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Mixed Berry Scones

A couple of Sharing Saturdays ago, Jamie at Scattered Thoughts of a Crafty Mom shared her recipe for fresh strawberry scones (and homemade strawberry milk). We have gotten scones a few times at Starbucks lately so Hazel has been asking to make them. I told her I needed to find a recipe, so when I saw it, I knew we would be trying it. We followed her recipe for the most part except we used mixed berries--strawberries, blackberries and blueberries--since that is what we had. We also added a teaspoon of cinnamon since Hazel wanted to--she seems to think cinnamon goes in everything. I figured it wouldn't hurt in this recipe, so we did it.

Hazel cracked the egg all on her own and did not get any shell in the bowl!! Then she whisked while I gathered the next ingredients.
The next thing we needed to do was make some lemon zest. Hazel had never seen this nor do we use lemons too often, but I pulled out my zester and let her try. She had fun. Then she whisked all the liquid ingredients--including the zest.

We set that bowl aside and started on the dry ingredients. We used white whole wheat flour and this is where we added the cinnamon.
Then we added the butter and I used forks since I have misplaced my pastry cutter to break it up. Then we added the berries. I chopped them all a bit. And finally added the liquids from earlier.
But then it got hard to stir, so we used our hands.
Then we followed the directions to take it out and cut it and put it on the pan and in the oven.
I baked mine a little longer than the recipe said. Then we let them cool a bit, but we did eat the first ones warm.
We all enjoyed them. In fact I think Steve ate three or so for breakfast this morning! Thank you, Jamie for the recipe!!


This is where I link up...

Happy Family Times #8

 

Kelly at Happy Whimsical Hearts and I run a link party to share your family times every Tuesday. Please link up below and visit Happy Whimsical Hearts to read about her quality family time!

This week we spent Saturday as a family. We started our morning going to the local zoo--Stone Zoo. We have a family membership there, but hadn't used it since we renewed it last month. We finally got a gorgeous day with little plans so we headed over there. The first animal we saw was the American Bald Eagle. They also have a replica of its nest.

Then we went to see the black bears. They are two brothers. Some days we have caught them playing with one another, but I think today it was near feeding time since the one above went to the door and stayed there after having a drink of water in their "pond." His brother however had a great time with the big blue ball!

 Then we saw the llamas and owls. Hazel couldn't see the Great Horned Owl, so Daddy picked her up.


The coyotes could not be found. And usually we always see the cougar and jaguar doing something fun, but today they were both sleeping. Not too exciting. We did see a snake drinking water. The picture of the snake didn't come out too well, but here are Steve and Hazel checking it out.
We saw a few more caged animals and then we went to see Hazel's favorite--the flamingos!!
Then we went into the inside displays. The pictures did not come out well in there for the most part. Some of the "glass" was dirty and it also reflected light. Then we stopped at the gift shop. We picked up some postcards for Hazel's penpals and a present for each of us. Then the river otter was out and swimming.
They have several types of monkeys or monkey like animals. Some were sleeping and one was hanging on the edge of the cage checking us all out.
Next we saw the white cheeked gibbon family. They had a baby in the fall!
The father, the black one, is one armed. He lost part of his arm at his previous zoo when a visitor tried to feed him something or threw something in to his cage. They have a sign telling the story. He gets around pretty well all things considered. Here he was sleeping though.

Next we took Hazel to dig for dinosaur bones. This is the first time we took her to this part because of her age and the crowds that can be there. She seemed to enjoy it. It is also right next to their Birds of Flight Show. We skipped that due to timing, and I think Hazel would be scared and it is not something you can get out of during the show. Then we decided to go have lunch. We had brought some sandwiches but headed over to the grill for some French fries and so Hazel could go on the rides. We brought quarters from her piggy bank for the rides. Here are a couple of them.

Then we went through the barnyard and or course Hazel wanted to play on the playground there. She had fun. Oh, and I got someone to take a family shot of us. And it actually came out pretty well.


Then we saw the zebu. I had never seen or heard of a zebu before going to this zoo.
Then we got really lucky. The snow leopard was out! Steve had never gotten to see it before. And this was the best view I have ever gotten of it.
We walked up to see the wolves but they were not out. We did see the black necked crane. And the snow leopard was still out on our way back down the hill. Then we saw the markhors. Then we quickly went down the path with the foxes, porcupines and barnyard owl. By this time Hazel was getting tired so we hurried through, but on our way to the path we saw this little turtle not in a cage but on the path.
Then we were on our way to our local Rite Aid. They were having a fundraiser today for Children's Miracle Network. All the proceeds from it would go to the Children's Hospital in Boston. They had Elmo there. Hazel did not want to leave once we were there. She loved sitting next to Elmo and she even got pictures of her with Elmo and the store manager and the assistant manager--two of her three friends at the store.  Rite Aid is like a second home to us.

Now it is your turn to share how your family has spent some quality time lately.



~ please link up (family time oriented giveaways are ok, but please no Etsy shops)
~just crafts will be deleted since this is to share family times
~ use our button so others can join the fun

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Ok, now for our PARTY!! Please share your FUN Family Times!!

Multicultural Monday #3--A Perfect Prize and Some Resources

So this week as I was trying to think what I wanted to share with you for Multicultural Monday, I got a very nice package in the mail. Around Earth Day, I entered the contests on Natural Kids Team. Well, I won one of their amazing giveaways (again). This time it was from The Enchanted Cupboard. It ties in perfectly with The Colors of Us project that we did last week! So I wanted to share it with you. It is called Dolls of the World and Earth Box. And I have to say that Hazel loves it and couldn't wait to start playing with it.

Some Felt and Felting Projects

Happy Mother's Day!! 
 
I found this wool felt bowl on clearance at Michaels awhile ago. I actually bought two--one brown and one blue. I thought the brown one would make a neat bird's nest. I finally got around to making Hazel some birds for it. I needle felted her a light blue one following the directions in Beginner's Guide to Needle Felting by Susanna Wallis. I haven't added the legs yet which they used metal and I wasn't sure I wanted to. Then I tried to copy one with wings out. He has a white stomach, but I didn't get good pictures of it. This bowl is one I picked up the other day and am thinking I will make some more birds and give it as a gift to Hazel's teacher for the end of the year.
I'm not sure why we were using plastic balls in there, but I figured they made good eggs until I get something to be the eggs.

We also found these wool felt purses and wool felt flowers on clearance. I sewed the flowers onto the purses. Hazel wants the blue one, but I figured the purple can be for a friend when we get invited somewhere and need a small gift.

Then you may remember a couple of weeks ago I featured a Felt Rainbow Sorting Game from One Perfect Day at Sharing Saturday. Well I cut one out for Hazel. I used the Eco felt since I didn't have all the colors in the wool felt.
I wish I had more time to make all the wonderful ideas I see at Sharing Saturday and on Pineterest and everywhere. Don't you?

This is where I link up...

Sharing Saturday #19

Wow, we had so many wonderful ideas shared last week!! Have you been back to check them out? You should. I know I had a really hard time picking features because so many of them were so creative and I wanted to try them all. I'm always amazed by your creativity.