The Big Nickle

Welcome to the Big Nickle!!!!! We are home from Sudbury, and we all had a blast. Our first stop was to Dynamic Earth, a science and geology centre that includes a tour of a mine 7 stories below ground. William and Charlie had a great time playing in the 'pretend' mine, as well as exploring the real one.

The climbing is always fun.......

What six-year-old doesn't like setting explosives underground?

This is a section of the mine from the early years - the mine is set up in different time periods so that you can see how the industry has changed over the years.

more climbing...

and panning for gold!!

More photos to come of Science North, but I do need to take a little break - you know how it is....needing a vacation after your vacation?

We're off (Goodbye for a few days...)

Well, as of 7am sharp tomorrow morning, we are off on a mini-vacation to the wonderful metropolis of Sudbury, Ontario!!! I know, I know - try to curb your enthusiasm. Actually, this is a second year on a row that we have headed for the near north. Why you may ask? SCIENCE NORTH!!!! What more could a homeschooling mom want that a 4 level building (shaped like a snow flake, no less!) full to the brim with hands-on science for the kids to explore, and dozens of 'blue coats' (university students ,I would guess) who roam around answering questions, showing everything to the kids, and lighting balls of gas on fire (really!!). There is an IMAX theatre, a butterfly conservatory, a whole room full of LEGO (!!!) and K'NEX, a table to search for fossils, a porcupine in residence, animal bones to play with, hissing cockroaches, a water / erosion table, dozens of microscopes.......you get the picture. Needless to say, I will be post-free until we get back towards the end of the week, but never fear - you will be inundated with more pictures of Science North than you could possible every want to see. Have a great week,
Jo and boys

Yeah Me!!!!!

OK, so this may not look like much to you, but to me it is wondrous. What you are looking at, dear reader, are my very own seedlings, tucked into a beautifully weed-free raised bed (I won't even tell you how long it took me to get it weed-free...)mulched with straw from a friends farm (thanks Jenn and David!!!) and ready for the summer. If you have followed this blog for a while, you know a little bit about my challenges with gardening - mostly that I am not all that good at it. But for the first time ever, I have managed to keep my seedlings alive long enough to move them out into the great outdoors, and even hardened them off suitable that they have not died of dislocation. We planted 2 types of tomatoes, peppers, broccoli, green and yellow beans, and even some marigolds. Add this to the cabbage, carrots, peas, spinach and lettuce that made it into the ground earlier in the spring, and we are in great shape!! If you have any helpful gardening tips, I would love to hear from you. Hopefully my gardening 'luck' will hold on until the harvest....

Come See

Mom - come see the lovely flowers in your garden - there are six! They are so beautiful it pops out my heart!
Charlie (3 yrs old)

There is only one time...

There is only one time that is important - Now! It is that most important time because it is the only time when we have any power. The most necessary man is he with whom you are, for no man knows whether he will ever have dealings with any one else: and the most important affair is, to do him good, because for that purpose alone was man sent into this life.

Leo Tolstoy
The Three Questions

A Day At The Lake

Pineapple Upside Down Cake

In the aftermath of our Mozambique table at the World Expo last week, we found ourselves with a whole lot of fresh pineapple in the fridge. And so....pineapple upside down cake!!! We actually did cupcakes rather than a big cake so that we could share with the neighbours more easily. Of course, nothing makes William happier than being trusted with making deliveries up and down the street on his own. I am so grateful that we live in a neighbourhood where I feel comfortable sending him out on his own (having a kitchen window that allows me to watch him most of the way helps, too...) Anyway, in case you ever find yourself with a fridge full of pineapple, here is the recipe - Yum!

Pineapple Upside Down Cake (Better Homes and Gardens New Cook Book)

2 tbsp butter

1/3 cup brown sugar

fresh or canned pineapple slices

maraschino cherries

1 1/3 cup flour

2/3 cup sugar

2 tsp baking powder

2/3 cup milk

1/4 cup butter

1 egg

1 tsp vanilla

1 tsp cinnamon (optional)

Melt 2 tbsp butter in a 9 inch round cake pan. Stir in brown sugar and 1 tbsp water. Arrange pineapple and cherries in the pan. In a bowl, combine flour, sugar, and baking powder and cinnamon. Add milk, butter, egg, and vanilla. Beat with electric mixers on low speed until combined. Beat on medium speed for 1 minute. Carefully pour into the pan on top of the pineapple, and bake at 350 for 25 - 30 minutes. Remove from the oven and cool for 5 minutes, before loosening the sides and turning upside down out of the pan onto a serving plate. Serve warm.