Happy Snappy

 

We have a new Snappy, thanks to our dog Callie who likes to bring turtles to us! 

This Snappy is smaller, more social than the previous one, and quite quick for a turtle.  Grandma Shirley suggested Nathan change his name to Speedy, but so far Snappy has stuck!

The kids' babysitters Carter and Grace helped them set up a nice home for him (her?) and told them what turtles eat.  (Pretty much anything but spinach and celery.) 

I have always touted a tortoise as the idea pet, but a turtle could be a close second.  All we have to do is feed Snappy something about the size of the tip of a pinky finger every three or so days.  The kids give him exercise outside of his pond and when they want to move on . . . so will Snappy out into the wild!

Ain't No Mountain High Enough!

Super Duper Easy Pumpkin Muffins

Teresa and I whipped up a batch of these muffins this morning.  These are very quick to make and are even pretty healthy, since there are no eggs or oil in the recipe!

 

Pumpkin Muffins

1 can pumpkin

1 box cake mix--flavor of your choice

(My favorite is spice.)

3 T water

 

Mix together and bake according to cake mix directions for cupcakes.

A Day at the Fair

 

 

Last Sunday as the boys were having a SMASHING good time watching the Demolition Derby, the girls and I took in the rest of the fair. 

We all know I'm not much of a farm girl by nature, but once a year I get a hankering to go and admire some champion pigs, sheep, goats, and bunnies.  I was a bit leery to take the girls on my own, but they were into the whole experience, too.

 

Rachel does look a bit unsure of the goat at the baby animals barn, but she put up with her sister and me just fine . . . as long as we kept moving and had the Baby Mum Mums handy!

 

"Green Acres is the place for T!"

 

After we got our fill of farm animals (that is, looking . . . not eating), we ventured into the Expo building to see the fair vendor booths.  As soon as we turned the corner, Teresa saw the booths and said excitedly, "This is like a store!" 

The Expo building is one of the best parts of the fair.  For one, it is the busiest place and I am bound to see a handful of people I know while I am strolling through.  These are mostly people I only see about once a year--and usually at the fair!

The booths are an added attraction, although I hardly ever part with any money there. 

(Except for the first year we were married, I spent A LOT of money on cookware, but I still love it to this day and it hardly looks used after 11 years!) 

My general rule is to keep moving and don't make too much eye contact.  If the latest and greatest gadget is THAT great, I probably would have seen it already or it will pop up again somewhere besides the Brown County Fair. 

 

So, even I was surprised when I came upon a watermelon perched on this contraption, immediately steered my stroller over to the Melon Mate booth, and asked the lady behind the counter,

"What's going on here?" 

Long story short, the price was very reasonable, these are made in Sioux Falls, SD, I was looking for a less messier way to cut watermelon, and I invested in my own Melon Mate.  Five of the six of us here on the farm LOVE watermelon, so I am always cutting one (or putting off cutting one because I don't want to deal with the mess at the time).  I also tried it with muskmelon and that worked especially well since I could pour the seeds into the bowl while I cut up the rest. 

Overall, I'd say this was a good investment. 

To get your own and support a South Dakota made product, go to www.melonmate.com! 

 

 

I know that sounds like a site that could be for . . . something else . . . but, I checked it out.

 It's all good and only about watermelon. :o)

Preschool Creativity

We completed Day 2 of preschool and it went well. An hour or so of class time seems to be just right. When we are not sitting around the table in "official" preschool time, Teresa has been asking to do new creative things.  Since my hands are a little less full with just the girls at home, we've been able to try a couple ideas.

 

We found the idea for "beach sand" in the latest Family Fun magazine.  Just mix 2 cups flour and 1/4 cup vegetable oil.  Mix it with your fingers for a few minutes and it will turn into a beach sand consistency.  Teresa played with it in a cake pan, but a resealable plastic tub would be ideal to keep it longer.

 

She also requested making bird feeders again, which we had made a couple of summers ago.  For these, we used small pine cones and tied yarn around them.  Then we covered them with a peanut butter and water mixture.  After that, they took a dip in a bowl of bird seed and we hung them on the tree.  (We accidentally found out that these make excellent dog treats.  Callie took one off a low branch and enjoyed it very much!)