Sugar camp

Sugar camp is what they call this two hour trip into the 1800's. We had the most fun on our field trip to the county to the east of us to see how maple sugar is made. It was incredible. Tasting the sap straight from the tree was so refreshing. See more at our homeschool blog. :) One field trip that will linger in our minds.

tasting the syrup

pushing the cork out of the sumac tree to make the stile (wooden straw)

boil sap to make syrup

sap collection.
soo tasty!!!

Operation Write Home

Supporting our troops by making homemade cards! Right up my alley... A nonprofit called Operation Write Home is connecting crafters with active soldiers to provide ways for them to communicate with family and friends back home.When you sign up to help they send you a free stamp with the logo Operation Write Home to stamp on the back. I was so excited when mine arrived, so this weekend, I dug out a few boxes of supplies and made a handful of miss you cards. What an easy way to help give back to our troops and let them know they are not forgotten. They encourage children to add thank you cards so they can give to heroes who don't receive many letters. So next week, I'll have the Doll make some notes. 

Situation fish tank

Oh this stinking fish tank...... When we had it set up in Denver, we didn't have trouble keeping the water clean. The only thing we can figure is that they are getting too much food. So now mommy is the feeder of the fish. We emptied out the whole 55gallon stinky (imagine wet dirty dog) tank and started over. The poor fish had to spend the day on the counter in some flower vases. If this change of water doesn't keep filtered, the fish tank will become the new hermit crab habitat. 

Date night 21

With two older brothers, Lola was in heaven while they kept her so mom and dad could go on a date night. We had a great time, this dessert was a very tasty treat:). After dinner we went to see the West Side Story that was playing in the city. Fun, fun~ grownup time.

UNO

We had a sunny, warm day to visit with Great Granny. The boys are in town for their dad's birthday and had some free time to do some visiting. Uno is slowly becoming our new favorite card game with Great granny:) Thanks for the homemade pie!

Charlotte still hanging around

Charlotte is such an easy pet to have, Lola enjoys taking her for a walk in her buggy and letting her race across the living room floor. It is also just fun to sit and read with the lizard on your shoulder once in a while. Did you know that lizards have ears and snakes don't? Here's more info on leopard Geckos. 

Breakfast with the birds

It was kinda funny to watch the birds and Lola eating very similar breakfasts. We sprinkled some seeds on the back porch because our backyard is rather a mud pit and we can't easily reach the bird feeder. The birds don't care, as long as they have some seeds to munch on too:). So Lola and the cat sat by the window to watch the morning doves peck around for their breakfast. 

Valentines day

Lola and her surprise. 

Once upon a time, there was a very darling little girl. She was smart and kind and always curious. She loved all the holidays. Valentine's was coming up and she made cards for her little friends and mailed them to states around the US. Then she made a chocolate brownie cake for her daddy and brothers for a surprise. On Valentine's she dressed herself in some hot pink and settled in for her lessons. After some school, she took a little break for lunch. As she was enjoying her sandwich there was a ring at the door. Ding Dong. What a lovely surprise some beautiful roses for her mother. They were so red and lovely. Following lunch there was another ring at the door. So she opened the door and there was a delivery for her mommy's lesson on Wednesday night Bible study. After lunch she cozied up for some reading time and there was another ring at the door. It was a man carrying a vase with a teddy bear and some flowers. He said, is there a Lola here? And Lola said, I'm LOLA! So she received a very beautiful Valentine Surprise. :)

Pottery barn tea party

Don't ya just love free events at the mall? We stumbled across the Valentine's Tea Party and signed up to enjoy some fun. They had a very sweet lady working the event. They had cookies and fruit punch, and a craft and a story. Nice way to spend a cold Saturday afternoon.

Almond cake flop :(

Baking comes pretty easy to me, however, there are days when my cake's flop too. This was an online recipe that I'd never tried. I'm not exactly sure what happened, my best guess is that I left it in the kitchen aid for a minute or two too long while mixing. It was beautiful golden brown...... still tasted great. It was a flour less recipe - oh well,... that's life:) 

Valentines day preparations

With Valentine's right around the corner, we decided we needed to get on the ball with making some cards for her friends. I made some bows and the Doll decorated the cards with some heart stickers. They turned out great!

Pineapple upside down cake

It's funny how after so long together, there are still things that surprise each of us. Like, for example, that Virgil says one day, 'I love pineapple upside down cake.' What you've got to be kidding me, I've never seen you eat it, since when?- Since forever- What, that's just crazy- are you kidding with me? NO I really love pineapple upside down cake.... Ok

So not only does he like it, he even has a way to prepare it that is specific. It needs to have the crushed pineapples not the rings... Ok

I find this recipe for cooking it in a cast-iron skillet, and give it a try. It was sooo easy to make. The end result is a mixed review with it was tasty, yet it did taste a little like fried chicken. I'd make it again maybe using a cake pan instead... But it was something new I'd never baked before.

Polar bear swimming

Field Trip Friday!!!!!

Today was our outing day. It was a little warmer than it's been so we headed out to see some critters with a blue sky background. We enjoyed watching the polar bear swim and seeing the male peacock with it's new spring feathers.