Owner: Scribbit URL:http://scribbit.blogspot.com Join Date: Sun, 10 Dec 2006 23:48:16 -0600 Rating:0 Site Description: Motherhood in Alaska as chronicled by a mother of four active children. Stories, lists, recipes, book and product reviews all with plenty of humor. Family life in the Last Frontier--how could I make this stuff up? Site statistics:Click here
Grandma and Grandpa's House 2006-12-11 16:33:00 My grandparents left Washington state in 1949 and moved as far as their money would take them: Alaska. Anchorage was in its infancy and was little more than a tent city; they lived in a one-room log house until Grandpa
, a self-employed contractor, could build them the house which the city eventually grew up around, the same house that they live in today.In the basement is a two-room apartment where my parents lived while they were home between college semesters. One summer my mother gave birth and that little basement became my first home. Later Grandpa built a four-plex on a third of the property for retirement income and it was successful enough that he built another apartment building with six units on the remaining third next to his immaculately organized wood shop.When my parents were ready to settle permanently in Anchorage they lived in one of those apartments while they saved money for a house and when Andrew and I came back to Anchorage ten years ago we lived in the same apa Read more:House
, Grandma
Chocolate Truffles 2006-12-10 16:03:00 Our family makes these all the time for holidays, parties or wedding receptions. They're easy and taste more fabulous than this poor blog can describe.If you're feeling particularly ambitious you can make a Truffle Tree (sounds like Dr. Seuss I know, but bear with me here) where you take about 70 small truffles, put them on toothpicks and use them to cover a Styrofoam cone. Insert a dowl into the bottom of the cone and "plant" it in a decorated terra cotta pot. I've lifted this picture from Reader's Digest where they've used a Styrofoam ball instead, but it looks similar to what I've made and you get the idea.The thing to remember is to cover the Styrofoam with aluminum foil first and tightly pack the chocolates. I insert gold or silver leaves, pink rose buds, whatever coordinates with my theme, with straight pins in between the chocolates to hide the silver underneath. The benefit to using a cone over a ball too is that in warm weather the chocolates won't get soft and dro Read more:Chocolate
, Truffles
A Lesson Learned 2006-12-09 16:18:00 Reminder: The next time you try to fix an earring by supergluing the post back on, wait until the glue has dried before putting the earring back in your ear.That is, if you ever care to remove them again.Any other idiots out there who have superglued their earring to their ear?Technorati tags: Alaska, motherhood, earrings Read more:Learned
Hazards of Motherhood 2006-12-08 16:20:00 Spencer has been grounded the past week and it's nearly killed him--eight inches of new snow and he's in stir. Today he made parole and as there's only an hour of daylight after school's out, he quickly grabbed his snowboard and David and headed for the neighborhood hill. It's a ten-minute walk and the boys have made the trip tons of times, summer or winter. Though I had had reservations at first about letting them go by themselves I reassured myself by saying, "Didn't I do things like this when I was a kid? Heck, we used to play by the train tracks." This afternoon I hardly gave it a second thought.Half an hour later I got a phone call. A man's voice introduced himself and said he had my boys with him in his truck, that David had been hurt and could I please come and help them?Five minutes later I was there. They'd been sledding and David (why is he always the victim?) took a snowboard to the face. There was blood. Lots of blood, as only head cuts can bleed, and I fou Read more:Hazards
, Motherhood
Christmas Toys My Kids Love 2006-12-07 22:27:00 What kid doesn't lust over a mini battery-powered Hummer? But even if they didn't cost more than my own real-life minivan I wouldn't get one because the kids would play with it for all of 15 minutes before boredom set in. Here's what's been successful with my kids--with an emphasis on budget--are there great toys you've discovered?13. Rescue Heroes The boys loved these guys when they were younger, and I thought the names were a hoot (Willie Stop the police officer and pictured at left is Marshall Law). Perfectly sized for small hands, they stand up easily and come with moving accessories. Most are priced under $10, and I've even got them on sale for $7 with a bonus Rescue Hero cartoon video. Caution: don't get sucked into the big stuff like the aircraft carrier, I got one on sale for $30 (normally $70) and they hardly played with it. It's all about the figures.12. Fashion Pollys Also a figure toy these are tiny plastic dolls with removable rubber clothes--sounds rather Read more:Christmas
Ban on Trans Fats? What Next? 2006-12-06 22:02:00 Tuesday the New York City Board of Health banned the use of trans fats in over 20,000 city restaurants and take-out places. Cities like Chicago are considering a similar ban and there is speculation that other major cities will soon follow in an effort to clean up America's eating habits.Yes, a wise person will wear a seat belt, avoid cigarettes, wear their bike helmet and not leave guns around where children can play with them but where in the Constitution does it guarantee us to be a nation free of idiots? Let me choose to go into a smoke-filled restaurant if I want to, let the restaurant choose if they want my business, let me decide whether I want to super-size those fries. Where's my personal responsibility? What next? Will New York pass a law requiring 30 minutes of exercise a day? How about mandatory cholesterol tests for school children? A law outlawing cell phones while driving? No wait, they're working on that.Maybe a better way to approach the mortality=danger iss
Christmas Advent Calendar 2006-12-06 16:33:00 My children love counting down the days until Christmas
and this calendar is simple to make. With the head of a pin, make 24 alternating green and red dots on a 10" white candle. The idea is to each day read Biblical accounts of the Nativity while the candle burns down to the next dot. Here is a link for one possible list of scriptures for reading but you can pick your own verses. I typed up a card with the 24 scripture references for each day that I keep on a ribbon tied around candlestick.Check in with Rocks in My Dryer every Wednesday for other good tips.Technorati tags: Christmas, advent calendar, WFMW holidays Read more:Advent
, Calendar
Ghosts of Christmas Past #1: Rudolph with Your Nose So Bright 2006-12-05 16:01:00 In the spirit of holiday festivity I wanted to take Lillian to the reindeer farm in Palmer. Remembering past trips made me dig out this little journal gem from Christmas
2001:***The boys and I just got back from Palmer to visit the reindeer farm in the valley, about an hour north of Anchorage. David [age 2] and Spencer [age 5] couldn't wait to check out the deer and see if they were in good flying condition.When the tour began instead of the customary two or three adult guides, we were met with a teenager who obviously was not enjoying our hardy 10 below temperatures. She silently handed us some cups of feed and led us out to the raised, fenced deck that overlooked a large pen and about 35 reindeer. FYI: all reindeer have antlers, male, female, and fawns, an important piece of information as our story unfolds.She gave us no instructions other than a casual gesture toward the pen and a warning to stay away from the big male named Ruldoph who evidently has such a mean temper that he Read more:Rudolph
, Bright
Winter Activities for Kids in Anchorage, Alaska 2006-12-04 16:24:00 If you aren't living in Anchorage
, maybe these activities will give you ideas about what may be available in your own community--or maybe you should just move to Anchorage.1. Go ice fishing. The 19th Annual Ice Fishing Jamboree out at Jewel Lake will be Saturday and Sunday December 16, 17 from 10am-3pm. It's free, with poles, warm-up tents and all equipment provided--perfect for kids and adults alike. My own children love it.2. Go snow tubing at Alyeska Resort. Go sledding on the mountain, $15 for adults and $10 for kids, in 1 1/2 hour sessions starting at 10:00am. Beware that children must be 42" to ride. Inner tubes are provided.3. Ice skate at Westchester Lagoon. The ice was declared thick enough a week or two ago and will be maintained for skating all winter and on Friday nights there are fire-barrels for added fun. This picture is from the Sydney Herald, as in Sydney, Australia. I thought it was funny that our little outdoor rink made it to the other side of the world Read more:Alaska
White Hot Chocolate 2006-12-03 16:01:00 This is one of my favorite hot drinks. No, it is my favorite--especially now that you can buy fat free half and half. 3 c fat free half and half1/2 c chopped white chocolate3 inch stick cinnamon1/8 t nutmeg1 t vanilla¼ t almond extract Stir the white chocolate into 1/4 c of the half and half until the chocolate melts, taking care not to burn the mixture. Then add the rest of the half and half, the cinnamon stick and nutmeg and heat it through, stirring well to mix. Stir in the extracts and serve garnished with extra cinnamon stick.Technorati tags: hot chocolate, drinks, Christmas, Alaska Read more:White
, Chocolate
, White Hot
My New Camera 2006-12-02 22:21:00 Finally! I have a camera that will actually focus--I don't know if you've noticed but my pictures stink (if you say no, you're being awfully kind). I hope to improve the situation from this point on. Did I mention my orchids are blooming?Technorati tags: Anchorage Alaska, winter, orchids Read more:Camera
Presidents of the United States 2006-12-02 19:10:00 I wish I could take credit for this one but that goes to Mrs. Sims. I declare today National Hug A Teacher Day in her honor.The audio feed goes out of sync about half way through and I've tried everything You Tube suggests to remedy but you'll have to ignore it as best you can because I can't fix it--GRRR!! It cuts off his voice before he's finished with that stupid one-second delay. Are you listening to me You Tube?? Technorati tags: Alaska, motherhood, U.S. presidents, teachers Read more:United
, Presidents
, States
Perfect Post Award for November 2006-12-01 16:07:00 When asked for a nomination for November
's Perfect
Post Award
I wanted to nominate Julie at Mental Tesserae but had a hard time picking which post, she's one of my favorites and usually has something interesting to say. While everyone else was preaching about why I should vote, her post was unique, personal and artsy (as usual). Here it is.See Suburban Turmoil or Petroville for others.Technorati tags: Perfect Post Awards, Alaska motherhood
Recipe Index 2005-05-01 23:16:00 AppetizersBaked Bried with Honey-Garlic SauceBreadsCranberry BreadPerfect Cinnamon RollsSmoked Gouda RollsDrinksWhite Hot ChocolateSaladsChicken Salad with Tahini DressingSouthwestern Chicken SaladSoupsBlack Bean SoupCream of Broccoli Soup with GorgonzolaCream of Tomato Soup with LentilsFlorentine Chicken Soup with AlfredoSandwichesPanizzaHot Muffaletta PaniniVegetable and Side DishesChicken Salad with Tahini Dressing Main DishesAsian Marinated SalmonJambalayaOrange Chicken with Sesame and GingerParmesan Halibut with Capers and Lemon-Butter SauceSalmon Dumplings with Coconut-Curry SauceSpicy Dutch Oven EnchiladasEggs and BreakfastsBreakfast Sausage PizzaChocolate Waffles with Mascarpone and Strawberry SaucePerfect Cinnamon RollsSour Cream Coffee CakeDessertsChocolate Waffles with Mascarpone and Strawberry SauceCoconut-Cream Cheese Pound CakeDutch Oven Mississippi Mud CakeLime-Coconut Pie with Coconut-Pecan CrustMousse PuffsPerfect Cinnamon RollsPumpkin Cake with Orange-Cream Cheese Fro Read more:Index
An Alaskan Christmas Tree for Me 2006-12-12 16:41:00 My family has always cut our own Christmas
trees. Yes siree, no wimpy fake trees or bound-and-gagged trees off some lot--it's nothing but free-range, homegrown, Alaskan spruce for us.There's nothing like harvesting a tree in a blizzard or four-wheeling through the back woods and nearly plunging into a ravine to imprint the Christmas season indelibly in your mind, but ever since my own little branch of the family has been here we've followed the tradition with a couple improvements. Here's what you could expect should you ever join us for the Annual Christmas Tree Hunt:1. We go on a weekday and take the kids out of school. I know we're probably irresponsible parents but they love it. Something about skipping school makes the whole thing feel forbidden and exciting.2. We go to breakfast. We rarely take the kids to restaurants so a meal at Village Inn is something special and they plan what they're going to eat weeks ahead. Andrew always orders Chicken Fried Steak which puzz
ROFL Award for November 2006-12-12 14:32:00 I've awarded an ROFL award to Days to Come for a hysterical double dose of her son, Dawson in her post, Bond. Dawson Bond. I like the serious, poignant, heart-wrenching, zen-seeking, universe-delving posts and all that, but give me something that makes me laugh and I'm yours forever.(And ROFL stands for Rolling On the Floor Laughing--I see the question frequently. For future reference if you see unknown internet acronyms check Urban Dictionary. It seems to have all the answers to life's tough questions.)For other recipients see Izzy Mom and Mommy off the Record.Technorati tags: ROFL Award
s, humor, motherhood, Alaska Read more:November
List Index 2005-05-17 04:27:00 AlaskaCool Places in AlaskaFavorite Places to Eat in AnchorageFun and Cheap Activities for Kids 2006Winter Activities For Kids in Anchorage, AlaskaActivities and TravelCruising AARP StyleFavorite Places to Eat in AnchorageFun and Cheap Activities for Kids 2006Places I'm Dying to SeeWhere Are You Now Safwan?EntertainmentBest Albums of All TimeFavorite BooksFavorite MoviesFun and Cheap Activities for Kids 2006Funniest MoviesGreatest Movie LinesOdd Things About the OlympicsThirteen Songs I'm Dancing ToFamily and ChildrenChristmas Toys My Kids LoveEntropy At WorkGreat Valentine's Day SurprisesMost Common Questions in The HouseMy Family's Most Commonly Mispronounced WordsPermission To Tweak This Meme?Reasons I Haven't Joined the PTAFavoritesBest Albums of All TimeFavorite BooksFavorite MoviesFavorite Places to Eat in AnchorageFunniest MoviesFoodFavorite Places to Eat in AnchorageJunkfood I'm Embarrassed to LoveHolidaysGood Things About SummerGreat Valentine's Day SurprisesUnique Thin Read more:Index
Alaska Index 2005-05-20 07:24:00 BikingThe Wheel DealCampingHawks and Weekend WarriorsChildren's ActivitiesAn Alaska
n Christmas Tree for MeBaby They Were Born to RunFun and Cheap Activities for Kids 2006Winter Activities for Kids in Anchorage, AlaskaEntertainmentFun and Cheap Activities for Kids 2006Recitatives and RednecksThe First Day of the Rest of Your LifeWinter Activities for Kids in Anchorage, AlaskaDiningFavorite Places to Eat in AnchorageFishingThe First Day of the Rest of Your LifeHikingBeluga Point AdventureYou Think These Things Just Grow On Trees?PicturesOur Homer OdysseyBeluga Point AdventureRelaxationA Three Thousand Dollar DayBeluga Point AdventureGood Things About SummerOur Homer OdysseyThe Hill of DeathThe Only Alaskan Beach AliveSportsBaby They Were Born to RunTravel and SightseeingA Three Thousand Dollar DayBeluga Point AdventureCool Places in AlaskaOur Homer OdysseyThe Only Alaskan Beach AliveYou Think These Things Just Grow On Trees?Technorati tags: Alaska, travel, family, Anchorage, motherhood Read more:Index
Christmas Checkers 2006-12-13 16:19:00 1. Paint a 13 inch X 13 inch sanded square of plywood, front and back, with red craft paint.2. Lightly mark 8 (1.5 inch) lines vertically and horizontally, leaving a .5 inch border.3. Using masking tape, tape off .5 inches for the border, then tape along alternating vertical then alternating horizontal lines. This will only give you half of the squares to paint, it will have to be done in two steps.4. Paint the open green squares, then when the paint is dry, remove the tape and tape off the alternating vertical and horizontal lines to give you the remaining squares and paint those too.5. Cover the entire board with a layer of protectant, such as Mod Podge or Varnish.6. If desired, glue squares of felt to the back to prevent scratching on the table surface. I also made a fabric pouch in which to store the pieces for storage after the holidays.7. For playing pieces, I painted wooden stars and trees and, using the head of a pin, made dots of red and yellow for tree ornaments. Piece Read more:Christmas
Our Homer Odyssey 1970-01-01 00:59:59 Exactly a year ago I spent three days with my Mom and sister in Homer
, Alaska which is four hours south of Anchorage on the tip of the Kenai Peninsula. My Mom, an artist, was having a gallery showing that weekend and needed to deliver her paintings so we made it a girls' trip and it was so good I came home telling Andrew we had to take the kids. This summer I pushed the issue by announcing I'd made reservations to stay at the same place I'd stayed last year.It was too good a deal to pass up. Ocean House Inn is booked all summer long but I got the off-season rate of $150/night for a beach front condo that sleeps 9 (not counting the two roll-a-ways in the closet). I had dreams of idyllic walks along the beach, sunrises from my balcony, the sound of the 23-foot tides lulling me to sleep, bald eagles sweeping across Kachemak Bay just like last year. It wasn't. It was fun, a great family trip, but nothing like last year.You can tell which pictures are from which trip. Anything wi Read more:Odyssey
The Ten Commandments of Quick Meals 1970-01-01 00:59:59 After the massive amounts of cooking and baking I did last week it's time for a change of pace in my cooking style.10. Organize your kitchen. If you have to guess where to find something it takes 250% more time to get it. Refrigerators, freezers, cupboards, pantries--know what you've got on hand and keep it visible as much as possible. Keep inventories of what you have on the inside of the cupboard doors if necessary to make shopping for replacements easier.9. Keep staples on hand. Rachel Ray's book has good ideas for what to stock up on. Spices, oils, vinegars, pestos, prepared sauces, baking ingredients, bouillon, rices, pastas, grains and other longer shelf-life items should be plentiful. Then all you need to do is make a quick trip for the perishables.8. Know your recipes. Know where they are, read them through beforehand and be familiar with the steps involved so you aren't caught by a "marinate overnight" or "chill three hours" surprise. Knowing the recipe also save Read more:Commandments
, Quick
, Meals
Unique Things About Thanksgiving 2006 1970-01-01 00:59:59 A week of recovery time and I'm ready to relive the details. Here are the highlights:13. I lost my sausage. I had bought this fancy little sausage to slice for the cheese and cracker plate but when ready to slice it I couldn't find it. I remembered buying it, had proof on the receipt but couldn't find it--anywhere. Very suspicious. I'll probably find either a) evidence of sausage consumption under the boys bed or b) a moldy, nasty specimen tucked away in a corner next March.12. Andrew wanted his protein so badly he volunteered to go buy me another one. This meant he came back with Yard O'Beef: the Biggest Piece of Processed Meat Money Can Buy. Never send a man to do the shopping.11. He also came back with chips and lots of dip. Sigh. What? No Fruit Loops? He goes shopping so rarely that when he sets foot inside a grocery store and is given a bit of freedom he goes crazy.10. I wrestled the turkey in a way that would have won me $100,000 on America's Funniest Videos ha Read more:Thanksgiving
Fun and Cheap Activities for Kids 2006 1970-01-01 00:59:59 Though you may not live in Anchorage, maybe these will give you ideas of things in your own community.1. The Library · Sign up for the 2006 summer reading program, "Paw, Claws, Scales and Tales" at any municipal library starting June 3rd. Grade school age children earn awards for meeting reading goals. · Join one of the reading groups at the story theater in the Loussac Library: Mother Goose (ages birth-18 months) on Thurs 10:30 am, Fri 2:30Lapsit (ages 18 months-3 years) Tues 10:30, 11:30 Wed 10:30, Thurs 7pm, Friday 10:30Storytime (3-5 years) Thurs & Fri 11:30 am · Enjoy "Live at the Library" for free outdoor concerts by the fountain Tuesdays noon-1pm. Jun 6 Air Force Jazz Combo Jun 13 Irenic (Funky Fusion) Jun 20 Crow Creek Pipes & Drums (Scottish) Jun 27 Ahava Raba (Klezmer)Jul 1 Read more:Cheap
Guatemala Is My Happy Place 1970-01-01 00:59:59 The day after paradise on Bannister Cay, Belize we docked in Santo Thomas de Castilla, Guatemala
which is really the town of Puerto Barrios but that doesn't sound nearly as exotic.Instead of beaches, the jungle poured right down to the waterline and the air was thick with smoke from the fires burning all around, we could see six or seven smoke plumes rising up through the trees continually. The port was industrial, as you can see from the video clip I took from the railing of the M.S. Veendam before we went ashore.We boarded a bus which drove us an hour over winding roads into the hills to the bridge which spanned the Rio Dulce. At the top of the bridge our tour bus stopped and, ignoring the honking cars, waited while we got off for pictures. Here's footage from the top of the bridge.At the foot of the bridge we boarded boats that were replicas of the Disney jungle cruise boats. In fact, the whole ride was just an re-enactment of that most fabulous of water rides (who doesn't lo Read more:Happy
, Place
Christmas Gifts Kids Can Make 1970-01-01 00:59:59 Three years ago I tried to realign my kids' view of Christmas
from receiving to giving by encouraging them to make gifts. After they made a list of recipients I helped them come up with ideas and gave them five dollars for supplies. It was successful enough to have become tradition. Here are some of our favorites:13. Covers and cases. Almost everyone has collections, toys or gadgets that they use regularly that can benefit from a case or cover. The kids have sewn felt squares together to make a cases for digital cameras, laptops, Lillian's Fashion Pollys, or the boys' laser tags equipment. I think Martha copied her idea here from me. It's a good thing for them to make because 1. it gets them thinking about the other person's likes/hobbies and 2. sewing is a good skill to practice.12. Flower pots. Paint terra cotta pots or cover them with tiny pieces of tiles, buttons and pieces of glass to make a mosaic. Beautiful and useful.11. Books on tape. For a good gift for siblings Read more:Gifts
, Christmas Gifts
Someone I'd Like You To Meet: Liz Strauss of Successful Blogs 1970-01-01 00:59:59 This week I did something I rarely get to do: talk with another blogger about blogging. Liz Strauss
from Successful Blogs
called and I got to hear from someone who's been blogging much better and much longer than I have.Liz grew up in Chicago then lived in Peoria and Indianopolis briefly before returning to the Windy City to settle for good. With 20 years of experience in print media it's no wonder she's taken to blogging where she attacks issues such as blog writing, branding, marketing, linking and designing alongside meatier issues like net neutrality and SEO--and sprinkled with an occasional interview or forum with fellow bloggers.Here is a list of her more popular blog posts but I would especially recommend reading this week's post A Holiday Gift: The 31-Day Calendar of Blog Post Ideas for January where she outlines a whole month of ideas for your blog.And as Liz herself said, "If you like me you stay, if you don't you move on." I'll be visiting her frequently.And by the
Ode to a Portobello Mushroom 1970-01-01 00:59:59 What was I thinking? They looked so pretty, sitting there at the grocery store, their perfect brown caps awaiting the culinary possibilities, and I drooled over the ways I could cook them. Stuffed? Sauteed? Grilled?What part of giant mushrooms did I think they'd like? One look at the delicate slices sauteed with garlic and sweet onions in olive oil and it was as if a sudden stomach flu had struck. No one would touch them.Technorati tags: Alaska, motherhood, mushrooms, portobello Read more:Mushroom
Seven Layer Cookies 1970-01-01 00:59:59 These beauties couldn't be easier. Rich and tasty, make sure you have plenty of milk on hand. Oh! And a secret (shush!) if I'm ever short graham crackers I've been known to use Nilla Wafers, cookie crumbs or even cold cereal (like Honey Nut Cheerios) in a pinch.1 1/2 c graham cracker crumbs1 1/2 c coconut1 c butterscotch chips1 c chocolate chips1 c chopped walnuts1 14-ounce can sweetened condensed milk½ c butter, meltedLayer
the first six ingredients in a lightly greased 9x13 pan and pour the melted butter over top. Bake at 350 for 25 minutes until golden on top. Let them cool completely before cutting into squares or you'll have one gooey mess. Couldn't be faster or be tastier.Technorati tags: Christmas, holidays, bars, Alaska, baking Read more:Seven
, Cookies
Carnival of Family Life #32 1970-01-01 00:59:59 Thanks to the 17 contributors to this week's carnival. Don't miss Carnival
of Family
Life #33 hosted at Career and Kids on the theme of "Favorite Christmas Day Memories." Submit your entries to Blog Carnivals by 11pm CT December 23rd. If you are interested in hosting the carnival on your blog see Be A Good Dad for details.Enjoy and have a great holiday season.ParentingMy Wealth Builder submits a post called My Parental Responsibility-Be A Good Role Model on teaching children the value of money. It's short, to-the-point, and worth your time.Henry Cate at Why Homeschool posts about Teaching Children to Anticipate. This well-written post doesn't just apply to parents involved in organized Homeschooling and I liked what it had to say.Kate Baggott at Babylune (and if you haven't visited her by now, what are you waiting for?) writes about a parenting tip you may not get from Drs. Spock or Brazelton. Her post, Parenting Advice: To Be Used in Case of a Whining Emergency is the cure Read more:Family Life
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