We were leaving the Bremer County fair last Thursday night and saw multiple children leaving with animals. The scrambles were that night, and these children were apparently among the “fortunate” ones to catch an animal to take home.

We were talking about catching these animals and told Ellie that maybe when she was older, she’d be able to catch a rabbit, or a chicken, or some other farm animal (heaven knows what I’d do with it if in fact she did ever catch one).  She thought about it for a minute and then asked me very seriously “do they fall from the sky, mommy?” 

Logical, yes…but apparently we have some explaining to do when it comes to county fair traditions.

Can you imagine…farm animals falling from the sky!?! 

I pull it out and it is the coolest apron I’ve ever seen…and to top it off…she made it.

Now, I will probably never be this cool – but I’m sure glad I have friends that are…

check it out…it makes me want to bake everyday!   

 
and I must say, I look pretty good in it too! 

A new apron needs a test drive, right? 

I signed up to make a cake for my boss’ graduation party…so i put that apron to good use.   

For therapeutic reasons, I’ll tell you just how that cake turned out.  
I finished baking it on Wednesday night, and after struggling to get it out of the pan (this is a constant struggle for me – if anyone has any suggestions on this so I can stop pulling my hair out, i’d appreciate them), put it under saran until the next morning.
The next morning, i got the base layer of frosting on it before i went to work. Mom suggested that i put it in the oven to store it because i lack counter space in my kitchen (not that I blame mom for what was about to happen to the cake from this suggestion. In all fairness, i did ask where i should put it)
That night, we were running around like crazy people and Ellie and i started making the two strawberry/rhubarb cream pies i needed for the weekend. We got them all put together as I started to heat up the oven. It wasn’t until the oven was fully preheated and i opened it did i realize the cake was still in there, albeit in worse shape than when i put it in. 

The cake did turn out fabulously…did you know that Hy-Vee makes sheet cakes and sells them un-decorated.

I didn’t either, but i do now. 

cake melted…cutting board ruined…lesson learned.   

We stopped at a McDonalds on the way home from Janette’s house after Christmas for my annual shake. It was about 10:00 AM so I figured it would be as quick to go in as to sit through the drive through, so we stopped and I went in while Janette and the kids waited in the car. When I got there there was one person waiting for their order and 6 employees standing around around behind the counter and by the drive through window. After waiting at a cash register for what seemed like a long time and being completely ignored by the lady behind it I finally asked, “Should I come around and help myself?” She looked at me like it was the strangest question she had ever heard and said, “He’ll be right back.” I’m not sure who “he” was but apparently she decided she would attempt to take an order. I asked if they still had Eggnog shakes, and she looked at another gal who said they did, so I asked for a small. Then she tried to wring it up (the other gal also told her it was a special shake). First she had a medium shake. Then while she was trying to remove it she got two medium shakes. Finally someone came over and showed her how to change things to one small shake and we got it paid for. Next she attempted to make the shake. First she had to ask someone what button was the “special” shake button. Then she had trouble figuring out that you have to have the cup all the way in the shake machine for it to work. Finally she got shake coming out and into the cup, but apparently she didn’t have the right size because it didn’t stop when it got to the top of the cup. I was beginning to wonder if I should have skipped the Eggnog shake this year. Finally some guy showed up that looked like a manager and took over for her and successfully finished making the shake.

Janette had a little quick shopping to do, so I stayed in the van with the kids and shared the Eggnog shake with Ellie. When I gave it to her she got a little bit and said, “Mmmm, it’s yummy! What is it?” I told her it was an Eggnog shake, and that it’s kind of like ice cream. I figured it was Christmas so it’s okay to have ice cream at 10:30 AM. She proceeded to tell me how much she likes Nogegg shakes and rave about how good it was. I’m not really sure if she likes eggnog, or if she just likes having ice cream before lunch. At one point she was trying to show me the egg she found on the cup, which would have been great if there actually was an egg on the cup.

Overall, it was a good eggnog experience and hopefully I’ve started Ellie on the tradition of loving a good eggnog.

It made me think of those hot summer days when you sweat just by sitting there. 

Story time:  Once upon a time…(pre-children), Nathan and I went camping with my sister and her husband just over the wisconsin state line.  We were just sitting around the fire, on what had to be the hottest day of the year, cooking our dinner and talking.  I was holding the newspaper for the fire on my lap in a Wal-mart sack.  When the cooking was done and it was time to eat, I peeled the sack from my thighs to reveal that the sack had indeed melted on my leg, leaving a “tatoo” of the wal-mart smiley face in its place. 

Now that’s a hot day!