Looking Back on the Summer Blog Challenge

The summer - and now the Summer Blog Challenge - are officially over. To me, September 1st marks the beginning of a switch to fall, a return to homeschooling, and the start of a new year.

I consider September 1st more of a "New Year" than January 1st in some ways. It's a time of re-focus and new beginnings. Of excitement and anticipation.

As I look back on the summer and doing the Summer Blog Challenge, I am very happy I found out about it by seeing information about it on another blog. Although I found out about the challenge in the middle of June, I went back to the beginning of the challenge (which started on June 1st) and answered all of the questions.

By the end of the summer and the SBC, I answered 92 questions. Some were easy to answer. Others made me think and/or research an answer. All were ones I would not have typically have written about on my blog.

I knew going into the SBC that I wanted to create a book with the 92 questions/prompts and answers that I could give to Sophia and Olivia for Christmas 2012.

Sophia and Olivia by the Christmas tree.

(Taken on December 23, 2009.)

It was something that I thought would be a meaningful gift because they are always looking in my Take a Stitch Tuesday journal to see what I've written - the personal reflection and the weekly gratitude list.

Take a Stitch Embroidery Journal

(Taken on March 5, 2012.)

In a way, it reminded me of one of the most insightful and treasured gifts I received from my dad. For a long time, he worked on a book that included one question or prompt for each day of the year. He answered all of them - in his own handwriting.

After his death, I came across an autobiography and many reflection papers he wrote while he was becoming a deacon. These items collectively provide such an interesting view about his life. I feel like these are such a gift that I've been given...and that I can continue to learn from him and about him even though he is not physically here.

I hope that the effort I spent answering the questions for the SBC will be something that both the girls enjoy reading. It is a gift that reflects a lot of thought, time, and mental energy that truly was a pleasure to do.

Adventuresome Eating as a Child

Today's prompt for the Summer Blog Challenge is "Write about the strangest food you've eaten."

Wood frog that was in the backyard.

(Taken on May 29, 2011.)

When I was in China in 2000 and 2003, there were plenty of opportunities to try food that I normally would not have eaten on a daily basis in Minnesota. At one restaurant, for example, you could pick what you wanted from the blue bins - turtles, snakes, insects, and other items I normally don't eat.

Despite these unusual foods and opportunities to eat them (which I didn't, by the way...I stuck with lots of fresh vegetables and fruits as well as rice), one memory sticks out from childhood about eating an unusual dinner. I think I was more adventuresome then because I ordered frog legs and shrimp.

Source

This item was on the menu at a restaurant that my dad and mom took my sister, brother, and I for dinner one night. I don't remember the name of the restaurant, but I remember that I picked the most unusual thing on the menu.

My mom asked me, "Are you sure you're going to eat that."

"Yes," I answered.

"If you order that, you're going to eat it. You're not going to be able to order something else if you don't like it. Are you sure you don't want something like a hamburger?"

"Nope...I want to try frog legs and shrimp."

And so I did. I remember the frog legs tasting like chicken. Would I order them again? Probably not. But, I managed to eat the entire dinner (much to my parents' surprise), and didn't complain once. I guess I didn't want to lose any opportunities in the future to go out to eat with them.

Northern Leopard Frog that was in the pasture.

(Taken on April 30, 2011.)

Now, I much prefer to see frogs in the wild. There have been so many interesting varieties here at the farm over the years. This, to me, is a much better way to enjoy frogs.

Changing How Puppy & Kitten Mills Operate

Minnesota is one of the top ten states with no laws to license, inspect, and regulate large-scale puppy and kitten commercial breeding facilities to ensure high standards or quality conditions. New legislation, H.F. 388/S.F. 384 has the potential to change that.

According to Animal Folks MN, "The problem is inhumane dog and cat breeding practices in Minnesota by unscrupulous or negligent breeders, and a lack of oversight of this industry.

"Minnesota is among the top producers of puppies in the United States, with some of the largest breeding kennels in the nation — housing 200, 500, or over 1,000 more dogs and puppies. Kittens are also mass-produced in Minnesota. Dog and cat breeders are located in all areas of the State."

Animal Folks MN describes the substandard and deplorable conditions that the adult dogs and cats live in. Conditions, such as the ones described on their website, can get that way because of increased use of the Internet. The Internet enables breeders to easily hide the conditions of the animals and cages.

Under the new law, breeders will be required to:

- Obtain an annual license after inspection.

- Document and report the number of animals living at the facility, number of animals sold, given away, and deceased each year.

- Report prior prosecution for animal cruelty.

- Provide a safe exercise, housing, and breeding environment for animals.

- Must adhere to all animal welfare laws or face penalties.

I'm surprised this law hasn't been enacted yet. To me, it just makes common sense to want to ensure that all living creatures are cared for and not subjected to unhealthy, inhabitable, and cruel living conditions and treatment.

Getting Children to Eat Healthier

Recently I read the article School food workers grapple with new USDA guidelines and how to get children to eat healthier that was in the Star Tribune. It focused on schools who are "implementing the biggest update to federal school-food guidelines in 15 years."

Although I homeschool Sophia and Olivia, this article was interesting because it provided insight into the type of food that children need to stay healthy. School lunch menus now will be including "a wider selection of fruits and vegetables and other healthy options."

Broccoli tomato salad that I made.

(Taken on March 4, 2011.)

The new Department of Agriculture guidelines, which take effect this fall, are good ones to follow at home as well:
- set calorie and sodium limits
- offer dark green, orange, or red vegetables and legumes at least once a week
- offer one vegetable or fruit per meal
- ensure flavored milk is nonfat
- eliminate artificial, artery-clogging trans fats.

Thai peanut chicken that I made.

(Taken on May 19, 2010.)

Although this sounds good on paper, the challenge is getting children to eat healthier food after they are use to eating more processed and/or unhealthy food. The concern is that children will not try the new healthier food, and end up throwing it away.

Making rainbow parfaits with fruit on St. Patrick's Day.

(Taken on May 17, 2008.)

What surprised me was a school district in the Twin Cities has parent volunteers come into the elementary schools to be "food coaches." The volunteers distribute vegetables and fruits to the children as well as "demonstrate eating them. Food coaching may seem silly, but kids who have had chicken only as nuggets or patties may not know how to eat bone-in chicken and need to see how a grown-up eats it before trying it themselves."

Sophia making homemade applesauce.

(Taken on October 1, 2010.)

It did make me laugh to think about "food coaches," however, in reality it is no different than what I - as a homeschool parent - do each time Sophia, Olivia, and I make and try new food as part of the curriculum.

I think of all the different recipes we have tried throughout the past few years as we have explored different countries by doing an A to Z study of the world; and are now making recipes that represent each of the states in the U.S. as we are doing a multi-year geography study.

Sophia holding French green beans that she made

when she was learning about France.

(Taken on October 13, 2007.)

In essence, I am a "food coach" who guides the girls to not only sample healthy food...but I teach them how to make the food. If they just eat the food, but never learn how to make it, then I'm doing a disservice to them as both their teacher and parent.

Olivia and Sophia learning how to make a strawberry smoothie.

(Taken on April 20, 2009.)

What I also found interesting in the article was that the Department of Agriculture encourages cafeteria workers to "stop thinking of lunchtime as a break from academics, but a crucial part of a child's school day."  This is equally relevant, in my opinion, for families who homeschool.

Olivia harvesting some rhubarb.

(Taken on June 8, 2009.)

An idea that was mentioned in the article was that "just like supermarkets place impulse buys like candy and chewing gum by the checkout, lunch lines should place easy-to-grab fruits and veggies by their own cash registers. Her study saw cafeterias double their sales of fresh fruit when they placed it colorful bowls in a convenient place."

Placing fruit and and other healthy food in colorful containers could be done as well at home - either on the counter and/or in the refrigerator.

This article was an interesting and timely one...especially as we start the new homeschool year.

How I Was Named

(The letters of my name that I needlefelted using sheep wool.

(Taken on June 8, 2008.)

I asked my mom the other day why she and my dad chose "Ann Marie" for my name. She said that "Ann" was a name that was one that belonged to several of her relatives - including herself.

My mom as a young girl with one of her dolls.

My mom's name is Dorothy Ann Rinkenberger. 

My grandma (Clara who I found out had no middle name or initial), 

me, my mom, and my dad. 

I was in 9th grade when this picture was taken.

 My mom was born on April 24, 1930, in Minneapolis, Minnesota.

My mom (Dorothy Ann) - with Sophia and Olivia.

(Taken on October 14, 2009.)

My dad's mother's mom (one of my great grandmothers) was named Anna Josephine Carolina Hartz. She was born on October 29, 1870 in Hamburg, Germany.

In addition, Anna J.C. Hartz's mother (one of my great great grandmothers) also shared a variation of my name. She was Anna Carolina Foote and she was born about 1850 in Germany.

Even further back on my dad's side are two more women named Anna. One is my great-great-great grandmother; and the other is my great-great-great-great grandmother. Anna Oyer was born in 1790; and Anna Garber was born on March 15, 1817.

Anna Koehner.

On my mother's side, my mom's father's mother (one of my great grandmothers) was named Anna Josephine Koehner. She was born in 1855 in Ohio.

Anna Kuehn

Also, my mom's mother's mother (one of my great grandmothers) was named Anna Kuehn. She was born on August 10, 1872, in Alsace- Lorraine.

In addition to a written family history that I compiled when I was in high school, I used a more current version of finding relatives: http://www.ancestry.com. It has filled in substantially more names on my family tree than I could ever have imagined.

In addition, I've seen pictures of my relatives, grave markers, phone directory listings, and hand-written census forms listing family members. It is a part of my history that has truly come alive via this resource. It is, for me, fascinating to look at how far back some of the lines of ancestors goes.

Another reason for such a short first name was that my last name is a long one - 12 letters. That, in itself, is a lot for a person to write, so my parents wanted me to have as short of a first name as possible.

The other part of my name is "Marie." When asked why they chose that name, my mom said, "It just sounded good with Ann."

When I was growing up, my parents (especially my dad) frequently called me "Ann Marie." My relatives and my dad's business associates also knew me as "Ann Marie" and not "Ann;" and would call me by that name.

When I attended elementary-senior high school and the teachers would read the children's names on the first day of class, mine was always said as "Ann Marie." At school, I didn't want other kids calling me by two names because no one else used two names. So, I just told the teachers to call me "Ann."

Yet, at home I was fine with being called "Ann Marie"...just not by other children at school.

Today, even years after being on my own and not living with my parents, I am called both "Ann" and "Ann Marie." Either one I will respond to and am comfortable with now.

Interview - Martine of Whey Beyond the Naked Truth

I am happy to introduce Martine (or "Marti" as her best friends call her) Shoemaker of Whey Beyond the Naked Truth. You can also find Martine through Facebook and Twitter, and Pinterest.

Martine of Whey Beyond the Naked Truth

I read that you eat natural foods. How difficult is that to do with a young child?

My son is the very reason why my family eats natural food! We were breastfeeding but had to supplement it with formula and I could not bare the thought of giving him all of the chemicals.

This lead to researching homemade formula, which led to reading about traditional foods, which led to the realization that we would all be better off living a naked foods lifestyle. Besides, not only will it be better to get my son to eat his broccoli if we are eating it too, it will certainly make things easier to only have to cook one meal for everyone.

Any recommendations for incorporating more natural foods in one's diet?

I say be sneaky and creative. There is no reason why you can't hide kale in a smoothie or use eggplant instead of lasagna noodles. Yum.

Do you have a favorite natural foods recipe that you'd like to share?

Oh boy! There are so many! One of my favorites is Sausage, Kale, & White Bean Soup. Yes, I try to sneak kale in whenever I can.

What has been your favorite handiwork project that you've completed?

If by handiwork you mean fixing things around the house, I'm am not much of a handyman. I am more of an organizer of such tasks.

If you mean the craft projects that surround me, then I would say it would be the wedding quilt I made for myself and my husband. I had guests sign a piece of white fabric and I later went home and assembled them into a quilt. It wasn't my finest work, but it is certainly the most sentimental.

You mentioned in your blog profile that you write as a way toward healing. Could you explain that a bit more?

After having my son I was desperately trying to find my voice. I didn't want to just be known as "Corban's Mom." Simply succumbing to such a title and all that it implied was too much for me. I needed something that was for me and that I enjoy doing. Writing is just that thing.

How has blogging brought you joy?

It has provided an outlet for me. I have the opportunity to combine all things I love--my family, food, and writing. For what more could I ask?

I was always so jealous of my husband for having so many "things;" things he's could at, things he can't wait to do, things that define him, things that just make him feel better. I was in search of my "thing" when I found blogging. Maybe I can stop the search now.

You started your blog profile by joking that you went to Julliard to study drama and dance; that you were an orphanage nurse in Cambodia, and served in the Peace Corps planting trees and building houses for single mothers and widows. 

Imagine for a moment, that time, money, and resources were all readily available to you. What one thing would you absolutely love to do that would make an impact on others?

I would absolutely love to write a novel - fiction. My dream is to write something so epic that it moves to people to write about it, makes movies and coumentaries about it, and, ultimately, make the world a much better and interesting place. It may sound silly, or maybe even selfish. Nevertheless, I want to inspire. I look at people like J.K. Rowling and think, "Wow. Why can't I do that?" I want to move a generation.

3 Writers Who Inspire Me

As I think about writers who inspire me, three come to mind:

=> Henry David Thoreau - was an American author, philosopher, poet, naturalist, abolitionist, development critic, historian, surveyor, and leading transcendentalist. He is best known for his book Walden in which he reflects upon simple living in natural surroundings.

An early-morning walk is a blessing for the whole day.

~ Henry David Thoreau ~

Sophia, Olivia, and Gretel on a walk

at William O'Brien State Park.

(Taken on June 1, 2008.)

According to Wikipedia, "Among his lasting contributions were his writings on natural history and philosophy, where he anticipated the methods and findings of ecology and environmental history, two sources of modern day environmentalism."

As a single footstep will not make a path on the earth, 

so a single thought will not make a pathway in the mind. 

To make a deep physical path, we walk again and again. 

To make a deep mental path, 

we must think over and over 

the kind of thoughts we wish to dominate our lives.

~ Henry David Thoreau ~

Purple log pathway at 

Franconia Sculpture Park.

(Taken on May 20, 2010.)

I read Walden more than once, and continue to learn and reflect upon something new in it each time I read the book.

=> Elie Wiesel - is a Romanian-born Jewish-American professor, writer, Nobel Laureate, political activist, and Holocaust survivor. He is the author of 57 books, including Night, a work based on his experiences as a prisoner in the Auschwitz, Buna, and Buchenwald concentration camps.

I swore never to be silent whenever and wherever 

human beings endure suffering and humiliation. 

We must always take sides. 

Neutrality helps the oppressor, never the victim. 

Silence encourages the tormentor, never the tormented.

~ Elie Wiesel ~

According to Wikipedia, "When Wiesel was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 1986, the Norwegian Nobel Committee called him a 'messenger to mankind,' stating that through his struggle to come to terms with 'his own personal experience of total humiliation and of the utter contempt for humanity shown in Hitler's death camps,' as well as his 'practical work in the cause of peace,' Wiesel had delivered a powerful message 'of peace, atonement and human dignity' to humanity."

Peace is our gift to each other.

~ Elie Wiesel ~

Peace cranes decorating branches.

(Taken on June 12, 2011.)

Night is a memorable book that I read many years ago. It truly gives a very human perspective about the effect that the concentration camps had on the people who were there...especially those who survived that experience. The book is a powerful one about grieving and healing.

=> Julia Cameron - is an American teacher, author, artist, poet, playwright, novelist, filmmaker, composer, and journalist. She is perhaps most famous for her book The Artist's Way. She also has written many other non-fiction works, short stories, and essays, as well as novels, plays, musicals, and screenplays.

The creative process is a process of surrender, not control.

~ Julia Cameron ~

Sophia doing wet-on-wet watercolor.

She was 6 years old in this picture.

(Taken on November 4, 2007.)

I read The Artist's Way in 2003 and did the morning pages as the author suggested. It was a meaningful and life-changing experience to do that; and it is something that I would like to do again.

What we really want to do is what we are really meant to do. 

When we do what we are meant to do, 

money comes to us, 

doors open for us, 

we feel useful, and 

the work we do feels like play to us.

~ Julia Cameron ~

Olivia standing next to the pillow she designed and

hand-embroidered. She won a grand champion award

at the county fair.

(Taken on July 29, 2009 when she was 6 years old.)

These writers are only three of the ones who have inspired me; helped me think about broad issues that impact the environment and people; and changed the way that I live.

Being Part of the Underground Railroad in Concord

Today's question is: "If you could have personally witnessed one event in history, what would you want to have seen?"

For the past couple of years for Sophia's homeschooling, we have focused on American history. Although there were many memorable events that took place, there is one that happened over a series of years that we read quite a bit about: the Underground Railroad.

The Underground Railroad was a network of safe houses and secret routes used by 19th-century slaves in the United States to escape to free states and Canada with the aid of abolitionists and allies who were sympathetic to their cause.

As we read through this part of American history, we knew that if we lived back at that time, we would be among the abolitionists who would be trying to help the slaves escape to freedom. We would not be content just sitting and witnessing an event...we would have to be involved with what was happening.

Handcuffs that Anthony Burns (a slave) had to wear. 

They were on display at the Old State House in Boston.

(Taken on September 9, 2011.)

In September 2011, Sophia, Olivia, and I visited one of the locations where the Underground Railroad was active: Concord, Massachusetts. According to the Drinking Gourd Project, there are many houses in Concord that were stops on the Underground Railroad.

This is Orchard House, where Louisa May Alcott wrote Little Women.

The Alcotts were dedicated abolitionists.

September 9, 2011

On the map produced by the Drinking Gourd Project, it is noted that the Orchard House was a possible place that the Alcotts hid escaped enslaved people. The Alcotts lived there from 1857-77, and held antislavery meetings there.

The home next door to the Orchard House is called the Wayside House. If you're facing  the Orchard House    (as I am when I took the picture above), it is directly to the right.

The map states that the home belonged to "Samuel Whitney, muster master of the Concord Minutemen in 1775, and his enslaved man Casey Feen." In the woods to the left of the Wayside, Casey’s plaque states,

In 1775, Casey was Samuel Whitney’s enslaved person.When the Revolutionary war came, he ran away to war, fighting for the colonies, and returned to Concord a free man.

When the Alcotts lived here from 1845-48, according to the plaque to the right of the house,

The Wayside sheltered two self-emancipated slaves during the winter of 1846-47 as they fled north to freedom in Canada. A young Louisa May Alcott learned first hand lessons about slavery here that would influence her life and writing.

Many people put their own lives and their own freedoms at risk by helping slaves escape, and their only reward was the happiness of seeing a person free. This, to me, is something that would have been rewarding to see and be a part of: helping others attain their freedom.

Villains in Snow White & The Wizard of Oz

When I read the prompt for today "Who is your favorite villain?" I drew a complete blank. I had to go to The 50 Best Movie Villains of All Time and familiarize myself with some villains.

As I looked at the list of 50 movies, I realized that I have seen very few of the ones listed. They aren't movies that I typically would watch or enjoy.

And then came my level of villain: the Queen from Snow White from 1937. That's a villain I wouldn't have nightmares about if I saw her on a big screen.

I remember my dad telling me about seeing Snow White in the movie theater when he was a boy. He would have been 5 years old when the movie came out. It remained one of his favorite movies throughout his life.

     Olivia meeting Snow White at Disneyland. This was one of the highlights for her after she tried to

escape from the ride on Snow White's Scary Adventures. 

    Olivia and I were sitting in the front seat, and were rounding the corner. Who should be there, but an animated version of the Queen.

     She let out a deafening scream, and then quickly turned around and tried to crawl over the moving car so the Queen wouldn't get her (she didn't realize that the Queen wasn't real). It literally took all my strength to hold onto her legs so she wouldn't fall off the ride. 

     We chose less scary rides after that experience.

My personal favorite from the list is definitely the Wicked Witch of the West from the Wizard of Oz. This movie was filmed in 1939. As a side note, apparently the level of wickedness that I can handle is from the 1930s. Anything beyond that must be a bit too disturbing for me. (I learn something new about myself each day.)

The Wizard of Oz is a movie that we would watch as a family when I was growing up. It came on the t.v. about once a year. The Wicked Witch was certainly a character in the movie that frightened me as a child. Her flying monkeys...well, that was another thing...I was petrified of them. The part of the movie where they fly out the castle window was enough to send me under a blanket to hide or leave the room.

Olivia wearing a witch hat.

(Taken on January 31, 2008.)

As an adult and someone who studied theater in college, I have an even greater appreciation for the actress who played the Wicked Witch (Margaret Hamilton). Her acting, make-up, costumes, and sacrifices she made to bring this story to life are inspiring.

The distinctive green color on her face was copper. Copper happens to be an excellent conductive metal, and that's scary for someone to have on their face when there are many scenes with fire.

According to Wikipedia,"Hamilton suffered a second-degree burn on her face and a third-degree burn on her hand during a second take of her fiery exit from Munchkinland, in which the trap door's drop was delayed to eliminate the brief glimpse of it seen in the final edit.

"Hamilton had to recuperate in a hospital and at home for six weeks after the accident before returning to the set to complete her work on the now-classic film, and she refused to have anything to do with fire for the rest of the filming."

Had it not been for quick-thinking people on the set who removed the copper make-up with alcohol (an extremely painful process in itself), her burns could have been much worse. Even after the injury, Margaret Hamilton's makeup was so heavy that, for 16 hours a day, she could eat only through a straw.

Sophia and Olivia by the singing and moving Christmas trees.

They had just watched the "Wizard of Oz" a couple weeks before

going through this holiday exhibit. Even though it was festive,

Olivia had the death-grip on my hand as we walked through the trees.

I think it reminded both the girls of the scene 

with the talking trees in the "Wizard of Oz."

Between the Queen in Snow White and the Wicked Witch of the West in the Wizard of Oz, these characters certainly are my favorite villains...and ones that have a variety of memories associated with them.

The Brady Bunch and Gilligan's Island

Two of my favorite shows growing up were The Brady Bunch  and Gilligan's Island. Both shows aired in the afternoon when I got home from school. They were shows that required absolutely no brain power whatsoever, and were good shows to transition from school to home to evening activities and homework.

The Brady Bunch involved two adults who each had three children. The father, Mike Brady (Robert Reed), was a widowed architect with sons, Greg (Barry Williams), Peter (Christopher Knight), and Bobby (Mike Lookinland). The mother, Carol Ann Martin (Florence Henderson), had three daughters: Marcia (Maureen McCormick), Jan (Eve Plumb), and Cindy (Susan Olsen).

The blended family, Mike's live-in housekeeper Alice Nelson (Ann B. Davis), and the boys' dog Tiger all end up living in a large, suburban, two-story house that was designed by Mike.

Source

What I liked about The Brady Bunch was that the girls were around the same age that I was when the show aired. My sister and I would pick who we "would be" for that show. We liked being Jan and Cindy. For some reason, we rarely picked Marcia. I think she was too old for us and had different issues. Jan had the long hair (which we both wanted) and Cindy had the cute curls (which we also wanted).

The other show that I liked was Gilligan's Island. It was created and produced by Sherwood Schwartz who also later created The Brady Bunch. Gilligan's Island was a comedy that featured Bob Denver; Alan Hale, Jr.; Jim Backus; Natalie Schafer; Tina Louise; Russell Johnson; and Dawn Wells. It was originally filmed from 1964 to 1967. So, by the time I was watching it, it was in syndication.

Source

Basically, seven people went on a boat, there was a storm, and they became shipwrecked on an island. The castaways attempted to survive on the island on which they had been shipwrecked. Most episodes revolved around the how different the castaways were from one another, their conflicts, and their failed attempts to return home.

I remember watching the shows repeatedly throughout my childhood. My dad would come home from work and say as he headed down the stairs to his home office, "You've already watched that show."

And we would always answer, "Oh...but we don't remember all of it." In all honesty, I think we probably could have recited the lines word-for-word from some of those episodes.

Regardless of how many times we watched The Brady Bunch or Gilligan's Island, we would laugh and enjoy those shows...like we were seeing them for the first time each time we watched them.

Favorite Rainy Day Activities

Depending on what needs to get done, the time of day, and my energy level, there are a number of things that I enjoy doing when it is raining:

Go Outside and Take Pictures
- Even if it is raining or misting, take some pictures.

Flower after a rainstorm.

(Taken on May 21, 2007.)

If there's a thunderstorm, heavy rain, and/or high wind...or all three at the same time, then I'll opt to stay inside. In that case, there are many things I that I can do that I enjoy:

Catch Up on Projects I've Wanted to Do
- Do a craft project that I've been working on or want to start but haven't done so yet.
- Upload photographs to my computer and then onto Flickr so I have them in a safe location.
- Write a letter to someone who I haven't written to for a long time.

A needlebook that I hand-embroidered.

(Taken on March 14, 2009.)

Experiment in the Kitchen
- Try a new recipe for a meal that day.

Cookies and Cream Cake.

This turned out well, and I'll definitely make it again.
The recipe is at the bottom of this post.

(Taken on May 9, 2010)

Relax
- Remember that when I was a child and it would rain or there would be a thunderstorm, we used that time to play and relax. There was something rejuvenating about that time. So...
=> Read a book that I've started and want to finish.
=> Play a board- or card game with the girls.

The girls enjoyed playing the Turkey Racing Game

around one Thanksgiving holiday.

(Taken on November 23, 2010.)

Organize Something
- Clean out a drawer, cupboard, closet, or room.

Having space that is uncluttered is calming.

(Taken on January 27, 2012.)

Homeschool
- If it rains during the weekday hours, chances are we're homeschooling. Rain doesn't change indoor educational plans and lessons.

The girls were studying a picture that 

was painted by Norman Rockwell.

(Taken on September 15, 2011)

Now for the Cookies and Cream Cake recipe. It is from Taste of Home magazine which has easy and delicious recipes that use ingredients that are commonly found in the kitchen.

Ingredients

1 package (18-1/4 ounces) white cake mix
1-1/4 cups water
1/3 cup canola oil
3 egg whites
1 cup coarsely crushed cream-filled chocolate sandwich cookies (about 8)

FROSTING:

1/2 cup shortening
4 to 4-1/2 cups confectioners' sugar
1/4 cup milk
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
Oreo cookies and crushed Oreo cookies, optional

Directions

In a large bowl, combine the cake mix, water, oil and egg whites; beat on low speed for 30 seconds. Beat on high for 2 minutes. Gently fold in crushed cookies.

Pour into two greased and floured 9-in. round baking pans. (I used a 9" x 13" pan.) Bake at 350° for 30-35 minutes or until a toothpick inserted near the center comes out clean. Cool for 10 minutes before removing from pans to wire racks to cool completely.

For frosting, beat the shortening, sugar, milk and vanilla in another large bowl until smooth. Spread frosting between layers and over top and sides of cake. Decorate the top with cookies and the sides with crushed cookies if desired. Yield: 12 servings.

Nutritional Facts
1 serving (1 piece) equals 533 calories, 21 g fat (5 g saturated fat), 1 mg cholesterol, 354 mg sodium, 83 g carbohydrate, 1 g fiber, 3 g protein.