Summer Meadows and Forest Flowers

The one in the bunch

Now you see me…now you don’t.

First Snow and a Gaggle

Photo from 5am and why I didn’t sleep all night…

First Freeze

Valentine’s

These Valentines seem to be turning into a tradition. Happy day everyone! 

 

Snow Ghosts

After a windless snowfall, the winds picked up creating what my kids like to call “snow ghosts”.

Skate ’till You Drop

Had a beautiful day yesterday. The -6° C felt balmy but cold enough to keep the ice in good shape. We skated until after dark, knowing the deep freeze was on it’s way again. Soon after we took our skates off for the night, the wind began to howl with the approaching cold front and so did the coyotes. What a wonderful lullaby to sleep to.

Easy Snow Globe

This is a fun little project the kids loved making last year and were just as thrilled to pull out of the Christmas decorating box and see them again this year.
Here are the supplies you will need:
– Figurine ($3 at local toy store) and tree ($1 for 3-pack at dollar store)
*Note, make sure figurine fits in opening of globe!
– Globe (I used a jar from a dollar store $1)
– Snow (here I used finely shredded coconut and sugar to add sparkle)
– Glue gun
– Marker

I am sure it is pretty self-explanatory to do this but here are the steps:

1) If the jar is not even all around, close lid and make a mark on lid where the front of the jar is so you will know which way to place figurine.

2) Open lid and hot-glue figurine and tree to lid

3) Fill globe with snow, close lid and voila!

Delicious Pumpkin Muffins

This is my favourite recipe for pumpkin muffins and is also great as pumpkin loaf if you are lazy like me and don’t want to bother filling all those paper cups 🙂

I purchased these muffin wrappers which I think look a little more spooky for a Halloween party I went to, but if you would like to make your own, you can find a tutorial here.

Pumpkin Muffin Recipe:

Ingredients:

• 4 eggs
• 2 Cups white sugar
• 1 1/2 Cups Oil – I use light olive oil which is pricey but healthy. Any quality vegetable or canola oil should do
• 1 3/4 Cups pure pumpkin from a can (be careful not to get pumpkin pie filling by mistake)
• 3 Cups all purpose flour
• 1 Tablespoon cinnamon
• 2 teaspoons baking powder
• 2 teaspoons baking soda
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 2 Cups rasins or chocolate chips
• Brown sugar for sprinkling on top*Note: if you double the recipe, you can use a full 796ml can.

Instructions:

1. Preheat oven to 350º
2. Mix together eggs, sugar, oil and pumpkin.
3. In a separate bowl, mix the rest of ingredients (except the brown sugar).
4. Add bowl of dry ingredients to wet and mix all together thoroughly.
5. Fill muffin tins and sprinkle top with brown sugar.
6. Bake for 15-20 minutes (until toothpick comes out clean after poking centre)

Enjoy!

Halloween: Tissue Ghosts (easy and fun with kids)

Of all the fun crafts my mom involved my sister and I with when we were kids, this one stands out as my favourite and my kids seem to love it too. It is about as simple as you can get as far as Halloween crafts go and great for all ages.

Supplies:
– Kleenex (tissue)
– White thread
– Marker

1) Take one tissue and scrunch it into a ball.
2) Wrap second tissue around first and twist to form the head.
3) Wrap thread around neck of ghost and tie knot leaving enough tail of thread to be used to hang onto something.
4) Make dots on face with marker for eyes and mouth.

We have hung them from our dining light but are also great in a window or anywhere really. Another great option is to pick a branch and hang them from the it.