A day in the life of a Victorian rancher child

No this is not a history report but just a recap of a fun field trip I went on with my daughters class. I have to say this field trip was more fun than any of the trips I went on as a kid. Fourteen parents and a teacher with two park rangers and a class of 30 forth grade students spent a full day at the John Muir house in Martinez CA. The children came in historical costumes ranch children would have worn when John Muir was alive.

Between 9a.m. and 5 p.m. the children when through hour long stations. They made adobe bricks by walking in mud and straw then filling up a mold with the the mud and leaving the bricks in the sun to dry. The kids were so funny screaming its cold.The boys did not stay in long leaving the girls to get really muddy.

The kids then learned to do embroidery. I was surprised at the boys liked it so much. I think we will be doing some of this at home. I remember liking to stitch with my Grandmother and Mom when I was small.

They made candles . I was surprised just how easy that was. I'm thinking a family art project for the Lutz Posse in the next few weeks.

I think they threw in some painted crafts to kill time. I'm not convinced this was a very historical daily event.

They were giving a chance to play some Victorian games like croquet and hitting a wheel with a stick while running along side it.

The children had cooking stations where they all contributed to all the food they ate. A stew, a apple cobbler, lemon aide with lemons the children picked off the tree there at the monument. Then they all lined up with their pie tins they used as plates at together on the ranch. I didn't see one child refuse to eat. Very impressive.

To end the day after all the hard work, games and crafts we took a hike up to the top of Mount Wanda.

Children's Book Giveaway

Here it goes...our first giveaway. I thought carefully about ways I could give back selecting this giveaway. What better way than to share my love of books with a meet the author, promote their book and giveaway a copy  to a lucky person.

 Rain-drop and Peek-a-boo: A Very Bunny Documentary by Sheryl Marie
This book is a beautifully illustrated and captivating  story of two bunny sisters that will dazzle your children and quickly become a favorite in your child's home library.


*note to other authors with books they'd like to promote. Send me an e-mail. I may not be your target demographic but lots of Mom's read and I'd be happy to help out.
pinkradish@yahoo.com

Rain-drop and Peek-a-boo: A Very Bunny Documentary

by Sheryl Marie
http://www.bysherylmarie.com/

This rhyming “read to me” picture book is about my two little bunny rabbits and their crazy behaviors. It is composed of true stories, complimented by artwork that will capture any child’s imagination. Fun shapes, bright colors and fancy borders accent each page. A child can count the carrots at the bottom of each story page. This book also touches upon (ever so slightly) the responsibility of caring for such a special pet with an excerpt called “Hair Raising Thoughts About Raising Little Hares”.
 



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This book is sold at Amazon.com and Barnes and Noble On-line. I have a link on my left side bar as well.

Thinking about an Easter Bunny for your kids

Easter is in a few weeks. Some kids may have the pressure on you to get them cute lovable cuddly little Easter bunny. Please take a moment to think through what this addition to your family could mean.

This is a great read about Easter Bunny Abandonment. Written by a local children's book author and lover of rabbits.  Check it out.

Date Night

Yes a Mom and Dad with five kids can still date. Last night we went to Sacramento to celebrate War's BFFs birthday. It's just over an hour from where we live in the East Bay.

I got to tell you I love date night. I love getting ready. Taking a long hot shower, blow drying my hair, putting on make up and putting on clothes I probably wouldn't wear to the park or the clean the bathroom in. I love the look on my husbands face when he tells me how good I look. I love that I look good. May sound a little vain however I do a lot of jeans and t-shirt make-up free days. It's fun. Not forgetting to mention my husband it hot when he goes out. I love being the one on his arm.

The second part I love about date night is my kids love our babysitter. I do too. She is the most wonderful person anyone could have stay with their kids and she have become one of my best friends to boot.  My kids love her so much if I tell them to soon she's coming over I hear about it all week. Is she coming today? What time is she coming? Can we go to her house? The questions keep coming. When she gets here my kids wont even let me talk to her. They are pushing me out the door with both hands. I have to remind them to kiss and hug me. There is not a better feeling as a parent than knowing the person your kids are with loves them and they love her. I have the worlds best babysitter.



These are my kids with my babysitter from last night.





The last part about date night I love. We usually go out with other couples. I love seeing our friends. I love adult conversation. I love to hear what everyone's doing. I love to eat. Last night was sushi. I know I'm dieting and I budgeted my calories. I have a killer Zebra roll. Nothing beats the flavor of BBQ eel, tempura shrimp,mango sauce and roe. 

Over all date night as usual was a sucess and I can't wait for the next one.

Kind of getting through to my kids

This morning I was making a you choose  breakfast for my kids. Joey my 9 year old pulls two boxes of cereal out and starts to read the nutrition information. My first thought what what is he doing?  Joey starts to compare sugars and fats on the boxes. I'm starting to glow. Maybe just maybe after all these years and talking to pediatricians and nutrition specialist Joey finally gets that the healthier choices are the way to go.

After Joey closely has weighed out that Cap'n Crunch all though it has a higher sodium content is a better choice than and off brand Honey Nut cereal having higher fiber and lower sugar content. The he puts them back on the shelf. To Joey I ask why he put both boxes back. He tells me he thought I was going to suggest he eat the Honey Nut cereal and he hates it. He needed to prove Cap'n Crunch was better for him. After all is said he's going to eat Reese Puffs for breakfast. What?.

The kid kills me. He is so smart it's funny. I suppose in a sense I got through because he listened and applied what I tought him. Just incase I had him eat the yucky Honey Nut cereal.

My plants at night. Just for fun!

My kitchen window. Oregano, a succulent, Basil,some homemade chia heads, and snap peas. This is my happy place.

Beta bulbs bought with our Beta fish that didn't make it.

My composting inspiration. Big and beautiful made by Sonny at school for Earth Day 2010.

Our bean sprouts. I can't wait! Yummy!!!

Our tomato seedling made it this far. Courtesy of lots of warm drinks of water on cold days.

Some of our pepper seedling thriving in the grow bags

My corn grows great. My neighbor says he can't get his to grow maybe 50 feet away???



Spinach ready to harvest. Eggplant and Squash just growing away.



My strawberries love the crazy mood swings of Mother Nature. .  

Walla Walla onions. No clue what I'm doing here. I hope they turn out.

This Mama bloggers frustrations

I started this blog because my Mom told me I should write things down. My kids have great stories and I'm fun to listen to. So I did. Why would my Mom lie to me? Well I write and I get people who stumble on my blog from time to time, most likely spammers. My blog when it posts as a note to Face Book sometimes is commented on.  I second guessing if this is worth my time.

After talking to a professional writer I was told that the most successful blogs are from people who where once writers, have something interesting to talk about with an interesting twist. I should write because I want to and enjoy it not because I'm going to make money. If I think of my blog like walking down the street people don't flock to me. Now if I was wearing a bikini walking down the street I might get some followers.

Well I never thought I'd make money on it. I do get a rush when I check my stats and see page hits. I'm not the type to walk down the street in a bikini even when I had a slamming body. *wink* I guess I just want to feel like something useful. Seeing people like it would be nice.

I think I'll give it another month to see if anything for me changes on blogger and if not then I think throwing in the towel is my best option. I have written over a year, sharing family, ideas, recipes mile stones, successes, failures and fun. Feeling like I'm standing on a soap box on a corner while everyone ignores me as they walk by. While I scream what's important to me. It's becoming too much trying to be noticed for content and not for what free goodies you could get if you follow me.

I've got five kids. I work my ass off trying to raise and make sure they turn out to be good self providing aware people. I have chronic pain I'm learning to manage. I'm active and do things you may want to try. I have a real blended family with five kids and diverse backgrounds. I'm sure there are people out there similar to me that can benefit from at least something on my blog. I like to help. I like people. I just never know. No input from anyone except my husband who loves me.

There is something out there that will make me feel like my life has meaning. I have a deep desire to be someone more than a Mom, a wife and an service rep. I just don't have a lot of time to do it. Blogging seemed like an easy way to connect. It's hard. The people who do it well I love. They are kind of like Rock Stars to me. I read them with every new post. I'm just me. Sharing with spammers my world and have no clue why.

Done venting......... on to the next thing. Have a nice day.

~Mary