Do You Believe in Fairies?

I am still a HUGE believer in fairies ... aren't you?

There is just something so magical when I see Tinkerbell flying across the Disney screen.

And who doesn't wish they had a bag of fairy dust!

So thinking I'm going to put the hubby to work on creating a little door that we can add to the wall in our basement ... with just enough of an opening behind the door to leave fun little notes for my grandchildren to discover.  What d'ya think?

How to Babysit a Grandpa

My sweet grandson turns 4 next week, and I found this ADORABLE book to give him for his birthday.  He loves to read AND loves to giggle, and this book will have him doing BOTH! 




National Arbor Day

National Arbor Day is celebrated each year on the last Friday in April.  Founded by J. Sterling Morton in Nebraska in 1872, Arbor Day is a nationally celebrated observance that encourages tree planting and tree care.


Here's a link for an interactive history lesson on National Arbor Day:  http://www.arborday.org/arborday/history.cfm



It is not so much for its beauty that the forest makes a claim upon men's hearts, as for that subtle something, that quality of air that emanation from old trees, that so wonderfully changes and renews a weary spirit. ~Robert Louis Stevenson

Happiness is munching on grandma's cookies while reading a book of adventure under the shade of a tree on a summer afternoon.  ~Lil Child

And there's nothing quite like the colors of fall!



 

Yes, we had a tire swing in our yard growing up!!

 

 

 

 

 

And there is nothing as lovely as the cherry blossoms in spring!

 

We are so lucky, as Nebraska is where it all began, and we are only about 45 minutes from Nebraska City, where all the Arbor Day activities are held.  Take a look!

 

http://www.arbordayfarm.org/

 

 

My Inconclusive Travel Plans for 2012

As summer draws near, I am in the midst of finalizing our vacation plans.

I have been in many places, but I've never been in Cahoots. Apparently, you can't go alone. You have to be in Cahoots with someone.

I've also never been in Cognito. I hear no one recognizes you there.

I have, however, been in Sane. They don't have an airport; you have to be driven there. I have made several trips there, thanks to my friends, family and work.

I would like to go to Conclusions, but you have to jump, and I'm not too much on physical activity anymore.

I have also been in Doubt. That is a sad place to go, and I try not to visit there too often.

I've been in Flexible, but only when it was very important to stand firm.

Sometimes I'm in Capable, and I go there more often as I'm getting older.

One of my favorite places to be is in Suspense! It really gets the adrenalin flowing and pumps up the old heart! At my age I need all the stimuli I can get!

I may have been in Continent, and I don't remember what country I was in. It's an age thing.

From one unstable person to another... I hope everyone is happy in your head - we're all doing pretty good in mine!

[author unknown]

I found my happy place!



Birdie Bundle



How To Roast Garlic

There are tons of things I know how to do, but the list of things I'm still learning is MUCH longer.  Just think about all the little things you know how to do!  How-to posts don’t need to be elaborate or complicated.  It’s all about relaying information… fun, simply, and beautifully. How to crochet a head band,  how to de-fur your couch, how to trick your cat(s) into sleeping while you craft. 

And for today, here's a post link on How to Roast Garlic.

http://joythebaker.com/2011/02/how-to-roast-garlic/

My new favorite song, from Once the Musical

Heavenly Design?

I never noticed before that maple seeds come in twos and look like beautiful veined wings ...



I've always just noticed them on the ground, all dried up and they look like this ...

They fall like helicopters looking for a landing pad.  Which is just what they were "designed" to do.

Did you know that ...

Maple seeds show great design to fulfill the needs for maple trees to reproduce. A maple tree can spread shade over a large area. In order for it to reproduce, its seeds have to get far enough away from the parent tree that the young trees will not be shaded by the parent. This means that as the seed falls off the tree it has to stay airborne long enough that it will travel for a significant distance. The very complex design of the maple seed allows it to begin its helicopter autorotation almost the instant it is released from the tree.

Balance a maple seed on the tip of your finger. Notice that the mass is concentrated in the actual seed and the wing sticks out a great distance from the center of gravity. You will also notice that the wing is narrow near the seed and broadens gradually until you get near the end where it tapers. As the maple seed spins, the speed of the air over its surface gets greater as you move out from the seed, so having the blade wider farther out provides a huge increase in lift. This design puts the center of lift at the approximate center of the spinning seed structure. If the end of the wing had a blunt surface, small vortexes of air would swirl around the tip and produce drag slowing the rotation. By tapering the wing at the tip, drag is reduced.

If you look carefully at the wings, you will see that they have veins in them. The veins are concentrated on the leading edge of the wing – the part that cuts into the air. This rough texture produces beneficial turbulence and the weight of the veins improves the angle of attack of the wing. Dimples on golf balls serve a similar purpose of producing beneficial turbulence. Bird wings are also designed with the shaft on the leading edge and the feathers on the back.

Maple seeds do not fall off the tree until the wings are quite dry. This has two advantages. For one thing it makes them lighter so that they will fly farther. It also makes the wing more brittle so that once they land the wing material may break away from the seed. Although the wing is important to get the seed to its destination, once the seed has landed the wing has served most of its purpose. When the seed lands between blades of grass, the wing may help the seed to stand vertically enabling it to more easily imbed into the ground.

Many would suggest that natural selection is the only agent here – that any other wing design would be less successful and thus would be eliminated from the population. The fact is that natural selection cannot add anything to the design. It can only take away non-beneficial properties. This is an example of another Dandy Design. Where did the design come from? It’s the intelligence behind the design and behind the forces that keep it operative that speak of God’s wisdom and creative action.

Just a Simple Funny

For the Love of Artichokes

I have a love affair with artichokes. 

I can't explain it ... but it's almost as intense as my love for tiramisu.

I've found a wonderful post that shows how to cook artichokes - how to eat artichokes (my favorite part) - how to purchase artichokes and even artichoke etiquette (what ... garlic butter dribbling is frowned upon??)

Anyway ... here's the link:  http://whatscookingamerica.net/WholeArtichoke.htm

Taking a Mini Bite Outta Monday

I hope everyone had a great Easter weekend.  I know we sure did!!  My sister and her husband hosted the family event yesterday and we have a new generation of little ones that are now running around and discovering holiday fun together.  And talk about a BEAUTIFUL day!  The weather was just around 70 degrees with a nice breeze.  And NO BUGS yet, which I always find a plus during any outside event.

Anyway, I was cruising my usual blog stops this morning and came across this FUN idea.  Small shaped circles cut from pre-bought pastry and then baked.  Add the "pie" topping of your choice and voila ... instant mini pie bites.  Doesn't get any simpler than this to have pie at your fingertips.  And what a perfect treat for bridal showers, baby showers, birthday parties, Tuesday afternoon tea, late night with David Letterman ... well, you get my drift. LOVE this idea!!!

Go here for recipe:  http://www.chef-in-training.com/2012/04/mini-pie-bites.html  

Wishing Everyone a Blessed Easter Holiday!

Getting Ready for Easter

It's so hard to believe that we're already into April and that Easter is this coming weekend.  Our immediate family members celebrate most every holiday together, and there are 28+ of us when we all show up!  This year my sister is hosting the holiday event at her house (unless it rains then everyone will be showing up at our house).  We generally do a potluck so that the burden of cooking doesn't fall on one family.  This year Sterling is making smoked brisket sandwiches and I'm making Orange Cake Pops.  We have a new generation of little tykes and they will be coloring eggs, hiding them, seeking them and then eating them I'm sure.  There will be bubbles and egg races and giggles galore!  Need some bunny treats?  Check out these fun ideas:

Easter Surprise Cookies from Land 'o Lakes

http://www.landolakes.com/recipe/10/easter-surprise-cookies

And how cute is this??!!  There is no website, but it looks pretty self-explanatory and should be fairly easy to recreate these darling little cracked eggs.

And the Disney website has LOTS of Easter games for the kiddos!

http://familyfun.go.com/easter/easter-games-egg-hunts/

And kids of ALL ages will enjoy these sweet morning breakfast rolls made with Pillsbury Cinnabon rolls!

http://www.bettycrocker.com/tips/tipslibrary/baking-tips/cinnabunnies?ESRC=16030&WT.mc_id=partner_facebook_Bettycrocker

Easy decoupage wooden eggs ... isn't this just the loveliest thing??!!

http://vitthusmedvitaknutar.blogspot.com/2012/03/danmark.html

And it doesn't get any easier than this - dip peeps into white chocolate and then sprinkes.  The kids are gonna love these!!

http://www.yourhomebasedmom.com/chocolate-covered-peep-bouquet-and-peep-smores/

And this is SUCH a fun idea.  Make the kids HUNT for their LUNCH!

http://brandyscrafts.blogspot.com/2012/03/easter-egg-lunch-hunt.html?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+Gluesticks+%28Gluesticks%29

And if these Easter projects aren't enough to get your bunny juices flowing, check out my Pinterest board here:  http://pinterest.com/lillianchild/easter-fun/