All alone with little G!

For the very first time EVER I had my niece GC - the younger 1/2 of the Little - all to myself! SC was off on a field trip with the day care and MC wanted to take the Itty Bitties in to have a trial run before she heads back to work this weekend.

It was so much fun to play with her uninterrupted and you could tell how much she was enjoying playing with things without having them ripped out of her hands because it was time to share. She got dress up, we made some scrambled eggs, played outside and then she got the music box ALL to herself! So much fun!

On a rainy day

we like to make treats!!!! So we tried out a new Zepole - Italian Fried Dough - Recipe!

 

This was not the best that we have tried - we like the dough a bit sweeter - it did puff up nicely and was VERY yummy! 

Food Rules – Micheal Pollan – A Wealth of REAL Information – Review : Unplugged Mom

Check out my review -

Food Rules – Micheal Pollan – A Wealth of REAL Information – Review : Unplugged Mom

Jamie Oliver's Food Revolution - ABC.com

I watched the first season and was astonished at what was going on in the schools, but this season I can't believe that they won't even let him in!!! This is disturbing to me. How on earth can this go on?

I took the pledge to spread the word! The health issues in this country due to the diet of our population is disgusting! The unknowing parents trusting in a system to provide what is best for their children is appalling. 

Things HAVE TO CHANGE!!! 

Schools saying NO BAGGED LUNCHES is for the betterment of the child, WHAT???? People need to be aware of what they are putting into their bodies. They need to know where it is coming from. They need to understand what it is being done to their children. You must break the cycle and rip the blinders off! Schools have taught all of us to NOT question, to FULLY TRUST them, and to BELIEVE they are doing what is BEST for us! IT IS ALL LIES!!! From the food they are putting in to the children to the ridiculous test taking skills they are teaching them. NONE of this is what is BEST for any child!

If you haven't watched yet you can see the full episodes on-line here - Jamie Oliver's Food Revolution - ABC.com  

Just what we needed!

Sometimes when you send something out into the universe, the universe sends you back EXACTLY what you needed. We had planned on running a few errands and maybe getting some tennis in today, but the weather decided that we needed to stay inside....and I chose to listen! We got lots of lessons done, pumpkin cookies and pineapple upside down cake baked, laundry and cleaning down!

It was such a restful, relaxing day. KM had a friend over in the afternoon and they had a great time playing Wii Sports Resort and making a Reese's Cake! CJ had the day off and finished some random projects around the house. I even got some fabulous rain shots, you can check out on our 365 Photo Project and our Nature Photo Blog. I don't know what it is about rainy days that sets that nesting instinct in to gear and makes me feel revived, but I am sure glad that it did!

Why shouldn't you play with your food?

Ironically this was not done by one of the children!

CJ is often the culprit of these interesting designs!

Newest Experiment - Canning

I have been convinced by one of my very close friends to try canning some of the fruits and veg from my garden and grown locally during the season to save for the winter months. KM has been very enthusiastic in helping with this and we have had a great time experimenting with different recipes.

CJ's parents sent us up some peaches from South Carolina so we made some peach syrup and peach preserves.

We also made some raspberry jam and syrup last month from the berries that grow in our yard and I made a HUGE batch of baked beans from scratch - even used dried beans!!!

Once our tomatoes start turning red I will have some more to add with some sauces and salsas, but for now we have a nice little stock pile going...

The one thing that I am finding that I really still need to freeze though is the zucchini and squash. I slice them up in various measures - discs, matchsticks, and grates - and freeze them to use over the winter in breads, soups, stir fries and even quiches!

Last week of break....

and we have been taking it slow!

We have been trying out some new culinary ideas from Eat at Home Cooks - one of my new favorite websites!

While in the kitchen we also got to make our first - second and third - batch of raspberry jam from the wild bushes on the edge of our property!

KM had fun with some science kits that had been collecting dust...

and I had some time to get things finished up for next week and all our lesson plans finished while KM was visiting with an old friend over the weekend. As we prepare for upcoming 4th of July weekend events it might get a bit quiet around here, but we start back to lessons next Monday (7/5), so I will be sure to post as we start to get into our summer session routine.

Rather Different Choice for Lunch

not judging...just noticing!