Science Fairs

The season of school science projects is here and our granddaughters received a bronze medal for their contribution this year.  The discussions around a possible project have be the subject of dinner time conversation and each time the realization of a possible project formed in their young minds.

It is important that (grand)parents encourage and support children in the planning and execution of the project.  This does not means we do the work.  

We encourage, re-frame blunders as opportunities of try again and to transport the project to school and attend when the public is invited it.

Just as an added note the girls found that Root Beer was the most corrosive pop on teeth

What was your (grand)child’s science project this year?

Grandma Snyder

© 2013-2015 twosnydergirls

Hot Tuna Macaroni Salad

Foodie Friday

Hot Tuna Macaroni Salad was a favourite childhood meal and one that unfortunately had to be given up until recently when I found “Organic Ancient Quinoa Harvest” Rotelle - Gluten Free Pasta

This is not a paid product insert as in all other post the products I highlight are ones I use and find noteworthy.  Ancient Quinoa is just such a product it has great flavour and the noodles hold together, can be frozen and reheated without any loss of flavour or textures.

So from my childhood ‘Mother’ tuna macaroni salad.

Hot Tuna Macaroni Salad

Ingredients:

• 1 package spiral noodles cooked as per package
• 1 cup chopped celery
• ½ cup chopped onion
• 2 cups frozen peas
• 1 cup shredded cheese
• 1 can cream of mushroom soup
• ½ can of milk
• 1 large can Tuna packed in water

Directions:

1. In a large casserole dish add the peas, celery, onion, cream of mushroom soup and ½ a can of milk mix well
2. Mix in your cooked noodles and
3. Top with grated cheese
4. Bake in a 350 ° F for 30 minutes or until the casserole is heated through

From our table to yours

Grandma Snyder

©2013-2015 twosnydergirls

Crocheting The 2015 Sky

February 2015

 “February 7, 1878, Glistening sun to-day, with slight haze, and yet tart…in which I study the sky, the light, the leafless trees, and an occasional crow, with flapping wings, flying overhead.  The brown fields have a few white patches of snow left” Walt Whitman (1819-1892)

And here is what February 2014 looked like!

February 2014

Grandma Snyder

©2013-2015 twosnydergirls

Common Sandpiper

Wordless Wednesday

Grandma Snyder

©2013-2015 twosnydergirls

Potential is in this moment

How many wasted moments have been spent worrying about something in the dim distance; a test, job interview, medical appointment, retirement and did one of those collective moments of worry do any good?  More than likely not if all you did was worry!

Recently we overheard one of our grandchildren lament that she was worried about a math test, she had not done well on the previous test and now was anticipating the next. 

We could have said Well have you studied? or You will need to study? or even worse I know you will do OK as none of these statements would help her deal with the worry that was 'clearly at hand'.

We asked her to think of one thing she could do right now.  Of course she offered, that she could study and had no intention of doing so, as she visited at our home.  We asked the question again and asked her to think of how we could help.  After a few minutes she offered we could do times tables and so an enjoyable half hour was spent reciting times tables and laughing at our mistakes.  Her worry disappeared in the face of taking advantage of an at hand opportunity.

In this way we hope that we are modelling behaviour that teaching them to take advantage of what is a hand - being mindful.  

That regret for yesterday and worry for tomorrow steals from you the potential that is your now.

Grandma Snyder

2013-2015 twosnydergirls

Sauerkraut Salad

Foodie Friday

Marcus Porcius Cato the Elder 234 BC t0 149 BC wrote a book on farming in his text he wrote that cabbage is betters than all other vegetable and to today cabbage is believed to:

• Provide protection from radiation therapy
• Prevent some cancers
• Help with digestion
• Build the immune system
• Reduce blood pressure

Ingredients:

• 4 cups sauerkraut
• 2 cups diced celery
• 1 sweet red pepper diced
• 1 sweet yellow pepper diced
• 1 sweet green pepper diced 
• 1/2 cup sugar 
• 1/4 cup salad oil
• 1/3 cup vinegar
• 1/4 cup water
• Salt to taste

Directions:

1. Prepare all of your vegetables and place in a bowl 
2. Prepare your dressing and pour over salad
3. Mix well
4. Refrigerate overnight 

Serve 

From our table to yours

Grandma Snyder

©2013-2015 twosnydergirls

Knitting Temperature

February 2015

February 2015

February 2015 like January has been colder than normal.  There are some benefits to cold weather there is less snow and I am all for that.  It has been over 30 days since we have seen a day that was 0°C or above.  The average temperature in February should be O°C.

To Winter

 William Blake

O winter! bar thine adamantine doors:

The north is thine; there hast thou built thy dark

Deep-founded habitation. Shake not thy roofs

Nor bend thy pillars with thine iron car.

He hears me not, but o’er the yawning deep

Rides heavy; his storms are unchain’d, sheathed

In ribbed steel; I dare not lift mine eyes;

For he hath rear’d his sceptre o’er the world.

Lo! now the direful monster, whose skin clings

To his strong bones, strides o’er the groaning rocks:

He withers all in silence, and in his hand

Unclothes the earth, and freezes up frail life.

He takes his seat upon the cliffs, the mariner

Cries in vain. Poor little wretch! that deal’st

With storms, till heaven smiles, and the monster

Is driven yelling to his caves beneath Mount Hecla.

January 2015

Grandma Snyder

© 2013-2015 twosnydergirls

Farms Midwinter

Wordless Wednesday

Grandma Snyder

©2013-2015 twosnydergirls

Human Spirit

Like sand on a beach our lives are constantly changing, evolving and adapting to the influences of the world around us.

Embracing this inescapable truth provides each of us with the tools necessary struggle through difficult times.

The knowledge that we will adapt with time and establish a new normal is the hope at the end of the tunnel it is being resilient.

Grandma Snyder

©2013-2015 twosnydergirls

Potatoe Carrot Frittata

Foodie Friday 

Our garden potatoes and carrots are beginning to so their age and so we went in search of a recipe that would use both and this is the resulted.  A tasty frittata that goes will with either a green salad or a cabbage salad.

Ingredients:

• 6 large potatoes cut into medium slices
• 1 cup none dairy cheese shredded
• 3 large carrots shredded
• 6 eggs
• 1/3 cup Almond Milk
• coconut oil

Direction:

1. Grease a pie plate with coconut oil
2. Fill the pie plate with a layer of potatoe, then shredded carrot followed by potatoe until the pie plate is full
3. Mix the Almond milk and eggs and pour this over the potatoe and carrot layers
4. Place shredded cheese on top and place in a 375°F oven until a knife comes out clean in the centre of the pie about 45 minutes.

 From our table to yours

Grandma Snyder

©2013-2015 twosnydergirls 

Moving Snow

Wordless Wednesday

Grandma Snyder

©2013-2015 twosnydergirls

Be Present

We are told that the best defence is a good offense yet the great peacemakers of human history offer us a different example they were present with their persecutors.

They listened to understand the grievances being brought to them, they did not attack and mount an offense.  They entered into a dialogue with the hope that through the exchange thoughts, words, and ideas mutual understanding would result.

Did they win?  No, because winning was never the goal, the goal was to be entirely present with their accuser, with the other person and to understand.

How often have we ended up in a nasty argument with our, children, partners, siblings, parents, friends because instead of listening to understand we have immediately started building our offense, stopped listening and gone on the attack.

What is being described is hard to do and impossible if you have never been present with yourself.

Haggai 1:5-7

Now therefore, thus says the LORD of hosts, "Consider your ways! You have sown much, but harvest little; you eat, but there is not enough to be satisfied; you drink, but there is not enough to become drunk; you put on clothing, but no one is warm enough; and he who earns, earns wages to put into a purse with holes." Thus says the LORD of hosts, "Consider your ways!”

How do you consider your ways?

Where can you be present with yourself?

For me that path started with a Christmas present, a pencil, a journal to which I added my thoughts and a willingness to learn about myself.

How do you consider your ways?

Do you spend time being present with yourself?

Grandma Snyder

©2013-2015 twosnydergirls

Eggplant and Tuna

Foodie Friday

Eggplant is an amazing vegetable and we look for every opportunity to experiment with it.  While we had to purchase our eggplant at this time of the year in preparing this meal we started to plan our 2015 home garden and yes once again we will grow eggplant in two of our large clay pots.

Ingredients:

• 1 large eggplant
• 3 stalks of celery chopped
• 4 plum tomatoes chopped
• 1 garlic clove crushed
• 1 small can tomatoe paste
• 1 onion chopped
• 1 teaspoon turmeric
• 1 teaspoon cumin
• ½ teaspoon oregano
• ½ teaspoon thyme
• 1 can tuna drained
• Coconut oil
• 1 cup of your favourite cheese

 

Directions:

1. Cut the eggplant in half-length wise and carefully cut the pulp out of each half without cutting into the skin and leaving ¼ inch of pulp in place.
2. Sauté the garlic, onion and celery in the coconut oil until the onion are translucent.
3. Next add all of the other ingredients to the frying pan and simmer for 30 minutes.
4. Add the tuna to the frying pan and combined well
5. Divide the tuna mixture between the two halves of the eggplant and sprinkle the cheese on both halves.
6. Place the eggplants on a baking sheet and place in a 350 °F oven for 40 minutes.

Enjoy
From our table to yours

Grandma Snyder

©2013-2015 twosnydergirls

Spring is Coming

Wordless Wednesday

Grandma Snyder

©2013-2015 twosnydergirls

10 Things to Tell Your Children in February

February is the month of love, share your stories of love and the wisdom you have gleaned from it.

1.  How you met your children's father or mother?

2. Tell them what attracted you to this person and if you are still together does it still attracted you?

I was drawn to the comfortable companionship that Paul creates around him and this is still what I find most attractive.

3. How long did you date before you married or moved in together?

4. Described to them your funniest dating moment.

It was Easter and I made my first from scratch strawberry pie in an attempt to impress my new boyfriend – it looked wonderful.  On the way from the counter to the table I stumbled and the pie hit the floor.  My boyfriend started to laugh, there was pieces of broken pie plate, and strawberries everywhere but the pie shell made it through unscathed.  We went out for pie.

5. If your public school celebrated Valentine’s Day tell your children your best memory of this time.

6. Tell your old children of a dating experience if you could do it over again you would avoid and why.

7. If you know how your parent (their grandparents) met tell the story.

8. If your parents or you have divorced talk to your children about this and how you fell out of love. 

It is very important that before you tell this story that you practice telling it in such a way that your children can still love their other parent and feel whole as a person – remember they draw their identity from both of you.

9.  Tell your children what your favourite flower is and if there is a flower you dislike share this as well.

I cannot abide the smell of carnations.  My grandfather died when I was 12 and there were many carnations at the funeral home.  To the point that I now associate the smell of carnations with death and loss.

10. Tell them a love story from your families’ historical collection.

As always where this articles says children please feel free to substitute grandchildren.

Grandma Snyder

©2013-2015 twosnydergirls

Valentine's Day

As a child I loved Valentine’s Day at school, getting heart shaped cards from my friends, mostly I loved the home made treats.

In addition to bringing a card for everyone in our class we brought a treat to share.

It was that memory that prompted me to bake a simple box chocolate cake with my granddaughter.

She loved stirring the batter and yes licking the spoon.

Her favourite part was decorating the cake with the treats from

Grandpa’s candy drawer.

Happy Valentine’s DayEveryone

Grandma Snyder

©2013-2015 twosnydergirls

Curried Carrot Soup Gluten and Dairy Free

Foodie Friday

Gluten and Dairy Free

At lunch I often walk with a good friend who is a wonderful Indian cook and in our January Good Food Box there was a large bag of carrots, so I asked Navneet how she would make curried carrot soup.  

Navneet started to list the spices she would use and I stopped dead my tracks when she said “and one green banana”, I have never heard of adding a banana to soup let alone a green one.  

Determined to give it a try Paul and made Curried Carrot Soup and it is wonderful, a rich yet mellow curried flavour. 

Navneet has given permission for me to share this with you and while the ingredient list is Navneet’s she did not have measurement  she uses taste and aroma as her measuring spoons.  We had to experiment until we reach an overall flavour we liked.

Ingredients:

• 4 cloves of garlic pressed
• 1 inch of fresh ginger pressed
• 2 teaspoons Cumin
• 2 teaspoons Turmeric
• 1 teaspoon curry powder
• 1 teaspoon cardamom powder (Navneet uses seeds I could not find seeds at our local grocery store)
• 1 small sweet potatoe chopped
• 1 small onion diced
• 7 carrots chopped
• 4 cups vegetable broth
• 1 can coconut milk
• 1 green banana chopped

Directions:

1. Sauté the onion, garlic, banana, and ginger until the onions are translucent
2. Add all of the spices to the frying pan and stir until well incorporated
3. In the soup pot add the sweet potatoe, carrots, vegetable broth and the contents of the frying pan cook until your vegetables are soft
4. Carefully using a hand blender blend the contents of the soup pot until it has reached the consistency you prefer smooth or chunky.
5. Add the can of coconut milk and heat until the soup starts to bubble

Serve

From our table to yours

Grandma Snyder

©2013-2015 twosnydergirls

Messages of Love in the Sand

Wordless Wednesday

Grandma Snyder

©2013-2015 twosnydergirls

Crocheting The 2015 Sky

January 2015

I guess I am addicted!

With extra sky yarn sitting on the table I determined that I would crochet the 2015 sky and the granny square is the stitch I am working with.

January 2015 was a cold month with lots of blue sky compared to January 2014.

Blow, blow, thou winter wind,

Thou art not so unkindAs man's ingratitude;Thy tooth is not so keenBecause thou art not seen,Although thy breath be rude. Heigh-ho! sing heigh-ho! unto the green holly:Most friendship is feigning, most loving mere folly:Then, heigh-ho! the holly! This life is most jolly. Freeze, freeze, thou bitter sky,Thou dost not bite so nighAs benefits forgot:Though thou the waters warp,Thy sting is not so sharpAs friend remember'd not. Heigh-ho! sing heigh-ho! unto the green holly: Most friendship is feigning, most loving mere folly:Then, heigh-ho! the holly!This life is most jolly.

 By ~William Shakespeare 

Here is a look back to January 2014 

Grandma Snyder

©2013-2015 twosnydergirls

Spiritual Path

Grandparents, aunts and uncles have a unique opportunity to shepherd the children in their families onto a spiritual path.  Being a step removed from primary parenting the children in our lives are open to our suggestion and always watchful of our actions..

The source of our spirituality can be found in our religious beliefs and it can be found outside of structured religions, in activities that we do every day.

I nurture my spirituality through:

•  Journaling
•  Photography
• Silent Mediation
• Walking
• Music
• Being part of my religious community
• Being with my grandchildren
• Creating with my hands
• Gardening

How do you nurture your spirituality?
What do you do daily and weekly to grow as a spiritual being?

When you have answered this question consider how you can introduce the children in your life to these activities – how can you share your joy in spiritual activities with them.

Grandma Snyder

© 2013-2015 twosnydergirls