tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-273877882024-03-09T20:46:49.760-06:00Mom in MadisonUnschooling family living life day by day, enjoying nature, organic food, eating locally, fun projects, reducing our footprint, having fun, crafting, knitting, creating, and growing a killer garden.denisehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07063730445661683331noreply@blogger.comBlogger889125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27387788.post-67321132999934540862014-02-24T14:30:00.000-06:002014-02-24T14:30:09.851-06:00<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Surprise! I am blogging again at a new address. Visit me at Wholly Rooted: <a href="http://www.whollyrooted.com/">http://www.whollyrooted.com/</a></div>
denisehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07063730445661683331noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27387788.post-18399173041839342972011-12-22T09:44:00.005-06:002011-12-22T10:53:50.197-06:00winter solstice.<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8t8ilQcL0hmhgr8WauMebkZKwycYGrDGUca-M9wRmZa9TgrfgoAiSHWXKpvl5sVn8QnVxMN33KXhmvvoxuw9OKyEue3BtHtk3TB09nii5ImHr-ZwPNVooew2evySrPhhLnvzAOw/s1600/IMG_3409.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8t8ilQcL0hmhgr8WauMebkZKwycYGrDGUca-M9wRmZa9TgrfgoAiSHWXKpvl5sVn8QnVxMN33KXhmvvoxuw9OKyEue3BtHtk3TB09nii5ImHr-ZwPNVooew2evySrPhhLnvzAOw/s400/IMG_3409.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5688979261037355330" border="0" /></a><br />I didn't mean to be gone for this long. We went from G having a sore throat to a roller coaster of scary sick little boy which peaked with the frantic phone calls and urgent care and chest x-rays and febrile seizure...pneumonia. My sweet boy has been very sick. After a week of medicine, nebulizer and lots of love and rest, <span style="font-weight: bold;">he is feeling much </span><span style="font-style: italic; font-weight: bold;">much</span><span style="font-weight: bold;"> better</span>.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_Oz4S9xtRzJf-CyG0YIheOjHPdvYIzFu0hMHD7fcXZ-ibsTY0arFakaSD9aIjed1sZODM7X7wNhLvxrGNXFKG3nzWfJsTQxJNmV97Teb9tzTz1TQoP9nNVlWWYPk0v0Ti7t3EZw/s1600/IMG_3391.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_Oz4S9xtRzJf-CyG0YIheOjHPdvYIzFu0hMHD7fcXZ-ibsTY0arFakaSD9aIjed1sZODM7X7wNhLvxrGNXFKG3nzWfJsTQxJNmV97Teb9tzTz1TQoP9nNVlWWYPk0v0Ti7t3EZw/s400/IMG_3391.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5688979262576567554" border="0" /></a><br />So with all of this we have been home for a while now - G is wrapping up medication that requires he avoid any virus exposure/people. So we will stay home through the weekend with lots of fresh smoothies, games, hugs, and holiday kids movies. Just what we need.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgENvJ-wZWSLwqGpxe3Fw_5IkmO6gmcoo-IbdQEto6unib1kbemjXax-YcDaYqTqyFzn0Qn-KYgf-vNUHd7i0Oj8pV4l3tgA0LHHTFvrL_FCqMBINnDSPusHaDXtJGtfe8YmmoP0Q/s1600/IMG_3446.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgENvJ-wZWSLwqGpxe3Fw_5IkmO6gmcoo-IbdQEto6unib1kbemjXax-YcDaYqTqyFzn0Qn-KYgf-vNUHd7i0Oj8pV4l3tgA0LHHTFvrL_FCqMBINnDSPusHaDXtJGtfe8YmmoP0Q/s400/IMG_3446.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5688979270933144498" border="0" /></a><br />Today is the winter solstice. I am thankful we are all happy and well. I am thankful for a dusting of beautiful white snow on this dark day. And I am thankful that the sun will be staying a bit longer every day.<span style="font-style: italic;"> Love and light and peace to you all on this solstice.</span>denisehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07063730445661683331noreply@blogger.com28tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27387788.post-21747070709108629872011-12-14T07:00:00.001-06:002011-12-14T07:00:11.713-06:00december days I<div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span"><u><br /></u></span></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3TBX_usW-s0dC5XeJPOBhWSYGm8WuFZl0dGMDXPAW75O6LayIFSKFhnrJQec-N16iekabRU25HG3QMXG_Q527RhrlmsS8X0fr7hoPPVZQ5AnGkryLabQs7Uz4TL-OEcBchxz0ag/s1600/IMG_2809.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3TBX_usW-s0dC5XeJPOBhWSYGm8WuFZl0dGMDXPAW75O6LayIFSKFhnrJQec-N16iekabRU25HG3QMXG_Q527RhrlmsS8X0fr7hoPPVZQ5AnGkryLabQs7Uz4TL-OEcBchxz0ag/s400/IMG_2809.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5685481466330603922" border="0" /></a><div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span"><u><br /></u></span></div></div><div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNILeBBJGN0o6L-lI2fd9wobr1dapB7JWmwZklJB6RqJsGdjqLhwUtku9zM0uu3p7avKQ74nzpqlujNCglwthcEzuHCQmoOMLUtSzyWfvtPUasUTBjZvBhBUzVIB0pkd_oV_9O2A/s1600/IMG_2095.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNILeBBJGN0o6L-lI2fd9wobr1dapB7JWmwZklJB6RqJsGdjqLhwUtku9zM0uu3p7avKQ74nzpqlujNCglwthcEzuHCQmoOMLUtSzyWfvtPUasUTBjZvBhBUzVIB0pkd_oV_9O2A/s400/IMG_2095.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5685480973276750706" border="0" /></a></div><div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuPgc1lwtAXoCFQc1VrRhPTclbz1pvfLMY0LTDqIfeQYnBwCw9T7bxoddFySJxu4wc-aXI-wKa9TjcGXQyqR97STUyhQVD8A9zJ_x75jx-B42zGYSpKfntGWIxAxXZvmHBEfuiPw/s1600/IMG_3083.jpg" style="text-align: left;"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuPgc1lwtAXoCFQc1VrRhPTclbz1pvfLMY0LTDqIfeQYnBwCw9T7bxoddFySJxu4wc-aXI-wKa9TjcGXQyqR97STUyhQVD8A9zJ_x75jx-B42zGYSpKfntGWIxAxXZvmHBEfuiPw/s400/IMG_3083.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5685481472003477282" style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" border="0" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0sh7yXD7VYPc-l72y4daHP3Mbmcewc_QBXU_Nf4ZiCVhwZ-L2wc1sYBnEGRkbXlr2IZ0EC5FjEBVYOmmBc6JyZKFKQPKOA_whaRFeNQPCDSOzUHSNTRbPG70Zv-vvfcuehD14Og/s1600/IMG_2743.jpg" style="text-align: left;"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0sh7yXD7VYPc-l72y4daHP3Mbmcewc_QBXU_Nf4ZiCVhwZ-L2wc1sYBnEGRkbXlr2IZ0EC5FjEBVYOmmBc6JyZKFKQPKOA_whaRFeNQPCDSOzUHSNTRbPG70Zv-vvfcuehD14Og/s400/IMG_2743.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5685481473372402290" style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" border="0" /></a></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhr90xN1GaURHpHUFeSMjVWvG3doMqk0a6dy4eWGQzrP9BFKu8ucsF2DIfr337AKHyR95XBj0-z-r5OeAgnIeAAw9aBTa7OayQWoxrPM9jD4NXglfDzCYkEk-w7M5Izst-vFQPG7g/s1600/IMG_1202.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhr90xN1GaURHpHUFeSMjVWvG3doMqk0a6dy4eWGQzrP9BFKu8ucsF2DIfr337AKHyR95XBj0-z-r5OeAgnIeAAw9aBTa7OayQWoxrPM9jD4NXglfDzCYkEk-w7M5Izst-vFQPG7g/s400/IMG_1202.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5685480966196575842" border="0" /><br /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhr90xN1GaURHpHUFeSMjVWvG3doMqk0a6dy4eWGQzrP9BFKu8ucsF2DIfr337AKHyR95XBj0-z-r5OeAgnIeAAw9aBTa7OayQWoxrPM9jD4NXglfDzCYkEk-w7M5Izst-vFQPG7g/s1600/IMG_1202.jpg"></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrnYIGyxu3sh8FFoRsIvOk4MDI5YktUE608uKhzbuLMXB1IkhL-IJM09kBRRV5MzSdVgcpoRhWKe_m2_nK72nFqYI5DmmCKbHQflOZ6igbih58QSCAylMNw-rTfoIYTuLoPkpJnQ/s1600/IMG_3038.jpg"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrnYIGyxu3sh8FFoRsIvOk4MDI5YktUE608uKhzbuLMXB1IkhL-IJM09kBRRV5MzSdVgcpoRhWKe_m2_nK72nFqYI5DmmCKbHQflOZ6igbih58QSCAylMNw-rTfoIYTuLoPkpJnQ/s400/IMG_3038.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5685485034113848626" style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" border="0" /></a></div><div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span"><u><br /></u></span></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiorpwoZjtCzRfPME3UD0HemVhzahgD_s8wGmWYVxnrlkgQL8y9tw01nWPzsfK_syRGohynOSB7LPCsyEPtCEejumtY29oUICoWCaiiE94Oqt6AgV12VYAlF3fyPQXfwOHMDzgpDA/s1600/IMG_3303.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiorpwoZjtCzRfPME3UD0HemVhzahgD_s8wGmWYVxnrlkgQL8y9tw01nWPzsfK_syRGohynOSB7LPCsyEPtCEejumtY29oUICoWCaiiE94Oqt6AgV12VYAlF3fyPQXfwOHMDzgpDA/s400/IMG_3303.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5685480956094056834" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxfKxuyAoaSVk2tkyDCZMJiF0RAuuGW8PyXJNMnjPTUMly5b2EEy-T06rhyphenhyphenWkgqWWaX6OTWqF9ucN5nL2b1OS_WamiaSl8ktS8_7n4D1X-tT2PS_DHS0rW3Da1FqY1BM-WKwUsnw/s1600/IMG_1833.jpg"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxfKxuyAoaSVk2tkyDCZMJiF0RAuuGW8PyXJNMnjPTUMly5b2EEy-T06rhyphenhyphenWkgqWWaX6OTWqF9ucN5nL2b1OS_WamiaSl8ktS8_7n4D1X-tT2PS_DHS0rW3Da1FqY1BM-WKwUsnw/s400/IMG_1833.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5685480968107835154" style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" border="0" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">These December days. They seem to inch along and yet time flies. It does not seem like December, so we are behind on holiday making/preparations. But that is OK. It looks and feel like fall. Or is it spring? Either way, we keep busy. Card games, board games, science experiments, robot building, reading, crafting (or should I just admit that I have done more craft supply <i>organizing</i> than actual crafting recently? ahem.), music making, microgreens growing, and ... more! What are you working on?<span class="Apple-style-span"><u><br /></u></span><br /></div>denisehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07063730445661683331noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27387788.post-84642857791254876882011-12-13T00:20:00.002-06:002011-12-13T09:06:29.016-06:00get moving! winter inside and outside.<div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span"><u><br /></u></span></div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMrkuitpxFqfEeryWN-DrkAydNT6zdpYvk_8V6A2KaV7StC8rnjzKIX94WulCrCKvK7GuYMPStHbonDkqHvSZudh9caTvUirIMMUg6_1_V7W7i5ek-38OJngZNiveJeMOsNEDJDA/s1600/IMG_2522.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMrkuitpxFqfEeryWN-DrkAydNT6zdpYvk_8V6A2KaV7StC8rnjzKIX94WulCrCKvK7GuYMPStHbonDkqHvSZudh9caTvUirIMMUg6_1_V7W7i5ek-38OJngZNiveJeMOsNEDJDA/s400/IMG_2522.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5685491695892412690" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px; " /><br /></a><div><div style="text-align: left;">This time of year is about moving as much as it is also about pulling in and slowing down for the dark cold winter. With two boys we <i style="text-align: left; ">have to</i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="text-align: left; "> keep moving, no matter the weather!</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjB4FjuVNqjVwrRd_TdiydUubTULAfkF6NFpOWEce5iYgtCiEMsIWb155RAP1tZl3rkUNw_rVqQjHQINwDpLOiOOnuafYx_7msTpHa0cbtzwBV0ult9roK4ZYqRkmtfHNEGzbMImg/s1600/IMG_3178.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUwgEL1rXL5Yt2iDYMgq9tDrKHaJCPXsRqDCtG5dTxK6d6TY494WzKfHiuvbVKWv0No8Ftkuv4F5GDocfK-9jTMSv4Hxs1u3Bxiz2CCHEY-wIcJmXlOSBtH8Hsyb3cX2KczUq2eQ/s1600/IMG_2220.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUwgEL1rXL5Yt2iDYMgq9tDrKHaJCPXsRqDCtG5dTxK6d6TY494WzKfHiuvbVKWv0No8Ftkuv4F5GDocfK-9jTMSv4Hxs1u3Bxiz2CCHEY-wIcJmXlOSBtH8Hsyb3cX2KczUq2eQ/s400/IMG_2220.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5685484234230196082" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px; " /></a><div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span"><u><br /></u></span></div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjORUKaCYssgr8M8-06mhyphenhyphenX8tHQvAHj438pm3gBv_zNfUyXSXTquIN2TGlGDRoPe8-8CNk-CHFgrwAUynfbm-1NJzfKz1erquoDHcFsLeTWanwYi8QgghNWq237xPOZ_zBaYfYgA/s1600/IMG_2737.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjORUKaCYssgr8M8-06mhyphenhyphenX8tHQvAHj438pm3gBv_zNfUyXSXTquIN2TGlGDRoPe8-8CNk-CHFgrwAUynfbm-1NJzfKz1erquoDHcFsLeTWanwYi8QgghNWq237xPOZ_zBaYfYgA/s400/IMG_2737.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5685491711789902802" /><br /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjORUKaCYssgr8M8-06mhyphenhyphenX8tHQvAHj438pm3gBv_zNfUyXSXTquIN2TGlGDRoPe8-8CNk-CHFgrwAUynfbm-1NJzfKz1erquoDHcFsLeTWanwYi8QgghNWq237xPOZ_zBaYfYgA/s1600/IMG_2737.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeVwMdUpeqKcsigz_FRkNmFDQIsN2MGLa5Lau8jk-D6RYh9YKbfWtZIhYywRjAEGYK2TVacCeVeUvBt3k-UcfJ2ZmFxwF21bQ6ZaRPX5G_bhPA3rifQYXhGrhcfo_g4VyZi8Q_6A/s1600/IMG_3475.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeVwMdUpeqKcsigz_FRkNmFDQIsN2MGLa5Lau8jk-D6RYh9YKbfWtZIhYywRjAEGYK2TVacCeVeUvBt3k-UcfJ2ZmFxwF21bQ6ZaRPX5G_bhPA3rifQYXhGrhcfo_g4VyZi8Q_6A/s400/IMG_3475.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5685492456855058306" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px; " /></a></div><div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span"><u><br /></u></span></div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_GsCcHhcaDMTgxnD9mb9GMqzcz-0GWZRpkXHiRfC66aA6l6K-h6LC7O5jVuoL9T5-kafGAj0oMKUjkTcCY2Qm0Qnr_cWpSMhgcvM_Uvhjntl_NolZMhWaRx8Xbr2vS9lTWFXekA/s1600/IMG_1672.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_GsCcHhcaDMTgxnD9mb9GMqzcz-0GWZRpkXHiRfC66aA6l6K-h6LC7O5jVuoL9T5-kafGAj0oMKUjkTcCY2Qm0Qnr_cWpSMhgcvM_Uvhjntl_NolZMhWaRx8Xbr2vS9lTWFXekA/s400/IMG_1672.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5685491697921665522" /></a></div><div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyImUmKXRLpRZN1Hq6RcAnUtsE8VPEA5qbqLLEWOZb-C4OPmnSE3y-mQu9qk9DqxaOxSotht7BwF7eqCIcrXZNjUFHv_StQ0o9O0rlnd7QgsBzSEhoC_KfYz5dFtlQzecnxGonNg/s1600/IMG_0604.jpg" style="text-align: left; " onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyImUmKXRLpRZN1Hq6RcAnUtsE8VPEA5qbqLLEWOZb-C4OPmnSE3y-mQu9qk9DqxaOxSotht7BwF7eqCIcrXZNjUFHv_StQ0o9O0rlnd7QgsBzSEhoC_KfYz5dFtlQzecnxGonNg/s400/IMG_0604.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5685492723207062770" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 267px; height: 400px; " /></a></div><div><br /></div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6B1W0zeMuTv0VHXkRWeCryv0mfuNju94WOpPwIz-h8pnvq9moKJi-pNVUjb0o12l4UsW968hvAHAEQKatL0Yyclkgo3iiPS-0LaWR2l9UiRLEnKM5pssIso7_YSwgi9i9_Bi4jA/s1600/IMG_2230.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 267px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6B1W0zeMuTv0VHXkRWeCryv0mfuNju94WOpPwIz-h8pnvq9moKJi-pNVUjb0o12l4UsW968hvAHAEQKatL0Yyclkgo3iiPS-0LaWR2l9UiRLEnKM5pssIso7_YSwgi9i9_Bi4jA/s400/IMG_2230.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5685491692984692818" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFcitMOkiZsUGJVXvtuZaRS_TQtiAUCUB2PFDobwJ5ZBuTScXb8ZthB86OM_AwTy860vdIhm1ADSh9tTroNFOPhkEXS9ArNjr6qarSkcyVNRNtwjK8tW6o0IpRRLYUlWjsO7DfgA/s1600/IMG_2995.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 267px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFcitMOkiZsUGJVXvtuZaRS_TQtiAUCUB2PFDobwJ5ZBuTScXb8ZthB86OM_AwTy860vdIhm1ADSh9tTroNFOPhkEXS9ArNjr6qarSkcyVNRNtwjK8tW6o0IpRRLYUlWjsO7DfgA/s400/IMG_2995.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5685491694281149234" /></a><div style="text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div></div><div style="text-align: left;">Both A and G have a lot of energy and love being active. For us that means that while we do still like to get outside in the winter, a lot of what we do is inside (it gets <i>cold</i> in WI in winter!). The challenge is to find a fun variety of things to keep it interesting without taking up much space in our small house. We do have some out of the house action - A has karate a few times a week and both boys take a private dance class together weekly. We also have many other ways to go go go right here at home.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSVzHt4hBoFs2c5DRyP5RTpWH7ku2tGqL81-wwqB5JOyFVfRlHpLtXV70QbKJWCAIYoyYJOjbcd3c_h6RMaasYDnZbNtnWziVR6SepbsC2Qke4B99qjojg_ue-TGfdcWj9beH2sg/s1600/IMG_2695.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSVzHt4hBoFs2c5DRyP5RTpWH7ku2tGqL81-wwqB5JOyFVfRlHpLtXV70QbKJWCAIYoyYJOjbcd3c_h6RMaasYDnZbNtnWziVR6SepbsC2Qke4B99qjojg_ue-TGfdcWj9beH2sg/s400/IMG_2695.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5685483937016801634" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px; " /></a></div><div><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><ul><li>We have a small exercise trampoline in the living room. </li><li>The boys love the yoga ball for balancing, jumping, and tricks.</li><li>We have table tennis and electronic darts.</li><li>We love active games like twister or wii sports.</li><li>We have been known to rollerblade in the dining room and sometimes pull out a futon in the living room for gymnastics extravaganzas.</li><li>Of course I can't leave out daily dancing to loud music. Every day!</li><li>The boys have wooden crossbow and bow & arrow sets and a felt target for the front door.</li><li>We try to get outside for a walk or to a park whenever the weather is do-able, even if for a short time.</li><li>If it ever snows (!) we will be outside sledding and playing in that too! </li><li>We have rings to mount in an archway (I just need the anchors!)</li></ul></div></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjB4FjuVNqjVwrRd_TdiydUubTULAfkF6NFpOWEce5iYgtCiEMsIWb155RAP1tZl3rkUNw_rVqQjHQINwDpLOiOOnuafYx_7msTpHa0cbtzwBV0ult9roK4ZYqRkmtfHNEGzbMImg/s1600/IMG_3178.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjB4FjuVNqjVwrRd_TdiydUubTULAfkF6NFpOWEce5iYgtCiEMsIWb155RAP1tZl3rkUNw_rVqQjHQINwDpLOiOOnuafYx_7msTpHa0cbtzwBV0ult9roK4ZYqRkmtfHNEGzbMImg/s400/IMG_3178.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5685491857445394818" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 267px; height: 400px; " /></a></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">This month the boys decided they wanted to do a 30 day wiiFit challenge, and so the 4 of us are doing 30 minutes a day each of yoga, balance training, strength training or cardio. It feels good to get moving even when it is blech outside - and it is a necessity when our winters can be so long. </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">What do you do in the winter to keep moving and active? What is your favorite in the house get moving activity?</div><div><br /></div></div>denisehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07063730445661683331noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27387788.post-40597030651891303742011-12-12T11:50:00.005-06:002011-12-12T12:06:37.306-06:00sunshine.<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZOf_eOmeSfjlKezbauQyX7fw7pyd-LAZcTc7bU_Yqz5F3vrlWcbC5qvJ1c6TaAForZ0Anuafmo2hSY4hfkeeORdSrFFYLNqHTfFSBYeqd7L1V_bEhO84Ee-qKFr8oum2paSGTag/s1600/IMG_3234.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="text-align: left;display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; cursor: pointer; width: 267px; height: 400px; " src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZOf_eOmeSfjlKezbauQyX7fw7pyd-LAZcTc7bU_Yqz5F3vrlWcbC5qvJ1c6TaAForZ0Anuafmo2hSY4hfkeeORdSrFFYLNqHTfFSBYeqd7L1V_bEhO84Ee-qKFr8oum2paSGTag/s400/IMG_3234.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5685301090717767746" /></a><div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" ><u><br /></u></span></div>During this dark cloudy no snow December we keep searching for the light. MORE LIGHT! </div><div><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXCBUOOsl8R2ave48Sw3VQ0ASvIxVN_8awcT7pj8A7o1xj0Dmixhs5mENc7UpuP_h66VjlBXVjt-BYX0Ik8-f2pj37eoGp5200GS5uaNd8WNOjGeVpeVgMM-ijVUt5le8aKW12ag/s1600/IMG_3192.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="text-align: left;display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; cursor: pointer; width: 267px; height: 400px; " src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXCBUOOsl8R2ave48Sw3VQ0ASvIxVN_8awcT7pj8A7o1xj0Dmixhs5mENc7UpuP_h66VjlBXVjt-BYX0Ik8-f2pj37eoGp5200GS5uaNd8WNOjGeVpeVgMM-ijVUt5le8aKW12ag/s400/IMG_3192.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5685301081813610386" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div><div style="text-align: left;">We follow the sunshine when it does show up, even for a short time. We dance and play and lay in it.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbHMRRHK5KkxHzvUqUs8pTY4lxhppSAqJ8CubM0SmrUj2Yice3G0-HhAF-7xo0YF-R2PYrTE8PChL6xykr3u3NoW_vn7Gbb9IdfhRwAsugUTrKB3fYFwYJXoV4T2HzkgYYJvXhXg/s1600/IMG_3148.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="text-align: left;display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; cursor: pointer; width: 267px; height: 400px; " src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbHMRRHK5KkxHzvUqUs8pTY4lxhppSAqJ8CubM0SmrUj2Yice3G0-HhAF-7xo0YF-R2PYrTE8PChL6xykr3u3NoW_vn7Gbb9IdfhRwAsugUTrKB3fYFwYJXoV4T2HzkgYYJvXhXg/s400/IMG_3148.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5685301080246949202" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>G loves to scoot the trampoline along, following the trail of sunshine, jumping jumping jumping in the bright golden rays. </div><div><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjIPcDbsesVcHc9aq4rdjHY6HZ-I6jUFhX-MH_RtwhYpn9DWfoBwhB1a9I7tPnxlVbpSFr7WsTOv_62NsTA5ZodJlJA53iqzrX5gb-bzc-Uu4vzrdYK13xmhhj-xTdM28qJfsUjA/s1600/IMG_3160.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="text-align: left;display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; cursor: pointer; width: 267px; height: 400px; " src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjIPcDbsesVcHc9aq4rdjHY6HZ-I6jUFhX-MH_RtwhYpn9DWfoBwhB1a9I7tPnxlVbpSFr7WsTOv_62NsTA5ZodJlJA53iqzrX5gb-bzc-Uu4vzrdYK13xmhhj-xTdM28qJfsUjA/s400/IMG_3160.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5685301077395846290" /></a></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" ><u><br /></u></span></div><div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><br /></i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>"I'll tell you how the sun rose a ribbon at a time."</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><br /></i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" >~Emily Dickinson</span></div></div>denisehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07063730445661683331noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27387788.post-76347084161910608102011-12-05T09:17:00.006-06:002011-12-05T09:31:38.634-06:00'tis the season.<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmDuzAnu7Bm52Ojdr8cFgG8mvaW6M0LklBCoErz0Y1G2cgJHMt-qmalzEMO2s1GC1VrWzO8ApkZQWfK3YThWj4DbWxykX4BAFcKpyix_hRHx51FCJWlg2BYcArUXRyauvQdZJm-w/s1600/IMG_3061.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmDuzAnu7Bm52Ojdr8cFgG8mvaW6M0LklBCoErz0Y1G2cgJHMt-qmalzEMO2s1GC1VrWzO8ApkZQWfK3YThWj4DbWxykX4BAFcKpyix_hRHx51FCJWlg2BYcArUXRyauvQdZJm-w/s400/IMG_3061.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5682663888941096242" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjblaIAtzE3f2jO6HRJvIVqGpCMNhX1GBiKb6JqtmI2c5myjqRSUeAks28nM-OPT__NriYTLgj1taL2t6K2ArRdDBveFxO7GIg4VCwFYohgZB_qtlgTGfcVYWfX4HhLI07peeBuRQ/s1600/IMG_3144.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjblaIAtzE3f2jO6HRJvIVqGpCMNhX1GBiKb6JqtmI2c5myjqRSUeAks28nM-OPT__NriYTLgj1taL2t6K2ArRdDBveFxO7GIg4VCwFYohgZB_qtlgTGfcVYWfX4HhLI07peeBuRQ/s400/IMG_3144.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5682664933528971586" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbOgSAW6D1EgN1B1QHAqUVp6aMHNozOSQxLttRy_S7hVlLB1Cgn6fHh1pS53Sa7Dz1MDlzPtPmHjcDOKboKfJNTDl4Vtk216Sp6E3sFzQTlqrYQP278LaPncf6iHaijD0tqt4lcw/s1600/IMG_3043.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbOgSAW6D1EgN1B1QHAqUVp6aMHNozOSQxLttRy_S7hVlLB1Cgn6fHh1pS53Sa7Dz1MDlzPtPmHjcDOKboKfJNTDl4Vtk216Sp6E3sFzQTlqrYQP278LaPncf6iHaijD0tqt4lcw/s400/IMG_3043.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5682663883136811298" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxX9UGI95MOgMKHLkZigWE8H-rAUF6a1t-oOUfzE6tlFaa4WwoUJnugJJ3iZaV-iiSCAmn2nq8lruXBPP0EswOoC1h1dABA3or4gbhe0k5FYtwIEePvpb9SvXraUqSfrj8XYPIDg/s1600/IMG_3118.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxX9UGI95MOgMKHLkZigWE8H-rAUF6a1t-oOUfzE6tlFaa4WwoUJnugJJ3iZaV-iiSCAmn2nq8lruXBPP0EswOoC1h1dABA3or4gbhe0k5FYtwIEePvpb9SvXraUqSfrj8XYPIDg/s400/IMG_3118.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5682663893261290786" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhy77w_SSY5Qg6RsvBdGDN6RicktT999WnKRxHp3jd5gLB4q4nEwVuW8peVi06D6GPYe7tA5uZi7uZyXIcE47tqUinFt1Jar5EpDOkzeBfsjWywcCJuhCZHnyIE9MGyuzyx883VOA/s1600/IMG_2935.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhy77w_SSY5Qg6RsvBdGDN6RicktT999WnKRxHp3jd5gLB4q4nEwVuW8peVi06D6GPYe7tA5uZi7uZyXIcE47tqUinFt1Jar5EpDOkzeBfsjWywcCJuhCZHnyIE9MGyuzyx883VOA/s400/IMG_2935.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5682663883805900370" border="0" /></a><br />These dark cloudy wet days are perfect for cozying up at home and making things. We have been busy counting down to Solstice, making gifts and decorating. Some traditional things we do <a href="http://mominmadison.blogspot.com/2009/12/crafty-days.html">every</a> year, some inspired by <a href="http://www.onbradstreet.com/2011/11/simply-beautiful.html">bloggy friends</a>. All making the house a warm beautiful place to be. 'Tis the season!<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhy77w_SSY5Qg6RsvBdGDN6RicktT999WnKRxHp3jd5gLB4q4nEwVuW8peVi06D6GPYe7tA5uZi7uZyXIcE47tqUinFt1Jar5EpDOkzeBfsjWywcCJuhCZHnyIE9MGyuzyx883VOA/s1600/IMG_2935.jpg"><br /></a>denisehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07063730445661683331noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27387788.post-17156969335949201292011-11-27T21:46:00.007-06:002011-11-27T22:13:48.170-06:00Seven!<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGqLFnNAJ0u7ruVpKFxCxibKF8JGKMUbrW9brQ7ZqPisHdALBytLTaxdBmVVDxOSEHyz1QDIcU6rdQERU2UQdTBDwkzxFZBT7itQRdd3iY4V1f0ALz8x0O9QfpesiIiUp7UEOX4A/s1600/7.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGqLFnNAJ0u7ruVpKFxCxibKF8JGKMUbrW9brQ7ZqPisHdALBytLTaxdBmVVDxOSEHyz1QDIcU6rdQERU2UQdTBDwkzxFZBT7itQRdd3iY4V1f0ALz8x0O9QfpesiIiUp7UEOX4A/s400/7.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5679890539270965202" border="0" /></a><br />Seven! Can you believe it? G is SEVEN today. After my asthma boy had a rough two weeks of being sick, he felt *just* better enough for his birthday overnight at a local hotel this weekend. We went swimming, sat in the hot tub, watched a movie in bed, and went out to dinner. We came back last night and were home today for his birthday. While he is still on the mend, he had a fun birthday full of family and lots of love.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHBkQPFLEBots-iw8En1_C5QMdphtNCbbiincVhwVw6SasQ9LNYt1x3wg3Y0xulagbDJuXFah5nRWLZdtaOcMTxDYN7W003uVde9woVsHu7nKMcQuIkezEdtvSJonYcZEipkLt3w/s1600/IMG_2848.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHBkQPFLEBots-iw8En1_C5QMdphtNCbbiincVhwVw6SasQ9LNYt1x3wg3Y0xulagbDJuXFah5nRWLZdtaOcMTxDYN7W003uVde9woVsHu7nKMcQuIkezEdtvSJonYcZEipkLt3w/s400/IMG_2848.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5679890539145841474" border="0" /><br /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnr6eFts6qeo3tkf2NzO7k4XWk3MFAv6MjZiIuYh0RpysUmB9t75ro0YP6D1mUgScsJgUCnSN1SqUuDpNIcr0O9n0z8OEZ3CerTMVf74gwFOAwXPt4-bxLEbHUF6qKYqYgGCObRQ/s1600/IMG_2859.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnr6eFts6qeo3tkf2NzO7k4XWk3MFAv6MjZiIuYh0RpysUmB9t75ro0YP6D1mUgScsJgUCnSN1SqUuDpNIcr0O9n0z8OEZ3CerTMVf74gwFOAwXPt4-bxLEbHUF6qKYqYgGCObRQ/s400/IMG_2859.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5679890543415122338" border="0" /><br /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-bwJjFLH6idVKiuDZDWFOS-6OIidn-al2D4zlyhoUwZG4-275hSmH7HO9Xkpopk2Y3_0_tXuRlrinYVhqiz2hqYlTJ_Utyby3ARxOR3X-PRgFDYLkNsINLNXBB_UdEG9q-4SP5Q/s1600/IMG_2866.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-bwJjFLH6idVKiuDZDWFOS-6OIidn-al2D4zlyhoUwZG4-275hSmH7HO9Xkpopk2Y3_0_tXuRlrinYVhqiz2hqYlTJ_Utyby3ARxOR3X-PRgFDYLkNsINLNXBB_UdEG9q-4SP5Q/s400/IMG_2866.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5679890705869191298" border="0" /></a><br />Seven years have flown. G is such a gentle, creative and yet funny guy. I think it can be challenging to be A's younger brother - but G has such a fierce and protective spirit and takes good care of his brother when he is having a rough time. Everything he does involves his big brother, and yet he is still intensely independent and a very unique kid. Every moment of life is big and exciting and fun to him.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMiOozT-aRwLRMB0iJhxhiNW4TWs05R7FciJXja_126HTd02ZZ3ctKkwI-kJ5VUu4Fx0YIuxKcSCe63gzQkTfUz6IKi0e-k73RF3zwVaY9iSlFCfJVb2-OcKwhwM-xvr9C4GJ0KA/s1600/IMG_2909.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMiOozT-aRwLRMB0iJhxhiNW4TWs05R7FciJXja_126HTd02ZZ3ctKkwI-kJ5VUu4Fx0YIuxKcSCe63gzQkTfUz6IKi0e-k73RF3zwVaY9iSlFCfJVb2-OcKwhwM-xvr9C4GJ0KA/s400/IMG_2909.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5679890699827972882" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKWVsKUbhAgAKfHDngTFI4AdHiFOUaN5C5ouS-BWCpiJ5QUDzBxRvc81Pt4NCgvaI7r5E3w_HsBz8PRmsYf53fbMByRAPe3_xPcRe4PcfkoIsGSwXvNsWZ1acZ8VUT8g6VheyXsA/s1600/IMG_2910.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKWVsKUbhAgAKfHDngTFI4AdHiFOUaN5C5ouS-BWCpiJ5QUDzBxRvc81Pt4NCgvaI7r5E3w_HsBz8PRmsYf53fbMByRAPe3_xPcRe4PcfkoIsGSwXvNsWZ1acZ8VUT8g6VheyXsA/s400/IMG_2910.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5679890685864234354" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5_P1KEIa_jtdjK6Mx58L3aCjxJLeN0UxALbFV9sCD1D1kedkSdkPElgM7_gvL0mnONwDABsm6al15-o3fe585qswndYuLaT5A01Rmq13Dj4PdRbPbpEpMwuzogSYbJgWRF9BnJg/s1600/IMG_2911.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5_P1KEIa_jtdjK6Mx58L3aCjxJLeN0UxALbFV9sCD1D1kedkSdkPElgM7_gvL0mnONwDABsm6al15-o3fe585qswndYuLaT5A01Rmq13Dj4PdRbPbpEpMwuzogSYbJgWRF9BnJg/s400/IMG_2911.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5679890681018959986" border="0" /></a><br />I love him more than anything and look forward to the next seven years (14?!?!?!). Happy Birthday sweet boy.denisehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07063730445661683331noreply@blogger.com12tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27387788.post-57660990091610317092011-11-17T12:44:00.007-06:002011-11-17T13:06:44.693-06:00on the oval.<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkiX1bD6vmJD3fkc4JkNrVuikaCnUC7axlGrElP8FoU8GWv6wo04dVjfdfW93p1AJqA2_mewAXbY1JJSYMP7YnWRGsQ7TSUBni0BIiO8pwpGTf4PZnmWJih9OLjDWiXMB_94qKSg/s1600/IMG_2585.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkiX1bD6vmJD3fkc4JkNrVuikaCnUC7axlGrElP8FoU8GWv6wo04dVjfdfW93p1AJqA2_mewAXbY1JJSYMP7YnWRGsQ7TSUBni0BIiO8pwpGTf4PZnmWJih9OLjDWiXMB_94qKSg/s400/IMG_2585.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5676038419647741986" border="0" /></a><br />About <a href="http://mominmadison.blogspot.com/2010/11/skating-oval.html">twice</a> a year we get a special opportunity. We get to skate at the <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">Pettit</span>. <a href="http://www.thepettit.com/">The <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">Pettit</span></a> is one of only a dozen or so indoor 400-meter ovals in the world, and is an official US Olympic training facility. An interesting tidbit is that the Pettit is the only sea-level indoor oval in the US for training, so it is a key facility for athletes who will compete in the 2014 Olympics as the oval in Russia will also be at sea level (Did you know you skate faster in higher elevations than sea level? Higher altitudes have less air density - something like a 3% reduction for every 1,000 feet - which makes for less aerodynamic drag and faster speeds in skiing and skating!). All very exciting for my guys. Very exciting. ;)<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiW_khxa1LE3YL6OI_xpTM1J9F3K9UOUbeUUOub9AJUaJBvI1AHdZif9vpvpqk5XQ7vHPmQ80SAT0E84VJg3UTwlDpfmUyurh9kkPl7spMo2XiqK2eoVPTUAMFekkqAHR96BC3DqQ/s1600/IMG_2604.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiW_khxa1LE3YL6OI_xpTM1J9F3K9UOUbeUUOub9AJUaJBvI1AHdZif9vpvpqk5XQ7vHPmQ80SAT0E84VJg3UTwlDpfmUyurh9kkPl7spMo2XiqK2eoVPTUAMFekkqAHR96BC3DqQ/s400/IMG_2604.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5676038419323960306" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwR82h25TkfCw0ufwG3DzqB62Dk7CeG33oYNhY7yzHind6c83rpGRVFbD8ily_POgHOCKSTfD4KZvXiJjH0NDs7DOn0M98hDPvLiMdsp95k9DX-zVSsjPT_il2gq-yERmLkb_EFw/s1600/IMG_2606.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwR82h25TkfCw0ufwG3DzqB62Dk7CeG33oYNhY7yzHind6c83rpGRVFbD8ily_POgHOCKSTfD4KZvXiJjH0NDs7DOn0M98hDPvLiMdsp95k9DX-zVSsjPT_il2gq-yERmLkb_EFw/s400/IMG_2606.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5676038420276737794" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgd_NVpzFfgKK8wNXrdgVskYU4zzuit3t5RfnfII5guneNRZRXk4f9KXmDH7OZtBesuDQlW58GhLqxWYPyy7Wll45aAIF_7eZfLaZkNPdx2GxEe5rkivUIkxygXff0FqIyt8Xo2Lw/s1600/IMG_2637.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgd_NVpzFfgKK8wNXrdgVskYU4zzuit3t5RfnfII5guneNRZRXk4f9KXmDH7OZtBesuDQlW58GhLqxWYPyy7Wll45aAIF_7eZfLaZkNPdx2GxEe5rkivUIkxygXff0FqIyt8Xo2Lw/s400/IMG_2637.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5676038544693768850" border="0" /></a><br />Yesterday was the day. It takes some time to get the feet and ankles into the groove, but by the end of the time both boys are on the go. I cannot ice skate with my herniated discs in my back, but my husband Brice loves it and always takes a vacation day to come and skate with his boys. I get to watch and take lots of photos!<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoNSfHjZq28zQZZXZ2dYZ_QkwDl9kcCrkrIEzIAKueMg03T-addNGVnGQ3u45Dp7T6kVwvETOJkfYPMGS1P6D7GWHFDvpEATz_mhJNkp-wLenhac2y3eAYVa8JgifF-Ue_5PBxTQ/s1600/IMG_2618.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 284px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoNSfHjZq28zQZZXZ2dYZ_QkwDl9kcCrkrIEzIAKueMg03T-addNGVnGQ3u45Dp7T6kVwvETOJkfYPMGS1P6D7GWHFDvpEATz_mhJNkp-wLenhac2y3eAYVa8JgifF-Ue_5PBxTQ/s400/IMG_2618.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5676038425772838690" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQEE70MzA1oGI1Ldielm2n_HxdtvgExWq5boEasgVq1FlePKr8lj-bRMYlnGCq2U2XXXMLf65SWX58Jh8bbf_lC-8zc2-SWAfDw4021qsjHN7Co2hM1135StedRrnWSm3aWH-7Mw/s1600/IMG_2647.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 315px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQEE70MzA1oGI1Ldielm2n_HxdtvgExWq5boEasgVq1FlePKr8lj-bRMYlnGCq2U2XXXMLf65SWX58Jh8bbf_lC-8zc2-SWAfDw4021qsjHN7Co2hM1135StedRrnWSm3aWH-7Mw/s400/IMG_2647.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5676038541660201714" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieOOjddSkyGe7UK1CEh633VlDwhSyldPj3V9H6vkELxIh9kJn8BF86vNppSZiaYmMp1EqVOzXJe6iueDiXdzJ5XgFJPqN8A25xFvD7SrvBLrlQZd-hfStnPhU-f3Kfaz_OL_BitA/s1600/IMG_2621.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 241px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieOOjddSkyGe7UK1CEh633VlDwhSyldPj3V9H6vkELxIh9kJn8BF86vNppSZiaYmMp1EqVOzXJe6iueDiXdzJ5XgFJPqN8A25xFvD7SrvBLrlQZd-hfStnPhU-f3Kfaz_OL_BitA/s400/IMG_2621.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5676038428862654194" border="0" /></a><br />G made it around the oval a few times (400 meters may not sound so big, but it is HUGE!) and A whizzed around many more. Super fun day (and only a few blisters)!denisehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07063730445661683331noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27387788.post-40452087319400649052011-11-11T09:39:00.003-06:002011-11-11T09:57:14.068-06:00clay gift tags.<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxsM9yyMA5A9azRiVvbyiQ78VShP1lJsOVKZl1-lR4gn3gVCWOlXxKzvAdyA1O9ztlHv-YTfg0LTHNwuS6JlN7icap23qpI8n-5sBLVURgAjTwMH5hijWdZo0_lRz4ifVkmelBbA/s1600/IMG_2372.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxsM9yyMA5A9azRiVvbyiQ78VShP1lJsOVKZl1-lR4gn3gVCWOlXxKzvAdyA1O9ztlHv-YTfg0LTHNwuS6JlN7icap23qpI8n-5sBLVURgAjTwMH5hijWdZo0_lRz4ifVkmelBbA/s400/IMG_2372.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5673763424240389698" border="0" /></a><br />The gift making craftiness has begun. It is time for list making, gathering supplies, and making. The boys love making things too. One of the things we started this week is gift tags. We change it up from year to year, and this year decided to make some using air dry clay. It is a really simple process and the variations and possibilities are really endless.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkU19M75Y2WjZ20hf-cqA38_pkodms2HMEMYrMG4Z-uGzxacmw95au-wMNPE13o2nUPy-smovoR4qBcjStgQDvaziKrq8vNh_-MpIHqNJgtCe02iiZX5AqhOG9klvAmLoRfB2kXg/s1600/IMG_2238.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkU19M75Y2WjZ20hf-cqA38_pkodms2HMEMYrMG4Z-uGzxacmw95au-wMNPE13o2nUPy-smovoR4qBcjStgQDvaziKrq8vNh_-MpIHqNJgtCe02iiZX5AqhOG9klvAmLoRfB2kXg/s400/IMG_2238.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5673763416178587490" border="0" /></a><br />For this first round we rolled out air dry clay fairly thinly and G picked out some stamps. Using a napkin ring (it was the perfect size we needed - you can also use cookie cutters of any shape you like) we cut out circles.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjq9Iw7PlOjb2QFOGTlckQ5Xdoov7tXVW54u3SDZ9xywxJS_B2_9qw3W6hppY-LHGPUM5UZzbAVCdJvloP8Z52nRCQnZvyiZaJpdzj54rP2o-Mr41Bt8yb1YlHw1RRZ4cbxcFZemw/s1600/IMG_2240.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjq9Iw7PlOjb2QFOGTlckQ5Xdoov7tXVW54u3SDZ9xywxJS_B2_9qw3W6hppY-LHGPUM5UZzbAVCdJvloP8Z52nRCQnZvyiZaJpdzj54rP2o-Mr41Bt8yb1YlHw1RRZ4cbxcFZemw/s400/IMG_2240.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5673763423472673154" border="0" /></a><br />G then took a skewer and pierced a hole in the top of each one. He then stamped them. He did one batch that he stamped "a gift for you" and he added some little embellishments with other stamps around the edge for texture. Stamp words, names, designs, whatever you want.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipGnl1RbOymp1KHLYK-jHv_fw_AIfkpvBsIfD5oLqVOPR6Igd4ln99XtXqIPYozpeN_jgzSohG2GBp-UWjZqY-t769RR4Yijic5pEEnh1A1J_1QVoYQRTTaGNmorG_Ox42jX_PuQ/s1600/IMG_2246.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipGnl1RbOymp1KHLYK-jHv_fw_AIfkpvBsIfD5oLqVOPR6Igd4ln99XtXqIPYozpeN_jgzSohG2GBp-UWjZqY-t769RR4Yijic5pEEnh1A1J_1QVoYQRTTaGNmorG_Ox42jX_PuQ/s400/IMG_2246.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5673763427285835362" border="0" /></a><br />We let them dry for 2 days. The first day they dried stamp up. We then flipped them over to dry a bit on back too.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjq9Iw7PlOjb2QFOGTlckQ5Xdoov7tXVW54u3SDZ9xywxJS_B2_9qw3W6hppY-LHGPUM5UZzbAVCdJvloP8Z52nRCQnZvyiZaJpdzj54rP2o-Mr41Bt8yb1YlHw1RRZ4cbxcFZemw/s1600/IMG_2240.jpg"><br /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWlHBVdJFnqXp7Q-sCIuuVZdr_7jCyNXVepv7GCcDkfsxNyVGpgtW5FIZe0l2AMpJJTxMeoPjslllpyOHZhqZuFP1sKpbAfBWhOd7v7gFLSghyphenhyphenM7zDApNCgHupUsdioSWRa9j6ig/s1600/IMG_2373.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWlHBVdJFnqXp7Q-sCIuuVZdr_7jCyNXVepv7GCcDkfsxNyVGpgtW5FIZe0l2AMpJJTxMeoPjslllpyOHZhqZuFP1sKpbAfBWhOd7v7gFLSghyphenhyphenM7zDApNCgHupUsdioSWRa9j6ig/s400/IMG_2373.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5673763426165012802" border="0" /></a><br />You can use them as is - the white clay looks nice. Or, you can paint. We wanted an earthy look to go with some of our tea blend gifts, so we squirt a dab of gold acrylic paint on each disc, made sure the paint was in the sunken stamped areas, and then gently brushed/rubbed with a sponge brush to remove most of the paint from the surface (don't forget the back and edges), leaving the low lying words filled with darker paint. G finished a few dozen happily painting and brushing. Let dry. They look earthy and beautiful and are great for hand made gifts.<br /><br />You can insert ribbon, <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">raffia</span> or twine through the hole and tie onto your gift. You can leave more generic or you can use the back of the disc to write a name (a paint pen works great). We are planning on making a few more batches of them since they look so nice - some that are long and skinny with stamped names going down the front, as well as a few other shapes/variations with stamps (snowflake, leaf, star). Love it!<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkU19M75Y2WjZ20hf-cqA38_pkodms2HMEMYrMG4Z-uGzxacmw95au-wMNPE13o2nUPy-smovoR4qBcjStgQDvaziKrq8vNh_-MpIHqNJgtCe02iiZX5AqhOG9klvAmLoRfB2kXg/s1600/IMG_2238.jpg"><br /></a>denisehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07063730445661683331noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27387788.post-22743232993846325202011-11-09T23:34:00.007-06:002011-11-09T23:48:32.561-06:00first snow.<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9FT0cSkZH9JF7as6fCJqPgTfyvhpgI7rOT2OLYBIcmwHxL7gy0WrfNF1yt319_9mbl5T1cdweCA7eT-x7XN00WQIdnNIuExywqmohEzsPUugI5-7hYaWiwoOVrAQMdEbQPUPIjw/s1600/IMG_2337.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9FT0cSkZH9JF7as6fCJqPgTfyvhpgI7rOT2OLYBIcmwHxL7gy0WrfNF1yt319_9mbl5T1cdweCA7eT-x7XN00WQIdnNIuExywqmohEzsPUugI5-7hYaWiwoOVrAQMdEbQPUPIjw/s400/IMG_2337.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5673237528806657762" border="0" /></a><br />Ah, first snow. We look forward to it every year. The anticipation and wondering when it will finally come. The air smells different. The birds huddle up in the bushes. The light changes.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlU-8rNLeK-ahZEvZjiY8wv_Z9VI8o7V3flhwknppRyUInGQIKPFpdKW3M2l-Fbz0nFhdKjpc-VGyHhkKP7jAAWZL9pTCzkWntJv4v1pZxl-z0shMkPvyQnw8cM40GIqQyXcsUpw/s1600/IMG_2318.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlU-8rNLeK-ahZEvZjiY8wv_Z9VI8o7V3flhwknppRyUInGQIKPFpdKW3M2l-Fbz0nFhdKjpc-VGyHhkKP7jAAWZL9pTCzkWntJv4v1pZxl-z0shMkPvyQnw8cM40GIqQyXcsUpw/s400/IMG_2318.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5673238170628246322" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivrQnRbYhZwz4oBIb3BuMNrZGjj8kYK2Hz6nc9Bhhszk6KhoHyEP6MnxdS9Ux_ZEkKjOioKehHYpSAB7IA23y0KS19GcpTA5qBtjpFQQr3KUDfXj8RBYjp7UpWQL22ey89hPj-mg/s1600/IMG_2314.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivrQnRbYhZwz4oBIb3BuMNrZGjj8kYK2Hz6nc9Bhhszk6KhoHyEP6MnxdS9Ux_ZEkKjOioKehHYpSAB7IA23y0KS19GcpTA5qBtjpFQQr3KUDfXj8RBYjp7UpWQL22ey89hPj-mg/s400/IMG_2314.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5673238171774673442" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUJkKJS5aLYQDK_xn1O8TYcDQl9vjKJxSJN2nRlfblMi4M_N3ZqTcZwZ7WhAPCs2eoCGSCgWIk113q-Fl99Z5B7g_TYV37KLuwkk65AhwdKKT2GZVbGFIaDAxgXeP-J6Ce1MyZVg/s1600/IMG_2326.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUJkKJS5aLYQDK_xn1O8TYcDQl9vjKJxSJN2nRlfblMi4M_N3ZqTcZwZ7WhAPCs2eoCGSCgWIk113q-Fl99Z5B7g_TYV37KLuwkk65AhwdKKT2GZVbGFIaDAxgXeP-J6Ce1MyZVg/s400/IMG_2326.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5673238177160474818" border="0" /></a><br />Today we finally had first snow. Just enough to play in, build mini-snow people, throw around and do a few snow angels. Just enough to pull out the coats and snow pants and boots. Just enough to lay the garden down. Just enough to come in cold and wet with rosy cheeks and drink warm elderberry lemonade. Just enough to let us know winter is coming.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJx_JBWKTQzw_lmX6ijB9yRjf7nth-xJsUApNOkJA9G8QDDyoxKxcYheQ9BFDMt6JhZl2tN82hfE-pbGonMaeefeN7uycAg8JK3KQ_q3M2qhBzFJo3NGaYRa6Bzh9nhsCkIcsN7A/s1600/IMG_2414.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 267px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJx_JBWKTQzw_lmX6ijB9yRjf7nth-xJsUApNOkJA9G8QDDyoxKxcYheQ9BFDMt6JhZl2tN82hfE-pbGonMaeefeN7uycAg8JK3KQ_q3M2qhBzFJo3NGaYRa6Bzh9nhsCkIcsN7A/s400/IMG_2414.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5673237525670206386" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgulRctUSwomErepE0zB3DMzRzJpFr7XTrf15HcoQFVuXaJ-LEBAIBeDVN-tQLd7Ts7NeUoD5EmFAN2sm5Z_Ll4DciRvoG-z9yL7z44W_Rh6q-wn5jIfM9Jlhtipl4hya8IKPbKOA/s1600/IMG_2435.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 256px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgulRctUSwomErepE0zB3DMzRzJpFr7XTrf15HcoQFVuXaJ-LEBAIBeDVN-tQLd7Ts7NeUoD5EmFAN2sm5Z_Ll4DciRvoG-z9yL7z44W_Rh6q-wn5jIfM9Jlhtipl4hya8IKPbKOA/s400/IMG_2435.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5673239901852455106" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwACuE8PmPD0rhw-00wcVbYG7xgFk48UmldwMcbPJiWgWqyscZGAeAE2_KyYDhhIbCGYO-mkdZhNeul_6H_9A7KHJcfYI-Zdbb_EIAup7h5T4KGtI7gDjCsyC5JOPyu_MHDDwGNg/s1600/IMG_2438.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwACuE8PmPD0rhw-00wcVbYG7xgFk48UmldwMcbPJiWgWqyscZGAeAE2_KyYDhhIbCGYO-mkdZhNeul_6H_9A7KHJcfYI-Zdbb_EIAup7h5T4KGtI7gDjCsyC5JOPyu_MHDDwGNg/s400/IMG_2438.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5673237507249313186" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiioSoBUuJH6UHkUHxD6L_48EplnnWncDMu203_CshoaMfZKFbQ-P2KnX04bLgwdgwN1zSMcgQkMl9YNnlms_z0GeYtStHNHnHKbGJwP85e_ffWZhyphenhyphen-nXuk58EBS2Xlyzc9ywjlyQ/s1600/IMG_2431.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiioSoBUuJH6UHkUHxD6L_48EplnnWncDMu203_CshoaMfZKFbQ-P2KnX04bLgwdgwN1zSMcgQkMl9YNnlms_z0GeYtStHNHnHKbGJwP85e_ffWZhyphenhyphen-nXuk58EBS2Xlyzc9ywjlyQ/s400/IMG_2431.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5673237513565661362" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXPTosUpdLUTRmuzrQ4tQ6gyFFDn7OBENLPGm0eTSnlJmCLfxXS9s69v-AhoMm2d-HfeOwCvL_Hxo0bn8plCsrXgVRLpAbSFL4_Q2hbeEk_PI7pzdna_QmMqQaBbio0WQEapycBg/s1600/IMG_2439.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXPTosUpdLUTRmuzrQ4tQ6gyFFDn7OBENLPGm0eTSnlJmCLfxXS9s69v-AhoMm2d-HfeOwCvL_Hxo0bn8plCsrXgVRLpAbSFL4_Q2hbeEk_PI7pzdna_QmMqQaBbio0WQEapycBg/s400/IMG_2439.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5673237498592600738" border="0" /></a><br />It will warm up enough to melt and we won't have anything stick for a few more weeks at least. But today was just enough.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJmiIHPEOxTcVA7EvMJX9eZqN-Yw153vmxPBOVv-I9nKptT45-ALAQR8eUcKwHV4rWT67MM5Igg9VG3oSvx2EYVNtyOaw4soX-UadKvlmUf8YCnVVZB2CY3ta7mWSsKA8zICnrGA/s1600/IMG_2424.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJmiIHPEOxTcVA7EvMJX9eZqN-Yw153vmxPBOVv-I9nKptT45-ALAQR8eUcKwHV4rWT67MM5Igg9VG3oSvx2EYVNtyOaw4soX-UadKvlmUf8YCnVVZB2CY3ta7mWSsKA8zICnrGA/s400/IMG_2424.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5673238185924896002" border="0" /></a><br />Bon Hiver!denisehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07063730445661683331noreply@blogger.com15tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27387788.post-22102335061688364142011-11-05T22:47:00.003-05:002011-11-05T23:14:23.567-05:00snake day.<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQec-yh0NUKiTva1GsPZekpgrQhHGAq8dCvYEOpTW8NPF8mrNt_90DGHh1x5joxrEkEungUfFA_nHKYUkjiiugc0sHSEkldX2PlQ6LD5XSI8htPdHCri0zPreh2duIttLSQ0cANg/s1600/IMG_2204.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQec-yh0NUKiTva1GsPZekpgrQhHGAq8dCvYEOpTW8NPF8mrNt_90DGHh1x5joxrEkEungUfFA_nHKYUkjiiugc0sHSEkldX2PlQ6LD5XSI8htPdHCri0zPreh2duIttLSQ0cANg/s400/IMG_2204.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5671724872800803858" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJ3P2E-lCyuAV2FRzpXkyEFVRGCj29FBdeJ_67CUHlIxFDUAjqP3Fp_PsfPMKgNs2yHC2b-C1MoKUS6Bf7Y_JlTDEljxUISGhYPsFV2RMimdKy9URmNS3A0zQ0C_MvkO9oYQXxYA/s1600/IMG_2211.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 276px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJ3P2E-lCyuAV2FRzpXkyEFVRGCj29FBdeJ_67CUHlIxFDUAjqP3Fp_PsfPMKgNs2yHC2b-C1MoKUS6Bf7Y_JlTDEljxUISGhYPsFV2RMimdKy9URmNS3A0zQ0C_MvkO9oYQXxYA/s400/IMG_2211.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5671724870130087890" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJkxdmKPsG1f9O5Jf9fsHA_lu5hpySIR8YB6cX-Z1YvaY1M5srsc4rUNcs8O30rJMCk72l8iNo7ePKbMXXLVeFKw4IxN14hSQfRxH7Uqy3n_r9VsAMSMevi8NmQRiOlWjYbp5JMQ/s1600/IMG_2202.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJkxdmKPsG1f9O5Jf9fsHA_lu5hpySIR8YB6cX-Z1YvaY1M5srsc4rUNcs8O30rJMCk72l8iNo7ePKbMXXLVeFKw4IxN14hSQfRxH7Uqy3n_r9VsAMSMevi8NmQRiOlWjYbp5JMQ/s400/IMG_2202.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5671724875981425378" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjA5GTxiKBd78Y-ZRPiZU912DgR1M4Ie5I6ropfpM50ct2QfdX9o9E9tbkJ9GpkdsGRBrl4vNNB_ef-ej7TYdcMCu9AN1QrcVt7IT1Tc04ib0-NpBFrGsntF5tpKlrrC8h44jyOgg/s1600/IMG_2152.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 275px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjA5GTxiKBd78Y-ZRPiZU912DgR1M4Ie5I6ropfpM50ct2QfdX9o9E9tbkJ9GpkdsGRBrl4vNNB_ef-ej7TYdcMCu9AN1QrcVt7IT1Tc04ib0-NpBFrGsntF5tpKlrrC8h44jyOgg/s400/IMG_2152.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5671724726566699346" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeKuv1qK8YH8ailcJiOKsV7PyGVDT11SF7kZIXOgLRi7Amhh8_JVDPypRMWyPgXCk9zveZsN7oTDTPIeuklyLfnsH-N4M1Tq7bqL0_Sb_xjdYLVwQAMJasiis1PcRJkxR_etv05g/s1600/IMG_2129.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeKuv1qK8YH8ailcJiOKsV7PyGVDT11SF7kZIXOgLRi7Amhh8_JVDPypRMWyPgXCk9zveZsN7oTDTPIeuklyLfnsH-N4M1Tq7bqL0_Sb_xjdYLVwQAMJasiis1PcRJkxR_etv05g/s400/IMG_2129.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5671724720699990674" border="0" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnA_qv5wTXJzD0FohbsUxve9P5iQkKkfEysDJyL8sqAsOYF4e1EZYeLxZKPPECno00V3WPPXew2ubgsUBQkbj_MFnJWes_PhkdWhgNPdlI5pyYURw_L7ZibdWj4RxQMtiPpSYwsg/s1600/IMG_2144.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 267px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnA_qv5wTXJzD0FohbsUxve9P5iQkKkfEysDJyL8sqAsOYF4e1EZYeLxZKPPECno00V3WPPXew2ubgsUBQkbj_MFnJWes_PhkdWhgNPdlI5pyYURw_L7ZibdWj4RxQMtiPpSYwsg/s400/IMG_2144.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5671724721665991906" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJq5D3A4-Dweu9ReEOG6fMYNJFBmEU37WrlSC5g5oA_MjxuH4tyy98gfrmOUL4qfYHIyNbxqsoc0UweinnGW-qhEyZZCOUD-3TwxAMDW36mhYFJsB9qzVIx_KzOfVyKNdb5abHBg/s1600/IMG_2196.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 267px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJq5D3A4-Dweu9ReEOG6fMYNJFBmEU37WrlSC5g5oA_MjxuH4tyy98gfrmOUL4qfYHIyNbxqsoc0UweinnGW-qhEyZZCOUD-3TwxAMDW36mhYFJsB9qzVIx_KzOfVyKNdb5abHBg/s400/IMG_2196.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5671724735117277778" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhR0tWclj8hB2g-kjXHwkJAR2rwVP13LJSrwOMQj95EWNHOAcolPGh8hOzIgvIcs11bpY7GcEJMOyVRCFrZYOoGS9WzlVe6eXyXmDqOV9s9l8RKGtrfeQXlUoVzfXNicZ_yaQfWRg/s1600/IMG_2195.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 267px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhR0tWclj8hB2g-kjXHwkJAR2rwVP13LJSrwOMQj95EWNHOAcolPGh8hOzIgvIcs11bpY7GcEJMOyVRCFrZYOoGS9WzlVe6eXyXmDqOV9s9l8RKGtrfeQXlUoVzfXNicZ_yaQfWRg/s400/IMG_2195.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5671724879600155922" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="http://www.mpm.edu/events/snake-day/">Snake Day</a> is looked forward to <a href="http://mominmadison.blogspot.com/2010/11/sssnakes.html">year</a> after <a href="http://mominmadison.blogspot.com/2009/11/sssssssnakes.html">year</a> in this house. The boys ask how many more days until Snake Day, and count them down for the last few months. We leave early so we can be there the minute it opens, before the crowd. We spend hours circling around again and again.<br /><br />While G loves visiting the snakes, he then likes to wander the museum. A, on the other hand, wants to stay in the room with the snakes (and turtles, alligators, lizards, etc.) all day. He doesn't want to leave. Or visit other parts of the museum. This year his recent intense phobia of the dark means he could only go in the bright areas of the museum - which is about 10% of it. He tried, but ended up covering his ears, looking down, and refusing to step deep into the dark hallways full of the exhibits. So we visited a few things (butterflies!), but spent hour upon hour with the snakes! A loves their calm quiet, G likes their silky feel.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDpgnNa9Eb9UQO82uwFX4h_rW3zrIC4eVTTjyfwNjYDib3gm9HJ8Hef-Rsnn9S2QKL0zBtfaDCkcRAX2GQ8TqqnVsXv6d7Job87Y4FvpqZeEUAmVqN_lApw7wMPdYgn8NFOaQb4Q/s1600/IMG_2155.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDpgnNa9Eb9UQO82uwFX4h_rW3zrIC4eVTTjyfwNjYDib3gm9HJ8Hef-Rsnn9S2QKL0zBtfaDCkcRAX2GQ8TqqnVsXv6d7Job87Y4FvpqZeEUAmVqN_lApw7wMPdYgn8NFOaQb4Q/s400/IMG_2155.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5671724726069586450" border="0" /></a><br />So we begin the countdown to the next Snake Day. 364 days to go!denisehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07063730445661683331noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27387788.post-8283477557002008072011-10-30T11:35:00.006-05:002011-10-30T12:23:15.393-05:00my kind of saturday night.<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEid_swM1hsq61mjvsOYWFpTnQI6XwgMBgIFr4YfTe1-eIl8SbN_f6d2il0RwoQLnAqr-hQPXCxotm0K-Xl4E7uCB4cyNuGAmSsbu4OfwDHjTHvCSJIjy7t0RzUagr9VJoCC24_nDg/s1600/IMG_1939.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEid_swM1hsq61mjvsOYWFpTnQI6XwgMBgIFr4YfTe1-eIl8SbN_f6d2il0RwoQLnAqr-hQPXCxotm0K-Xl4E7uCB4cyNuGAmSsbu4OfwDHjTHvCSJIjy7t0RzUagr9VJoCC24_nDg/s400/IMG_1939.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5669324927556161858" border="0" /></a><br />I love the cooler nights, the early darkness. The boys play with friends in the alley - running in the dusk, bundled and rosy cheeked. The parents holding steaming mugs of tea or cocoa.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTndtTAmTQoWx1aIy5g3rUDSsjMPU9eCFMgTOehx4F34C8c4dIEOorUsTfbBlg_royHBXO9VeyQ3Qj3iyXkP7YtEstq01cwu3V4XLWp8l06KtwrB_PdBUZ-4gC7lb-EVjyDYWeog/s1600/IMG_1938.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTndtTAmTQoWx1aIy5g3rUDSsjMPU9eCFMgTOehx4F34C8c4dIEOorUsTfbBlg_royHBXO9VeyQ3Qj3iyXkP7YtEstq01cwu3V4XLWp8l06KtwrB_PdBUZ-4gC7lb-EVjyDYWeog/s400/IMG_1938.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5669324919568189730" border="0" /></a><br />Last night was perfect for a fire pit. Our yard is so small it isn't safe to do it when windy, but last night was cold with only a slight breeze. We pulled out the pit, the boys setup the wood just so with some used paper wadded up below, and both had a chance to light it (yes, they lit a fire with matches :)).<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOtwwH5fxrQ2QrhN06mT0-FHH93-DmyZ5kImiwoD8L1aZHqZiep2gFGfukGoqbwNa1eEu-9R3dvPHNmCVR8mZymsfw3hfHHvo04pP1ZilkN-E7gRc0azY35N6UChwfEg7Ji_G1gQ/s1600/IMG_1934.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOtwwH5fxrQ2QrhN06mT0-FHH93-DmyZ5kImiwoD8L1aZHqZiep2gFGfukGoqbwNa1eEu-9R3dvPHNmCVR8mZymsfw3hfHHvo04pP1ZilkN-E7gRc0azY35N6UChwfEg7Ji_G1gQ/s400/IMG_1934.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5669324915829741730" border="0" /></a><br />We found marshmallows, graham crackers, skewers. The neighbors came over and all the boys roasted the insanely huge marshmallows and A counted how many times he could light his on fire. Ahem.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOciQFajoJyoKCpksY23irKaoNEAoqSYJgxJDK6xCP2DQfEaHNMikn6fuWJWpOp7CK_6J9uii13iJMIkBGtiPmkX3-diVi-xfUBcI9dR42R3XUREK7XAsmjojA-y6dwoEDQvGfZg/s1600/IMG_1951.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOciQFajoJyoKCpksY23irKaoNEAoqSYJgxJDK6xCP2DQfEaHNMikn6fuWJWpOp7CK_6J9uii13iJMIkBGtiPmkX3-diVi-xfUBcI9dR42R3XUREK7XAsmjojA-y6dwoEDQvGfZg/s400/IMG_1951.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5669324929892344946" border="0" /></a><br />A grabbed his guitar, because strumming around a fire is just what you do.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgo0aqR1m3fC-SdGTsJuZfws-lb85hiNOlSj_hGvWXq1ayyDuXew3XXagh4qODvXhe-hIIZGFzwM4j99Y_9BBoO7_WaZTtgQp9QWto280VsJ1ENkXpyj5gjqFhODbq8E82eJSLhqA/s1600/IMG_1980.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgo0aqR1m3fC-SdGTsJuZfws-lb85hiNOlSj_hGvWXq1ayyDuXew3XXagh4qODvXhe-hIIZGFzwM4j99Y_9BBoO7_WaZTtgQp9QWto280VsJ1ENkXpyj5gjqFhODbq8E82eJSLhqA/s400/IMG_1980.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5669324974893549138" border="0" /></a><br />The darkness fell, and the flames <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">mesmerized</span> and warmed us.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjL5XeTw1dXPL9HZdt0onVBG2cfQ3aqUVjkFryjBTvGxYJX9l5dOg0Je7kuOEbxhMhMHJrX9tu9NjGrSJ77plWtXZIp1zPm3Dcve01io8Mvqvzy_lVzmmf3lJymmedaCJoX-Tw90g/s1600/IMG_1971.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjL5XeTw1dXPL9HZdt0onVBG2cfQ3aqUVjkFryjBTvGxYJX9l5dOg0Je7kuOEbxhMhMHJrX9tu9NjGrSJ77plWtXZIp1zPm3Dcve01io8Mvqvzy_lVzmmf3lJymmedaCJoX-Tw90g/s400/IMG_1971.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5669324928994145794" border="0" /></a><br />After the neighbors went in for the evening we sat out around the fire, watched the flames, and talked about things. My kind of Saturday night!denisehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07063730445661683331noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27387788.post-48581702902313246322011-10-26T22:29:00.008-05:002011-10-26T23:21:13.194-05:00pumpkins.<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSjNzvKhuyct2Wid70gWO8sr28R-bgkXIxl7fRyNRCfozx874v8P8dm5Vr9BMVP4hw8z_1qeFRmuhjl_MWYH6PqKMeD5JQfvppvMy3B47Azl54UHdhcWRyD_21nDCAqweGUPGQpQ/s1600/IMG_1718.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSjNzvKhuyct2Wid70gWO8sr28R-bgkXIxl7fRyNRCfozx874v8P8dm5Vr9BMVP4hw8z_1qeFRmuhjl_MWYH6PqKMeD5JQfvppvMy3B47Azl54UHdhcWRyD_21nDCAqweGUPGQpQ/s400/IMG_1718.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5668019364595961698" border="0" /></a><br />Where we live road side farm stands, pumpkin patches, orchards and farms are <span style="font-style: italic;">everywhere</span>. From the few rows of pumpkins outside of a rural farmhouse to the elaborate production of a farm that caters to the school buses and field trips. It's all here. We have many favorites, and will always stop at more than one spot throughout the season.<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSz_itU1AuKcqBH4AqCXjgAwJEDEv8GBEnNgFJx5v4Wb5E7EeelG4AKVfuwzDZGLURXvmCsjK4JmxK5lYgYjCeQcrbRA3py-D-PLWjDPlJ4yvra1bDQnzYlu1jpGC0LOxidzQxig/s1600/2990269799_40a94e9931_z.jpg"><br /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqE_Oc3AIA6mN-5AULtp4Ge5_JDWjuVGxG3pfk0rJ9T5b9sLiNA5eD4hpcQt8209NWHBfXtYH5eaJ6rkQbtQH_CcGFMB4ENPBWQD76uceyzO-DX_lMuLahrofWXKg5ortIn6pydQ/s1600/2009.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqE_Oc3AIA6mN-5AULtp4Ge5_JDWjuVGxG3pfk0rJ9T5b9sLiNA5eD4hpcQt8209NWHBfXtYH5eaJ6rkQbtQH_CcGFMB4ENPBWQD76uceyzO-DX_lMuLahrofWXKg5ortIn6pydQ/s400/2009.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5668019241805840226" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhamSw9SctlfiIXTt4j5KnjdTFo5P9iXyna6Ai5OGlvR6H5kZF6-ZUGuNuWUt0Q84cS12u8Pk1_uWotDK2AXrkGbA_n5cCM9mCoIhbFtKhAyoSZdWgSywS_dvGGPXBhqnFd5Gjg6A/s1600/IMG_1710.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhamSw9SctlfiIXTt4j5KnjdTFo5P9iXyna6Ai5OGlvR6H5kZF6-ZUGuNuWUt0Q84cS12u8Pk1_uWotDK2AXrkGbA_n5cCM9mCoIhbFtKhAyoSZdWgSywS_dvGGPXBhqnFd5Gjg6A/s400/IMG_1710.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5668019361836916194" border="0" /></a><br />We have our favorite carving pumpkins, favorite pie pumpkins, the place with the chatty owner, the place with the friendly cats and some goats, the best hayrides, the place that always has unusual varieties of winter squash, the farm that has the best wagons. And if we can squeak in during quiet times, we visit our favorite farm maze or that spot with excellent caramel apples.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMIwYX2xnL1k0gFfv9Q-4K76qb4mpDMgetxoJd75H9KFM2VZLDvE1vp82mAicM9sCdZPYLDCn9bkFQjwJgs2C8ZbIgj0JzftveScV0w63Kr5izBacM6eg5yOrYiYthyphenhypheneyUxWkwVw/s1600/2008.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMIwYX2xnL1k0gFfv9Q-4K76qb4mpDMgetxoJd75H9KFM2VZLDvE1vp82mAicM9sCdZPYLDCn9bkFQjwJgs2C8ZbIgj0JzftveScV0w63Kr5izBacM6eg5yOrYiYthyphenhypheneyUxWkwVw/s400/2008.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5668019240237365442" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimfLBm-FF6TqNqwwXNNl1oqSmTTcvIToOkVgxaX4EWolcCobUVuKGsduCTeKLMQSwZoKZ4OAM920YKXMUR3q7efmPXFWw1GL1AjJVUeRiVJogIA901j_0DUsfldm_GY7RtF0Xe1g/s1600/1684377147_a6265b260c_z.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimfLBm-FF6TqNqwwXNNl1oqSmTTcvIToOkVgxaX4EWolcCobUVuKGsduCTeKLMQSwZoKZ4OAM920YKXMUR3q7efmPXFWw1GL1AjJVUeRiVJogIA901j_0DUsfldm_GY7RtF0Xe1g/s400/1684377147_a6265b260c_z.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5668019246358112098" border="0" /></a><br />And so it goes, year after year. Boys keep getting bigger, but they still love pulling that wagon. And even if it is only a few miles from home, it is about the whole experience. What park do we have to go to nearby? Do we need a picnic, is the weather perfect? Do we have the right music for the drive? ;)<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaB-g3EJaA5TjnNoQSwYcmT1S_8Gg7sEKdpA8fZYs8RwZmYG0A-5oolfasYNSaZGoMV2HaS1xJTnnvHflRtQInGRiNmKJ13dN7gyAs9mSfW6lln-8cQs42u1ruw1zxqCy4ejre0A/s1600/IMG_1714.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaB-g3EJaA5TjnNoQSwYcmT1S_8Gg7sEKdpA8fZYs8RwZmYG0A-5oolfasYNSaZGoMV2HaS1xJTnnvHflRtQInGRiNmKJ13dN7gyAs9mSfW6lln-8cQs42u1ruw1zxqCy4ejre0A/s400/IMG_1714.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5668019364983623586" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvyzS2fQqJYPpF0xh3cgZ0G6sUcKk1tDXIXd8i5VSxNYhjVMgOygYKQLQ6kJbKYppZhtOpN-OwmVQFA11YZGj_2NocNnJWN2PFie1PChB0tv0ZFxtFO5FdiFNVCHl3jhl523VIsQ/s1600/2008B.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 267px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvyzS2fQqJYPpF0xh3cgZ0G6sUcKk1tDXIXd8i5VSxNYhjVMgOygYKQLQ6kJbKYppZhtOpN-OwmVQFA11YZGj_2NocNnJWN2PFie1PChB0tv0ZFxtFO5FdiFNVCHl3jhl523VIsQ/s400/2008B.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5668019239559540610" border="0" /></a><br />And only when the farms and road side stands all finally close up, when there are no more signs with arrows scattered along the roadsides, and all of our pie pumpkins have been <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">puréed</span>, does it feel truly like winter is not far behind.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSz_itU1AuKcqBH4AqCXjgAwJEDEv8GBEnNgFJx5v4Wb5E7EeelG4AKVfuwzDZGLURXvmCsjK4JmxK5lYgYjCeQcrbRA3py-D-PLWjDPlJ4yvra1bDQnzYlu1jpGC0LOxidzQxig/s1600/2990269799_40a94e9931_z.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 184px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSz_itU1AuKcqBH4AqCXjgAwJEDEv8GBEnNgFJx5v4Wb5E7EeelG4AKVfuwzDZGLURXvmCsjK4JmxK5lYgYjCeQcrbRA3py-D-PLWjDPlJ4yvra1bDQnzYlu1jpGC0LOxidzQxig/s400/2990269799_40a94e9931_z.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5668019253199265538" border="0" /></a>denisehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07063730445661683331noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27387788.post-27318215634010782782011-10-24T23:48:00.008-05:002011-10-25T08:26:48.108-05:00into the world of audio.<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-QxFnzBSqGXnUnR-X0lu5xWt8zW-S29rvba48iXjsjocEKH-1eWzfj7uC4Ni732aw8JSzOvhZqL-7LnhX1SixvtRHpBRHEtc-09OgAZ3bLGdd2BLPt5yzgDGrU9mbEJqyy4ZLMg/s1600/IMG_1766.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-QxFnzBSqGXnUnR-X0lu5xWt8zW-S29rvba48iXjsjocEKH-1eWzfj7uC4Ni732aw8JSzOvhZqL-7LnhX1SixvtRHpBRHEtc-09OgAZ3bLGdd2BLPt5yzgDGrU9mbEJqyy4ZLMg/s400/IMG_1766.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5667288911983719618" border="0" /></a><br />My boys have never really enjoyed children's museums. But <a href="http://www.discoveryworld.org/">science</a> <a href="http://www.mpm.edu/">museums</a>? Love. And I love having a family membership. Because no matter how often we go, there is always something new to look at even if the exhibits don't change. <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizWmBls_AyNThyphenhyphenb-Gff0r_UXYFhnQT91gBzNLgHKIg-xdv1RJg5BUmd-E3U57pcpJRURQsI07tZko8qR6d_rTNQS-GwYTH_mPQQhKoOOSt-LGmeAXiCLn9Oo6KMH0IzJT9Jl8q5A/s1600/IMG_1756.jpg"><br /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9w3fcH_EPFP41Q9piX0Bg9P19vnfto5FMDQRJZFc8fRj26F1EKFR6avDqPLwc-qQNf17-IDDcfNfVES8_jQ7leQof6mKo9tfVp25A9sQ-TrDbBayyIHt50RSZUzAYfWy_HzHMlA/s1600/IMG_1808.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9w3fcH_EPFP41Q9piX0Bg9P19vnfto5FMDQRJZFc8fRj26F1EKFR6avDqPLwc-qQNf17-IDDcfNfVES8_jQ7leQof6mKo9tfVp25A9sQ-TrDbBayyIHt50RSZUzAYfWy_HzHMlA/s400/IMG_1808.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5667288924202344882" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7nqQH8k73S2knehyJonCbWvU0yVsBdlh6vTmkmC2a-Y-SOQ3_jyJkcZ_rO8jjYIu6fR0YPnI0Aa0hPgwaR6HiM1jj2XklMe39tF3kwRs_mfLGkEqdwoYjkGoGyL9hjXdTSNWj5g/s1600/IMG_1810.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7nqQH8k73S2knehyJonCbWvU0yVsBdlh6vTmkmC2a-Y-SOQ3_jyJkcZ_rO8jjYIu6fR0YPnI0Aa0hPgwaR6HiM1jj2XklMe39tF3kwRs_mfLGkEqdwoYjkGoGyL9hjXdTSNWj5g/s400/IMG_1810.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5667288920704325602" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEssRpGrYcf2EfirILuSRn_82TgIh1ZW4kcSFXv3ukn1MxCBXK4kypR_9urJbWdfZj6j9ruHk5EWXO24y-fK3nf52Gt8k_LGb9ApcvX5jX0S3LOQb3OzzlqIJZNEIAaTkas0X8LA/s1600/IMG_1799.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEssRpGrYcf2EfirILuSRn_82TgIh1ZW4kcSFXv3ukn1MxCBXK4kypR_9urJbWdfZj6j9ruHk5EWXO24y-fK3nf52Gt8k_LGb9ApcvX5jX0S3LOQb3OzzlqIJZNEIAaTkas0X8LA/s400/IMG_1799.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5667289769005071538" border="0" /></a><br />The older they get, the more they focus on the details, they stand and read the screens, or move to areas they were not that interested in before. This trip we spent time in some of the <a href="http://www.discoveryworld.org/experiences.php">familiar places</a>. They love the robotics, flight simulator, aquarium and submarine. They love the bed of nails, the energy independent house, the touch tank<span style="">s, the large ship hanging from the ceiling.</span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizWmBls_AyNThyphenhyphenb-Gff0r_UXYFhnQT91gBzNLgHKIg-xdv1RJg5BUmd-E3U57pcpJRURQsI07tZko8qR6d_rTNQS-GwYTH_mPQQhKoOOSt-LGmeAXiCLn9Oo6KMH0IzJT9Jl8q5A/s1600/IMG_1756.jpg"><br /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGFNalnEY1R7ORjRGomkZLGVdYZSHLGx5blMkt-MohdYkc0cHNqy5UF6LlsNWIJEfR-qdSYeOE-tG17BEHzfXWUrXq0gwjcmW2Jqo9sp-uaFdwEwpWMry1K27-Pw0c5c8jm23UBg/s1600/IMG_1788.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGFNalnEY1R7ORjRGomkZLGVdYZSHLGx5blMkt-MohdYkc0cHNqy5UF6LlsNWIJEfR-qdSYeOE-tG17BEHzfXWUrXq0gwjcmW2Jqo9sp-uaFdwEwpWMry1K27-Pw0c5c8jm23UBg/s400/IMG_1788.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5667288912086138898" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiON7cBlvjWMel8e8qMuI-W9Gf7-wzmkAvrjDFQCgebd0WKDkh7c6WPm9wd3edsJZ5-CSnwH5LV39zvRo2cG8GHybibysUReoLgXAR2avCVHxHMON_KDXHGt3ZzB1R3iFXEthpKwg/s1600/IMG_1816.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiON7cBlvjWMel8e8qMuI-W9Gf7-wzmkAvrjDFQCgebd0WKDkh7c6WPm9wd3edsJZ5-CSnwH5LV39zvRo2cG8GHybibysUReoLgXAR2avCVHxHMON_KDXHGt3ZzB1R3iFXEthpKwg/s400/IMG_1816.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5667289770159690354" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiI4dFER8TNO6-Zl5eiTvcSD8474CazFynof37f84Z_NfFKN8qAOGaLNGipdkZP21XCH_Jrs39EsLv6G1TfHRClQzvBKxImXUp2BPI-nBHiNvJLOoXFJmzn8loARdj73GBTVBRJjA/s1600/IMG_1795.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiI4dFER8TNO6-Zl5eiTvcSD8474CazFynof37f84Z_NfFKN8qAOGaLNGipdkZP21XCH_Jrs39EsLv6G1TfHRClQzvBKxImXUp2BPI-nBHiNvJLOoXFJmzn8loARdj73GBTVBRJjA/s400/IMG_1795.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5667288918178525826" border="0" /></a><br />And then we ventured into the audio/music area for the longest ever this weekend. We banged and played and watched and listened. We made music. We made noise. We saw sound. And we learned about sound and the history of audio recording. While they still don't really care about the <a href="http://www.discoveryworld.org/lespaul.php">Les Paul guitars</a> (Who is Robert Plant? Why is a signed guitar behind glass?), there is a lot of cool stuff in there. Keyboards, guitars, drum machines, funky interactive music consoles, sound wave generators. Not to mention a recording studio.<br /><br />Like mother like sons.denisehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07063730445661683331noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27387788.post-79224767391465599472011-10-21T09:17:00.005-05:002011-10-21T09:34:42.446-05:00fall days.<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgF3_tiSfxtHqXVC16DCNiKUHY868e3UVaWmQAkzTwXDSGUYFyBcKCthAhB5gPgTvjFm_iTzNLNOBfpZnA6m8F2MIaVVXrFfZL6ZZ9OtOAaYL2yEbbs-qzD6N7foAlHpLNdJeswOg/s1600/IMG_1522.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgF3_tiSfxtHqXVC16DCNiKUHY868e3UVaWmQAkzTwXDSGUYFyBcKCthAhB5gPgTvjFm_iTzNLNOBfpZnA6m8F2MIaVVXrFfZL6ZZ9OtOAaYL2yEbbs-qzD6N7foAlHpLNdJeswOg/s400/IMG_1522.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5665949699400717234" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguZvnSVnFwDuKod_RHm8vgL66goANtgsA0fffG1wOZCT1kwoCQqlxdQEWfaEFWmE4yQAzj1WqOgopzA2VHK4zGr3nw8HReODcReHBqyccTvCzakzTPZLGASioD40oP5uEuE9JxFw/s1600/IMG_1605.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguZvnSVnFwDuKod_RHm8vgL66goANtgsA0fffG1wOZCT1kwoCQqlxdQEWfaEFWmE4yQAzj1WqOgopzA2VHK4zGr3nw8HReODcReHBqyccTvCzakzTPZLGASioD40oP5uEuE9JxFw/s400/IMG_1605.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5665949709754978034" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTiVrRvIZatEsioeLe7JaqFVsrUk1S_Sn6drPCE5Q3yA0ztBrJD5IPMswa1Axevrchy8jk6HcznU7dtbKK8w_yX0MtHifdf10ay7m2Epddce0uhueoRfQy3P0JbpXF3wFZVomlaw/s1600/IMG_1633.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTiVrRvIZatEsioeLe7JaqFVsrUk1S_Sn6drPCE5Q3yA0ztBrJD5IPMswa1Axevrchy8jk6HcznU7dtbKK8w_yX0MtHifdf10ay7m2Epddce0uhueoRfQy3P0JbpXF3wFZVomlaw/s400/IMG_1633.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5665949710031386578" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhF2TDWrCr0nOlaPfKn9cfjhXf3XtXygB1xhaRmpbJVzpFSlqQYyvzcSljdGgiIWtgMVUgY_-QHLts3pFXoA6pmpe-JnoF7ny_Yh2BwQj8V00bkhTrP6TQEeakxysKReXearPznKw/s1600/IMG_1601.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhF2TDWrCr0nOlaPfKn9cfjhXf3XtXygB1xhaRmpbJVzpFSlqQYyvzcSljdGgiIWtgMVUgY_-QHLts3pFXoA6pmpe-JnoF7ny_Yh2BwQj8V00bkhTrP6TQEeakxysKReXearPznKw/s400/IMG_1601.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5665952992139995682" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4V0cn4zu5gkzzd0PfxzswCaG6HK5cbBSRRMiBS8RRqFP0j_1YGGRLjkcCdXxtnNcqmusA_2-8MqPXWqsRQ0Z0zy_yUFFziNUQc4IunZoSE-bEpncKX1-S903_f3_mhKB2hvF2Fg/s1600/IMG_1638.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4V0cn4zu5gkzzd0PfxzswCaG6HK5cbBSRRMiBS8RRqFP0j_1YGGRLjkcCdXxtnNcqmusA_2-8MqPXWqsRQ0Z0zy_yUFFziNUQc4IunZoSE-bEpncKX1-S903_f3_mhKB2hvF2Fg/s400/IMG_1638.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5665949717075577266" border="0" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4V0cn4zu5gkzzd0PfxzswCaG6HK5cbBSRRMiBS8RRqFP0j_1YGGRLjkcCdXxtnNcqmusA_2-8MqPXWqsRQ0Z0zy_yUFFziNUQc4IunZoSE-bEpncKX1-S903_f3_mhKB2hvF2Fg/s1600/IMG_1638.jpg"><br /></a>I love the cool crispness of fall. Colder days - some dark, some sunny, most windy. The crunch of leaves underfoot. The frost on the rooftops, the birds busy at the birdfeeder. Boys layered up to keep warm. Those red rosy cheeks when they come in from the cold. The smell of outside lingering in hair, on clothes. The rich aroma of fresh cider on the stovetop, ready to warm them. Yes, life is good.denisehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07063730445661683331noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27387788.post-85727500569004860192011-10-19T10:03:00.006-05:002011-10-19T10:22:15.251-05:00autumn garden.<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglneadq3wj0xKz_vpSpj_CPo8IAAF6c8AT8n6VmVKhXc32aHZExArICddBoLylMELREfesGjCjp5Gje0dEBE1OC7Vp7NNbcuscnkqqyrKyVDp0W4NW9LyhMrlTSaPiXoTf7zqZDw/s1600/IMG_1655.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglneadq3wj0xKz_vpSpj_CPo8IAAF6c8AT8n6VmVKhXc32aHZExArICddBoLylMELREfesGjCjp5Gje0dEBE1OC7Vp7NNbcuscnkqqyrKyVDp0W4NW9LyhMrlTSaPiXoTf7zqZDw/s400/IMG_1655.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5665222305673111890" border="0" /></a><br />The days are chilly, the nights are very cold. The garden is wrapping up slowly. We have pulled out one area of the finished tomato, pepper and cucumber plants. The squash has been picked and the vines cleared. But there are still full areas. Full of red raspberries, full of kale, full of herbs and flowers that seem to go on and on even with freezing temps and frost.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQzF8Vat3aoLjnm80DDoszwArk1l7lQ_2dniBBPwK7gybk_iIJkpj8nePFTEWz7142hixtxAkJARMP6HC30SXukkVV2uC41h_eHO4temKcw1ba8ZYLN2tUNZG2evJQWUApcX8S/s1600/IMG_0717.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQzF8Vat3aoLjnm80DDoszwArk1l7lQ_2dniBBPwK7gybk_iIJkpj8nePFTEWz7142hixtxAkJARMP6HC30SXukkVV2uC41h_eHO4temKcw1ba8ZYLN2tUNZG2evJQWUApcX8S/s400/IMG_0717.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5665221914867181026" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhre_bDus0Da-5y3lRt_F1raqhuYRAfpq3ZN35PhzekrCl4ob6mI9bfeE2AehPIMLdmS9Vsj25lftHUdfBaMX1b62B8w4RjS1EJDTIzPh6BTxFqLXLYQeg70rkEr0shgx1ne72U/s1600/IMG_1509.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhre_bDus0Da-5y3lRt_F1raqhuYRAfpq3ZN35PhzekrCl4ob6mI9bfeE2AehPIMLdmS9Vsj25lftHUdfBaMX1b62B8w4RjS1EJDTIzPh6BTxFqLXLYQeg70rkEr0shgx1ne72U/s400/IMG_1509.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5665221917761956562" border="0" /></a><br />We are still picking kale. I grow a lot of kale because I love it in soups and stews all winter, and also because we have a bunny (she loves it). I pick from a few main plants all summer and leave a few others for late fall - just because I love how beautiful they look when they are huge twisty frilly trees of vibrant color. We still have <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">wonderberries</span> and huckleberries, <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">swiss</span> chard, <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">calendula</span>, <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_3">feverfew</span>, parsley, <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_4">lovage</span>. The amaranth is battered from our strong October winds but we leave some because we love all the color.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIFnHGKJwE-7f_CymmqJhtslKlh1Id8NH1cJJGu_I6Fxd7uq4XtlAcJY5XyZy6uninb67kcT0GypfOH6GtOmUYa537GdQMB4bS50wWus0xEg0Fee_zcRp7xdRn07vZWmO9BF9fig/s1600/IMG_1654.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIFnHGKJwE-7f_CymmqJhtslKlh1Id8NH1cJJGu_I6Fxd7uq4XtlAcJY5XyZy6uninb67kcT0GypfOH6GtOmUYa537GdQMB4bS50wWus0xEg0Fee_zcRp7xdRn07vZWmO9BF9fig/s400/IMG_1654.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5665222298188179058" border="0" /></a><br />I have been slowing digging up and re-potting herbs. I have brought in parsley, thyme, celery and basil. We are starting trays of greens for our indoor garden, but I love how long we can keep herbs going when they move to a sunny window.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGH0FLz6BtiDDY0FjneZuvHan9CO2VpX2sW09kK8kX0yKmad7BNrEq3FZ3OY2yDbowXHEneZ7q0bH_kD-nWuX3lRvYf-altEDCvObRJrwFk-GkArkeKj9ZI5n9QNaVkxzUumdabg/s1600/IMG_1657.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGH0FLz6BtiDDY0FjneZuvHan9CO2VpX2sW09kK8kX0yKmad7BNrEq3FZ3OY2yDbowXHEneZ7q0bH_kD-nWuX3lRvYf-altEDCvObRJrwFk-GkArkeKj9ZI5n9QNaVkxzUumdabg/s400/IMG_1657.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5665222441985403650" border="0" /></a><br />We have planted more greens and radishes along with a few other things, but they grow more slowly with the cold and darkness.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTX_dZKUvn05bRNeU6DW1MP7u0mXYSQGos1xSGgijDlgCNES63Sm3lm4_hyphenhyphendVTY_GP7oXYWT3lsL1mDjOYKv_nkWp2Y5QPhITK1T2f0Gymn9qBM-kkHXTQe2GsmqpGTgwsAW6U/s1600/IMG_0695.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTX_dZKUvn05bRNeU6DW1MP7u0mXYSQGos1xSGgijDlgCNES63Sm3lm4_hyphenhyphendVTY_GP7oXYWT3lsL1mDjOYKv_nkWp2Y5QPhITK1T2f0Gymn9qBM-kkHXTQe2GsmqpGTgwsAW6U/s400/IMG_0695.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5665221909407745906" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRBjiLiSIERMPwbvZdz4QWxUpf2qHBLVU9G_dNouKtPQlpi9dtH9AYv32iySlVfA7dwBsfwGOVixpz_-GPP4pL6aWPct5NJkOUYUoLD77lu2GOukVow6tUE6m1Rv2i9uE2c5Vq/s1600/IMG_0702.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRBjiLiSIERMPwbvZdz4QWxUpf2qHBLVU9G_dNouKtPQlpi9dtH9AYv32iySlVfA7dwBsfwGOVixpz_-GPP4pL6aWPct5NJkOUYUoLD77lu2GOukVow6tUE6m1Rv2i9uE2c5Vq/s400/IMG_0702.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5665221910314461714" border="0" /></a><br />We leave some things for the birds - some currants still on bush, sunflower heads bent and dried full of seeds, and the compost pile is a popular spot for the juncos. And the chipmunk clears out most of the tomatoes that I pretend I don't see (am I the only one who gets really tired of tomatoes by mid October?).<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLO0V4nLbLoHbpqNjDd3m92B733vMSCJNP5oJdYzZaMBTtRKn8asSmyLFMl7rr-LEv75h98PO6i8qu9ekjNwjcihKoJwtKb9lAxXSnjZthQUZQ43RvF1lBYJ20CFLIlP70K1837Q/s1600/IMG_1650.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLO0V4nLbLoHbpqNjDd3m92B733vMSCJNP5oJdYzZaMBTtRKn8asSmyLFMl7rr-LEv75h98PO6i8qu9ekjNwjcihKoJwtKb9lAxXSnjZthQUZQ43RvF1lBYJ20CFLIlP70K1837Q/s400/IMG_1650.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5665222291299476562" border="0" /></a><br />I do love this time of year - the cold, the smell of the air. Tucking in, laying to rest, getting ready for winter.<br /><br />How is your garden?denisehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07063730445661683331noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27387788.post-77529141741719255982011-10-17T23:47:00.006-05:002011-10-18T00:34:38.034-05:00glow stick lanterns.<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi17_5fxHgpBFYOX6Esni386kelsSrq2h8DzAfJAff-MypGg_snRZ8m21Sx9vIUVUDzGI_mYpQ5CyHujUXSfwwoNBZKKdA-bYeP2rHjzngpZNV938ywateZaU97sLg7PqUEs9Vy/s1600/IMG_1460.jpg"><br /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnhp9rkP2p1fYJYrmBlWpp7RpoMOYl-_i0extwPcDH-NinArjxhn6xthIe5-fS-uuNGxkZc3mrV2W2NyhiN4hrZpMjqboD_ZVE6Sw_eMzi3OEDL5JT08nt72Tb3g5N4ICmNkYL/s1600/IMG_1457.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnhp9rkP2p1fYJYrmBlWpp7RpoMOYl-_i0extwPcDH-NinArjxhn6xthIe5-fS-uuNGxkZc3mrV2W2NyhiN4hrZpMjqboD_ZVE6Sw_eMzi3OEDL5JT08nt72Tb3g5N4ICmNkYL/s400/IMG_1457.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5664692377753325010" border="0" /></a><br />With the dark arriving earlier and earlier, the boys are often out playing with the neighbors as it gets dark. They play tag and ghost in the graveyard. We walk around the block to see what spooky decorations are turned on. And we play with glow sticks.<br /><br />We've been wanting to crack some open after being reminded by <a href="http://periwinklesandpine.blogspot.com/2011/09/night-light.html">Tara</a>. We gathered a few of the larger glow sticks, canning jars, strong scissors and water. We cracked and shook, and then cut off the top and poured the liquid into the canning jars (using a fine strainer keeps the little broken bits out of your jars). You can keep single colors or mix and see what you get. If you add a <span style="font-style: italic;">little </span>bit of water you get a bit better glow.<br /><br />Screw the lids on tight and shake! The canning jar glows so much (for hours, depending on your glow sticks) - very cool and lots of fun.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtoECnCSKM33iQdNUgmxHQQmWpfoaAl_rDW-mFJSuzaCngVSYhiC2Qivx_RKjGJZ5M-5PIMknVYQHK-ZypxZw3P3npv3HBQ3dJyQ0xCornlHyjWXfhtr-tgdlvGUF5p0ZqFJJP/s1600/IMG_1456.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtoECnCSKM33iQdNUgmxHQQmWpfoaAl_rDW-mFJSuzaCngVSYhiC2Qivx_RKjGJZ5M-5PIMknVYQHK-ZypxZw3P3npv3HBQ3dJyQ0xCornlHyjWXfhtr-tgdlvGUF5p0ZqFJJP/s400/IMG_1456.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5664692370616519090" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtusfLB_mh3poWiOildFD1tWW4vhQ5WhqME0rjV1E_3plQgj97PRn7TTxGMciS2h_4ycevShkL_gXUGa9pIl-WKHrNcmqitvDeIncHCkP4Tx9TJvUQ5jj2Ag1-NP0waxXuT2dv/s1600/IMG_1455.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtusfLB_mh3poWiOildFD1tWW4vhQ5WhqME0rjV1E_3plQgj97PRn7TTxGMciS2h_4ycevShkL_gXUGa9pIl-WKHrNcmqitvDeIncHCkP4Tx9TJvUQ5jj2Ag1-NP0waxXuT2dv/s400/IMG_1455.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5664692364122962722" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi17_5fxHgpBFYOX6Esni386kelsSrq2h8DzAfJAff-MypGg_snRZ8m21Sx9vIUVUDzGI_mYpQ5CyHujUXSfwwoNBZKKdA-bYeP2rHjzngpZNV938ywateZaU97sLg7PqUEs9Vy/s1600/IMG_1460.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi17_5fxHgpBFYOX6Esni386kelsSrq2h8DzAfJAff-MypGg_snRZ8m21Sx9vIUVUDzGI_mYpQ5CyHujUXSfwwoNBZKKdA-bYeP2rHjzngpZNV938ywateZaU97sLg7PqUEs9Vy/s400/IMG_1460.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5664692435549079090" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVY2QiwUBDGy7xtxwYhTYXPhoBlChwTTaqet_LauWRpqKhHTDX0xTsueUBnKHJL_9-KqqXx9X9qML1H7VeLSNIAw4hF9i7zQTAZuCKp8jaXP-8NpZDR-zKqwwPiBxsRm4-G1lF/s1600/IMG_1459.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVY2QiwUBDGy7xtxwYhTYXPhoBlChwTTaqet_LauWRpqKhHTDX0xTsueUBnKHJL_9-KqqXx9X9qML1H7VeLSNIAw4hF9i7zQTAZuCKp8jaXP-8NpZDR-zKqwwPiBxsRm4-G1lF/s400/IMG_1459.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5664692378931075714" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1UPIHIR8NAnAzrtl1FTS9GwXmKPTWVtWMN6bk1Qtjpcn90U4a5kePwZtSqZprpJ9VLhILyUnvFuBhcnL_8eQo70ve0SU29bBAASlh5Y2NGE5kGZNV_cZ8BrDSRKwOEoRTyzns/s1600/IMG_1129.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1UPIHIR8NAnAzrtl1FTS9GwXmKPTWVtWMN6bk1Qtjpcn90U4a5kePwZtSqZprpJ9VLhILyUnvFuBhcnL_8eQo70ve0SU29bBAASlh5Y2NGE5kGZNV_cZ8BrDSRKwOEoRTyzns/s400/IMG_1129.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5664692364454101538" border="0" /></a><br />If you get some on your fingers just wash with soap. Or, run around in the dark waving your hands in the air and moaning like a ghost to get a few awesome shrieks. <span style="font-style: italic;">Ahem</span>. Although non-toxic the liquid can have little shards in it from cracking the tube to activate, so you don't want to play in the liquid - keep it in the jar. When you are done you can just wash the jars with hot soapy water.denisehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07063730445661683331noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27387788.post-78526927916269502482011-10-16T22:38:00.004-05:002011-10-16T22:54:54.238-05:00autumn.<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1rAJZt3Cwu2bvFDPUyRsQODDX7PlYy2_cXJS697TETu4RhlRHWBOur1saQ0Bc0XjvBPMOSEQWSB_vuzV8XNV4k5Y_L8UxQxDKUtq37stTrQYgKDZQfPlSMpkzHrnhSGKjTOSo/s1600/IMG_1156.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 242px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1rAJZt3Cwu2bvFDPUyRsQODDX7PlYy2_cXJS697TETu4RhlRHWBOur1saQ0Bc0XjvBPMOSEQWSB_vuzV8XNV4k5Y_L8UxQxDKUtq37stTrQYgKDZQfPlSMpkzHrnhSGKjTOSo/s400/IMG_1156.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5664300495348607074" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGAf0Jxy-b4z1UTJUGdvnmRox-YUQlQLiqfpNaVobEs5aECbNNlu1ZjL2ujSAszBgG3J4sjTU8I2nuX-21zayd-guN1eA8CwTsk_ZlXkrdeo1gkbsjEEIyHHsMw6nrmducKheB/s1600/IMG_1183.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGAf0Jxy-b4z1UTJUGdvnmRox-YUQlQLiqfpNaVobEs5aECbNNlu1ZjL2ujSAszBgG3J4sjTU8I2nuX-21zayd-guN1eA8CwTsk_ZlXkrdeo1gkbsjEEIyHHsMw6nrmducKheB/s400/IMG_1183.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5664300503404969394" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhA4kmV0BVRIXk8MaYKBoVzGgQG9tq6sQAWq85WHoXPAnlNTggNIsVXbR4hpyn8EjqBafwSXYAbytdEBJ5Ua_ZMjRPGbtRvEVNL_w2egslf1ptK_Uqyvf8KlqNuuz_ETjka7bpi/s1600/IMG_1179.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhA4kmV0BVRIXk8MaYKBoVzGgQG9tq6sQAWq85WHoXPAnlNTggNIsVXbR4hpyn8EjqBafwSXYAbytdEBJ5Ua_ZMjRPGbtRvEVNL_w2egslf1ptK_Uqyvf8KlqNuuz_ETjka7bpi/s400/IMG_1179.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5664300500279361474" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjF4Sl5Majc5s0ELSKir42kGYGRnB2UpHULjQNLpYrICrI83UppJ02tptFIvl7kAU4lEClfZqQcZ-XSZWLMzdEtLU6JKfGs9khuLIMDHEc8TxNwCB6TdiLkvjWdDg_bBbvvI84q/s1600/IMG_1065.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 271px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjF4Sl5Majc5s0ELSKir42kGYGRnB2UpHULjQNLpYrICrI83UppJ02tptFIvl7kAU4lEClfZqQcZ-XSZWLMzdEtLU6JKfGs9khuLIMDHEc8TxNwCB6TdiLkvjWdDg_bBbvvI84q/s400/IMG_1065.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5664300492928400818" border="0" /></a><br />It is happening. The trees and grasses have gone from green to vivid and are now slowly turning to rusty brown. The winds and rain came and blew many trees empty, but pockets of startling bold autumn can still be found. Combines and tractors move slowly down the roads and through the fields.<br /><br />After some hot days we have had chilly windy days. Fleeces, sweaters, hats and gloves. Feels like fall. I can see how the light is moving. We wake before the sunrise each morning now. The dark comes earlier and earlier every evening. The nights are crisp and cold. The wind makes the house shake, and blows everything bare. I can feel myself tucking into it, looking forward to the cold. I can smell the change in the air.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijFsstMA4btAb0YRK9EEyswyibJdM6zorl7Cnxa_JF9WdK6XaXX4hvPEAZV4b8pAh8KAG-MLxWQfIsi2jbpGTruDCAe9Z0j-ivshhhb2lFj6YyMjCdUeXzo9XpapWNimAkrayP/s1600/IMG_0813.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijFsstMA4btAb0YRK9EEyswyibJdM6zorl7Cnxa_JF9WdK6XaXX4hvPEAZV4b8pAh8KAG-MLxWQfIsi2jbpGTruDCAe9Z0j-ivshhhb2lFj6YyMjCdUeXzo9XpapWNimAkrayP/s400/IMG_0813.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5664300491169051842" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><blockquote><span style="font-style: italic;">"How beautifully leaves grow old. </span><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">How full of light and color are their last days. "</span><br /><span style="font-size:85%;"><br />~John Burroughs</span></blockquote></div>denisehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07063730445661683331noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27387788.post-48474249553230332802011-10-13T06:03:00.000-05:002011-10-13T06:03:00.102-05:00ghost lanterns.<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwN3WJrZtjUjzdz1N4ho8UodUj5YIbJUYrG2WpMVJChTCI2jDok4can8xsdWvd20B54QzkrDPAyhQEAeTHvYCdKwiIOi0fqPFTlnGDtzyf084wss_JlG-xmswHm_4vHloGXfuI/s1600/IMG_1383.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 259px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwN3WJrZtjUjzdz1N4ho8UodUj5YIbJUYrG2WpMVJChTCI2jDok4can8xsdWvd20B54QzkrDPAyhQEAeTHvYCdKwiIOi0fqPFTlnGDtzyf084wss_JlG-xmswHm_4vHloGXfuI/s400/IMG_1383.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5662823985738051714" border="0" /></a><br />As the rainy fall days surround us, we think of light. More light! It has been awhile since we have made any canning jar tissue paper lanterns, so today in the spirit of G's holiday decorating mission we made ghosts. These are always fun and easy to make and you can pretty much find a design for any holiday or season (here is a good <a href="http://www.ourbestbites.com/2009/10/crafty-in-the-kitchen-mason-jar-lanterns/">tutorial</a> with Halloween designs if you want more than my laid back general info!).<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNlzlIKVWV3gUNcEGG0iWEfT-leQ35NEBRbny2QE6j3J4YWjzq8zU5cJ1bGc-lF4SZxXgT8Oeg2r4bDFrKvVLsP37W90FBT8sdqPiGISgiDAIKBbmqv6j1ED8P49A8_9aWrpNQ/s1600/IMG_1333.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNlzlIKVWV3gUNcEGG0iWEfT-leQ35NEBRbny2QE6j3J4YWjzq8zU5cJ1bGc-lF4SZxXgT8Oeg2r4bDFrKvVLsP37W90FBT8sdqPiGISgiDAIKBbmqv6j1ED8P49A8_9aWrpNQ/s400/IMG_1333.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5662823893343211586" border="0" /></a><br />G and I cut strips of white tissue paper, pulled out brushes, put out craft mats, and poured Mod Podge into bowls. Working a strip at a time the boys then brushed on Mod Podge, then applied a strip, gently tapping and coating each strip as they adhered.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9FbkFSaktFJ6kxuuVls9j2uRX0cJChMH_qDk1XnSThC720ivPtGKx3Sxh64tiKgMKOh0A1v0jVyJSWmD9unwzWxkV-GzWSemzKN0Hqad6MqNK-Lk3frpcIzjnKta4HLPIyj5z/s1600/IMG_1334.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9FbkFSaktFJ6kxuuVls9j2uRX0cJChMH_qDk1XnSThC720ivPtGKx3Sxh64tiKgMKOh0A1v0jVyJSWmD9unwzWxkV-GzWSemzKN0Hqad6MqNK-Lk3frpcIzjnKta4HLPIyj5z/s400/IMG_1334.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5662823905774961554" border="0" /></a><br />They did two layers, leaving the tops loose until the end. They then added Mod Podge to the top edge and then sprinkled a good bit of white thick glitter all over the outside.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOZXnK3gfNDYR8KdEpzCRfb4__8psvI-NPTNoYdvgA6CsVSDk9Yw2erY8oCTsGvaFV-UcYsnpnr11MWtoGrAa4i9ZiwOG_5xzEMjk2YFrdO3QnwgD8kLniISDSPSZZlV474gtK/s1600/IMG_1336.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOZXnK3gfNDYR8KdEpzCRfb4__8psvI-NPTNoYdvgA6CsVSDk9Yw2erY8oCTsGvaFV-UcYsnpnr11MWtoGrAa4i9ZiwOG_5xzEMjk2YFrdO3QnwgD8kLniISDSPSZZlV474gtK/s400/IMG_1336.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5662823913615566498" border="0" /></a><br />Must have glitter.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIXRhbbuJjn6tfAY-jtTcGLlftqCzLptvrMXioNP9x9qSZI3mQs0PeBai5S56dbYskNiVhZSNhPZhKqd0CSC3CL693iVqqAeiwmPgk6rai4z5a2tPfZ-y3LKGgKptfqVhXjnax/s1600/IMG_1340.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIXRhbbuJjn6tfAY-jtTcGLlftqCzLptvrMXioNP9x9qSZI3mQs0PeBai5S56dbYskNiVhZSNhPZhKqd0CSC3CL693iVqqAeiwmPgk6rai4z5a2tPfZ-y3LKGgKptfqVhXjnax/s400/IMG_1340.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5662823924027657026" border="0" /></a><br />We trimmed the tops so no white paper was over the opening and let them dry. We did apply a single <span style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic;">water based</span> varnish layer with a brush after the modpodge dried. If you don't use glitter you won't need it, but we didn't want to shed glitter forever (there are now versions of all-in-one Mod Podge glue/sealer/finish that glow in the dark, shimmer and have glitter, but ours was...plain).<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgF0nd4rKy3Vkn4WUJH_i-woSOG6idmdK7jYhUWBno-6lWYRrQLL_Wh8M-NyVqjWkmMwm2c7BZ4968AJcYUkYjLelUPnbXTxhJyyr2tl3_THK2_dT6L5wkKYtXszrnQfbbAlXyw/s1600/IMG_1366.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgF0nd4rKy3Vkn4WUJH_i-woSOG6idmdK7jYhUWBno-6lWYRrQLL_Wh8M-NyVqjWkmMwm2c7BZ4968AJcYUkYjLelUPnbXTxhJyyr2tl3_THK2_dT6L5wkKYtXszrnQfbbAlXyw/s400/IMG_1366.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5662823933329601250" border="0" /></a><br />When dry G helped draw face designs and I cut them out. He glued them on with a thick glue stick layer. All that was left was inserting a tea light and turning out the lights!<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEih8snf1lU23LlEbtX_j-fwXZYr_Su_F0Sx13jrD5b7igEN52D74xQquJNlJt6-kXCb5RiI2nQt_KRFYx40yEltbO-CBBFsOUY7NMGkQZ23kptrsR2JmPaDvmb9RB3KZEn0wPv3/s1600/IMG_1382.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 169px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEih8snf1lU23LlEbtX_j-fwXZYr_Su_F0Sx13jrD5b7igEN52D74xQquJNlJt6-kXCb5RiI2nQt_KRFYx40yEltbO-CBBFsOUY7NMGkQZ23kptrsR2JmPaDvmb9RB3KZEn0wPv3/s400/IMG_1382.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5662827075431679138" border="0" /></a>denisehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07063730445661683331noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27387788.post-21098689814344623662011-10-12T09:40:00.005-05:002011-10-12T09:58:20.549-05:00apple candles.<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOURJYxIfPtwGUFLOq_tcC9Z7LzQ6viTBwKTMyJTqWLgzC8uEcjXdp-ggZgjy-1vZ7R8LTh5R4fu7jwqTupNiiHtMQ3RTQDHgpZVm691Njw6Dmwgyn10iBYkuQwl4YAArwIwIr/s1600/IMG_1047.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOURJYxIfPtwGUFLOq_tcC9Z7LzQ6viTBwKTMyJTqWLgzC8uEcjXdp-ggZgjy-1vZ7R8LTh5R4fu7jwqTupNiiHtMQ3RTQDHgpZVm691Njw6Dmwgyn10iBYkuQwl4YAArwIwIr/s400/IMG_1047.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5662615627822288258" border="0" /></a><br />G asked the other day when we were going to make the apple candles. It is fall, after all, and we have been stopping at the orchard every week for a month! Which means of course we immediately went to gather the supplies and make some.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjMESHoAV9veW_oAW5KP7AYQ_zZxu-GicAbYkHsKWeGS7-rSRj1zBOk2z1Pt-zASe9ol8Ir4fEoeTk70EeY4IiJfU5vKW9DHY_AU19s7b7UESVN6jGGirRdMSQiBB7lZfioKyP/s1600/IMG_1001.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjMESHoAV9veW_oAW5KP7AYQ_zZxu-GicAbYkHsKWeGS7-rSRj1zBOk2z1Pt-zASe9ol8Ir4fEoeTk70EeY4IiJfU5vKW9DHY_AU19s7b7UESVN6jGGirRdMSQiBB7lZfioKyP/s400/IMG_1001.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5662615614608099202" border="0" /></a><br />We found a few apples that were not the most perfect to eat. G first scraped out a little hole in the top. He used the apple corer to push an inch in and then popped that out and scooped with a spoon (a grapefruit spoon worked best, if you have one). His brother decided if there was apple gutting going on, he was making some too.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZsPg4oy8yrhy2_kXE1KTMwDHYzjzfoSkuSllkUbpeYXiaAYhBjbhSLPvNnXuM8CFkAyZ8BM38DX5qZEkMU7Bvnw7bEsQlg7_4Me7ejJUKRaVhcEOOddCcf8zJf5J15kscDkG8/s1600/IMG_0997.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZsPg4oy8yrhy2_kXE1KTMwDHYzjzfoSkuSllkUbpeYXiaAYhBjbhSLPvNnXuM8CFkAyZ8BM38DX5qZEkMU7Bvnw7bEsQlg7_4Me7ejJUKRaVhcEOOddCcf8zJf5J15kscDkG8/s400/IMG_0997.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5662618296954132626" border="0" /></a><br />G scooped and fit, scooped and fit, until the hole was just big enough to hold a tea light (we had black amber tea lights). He slid those in.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBiE5yzl5StH2RQjCUZxeQzX8w0IRZfztI5dMy76kh-B-GLuuqW3IQsj2gyKP-UWKUzItDIqw-Szm6Ax8bjX48V21YDl1_VFVJ_x9gUr6c8HkNqLbrP8Jkv1qEpD-1F1AYCoPo/s1600/IMG_1007.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBiE5yzl5StH2RQjCUZxeQzX8w0IRZfztI5dMy76kh-B-GLuuqW3IQsj2gyKP-UWKUzItDIqw-Szm6Ax8bjX48V21YDl1_VFVJ_x9gUr6c8HkNqLbrP8Jkv1qEpD-1F1AYCoPo/s400/IMG_1007.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5662615621888165682" border="0" /></a><br />From there, he wanted to decorate them, so he found some fall leaf craft 'buttons' and using fat topped sewing pins, he pierced the apple to secure. He also studded a ring around the top with cloves.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrq8L6yucSx5sOXIyHmMa-Wg5zbQ9-zV7knaeT2cTn_xg6qaERUSWWehYvNURKMgANAhJBSA1yoMwsFldmQFvhEAMEsoSDhc1woyEDsqAqB-AmR3zkxAshkSdqhOl3BDfHODpu/s1600/IMG_0991.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrq8L6yucSx5sOXIyHmMa-Wg5zbQ9-zV7knaeT2cTn_xg6qaERUSWWehYvNURKMgANAhJBSA1yoMwsFldmQFvhEAMEsoSDhc1woyEDsqAqB-AmR3zkxAshkSdqhOl3BDfHODpu/s400/IMG_0991.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5662615609352409938" border="0" /></a><br />The final touches included cutting out some modeling wax in leaf and apple shapes to scatter around the holder.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRQt7DwUx8eDDh64qiOVXaioo6fjcYICM0cnQV5ShP9MbA4fDUEJCEfqrJL6TjwozzI7W4gQrMbxi_YZVXqIfb65LX_kO3Sh7nA_kiBghA6ri9pykRuInSj1YwztF1gcv4LLw1/s1600/IMG_0993.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRQt7DwUx8eDDh64qiOVXaioo6fjcYICM0cnQV5ShP9MbA4fDUEJCEfqrJL6TjwozzI7W4gQrMbxi_YZVXqIfb65LX_kO3Sh7nA_kiBghA6ri9pykRuInSj1YwztF1gcv4LLw1/s400/IMG_0993.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5662618312678132402" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjMESHoAV9veW_oAW5KP7AYQ_zZxu-GicAbYkHsKWeGS7-rSRj1zBOk2z1Pt-zASe9ol8Ir4fEoeTk70EeY4IiJfU5vKW9DHY_AU19s7b7UESVN6jGGirRdMSQiBB7lZfioKyP/s1600/IMG_1001.jpg"><br /></a>Done! Apple candles will last only a few days, but they look and smell nice! It gets dark earlier and earlier, and G loves when they are lit in the evening.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrq8L6yucSx5sOXIyHmMa-Wg5zbQ9-zV7knaeT2cTn_xg6qaERUSWWehYvNURKMgANAhJBSA1yoMwsFldmQFvhEAMEsoSDhc1woyEDsqAqB-AmR3zkxAshkSdqhOl3BDfHODpu/s1600/IMG_0991.jpg"><br /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-f7gT03ux6nMCe0cqOuLnPGNpyfHdZ9rwGH4OULcM9cxSeaJPG3XISXH-vxCxNCV-YZQcIn_mJ37NjVjVL6VwngoSCHruva0gN7lDr1yJ4gm7dNJqqYWZNJqipZHEqN4R5HXk/s1600/IMG_1023.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-f7gT03ux6nMCe0cqOuLnPGNpyfHdZ9rwGH4OULcM9cxSeaJPG3XISXH-vxCxNCV-YZQcIn_mJ37NjVjVL6VwngoSCHruva0gN7lDr1yJ4gm7dNJqqYWZNJqipZHEqN4R5HXk/s400/IMG_1023.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5662618304651014290" border="0" /></a><br />Our house is feeling more fall festive by the day - although G says we have a lot to do still! :)denisehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07063730445661683331noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27387788.post-82170887975226383822011-10-10T23:59:00.004-05:002011-10-11T07:44:46.574-05:00felt skull bunting/banner.<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWUZI-GL70NjGu9MbRtamD52VBwNzS2sNKGqvBiu_Mf-SfaA0MDo79pdm6VtspbjBrjtTBmiwFNYi8W66tA3N5d9RMTrhe81eihHvjNQCw4lNGhAC1Ifb9zXsl8NUrA7YR6T9W/s1600/IMG_0983.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 169px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWUZI-GL70NjGu9MbRtamD52VBwNzS2sNKGqvBiu_Mf-SfaA0MDo79pdm6VtspbjBrjtTBmiwFNYi8W66tA3N5d9RMTrhe81eihHvjNQCw4lNGhAC1Ifb9zXsl8NUrA7YR6T9W/s400/IMG_0983.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5662095049560877586" border="0" /></a><br />For the past week, G has been on a crafting extravaganza. We have made and baked and crafted and created. He loves that the holidays are upon us and we can FINALLY decorate the house for something! One of the first projects we did was a felt skull banner.<br /><br />Supplies:: 2 pieces of 8.5x11" orange felt, and 2 pieces of 8.5x11" dark brown felt (you can use black too, we just like brown/orange for Halloween). Bias tape or hem binding. Stapler (or sewing machine). Glitter glue. Craft glue. Scissors.<br /><br />I cut one piece of the orange felt into quarters (fold in half, cut. fold both halves in half, cut).<br />Did the same for the brown. This makes 4 orange rectangles and 4 brown.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh08zRqvPlNpb4ue2BKAq1IWmmV7x5LipNpZw6wBLqwqpAaUhBurEapgK95Yp3jjbZZkASZSq9KrTAMgCHO4pb5nHtC-IiAEneVfXbB716zlpISmkn0Q_01nlVaLfIxzN3PASKo/s1600/IMG_0973.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh08zRqvPlNpb4ue2BKAq1IWmmV7x5LipNpZw6wBLqwqpAaUhBurEapgK95Yp3jjbZZkASZSq9KrTAMgCHO4pb5nHtC-IiAEneVfXbB716zlpISmkn0Q_01nlVaLfIxzN3PASKo/s400/IMG_0973.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5662095082972667058" border="0" /></a><br />We had looked online for a skull I could cut out with scissors easily (and which G approved of), and found<a href="http://www.paper-source.com/cgi-bin/paper/item/Large-Scary-Skull-Rubber-Stamp/2901.015/871409.html"> this one</a>. I cut it out after printing a copy to the printer (printed larger/blown up to fit my felt rectangles). I used a chalk pattern pencil to outline it to the felt. I cut out 4 orange skulls and 4 brown skulls from the other 2 felt sheets.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjddKdRZxTr57RQi6OwHl3Tz_DEG9enkxiBafNP-mC1bLzmiR-uEBhHDw11LIWSbqCa_jS07ykUeLE0uzAYj53opEYYuZ93zsl4mjSjwv0hi0ULTMd4vjYwfRgJEbWBmKgedyTp/s1600/IMG_0972.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjddKdRZxTr57RQi6OwHl3Tz_DEG9enkxiBafNP-mC1bLzmiR-uEBhHDw11LIWSbqCa_jS07ykUeLE0uzAYj53opEYYuZ93zsl4mjSjwv0hi0ULTMd4vjYwfRgJEbWBmKgedyTp/s400/IMG_0972.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5662095201048206786" border="0" /></a><br />G got to work laying out all of the felt pieces and gluing orange skulls to brown felt, and brown skulls to orange felt.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNtSwupeulccoYeCnyDCFj4SnUZ9qu49VLDlS-8VNZ5lLQergcgQhLzPhWK9fhF5rf869bANcPZ3beRlBfHEh7kPNMNGHA54nsxorXC3RPbDWUxQHAPIs2T_XQQhXrkldiLzfW/s1600/IMG_0966.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNtSwupeulccoYeCnyDCFj4SnUZ9qu49VLDlS-8VNZ5lLQergcgQhLzPhWK9fhF5rf869bANcPZ3beRlBfHEh7kPNMNGHA54nsxorXC3RPbDWUxQHAPIs2T_XQQhXrkldiLzfW/s400/IMG_0966.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5662095209749293490" border="0" /></a><br />Once that was done, it was time to attach the felt bunting/banners to the bias tape (you could easily use a ribbon or hem tape too). I offered to sew it for an even stitch, but as he must do everything himself and already had to concede that I must do the skull cutting, he decided that stapling would be best. He carefully stapled each felt piece to the bias tape.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh03yiOEi9Yvn0fkjKrZ7u1imgaQAARt9tvXjVMjAhpJyLkyJdrZ38JvtP6Anq8SoBQtFOs6ZAtVsQPR0TDvIExWgd-zxMhNI6s-5cmnXbVb_yjYe355U3wYI9rQjqXOCGVgFl8/s1600/IMG_0975.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh03yiOEi9Yvn0fkjKrZ7u1imgaQAARt9tvXjVMjAhpJyLkyJdrZ38JvtP6Anq8SoBQtFOs6ZAtVsQPR0TDvIExWgd-zxMhNI6s-5cmnXbVb_yjYe355U3wYI9rQjqXOCGVgFl8/s400/IMG_0975.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5662095068715872738" border="0" /></a><br />He then applied a glitter glue design to cover the staples.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJnEFzP7JIDUrXP4QmnyeeAALyUDSPQpfGWJM5Q85LuLE6OX6-vaJhQ0gSvDQ1VdkDUy8yaazbP7JdU2xR0L35rqLzMHlznmTXVPNH040djsFASwYAdXfb_OgNf8rREfhcamG5/s1600/IMG_0977.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJnEFzP7JIDUrXP4QmnyeeAALyUDSPQpfGWJM5Q85LuLE6OX6-vaJhQ0gSvDQ1VdkDUy8yaazbP7JdU2xR0L35rqLzMHlznmTXVPNH040djsFASwYAdXfb_OgNf8rREfhcamG5/s400/IMG_0977.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5662095064171626002" border="0" /></a><br />After it dried for awhile it was ready to hang. We now have an awesome skull bunting/banner hanging in our window. He wants to make more! I have my scissors ready.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEis6gnnjhm7Zkh_X22YXiy7xwKmc6Qqam96iumtvLQ5eoe4V_-JhmE0JQDr-bu3EPnlATDPJKxmUx0mSZ1yB5BBYQWXLisO5p-8rfAGNWEmzq9hNb7-Sx6aOM2b-zR-wGcbtWFF/s1600/IMG_0982.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEis6gnnjhm7Zkh_X22YXiy7xwKmc6Qqam96iumtvLQ5eoe4V_-JhmE0JQDr-bu3EPnlATDPJKxmUx0mSZ1yB5BBYQWXLisO5p-8rfAGNWEmzq9hNb7-Sx6aOM2b-zR-wGcbtWFF/s400/IMG_0982.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5662095057176399762" border="0" /></a>denisehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07063730445661683331noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27387788.post-28615345939990932592011-10-03T08:48:00.004-05:002011-10-03T08:55:06.833-05:00flying.<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjusXIY0JjwVlQpz7huTTxbeKyY4zFIFDRrHoTRkwORklU5Ytyji-4pFtmY1lkZokgr1YLbT6Ap-PWi1VtuS_bHrIIUxyj9mGTsubjcit4jdkZhyphenhyphenXJNUR16bg7o4BdptZgHzPGG/s1600/IMG_0836.jpg"><br /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilg0-IDXB8xFxOpackO7mcUQ00JpANnNzeMUt4TERH5CIL3qMAZA_y5XBLS6oSqA8S44wL5spm82SaycAXsmfwqHaYR0nXTcUfOXjNmVkENCjQ20l4Eo_A8rnMkjS_sxwcvfpK/s1600/IMG_0832.jpg"><br /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvOlu-5yfbu8wOu_hx2pDnXT51BscrgfdRHplGn7zoDhIpLCV_241PBQwzb3lF3m5ZoGgwRfFNE9YBHl4j1XcQ9-Hs6JYawOboEQa3DCraw1-ibbYLA2dtIeHriN8tOu-_Zt77/s1600/IMG_0825.jpg"><br /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCedy_cFYrLn2EMH8YkFBzOafu8ibH3ga3jNoIaNjkXnPBdmXPyIP9vB4rbfFUkbPAzCnu3y9LXYeiOUReolPUz0WygD-p1owX0s_V5Lqssn1TDaMmZn1XDdIQ0wicQyr-RGDy/s1600/IMG_0776.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCedy_cFYrLn2EMH8YkFBzOafu8ibH3ga3jNoIaNjkXnPBdmXPyIP9vB4rbfFUkbPAzCnu3y9LXYeiOUReolPUz0WygD-p1owX0s_V5Lqssn1TDaMmZn1XDdIQ0wicQyr-RGDy/s400/IMG_0776.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5659263163379897170" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibXMOkWkgU26kdT-bwyDkGFqLMq5MvUsOVlp7G0yj9pbHJDXdUWuc-_DvajwbLKHwn0-etvcF9R0sI9e9e7gXI_WDplxJyj9g-S92tt2JkNAySUaxZWXBwV85OJ7LgvHn0MMob/s1600/IMG_0775.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibXMOkWkgU26kdT-bwyDkGFqLMq5MvUsOVlp7G0yj9pbHJDXdUWuc-_DvajwbLKHwn0-etvcF9R0sI9e9e7gXI_WDplxJyj9g-S92tt2JkNAySUaxZWXBwV85OJ7LgvHn0MMob/s400/IMG_0775.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5659263157888403202" border="0" /></a><br />My guys were a bit under the weather all week with colds. We had some dark rainy days, which were perfect for curling up on the couch, reading and snuggling. They were feeling better this weekend and so we were able to get out for some beautiful fall color and country drives. We also got to play with some new toys.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvOlu-5yfbu8wOu_hx2pDnXT51BscrgfdRHplGn7zoDhIpLCV_241PBQwzb3lF3m5ZoGgwRfFNE9YBHl4j1XcQ9-Hs6JYawOboEQa3DCraw1-ibbYLA2dtIeHriN8tOu-_Zt77/s1600/IMG_0825.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvOlu-5yfbu8wOu_hx2pDnXT51BscrgfdRHplGn7zoDhIpLCV_241PBQwzb3lF3m5ZoGgwRfFNE9YBHl4j1XcQ9-Hs6JYawOboEQa3DCraw1-ibbYLA2dtIeHriN8tOu-_Zt77/s400/IMG_0825.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5659263169102291234" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilg0-IDXB8xFxOpackO7mcUQ00JpANnNzeMUt4TERH5CIL3qMAZA_y5XBLS6oSqA8S44wL5spm82SaycAXsmfwqHaYR0nXTcUfOXjNmVkENCjQ20l4Eo_A8rnMkjS_sxwcvfpK/s1600/IMG_0832.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilg0-IDXB8xFxOpackO7mcUQ00JpANnNzeMUt4TERH5CIL3qMAZA_y5XBLS6oSqA8S44wL5spm82SaycAXsmfwqHaYR0nXTcUfOXjNmVkENCjQ20l4Eo_A8rnMkjS_sxwcvfpK/s400/IMG_0832.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5659263179426503298" border="0" /></a><br />They are boys. We often find ourselves with remote (or solar) powered robots or cars, balsa wood airplanes and gliders, fancy kites, or ... anything that flies or drives fast!<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjusXIY0JjwVlQpz7huTTxbeKyY4zFIFDRrHoTRkwORklU5Ytyji-4pFtmY1lkZokgr1YLbT6Ap-PWi1VtuS_bHrIIUxyj9mGTsubjcit4jdkZhyphenhyphenXJNUR16bg7o4BdptZgHzPGG/s1600/IMG_0836.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 267px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjusXIY0JjwVlQpz7huTTxbeKyY4zFIFDRrHoTRkwORklU5Ytyji-4pFtmY1lkZokgr1YLbT6Ap-PWi1VtuS_bHrIIUxyj9mGTsubjcit4jdkZhyphenhyphenXJNUR16bg7o4BdptZgHzPGG/s400/IMG_0836.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5659263182741535202" border="0" /></a><br />The helicopter actually flies better indoors than out, which will be perfect for winter!<br /><br />Back to healthy boys, back to our routine, back to ... fall!denisehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07063730445661683331noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27387788.post-15639038323565385632011-09-26T11:10:00.012-05:002011-10-03T08:57:12.624-05:00fun science at home.<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1qGFWbhyphenhyphenzGbkKF0StMSu5c-xlDgQlhtTe5Tr3SGKHm2_tpwHOQ86TF8Dbp5CbJxQ6DKXtelP9ZRstzHBy5bWueFcdyhMjSCOrwDwTWUOpwJX9KWmQNSMW_2KbQg_19e0GlA2w/s1600/IMG_0626.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1qGFWbhyphenhyphenzGbkKF0StMSu5c-xlDgQlhtTe5Tr3SGKHm2_tpwHOQ86TF8Dbp5CbJxQ6DKXtelP9ZRstzHBy5bWueFcdyhMjSCOrwDwTWUOpwJX9KWmQNSMW_2KbQg_19e0GlA2w/s400/IMG_0626.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5656704863515021170" border="0" /></a><br />Dark wet fall weekends are perfect for family home life. We cozy up, bake, make, read, play, and spend time together. Science is big in our house - there is always something on the to-do list, and there is always a basket filled with something or other we want to play around with. Sometimes we do bigger projects - program a robot, make a solar oven, look through the microscope for specific somethings, test water or soil, see what happens. But sometimes the small projects are really fun too. And they are fun to repeat and even if simple they never quiet get boring (at least with my boys).<br /><br /><br />One of those endlessly fun things is the <span style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic;">cornstarch project</span>. You <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Non-newtonian_fluid#Oobleck">mix water and corn starch</a> and get a funky substance that is both a solid and a liquid. The thing is water and corn starch don't completely mix. Their molecules slither around each other. The corn starch molecules get tangled up, but the water molecules flow around them. So, if you whack the substance hard, the molecules don't have time to move and it feels like a solid. When you move into it slowly however, the water molecules have time to flow around and it is a liquid. It is messy. It is fun. And it is easy to do.<br /><br />You might want to cover your table with something.<br />Pour 2 cups of corn starch into a bowl. Measure 1 cup of water and add a few drops of food coloring if you want. Stir. Slowly add the water mixture into the corn starch, stirring as you go. Mix it up - it should be really thick and hard to stir. If you can't stir at all add a little more water, but it should be a bit of a struggle.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqS748upA2DIHwRyLB0UE8g87_MRTEZOUFkLMMtlcdLLixIMrMLGXqc8mm9YwRs2nKff90o-gD_WdQan5MYpt2WAmHXUVmn-LgqEaaA6okS1-W54K3AsvSxsLTitusQBlYmOl3/s1600/IMG_0608.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqS748upA2DIHwRyLB0UE8g87_MRTEZOUFkLMMtlcdLLixIMrMLGXqc8mm9YwRs2nKff90o-gD_WdQan5MYpt2WAmHXUVmn-LgqEaaA6okS1-W54K3AsvSxsLTitusQBlYmOl3/s400/IMG_0608.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5656704829638017154" border="0" /></a><br />Now, go! First try to hit the mixture with your knuckles quickly.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicP7YsRu5dG3LWtdkxz-4kze1zbQfCYVStUvM9fblNttq8qGnQpXh4Ps0CVqifxfl2L-fPE3lSkiCLoKVfzvTJjWtmdl-modL9oGqGVoP6GhsaDYfN-QT_avfD_xPpqAT_r5Zs/s1600/IMG_0618.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicP7YsRu5dG3LWtdkxz-4kze1zbQfCYVStUvM9fblNttq8qGnQpXh4Ps0CVqifxfl2L-fPE3lSkiCLoKVfzvTJjWtmdl-modL9oGqGVoP6GhsaDYfN-QT_avfD_xPpqAT_r5Zs/s400/IMG_0618.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5656704856795585970" border="0" /></a><br />Next, gently press your fingers or hand into it.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4T7ZQbD1Emgu_rjAFJN_kzSuE3EFWwS5HY8J8u206SXB6jYRm0loZbwlOIFQE6d-zKWjwhSeoRzZjgqe08FPNc6tSJU7WDOXr-_y4pRahHA8Qhg1Sqj_R4uuB8KolOPnXzKOG/s1600/IMG_0615.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4T7ZQbD1Emgu_rjAFJN_kzSuE3EFWwS5HY8J8u206SXB6jYRm0loZbwlOIFQE6d-zKWjwhSeoRzZjgqe08FPNc6tSJU7WDOXr-_y4pRahHA8Qhg1Sqj_R4uuB8KolOPnXzKOG/s400/IMG_0615.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5656704846665722450" border="0" /></a><br />Goo is a long time of fun.<br /><br /><br />Another easy and fun one is making a <span style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic;">lemon battery </span>- with your tongue as the final connection. Batteries of course are made with two metals and an acid. One metal has a positive charge, one a negative and the lemon is the acid. By sticking your tongue on it, you complete the circuit and get the tingle.<br /><br />Take a lemon and push while you roll it on the counter to get it juicy inside. Straighten a paper clip and stick it in the lemon. Take a piece of copper wire about the same length as the paper clip and insert it into the lemon near the paper clip. Touch it to your tongue! You should feel it tingle.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDhQtH_ajKGjgJusZ-KpSeaE5M9-ELDNkEg0hDDkOPELxRIibf_jUJrLjuPt-PhdpFh4MGbvqUIfe5Zgj_kit1GHwvhW0pmOuXpzXfcIePdTekwt7T49PjGBsijZ0oYCvqCorL/s1600/IMG_0627.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDhQtH_ajKGjgJusZ-KpSeaE5M9-ELDNkEg0hDDkOPELxRIibf_jUJrLjuPt-PhdpFh4MGbvqUIfe5Zgj_kit1GHwvhW0pmOuXpzXfcIePdTekwt7T49PjGBsijZ0oYCvqCorL/s400/IMG_0627.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5656704951126557906" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioTHb2ajXHxFhpO_pDV9koMn5MQC18REKzGG0kyDCJGJKW8sA110IfNAW594mF5i6YEqs1_vPw4yv_1qzPqkcwiOafRLN5gloy-rAdAvqrurtMNrJfJ8q5ot5kk0IGHK3nKv9J/s1600/IMG_0628.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioTHb2ajXHxFhpO_pDV9koMn5MQC18REKzGG0kyDCJGJKW8sA110IfNAW594mF5i6YEqs1_vPw4yv_1qzPqkcwiOafRLN5gloy-rAdAvqrurtMNrJfJ8q5ot5kk0IGHK3nKv9J/s400/IMG_0628.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5656704942130238610" border="0" /></a><br />We had zinc and copper plates from another science kit, so used those and got a bigger tingle. Whoo hoo! :) We could also test the current by connecting it to a little LED light.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVdXulzvOg8JFwTM3Y2CqKTNJL2pF_A11F9fVSwiTEjhxgf379hdC4P7206xdAXxsVTc_ZZvgdsmZgADVPdGmsviQ2TzQm5PgYCT4IjowAZLrSPoQ4XIiJzrESCSsfd7iIXjkc/s1600/IMG_0624.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVdXulzvOg8JFwTM3Y2CqKTNJL2pF_A11F9fVSwiTEjhxgf379hdC4P7206xdAXxsVTc_ZZvgdsmZgADVPdGmsviQ2TzQm5PgYCT4IjowAZLrSPoQ4XIiJzrESCSsfd7iIXjkc/s400/IMG_0624.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5656704842119239266" border="0" /></a><br />Very fun. Perfect family fun for a dark rainy day.denisehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07063730445661683331noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27387788.post-16885028333736735772011-09-22T22:30:00.003-05:002011-09-22T22:59:29.303-05:00welcoming autumn.<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEincZ0GN8jb1jX4XmB_7EHMSoIKc_lNOK9OHWVKC1VrQcEpgDz-1jp9rt9ZntjM1fj76M6Qdp_arQZ4HvwLDRNbEqj6sG-Za5YNq3dwpza0gTwEhvmgCzCmvUmrIWciFAnIjHfq/s1600/IMG_0521.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEincZ0GN8jb1jX4XmB_7EHMSoIKc_lNOK9OHWVKC1VrQcEpgDz-1jp9rt9ZntjM1fj76M6Qdp_arQZ4HvwLDRNbEqj6sG-Za5YNq3dwpza0gTwEhvmgCzCmvUmrIWciFAnIjHfq/s400/IMG_0521.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5655392468249396162" border="0" /></a><br />I love the change from summer to autumn. Cool days, chilly nights. The smell of the air. The angle of the light. How everything goes from such vivid green to every other color - red, yellow, orange, brown. Everything looks different.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-gApAOKaz4E64wn-SY4XQdCP-NhGm_DmSGAJZjUgVgop-mKjypV_mcSjNAgjOXb2vn_NMrawPZnW1LU3nVzcao6xWoK9ckMHjffnGvZyGFA9caMqOcTP84Wqvg4h_eEw-M6H0/s1600/IMG_0518.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-gApAOKaz4E64wn-SY4XQdCP-NhGm_DmSGAJZjUgVgop-mKjypV_mcSjNAgjOXb2vn_NMrawPZnW1LU3nVzcao6xWoK9ckMHjffnGvZyGFA9caMqOcTP84Wqvg4h_eEw-M6H0/s400/IMG_0518.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5655392465758394226" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5W-vgaQfSeND9Tv-RaimUCwNRNafiRMlR889qrrL7zPSF4yol52p7YWqgwknpiSVEBo9zOInZmWyKuJSqwu-W8BWoohC1L59dfONH-7fEjz5Zy9ESETnzhgjTlDpj18kGgWBH/s1600/IMG_0532.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5W-vgaQfSeND9Tv-RaimUCwNRNafiRMlR889qrrL7zPSF4yol52p7YWqgwknpiSVEBo9zOInZmWyKuJSqwu-W8BWoohC1L59dfONH-7fEjz5Zy9ESETnzhgjTlDpj18kGgWBH/s400/IMG_0532.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5655392697267933074" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqftl0QYF71s4SeaLnFzNYztJLpTOn2PS-57Ope7nFmqD2txWg42q49pEDhLnpnthnWPEwSCxBk3d72F7srZbBEzvbbwOEpK-zR9-61DF58oCObw6gnEXaAacnKo8AdWL3oLc5/s1600/IMG_0534.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqftl0QYF71s4SeaLnFzNYztJLpTOn2PS-57Ope7nFmqD2txWg42q49pEDhLnpnthnWPEwSCxBk3d72F7srZbBEzvbbwOEpK-zR9-61DF58oCObw6gnEXaAacnKo8AdWL3oLc5/s400/IMG_0534.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5655392689934963970" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpbzM93VTYnLzZiBuG8FOGsooZPsAjWXsxEa41R3r85G5C94VYLYLjiFl0DpM9zWRucnxho5bUTSJHOOWF0jS1jpGxQYGCP_sOmDS_mzvkhj_oVqh48CgI6fTQ-tLh4tjXftrn/s1600/IMG_0536.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpbzM93VTYnLzZiBuG8FOGsooZPsAjWXsxEa41R3r85G5C94VYLYLjiFl0DpM9zWRucnxho5bUTSJHOOWF0jS1jpGxQYGCP_sOmDS_mzvkhj_oVqh48CgI6fTQ-tLh4tjXftrn/s400/IMG_0536.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5655392688069812050" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrucWq3KPVKVkprAQxQ53cl7aM0iDsZT_HUqLt68k9ENyu6UnXlNNfwK1LqqjuDsE4xOCmODnvsAdqRmmObWIkiPWtg4u0fr97vOkMBEiyimDR5ptoJVrA76jJhzpouncaPqml/s1600/IMG_0537.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrucWq3KPVKVkprAQxQ53cl7aM0iDsZT_HUqLt68k9ENyu6UnXlNNfwK1LqqjuDsE4xOCmODnvsAdqRmmObWIkiPWtg4u0fr97vOkMBEiyimDR5ptoJVrA76jJhzpouncaPqml/s400/IMG_0537.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5655392683945414290" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiJbGGQ7qo_UBRBXEDuxWq-Vdia69TdYE1DmtbU6cHX0nrjV2SuXH9gPPtWFLjFTGiIOmLmqpiJNS77B51JG5mCO3Uidb0I7nV7UNmFyp2ZVfjLNzCQEIVDlHCnxgAg-FE9cOO/s1600/IMG_0529.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiJbGGQ7qo_UBRBXEDuxWq-Vdia69TdYE1DmtbU6cHX0nrjV2SuXH9gPPtWFLjFTGiIOmLmqpiJNS77B51JG5mCO3Uidb0I7nV7UNmFyp2ZVfjLNzCQEIVDlHCnxgAg-FE9cOO/s400/IMG_0529.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5655392477237551410" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTThl6ni2dEKc413ZnHlTqbbKCfy4ckyKM_BHyOnH-Jh_uqlTLFPPcQMg9RyqEQ8l4jkCV-58rCTZX9WdVTB6uyw03pp3xPHzFfHiU3ZiNdy9YigZZBI3qerWpTN1FMGJSqJ-f/s1600/IMG_0528.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTThl6ni2dEKc413ZnHlTqbbKCfy4ckyKM_BHyOnH-Jh_uqlTLFPPcQMg9RyqEQ8l4jkCV-58rCTZX9WdVTB6uyw03pp3xPHzFfHiU3ZiNdy9YigZZBI3qerWpTN1FMGJSqJ-f/s400/IMG_0528.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5655392472495996290" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9Cs4hWR_QD-ViR6ylr9RK02_9ed0BK4qeIoXRNTkDcaZgQYTUzlPMSKlbz9VZlC7pLKSRqDpBMCQ-yEGZNympW8ffzuMqI-Gxe9Q9ZeP9wBqDUVxwfsn_R_0y5eZfa6_zBd78/s1600/IMG_0531.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9Cs4hWR_QD-ViR6ylr9RK02_9ed0BK4qeIoXRNTkDcaZgQYTUzlPMSKlbz9VZlC7pLKSRqDpBMCQ-yEGZNympW8ffzuMqI-Gxe9Q9ZeP9wBqDUVxwfsn_R_0y5eZfa6_zBd78/s400/IMG_0531.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5655392483931492306" border="0" /></a><br />The past few days we have watched the colors start to appear and so today we had to go wander to the pond and nature trail at our<a href="http://www.doorcreekorchard.com/"> local apple orchard </a>(just 5 miles from home) to get out in the wonder of it all. We are excited to welcome autumn!denisehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07063730445661683331noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27387788.post-90298946322407834272011-09-18T23:14:00.010-05:002011-09-19T08:08:02.451-05:00adventure.<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMYwXMu-mmgS6GOnzE9alIeEaM9auC1SQTOV6GhA0nxRdZ01ZjUjDeb55qCk-eZveLJld8OdQYF8GxVn14XdIX2Me7RbDDcrlzbNMXTxKKC-l-sxFOQ2Lwoww-K5VbBeaAuEXX/s1600/d12.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMYwXMu-mmgS6GOnzE9alIeEaM9auC1SQTOV6GhA0nxRdZ01ZjUjDeb55qCk-eZveLJld8OdQYF8GxVn14XdIX2Me7RbDDcrlzbNMXTxKKC-l-sxFOQ2Lwoww-K5VbBeaAuEXX/s400/d12.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5653921917043215778" border="0" /></a><br />Saturday we woke to perfect weather. Sunny and cool. We told the boys we were going on an adventure, packed up the car and headed out. And oh, what an adventure we had.<br /><br />Our first stop was a county <a href="http://www.countyofdane.com/lwrd/parks/stewart.aspx">park in the woods</a> with a big sandy beach and spring fed lake.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlhN9qGKHvnuUq4pbUJmNpwyyygVj2G0KnFLl1qFqAsNsjova2p1nJt_ggxXK9_r5Jf7RHuNKdDZfDJDXQm5hwj0LJKoL5l4jtICGqlgKt7odzOxN_AFr6ssS_YPEnhz2bWoHd/s1600/A1.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlhN9qGKHvnuUq4pbUJmNpwyyygVj2G0KnFLl1qFqAsNsjova2p1nJt_ggxXK9_r5Jf7RHuNKdDZfDJDXQm5hwj0LJKoL5l4jtICGqlgKt7odzOxN_AFr6ssS_YPEnhz2bWoHd/s400/A1.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5653920565197463154" border="0" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlhN9qGKHvnuUq4pbUJmNpwyyygVj2G0KnFLl1qFqAsNsjova2p1nJt_ggxXK9_r5Jf7RHuNKdDZfDJDXQm5hwj0LJKoL5l4jtICGqlgKt7odzOxN_AFr6ssS_YPEnhz2bWoHd/s1600/A1.jpg"><br /></a>The boys cast on an empty sunny beach with practice weights on fishing poles, saw where a spring bubbled up from the sand and fed the lake and watched the water lapping against rocky outcroppings.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUrFgBi90gpiMlO7mF3jUiOfRx0xl6583cClnz4BU2_pkYNllr2Lrri3FGNjp5vssbHyPzhC1PUnUPUYiR-yeP7HYU7UZJBKTS4v1-oR_59rCSZE_c7VHckB8CHAKcfujGwors/s1600/A4.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 289px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUrFgBi90gpiMlO7mF3jUiOfRx0xl6583cClnz4BU2_pkYNllr2Lrri3FGNjp5vssbHyPzhC1PUnUPUYiR-yeP7HYU7UZJBKTS4v1-oR_59rCSZE_c7VHckB8CHAKcfujGwors/s400/A4.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5653920586024361474" border="0" /></a><br />We saw butterflies and dragonflies and birds.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaQ3YU98PFXrUHIt9ny8v9Ll_KRdyu4Q9ieiOhm1wJK37uouoq3hmB_cnzWXUGhsDMvLuZdt4wIPCFkH8wdh9rLVLmZ91gOdjhsULDLSkeuKuoFvSuHw4xGhGmujrKHUQ9EjTR/s1600/A3.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaQ3YU98PFXrUHIt9ny8v9Ll_KRdyu4Q9ieiOhm1wJK37uouoq3hmB_cnzWXUGhsDMvLuZdt4wIPCFkH8wdh9rLVLmZ91gOdjhsULDLSkeuKuoFvSuHw4xGhGmujrKHUQ9EjTR/s400/A3.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5653928626555300674" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgs5_o_f7byBLvGeN4rbHKDwjHxwDr4AG5ywQU9ETxqB01etAc8fB93phFF9gFJS87PV8sKTEaVgjB_ECm7pZ7ZlJC7d2HM5XJZGMbyPfPiBbEzMkpx23oom3V08LikfqSPHnQX/s1600/A2.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgs5_o_f7byBLvGeN4rbHKDwjHxwDr4AG5ywQU9ETxqB01etAc8fB93phFF9gFJS87PV8sKTEaVgjB_ECm7pZ7ZlJC7d2HM5XJZGMbyPfPiBbEzMkpx23oom3V08LikfqSPHnQX/s400/A2.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5653920573973080674" border="0" /></a><br />After a lots of casting and playing, we told the boys we had to head out to the next place on our adventure, packed back up and hit the road.<br /><br />Our next surprise stop was at our at our very favorite hiking trail at our <a href="http://dnr.wi.gov/org/land/parks/specific/govdodge/trails.html">favorite state park</a>.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMaQ2zk8fSuMhC3716xJUGmByJnSG6gy1gbp-G8m_PMSFFsa9xXdrjNJQF4ebdoBH2yyLrFVoc97EOclYkI0ucv7BBbqC9FxeXNNxTTMqrsso5pfyN4M5xBFoPpygW6FJnDFDY/s1600/B1.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMaQ2zk8fSuMhC3716xJUGmByJnSG6gy1gbp-G8m_PMSFFsa9xXdrjNJQF4ebdoBH2yyLrFVoc97EOclYkI0ucv7BBbqC9FxeXNNxTTMqrsso5pfyN4M5xBFoPpygW6FJnDFDY/s400/B1.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5653921622179379778" border="0" /></a><br />We hiked a steep cliff of rocky stairs down down down into a waterfall oasis. Filled with ferns, caves, a clear pool and rambling creek.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGukWoL8LHfPepLBe-FoIg6jAM98x_DXf_ZiSvDhdIdQWSr5B4OPiXpVRG19yCX6V9P_KiQHEdoAuJ7nxubOHnN738EjwR-MPbUvcTn0J1NJIOK3HhYmmMGJ7TCyD7YhENQzjA/s1600/B2.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGukWoL8LHfPepLBe-FoIg6jAM98x_DXf_ZiSvDhdIdQWSr5B4OPiXpVRG19yCX6V9P_KiQHEdoAuJ7nxubOHnN738EjwR-MPbUvcTn0J1NJIOK3HhYmmMGJ7TCyD7YhENQzjA/s400/B2.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5653921629532075794" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: justify;">There was a lot of rock hopping, frog watching, stick finding and cave exploring.<br /></div><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcNRIJwSEP99GHTxgdUXDxcA6glkQRkroNRC1_1M0d-vFSumY2-M13P8d_7EHgmnGrxrwGnOPVwBbgnIofpNX5xSeAwgamvID6EboN4AlxozAt_bolWkdc04ljI0ZsnVGeIzNY/s1600/B5.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcNRIJwSEP99GHTxgdUXDxcA6glkQRkroNRC1_1M0d-vFSumY2-M13P8d_7EHgmnGrxrwGnOPVwBbgnIofpNX5xSeAwgamvID6EboN4AlxozAt_bolWkdc04ljI0ZsnVGeIzNY/s400/B5.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5653921651636517890" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHn52kxv504KkuR1K4gTwkM5IcA82vPZuPXg8DrVjHWlagCa2CGQoO-E1p27O4C39mOjPVuh3nBaWPaThGD_Ptl1lv-FlEAYX7fVxatEqetWP80EDDNYhjWcv2xW7iXjiHBYii/s1600/d14.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHn52kxv504KkuR1K4gTwkM5IcA82vPZuPXg8DrVjHWlagCa2CGQoO-E1p27O4C39mOjPVuh3nBaWPaThGD_Ptl1lv-FlEAYX7fVxatEqetWP80EDDNYhjWcv2xW7iXjiHBYii/s400/d14.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5653925567019230466" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6_IU31lkKnSpOL8eeQmlyF7jnrtFIJXw2EfRfLGKDc_1i-nZBF5bTKfXqFpHq-lT9l54UswTkY6qBwt_lIMRAUlC-HDGzscv_41HxBlS4iFC_YW7w3pw_TgMoylYgCZJoXA-T/s1600/B4.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6_IU31lkKnSpOL8eeQmlyF7jnrtFIJXw2EfRfLGKDc_1i-nZBF5bTKfXqFpHq-lT9l54UswTkY6qBwt_lIMRAUlC-HDGzscv_41HxBlS4iFC_YW7w3pw_TgMoylYgCZJoXA-T/s400/B4.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5653921644236295714" border="0" /></a><br />And of course plenty of hiding behind the waterfall.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4YTdaWPuh2ZYWhMDIf8kMiYaBeafkvo-sf1FQdjpjWeHzVV5AA9bqkQ5XHGA34zmJC_7w2sGlO5mJKy8GM9nU5gAiUGJWqc7ZwC1j5I961Gsm4vQ41EUc71arAnUB8DWpC8qM/s1600/B7.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4YTdaWPuh2ZYWhMDIf8kMiYaBeafkvo-sf1FQdjpjWeHzVV5AA9bqkQ5XHGA34zmJC_7w2sGlO5mJKy8GM9nU5gAiUGJWqc7ZwC1j5I961Gsm4vQ41EUc71arAnUB8DWpC8qM/s400/B7.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5653921895860917122" border="0" /></a><br />In this beautiful place fall has already arrived, and golden leaves drifted down around us the whole time we were there.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOzvR8c-quDtTNHtQ4MrYXYlPgr5gb8McGyGSN1Is5rAha-PmEvnWES2ImI7Efcd5rKkO2ZzTnoTmBJVljqMKkKxbSTwKuYpnCB6gxqPNtNf2yBqmuejCX3sRL9D3JIMAWx-b-/s1600/B6.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOzvR8c-quDtTNHtQ4MrYXYlPgr5gb8McGyGSN1Is5rAha-PmEvnWES2ImI7Efcd5rKkO2ZzTnoTmBJVljqMKkKxbSTwKuYpnCB6gxqPNtNf2yBqmuejCX3sRL9D3JIMAWx-b-/s400/B6.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5653921895002832050" border="0" /></a><br />We walked down the trail beyond the waterfall oasis, hiking along a mossy fern covered <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">creek bed</span>.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCmTZUHT0Lhaud4yfc9ssRXSybeP_ujYot2hqB45DUzJS2loqoTKlpsj_Ss2WByun5Dz9D5tq8a2GFvS70c9FdcDBnKSN1N7udnmhd_gSk88UBbOzQxFLdsdLFHESU-j1F8PoL/s1600/B9.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCmTZUHT0Lhaud4yfc9ssRXSybeP_ujYot2hqB45DUzJS2loqoTKlpsj_Ss2WByun5Dz9D5tq8a2GFvS70c9FdcDBnKSN1N7udnmhd_gSk88UBbOzQxFLdsdLFHESU-j1F8PoL/s400/B9.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5653921909092549634" border="0" /></a><br />We looked at animals, trees and moss. We crossed bridge after bridge, and climbed fallen trees. We felt bark, and moved fuzzy caterpillars to safer spots.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9bposehiL3JTUA36ZavA_Trbo-zuRE2D22qe8osg6NT75aRh6j1vSwibrQlXsk55hjw39q-bNLEyvuuY39lIi1gbTMYIoK-LnGQtia75lncJc65OuGvC-_lcWFYo7jN2CfuMr/s1600/B8.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9bposehiL3JTUA36ZavA_Trbo-zuRE2D22qe8osg6NT75aRh6j1vSwibrQlXsk55hjw39q-bNLEyvuuY39lIi1gbTMYIoK-LnGQtia75lncJc65OuGvC-_lcWFYo7jN2CfuMr/s400/B8.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5653921902919743842" border="0" /></a><br />We hiked and wandered and went back to the waterfall. As we climbed the steep stairs out of the oasis, the boys said they never wanted to leave that magical spot. After passing creeks, watercress, fields of goldenrod and galloping horses, we headed out for our next stop.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibFdxtT1gfKEHir6gyJq9B6e6-gHc5IjEGyN8WPs-3WhX3Oivpjtx50bjwTL-WnGia0M-BWtRTPMhLEU5hh63Q-J0_ml4iKizTghM4Y7GlpOaRLzlWGpczreDcUdigTNsbsdNG/s1600/C1.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 245px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibFdxtT1gfKEHir6gyJq9B6e6-gHc5IjEGyN8WPs-3WhX3Oivpjtx50bjwTL-WnGia0M-BWtRTPMhLEU5hh63Q-J0_ml4iKizTghM4Y7GlpOaRLzlWGpczreDcUdigTNsbsdNG/s400/C1.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5653925543275165282" border="0" /></a><br />We drove past <a href="http://www.taliesinpreservation.org/">Frank Lloyd <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">Wrigh</span></a>t, stopped in a <a href="http://springgreengeneralstore.com/">small town cafe</a>, and visited another <a href="http://www.countyofdane.com/lwrd/parks/festge.aspx">county park</a> high atop a hill. The boys spun and climbed and ran and skipped.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpkc2SHKvGIQ2JjKz-aExSUcSQKBPsw3dpWCSkP0QeHrqyUSWHbZiBs5-fMhCJA2qNgVwmp94cxniAbPbs76BtAwYlWiL2Av36IvaL_BJw4QTmQuXdO6L1EQhSqdtPDIiyQ4nW/s1600/C3.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpkc2SHKvGIQ2JjKz-aExSUcSQKBPsw3dpWCSkP0QeHrqyUSWHbZiBs5-fMhCJA2qNgVwmp94cxniAbPbs76BtAwYlWiL2Av36IvaL_BJw4QTmQuXdO6L1EQhSqdtPDIiyQ4nW/s400/C3.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5653925547001217698" border="0" /></a><br />We looked out at fields of gold from up high. We counted silos, we watched the patches of sun move across the landscape.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGETUvbHcfzkYzJs30TX8YPzwwueid42zFeBxA27gnGsOO9Gyxld607WWLHO0N1x25DrnjPclDgofKZMp4XpWkzr15o7oadnxyI19-EqxSwsp89kTetYhhDOtT5JAMhffFIlRM/s1600/C4.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGETUvbHcfzkYzJs30TX8YPzwwueid42zFeBxA27gnGsOO9Gyxld607WWLHO0N1x25DrnjPclDgofKZMp4XpWkzr15o7oadnxyI19-EqxSwsp89kTetYhhDOtT5JAMhffFIlRM/s400/C4.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5653925553948763714" border="0" /></a><br />We listened to the wind.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNIlGFz6CYPARjUCh84v0vIZDGN45JS8_WBsWMIZZHyYRjeqTWczUALw8cLKnrqqWL-7p-0rR0VJjgUP3vZaNYei3I9YF3UtvkEn1IlQovTNqifOr7TM0mEY5s66KJ5hVQq9sd/s1600/C5.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNIlGFz6CYPARjUCh84v0vIZDGN45JS8_WBsWMIZZHyYRjeqTWczUALw8cLKnrqqWL-7p-0rR0VJjgUP3vZaNYei3I9YF3UtvkEn1IlQovTNqifOr7TM0mEY5s66KJ5hVQq9sd/s400/C5.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5653925560676094514" border="0" /></a><br />As we headed back for our last stop near home the boys talked about their favorite parts of the the adventure. A sobbed, never wanting it to end. He wants to always take the scenic route. He wants an adventure day every week. My boys said it was the best day of their entire life. Of course they say that every day. And that is how I like it.denisehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07063730445661683331noreply@blogger.com10