Archive for the ‘Nature Walks’ Category

Snow cream

Wednesday, February 14th, 2007


Snow cream
Originally uploaded by juliecinci.

We’re in the middle of an ice storm here in Cincinnati (I envy those of you in the dry west). To make the best of all this snow, my kids made “snow cream” last week. Nice change of pace. Caitrin is still in her ski jacket while slurping down what can only be described as a snow slushie.

If you want to try it (count this as your nature event of the week!), here’s what you need:

  • A bowl
  • Several cups of clean, fresh snow
  • Granulated sugar
  • Milk
  • Vanilla extract

Take a cup (a largish scoop) of the snow and put it in the bowl. Add several teaspoons of sugar (to taste). Dribble a bit of vanilla extract over the snow and then add enough milk to mix it all together.

The end result ought to be a bit like a slushie. The sugar doesn’t really melt so expect it to taste a bit grainy. One of our kids liked it, one didn’t. I thought it was tasty!

Enjoy!

Birding with Liam

Monday, January 8th, 2007



It felt so good to get out in the drizzle and to discover color in spite of a grey sky. Liam (12) and I took his new binoculars out for a walk on Saturday morning. Early. We love birding together.
Here’s our list of birds we spotted:

Red Tailed Hawk (in flight!)
2 nuthatches
dozens of sparrows
1 titmouse
7 cardinals
5 chickadees
10 male mallards
1 morning dove
4 robins
a flock of Canada geese overhead in a V
1 goose who took off into flight right in front of us!
3 downy woodpeckers

AND 1 unidentified bird that hitched its way up a tree trunk and disappeared into a little hole in the tree right before my very eyes! I am going to try to find that one in my birding book.

We had a glorious time! I’ve got wet jeans up to my ankles but a warm heart. Liam and I must have exchanged a dozen hugs; he was quick to ask if we could do this every Sat. I’m inclined to say yes!

Nature walking: good for the soul.