tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35514002228090105572024-03-14T10:48:19.018-04:00Lionden LandingThe ramblings of Jewish homeschooling familyFairionhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12168703092479677513noreply@blogger.comBlogger1125125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3551400222809010557.post-73241050777628466462016-02-23T16:46:00.001-05:002016-02-23T16:47:03.191-05:00Recipe Redux - Sesame Mango SaladThis is one of my favorite salads to take to potlucks. It is based on this recipe but they make it so hard to get to I tweaked it a bit and put it here for easier reference.<br />
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<div class="ingredients">
<div class="ingredientGroup">
<ul>
<li> <span class="ingredient" itemprop="ingredients"> <span class="amount"> <span class="ingredientmeasure count"> 2 </span> tablespoons </span> <span class="name">sesame seeds</span> </span></li>
<li><span class="ingredient" itemprop="ingredients"><span class="name">1 box mini bowtie pasta</span></span></li>
<li> <span class="ingredient" itemprop="ingredients"> <span class="amount"> <span class="ingredientmeasure count"> 3 </span> tablespoons </span> <span class="name">vegetable oil</span> </span></li>
<li> <span class="ingredient" itemprop="ingredients"> <span class="amount"> <span class="ingredientmeasure count"> 1 </span> tablespoon </span> <span class="name">sesame oil</span> </span></li>
<li> <span class="ingredient" itemprop="ingredients"> <span class="amount"> <span class="ingredientmeasure count"> 3 </span> tablespoons </span> <span class="name">rice vinegar</span> </span></li>
<li> <span class="ingredient" itemprop="ingredients"> <span class="amount"> <span class="ingredientmeasure count"> 3 </span> tablespoons </span> <span class="name">lime juice</span> </span></li>
<li> <span class="ingredient" itemprop="ingredients"> <span class="amount"> <span class="ingredientmeasure count"> 3 </span> tablespoons </span> <span class="name">honey</span> </span></li>
<li> <span class="ingredient" itemprop="ingredients"> <span class="amount"> <span class="ingredientmeasure count"> 1/2 </span> teaspoon </span> <span class="name">salt</span> </span></li>
<li> <span class="ingredient" itemprop="ingredients"> <span class="amount"> <span class="ingredientmeasure count"> 1/8 </span> teaspoon </span> <span class="name">pepper</span></span></li>
<li> <span class="ingredient" itemprop="ingredients"> <span class="amount"> <span class="ingredientmeasure count"> 4 </span> </span> <span class="name">green onions, thinly sliced</span> </span></li>
<li> <span class="ingredient" itemprop="ingredients"> <span class="amount"> <span class="ingredientmeasure count"> 2 </span> </span> <span class="name">carrots, grated</span> </span></li>
<li><span class="ingredient" itemprop="ingredients"><span class="amount"><span class="ingredientmeasure count">3 </span></span><span class="name">mangoes, peeled and diced</span></span></li>
</ul>
</div>
</div>
<div class="instructions">
<div class="instruction" itemprop="recipeInstructions">
<b>1.</b> In a large pot, boil the noodles until tender but firm to the bite, 8
to 9 minutes. Drain and rinse under running cold water and drain again.
Toss with 1 tablespoon of the oil.</div>
<div class="instruction" itemprop="recipeInstructions">
<b>3.</b>
In a large bowl, combine the remaining vegetable oil with the sesame
oil, vinegar, lime juice, honey, salt, pepper, and red pepper flakes, if
using. Whisk to mix well. Add the noodles, green onions, carrots,
mango, and cilantro and toss. Add more salt and pepper to taste, if
needed. Refrigerate the salad for 2 hours, stirring every half hour, so
that the noodles absorb the dressing evenly. Serve the salad cold with
the sesame seeds sprinkled over the top.</div>
</div>
</div>
Fairionhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12168703092479677513noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3551400222809010557.post-88159963309426262322016-01-27T14:11:00.001-05:002016-01-27T14:11:17.927-05:00Happy Half Birthday<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Guess who is 6 months old! Little Bit is awesome. She is cooing up a storm telling us all her stories. Her smile lights up our existence and her giggles are the best music. She discovered her hands awhile ago but now she is using them to discover the world. She loves to ring the wind chimes and feel the leaves of Froggy's lemon tree. She is working really hard on rolling over. She has stumbled into it a couple of times but can't do it reliably.<br />
<br />
She weighs 15.5lb and is 23.5" long which places her in the 40% percentile for weight though she is not yet on the chart for heght yet. Pediatrician says that is normal. She is meeting all the milestones for her adjusted age. She has her first visit with the physical therapist this week and her first visit with the developmental pediatrician later this month.<br />
<br />
She got to experience her first snow fall. She did not like the blizzard but was much less dubious about the snow itself when we went out later. Sledding though is going to wait until next winter.<br />
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It has been a rocky road but we made it through. Fairionhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12168703092479677513noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3551400222809010557.post-45406067649970650822016-01-26T13:40:00.001-05:002016-02-23T16:47:42.564-05:00Food Adventure - Multigrain Bread Edition<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNUQzwggTAqhYhR6mQhoos4om7ZnTLjO0gGXlndn1Lz6X79F2ooATFdCdxD95AOigdMtaouxRSq8c1Xp_md84QjFhehV11M4HjcD_N9DS3J67V6vLOgckIa9bRL-7OidplFIY4PDuGofI/s1600/multigrain.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNUQzwggTAqhYhR6mQhoos4om7ZnTLjO0gGXlndn1Lz6X79F2ooATFdCdxD95AOigdMtaouxRSq8c1Xp_md84QjFhehV11M4HjcD_N9DS3J67V6vLOgckIa9bRL-7OidplFIY4PDuGofI/s320/multigrain.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
Bread is an important part of our lives and I am always experimenting with new ideas. I was very inspired by<a href="http://thewoksoflife.com/2014/04/homemade-multigrain-bread/"> this recipe</a> and created my own multigrain mix. It took a long time for me to work up the courage to try it. I was afraid of grinding the grains. But it was easier than I thought. My grinder didn't work at all but the blender handled it with ease. And the best part is that the bread turned out AMAZING which is a good thing because I have tons of the multigrain mix left. I winged it and created my own mix using what I had an what I could find easily at the local market.<br />
<br />
I used<br />
<ul>
<li>purchased rice flour</li>
<li>purchased semolina</li>
<li>purchased cracked buckwheat</li>
<li>oats ground at home</li>
<li>corn flour</li>
<li>ground barley</li>
<li>flaxseed unground - next time I will grind this as well</li>
<li> </li>
</ul>
I prepped the dough the day before I intended to bake it and let it rise gently in the fridge. On baking day I took the dough out and let it rest on the counter for an hour then tried to shape it. It was much too wet to shape as I had hoped so into the loaf pans it went. I let it rise another hour or so until doubled again and then baked for about 45 minutes. And it was the lightest, most flavorful loaf I have had in a long time. Fairionhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12168703092479677513noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3551400222809010557.post-40253982152454971272015-12-07T07:37:00.000-05:002015-12-07T07:39:50.116-05:00Enjoying Shakespeare<a href="http://www.shakespearetheatre.org/_uploaded/images/othello.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://www.shakespearetheatre.org/_uploaded/images/othello.png" /></a>Froggy has been enjoying Shakespeare since <a href="http://fairion.blogspot.com/2012/04/shakespeare-for-kids.html">a much younger age</a> than I thought possible before I had children thanks to the suggestions and guidance of <a href="http://amblesideonline.org/curriculum.shtml">our curriculum</a>. We started our Shakespeare experience with the <a href="http://www.amazon.com/dp/1604595752/?tag=thecomroo-20">Nesbit</a> and <a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1599151731/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=thecomroo-20&linkCode=as2&camp=217145&creative=399373&creativeASIN=1599151731">Lamb</a> retellings. With these rich retellings in her experience, Froggy was able to attend and truly enjoy the live performances of our local Shakespeare theater company. <br />
<br />
And this year, our Shakespearean adventure has entered a new chapter. We are reading Othello in all its original glory with the help of <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Spark-Notes-Shakespeare-Othello-SparkNotes/dp/1586638521/ref=sr_1_7?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1449489931&sr=1-7&keywords=no+fear+shakespeare">No Fear Shakespeare</a>. The side by side approach allows us to enjoy the rich beautiful language while still understanding the story. It is a major jump from the retellings and therefore we are taking much longer working our way through the play than in previous years but it is worth it. I was concerned that the complicated language, the switching back and forth, or the lengthy speeches would be a deterrent. It hasn't. I suspect in large part thanks to the scaffolding provided by the retellings.<br />
So you may ask why Othello for our first No Fear approach? It was both on the rotation for our curriculum and part of the season for our local company. I am still waffling on taking her to the live production but leaning heavily in favor of going. We chose the <a href="http://shakespearetheatre.org/info/education/explore-the-plays/creative-conversations/page-and-stage"><i>Page and Stage</i></a> performance to have a chance to chat with the artistic staff before the performance. Fairionhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12168703092479677513noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3551400222809010557.post-15497529041572789062015-12-02T05:55:00.002-05:002015-12-02T05:55:22.533-05:00Food FindsSince we came back from Kansas, we have been having some fun experimenting with new recipes. Not all of the experiments have been good but here are a couple that are major keepers<br />
<br />
The first surprise win was<a href="http://www.veganinsanity.com/recipes/vegan-cauliflower-bolognese/#.Vl4c6XarTIU"> our new favorite pasta sauce.</a> Froggy really likes pasta with red sauce but didn't really eat the sauce much. When I offered her this new sauce, she chowed down on it and licked up the sauce. She now eats the same amount of noodles with at least half again as much sauce and has no idea she is getting any veggies. It is a double win for the Ima.<br />
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<div style="text-align: center;">
</div>
The second win is a breakfast burrito recipe I have fallen in love with these. I could eat them every single day. Froggy asked to try mine and gave it a double thumbs up, With her eating them as well, I may need to start making a double batch. I started with<a href="http://www.slenderkitchen.com/recipe/frozen-breakfast-quesadillas"> this recipe</a> and then tweaked it to suit our family<br />
<br />
<b>Breakfast Burrito</b><br />
<b> </b> <br />
Ingredients:<br />
8 eggs<br />
1 med onion - diced<br />
1 bag frozen corn<br />
black beans (an amount to balance out the corn)<br />
1 tbsp Taco seasoning <br />
2 cups shredded cheese<br />
8 fajita size tortillas <br />
<br />
Directions:<br />
Saute the onions over medium heat until translucent. While they are cooking whisk the eggs. Add the eggs to the onions and scramble. Mix all ingredients except tortillas in a large bowl. Place about a cup of the mixture on each tortilla and roll up tightly<i> (the tighter the better) </i>Wrap in plastic wrap and freeze until ready. You can heat it however works best for you but I microwave them for about 4 minutes. Makes for a super easy meal. <br />
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<br />Fairionhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12168703092479677513noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3551400222809010557.post-85429116643868383852015-12-01T13:44:00.003-05:002015-12-01T13:44:44.376-05:00Trial 2Flavor Question: Can I make the peach flavor stronger by simmering the peaches on the stove?<br />
<br />
Texture Question: How can we make the edges less brown and still keep it cooked inside?<br />
<br />
Flavor Hypothesis - If I simmer the peaches on the stove, the peach flavor will get concentrated because we simmer off the water. <br />
<br />
Texture
Hypothesis -If I bake the bread for one hour at 325 instead of 350, the inside will be done and the edges will not be crispy yet<br />
<br />
Experiment
Summary -We simmered the frozen peaches on the stove top between medium and medium-high until they thawed. We then pureed them and the heat down to low. We had the peaches on the heat for approximately half an hour. The flavor is definitely more intense. The peaches were hot so we had to be careful not to cook our eggs when we poured the peaches in. We mixed the dry goods into the rest for 40 seconds this time. We then separated the batter into two loaf pans evenly by weighing each pan as we added the batter. We baked them for an hour at 325 at which point they were done.<br />
<br />
Flavor
Conclusion -I thought the peach flavor concentrated properly. I could taste the peach this time. I thought the bread was yummy. <br />
<br />
Texture
Conclusion - I decided the inside was cooked enough and the edges were absolutely not crispy. I am proud of this one. <br />
<br />
Personal Review -Overall, I think the bread turned out just how we wanted it to. The flavor was perfect but I still want to try it again with cherries because it is supposed to be a peach-cherry bread and I want to see if I can get the flavor right with both. The texture was absolutely perfect. I don't think I need to change anything so now I am going to play and see if the rules laid out in Alton Brown's <u>I'm Just Here for More Food</u> are necessary. <span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: #f5f2c7; color: black; display: inline !important; float: none; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Trebuchet, Arial, georgia, sans-serif; font-size: 14.3px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: normal; orphans: auto; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 1; word-spacing: 0px;"><br /></span>Fairionhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12168703092479677513noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3551400222809010557.post-18310942846904876042015-11-18T15:46:00.001-05:002015-11-19T16:21:37.175-05:00Trial 1Flavor Question: Can I make the flavor more even by pureeing the peaches and evening out the fruit (putting in more cherries and less peaches)?<br />
<br />
Texture Question: How can we make the edges less brown and still keep it cooked inside?<br />
<br />
Flavor Hypothesis - If I Puree the peaches and divide the fruit in half I will make a more even flavor in the bread.<br />
<br />
Texture Hypothesis - If I bake it at the same temperature for only 50 min the insides will be done and the edges will not be burned yet<br />
<br />
Experiment Summary - When making the bread this time, we used 1 cup of sweet cherries instead of1/2 cup of tart cherries. The peaches were pureed and measured 1 cup. I forgot to put in the nutmeg with the other spices, but luckily I remembered just before we mixed so we were able to fix it. We mixed for for 35 seconds this time. We wrote down the empty bowl bowl weight wrong and accidentally put too much in one loaf pan. The loaves were baked for 50 minutes at the same temperature (350 degrees)<br />
<br />
Flavor Conclusion - I only tasted cinnamon except when tasting cherry chunks. There was not any peach flavor. We decided that we might want to find a way to concentrate the peach flavor since we can't increase the amount without getting rid of the cherries.The best idea we had for concentrating the flavor is simmering the peach puree to cook off some of the water. <br />
<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgip3fENOH42B0Gf9UgGXwpPm_P3MMYMm5uHHry6zF99v18FQ8CGrFR0y79EPU6mbp6tKeZrLsJhwquU0dSM9VBu-jCDWlib-wChqMDszuLsoMSRZyebdSPpOYaF8uMdJEJ_m-Imr-GiDA/s1600/texture.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="243" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgip3fENOH42B0Gf9UgGXwpPm_P3MMYMm5uHHry6zF99v18FQ8CGrFR0y79EPU6mbp6tKeZrLsJhwquU0dSM9VBu-jCDWlib-wChqMDszuLsoMSRZyebdSPpOYaF8uMdJEJ_m-Imr-GiDA/s320/texture.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
Texture Conclusion -We decided that the inside was probably under cooked because there were more holes at the top than at the bottom, but the edges were still crispy. Next time, we will cook it for one hour at 325 degrees. <br />
<br />Personal Review - Overall, I like the cooking part but I hate the lab report. Taking notes is frustrating because I hate writing with a passion. The cooking part is pretty fun because it is good mother-daughter bonding time and it feels really good. It is like hot cocoa. And it made some yummy bread. Fairionhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12168703092479677513noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3551400222809010557.post-4891839702840839442015-11-06T10:05:00.002-05:002015-12-17T06:10:49.993-05:00Food Fun For FroggyFroggy and I are working on a really neat project while we are trapped inside this winter. She and I are going to write our own cookbook. The plan is that it will be a deliciously educational way to teach scientific method, math, writing, and practical life skills.<br />
<br />
We are going to work on one recipe at time using the scientific method to analyze the changes we make as we tweak and perfect the recipe. The math will come in part as we change quanities and make conversions and weigh all the ingredients. And the writing will be the best part as Froggy writes the scientific reports and as well as the recipe reviews.<br />
<br />
Stay tuned next week as we tackle our first recipe, breakfast loaf. We are starting with a very generic loaf so that Froggy can use her creativity and develop her own unique flavor profile. <br />
<br />Fairionhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12168703092479677513noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3551400222809010557.post-33019221202308957712015-10-30T17:00:00.000-04:002015-11-01T04:48:17.615-05:00Happy Adoption Day<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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After a rocky, roller coaster three months, Little Bit is not officially, legally part of our family forever! She has been part our family in our hearts from the moment she was born. Now she is part of our family in the eyes of the law as well. <br />
<br />Fairionhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12168703092479677513noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3551400222809010557.post-80860631460559237432015-10-28T05:18:00.000-04:002015-10-28T05:18:39.849-04:00EarringsI am not sure if it is being a big sister, part of turning 10 or just time but Froggy has suddenly gotten more mature. As a part of that, she decided to get her ears pierced!<br />
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She was extremely brave during the process and been really responsible about caring for them.<br />
<br />Fairionhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12168703092479677513noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3551400222809010557.post-5722722157619464792015-10-23T06:12:00.000-04:002015-10-24T06:13:20.501-04:00Three months - sort of<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJKzreec1iG3LqhK0M_DX127k1hh8WbTEO6ThyCrjuJQZbCblQxXeNPAvianN7HtwEGMT8TwyJITd1ycoxXXTWUGxgZAQiTURxvXUU-S0c40TCc21fGiLPV8sHrsKs1O4hsOeBPGSMli0/s1600/hpillow.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="226" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJKzreec1iG3LqhK0M_DX127k1hh8WbTEO6ThyCrjuJQZbCblQxXeNPAvianN7HtwEGMT8TwyJITd1ycoxXXTWUGxgZAQiTURxvXUU-S0c40TCc21fGiLPV8sHrsKs1O4hsOeBPGSMli0/s320/hpillow.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
Little Bit is officially three months old today. Sort of. But really she is a brand new baby only two weeks old. She is 8lbs and 19 inches. She eats and sleeps and has very brief awake phases. She has beautiful hair that is just long enough now to fuzz and feels delicious when you rub her head.<br />
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She has been part of our lives for three months but she has only been home for roughly two weeks which helps remind us (if not the rest of the world) that she really is just a brand new baby.<br />
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But now that she is really supposed to be here ( ie full-term) she is doing so much better. She still has major reflux and still needs oxygen support. But we are adjusting. We figured out the wrap and she loves being worn. She can be more upright which helps the reflux and she breathes more calmly and easily being worn. And it also means I can keep life functioning at least somewhat. <br />
<br />Fairionhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12168703092479677513noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3551400222809010557.post-1757171665291275302015-10-14T13:30:00.000-04:002015-10-14T13:30:20.888-04:00Fairy House Jack O' LanternFor ages I have been collecting ideas for how Froggy and I can make natural invitations to play. Today we finally acted on one of those ideas. We took one of the gourds from our <a href="http://fairion.blogspot.com/2015/10/pumpkin-still-life.html">still life painting</a> and turned it into an amazing Jack O'Lantern. <a href="http://www.kitchencounterchronicle.com/fairy-house-jack-o-lantern/"> Kitchen Counter Chronicles</a> supplied the idea and instructions. Froggy supplied the creativity and labor. <br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4upGWdtrBG7RqsqFIqQyUX7ixglWXE9O3fDDruhopFhGFG52hZVffOIAvYRnGDh4nzffMU0ig4IQ0w54m27WY43myHA2374-OqJCugCYJht-73FI43cw_uKlxSXTUUWsreIKsZ9EOfZA/s1600/IMG_6839.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4upGWdtrBG7RqsqFIqQyUX7ixglWXE9O3fDDruhopFhGFG52hZVffOIAvYRnGDh4nzffMU0ig4IQ0w54m27WY43myHA2374-OqJCugCYJht-73FI43cw_uKlxSXTUUWsreIKsZ9EOfZA/s320/IMG_6839.JPG" width="213" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIuX3GyXLiYhyn6Ah2-p_v_pcwkrNqFD1n-W1rQwDDsdPSSGee9qPw-CnGYkWw9lS2VGIOKofBiMDxUsMHpw3Jh7Rrz2bxojMgOx2mhcpIhnB25Sa2LQUlI7r6JNfgOW1BfRRt_UiKFzI/s1600/IMG_6842.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIuX3GyXLiYhyn6Ah2-p_v_pcwkrNqFD1n-W1rQwDDsdPSSGee9qPw-CnGYkWw9lS2VGIOKofBiMDxUsMHpw3Jh7Rrz2bxojMgOx2mhcpIhnB25Sa2LQUlI7r6JNfgOW1BfRRt_UiKFzI/s320/IMG_6842.JPG" width="213" /></a></div>
I think it turned out awesome. And as a bonus, we roasted the seeds and had a yummy snack.Fairionhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12168703092479677513noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3551400222809010557.post-52223431397328688752015-10-11T15:09:00.000-04:002015-10-14T07:05:19.079-04:00Pumpkin Still Life Froggy loves art and is always happy when doing an art project. Yet she does not often choose on her own to create. One of the benefits of the enforced slow-down that Little Bit is my willingness to provide artistic opportunities for us to do together. Because it really does need to be together. If I put out the supplies, 50/50 odds she will choose to partake. However, if I suggest we do a project together, 95% chance, she will happily participate.<br />
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Today, we did <a href="http://buggyandbuddy.com/pumpkin-still-life-art-project-for-kids/">Pumpkin Still Life paintings</a> inspired by Buggy and Buddy. I explained to Froggy what a still life is. She was stymied by the idea of trying to draw something 3D in 2D. I explained that was the challenge and offered some techniques other artists employ. Then we started.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTqCfYx6rLZsWPcCiiYovTptWidpxMty9ZAKOhPk9GoJk65amJmLvFp8vvTfwkLq0PEmvjJefZOTQxoOwF2JldD3iz7tvxJd0FgD0QGcqp9hl3ORylwLDA2-VjZJLayXw9FPr-z8zxicM/s1600/20151011_154616.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTqCfYx6rLZsWPcCiiYovTptWidpxMty9ZAKOhPk9GoJk65amJmLvFp8vvTfwkLq0PEmvjJefZOTQxoOwF2JldD3iz7tvxJd0FgD0QGcqp9hl3ORylwLDA2-VjZJLayXw9FPr-z8zxicM/s320/20151011_154616.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
She chose a interesting composition for her piece and was pleased with the reults. Froggy's is the one on the right. Fairionhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12168703092479677513noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3551400222809010557.post-67820361764869563442015-10-07T07:23:00.002-04:002015-10-07T07:23:19.025-04:00PatienceLittle Bit has only been part of our family for a very short time but she has changed our lives in big ways. She has helped me become a better parent not just to her but to Froggy as well. Two months in the NICU forced me to slow down. Even now that we are home Little Bit is not allowed out of the house except for doctor's visits so we are still moving at a slower pace. The enforced slow-down has been an amazing lesson in patience. This new found patience has made me a better parent to both my girls. Fairionhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12168703092479677513noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3551400222809010557.post-45029142523497771092015-08-03T15:19:00.001-04:002015-08-03T15:19:50.363-04:00Recipe Redux - Enchilada BakeOur family has been doing more vegan meals and one of our new favorite dinners is Enchilada Bake. It is based off of <a href="http://www.twopeasandtheirpod.com/black-bean-and-quinoa-enchilada-bake/">this one</a> from two peas and their pod. But I made enough changes to the recipe that I wanted to note them here (specifically for Abba who is doing more of the cooking this Fall). It makes enough that I can bring it for a potluck or Mitzvah Meal for the large families in our community. It is two meals minimum for our little family.<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.twopeasandtheirpod.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/01/Black-Bean-and-Quinoa-Enchilada-Bake-8.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://www.twopeasandtheirpod.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/01/Black-Bean-and-Quinoa-Enchilada-Bake-8.jpg" height="320" width="213" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">it is beautiful and yummy and this picture is from the original as well rather than mine.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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Ingredients<br />
1 cup uncooked quinoa, rinsed<br />
2 cups water<br />
1 tablespoon olive oil<br />
1 onion, diced<br />
3 cloves garlic, minced<br />
1 red pepper, seeds removed, diced<br />
1 orange pepper, seeds removed, diced<br />
1 bag frozen corn<br />
Juice of 1 small lime<br />
1 teaspoon ground cumin<br />
1 tablespoon chili powder<br />
1/3 cup chopped cilantro<br />
Salt and pepper, to taste<br />
2 (15 oz) cans black beans, drained and rinsed<br />
2 cans red enchilada sauce<br />
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Directions:<br />
<ol>
<li>Add quinoa and water to a medium saucepan and bring to a boil over
medium heat. Boil for 5 minutes. Turn the heat to low and simmer for
about 15 minutes, or until water is absorbed. Remove from heat and set aside.
</li>
<li>In a large skillet, heat the tablespoon of olive oil over
medium-high heat. Add the onion,. Sauté until
softened, about 5 minutes. Add in the garlic, peppers and corn. Cook for about
3-4 minutes. Add the lime juice, cumin, chili powder, and cilantro. Stir
to combine. Season with salt and pepper, to taste.</li>
<li>Add the cooked quinoa and black beans. Pour in the enchilada
sauce and stir.Let simmer for flavors to combine.</li>
</ol>
These freezes lovely. I serve it with cheese, chips and a nice green salad. <br />
Fairionhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12168703092479677513noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3551400222809010557.post-87231446052108651672015-05-22T11:01:00.001-04:002015-05-22T11:01:09.084-04:00When does no mean never?It is so hard sometimes to know the right path, to open your heart and hear the divine message. How do you know if the horrible suffering you are experiencing is a test you need to push through or a sign you are headed down the wrong path?<br />
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It is really really hard to be told no over and over and over again while other people are being told yes all around you and not believe NO is your only option. <br />
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When is it time to pack up and go away?<br />
<br />Fairionhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12168703092479677513noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3551400222809010557.post-23590471652780728712015-05-19T10:29:00.001-04:002015-05-19T10:29:26.874-04:00PicklesI made my first ever attempt at pickles. We were given a bunch of carrots that I am experimenting with.<br />
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The first batch was a sweet recipe from <u>Well Preserved</u> and the second batch is a rosemary garlic variety from the same book. The third batch is a very traditional recipe I found<a href="http://www.davidlebovitz.com/2008/11/easy-pickled-carrots/"> here</a>. We have only tasted the first kind as the others still need to sit and develop a bit. We are going to do a taste test at Shabbos dinner this week. Fairionhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12168703092479677513noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3551400222809010557.post-8425390140197412842015-05-18T10:01:00.000-04:002015-05-18T10:01:00.054-04:00Parenting Musings<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://encrypted-tbn1.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcToWpWiJN3rJZliVQvaVKwDqfIJ4tLCL2xgjDoWnoIDkhr8ao_ntuxizTm3" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://encrypted-tbn1.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcToWpWiJN3rJZliVQvaVKwDqfIJ4tLCL2xgjDoWnoIDkhr8ao_ntuxizTm3" /></a></div>
During my morning contemplations, I was struck with the differences in how I parent the visiting children who come into our lives versus how I treated Froggy at the same age. These thoughts did not sit well<br />
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For a variety of reasons, legal requirements foremost among them, these young visitors are tucked into bed, kissed goodnight and then left; left to their dreams, good or bad, left to their unknown thoughts and feelings, left at time when not leaving is a sign of trust.<br />
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These visitors were never abandoned but I am not sure they knew that, believed that deep in their hearts. I do know that I tried to make that clear but that does not mean I succeeded. With Froggy I always made sure it was clear and never left any room for doubt. <br />
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<br />Fairionhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12168703092479677513noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3551400222809010557.post-60876082941859801522015-05-12T09:58:00.000-04:002015-05-17T10:00:29.147-04:00Biking Adventures<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://encrypted-tbn3.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcTL7_pQuu7_UWF2tn5lGvEn0JteHJ6DLo_9m-GLQO95dnHCNHlYdF6UWQ" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://encrypted-tbn3.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcTL7_pQuu7_UWF2tn5lGvEn0JteHJ6DLo_9m-GLQO95dnHCNHlYdF6UWQ" /></a></div>
This summer marks a mighty change. Last year we pushed hard to enable Froggy to make a <a href="http://fairion.blogspot.com/2014/05/summer-bike-rides.html">decent length bike ride.</a> But it was still a challenge rather than a fun activity. This year, she rode a whopping 4.5 miles without any serious struggle. Each week we are taking a bike ride ranging from 2-6 miles typically with a stop at a midpoint destination but sometimes it is just a fun circle.<br />
<br />Fairionhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12168703092479677513noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3551400222809010557.post-88474223193490712892015-03-19T10:25:00.002-04:002015-03-19T21:56:56.855-04:00Muddy Feet<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
There is one good thing about mud season. It gives some of the best tracks. Here are a couple we saw one a recent hike.</div>
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<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6opeLCnxy2wV5IohALs2mZZGRUr8PLmBeZ5dHvEEVfV0U7Yw06RPrU5ietPqDIuPlYIVsjVFbd-mMulOiRltO2g6hJ5hhO_F7IDAVyAWh0wOMJdm3UrZrB34WyMRzOpZy4r9gtPRiLrg/s1600/20141214_073423.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6opeLCnxy2wV5IohALs2mZZGRUr8PLmBeZ5dHvEEVfV0U7Yw06RPrU5ietPqDIuPlYIVsjVFbd-mMulOiRltO2g6hJ5hhO_F7IDAVyAWh0wOMJdm3UrZrB34WyMRzOpZy4r9gtPRiLrg/s1600/20141214_073423.jpg" height="320" width="180" /> </a></div>
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This one was easy for Froggy to identify. We get lots of deer around here. </div>
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<img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsjIC4_NA9ZHaLRNDky3GVh-dWHFTBc7S9pexG1kZfkUYntYH9MCxNjH-4RM-wzUrJJFrR6szfOjvDk9C3w18WCrp7kxFHdDKOKMWaO8829GCcU_nMC8ki_dOq_PrvLX2Gbfo3E69M4_M/s1600/20141124_155530.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></div>
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<br />Fairionhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12168703092479677513noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3551400222809010557.post-79676061811708027572015-03-15T07:15:00.000-04:002015-03-21T07:19:20.003-04:00Pi Day <div style="text-align: center;">
Yesterday was the Pi Day of the century. </div>
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In order to prepare we made Pi Skylines. I hung a<a href="http://10minutemath.blogspot.com/2011/05/free-pi-posters.html"> poster of Pi. </a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwpTOuM5IgYUJUuhugIzniYcfH6gP5vtNwCMzn5PjFmd7XHe2Gg68OxJgVCj7-W6iZGhDl_tmrVJELKVxUPXgu20P2bNlDqMQQVXRRjHjlkcxK5LLRLypVEvsiBrDlesxKeBnMB-WWX-s/s1600/IMG_6534.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwpTOuM5IgYUJUuhugIzniYcfH6gP5vtNwCMzn5PjFmd7XHe2Gg68OxJgVCj7-W6iZGhDl_tmrVJELKVxUPXgu20P2bNlDqMQQVXRRjHjlkcxK5LLRLypVEvsiBrDlesxKeBnMB-WWX-s/s1600/IMG_6534.JPG" height="213" width="320" /></a></div>
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Froggy was giggly at the idea of turning a number into a picture. This is probably the first time she has actually worked with graph paper. I did not realize that until we were well into the program. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvuclieOZu9x7hHymrAitaECvrypmCaR6rPbMzi6V80Ukl2_9B9y1oKfrQschsmyyD-9AjzHSQQr7fyLLkJL6PKAY0pShWtAZ5rJqt0oFSmwupA18UA_VXVgVHXgOklHd30Q44xLt9e9o/s1600/IMG_6536.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvuclieOZu9x7hHymrAitaECvrypmCaR6rPbMzi6V80Ukl2_9B9y1oKfrQschsmyyD-9AjzHSQQr7fyLLkJL6PKAY0pShWtAZ5rJqt0oFSmwupA18UA_VXVgVHXgOklHd30Q44xLt9e9o/s1600/IMG_6536.JPG" height="213" width="320" /></a></div>
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I worked along side Froggy but did mine silhouette style in all shadow. You can't tell in the pictures but the birds in the sky are little Pis. </div>
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<a href="http://altonbrown.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/01/alton-brown-moo-less-chocolate-pie.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://altonbrown.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/01/alton-brown-moo-less-chocolate-pie.jpg" height="247" width="320" /></a></div>
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We had <a href="http://altonbrown.com/moo-less-chocolate-pie-recipe/">chocolate pie</a> for dessert. I forgot to take a picture of it so I will share the recipe photo (mine are never this pretty). I hope you enjoyed your Pi day as much as we did.</div>
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Fairionhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12168703092479677513noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3551400222809010557.post-16506336523915544612015-03-09T19:32:00.000-04:002015-03-21T07:33:17.951-04:00A new look<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
It was a big change for Froggy today. She got her haircut short.</div>
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<img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4SYwGdJ1SKtzIm76BFwwi2yE9MtfVVIy_qJk8YQ4o4xkBH2rfiaVsDNdvxXxjLOxMlysyhgCXi3oxxJLuigLoUJS8UMh3-HzSOSIBGOUc0XAC4Z6llPQxBlXc_7AEb0KI6cLtUDzHsbI/s1600/20150309_123743.jpg" height="320" width="180" /></div>
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Goodbye braids</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7o72lbYmDCM4BgrX1J7hFg42BE6IDoN0O6F9n_51bAjdCb12L1LnywNb2-TKKo9swFjzbrhueTh8eNjewD6CwHMyDMc9SFXBGp3cK9rHR5tCsIKOlg7jhwaYM2JuyIIF8whJjzAWO1d0/s1600/20150309_123757.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7o72lbYmDCM4BgrX1J7hFg42BE6IDoN0O6F9n_51bAjdCb12L1LnywNb2-TKKo9swFjzbrhueTh8eNjewD6CwHMyDMc9SFXBGp3cK9rHR5tCsIKOlg7jhwaYM2JuyIIF8whJjzAWO1d0/s1600/20150309_123757.jpg" height="320" width="180" /></a></div>
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Hello Curls </div>
Fairionhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12168703092479677513noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3551400222809010557.post-52720651077008914482015-03-08T21:00:00.000-04:002015-03-09T21:01:05.639-04:00Soil Testing<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
Froggy and her friend, M decided to compare the soils in their gardens. <img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRQVxvTD4nh3ZDLJx78NMkagB4hMHOLK6qNog1chcQlyWuum9MXQTPFYYl8SjLif_Rb63ftt6jXlLP0KT_oQOFUzxWTxCR19KDKtiNUfjuUZAiyN27H5Hnt4sVwK4471MZK1ZBYzKGDvU/s1600/20141030_124449.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></div>
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These contraptions simulate the rainfall while catching the runoff. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9xLJ2IEqN1OvVRM3Pt_YHGNBCia08fRG7BCojqKYOsXDvJgh6jP5vQNj-FMOUyFekfa_b_jRJv3W2Eu0GIB0_wPi3v2TRPAB3S7Qyj7yAJIERZIq8F3CfnqwfdOEN0uU5ffbLnl-AxDA/s1600/20141030_124634.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9xLJ2IEqN1OvVRM3Pt_YHGNBCia08fRG7BCojqKYOsXDvJgh6jP5vQNj-FMOUyFekfa_b_jRJv3W2Eu0GIB0_wPi3v2TRPAB3S7Qyj7yAJIERZIq8F3CfnqwfdOEN0uU5ffbLnl-AxDA/s1600/20141030_124634.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
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The shorter container is from Froggy's garden with potting soil while the taller container is from M's backyard where she uses plain dirt. You can see how much more erosion there was from the potting soil. Froggy finally understood why we have to keep refilling the pots. </div>
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This year we are studying Colonial Times through the Revolution. This week's topic was the Boston Massacre. We read the overview and then Abigail's perspective and then played the <a href="http://bostonhistory.org/sub/bostonmassacre/game.html">neatest game</a>. It's purpose is to compare the different images and accounts of event in order to determine what actually happened. the whole family played together and we all learned something. </div>
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Did you know there are several different artistic renderings showing different perspectives of the event? I certainly did not. </div>
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<img alt="" height="412" id="yui_3_5_1_4_1424651301192_800" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgb7yyv7pib3AJAe5s34mv3uhlzwJroboj7XxqYW0SxeY0UUH20EqhBghuYzB27RLCWuTk2tnUgzwul3vVYhZWpXc1-FPQLF_87QIGd62s9IY-iwzxDQW7BDvc3NzZVd5wGZ2NNy23TRI4/s1600/Boston+Massacre.jpg" style="height: 412px; width: 605px;" width="605" /> </div>
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This engraving by Paul Revere is the one we all know and recognize. It is almost the only one anyone knows. </div>
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<img alt="" border="0" height="370" src="http://www.bostonmassacre.net/images/new_pic2_med.jpg" width="540" /></div>
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While this image, more accurately depicts the events according to the eyewitness testimony. </div>
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It is interesting that the actual witness testimony recorded during the trial shows a very different version of the events than I was ever taught in school. </div>
Fairionhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12168703092479677513noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3551400222809010557.post-58738381675512346282015-02-23T08:17:00.000-05:002015-02-22T20:17:55.866-05:00Swimming with Ben<div style="text-align: center;">
<img alt="Os 13 princĂpios de Benjamin Franklin" class="thm ii-ll" data-pos="4" height="293" id="yui_3_10_0_1_1424653580448_483" src="https://sp.yimg.com/ib/th?id=HN.608054927343028092&pid=15.1&w=123&h=113&p=0" width="320" /> </div>
One of our special people this year is Benjamin Franklin. After struggling through Poor Richard's Almanac and hearing about his life in his language, I decided we need to do more to make these wonderful inventions come alive. So I ordered <br />
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<u><span class="a-size-large" id="productTitle">Amazing BEN FRANKLIN Inventions: You Can Build Yourself . </span></u>It is a great book which gives some background on how and why Benjamin Franklin invented the items he did and then offers a wide variety of ideas to try out. </div>
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Our first adventure was making swim paddles because young Ben loved the water and swimming. He wanted to go faster so he invented both hand paddles and fins. Froggy has yet to test hers out because winter is not the best time for heading to the pool. </div>
<br />Fairionhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12168703092479677513noreply@blogger.com1