Showing posts with label fun. Show all posts
Showing posts with label fun. Show all posts

Jello Popcorn Balls

It had been a while since I made these popcorn balls. I forgot how easy and fun they are to make. I can't wait to do them with the grandkids!




Pop 6-8 quarts of popcorn. (I use an air popper.)
(I haven't tried microwave popcorn. If it works, let me know.)

Melt:
1 stick of butter or margerine (either in microwave or in heavy pan)

Add:
1 pkg of marshmallows

Stir well.

Add:
1 sm. pkg. of Jello (your favorite flavor or color)

Stir well, again.

Pour over popped corn.

Grease palms with shortning or butter.

Form balls (or other shapes)and place on wax paper (or greased cookie sheets)
(It cools quickly, so work quickly.)

While cooling, wash bowls and pans and spoons with hot, soapy water.

EAT !!!!

(Try different colors, flavors, and shapes. Tell me about your ideas.)

Find the Balls of Yarn




Can you find all the balls of yarn?

Follow the links
(gathering balls of yarn)
to find a fun surprise.


Have you seen my new author's page on Facebook?

You may also purchase both
COUNTRY STORE COLLECTION BOOKS
for $10
through the month of December.


Polliwog Limericks



I'm so pleased to feature some fun poetry
written by some talented kids.




They have completed twenty writing lessons.
containing simple instructions and examples of
CHARACTERS, PLOT, IMAGINATION, POETRY, etc.
If you are interested in this writing course,


A Photo Hike through Time

I love my digital camera. 

When I was younger, my father took great pictures with his German-made 8 mm film camera. He tried to teach me about aperture and exposure and . . . other stuff.



 

 It was too complicated.


My mother had a Swinger Polaroid. It slid the picture and gave us the instant reward of seeing them develop right before our eyes. If we wished to keep the photo, we swiped this sticky sponge over it. (I remember that stuff stung if you got it in your eyes.) 

The film was very expensive.



As a teenager, I owned an Instamatic camera that I used to take pictures of friends and pets. Then the film would sit in my desk for months until I could scrape up the money to develop it. Often many of the pictures would blank or fuzzy or mistakes, and it would be a waste of money.

I  feared taking any pictures. 


Now that I have a digital camera, I'm having so much fun! I try to keep it with me all the time, because I never know when I'll see something interesting or inspiring. I can crop it and adjust it on a photo site, then load to my computer and post it on my blog or Facebook immediately.


I may even put it in a book sometime.


 I can click away and experiment with different angles and light. I love the automatic focus and flash. I can snap quick pictures of my grandkids or wild animals.


 If it doesn't turn out, so what? I can just delete it.




 I love catching candid poses and expressions.
 (No, I don't have camera on my phone . . . yet.)


I think I'll go for a photo hike today.
Do you want to come with me?
Who knows what I'll capture today?

Friday Fiction - Waddle Walking




It's springtime.
Flowers are popping out all over. . .
and so are the babies.

(Our family is expecting 2 more within the year.)

Having eight children of my own, I remember those uncomfortable days during the last few weeks of pregnancy. Each day seems like a week. Here's my loving tribute to those expectant moms. Hang in there! It's worth all the grunts and groans and stretch marks.




WADDLE WALKING

“Ummmph!” I plop down on the couch, holding my hand on the rounded form of my belly. A stirring runs up my side into my ribs. “Oooph! Stop that, you're kicking my ribs!” I give my belly a gentle slap.

Counting on my fingers, twice, I figure I'm only eight days overdue--only a week past the day I should be thin and beautiful again. I am tired of wearing these same clothes that barely fit. I am hungry all the time, especially for olives and caramel lattés. Plus, certain smells like Harold's socks and garlic sausages make my stomach turn inside out.

RING...RING...RING...RING...

“I'm coming!” I push behind me with one hand and grab the arm of the couch with the other and stand up. Well, my knees and hips are moving up, but the rest of me is sagging a bit. “Ooomph!”

RING...RING....

“Hello?...puff, puff... Hello?”

MMMMMMMMMMMMMMMM

“Oh, rats, I missed them. I wonder who called?”

Since I'm up, I might as well do something. I press on my lower back and waddle into the kitchen. Before washing up the breakfast dishes, I think I'll have a snack. Looking in the frig, I spy some leftover pizza. Mmmm...perfect! I pop a couple grapes in my mouth and grab some cheese.

MEOW, MEOW

“Are you hungry, too?”

Sigh...the dish is on the floor! Spreading my feet apart and hanging onto the table I lean over, like a giraffe getting a drink, and plop a spoonful of catfood into her bowl—of course, holding my breath against the smell. While I am upside down, I notice a quarter near the frig. I waddle closer and pick it up. Oh, it's an Alaska one! Looking around, I wonder if there is anything else down there I can do. I notice my legs were getting hairy, but that would have to wait.

Feeling like a bloated Barbie doll, I straighten my back. Catching my reflection in the hall mirror, I wince. I definitely don't look like any Barbie doll-- more like one of those chubby Cupie dolls, especially with this pink maternity t-shirt that doesn't quite meet the top of my elastic pants. I pull it down, stretching the words “BABY ON BOARD” into a curve. It springs back up, showing my bulging belly button. I stick out my tongue at myself.

TOOT, TOOT

The mailman must have a package that doesn't fit in the box. I open the door and wave. There are only four steps off the porch, but when I can't see my feet, I feel like I am descending down into the Grand Canyon with my eyes closed. I grasp the railing and waggle my foot around until it sits firmly on each step. The mailman smiles as I approach.

“Good morning, Mrs. Sawyer. I see you haven't had your baby yet. Have a great day!”

"Of course, I haven't had it yet!" I grumble to the cloud of dust. Do I usually look like I swallowed a basketball?

As I turn back toward the house, a twinge wraps itself around my middle like a python. I hold my breath and grab the mailbox for support with both hands. Is this it? Is the baby coming today? Finally, the pressure subsides and I feel like jumping for joy--well, at least on the inside. I don't want to slip and fall on my... patooka!

Scattered at my feet are the envelopes and package. With a sigh, I assume the giraffe position again, but looking more like an elephant walking on my hands and feet all the way to the porch steps. “Unnnph!” Another python squeeze holds me in its grip. At this rate, it will take a hour to get inside to call Harold.

“Honey? It's time! Yes! Yes! Come as soon as you can. I'll get dressed and be waiting for you.”

I check my suitcase; baby clothes, thank you cards, chap stick, clean underwear, toiletries... I hear Harold's car pull in the driveway. After another tight contraction, I meet him with a smile.

“Are you sure it's time?” He leans down with a kiss.

“Yes, let's go.”

“Darling? I think you better look down at your feet.”

Easy for him to say! Grabbing his shoulder for support, I lift up one foot. Fuzzy slippers are comfy and nice, and probably excusable in this situation, but I suppose it would be better if they matched.

~ ~ ~

For more great Friday Fiction stories,


Are you a Happy Lexophile?



A Lexophile is a lover of words - puns, cliches, idioms, etc.
Here is a little fun with words that I found.





A bicycle cannot stand-alone; it is two tired.

A will is a dead giveaway.

Time flies like an arrow; fruit flies like a banana.

A backward poet writes inverse.

In a democracy it's your vote that counts; in feudalism, it's your Count that votes.

A chicken crossing the road: poultry in motion.

With her marriage she got a new name and a dress.

When a clock is hungry it goes back four seconds.

The guy who fell onto an upholstery machine was fully recovered.

A grenade fell onto a kitchen floor in France resulted in Linoleum Blownapart.

You are stuck with your debt if you can't budge it.

Local Area Network in Australia : The LAN down under.

He broke into song because he couldn't find the key.

A calendar's days are numbered.

A lot of money is tainted: 'Taint yours, and 'taint mine.

A boiled egg is hard to beat.

He had a photographic memory, which was never developed.

A plateau is a high form of flattery.

When you've seen one shopping center you've seen a mall.

If you jump off a Paris bridge, you are in Seine .

When she saw her first strands of gray hair, she thought she'd dye.

Bakers trade bread recipes on a knead to know basis.

Santa's helpers are subordinate clauses.

Acupuncture: a jab well done.

Marathon runners with bad shoes suffer the agony of de feet.

The roundest knight at king Arthur's round table was Sir Cumference. He acquired his size from too much pi.

I thought I saw an eye doctor on an Alaskan island, but it turned out to be an optical Aleutian.

If you yell through the screen window, you'll strain your voice.

A rubber band was confiscated from algebra class because it was a weapon of math disruption.

No matter how much you push the envelope, it'll still be stationery.

A dog gave birth to puppies near the road and was cited for littering.

Atheism is a non-prophet organization.

A cabbage and carrot rolled down a hill. The cabbage won because it was a head.

I wondered why the baseball kept getting bigger. Then it hit me.

A sign on the lawn at a drug rehab center said, "Keep off the Grass."

A small boy swallowed some coins and was taken to a hospital. When his grandmother telephoned to ask how he was, a nurse said, "No change yet."

The soldier who survived mustard gas and pepper spray is now a seasoned veteran.

When cannibals ate a missionary, they got a taste of religion.

Two silk worms had a race. They ended up in a tie.

~ ~ ~
Do you know any one-line jokes like this?

Photo Caption Fun

I pass this each morning
and finally stopped to take a picture.


"Nothing is certain but death and taxes."
( and bills, political ads, sale flyers, and credit card offers)

What caption would you put with it?
(no contest or prizes, just fun)


A Fun Apple Game


There's nothing more fun
than filling your basket with crisp and juicy apples.

Try this fun game.
Move your basket left and right
to catch as many falling apples as you can.



(WARNING:
This is VERY addicting!)


A Highlights Highlight!


(a carving at the Highlights' Office)


On my way back to Maine from the Faithwriters' Conference in Michigan, I realized that my husband and I would be passing close to Honesdale, Pennsylvania. It is the place where I send submissions to the Highlights Magazine. I contacted their office and was invited to visit.



Kathleen Hayes, the editor of High Five (a new magazine for 2-6yr. olds) gave us the royal tour of their office-a very interesting old building (History of Highlights) and introduced me to the staff. They answered my many questions and asked me about my writing, too.



We saw one of the first issues,
published in 1946.



Highlights has come a long way
in the last 60 years.



They have a variety of puzzle magazines
for those who like -
Hidden Pictures
Puzzlesmania
Mathmania
Which Way USA


Highlights is online, too!



With features for
Parents and Teachers

and interactive games for kids.
Highlights Kids




Here is a fun MadLib-type of game -
Story Twisters

They even have their High Five magazine
in audio form,
so the kids can hear the words
as they follow along.



Listen to my action poem "The Bullfrog"
HERE



Highlights has been a big part of the education of America's children. Now they are even reaching other lands as their magazines are being published in other languages.

I'm excited to be part of their team.

Summertime Stuff

Summer is never long enough
for everything we want to do.


Check out a summer adventure on
Polliwog Pages
that a new young author wrote about.
(comments welcome)




Next week, our church is having our VBS Daycamp.
(Lighthouse Bible Church, 9:00am - 1:30pm)



It's a busy, but filled with fun.

I am excited to be teaching a missionary story
that I have been working on for the last 3 years.


(an excerpt from Nando's Bible)

I attended a class reunion of the Canaan Christian School.
(my memories)



We've taken some of our grandchildren to Storyland in N. Hampshire.
(our simple version of Disneyland)



I will be attending
the Faithwriter's Conference in Michigan.
(and teaching a session on writing for children)
(sample of class)



Later, we hope to go camping,
attend a family reunion,
celebrate a friend's wedding,
and some birthdays,
and have a few more picnics
and more!


By the end of August,
I think I'll be ready to slow down.
You think?


Highlights Fun

Would you like to build a scarecrow?
Decorate a pumpkin?
Look for hidden pictures?

Photobucket


Come, discover the fun at
( Highlights Fun )


Mother Maintenance Manual

Mother's Maintenance Manual
Many of us take better care of our cars then we do our mothers and yet we only expect our cars to last five or six years but we expect our mothers to last for a lifetime. Maybe we need a maintenance manual for mothers so we would know how to take care of them at least as well as we do our automobiles.

Here are some items included in such a manual.
- Engine: A mother's engine is one of the most dependable kinds you can find. She can reach top speed from a prone position at a single cry from a sleeping child. But regular breaks are needed to keep up that peak performance.

Mothers need a hot bath and a nap every 100 miles, a baby-sitter and a night out every 1,000 miles, and a live in baby-sitter with a one week vacation every 10,000 miles.

- Battery: Mother's batteries should be recharged regularly. Handmade items, notes, unexpected hugs and kisses, and frequent "I love you's" will do very well for a recharge.

- Carburetor: When a mother's carburetor floods, it should be treated immediately with Kleenex and a soft shoulder.

- Brakes: See that she uses her brakes to slow down often and come to a full stop occasionally. (A squeaking sound indicates a need for a rest.)

- Fuel: Most mothers can run indefinitely on coffee, left overs and salads, but an occasional dinner for two at a nice restaurant will really add to her efficiency.

- Chassis: Mothers run best when their bodies are properly maintained. Regular exercise should be encouraged and provided for as necessary. A change in hairdo or makeup in spring and fall are also helpful. If you notice the chassis begins to sag, immediately start a program of walking, jogging, swimming, or bike riding. These are most effective when done with fathers.

- Tune-ups: Mother needs regular tune-ups. Compliments are both the cheapest and most effective way to keep a mother purring contentedly.


If these instructions are followed consistently, this fantastic creation and gift from God that we call MOTHER should last a lifetime and give good service and constant love to those who need her most.





Christmas Craft

Fragrant Fir Snowflakes

Use the natural patterns of Douglas fir sprigs to create elegant ornaments for a window display,



Add the perfect backdrop to your evergreen (secured to window frames with pushpins) by giving windows an iced look― even if you don't live in a frosty climate. Just coat windows with a holiday decorating spray that's easy to clean off with water.


MATERIALS (for one snowflake)



• Five fir sprigs of equal length (7 in. maximum)

• Three 18-in. pieces of 20-gauge floral wire

• Three 18-in. pieces of 22-gauge floral wire

• Ribbon

DIRECTIONS

Step 1: Lay two fir sprigs upside down, end to end.



Bend one end of an 18-in. piece of 20-gauge floral wire into a loop for hanging. Set the loop of wire flush with the top of a sprig, with the wire's other end resting along the length of both sprigs.



Step 2: Secure the loop-topped wire to the end-to-end sprigs by wrapping an 18-in. piece of the thinner (22-gauge) wire every couple of inches along the length of the two sprigs. Twist the straight end of the thicker wire around the tip of the bottom sprig to finish.

Repeat with another pair of end-to-end sprigs, omitting the initial loop. Then repeat with a single sprig, again omitting the initial loop, and leaving the excess wire (do not clip).

Step 3: Cross the two dual-sprig pieces (one on top of the other) to form an X (they're the top four pieces in the photo of step 3), then twist the wired sprigs together where they meet in the center. Bend the X slightly as needed to make room for the fifth sprig.



Step 4: Position the fifth sprig as shown.

Wrap its excess wire several times around the center of the X until it's tightly in place. Bend all wired sprigs as needed to refine the snowflake shape.

Thread one or more ribbons through the loop to hang.

~ ~ ~

Using other types of greenery and embellishments, you can vary your design.



Resources: Crystal Frost by Design Master (available through Springhill Floral Supply )

(Dont' forget to post a comment with your favorite Christmas food to win Micah's CD.)


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