard raked and entertain the kids. We wrapped up the fun with a bath, lunch and naps.

I left the pile for the kids to play in for several days now. With predicted rain the big pile is going to get pushed to the curb for pick up. I’m hoping after things dry out a bit again I can make another big pile for them to play in before I mow and mulch them for the compost and garden.

Love Notes

2008-11-12T06:00:00.000-08:00

A little while back before I started writing on their lunch cubes, I started to leave the kids love notes in their lunches. Most of the notes have pictograhams or pictures. The kids’ teachers have been helping them read the ones that have words. It may sound a bit corny but I want my little people know that I am thinking of them and I love them.

I use a 3x5 index card. I find using crayon is best. The wax based crayon does not run if condensation forms in their lunch bags or if something spills.

Little Guy’s First Loose Tooth

2008-11-11T06:00:00.000-08:00

It happened. We knew it was coming. My little guy is growing up. A week ago he said his tooth was loose. He was loosing is first baby’s tooth. His dad pulled out the new tooth books he had gotten in anticipation of this great event. Nearly every night over the week a story about loosing your baby teeth was part of the bedtime routine. The little guy’s concerns turned to excitement. We could catch him actively wiggling his tooth with his fingers or his tongue. For two days I received request for soft food while I was cooking. The day was getting nearer.

Yesterday morning I packed a small plastic container in this lunch bag. It was empty with “baby tooth” and his name written on it. We were as prepared as we could be for this great event. As I pulled into a parking space at his school I heard a cheerful giggle and shout. “It came out!” He was holding out a tiny little front tooth in his fingers and grinning from ear to ear. He announced “my tongue has a window” as he poked his tough through the whole. I told him to sit still while I went to fetch the container from the trunk. We carefully put his tooth in and closed it up. As we walked into the school he showed off his old tooth to everyone within sight.

After dinner I made two new tooth fairy pouches for him to choose from while his dad made a paper tooth fairy doll – a boy fairy of course. We slipped the tooth into a small plastic pill box and then into a smilie faced tooth fairy bag. He proudly carried it off to bed to wait for the tooth fairy.

This morning the little guy woke up to find a golden dollar coin and a bright shinny penny where he had left his baby tooth. He announced that he is a bigger kid now.

Self Closing Toilet Seat

2008-11-07T06:00:00.000-08:00

Okay so this is not the most interesting topic but when you become a home owner you have to learn about all kinds of things. The latest repair or improvement to our home is a new toilet seat. Back in January when I had the main cleared out the plumber replaced all of the gaskets and workings inside the tank and said he thought it would last for several more years. The set on the other hand was, um, well still usable. It was a vinyl covered squishy seat the former owner had left behind. It worked but it was starting to show its age. It was working and clean so we weren’t in a rush to replace it until this past weekend. Our son was spending a lot of time on the ‘potty’ and was getting a rash from the seam of the seat rubbing his skin. It was time to get a new seat. My husband took measurements and headed for the local Home Depot. He came back with a news seat that we all are ‘enjoying’. He found a Bemis® Whisper Close™ toilet seat. While staring at and comparing all of the available seats he recalled an incident where the old seat fell and pinched our daughter’s fingers. This seat slowly and quietly closes with a tap of a finger. This feature helps it to stay open too making emptying the child’s training potty easier too. It really does slowly quietly close itself with a tap of a finger. There is no toilet seat dropping in the middle of the night to wake up the rest of the family. It did run about 3 times the price of the cheapest seat but so far it is money well worth it.

Pilfered Pumpkins

2008-11-06T06:00:00.000-08:00

Lessons learned from this year’s attempt to grow pumpkins:

I must plant pumpkins earlier. We have seen 3 beautiful pumpkins try to develop. Two have made it to about the size of a softball. One suddenly stopped growing and then started to decompose on the vine. I didn’t do much inspecting but I suspect it was a case of bugs. It seemed to vanish like the watermelon that met the same fate. The photo shows the fate of the other hopeful pumpkin. Those nasty squirrels didn’t care that there was a gnome on guard, or they must have given him a really good bribe. Considering the damage those little varmints have done I’m really hoping that red tail hawk comes back to take them away. So the other lesson learned is I really need to find a way to better protect my garden from the bugs and the squirrels. Since pellet guns are not even an option within the neighborhood, I’m hopeful to find something which is organic and kid friendly.

East Meets West: Phili Loco Moco

2008-11-05T06:00:00.000-08:00

This may seem a bit crazy or even loco but this is the latest way for east to meet west. This is just another variation on the Loco Moco I discovered while visiting in Hawaii. This time I had an idea for gravy and no hamburger. So with a little creative thinking and using what was on hand I made a Phili Loco Moco. The chopped beef that I usually have on hand for the occasional Phili Cheese Steak substituted for the hamburger. The lack of gravy was solved with some beef bouillon, corn starch, and water mixed with the pan drippings. It was a bit salty but worked. I’ll need to find a less salty solution. Leftover short grain rice served as the base with a freshly fried egg on top. It did make a tasty breakfast as the children gobbled up toaster waffles.

November Immortality Iris

2008-11-04T06:00:00.000-08:00

This November Iris nearly caused my gardening neighbor to drive off of the road. Irises don’t bloom in November especially in the mid-Atlantic region. Our days are starting to get shorter and the temperature is dropping.

This beautiful white iris is a Germanica 'Immortality' bearded iris. It was planted in April in my tree stump garden. I did loose one of the irises I planted but I am happy to say this one is doing so well it is blooming a second time and the blossom looks even more gorgeous then its first. It is a beautiful contrast to the passing black-eyed-Susan's and the falling Silver Maple leaves.

I am just hoping frost which should signal for it to go dormant does not put it into shock.

Bright Mornings

2008-11-03T06:00:00.000-08:00

There is nothing like having your 5-year-old son sing “mommy is beautiful”. I don’t think there is a more perfect way to start a day.

Bentos: Are You Looking At Me?

2008-11-02T06:00:00.000-08:00

Do you ever have days when you feel like everyone is watching you?

Even though the kids’ school does not celebrate Halloween I thought I needed to send a little trick or treat for their lunches. This simple bagel lunch has been dressed up with some American cheese cut outs. The cream cheese and mozzarella cheese faces are made from raisins, dried cranberries and mini M&Ms candies. The little cookies are chocolate filled with panda bears printed on them. To make the meal healthy I rounded it out with some more raisins, baby carrots, and a box of apple juice.

My daughter said the faces were so cute she didn't want to eat her lunch. Her teacher had to convince her it was okay to eat her cheeses and bagels.

Social Butterfly Costume

2008-11-01T06:00:00.000-07:00

The only sure way to get this man into a suit is to tell him it is a costume. This is our social butterfly dressed up for work. The beautifully embellished butterfly jacket and ‘bejeweled” top hat are the work of a good friend, Gaia.

Eureka A Ukulele Case

2008-10-31T06:00:00.000-07:00

My little girl has been clinging to the box her ukulele came in to carry it everywhere. It came in a brown box and had no case of its own. I told her I would make her a case for her ukulele. She was excited by the promise and now I just needed to find a way to do it for her. I’ve never made anything like that before.

Last weekend we went to a Jo-Ann fabric and craft store to get some supplies. We came out of the store with a little fusible batting, extra wide bias tape, a 30” zipper and a pair of bamboo handles. Once we were back home I started with tracing the out line of her ukulele onto some packing paper and picking out fabric. I thought the pink and blue flower fabrics I got while on vacation in Hawaii would be perfect. I cut out and ironed together the front and back pieces with the fusible batting then put the whole project down for a day to think about how I was going to assemble the rest of the pieces.

Two nights latter I picked it up again. I was planning on taking it one step at a time to see how far I could get. I was hoping my daughter could use it the next day but there was no rush…. until she saw me working on it. Then I had to do what I could to get it done so she wouldn’t be disappointed the next morning. I was up until past 1 am but I finished it. When she woke up the next morning she asked if it was done. I told her it was and where I had left it. She took off for it. I saw her hesitate in front of it and give out the adorable little giggly squeak. She picked it up and turned it all around with a huge smile on her face. I asked if she liked it and she said yes and then said thank you. The look on her face made getting less then 4 hours of sleep the night before all worth it. She barely would put it down to get dressed or in to the car to go to school. When I left her at school she was still holding onto it.