The Big Picture Archives | Page 43 of 45 |

Baltimore Oriole Bribery…

June 6, 2008 By Laura 2 Comments

Once I really saw the Baltimore Orioles this year, I got my heart set on wanting them to nest in OUR yard. But I think I learned the tricks of the trade a little too late this year. I know I did. Surely they were already building nests, if not settled in already, by the time I heard about using Baltimore Oriole bribery, of leaving string and such to help them along in building their nests. They’d been around for a couple of weeks by then. The Baltimore Orioles do come to visit in our yard quite a bit throughout the day, though. I think they realize by now, by the abundance of other birds and critters who hang out here, that our yard is the place to be! But the Orioles do seem to be nesting in neighboring yards, and frankly, I’m jealous!

Nonetheless, I’m still desperate enough to hope that, like people, the Orioles might decide to move! To our yard, of course. At the very least, I am showing them that this is where all of the GOOD STUFF is, and maybe they’ll remember that next year, when they fly in from South America. I’ll be ready for them, and on time. Meanwhile, this year they are welcome to come over and perch, sing, play and feast, anytime they’d like.

What Kids Don’t Love (P)Inchworms?

June 3, 2008 By Laura 2 Comments

I’m not sure what you and your kids call them. Most probably refer to them as inchworms, some may call them ‘loopers’, but technically, they are ‘cankerworms‘, which probably explains why their name has been changed by so many to something more fun, and seemingly more fitting. In our family, they have come to be known as ‘pinchworms’. This term came from our youngest daughter {O}, when she was really little and mistaken about their name- and it stuck.

So I ask you, are there any kids out there who DO NOT love these inchworms? Because if statistics are any indication, on a very small scale, 4/4 love them at our house. Our kids just hold them and play with them for the longest time.

Recently, they gathered a whole bunch, and created this little ‘playground’ for them, in the base dish of a plant pot. Of course, they spent a of time keeping any of them from escaping. Those little buggers may be small, but they’re pretty quick!

My husband doesn’t mind them much, but I’m not all THAT fond of them. They are on the cute side, but I don’t appreciate their little games of dropping out of nowhere unexpectedly, on their little silk swings, right in front of my face, or worse, on me. Because what I don’t like most about them, is that they smoosh, accidentally. I don’t know about you, but when I feel something suddenly creeping on me, my initial reflex is to swat off the creepy-crawly area before I even look. That has gotten messy with surprise (p) inchworms who just drop by on me without calling first. What I really detest even more though, again because of their smoosh-factor on a grander scale, are gypsy moth caterpillars. Ugh. I hope we don’t get invaded with those things in large quantities as we have some years. The kids love to play with the species that have a turquoise back with chestnut brown spots. They avoid holding or playing with the ones with the red and blue bumps, because when they poop on you, you get a rash. (Sorry if that’s TMI. lol) Personally, I don’t care for any of them doing their business on me, rash-risky or not.

And then of course is the fact that (p)inchworms and caterpillars alike, eat the leaves on the trees everywhere! As I am sure so many of you have noticed, a large posse can really destroy a tree. It’s so sad to see otherwise healthy trees, loaded with leaves so tattered with holes. I suppose they need to eat something but….

I know God has purpose for every creature, big and small, (yes even those nasty Black Racer snakes, Kate). It really is amazing how in the big picture, everyone has a job that keeps nature and all of Creation, in balance. I don’t always really need to know all of the details of who eats who and what-not, but I can appreciate how it all works together for the good of Creation, in a more general way.

I suppose pinchworms are food for birds, and perhaps have some other impressive purpose. At the very least (and I can tell you it is the very least…lol), I can be grateful for the fact that their existence gives my children hours of enjoyment.

Awful Awful Milkshakes!

May 23, 2008 By Laura 4 Comments

Today was a busy day, and not all full of fun. Lots of school work to be done, 2 boats to letter (work), and TWO allergy appointments. Now, if you knew how long it takes to go through just ONE of these appointments…..

So every time we go by this place (see photo below) in the area of all of our pitstops today, the kids ask to stop to have an ‘Awful, Awful Milkshake”. We went here with {A} when she was 3 or 4, and took her mini golfing next door to this stand, as well. So she’s the told the little ones all about this memory of when she was little, and naturally she made the milkshake sound like Heaven in a paper cup. {J}, {O}, and {S} have wanted to go ever since (and {A} has wanted to go back!), and really, there’s never any sneaking by it, if you take a look at the place. You can spot it a mile away! It’s just never been a good day or time to stop. So today, we thought we deserved the treat…..and stopped to have that ‘Awful, Awful Milkshake.” Right before dinner time. <gasp!>

In their ads, their shakes are described as “awfully thick, awfully good”. On their menu, they are listed as “Awfully Big Milkshake”. But we’ve always referred to them as we do.

As we ordered them, the server asked me what flavor we wanted them in. Now, I think it says something about me to realize, the question stumped and confused me. I think there was 10 seconds of silence as just I stood there staring at her, completely puzzled. What did she mean? CHOCOLATE of course! Were there other flavors? And if so….do people order them? I couldn’t imagine.

The shakes were indeed ‘awfully big’, and so we split them up into smaller cups. The kids enjoyed them to the very last drop, and so did we. I had my camera with me, and was all about getting a couple of shots of this moment they have waited for, for so long. One very interesting thing we learned today; it’s not easy to suck and smile at the same time! : ) There’s an experiment for you! Try it!

Everyone agreed the milkshakes were awfully, awfully good. No doubt we’ll be back again this summer, and next time we’ll probably play a game of mini-golf as well! Hopefully, we won’t suck there, too.

Kids FUN Plant Makeover, with Buttons! – Kids Craft

May 15, 2008 By Laura 2 Comments

Be fore-warned. There are LOTS of photos in this post. And the reason is simple: Me and my camera were having way-too-much-fun, taking photos of the kids doing this fun plant makeover, with buttons!

This is the other craft I bought supplies for weeks ago. I saw this neat idea in Family Fun Magazine called Bloomin’ Buttons, and if you happened to read this post, then you know how I feel about buttons. So….one way or another I was doing this. It’s not not only a fun project for the kids, but it’s really great for their fine motor skill development.

I just happened to have this lovely Cyclamen plant (see photo below) that my father and brother brought me for Christmas. (Wasn’t that sweet?) Yes, it’s still alive. A little research described this plant as ‘a flowering house plant that requires very little care’, so I’m not too proud of myself. Mine flowers white and scarlet flowers. I just love it. It lives on the ledge between our kitchen and school room, where it gets just the right amount of light, and maximum enjoyment.

But…the basket was looking a little….Christmasy. Especially now that it’s spring. So I had planned on spraying the basket a solid color anyway. But now I had this whole new make-over idea that I was way too excited about, for my age.

So yesterday, while Michael and {A} were out on a job, I asked my little helpers {J}, {O} and {S} (5 year old triplets) if they wanted to help me with a craft. (And then covered my ears to protect them from the inevitable piercing cheers). Of COURSE they did! So I sprayed the basket outside, and left it out there to dry. Then we got out all we needed ( just buttons, wire and wire cutters), plopped down on the floor, and got to work.

First we sorted through the buttons to find the colors we wanted (mainly primary) and the sizes we needed, to work together.

Then we got to threading them with 26 gauge green florist’s wire. It had to go up through and back down through, making a few good twists right below the buttons.

The kids loved making differing color combinations, and doing something different each time. We must have sat in a circle, just chatting, giggling and working (perhaps like quilters! lol) for over an hour. About the time it was time to put our little button bouquets into the plant soil, their show was on. That worked out good, because it wasn’t easy putting them in even for me. What a mess I made. But look how CUTE it came out!! …….

4_button-plant-kids-craft

Now that I had sprayed the basket all white, I decided it needed a little something at the bottom. So I added some tiny colored cord, because it was all I had. But I may pick up some colorful thin ribbon that might look better. Still….I love it as it is. It is so…..qUiRky, and FuN! Like me! (Well….some do think so.)

So I know you really get the idea by now, but just because I didn’t want the fun to end, I kept taking photos. I love detail shots. Indulge me………..

It’s like a Button Garden!….

With unique little button buds……

Now I’ve seen those ‘room make-over’ shows, so I know a nice way to end these things is to show a split screen of before and after.
So here it is……..What do you think??

Now I think it’s time for ME to have a makeover.

The next couple of days are on the busy side for us, so not sure we’ll have much time to blog. But you never know! Thanks for stopping by today!

Mother’s Day and Pentecost Sunday

May 12, 2008 By Laura 1 Comment

Sunday was a day full of celebration (and surprises for me). In our continued family efforts to live out the Liturgical Year, and being both Mother’s Day and Pentecost Sunday, we had a few enjoyable things on our agenda that we had planned. It was also an end to our 50 Days of Easter celebrations.

My husband and kids had gotten up early, but I was sleeping in. That is, until all 4 of my kids came jumping on my bed announcing (seemingly extra-loud when you were sleeping…) that it was time to get up. I stumbled out of my room to to this glorious sight:

Wow! It’s just beautiful, and still putting a smile on my face. But the cards really touched me. The sweet messages written inside all of them had me choking back the tears. I love the heart put into all of them, so expressive of their individual personalities. Even my husband’s. Below was my very favorite flower in the bunch, until this morning when a stargaze lily bloomed wide open, and now-well…I’m kind of torn.

A big breakfast was made me for as well: coffee (the best part for me), stuffed french toast and 12 Fruit Salad! (below) This is a Pentecost salad and is symbolic of the 12 Fruits of the Holy Spirit: Charity, Joy, Peace, Patience, Kindness, Goodness, Generosity, Gentleness, Faithfulness, Modesty, Self-control, and Chastity. Not as easy to come up with 12 ripe fruits we thought! (Come to think of it, maybe that was symbolic too. lol) But we managed.

After breakfast we went to mass, which was nice as always. {A} voluntarily alter served, as she does most every Sunday, because it means so much to her. The presiding priest was Fr. Bob who the kids have really come to love, so that worked out nice, and we stayed a bit after to chat with him.

The night before the kids made 7 flames out of card stock, and labeled them with the 7 Gifts of the Holy Spirit, for our table for Pentecost Sunday. Didn’t they do a nice job?

We also had a Pentecost Cake. I actually came across the idea online, and loved all of the symbolism it entailed. My kids love cake of course, but my husband REALLY, really loves cake. And I have to admit — in the end, he made every bit of it. He is amazingly creative anyway-with any project he gets involved in. And he easily gets involved with a lot–he just gets sucked right in and can hardly help himself. (You should see the Easter eggs he has made over the years–just amazing. But I digress.)

So let me share with you the symbolism of this Pentecost Cake: It’s a white cake with white frosting to represent the purity of the Holy Spirit. The ‘butter cream’ frosting we all wanted wasn’t as white as we were hoping it would be, but close enough, and also too late. : ) The cake had 12 whole strawberries around it that again, represented the 12 Fruits of the Holy Spirit (mentioned above), and the 7 heart-shaped strawberries for the 7 Gifts of the Holy Spirit: Wisdom, Knowledge, Counsel, Fortitude, Understanding, Piety, and Fear of the Lord. The center candle represents Christ our Light. The 12 smaller candles represent the 12 Apostles, and the flames of course, are the tongues of fire.

It not only came out beautiful, but it was absolutely delicious!

The kids supplied ‘the rushing wind’ and blew out the candles.

So that was our Sunday in a nutshell. It was just another good day of getting a little more in touch with our faith, and celebrating as a family, which we are really good at, if I do say so myself. My husband and I were talking about how enjoyable it has been trying to live the Liturgical Year in a more involved way, with the kids. Much of what the kids are learning as we go here, WE, the parents, are truly really learning about as well. Though we both have always been Catholic, we have realized how much we paid such little attention to through the years. Taking the time to really study each liturgical day and season more, and celebrate them together as a family, is an amazing experience. It brings such appreciation, fascination, and a great deal more respect, to it all. It grows your faith, and well, ‘rekindles the fire’. Just like the prayer I’m reminded of:

“Come Holy Spirit, fill the hearts of your faithful. And kindle in us the fire of your Love.”

I think doing these things does call forth the Holy Spirit. That must be what we feel inside, and what makes us just want to do more and more of this stuff. It’s a good feeling-that just feels right.

But now for some Ordinary Time. Which just sounds……..restful.

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