More Rock collecting

We went garage sailing and found a geosafari metamorfic rock collection for $1.50 (still in plastic and labels intact)and Slinky Science and More! Rocks and Minerals Mini labs Science for $4.00 (not all pieces are there). Plus I took the kids to the craft bazzar at the highland festival and found two booths with rock collecting specimens so I spent $10.00 on rocks. I got a piece of geode with orange crstals, polished carnelian ($.75) and orance calcite polished ($0.75) float Copper from UP of Michigan $7.00 and 5 polished stones. Little man sat for an hour looking at the ones we got at the bazzar. "buy me more stones mamma" he kept saying. The other two also enjoyed adding to our collection. I need to build a display case or buy a display cabinet. They are getting old enough to leave stuff alone so we can display it. Not too bad for a weekend that was too cold to go out and collect stones.

Stalking the wild asparagus

I am a big fan of Euell Gibbons. I read his book and did a 6th grade project on edible wild foods. I love to forage for food in the semi-wild areas around my home. We actually planted asparagus in my yard among my flowers. If you had told me I would like asparagus as kid there is no way I would have believed you.

May
Morels
Wild asparagus:
Rail trail head on Charles Rd
across the road from Colleen's

Late July/Aug
Choke Cherry:
Behind colleens
Behind Tim and Jan's on dirt road.(Huge Tree)

Late Aug
Elderberries:
Roadside ditches along dirt roads

I miss my clothes line. Clothes always smell so fresh and clean off the line. My honey has twice rigged me a clothes line on the back porch. I am next going to use a Christmas tree stand to hold an umbrella type clothes line. If necessary I will bolt it to the deck.

useful baking substitutions

Useful Substitutions
1 tsp. baking powder = 1/4 tsp. baking soda + 1/2 tsp. cream tartar + 1/4 tsp. cornstarch
1 tsp. baking powder = 1/3 tsp. baking soda + 1/2 tsp. cream tartar
1 cup butter = 1 cup shortening + 1/2 tsp. salt
1 tbsp. oil = 1 tbsp. melted shortening (or lard)
1 cup corn syrup = 1 cup honey = 1 cup sugar + 1/2 cup of the liquid used in the recipe
1 cup buttermilk = 1 cup milk + 1 tbsp. vinegar (or lemon juice)
1 cup nonfat milk = 1/3 cup nonfat dry milk + 1 cup water
1 cup whole milk = 1/3 cup nonfat dry milk + 1 cup water + 2 tbsp. melted butter
1 cup whole milk = 1/2 cup evaporated milk + 1/2 cup water
1 cup sugar = 1 cup corn syrup (decrease recipe liquid by 1/4 cup)
1 cup sugar = 1 cup honey (decrease recipe liquid by 1/4 cup)
1 oz. unsweetened chocolate = 3 tbsp. cocoa + 1 tbsp. shortening

Appalachian trail

Watching a special on The Appalacian Trail by National Geographic on netflicks. Kids are loving it except little man who is way to young to watch anything but cartoons.We have been using Net Flicks alot expecially shows to help us get ready for Camping this year. Don't tell the kids they are studying geography.
**2014 Update able to visit small section of the trail this spring with my sister and my daughter camryn.

quote for the day

“We may not be able to prepare the future for our children,
but we can at least prepare our children for the future.”
Franklin D. Roosevelt

Still here and still homeschooling. Had a friend over afterwork yesterday. I am so proud of how much better the kids are doing.

Quote for the day

“A sap-run is the sweet good-by of winter. 

It is the fruit of the equal marriage of the sun and frost.”
John Burroughs, Signs and Seasons, 1886