Ditmars Apple Orchard

Last weekend took a road trip all the way to Iowa to visit an apple orchard called Ditmars (it took us 30 minutes). It's been our family tradition to pick apples every year for the past 6 or 7 years and we wanted to keep tradition alive. Unfortunately, because of the drought we couldn't pick any apples, but we could still buy them and some apple donuts. A couple of winters ago when California had the cold spring and late snows the apple orchards didn't have good pickings either so it happens.

 

There were some blow up horses you could bounce on (I just sat on one) and race each other. Lizard took on her dad and was surprised by how hard it was to make the horses bounce.

 

 

She was a little upset that she didn't win. Dad was a little too fast for her.

 

 

You can't see the tractor in the photo, but that's what's pulling the wagon we were riding in.

 

Since we're in Nebraska it only seems natural that just about every apple orchard and pumpkin patch has a corn maze. This was the girl's first time and it was fun.

Hurray for Bake Sales

Instead of posting cute pictures of me going down a slide and getting my face painted I thought I would share some pics of treats I made today (after all...that's what blogs are for right?!).

As some of you know, I really like to cook and I really like food. So much so that at 34 weeks pregnant I am still working out six times a week and walking my daughter to and from school. I exercise so I can eat a cookie or some ice cream (did I say "or"?). Yum!

I get excited when I think about what I'm going to make, whether sweet or savory, and I enjoy sharing my creations. I wish you were here to taste them!!

 Hubby has a group presentation today and one of their assignments was to bring something for everyone. He volunteered to bring a treat and told me he would make them, but I wouldn't let him. These are chocolate chip cookies with chopped Double Stuff Oreos. Yes, I said Oreos, and yes, that white stuff is cream.

Since it's a presentation for a Master's class I thought they should look "professional." The Jays are Creighton University's mascot.

 I also signed up for a bake sale at Lizard's school. The items will be sold during tomorrow's open house. I bagged up some of the cookies (see below) and also made a white chocolate popcorn mix with pretzels, m&ms, and marshmallows. I used buttered popcorn so you have the salty sweet. Lizard's school mascot is a sun.

Heron Haven

Not too far from our house is a cool place called Heron Haven. Which according to the website is a "spring-fed wetland sanctuary" with a butterfly garden and a nature path. This past Saturday they had a festival with face painting, live animal demonstrations and a scavenger hunt.

Lizard takes after her mother and thinks spiders are pretty neat...no she is not brainwashed.

I think the face painter did a great job.

Lizard is sad because she learned that one of the hawks being presented was shot by a hunter. We were able to see up close two owls and three hawks/raptors that could not survive in the wild because of injuries. Lizard loved seeing the birds and the presentation was very informative.

 

Lizard making a suet feeder. You smear peanut butter onto a pine cone and then roll it in sunflower seeds. We put it on a shepherds hook in the middle of our lawn and after seeing a woodpecker and one other bird eat off it, a squirrel managed to steal it. Bummer!

Bedtime

Little Bird loves to take a bath and brush her teeth. She splashes water all over the bathroom floor and whomever is giving the bath. I would show you pictures, but you'll just have to take my word for it. :)

Don't you just love those jammies? I didn't want to take her out of them the next day because I thought she looked so cute!!

 

 Lizard wanted her picture taken with Little Bird. Sisters are so fun.