Lionden Landing

Today was a cold rainy day.  So instead of the planned outdoor activities, we took advantage of the day to get some holiday baking in.  We made Holiday cut-out sugar cookies.  We used Almost Unschoolers recipe.  It did not turn out as well as my traditional recipe but it was easier for Froggy to handle. We made stars and dreidles and Chais.  Froggy tried to make hannukiot but the stands broke on every single one. On an attempt not to over load on sugar, we also made banana muffins.  We used silcon molds so that they could be festive shapes as well.  Froggy asked for hannukiot as well but I sadly informed her that we did not have a mold for those so we could not make them.  The muffin starts turned out fantastic but the dreidles just ended up looking like pointy blobs.   While the muffins were baking, Froggy decorated our kitchen window with Gel Stickers.  This is the final touch of holiday decorating until we light the candles. ...

Today is Charles Darwin Day ! Thursday, February 12, is the 200th anniversary of English Naturalist Charles Darwin’s birth. Don’t we all need something fresh to celebrate today? I am celebrating by giving away two copies of “We’re Sailing to Galapagos” written by Laurie Krebs , published by, whom other, than Barefoot Books . I love this book! It has a wonderful “sing-song rhyme” rich, col orful illustrations (the collage-y cut paper kind that amazes me every time I study it). Finally, as all of the titles in Laurie’s world travel series , it has an amazing “glossary” in the back - my friend refers to them often as “Harvard extension programs set to rhyme”. Laurie does a wonderful job of writing informative, yet light, easy to read rhyming stories. She keeps the main part of the book relaxed and fun (this one among many things introduces the days of the week) then by finishing with rich end notes that, for us, make her books top of the to...

I am still struggling with breakfast. I have not had a real breakfast more than once this past week. I did manage to serve Froggy a real breakfast everyday though. If I just had a list of items to rotate through I would be fine but cannot come up with 7 acceptable options. Here is what I have Baked Oatmeal French Toast Scrambled eggs Yogurt ( We have been having way too much yogurt lately) So here is the contest. Three lucky winners will get a breakfast basket sent to them. How can you enter? Suggest something for us to have for breakfast. Remember breakfast must have lots of good protein and no dairy. If your suggestion makes it into regular rotation you are a winner and will have my undying gratitude. And now for our menu this week.. Sunday - Leftover Pot Roast and squash from Shabbat - boy did that turn out yummy Monday - Class tonight for mom / Daddy and Froggy will have dinner out Tuesday - Seafood Stew / salad /bisquits - Bake cookies for Valentines Day party Wednesday...

Please help send congratulations to Kris and her two little girls who will receive Animal Boogie as well as Heidi and her boisterous family who will receive Llama Llama. I tried to use the random number generator to choose the winner. After 3 tries where it picked a winner I could not contact, I gave up and picked based on who had valid contact information. I hope you have enjoyed all the book giveaways as much as I have. I did not win anything despite many many entries. I did find many new fun blogs to enjoy though. That alone has made it worthwhile to me. I hope all the people who have won here enjoy their books. Whether you won or not I hope you come back to visit often.

Congratulations to Tracy of Frugal Fairie . She is now the proud owner of Super Natural Cooking. Her spicy vegetable soup was truly inspiring. She has lots of fun recipes and frugal ideas on her site so go check her out and tell her congratulations while you are at it.

Please all help me congratulate PS . She is now the proud owner of Cooking with Herb . Thank you to all who entered. Keep an eye her for lots more giveaways. Monday starts book week giveaway.

It's hard to believe that time is going by so quickly, but here it is already - the big Fall 2008 Bloggy Giveaway kicks off today, and you're invited. Click on the link (going live at 8am CST) to participate in literally hundreds of great bloggy giveaways. . For my own giveaway this time I'm giving away something that combines my three favorite things in life; children, books and cooking. Cooking with Herb is a companion book to Herb, The Vegetarian . Bright, funny watercolor, crayon, and pen-and-ink illustrations set the tone for a happy time in the kitchen. Grand-Ma-Ma Flora, Squat, Haggis, Gorse and Meathook, help Herb the Dragon prepare such vegetarian specialties as Spaghetti Sandwiches (a frittata of pasta, eggs and cheese), Veggie Sailboats and Radical Dragon-Salsa. To enter the drawing leave me a comment telling me your favorite book, recipe or childhood moment and be sure to leave a way for me to contact you if you win. While you are here, relax and look around...

Being the McLinky Person I am, I discovered this great contest and a great new blog today. She has invited everyone to share their family's favorite Fall activities. Here are ours. Every year we go apple picking. It started when we lived in apple country and the orchards were five minutes away. It was so much that it continues now as we try a new orchard each year looking for one that is a reasonable drive yet has quality fruit. We pack a picnic lunch and spend the day in the trees. We try to go before Rosh Hashana so the apples we pick can be on our apples and honey plate for a sweet new year. The next day we make apple sauce. Or more accurately I should say we make our first batch of apple sauce for the year. There is nothing like the flavor of homemade apple sauce. We go through a lot in our household since Froggy loves it and I use it to replace butter / oil in most of my baking.