Snow Ice Cream

I remember from my childhood growing up in the North that this is just about the time of year when one can start to become really weary of winter. The skies are gray; Christmas is over, and it is still so very cold.

Here's a fun tradition from my childhood that helped to add a little cheer to the winter doldrums. The next time there is a big fluffy snow you can declare to your children, "Well, this is just perfect snow ice cream weather!"

Send them outdoors with a spoon and a big bowl and ask them to gather the softest, whitest, cleanest snow they can find. Meanwhile you will be gathering the rest of the ingredients. To the snow add enough milk just to moisten it- not to make it soupy. Then add sugar and vanilla to taste. Let one of the children do the mixing so they feel it is really "theirs." Scoop it into bowls and enjoy your snow ice cream!

By the way, you may remember that Mary and Laura made snow ice cream in The Banks of Plum Creek. It might be fun to read that book and THEN wait for the next big snow.

Also, I remember occasionally growing up and occasionally trying a new flavor- like peppermint, by adding a couple drops of peppermint extract.

Alphabet positions

Do you remember Daisy and Demi from Little Women? They were the scrappy little twins born to Meg and Mr. Brooke. Every day Demi would work on learning the alphabet with his grandfather by contorting his body into the various letter shapes.

Pooh Sticks

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Do you know of a bridge with water flowing underneath it, even if it is ever so slowly? If you have small children (or maybe even if you don’t) you really must play Poohsticks.