Felt-y ABCs

Cute! Want! You agree? Of course you do.

Can you imagine the fun you could have with 3 or 4 sets of this felt handmade alphabet?

You could sort them by color.

You could sort them by size.

You could stuff them in all of your pockets (teachers have lots of pockets) (kids have lots of pockets, too).

You could count them.

And oh I suppose you could also make words and sentences with them.

Sesame Street is 40 years old

Today’s program has been brought to you by the letters H and B, and by the number 40.

Get some paper, a whole big box of crayons, and count how many characters you and your friends can name.

Bonus: Name the people on the show.

Extra bonus for hardcore fans: Write the original names (not the stage names) of the people on the show.

I was going to suggest that you then name all the Muppeteers, but some of the younger ones still think the characters are real. Let’s keep it that way for them just a bit longer, okay?

******

Did you see all the fun google doodles? T-shirts now avalable!

One happy birthday! Two happy birthdays! Three happy birthdays! Ha ha ha ha ha…..!

Stepping on Sesame Street

Your 5th and 6th graders say they’re too cool to sing Head, Shoulders, Knees and Toes?

Sigh, kids these days…..

But okay, we understand.

Have you introduced them to the world of stepping yet?

A whole bunch more can be found online, and you might find resources in your own community. Check them out!

[Thanks!]

Horse Cookies

I live within easy walking distance of  huge internationally known equestrian park (in Japanese).

But I almost never go there by myself, because I want my big sister with me for support: she’s the brave one around horses.

My very busy sister tells me that horses are rather fond of cookies and muffins. If I bake cookies for the horses, the horses will be happy. They will show me how gentle they can be. I can visit the horses without her.

Really?

Well now. Which recipe should I try first?

******

Nancy Blakey’s Horse Cookies

• 1 cup molasses
• ½ cup oil
• 3½ cups whole wheat flour
• 1 cup grated carrot

1. Preheat your oven to 350 °F/177 °C.

2. Stir the molasses and oil together.

3. Add the flour and the grated carrot.

4. Drop by spoonfuls on a greased cookie sheet and bake for 12-15 minutes.

******

“Psssst!” my sister said, “People can eat these, too!”

Really?

Horse cookie jar with matching salt and pepper shakers! Yay! Wait. Which cookies do you eat with salt and pepper?

The PC and the OC: Cauliflower!

With great apologies to cauliflower lovers everywhere, I’ve never completely understood the excitement surrounding cauliflower.

Is there something mysterious about it? (Ooooh….look up cauliflower and aphrodisiacs!…really?!)

I went shopping this afternoon for sour cream and olives, but just like shopping at IKEA, I bought things not on my shopping list.

I now have in my shopping bag a head of orange cauliflower and a head of purple cauliflower.

Oh so pretty! Excitement!

Whee!

Ok, now what?

Snowman Soup

You could be boring and just call this recipe regular old non-exciting hot chocolate milk.

But “hot chocolate milk” makes people merely smile from one nostril to the other.

To see a really really huge smile – that’s what we’re aiming for – tell your friend you’ve made him some Snowman Soup. Give him the mug and a great big hug, then nonchalantly walk away.

1. Put 1 package hot chocolate mix, a few candy kisses, some mini marshmallows, and a candy cane into a hot cup or snowman mug.

2. Wrap in cellophane or plastic bag and add a gift tag.

P.S. If you don’t eat any of these ingredients, remember the main soup-making rule: experiment until you like it. Or something like that. Okay, yes, I just made that up.

Peanut Butter Playdough

You’re supposed to make this playdough and then play with it. When you’re finished playing, you can eat it.

I understand.

But wouldn’t you rather skip the “playing with” part and go directly to smearing this on toast and eating it?

******

1. Mix 2½ cups of peanut butter, 6 tablespoons of honey, and enought non-fat dry milk until you get a workable dough.
2. Add a bit of cocoa for flavor.
3. Now this dough is ready to shape into letters and eat.

One recipe suggests substituting corn meal for the dry milk, especially if one of your playdough makers is allergic to milk. Peanut allergies are everywhere, too, so trot over here to find a few more options.

So, if you’re not going to use it, I’ll help you eat that jar of peanut butter.