Saturday, April 23, 2011

Coloring Easter Eggs

From the Family Fun website,
I love this place! ...


Right out of the pot, when they're still hot, color with crayons.  They wax will melt on the heated eggs brilliantly.



Melted Crayon Eggs



Some cotton balls and pipe cleaners are about all you need for these adorable roly poly little lambs.  What child wouldn't love this?

Sheep Egg




With black olive bits, a long fresh chive and a couple of sliced radishes you could make this darling mouse.


Egg Mice






Egg Heads

This looks like fun for the whole family.  From olives to chives, tomatoes to parsley, use your imagination and introduce healthy foods in a really exciting way!



Fancy Feathered Friends

So easy with some feathers and a little clever trimming on the carton.  How precious in the Easter baskets!



Eggshell Bouquet

Likely not an easy craft, but if you should get a few nicely shaped egg cups whilst peeling shells try fashioning a few of these to decorate your springtime.


Happy Easter!!

Monday, April 18, 2011

Tomato Seeds

This year I searched for heirloom seeds.  I would like to try to save tomato seeds for my next gardening years, and these seeds are open-pollinators.  After much research, I settled on the following five varieties, all cold-weather, disease-resistant, and canning varieties.

1.  Clint Eastwood's Rowdy Red
78 Days to maturity, mid-season

2. Silvery Fir Tree
55 Days, early-season

3. Legend
68 Days, early-season

4.  June Pink
68 Days, early-season

5.  Ilini Star
72 Days, mid-season

FREE
Louisiana Pink
79 Days, mid-season
Wilt resistant

Unfortunately, upon receiving my seeds, I promptly made a mistake.  I set my "Legend" seeds aside, thinking they were the FREE gift, and planted Louisiana Pink, thinking they were what I'd researched for so intently.



I used egg cartons, having poked holes into the bottoms.  I mixed peat and vermiculite.  Planted the seeds no more than 1/4 in. deep.  Lined the egg cartons onto a baking sheet, and set them in my south window.




I placed them into a plastic bag after watering them, then placed a heating pad underneath them.  I lined the bottom of each baking sheet with aluminum foil so that the heat will radiate to all the seeds, but I still turn them once each day.



I'm excited to see what will come of all my effort.  My start is a bit late, but should still get us our heirloom tomatoes and seeds.  I''l keep you posted as I take notes!

Sunday, April 17, 2011

Easter Story Cookies

This is such a memorable way to teach the Easter Story to your children.  What better way to learn than hearing, tasting, seeing, and touching?  It has become a tradition in our home at Easter time.  These are to be made the evening before Easter. You will need:

1 cup whole pecans
3 egg whites
1 cup sugar
wooden spoon
Bible
1 tsp. vinegar
pinch of salt
Ziploc baggie
masking tape

1.  Preheat oven to 300 degrees.

2.  Place pecans in zipper baggie and let children beat them with wooden spoon to break into small pieces.  Explain that after Jesus was arrested, he was beaten by the Roman soldiers.  Read John 19:1-3.

3.  Let each child smell the vinegar.  Put 1 tsp. vinegar into mixing bowl.  Explain that when Jesus was thirsty on the cross he was given vinegar to drink.  Read John 19: 28-30.
4.  Add egg whites to vinegar.   Eggs represent life.   Explain that Jesus gave his life to give us life.  Read John 10:10-11.
 5. Sprinkle a little salt into each child’s hand.  Let them taste it and brush the rest into the bowl.  Explain that this represents the salty tears shed by Jesus’ followers, and the bitterness of our own sin.  Read Luke 23:27.
 6.  So far the ingredients are not very appetizing.  Add 1 cup sugar.  Explain that the sweetest part of the story is that Jesus died because He loves us.  He wants us to know and belong to Him.  Read Psalm 34:8 and John 3:1-3.
7.  Beat with a mixer on high speed for 12-15 minutes until soft peaks are formed.  Explain that the color white represents the purity in God’s eyes of those whose sins have been cleansed by Jesus.  Read Isaiah 1:18 and John 3:1-3.
 8.  Fold in broken nuts.  Drop by teaspoons onto waxed paper covered cookie sheet.  Explain that each mound represents the rocky tomb where Jesus’ body was laid.  Read Matthew 27:57-60.

9.  Put the cookie sheet in the oven, close the door and turn the oven OFF.  Give each child a piece of tape and seal the oven door.  Explain that Jesus’ tomb was sealed.  Read Matthew 27:65-66.

10.  GO TO BED!  Explain that they may feel sad to leave the cookies in the oven overnight.  Jesus’ followers were in despair when the tomb was sealed.  Read John 16:20 and 22.
 11.  On Easter morning, open the oven and give everyone a cookie.  Notice the cracked surface and take a bite.  The cookies are hollow!  On the first Easter, Jesus’ followers were amazed to find the tomb open and empty.  Read Matthew 28:1-9.

About Me

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As long as I'm on this journey, rambling through life's exhilarating highs and trudging heavily amongst it's incapacitating lows, I might as well share whatever may be gleaned from my little bits of wisdom and my many missteps. No room for judgment from this broken mama. I'm writing from my heart: raw, open, messy, but saved. And I'm still thanking God!