The Great American Pie Month - Blackberry Pie

Blackberries are a very tasty and healthy fruit and they make a fully enjoyable pie, so today I'm happy to share with you are recipe for blackberry pie - but first some fun facts about blackberries - did you know . . .

Today is National Chocolate Covered Nut Day

I personally LOVE dark chocolate covered almonds! I eat a few each day because they are good for me, and because I LOVE them! So, when I saw today is National Chocolate Covered Nut Day, I thought I'd share this tasty day with you! Did you know . . .

Grandma "Ellies" Matter & So Do We

During Covid my grands and I worked on a new book series for children and families to enjoy to help them develop a confident faith as they learn about really interesting animals. (You will find the Life on the Goldilocks Planet series in the bookstore at this link.) In book two in my Life on the Goldilocks Planet series - this one is entitled, Eyelash Vipers, Pygmy Elephants, Pangolins & More! - I wrote about Pygmy Elephants and yes, there are pygmy elephants in Asia and Africa!

Saint Patricks Day . . . Get the Story from VeggieTales!

In less than a month it will be St. Patrick's Day, so I thought I'd share about how several years ago VeggieTales told the story of Saint Patrick on their Sumo Of The Opera and Lessons from the Sock Drawer DVDs. I found it very interesting and informative . . . I had never really heard the story of St. Patrick before. So, if your grandchildren ask why people celebrate St. Patrick's Day, pull out VeggieTales and show them the story behind the day!

crafting with grandma . . . Blarney Stones!

I am not Irish - I do have an ancestor who was Scottish, and who was shanghaied from Scotland, brought to American and sold as an indentured servant . . . but this is another story entirely! However, Irish or not, I have heard of the Blarney Stone! I went on-line to get the "facts" straight . . . if such a thing is possible for the story of the Blarney Stone!!! . . . and will share them with you . . . 

Today is National Banana Bread Day!

My family enjoys banana bread . . . for good reason; banana bread  tends to be moist, soft, and flavorful . . . in short, it is a tasty treat for sure! So, when I discovered it is "National Banana Bread Day", I had to share this bit of news with you! Nationaltoday (dot) com says, "Money was so tight during the Great Depression that people refused to throw away rotten food — thus ushering in the era of overly ripe bananas in banana bread." Here are some fun facts about banana bread - did you know . . .

Spring Reading - AND Family Fun - the Life on the Goldilocks Planet books

   

From time to time I post about my Life on the Goldilocks Planet books as they make fantastic books for the entire family to enjoy. Today I am very happy to let you know while you are able to get these books as paperback books, the entire series is now also available as Kindle ebooks on Amazon!

The Great American Pie Month - Pumpkin Mousse Pie!

Oh yes, I just wrote, "Pumpkin Mousse Pie!" and since February is the Great American Pie Month, today is the day to share my recipe so you are able to make one to enjoy with the ones you love! But first, some fun facts about mousse - did you know . . .

Fun at Frederik Meijer Gardens & Sculpture Park

If you live in or near West Michigan, you not only know what Frederik Meijer Gardens & Sculpture Park are, but have likely visited it; more than once. If you do not live in this area of the country, you may not be familiar with them, but today I'm very happy to share with you about this amazing and beautiful place where you and your grandchildren will be able to explore, discover and have tremendous fun together!

I'll start with sharing how they describe themselves and then what my family thinks of them; Frederik Meijer Gardens & Sculpture Park says . . . 

The Great American Pie Month - Pumpkin Pie Bites!

I really love pumpkin pie at Thanksgiving, but not only - I love it at any time of the year . . . not only is it sooo tasty, but it is sooo good for you, too, or at least the pumpkin is! So, when I was browsing on  Pinterest and saw Pumpkin Pie Bites, well, I had to share the recipe with you!

Yes! illustrate my own Books ARE for You & the Children You Love

    

Spring Break will be upon us in a month, so if you are looking for something fun you could give the children you love as a gift, consider getting some of the books from the illustrate my own series along with crayons, markers, and/or colored pencils. All of them are fun books which will uniquely engage the children you love in ways they have never engaged before with the accounts of Bible heroes. As they (and you) illustrate their books, they will think about what is happening, the things the Bible people said and did, and how God showed His love and grace to the Bible people . . . which will help the children you love better understand how God shows His love and grace to them as well! 

Today is National Cherry Pie Day

Today is National Cherry Pie Day - if you are like many people, when you think of cherry pie, you picture a baked crust filled with tasty cherries - and topped with a scoop of ice cream, of course! At my house cherry pie looks a little different . . . I take a half block of cream cheese and let it soften to room temperature, whip 1/4 cup sugar with the softened cream cheese so it is fluffy, set aside, and whip heavy cream until it is a nice, creamy whipped cream, fold with the cream cheese, fill a graham cracker crust, and top with cherries. Keep in the refrigerator until ready to serve and then, of course, enjoy!

Now for some fun facts about pie - did you know . . .

Tomorrow - February 20th - is National Love Your Pet Day!

Certainly all of us who have four-legged family members, love them on all days, but tomorrow is a day to especially take time to be thankful for and to love these wonderful members of our family. In my home we have a cat - Candy. She is quite the cat. I thought she would be "aloof" but she is not at all! She greets us when we come home, she snuggles a LOT, and she is a pretty wonderful addition to our family.

My Top Seven Reasons for Enjoying the Butterflies are Blooming at Frederik Meijer Gardens & Sculpture Park

If you live in, or near, Grand Rapids, MI, you are most certainly familiar with Frederik Meijer Gardens & Sculpture Park - their amazing Butterflies are Blooming Exhibit begins in in just ten days, so today I wanted to write about this highlight of the year! I want to share with you a few reasons why this is a not-to-miss experience for you and the children you love!