Lionden Landing

Froggy has been enjoying Shakespeare since a much younger age than I thought possible before I had children thanks to the suggestions and guidance of our curriculum .  We started our Shakespeare experience with the Nesbit and Lamb 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. And this year, our Shakespearean adventure has entered a new chapter.  We are reading Othello in all its original glory with the help of No Fear Shakespeare .  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....

Flavor Question: Can I make the peach flavor stronger by simmering the peaches on the stove? Texture Question: How can we make the edges less brown and still keep it cooked inside? Flavor Hypothesis - If I simmer the peaches on the stove, the peach flavor will get concentrated because we simmer off the water. 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 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....

Flavor Question: Can I make the flavor more even by pureeing the peaches and evening out the fruit (putting in more cherries and less peaches)? Texture Question: How can we make the edges less brown and still keep it cooked inside? Flavor Hypothesis -  If I Puree the peaches and divide the fruit in half I will make a more even flavor in the bread. 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 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 sam...

Froggy 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. 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. 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.

I 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!  She was extremely brave during the process and been really responsible about caring for them.

For 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 still life painting and turned it into an amazing Jack O'Lantern.  Kitchen Counter Chronicles supplied the idea and instructions.  Froggy supplied the creativity and labor.  I think it turned out awesome.  And as a bonus, we roasted the seeds and had a yummy snack.

 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. Today, we did Pumpkin Still Life paintings 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. She chose a interesting composition for her piece and was pleased with the reults. Froggy's is the one on the right.

This summer marks a mighty change.  Last year we pushed hard to enable Froggy to make a decent length bike ride.   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.

Yesterday was the Pi Day of the century.   In order to prepare we made Pi Skylines.  I hung a poster of Pi. 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.  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.    We had chocolate pie 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.

It was a big change for Froggy today.  She got her haircut short.    Goodbye braids Hello Curls

  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 Amazing BEN FRANKLIN Inventions: You Can Build Yourself  .  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.  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.

  Doesn't that headline sound awesome?  Don't they look like fun?  Froggy and I certainly thought so.  We had all the requisite supplies so we jumped in.  .    We have made lots and lots of batches of slime. And this looked and felt identical. Tons of fun but not what we expected. The only difference between their "recipe" and standard slime is the addition of cornstarch. It is supposed to make the slime dry enough make a good firm ball. The slime did dry out some after we refrigerated it but it still went splat rather than bounced Linking to All Things Beautiful Science Sunday Meme

Froggy had her very first Google Hangout today with a new friend in Quebec.  They both avid readers without many local Jewish friends.  We were a bit caught of guard with the technical challenges.  We were expecting a text-based chat and ended up on a video call.  Froggy was surprised and extremely shy.  She finally warmed up and I think they hit it off.  Hopefully we will have more chances to talk.

Our big objective for the summer is to get Froggy proficient in really riding her bike.  Our first adventure was almost our last.  It was a one mile ride up to the library.  Froggy was insistent she could not make it up the hill.  She turned around and headed home.  At the bottom of the hill, she asked how far we were.  I told her we were about 2/3s.  She got determined, turned her bike around and conquered that hill.  Today, at her request, we tried a much harder 2 mile ride up to the ice cream store.  She had to walk about half a block up the last bit of one hill and pause to rest on two other hills but she did it.  And more importantly she did it of her own desire and without any whining or complaining at all.  My heart just about burst with pride.

The Smithsonian Natural History Muesum closed its Dinosaur exhibit at the end of April.  Knowing it was coming, we went to say goodbye.  We went with another family that was way more prepared than.  The mom made a neat scavenger hunt for the girls.  They completed it in record time. But then spent forever showing us all the things they found. We also got to visit a Touch-Me Station and talk with the docent about the fossils. This was Froggy's Favorite of the entire day Whereas my favorite was watching the paleontologists at work There was a disagreement of facts between the girls, so Froggy used the sign to win.   Once we finished with the dinosaurs, we went to the insect exhibit and saw all the creepy crawlers   including this black widow spider.

This year we went on a bluebell hike with friends who joined us on our first ever bluebell hike.  That was probably four years ago maybe more.  Two of her kids did not even exist on the initial hike. It was a very very bittersweet hike.  I was too engrossed in the hike and the company to take many pictures.      The bluebells were spectacular this year because we went early enough.  I need to remember that this needs to be right after Cherry Blossoms.  I want to know what this flower is and my google skill is failing me.  It is a wildflower and as the picture shows it is very low to the ground.  There are fields of them and they come up all around the bluebells after peak.     And this is my treasure of the day.  The two girls were inseparable the entire hike. 

Froggy has needed a new big girl apron for some time now.  Part of her costume for Purim was a plain white bakers apron. After Purim, we decided to liven it up a bit before introducing it to regular wear. Enter our first ever attempt at Glue Batik.  We found a tutorial here .  It looked easy enough and we had all the supplies.  The hardest part was finding the acrylic paint amidst all the washable paints. First we drew our designs on the apron.  Froggy knew she wanted a fairy theme but picking the fairy and getting the right design in the right size was a very challenging but fun project for her.  I traced each of the designs onto the apron for her using my light box.   Once the designs were in place she added the glue.  I reminded her to start at the top and work towards then left.  She did it all herself.  We let the glue dry overnight and then set to painting. She did all the details first, let those dry completely then added t...

 Even Purim morning I was still putting the finishing touches on my part of the costumes for Froggy's Purim shpeil.  I made "Chip" and "Cogsworth". Our shul always picks a theme for the year.  This year it is the 60s in honor of the 50th anniversary of the founding in 1964.  I went as Jane Goodall and Abba went as the Disney version of Pooh first pictured in 1962. That really was just an excuse because he always goes as Pooh Bear.  Froggy wanted to be Queen Esther regardless of the theme. Luckily Gramma keeps supplying Froggy with new dressup clothes so there is always queen clothes available. We made a ton of Mishlach Manot baskets.  The list of recipients is mostly done although I expect it will continue to grow right up until Purim.  The final total was 23.  We included 3 different foods  (although it ended up being only the requisite 2 brachot) Spiced almonds, clementines and 3 different kinds of Hamentaschen, funny ones, chocol...

Today while we are bracing for another six inches of snow, it is fun to look back and remember last weekend when our Girl Scout troop went on an amazing hike Our leader found this great nature center which is only 5 minutes from our shul where we meet.  They have amazing trails with lots of child-friendly signs and touchables.  The staff is very supportive of scouting and willing to run programs on Sundays for our troop.  We found several old old trees which had been felled by storms.   And we scoped out this spot for our Bridging Ceremony  After the hike, we stopped in to the Visitor Center where one of the staff bought out a friend to meet the girls.     He was shy but once the girls simmered down he was brave enough to enjoy a snack of bu They have a dinosaur playground that we explored after the Visitor Center.  This helps me remember that Spring is coming.  Look at all that sunshine and the girls with no coat...

Yesterday marked a very special Shabbos for Froggy. After months of studying, she got her first opportunity to lead the congregation in Anim Zemirot .  She did an amazing job finding her voice after only the first couplet.  I know she was nervous but it did not show one bit.  Several people commented that she was one of the best of the gang in her pronunciation.  I was so proud of her I thought I was going to explode. If you are not familiar with this particular psalm, it is one of only two that pre-bnai mitzvah children are permitted to lead and the only one which is almost exclusively led by these special youngsters. I found this fun link of a Shabbaton choir leading it.