Blueberry Scones with Lemon Glaze Recipe : Tyler Florence : Food Network

Blueberry Scones with Lemon Glaze Recipe : Tyler Florence : Food Network

made these for breakfast. had to split the dough as one of my little pals prefers his sans blueberries. i also modified the recipe a bit; used 3/4 c whole wheat flour, swapped white refined sugar for course demerara and substituted the heavy cream with silk brand soy milk.... just a few simple tweaks and i am usually happy with the scone recipes that i have tried thus far.

apple raspberry pie

pickycook.com - apple raspberry pie

so... it's an early mac season this year, so early that it overlaps the late summer raspberries... mmm-- don't mind if i do...


**easy pickins' orchard - enfield, ct still has:
blueberries and garden vegetables along with late raspberries, cortlands & macs

                                http://www.easypickinsorchard.com/

Wasabi Tuna Burgers

Wasabi Tuna Burgers Bethenny Frankel


making these tonight....i hope.

new britain museum of american art today... details later

hoping to score the free pass from manchester public library for the nbmaa.....dying to have the kids create something in the art lab there.


details later on...

*******
we had an absolutely fabulous time...here are some direct quotes from the boys:

"i love to look at sculptures." -dan

"seeing the big blue glass form hanging from the ceiling."  -rich

" i like the art lab." - adam

memberships to nbmaa are really worth considering as there are reciprocal memberships to at least a dozen or so other new england museums as well as discounts on classes, cafe and giftshop... current exhibit MC Escher runs through november- a great opportunity to see one of the largest Escher exhibits...

the museum also boasts a great art lab for kids; a place to create, play and learn which is open to all museum guests. classes for adults and children offered throughout the year as well.
located at the base of beautiful walnut hill park- you could even take a walk afterward (we had our doggie izzy with us, so we planned on it.) it really is a great way to spend the day, or at least--we think so.

greater hartford arts council a&e forecast

great resource for local events worth checking out...

cupcake top

so, i have been craving cupcakes for weeks and finally thought today was a great weather day to bake. what i expected was a cure for my cupcake urges. what i discovered was a cupcake that was nothing more than a vegan chocolate cupcake that failed to rise to traditional cupcake heights producing one of the best cupcakes i have ever tasted! my family agreed, so, maybe this will be the new craze... sssshhh. don't steal my idea...vegan cupcake tops... the next hot sweet.

tag sale yesterday. my oldest boy made lots of dough, which is now burning a hole in his pocket. i realize now that tag sales are a really good way for kids to learn about commerce while also grasping the notion of how little we need most of the items that clutter up out lives on a daily basis. his lemonade stand was a hit as well- so cute.

hiking with my boys: McCann family farm somers ct

as i had mentioned last week, i would like to spend the remaining summer vacation days finding local trails that the boys can manage and that won't bore me to death. bingo! yesterday we ventured two towns over to the trailhead of the McCann family farm property (part of Northern Ct landtrust) for a REAL hike on it's 2 mile blue blaze trail. (the yellow blaze trail is roughly 3 miles)... maybe we will conquer it next.  there is no cost, however, we really were supposed to wait to go until the weekend however there was one other woman out there who explained that is was ok. the property is cared for by volunteers of the nctlt of which this woman belonged.


a little back story: i had taken an english course from an instructor who belongs to the nctlt and who actually has written a book about his time spent on the property of the McCann family farm titled; Loop Year, (i'm sure that he won't mind the tiny plug.)

*** trailhead is just off of rte. 190 in somers.                          

                                                                  

                      
                                         

peculiar little flowers on the trail..look like goldfish ...any ideas?

the boys and their dog. mccann family farm trail, somers.

Connecticut Magazine : Summer Bargain Blitz

just sharing- some of the info. here has passed by... some not.


Connecticut Magazine Summer Bargain Blitz

Consumers Find Ways to Spend Less and Find Happiness - NYTimes.com

would you?...could you?... do this...?



Consumers Find Ways to Spend Less and Find Happiness - NYTimes.com





   

coming up ....Bolton - Fish Family Farm Has Cows and the Milk They Make - Review - NYTimes.com

summer is already winding down? naah. bite your tongue. nevertheless, call it what you will. I plan to begin posting late summer events- really want to make this event happening at fish family farm in bolton, ct. August 28 10am-5.
free fresh ice cream, tie dye, hayrides, games and ...fun. $6 see related ny times article.

Quick Bite - Bolton - Fish Family Farm Has Cows and the Milk They Make - Review - NYTimes.com

be sure to see their site as well...

http://www.fishfamilyfarm.com/

sharing local events...arts and ribbon cutting at the new ymca

so, my schedule is a little different this week. while the kids are at day camp i'm trying to cram all of the things that i need to do (that are easier to get accomplished alone) into these few hours. but i have a couple
things to share;
firstly, the much anticipated opening of the newest greater hartford ymca - the indian valley family ymca located on pinney st. in ellington, ct . grand opening with ribbon cutting on saturday august 14th! this newest ymca features 2 pools, wellness center, team sports, onsite pt, outdoor walking trails, childcare, steam room/sauna and much more in their green- built facility.   join the fun, take a tour- get involved- this will be a great asset to this community.   http://www.ghymca.org/



also; i had to share this great link for hartford arts council and the 7-day arts and entertainment calendar. wishing that i was going to be around this weekend- lots of great free events for families and individuals... music, art - even a free celebratory carousel ride. maybe you will LOOK and hopefully, DO!

Weekend Getaways Starting at $0. - CTvisit.com

Weekend Getaways Starting at $0. - CTvisit.com


and i have to add a few more to their list to include; nw park in windsor, central village hatchery, new britain museum of american art open art-lab for kids ++++ many hikes and walking paths- many of which we plan to explore over the next few weeks....

by the way, the dinosaur park was a phenomenal place with super low admisssion and great opportunities for learning, the boys really got a lot out going. i won't give it all away but in addition to the amazing fossil beds and displays, the trails and grounds are stellar. great butterfly garden where several varieties of butterflies seem to frequent.... lots to see and do and even an area to create a little fossil of your own- fyi, byopop...(bring yer own plaster-of-paris.)  which we will be sure to do next time...





way too cute...the boys need some new skips

Mount Tom State Reservation

Mount Tom State Reservation

so much fun with the boys & izzy today hiking @ mt. tom holyoke, ma and then to sam's in nhampton for slices and cannolis....dark chocolate dipped cannolis. hmmm. i could make those...








                                                                                                             

in a mean baking mood

in
 a
mean
baking mood......just waiting for the weather to cool down to avoid heating up the house. maybe tomorrow. for some strange reason i think i need to have cupcakes i have also been dreaming of those dark chocolate pizelles and some other highly evolved chocolate chip cookies from a blog i now follow.. called
:: steph chows ::

Ill be seeing you...Peaked Mountain, Monson, MA

Peaked Mountain, Monson, MA

when we reach the top we'll be looking at you... (maybe not all of us) i would like to check this out myself tho- claims of a view of mt monadnock from the top.

Dinosaur Footprints, Holyoke, MA

Dinosaur Footprints, Holyoke, MA



another choice for dino-tracks to our south just over the border- planning to go here as well as to peak mtn.....monson, ma

ehem... totally FREE.

not the mama

Home Page for Dinosaur State Park

on the menu for tomorrow... serving up a heaping helping of dino-fossils @ dinosaur state park in rocky hill ct kids under 5 get in free!! all others $2 and $6 for me. not bad at all... see blog in the next few days for review of the park and more

right-o....

Kripalu - The Dirty Dozen and the Clean Fifteen

Kripalu - The Dirty Dozen and the Clean Fifteen


eat well......

our favorite cd for long car rides........

The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo



i don't have much time to read these but i guess they are pretty great based on their poularity...

quiet place

sometimes, spending time in a different place just for a change of scene and scenery is all anyone needs- or at least all i need. driving over four hours to northern new hampshire with the whole family for a simple stay to visit with people we love is something that the kids always remember. the dog crammed in the way back between the scooters and the cooler, the boys fighting over seating arrangements for different legs of the trip with hopes of having their own window and my hope to see a moose on the SIDE of the road; not the middle, equals success on all fronts. happy to have had our four days, complete with juvenile moose spotting. and... he was just where i wanted him.