collecting and painting animal skulls

Okay, I know that this probably made some of you shuddder, but my daughter loves to hunt for animal skulls, collect them and she eveb paints some of them.  Since the animals skulls are my daughter's, I though I would ask her some questions and let her answer them for you. 

Q.  Why do you collect animal skulls?

A.  I think they are cool.  You can learn alot about different animals from seeing their skulls.   

Q.  How long have you been collecting animal skulls?

A. I got my first skull about four years ago, and have been adding to my collection ever since.  

Q.  How did you get started?

A.  I found a small animal skull in our neighborhood, and took it to a naturalist who identified it as a possum and showed me how to clean it. 

Q.  Where do you get the skulls? 

A.  I find some on nature walks in the parks around our house, or in the forest around our farm.  We also look along the highway near wooded or rural areas. 

Q.  How do you clean them? 

A.  I soak them in a bucket filled with cold water and 1 cup of bleach overnight.  Then I dry them in the sun, which helps to whiten them. 

Q.  Why do you paint them? 

A.  I just like to paint, and I like the way they look. 

Q.  What type of paint do you use? 

A.  Any type of paint is fine, but use a sealer when the paint is dry to help protect the skulls.  I prefer a spray sealer. 

Q.  What do you do with them after they are cleaned and painted? 

A.  I keep some in my room, and some in our garden and landscaping.  I also like to give them to my friends who are interested.  And some I trade.

About HFitTS

Welcome to Having Fun in the TEXAS Sun! 

That's exactly what we are all about, having fun!  Whether it's a fun day at the lake or beach, or time at home cooking, creating or flying a kite, it's about enjoying life.  While we feature many Texas places, spaces and faces,  you certainly don't have to live in Texas to find something of interest here!

Check out my favorite blog post ever, Washing Dishes with God. 


Want to see more?  I am also proud to contribute to the following sites;

She Is Dallas

Mansfield Magazine

Catching Fire

We read the 2nd installment of The Hunger Games trilogy, Catching Fire, as if we were on fire.  The story just runs along, a little sad, perhaps, but never slow.  We started reading a chapter a night, with each of us reading a page or two.  I, being the faster reader, was soon the only reader.  When my daughter's homework schedule interfered with reading time, my son and I went on without her never looking back.  It's that good. 






We try to implement an activity with each book we read. After reading Hunger Games, we foraged for and tried 3 different recipes for dandelions, the food Katniss credited with saving her life.  To read about it;   http://havingfuninthetexassun.blogspot.com/2012/04/hunger-games.html
Before we had even started Catching Fire, we knew what activity we were going to do.  The kids were already obsessed with archery, and begging me for a recurve bow.  Katniss and her bow became the symbol of that obsession. 

Outdoor World in Grapevine

 

I had heard that they were offering archery at Outdoor World's Family Summer Camp, which seemed like a fun event, so we made plan to go.

  . What a great selection of activities that have for kids!!

 And, it's all FREE!!

My neice practicing casting at the fishing exhibit!

The bb gun range.  An Outdoor World employee shows
the kids how to hold the gun and aim.

 

This is what we came for!! My son did great,
hitting the target 3 of his 4 shots!

Each hour they offer an outdoor seminar over
topics like camping, hunting, bird watching, etc.
They give each child a lanyard, and then they get a pin
for each seminar they attend. 

Between seminars, the kids visited the crafts table
to make a gold fish game. 

 My neices were in town from Las Vegas,  and we took them with us.  The younger one loved the reindeer carousel, while her sister and my daughter enjoyed checking out all the beautiful boat, and pretending they were out on the lake!   It was lots of fun, but I guess for us it's not really summer without a trip to the emergency room!

As we were looking at the boats, and probably lost in the dreamland of one day owning one,   my ten year old daughter fell!  Now it's not the first time she has fallen off a boat, but it's the first time she didn't land in water.  This time she landed on the handrail of the steps they have to get in and out of the boats! 

If someone had a video camera, it would probably have made one of those tv shows that replay people getting hurt. 

I don't know if it was the sight of all the blood, and there was alot of blood, or the sound of her screams, but I think I went into sympathy shock.  I just became a helpless blob of mom, unable to think what to do next. The staff at Bass Pro was amazing.  They immediately realized that I needed help, and called 911, got her a towel and corraled my other 4 kids. Many long hours later, after a visit from the Grapevine paramedics, and a trip to Baylor Grapevine, the bleeding stopped, the doctors determined she was going to be okay, just sore and bruised.

We left the hospital late that night, and her grandpa surprised her with a chicken fried steak (her favorite) from Esparza's in downtown Grapevine.  My poor baby, she had to eat it standing up. 

For more information on Bass Pro Shop's Outdoor World and their Family Summer Camp going on until July 15th 2012 ;  http://www.basspro.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/CFPage?storeId=10151&catalogId=10051&langId=-1&appID=94&template=listallevents.cfm&storeID=18#63819

If you want to try some wonderful Mexican food, or, according to my daughter, a good chicken fried steak, visit beautiful Esparza's in the historic district.  Dine on the patio under the huge cottonwood trees;  or inside the renovated home built in the 1800's.   http://esparzastexas.com/

bacon wrapped hot dogs & red, white and blue strawberries

Bacon Wrapped Hot Dogs

My daughter came home from Girl Scout camp, raving about one of the meals she had while she was there.  For 4 days she ate peanut butter and jelly sandwiches, she's picky, but one night they  wrapped a hot dog with bacon and cooked it in the campfire!  She knew her brother, a bacon loving carnivore, would just drool when he heard about them, and they planned to cook them for us for dinner!  My son invited a friend over to eat with us, and it became a small party! 

Bacon Wrapped Hot Dogs

It's as easy as it sounds.  Wrap the hot dog with the bacon and cook it.  At camp they wrapped them in aluminum foil and laid them just outside the fire, on hot coals. 
At home, we opted for a griddle.  I suggested using a skewer, because I was afraid the bacon would unwrap, but it wasn't neccessary.  The bacon and hot dog hug each other like long lost friends.  Maybe that's a bad analogy, because they just might be.  Try to forget I said that. 
The kids, of course, loved them.  It's a kid food. 

While the hot dogs were cooking, the kids made red, white and blue strawberries.  These things are pinned all over Pinterest for the 4th of July.  Again, the kids had fun making them!

Red, White and Blue Strawberry
dipping station

Red, White and Blue Strawberries

You will need:
washed strawberries
melted white chocolate chips or almond bark (I prefer the chips)
blue sprinkles

I use a small mixing bowl, and melt the white chocolate chips in the microwave.  It takes about a minute, turning the bowl half way through, but keep and eye on it, since all microwaves vary. 
Carefully dip the strawberry in the melted chocolate, (remember, it's very warm), leaving some of the red of the strawberry still visible.  Then quickly dip the tip of the strawberry in a small bowl of blue sprinkles.  Set aside to dry/cool. 

"They're delicious!!" said their friend.  My camera
weary kids were happy to let him pose for the picture!  

             HAPPY

 INDEPENDENCE

          DAY!!

Day 1: 2012 Jr. Zookeeper

My oldest son, Cole, is starting his second year as a Junior Zookeeper at the Dallas Zoo.  As a JZ, he volunteers at the zoo once a week.  I've asked him to tell a little bit about his responsibilities, and share some of his favorite things there, too!  I hope you enjoy it, I'm very proud of him!  -  Michelle

Today was my first day back at the Dallas Zoo as a summer Junior Zookeeper. The first thing we did today was to go on a tour of the zoo.  We went to see the black rhino.  They told us some information about Moyo and then we got to feed him.  Rhinos are vegetarians, and at the zoo they are fed a mixture of greens and apples.  I laid some in his mouth, and then he ate it!  During the rest of the day we worked at the blue barn, the pony barn, and k,g,d which stands for koi, goats, and ducks. There wasn't that much stuff to do today but there was some.  I first watered the garden.  Second I turned the compost bin five times in a circle. Next I filled the horse's water buckets, thats about it. 

My little brother playing in the "creek". 

Aside from the animals, one of the neatest things about the Children's Zoo is the manmade "creek" they have for kids to play, walk and splash in!  It's not very deep, but it's nice way to cool off. - Cole


For more information on the Dallas Zoo, or information on being a Junior Zookeeper for 2013; http://www.dallaszoo.com/

storytime at the Amon Carter Museum, Fort Worth

"We had the same idea as a lot of people", I thought to myself as we walked in to the lobby of the Amon Carter Museum in Fort Worth, crowded with young children and their caregivers.  To the museum's credit, which doesn't require reservations or turn anyone away from the free event, they were very organized and prepared for the masses.  We were handed a green card, and told to fill out a raffle ticket for each child to win the complete set of books read during storytime, with the winner to be announced at the end of the series.  It turns out there were 3 color cards given out, and luckily our green was a smaller group.  We soon went upstairs and began our rotation of 3 stations, where a different book was read.  Each station is strategically set up next to a piece of art corresponding to the color of the day and after the story there is a quick, child oriented discussion of the work.  On our visit, the color was yellow.  Following storytime, we went downstairs for cookies, lemonade and to work on the craft they provide!

Located in the Fort Worth Cultural District, the Amon Carter Museum is having storytime each Wednesday, June and July, 2012 (excluding July 4th).
For more information;  http://www.cartermuseum.org/calendar

The books we enjoyed on our visit were;

little blue and little yellow by Leo Lionni

Red Leaf, Yellow Leaf by Lois Ehlert

Birch Trees, Georgia O'Keeffe 1925

And we enjoyed a discussion about the following art by Georgia O'Keeffe. To read some about Georgia O'Keeffe, and her time spent living and working in West Texas, and how it inspired her, I suggest

http://www.ellensplace.net/okeeffe2.html

kid's fishing net

One of our fishing nets and an empty tub that once held
Kirkland's animal crackers now holds all their
finds for observing before being released.

My 10 year old daughter, a self proclaimed future
marine biologist, holding field school with
the catches in her net!

One of the best things you can do for a kid is giving them a small fishing net.  We got ours at Walmart for about $5.00.   They will get an entire summer of exploration and play based learning from that $5.00!  We always have them in the car.  You will find us stopping at creeks, ponds and even ditches.  You can't imagine all the things that they have "caught" with them!  Here is just a few....

My son holding his net, waiting for the
fish to swim in it.

One of the fingerling catfish he caught.

My four year old and his friend both caught minnows!

Texas Mother Goose by David Davis

My children don't know that Mary, Mary was contrary.  In fact, they think she is from Granbury.  Because that is how the rhyme goes in one of their favorite books, Texas Mother Goose. 

The book is filled with all the ones you remember from reading Mother Goose, but each one has been changed to reflect their love of the Lone Star State. 

Almost every night we read, "Sleepy Little Buckaroo"

Sleepy little buckaroo,

You had a busy day.

On your stick horse,

You rode the range

And watched the dogies play.

Close your eyes

And rest tonight;

There's no need for sorrow.

You'll wake to greet the Texas sun

And ride the trail tomorrow.

I had, and loved a stick horse as a child.  My children have all had stick horses, too.  My oldest son's was a store bought, plastic one that made all sorts of horsey sounds.  My daughter's was made from an actual sock, a more boutiquey version we purchased for her in the Fort Worth Stockyards. 

My four year old has a stick horse, but he never rides it.

After reading Sleepy Little Buckaroo at bedtime, I asked him why - it's amazing the things you have time to think about during summer, when your mind isn't racing to make sure clothes are washed and lunches made for school the next day.

He answered that he liked it, but it didn't like him. 

So, I suggested that we make him a stick horse, filled with love so that we knew it would love him!

Items Needed:

• We went to home depot to purchase the dowel rod, because we don't have the traditional broom stick.  I chose the 1" x 3' dowel.
• A sock.  You can use any color or style of sock.  This one is an anklet, but it's really thick.  I tried one of my husbands socks, but the horse's face seemed a little too long.  I saw some tutorials which used fabrics, jean legs, etc. but I like the classic sock look best. 
• Stuffing for the sock, I used a polyester fiberfill, you can purchase at any art store (or Walmart).
• buttons for eyes, or you can use google eyes, or make them from material or paint them on your sock.
• needle and thread - I can't sew, but if I could do this, than so can you!
• hot glue gun - what I didn't sew, I glued! 
• ribbon for bridle and reins
• yarn for forelock and mane
• nylon cord for securing the sock to the stick. 

Steps:

1. Fill the sock with stuffing.  You want to be certain the heel of the sock is very thick, since that is where the stick will go.  We added a little red felt heart, similar to Build A Bear, so we could be certain the horse would love him!
2. Insert stick, making sure there is plenty of stuffing between rod and sock, for child's safety.
3. Wrap nylon cord around sock to secure it to the stick.  
4. Sew on or glue on eyes.  This is something you MUST do after stuffing the sock.  It would be much easier to sew them on before stuffing, but the stuffing is different each time, and never looks just right.
5. Add on the ribbon for the bridle and reins.  You might be able to get away with glueing on the bridle, but you need to sew on the reins, since your child is going to be pulling on these. 
6. I like the look of the loops for the forelock and mane.  I made lots of loops with the yarn and tied them together for the forelock.  For the mane, I used a piece of yarn and sewed down the back of the sock, then tied more loops of yarn onto this. 

From start to finish, it took me about an hour and a half, minus potty breaks and playing breaks.  Of course, I had a four year old helping me, so I also had to search for the supplies alot, and constantly gather up the yarn, because he would run around the house with it, making a "spider web".  If you aren't getting this kind of "help", it will probably go faster for you. 

Why the long face on my four year old? 
Because I made him stop playing so
I could take a picture!

And, he loves it, and the horse loves him. 

We are going to do a follow up activity, and ask his friends to meet us at the park with THEIR stick horses, for a real rompin' stompin' rodeo!  

 
 

                          

                                                                            





Strider No-Pedal Balance Bike

While my older kids are at camp this week, we decided it would be a great time to start preparing our four year to ride his bike without training wheels!  He gets so heartbroken when his big brother and sister cut across the grass somewhere, and he follows, only to get stuck because of his wheels! 

My friend Holley had just purchased her son a Strider No-Pedal Balance Bike, and offered to let us try it out!  It's a small extremely lightweight bike, weighing only 6.4 pounds.  The idea is that the child will learn balance and coordination, which will make learning to ride a bike easier.  After reading the reviews, many people purchase this bike, and NEVER use training wheels. 

We took our 4 year old to the park with a lunch, and spent most of the day, alternating between riding the bike and playing on the playground, to keep up his interest.  He REALLY likes the bike, although he had a little trouble at first understanding to push off and coast on it, instead of just walking with it.  Once he got the hang of it, it was amazing how much his balance improved just in an afternoon! 

Our plans are to work with the Strider bike a few more days at the park, then switch to his bike without training wheels, since he feels he is ready for his "big boy bike".  I absolutely recommend the Strider bike, which comes in a variety of colors.  I wish we had known about it when he was about 18 months or 2 years, which seems the optimum time to start on the bike. 

For more information on the Strider bike; http://www.stridersports.com/

red velvet pancakes

Happy Father's Day to all the Dad's out there!

The kids woke up this morning with plans to make breakfast for their dad in bed!  My daughter loves to make pancakes, but never plain ones, and today she made Red Velvet Pancakes!  They are soo good!

Ingredients:

1 cup all-purpose flour

1 teaspoon baking powder

1/4 teaspoon baking soda

1/4 teaspoon salt

1/4 cup sugar

2 tablespoons unsweetened cocoa powder

1 egg

3/4 cup buttermilk

1/4 cup sour cream

3 tablespoons butter, softened

1 tablespoon red wine vinegar

1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract

red food coloring (I prefer just a pinch of Wilton, but if you are using a liquid, about 1 teaspoon)

Directions:

Mix first 6 ingredients in a large bowl. 

Mix last 7 ingredients in another large bowl

Add the flour mixture to the 2nd bowl gradually, mixing until creamy.  This is my kid's favorite part, when the vinegar and the baking soda meet and create a foam, which makes the pancakes light and fluffy!  I throw out the words acid (vinegar) and base (baking soda) alot at this point, making those science connections!

Cook as you would any pancake, using a hot griddle or skillet. I prefer using a 1/4 measuring cup, but you can make them larger or smaller according to your preference.

Loading up for Boy Scout Camp

We then loaded up my son's things and drove him out to meet his Boy Scout Troop, as they head off to camp for a week.  This is his first time to go to camp for a week, although he has done some overnight and 2 day camps.  I'm so excited for him, but this is a huge step towards maturity and I know the boy who comes back will be a little more independent, which makes it a bittersweet day.  I love the person he is growing into, but I will miss my little boy. 

                                                                                

A sweet, brotherly goodbye

Before we left, we called to wish Happy Father's Day to their Grandpa, and took a few minutes to talk about my dad, who past away 2 years ago.  Gone but not forgotten. 

Home for the next 6 days!

We then loaded up all of my daughter's things, and drove her out to Girl Scout Camp for a week. This is her FIRST time to go to camp without me, and I have to say I'm a little worried, and although I know she will be fine, I still cried a little!  

Rudy's Bar-B-Que

With only our 4 year old left, we joined my husband's dad for a Father's Day dinner at Rudy's Bar-B-Que.  I have mixed feeling about Rudy's, because we have liked them since their early beginnings, before you found a franchise along every interstate. But the food was still sooo good!  My FIL forced me (haha) to try their buttermilk pie, which is amazing!!  I'm going to have to find a recipe for that!

To find a Rudy's near you,

http://www.rudysbbq.com/page/home or like them on facebook;

http://www.facebook.com/rudysbbq?ref=ts

Please tell them HFitTS sent you!

homemade sidewalk chalk

Ingredients for homemade sidewalk
chalk, just add water!

Imagine a warm afternoon.  My son and daughter, 12 and 10, are sitting in our living room with friends.  Their friends are whispering "Why won't your mom let you turn on the TV? "  My children just shrug their shoulders and say, "She thinks we should go play outside.".  Then they all just sit back on the couch, and stare at the ceiling, until my 4 year old and I walk through, carrying a bucket a sidewalk chalk. 




They look at each other and roll their eyes.  Sidewalk chalk is so preschool.

But curiosity overcomes them, and they eventually come outside to see what we have drawn.  A Texas Flag, the sun, my four year old's hand, flowers and a river, an unrecognizable animal, pink hearts... you get the idea. 

Slowly they sit down in the driveway, cool thanks to the shade of our oak tree, and begin drawing.  At first, it's their names, and more flowers, then birds and trees, and soon cars fill a newly created road, that winds up and down past the pastel lake and purple houses.  A lazy afternoon has been transformed.   But when the the last piece of chalk crumbles down to dust is when I really get their attention. 
"Would you like to make some sidewalk chalk?" I ask. 
They stare at me... "Really?" they ask "What color?"
I explain we can make any color they like.  I have LOTS of paint.  And they can mix colors to make what we don't have.  And we can make, dare I say it, ......... shapes! 
And now I have 4 preteens, 2 of which are boys, engrossed in an art activity. 
It's magical!

Here's how we did it.... 

A bowl you are willing to throw away (ice cream container, maybe?)
2 cups plaster of paris
1 cup water
paint
molds - fun or fancy.  I prefer sand or playdough molds, lined with plastic wrap.  But you can use candy molds, ice cube trays, or cup cake tins. 

1.  Mix the plaster and water. 
2.  Add paint to desired color (if you are mixing colors, mix seperately before you add).
3.  Pour into molds
4.  Allow to dry, about 24 - 48 hours, depending on the size of the mold. 

For more fun:
Add glitter.  Everything is more fun with glitter! 
Wrap to give as a gift, with a recipe card so they can make their own!

peacock pursuit

Fourteen of us embarked one morning on a wildlife adventure of a different sort.  We were hiking through a nice, suburban neighborhood in Arlington on a peacock pursuit.  It seems that at one time these peacocks belonged to a nearby farm, and either the farm was sold to make way for a housing project, or the peacocks just escaped, but either way, these peacocks are roaming free.

We first saw the peacocks about five years ago, while on a field trip to the nearby park. It's become something of a ritual with us now, to go out and see the peacocks each year at the beginning of summer. Last year, we went out twice and never saw them.

We were luckier today! It's actually easier to HEAR them than is it to see them. They are loud. I've read that some of the neighbors don't particularly LOVE them, but I would! 

We started our adventure at F. J. "Red" Kane Park on Cooper.  We walk the short walking trail, turning left at the Y, and take a left when it ends at the street.  The street is lined with houses.  After about 100 yards, there is a Peafowl Crossing sign.  It was across the street from a house having a garage sale.  Imagine their looks as we came walking by, holding cameras!  We immediately started hearing the birds.  The first one was saw was a beautiful male.  We took lots of pictures as he posed in someone's front yard.  We could hear more coming from down the street, and headed down.  We found a hen and two more males.  While we were taking more pictures, my 4 year started yelling for me.  He found a hen with 3 baby chicks!  What a great experience!!

My Mommy Tips:

As fun as it is to see the peacocks, it's also a great time to teach a lesson about respect.  We made a big deal to the kids about not chasing the birds, or entering their personal space.  We also used this as an opportunity to teach them to stay on the sidewalks and be respectful of the home owners in the neighborhood.  


Want to see more Texas Peafowl? 

 In the Houston neighborhood of River Forest lives about 50 wild peacocks. 

Grapevine has several flocks.  They can usually be seen near the intersections of Dove and the C. Shane Wilbanks Trail. 

Mayfield Park and Nature Preserve in Austin
has a huge flock of roaming peafowl. 
http://mayfieldpark.org/

The Ellen Trout Zoo in Lufkin has some beautiful, free roaming peacocks and peahens.  http://cityoflufkin.com/zoo/

Consider the The Peacock River Ranch in Gatesville for an event venue.  Yes, they have Peacocks! http://peacockranch.com/

If you would just love to start your own peafowl flock, visit The Peafowl Farm; http://www.texaspeafowlfarm.com/

One of the young boys brought his nature journal, and sat on the sidewalk drawing the peacock!