Rafter

We have a rafter of wild turkeys around here. At times their gang is as large as 30+. Other times it seems to be just the core group of around 10 with 6 or 7 hens and 3 or 4 gobblers.

Check out how long this one's beard is!! If you aren't familiar... the beard is the collection of hairy looking feathers that are hanging from the front of the body. (This picture is a bit fuzzy since this turkey was RUNNING away from the camera... Pops looks really mean and intimidating with a Nikon in front of his face, you know!)

Have you ever seen a turkey fly? I would love to get some great pictures of them flying - since it is SUCH a strange thing to see. They seem so big and awkward that it doesn't seem like they should be able to fly. But, fly they do - right off of the mountain top's trees to the trees below where they perch and call. (I hate to call it "sing their song" as the sound is more like barking dogs than the melodic tune of spring's robin red breast!)

Aren't the colors of the feathers beautiful? Did you know that Benjamin Franklin wanted our National bird to be the wild turkey instead of the eagle? Apparently, he felt that the wild turkey was stately or majestic or something and thought that it would make a fine bird to symbolize our country.

Can I just say that I am glad that he worked on electricity and other things instead of pushing for the wild turkey! Can you imagine?! The turkey on our money... the symbol of America... well, maybe right now there are a lot of "turkeys" in Washington D.C. and he saw them coming.

Tasty Treat Thursday

Apparently, marshmallow fluff isn't "for everyone" but who - tell me - WHO can really resist a real honest to goodness camp out s'more?? And if you say it is YOU... well, you haven't had a good one. That's all I can say about that! Toasted marshmallows... mmmmm!

The monkeys around here LOVE s'mores and they love marshmallows cold (or as Blossom calls it... rotten meshellows) - they love 'em any which way! We have gone back to regular snack times around here with one in the morning (usually fruit and cheese or yogurt) and one in the afternoon (usually popcorn, crackers or something sweet!) and the days are going more smoothly.

Anyway, one day I had a brilliant idea - that everyone else probably already does!! (But, I never had anything like this growing up... might have SOMETHING to do with my mom thinking marshmallows are disgusting!!) So, Blossom was asking for a bowl of marshmallows EVERY day... for morning and afternoon snack. Finally, I decided to give in, but in a different way... I had some left over chocolate frosting, a box of graham crackers and a half a bag of mini marshmallows. Blossom has done a lot of helping in the kitchen lately with simple snacks and this was no exception.

I spread the frosting on the graham crackers and turned the oven on to broil. She put marshmallows on the crackers taking special care on the first cracker... but not quite so much on the others as we turned the pan around for the last two!

Then I popped them in the oven under the broiler for several minutes until the marshmallows were roasty toasty brown and the frosting was oozing off the cracker just a little bit.

Finally, I drizzled a bit of the left over frosting over the tops... just for pretty!

Blossom was excited to serve "her" treat to her siblings...

and they were excited to receive a treat!!

What did my little chef/food critic think???

SUCCESS! She loved it!

On a side note... we tried it again with just a jar of chocolate frosting and it was a bit messier! So, the homemade frosting that you make in a pan works best... but it isn't a make or break deal!

Craft Basket Wednesday

Amy, over at Knit Together has been doing a "Craft Carnival" on Wednesdays and asking what other people are crafting. Well, I finally have something to add to the mix!

I made some cozies for cups that contain hot liquids! I wanted to send a quick little gift through the mail to a couple of friends who I don't see often and this was JUST the ticket. So, I worked on sewing these and made them reversible just for fun!

I then cut out some cardstock in the general shape of a cup and wrote a birthday message and a note (which I blotted out for this picture... I didn't figure you all wanted/needed to read the note! But it said something about wishing we could meet up like old times over a cup of coffee or some such thing as I miss my friends who I haven't lived nearby in over 10 years!) and slipped it inside the cozy along with a gift card for a cuppa joe at that celestial money store, if ya catch my drift! Both little cozies had the same fabric: a denim on one side and a faux leather on the other, but I opted to use different kinds of buttons for each gal - that I thought would "fit" them better.

I had fun getting back to my sewing machine for something other than a repair - and it was a quick project, too! My mom found the pattern online somewhere and mailed me a surprise copy... I can't remember where it came from, but I altered the instructions as I wasn't totally happy with the instructions.

Go visit Amy and see what she or anyone else is up to and crafting these days!

My Daybook, Entry #22

FOR TODAY
Tuesday, February 23, 2010...

Outside my window... It is just starting to get light. Overcast, 45 degrees. Rain is in the forecast for today. (I'm betting on sun this afternoon!)

I am thinking... about this year's lenten season

"Lent: the period preceding Easter that in the Christian Church is devoted to fasting, abstinence and penitence in commemoration of Christ's fasting in the wilderness. In the Western Church it runs from Ash Wednesday to Holy Saturday" - Oxford American Dictionary

I am doing several things during the lenten season this year, one of note to those who read here and wonder if/when I plan to hop over and check out your blog... after Easter sometime! I am trying very hard (and struggling at times) to limit my computer time and certainly my "blogging time." So, I continue to write here on mine to keep going a journal of our family's life, I am reading very few "old" blogs who I have been reading for quite a while and not adding any new ones to the list. It is VERY hard!! I might go take a look at a friends' newest news and there is a link to another page (that they don't fully describe even - so the curiosity is high!) and I make the choice to skip the click and not get lost in the blogosphere and the world wide web! It has been challenging for the last week... BUT, here is what I have found so far: I have more time for the "decluttering" that I have been doing to give away our excesses in order to help others. I have spent more time playing with the kids - I sat outside and colored a Hello Kitty house with Branch the other day! I have more patience to deal with the little nuances of mothering. I do not feel so tied to the ding of my computer telling me there is a new message - I still hear it and I am curious, but I don't rush over to see who is in essence knocking on the door of my screen! Basically, by limiting my computer time in general, and blog hopping specifically, I find more time to do what is important for my whole family. I wonder what ELSE I might learn before Easter!!! After Easter I hope to follow links and such in a more moderate way... and hope that this exercise in self-control will have taught me to continue to limit myself and not get sucked into the black hole of the internet - it's just like Wal-Mart... you go in for 1 or 2 things and come out wondering "how did that happen" when your cart is half full!

I am thankful for... cell phones. It is nice to be able to call Pops when he is out and about!

From the learning rooms... We had a great week last week and are well on our way this week! I am still working out the kinks of a new assignment "system" that has been working very well for the treekids!

From the kitchen... it appears that Pops got up early to eat breakfast and while at it... made a pot of chili!! Wooo Hooo!!! Pops' chili is VERY tasty! Perhaps I will make some cinnamon rolls to accompany that for tonight - might be a delicious "side" - wondering what else other people have with chili besides cornbread! I NEED to get back in the habit of laying out our meal plan, here, too. I know it was enjoyed by many - including a spaced out me! Uh, NEXT WEEK - I'll lay out a plan!! This week - winging it!

I am wearing... An olive green knit shirt, a black tiered skirt and MAKE-UP! I was up without any kids at 6:40 and got dressed, brushed my hair and teeth and put on some make-up!

I am creating... a few gifts that I will share pictures of after I send them off.

I am going... to go to the library this week - we need to return books!

I am reading... less as I focus on other things this week.

I am hoping... that Pops remembers to call the veterinary opthamologist for Bark. Her poor eye is not doing well. She must not be able to see out of it very well at all. She can no longer catch a treat if I toss it to her, she has no depth perception and also runs into things around the house.

I am hearing... the girls waking and making noise-a-plenty!

Around the house... last week's boxes of "stuff" have been dropped off... new boxes are being filled and are ready to label and then be dropped off later this week.

One of my favorite things... silly little girl dances!

A few plans for the rest of the week... library, field trip at the end of the week with a homeschool group, more decluttering the house, a trip to some thrift stores to hopefully find a little ditty to repurpose for a special little girls' birthday who is coming up next month (I gotta hurry!)

Here is a picture thought I am sharing...

Aren't hummingbirds just SOO amazing to watch! The speed of their wings is just amazing. We have a book all about the hummingbird and reading about it makes the little critter even all the more amazing! This feeder (filled with orange sugar syrup this month - whoever is around chooses the color - Bud picked orange in hopes that the coloring would brighten up a bit. Like a flamingo eating shrimp, perhaps??) hangs outside the window of our laundry room. Something pretty to watch and hope for while pre-treating!

To read more daybooks or to join in the fun, head over to Peggy's.

It Floats Their Boat

Let me take you back in time for a minute...

Friday, February 19, 2010

6:00AM - Pops woke Branch up and surprised her with an outing for the two of them... a day of fishing on the river with "the guide."

8:00AM - Bud and Blossom waking up and starting their day.

9:00AM - Bud and Blossom began work on school work and other activities for the morning.

12:00PM - Break for lunch.

12:34PM - Bud asks, "Where is Branch?" I replied, "She's with Pops."

It took him 4 and 1/2 hours to notice and ask where his daily companion was? She is not usually hiding out for any length of time! She is right in the thick of things doing her school work, being my shadow, helping around the house, etc.

1:30PM (yes, an hour and a half later!) - Bud asks, "Where did Pops and Branch go?" I reply, "They went fishing."

He must be in shock because he has just spent the morning being diligent and getting his school work done and not fussing that his sister was off on a "field trip" without him! Oh, if he would have noticed sooner... my day would have been very hairy!

1:35PM - "Fishing? Why are they fishing ALL DAY?" Bud asked.

1:37PM - "Are they out on a boat?" I respond this time... "Yes, they are out on the same boat that you went on last year."

1:50PM - "When are they coming home?" I just chuckled at him and told him to finish up his work!

They had a great time. They stayed out most of the day. Branch was the only one to snag a fish... it was wild, so they had to release it. Shucks - I'd been thinking fresh grilled fillet all day!

It was "slimy" so she didn't want to touch it! She reeled this bad boy in all by herself. She worked on it for several minutes and was very pleased with herself! Our "little" Branch did a spectacular job of casting her own pole, reeling it in, and in general doing all that needed to be done while out fishing on the river. What a little fisherwoman we have!

It was an early morning, the sun was very warm as the afternoon went along, both of them got a bit of sunburn on their faces BUT Branch thoroughly enjoyed and took in her day out with Pops!

3 months, already??!?

Happy Birthday, Uncle Ikey!! In honor of your birthday, I donned a jacket (I tried to go out without one, but mom insisted... it was even in the upper 60s today. Those darn moms... and jackets.) and ball cap and went outside to play watch the big kids play.

It's a funny thing, Uncle Ikey... I don't have much hair - kind of like you, I guess - so, I have to wear hats a lot. This one is a bit big, but everyone said today that it looked "cute" even if it was a touch big. Here's the thing... when do I get to quit being "CUTE" and start being handsome or MANLY or dude-ish or something other that CUTE. How do I get past that. Got any good advice for me on this, the beginning of the second year of your third decade??

Three decades, plus? REALLY? You are that OLD already? Sheesh, and I thought I was getting up in days here, what with hittin' my 3 month party today. Oh, well... getting older they tell me is good. I'll be getting older, too.

I just gotta find me a way to get mama and pops and those big kids to call me studmuffin or maybe beefcake!

I am not fond of Peanut Butter and Jellies

There are two little monkeys who agree with me on that fact. Branch likes PB&J if the "J" is a strawberry spread - no grape jelly 'round these parts. In fact, I wonder who created that idea. It is really gross. Sorry. Here we are in Lent... no meat on Fridays, so a PB&J seems like the perfect lunchtime solution, right? I just can't stomach grape jelly. I will eat a peanut butter sandwich without jelly - as will Bud. Blossom? NO WAY. NO HOW.

Someone once suggested a "Fluffer Nutter" and I was perplexed. What is THAT? I was informed and have made them off and on for the kids. It has come to my attention however, that this is a "delicacy" that some have never tried and some never even HEARD of!! So, let me share this treat with you!

Fluffer Nutters from the Treehouse:

Start with 2 slices of lightly toasted bread (we like whole grain bread - but the not so good for you white slices taste reeeeeeally good, too!).

Spread some Marshmallow Fluff on one slice. DON'T be SKIMPY!!!

Spread some peanut butter on the other slice. We like Skippy Natural Creamy - but chunky would be tasty in any variety, too, I suppose!

Smoosh it together as a sandwich. Now, you could go back and put this all on soft bread not toasted and spread some butter on the outside and make it grilled and toasty that way (a messy but VERY tasty treat!!)

My monkeys do not like crust - whose do?? So, they like me to cut it off and sometimes I use a cookie cutter to help me out... This day? Nebraska shaped sandwiches!!

I sorta kinda feel bad about the wasted part and use them as my sandwich. So, I get three hollowed out sandwiches... if I can even eat that much!!

They love it when it is still in the cutter and I think it is funny that it is such a thrill!

Here it is... A Nebraska Fluffer Nutter!!!

Might sound gross to some... but I think it is way better than grape jelly - any day of the week and 10 times better on Fridays!!

Let me know what you think of Fluffer Nutters... ever heard of them? Ever tried them? How do you serve them??

Princess Weekly

Geemah says that someone is getting an abundance of photos on here more than the other monkeys who swing around in my tree... But, I figure - he is the one who is growing and changing the fastest right now! I don't want to forget a lick of it all!

But, in order to be "fair" I will post pictures that I have been meaning to share of the second most posted kid as of lately!!

Here is Blossom in her new dress up dress from Geemah that she sewed for a Christmas gift! (And the Ariel Barbie doll from Aunt JoJo!)

Blossom told Geemah that for Christmas she wanted an Ariel dress. The pink one. Did you know that it is nearly impossible to purchase one of those?!?!!

So, we sent a few pictures through email of Ariel's pink dress. I think that there is a little girl in this world who was thoroughly delighted, don't you!!

You might have also noticed over the last couple posts that little Blossom got a hair cut! She does not like to have anyone fuss with her hair. She does not want it combed or brushed and really wanted it to stop tickling her neck and being in her eyes. I did trim some bangs for her - but she even pushes those out of her face! She is really thinking that she might like her hair cut real short like last year's pixie. We are considering it, but her hair takes sooo long to grow that it is a hard request to agree to!!

Oh, that little princess... she knows what she likes!! (and is she ever high maintenance or what!?!!!!)

Bovine & Equine

We had a nice little adventure the first weekend in February. We drove out to Klamath Falls, OR and enjoyed ourselves at the Klamath Bull and Horse Sale!

The kids liked watching the children's events and ALL wanted to learn to rope, too! So, when we were looking at the various vendor booths, they were so excited (and surprised) that Pops said "YES!" to getting kid sized ropes! We didn't get far before we sat down and they were roping our feet, posts and the wind - just trying to get the feel of tossing the rope.

Next up: Bull Auction! A lot of big bulls for a lot of money! WOW - who'da thunk it! THOUSANDS of dollars for each bull.

A bit of fun to watch all the bulls be pushed through the shoots and to listen to the auctioneers.

Klamath Falls is also a military base town... and while we were outside, we saw lots of aircraft flying over and over and over.

Everyone enjoyed the flybys - EVERYONE!

And about one minute later, we were exhausted.

We had fun and enjoyed our stay... Off to go take care of more stuff around the house! Gotta make room for our new bull and horses! Just kidding - well, sort of!

PS - sorry about these fuzzy pictures... that darn pocket camera!