Capture Your Memories in May, whether you’re smashing a piñata on Cinco de Mayo, celebrating your mom on Mother’s Day, or remembering a favorite graduate as he dons his cap and gown. We’ll introduce you to some fun ideas, places to visit, or new things to try as we continue to turn weeAdventures into weeMoments on which to look back with fondness.
And if, as you read our posts, you have something to suggest — we’d love to hear from you!
http://weeadventure.com/capture-your-memories/
A pink fluffy poodle powered by people. Blessing of De Feet. A race traveling over land, through mud, and on water, where the most coveted prize is the Mediocre Award. Spectators — as well as contestants — are encouraged to dress to impress. Where else but Baltimore could the annual Kinetic Sculpture Race take place?
Tomorrow, May 5, at 10 a.m. the American Visionary Arts Museum hosts its 14th Annual Kinetic Sculpture Race. Kinetinauts and their assorted vessels, created out of used bicycles, gears and parts, vie for all sorts of wacky honors. These people-powered works of art are crafted by lunatic tinkerer types. Some machines are simple and small, powered by one brave soul. Others are sleek, well-engineered craft powered by whole teams.
This silly race is perfect for families. Where you choose to watch along the 15-mile route depends solely on whether you prefer watching the action near land, mud, or water. Personally, I enjoy the suspense of “will it float or sink?” as each sculpture bobs makes it splash into the harbor, some precariously taking on water.
Hope to see you there! The question is — will you recognize me?
http://weeadventure.com/b-more-wacky/
Ever see a blog post and think to yourself, “Really? That project came together perfectly in only <insert absurdly small amount of time here> with <insert more children than you have here> and you had energy left to take perfect pictures of it and write about it, too?” I had that kind of moment just the other day when I read on This Homemade Life about making butter. Despite my doubts, I couldn’t help but be intrigued. I am always fascinated by making foods most people have only ever purchased. Especially something like butter which once upon a time everyone made.
And thanks to modern technology (aka the food processor), I was able to make butter in a matter of minutes — even with both of my children helping. We began by pouring a small container of heavy whipping cream into our food processor and letting it run. At first it seemed like nothing was happening. This might have had to do with the fact that my youngest kept turning the machine on and off. Let’s face it, pressing buttons is fun! However, after a few minutes the cream began separating into yellowish, buttery lumps and a milky liquid, otherwise known as buttermilk. I let the machine run until the little lumps had congealed together into one large lump.
Mixing the cream in the food processor
Next, we drained the big lump over a colander and used our hands to squeeze out the excess liquid. We added what turned out to be too much salt. Lesson learned: a little salt goes a long way when making butter.
Draining the homemade butter
While we could have stopped there, perfectly proud of our achievement, I had some new plastic crab candy molds that I have been experimenting with. And after all, this is Maryland and the summer crab feasts are about to begin. What better to serve with your corn on the cob than crab shaped butter?
Our crab shaped pats of homemade butter
Despite my initial doubts, this is a project I plan to repeat. Perhaps fancy shaped butter for a holiday dinner? Or on top of pancakes for a birthday breakfast? Hmmm… or homemade herb butter when the garden takes off this year? Or honey butter with fresh local honey from the farmer’s market? The possibilities are endless!
http://weeadventure.com/homemade-butter/
Every time I use a pull chain to turn on a light, I think to myself, “It’s time to turn on the Dawnzer because it gives lee light” and I chuckle. My writing partner confesses that she yearns to tug on her daughter’s ringlets occasionally. We’re both channeling the indomitable spirit of Ramona Quimby, one of Beverly Cleary’s most memorable characters.
Cleary, who turned 96 on April 12, began her career as a librarian so it should come as no surprise that she was delighted that her birthday was chosen as D.E.A.R. Day — National “Drop Everything And Read” Day. Beverly Cleary created some of the most beloved — and enduring — of all literary characters in children’s literature because children wanted to read about kids just like them: in addition to Ramona, there’s her sister Beezus, Henry Huggins, Ribsy, and Socks, Otis Spofford, and Ellen Tebbits, to name but a few of my personal favorites.
I began reading Cleary’s books as a grade school kid. As a parent, I read her stories to my kids. My sons particularly enjoyed the high jinks of Ralph in The Mouse and the Motorcycle. Because I adored Ramona, I’ll confess to checking out from the library the audio version of Ramona and her Father and “forcing” my kids to listen to it last summer. As much as they initially complained, soon they were captivated by Ramona, her doll Chevrolet, and all the trouble one kid can pretty innocently to get into.
To learn more about this amazing woman, read about her characters, or play games based upon her books, visit Beverly Cleary’s web site.
Do you have a favorite Beverly Cleary book or memory? Please share it here!
http://weeadventure.com/i-can-see-cleary-now/
Usually going to the movies with your kids is all about fun: laughter, popcorn, and creating shared memories. When you choose to go see the movie “Bully” — and I hope you will — you’ll be creating something else: playground heroes.
Watch the “Bully” trailer:
Statistics indicate that over 13 million kids are bullied annually in the United States alone. Maybe your child is bullied. Perhaps she is the bully. Take your family to watch the documentary “Bully” together. Afterwards, talk about what you’ve seen and how it made you feel. Decide what you want to do with the information. To help you prepare for your family’s discussion about the film, The Jed Foundation and MTV created a guide entitled “Love is Louder than Bullying.”
There are two versions of “Bully” being shown: an unrated one and a modified PG-13 one. Be sure to watch the version that most suits your family.
For those of you who have seen the film, with or without your children, we’d love for you to share your thoughts with us.
For additional ideas on how to take action, see The Bully Project.
http://weeadventure.com/bully-be-a-hero-take-a-stand/