July is National Picnic Month, So It is Time for a Picnic!

 

July is National Picnic Month, so I thought I'd share this post with you today. When my grands were younger they enjoyed picnics - if the children you love enjoy them as well, consider making plans for a tasty time together before school begins. Gather the ones you love, decide on a menu, make a shopping list, prepare food together, and choose the location for your picnic - be sure to bring your camera!

So, since this post is about picnics, I thought it would be fun today to share some "picnic" info with you! Did you know . . . 

It is National Ice Cream Month, So Make Blueberry Lavender Ice Cream!

A week ago Saturday some family members went with my husband and I to visit Frederik Meijer Gardens & Sculpture Park to enjoy the Park and the amazing Chihuly exhibit. While we were there, we treated the family to ice cream from the new Ice Cream Parlor in the Children's Garden. I had Blueberry Lavender Ice Cream - it was SO delicious, so I looked on-line and found a recipe to share with you today for this tasty treat . . . 

Thoughts From a "Lost Canadian" About Loonies & Toonies

Growing up in Michigan, I have been a little familiar with Canadian money as occasionally I would end up with Canadian coins as they once-in-a-while mixed in with USA coins, but since I've learned I'm a "Lost Canadian" I thought it would be a beneficial thing to learn about Canadian money - and I have to say I've learned some surprising and impressive things!

Of Course Chocolate Ice Cream for National Ice Cream Month!

July is National Ice Cream Month and I've been sharing some recipes for making your own ice cream using the KitchenAid ice cream maker. Today I'm sharing a recipe for making chocolate ice cream - after all, it is National Ice Cream Month so chocolate ice cream should be part of this tasty month!

This rich 5-ingredient, no-cook chocolate ice cream uses real cocoa powder. 

It is World Skydiving Day!

Today is World Skydiving Day! I have never personally skydived, but when my husband and I have our 50th anniversary (in five years) we are going skydiving! Yes, skydiving! Only 2% of grandparents have been skydiving, so when we celebrate our 50th anniversary, we will join the ranks of the cool (or crazy) skydiving grandparents! Our daughter, son, and three grands will join us and go skydiving, too (the youngest grand will not be 18 for five years, so along with waiting for our 50th, we are waiting for them to be 18. He said if he had to skydive now, he'd say, "NO!", but believes by the time he is old enough - as you have to be 18 - he will want to skydive, too!)

I learned on-line, "The global event invites both first-time tandem jumpers and experienced skydivers to celebrate the sport and participate in world-record attempts for the most skydives made in a single day." The World Skydiving Day website says in 2024 30,351 people skydived on World Skydiving Day, last year 26,718 people skydived. Today is World Skydiving Day, so they are hoping to set a record for the number of people who skydived on one day - 

grandma's cookbook - Refreshing Blueberry, Green Ice Tea!

 

It is supposed to be hot and humid where I live for a few days again, so I thought it sounds like a good day to share my favorite recipe for blueberry tea with you! 

Whether it is hot and humid or even when it is cold outside, this tea is a delicious and refreshing drink. Try this recipe with your grandchildren . . . it is simple, quick, and so delicious! A big added "plus" is the health benefit . . . blueberries and green tea are so good for you! My husband never liked tea, until I made blueberry tea for him! Now he drinks my tea instead of pop! My grands love this tea, too . . . and the only sweetening comes naturally from blueberries . . . not sugar!

Thoughts From a "Lost Canadian" About Canada, Santa Claus, and the North Pole

Since I learned I am a "Lost Canadian", I have been learning many interesting - and sometimes very fun things - about Canada. So, for "Christmas in July", today I'm very happy to share with you some information about Canada, Santa Claus, and the North Pole . . .

Don't Worry: It is Impossible to Spoil Grandchildren Will Help You "Maximize the Gift" of Grandchildren

Do you know who V. Gil Beers is? He wrote more than 150 books, sold more than 13 million of his books, and he has been so very kind to endorse my book; Don't Worry: It is Impossible to Spoil Grandchildren

"Be Who You Are and Say What You Feel . . ."

The Month of March was Dr. Seuss Month, so I shared Dr. Seuss Quotes most of the days throughout the month of March. Dr. Seuss had a lot of excellent things to say - and for us to think about, so even though it is not Dr. Seuss month, this is an excellent quote for us to think about today, "Be who you are and say what you feel. Because those who mind don't matter and those who matter don't mind!"  

There are things which are true about this saying, such as. . . if someone really loves you, they will love you no matter what you say because of who you are . . . a person who they love! So, when you are loved, those who love you will always love you - no matter what. I'm sure you feel the same way about the ones you love - you will always love them - no matter what.

It is National Ice Cream Month, So Let's Make Strawberry Ice Cream

Since July is National Ice Cream Month, I thought I'd share another ice cream recipe I found online for my KitchenAid Ice Cream Maker attachment - this time for Strawberry Ice Cream! Before we get to the recipe, I thought it would be fun to share some strawberry fun facts - did you know . . .

Thoughts From a "Lost Canadian" About The Great Maple Syrup Heist

Living in the USA I do remember hearing a little about The Great Maple Syrup Heist in Canada, but it was not a "big" news "event", so since I've learned my own ancestors were people who made Maple Syrup in Canada for generations, and since I've learned I'm a "Lost Canadian", and I want to learn about Canada, I thought I'd learn about The Great Maple Syrup Heist. Online I learned . . . 

Cookies!

 

Did you know . . . 86% of grandparents bake cookies!!!:-  Chances are you are part of the 86%! 

My grands enjoyed making cookies at my house when they were younger - one of their favorites is chocolate chip, peanut butter cookies, so today I'm sharing my recipe with you.

My cookie recipe . . .

Family Fun Idea - Photo Scavenger Hunt!

  

If you are looking for fun ideas to use with the children you love this Summer, then I have a fun idea for you . . . 

Go on a photo scavenger hunt! Just give them a list of things to find and a camera and send them out to search around your yard or in a park, or any place you choose. They can look for items and when they find them, take a picture to show you when they get back!

Today is National Sugar Cookie Day!

Today is National Sugar Cookie Day, so let's look at some interesting information about this familiar cookie which I learned on NationalToday.com. They say, "the Moravian settlers, German Protestant immigrants who founded Nazareth, Pennsylvania in the 1700s, are credited with creating the first American sugar cookies. Initially called 'Nazareth Cookies,' these treats were baked in the shape of a keystone, symbolizing their new home state. Their culinary traditions brought forth a simple yet versatile cookie which has since become a beloved staple in American households, evolving into the sugar cookie we know and love today."