Feeling the Spring Fever Randoms…
Wednesday Randomness
I didn’t get a post up yesterday. Tuesdays have started to fill in more for me and with the time change and spring weather, I just was lazy.
So for today, it’s randoms and I am working on something to share tomorrow.
Without further ado and in no particular order, off the top of my brain….
Random #1
On Saturday Russ and I drove to Mattoon to see a traveling Holocaust exhibit that is being hosted at their local mall. The information we had didn’t give a time frame so we were an hour early for the 4:00 opening.
We walked around the mall which was absolutely filled up and down every corridor with tractors and farm equipment. Their were tables set up and displays of all kinds. The anchor stores for this little mall are Rural King and a sporting goods store.
Unlike many malls we have seen lately, there were quite a few stores open in between and lost of people shopping and buying. That was refreshing to see.
The Holocaust exhibit was very interesting. Large panels with photos and information document the rise of the Third Reich and the diabolical resolution to rid the planet of all people of Jewish heritage.
Russ and I have both read a couple of books recently on this era. You know, if you visit here regularly, that I read The Watchmakers Daughter. This book is about Corrie Ten Boom and her family as they sheltered and fought a quiet war against the Nazi occupation of the Netherlands.
I highly recommend a visit to this if you are within traveling distance. And since it is a “traveling exhibit”, you can check where it will be next. Here is the information for the Matton exhibit: https://www.myradiolink.com/2024/02/16/courage-to-remember-exhibit-in-mattoon/
Random #2
Everything after that seems frivolous, but here we go.
Our family is embarking on a variety of Spring Break trips in the next few weeks. With varying schedules we shall be scattered to both coasts and north and south and in between.
Even though our children are all fully grown, this mom heart of mine is feeling stretched as I think of all of us here and there. We will be even further apart in miles than we already are on a regular basis, but thankfully close in heart.
Looking forward to all the texts and WhatsApp photos I hope to receive.
Random #3
One of our little birds is going to the Grand Canyon. John has planned to take a similar trek that we did two years ago with the band of brothers, Miss Thing and their parents.
I am so excited for him to see it all.
We still get a thrill in the heart remembering the stunning scenery on our drives up and down Arizona.
I was telling someone about it today and laughed again relating how the park ranger at the Grand Canyon was sharing volumes of geographic information about the various layers going down the canyon wall.
Then she pointed out one large section that is just unusual and a mystery as to its development as it doesn’t follow any other pattern of rock formations that are studied. Something happened, but they don’t know what it was.
Emmett, aged 8 at the time, was raising his hand. Having visited the Creation Museum not that long ago and having studied geology with his mom that year, he wanted to clarify the mystery for her. His little face, all stress free about mysteries and such regarding this unique formation layer was precious.
She never called on him, but he explained it to us and well…that was just another grand part of the canyon experience.
Random#4
I have a box of sugar cookie mixes I bought at Sam’s club a while back.
We made a few into actual sugar cookies, but I decided to attempt a recreation of something I have seen them bake at the cafe at church. Please keep in mind when they bake, it is not with a mix…however…this is what I had on hand to use up.
So I mixed the bagged powder with the required ingredients on the box and added a generous spoonful of vanilla. I didn’t mix the butter softened…I actually almost melted it and used the hand mixer.
To this dough, I added about a cup and a half of mini M & M’s and pressed the dough into a pan sprayed with cooking oil. I followed the directions on a recipe for similar bars to bake 22-24 minutes at 350 degrees. I took out when the edges were brownish. The top was still light colored.
According to one second grade food critic, they were “awesome.”
Random #5
Whether you want to call it Spring Cleaning, de-cluttering or a Swedish Death Purge…I am feeling the urge to tackle a few spaces that are overgrown with stuff.
I also am noticing the windows need a good scrubbing. Russ and I have been tackling the yard and garden areas a little bit at a time.
This is a right of passage from winter to spring, isn’t it?
More sun, more time outside, daffodils and buds appearing.
We embrace the lighter and fresher sense of living after our cocooning the last few months.
How do you celebrate Spring?
Would love to know?
Have a good day and I will see you tomorrow <3