HAPPY EASTER

Easter is upon us. Here is a little project I have been working on and it turned out pretty cute.

Amber and her kids are doing something pretty similar and hopefully she will display the grandkids works of art on her blog soon.

I took some raw eggs and broke quarter size or larger holes in the top and removed all the yolk and whites. Then I rinsed them and let them dry.

In the meantime I started making the little chicks, using colorful fuzzy balls, googly eyes along with felt and a little glue. An easy and inexpensive fun project that kids can do too.

Then I painted the outside of the egg shell (I forgot and did it after I glued it into the yellow egg carton sections). The grass I cut from felt and glued around the carton and in a few I placed a few tiny silk flowers.

I made just enough for each grandchild that I'll be able to see soon and 2 mamas.

I am going to TRY to get busy and make each of the grandkids some summer outfits. Here are some of my patterns.

A couple of them can be used for more than one child since there are so many of them. I hope I can finish them in time to get some use out of them this summer. I'll have them model them when I'm finished eventually. Patterns for Summer.

Then, the other day the weather was just so beautiful I just had to get Myrtle, our bull dogge out for a walk. Since I've been struggling with Shingles in my right leg and the bottom of my right foot, it has been difficult to do much walking, even with plenty of pain pills on board. My foot has seemed a little better the last few days so I gulped a pill and off we went to the Fountain Creek Park. We walked almost half way around the little pond with some stops at two very handy park benches for me to get off my foot a little while. I had packed a little picnic lunch and we munched it down as I rested. I always bring her a slice of bologna and she even shared a few bites of my strawberries. It was fun though and she loves it. Myrtle didn't get much actual exercise but she got plenty of sniffing time in and I let her get into the water a few minutes too but it was pretty cold still and she got right back out in a jiffy. I always love looking at Pikes Peak and right now it has a wonderful snow cap so I took a picture of it before we headed back for the car.
Pikes Peak Snow Capped

At home the daffodils and crocusis and even the irises are coming up. I snapped a picture of one of them just coming up and blooming wide.

On Sunday I was surprised with a drop in visit of my previous foster daughter who I still think of as one of my daughters and she still calls me Mom.

She lived with me for 5 1/2 years from the age of almost 13 until 18. Her brother, James lived with me for 7 years until he emancipated also. I had guardianship of both of them and so they were truly a part of our family and still are.
Cerena's son, Ben, is just slightly younger than Mariah. (Another grandchild for me) He is a sweet boy and quite shy but he eventually warms up. I am so happy she keeps in touch with us and makes a point of calling and coming by so we can still feel like we are a part of her life. It is one of the rewards of fostering , when they come back! Adopting is also rewarding and sometimes painful just like any parenting situations when children find new and sometimes harmful ways of living. Anyway, I really enjoyed their visit.

Yesterday we had 3 nephews aged 11, 7 and 5 come and have a sleepover with us. They are very energetic but great behaved boys and it was a blast. We had planned on our grandson, Ethan, 4 1/2 joining us but he's been sick all week with a viral fever, etc and wasn't up to it.

The boys kept us busy and we started off our evening making personal pizzas. I had the dough ready and rising when they arrived and then they each had to spread their ball of dough out and top it with whatever they liked the best. Here is a picture of two of them 'guarding' the oven and their own ready to eat pizzas. After supper we made individual cakes in a mug with a special recipie that only takes 3 minutes in a microwave to cook. Yumm. I add the recipie at the bottom of my post.

After dessert we looked through my box of foreign coins and bills and very old American coins including a 1898 penny that was apparently tossed in the air and shot with a low caliber gun, probaby a 22 that left it dented with the shape and size of the penny. They also enjoyed holding a 14th century bronze brestshield piece from New Mexico area that a Spaniard apparently had on their armor.

Then came games, like good old 'Battle Ships'

And Lincoln Logs

and today we made more little Easter chicks and went to the Pioneer Museum in downtown Colorado Springs. Of course my husband had to take the oldest nephew to go to the "Man Store", which is what I call all of those wildlife and outdoor sports places that cater to fishermen and hunters and campers, and etc. I wouldn't be calling it a man store since I love doing all of the above too, but it just fits for my 'man' husband and many others I'm sure. Anyway, in all we had a great time.

Here is that very Yummy recipie:

5 MINUTE CHOCOLATE MUG CAKE

4 tablespoons flour

4 tablespoons sugar

2 tablespoons baking/unsweetened cocoa powder

1 egg

3 tablespoons milk

3 tablespoons oil

3 tablespoons chocolate chips (optional)

A small splash of vanilla extract

1 extra large coffee mug (MicroSafe)

Add dry ingredients to mug, and mix well.

Add the egg and mix thoroughly.
Pour in the milk and oil and mix well..
Add the chocolate chips (if using) and vanilla extract, and mix again.

Put your mug in the microwave and cook for 3 minutes at 1000 watts. (I used 'high' and it did just fine)
The cake will rise over the top of the mug, but don't be alarmed!
Allow to cool a little, and tip out onto a plate if desired.

(It's a large chunk of cake and my husband and I shared halves and added a scoop of ice cream. Super chocolately and Yummy!

Thought for the Day:

"Everyday holds exactly the energy and happiness that we put into it." RJM