Growning up in Indiana - Part VII - Making Christmas Cookies

Making Christmas cookies seems to have always been a part of my family’s Christmas traditions.  My earliest memory of us making cookies would have to be when I was about 7 years old.  For some reason my Mom must have made every cookie recipe that Betty Crocker had published!  She would roll out the dough, then my sisters and I would cut them out.  There were other cookies that she didnt let us help her with.   Some that you dipped in chocolate, then nuts.  She also would make fudge, cracked candy, and divinity.  She would start baking weeks ahead of time, freeze the cookies, then pack them into tins for gifts later.  That particular year, I remember that she had to rebake a few... [Read more of this post]

Growing up in Indiana Part Vl - Apple Harvest Time!

One of our favorite things to do when we were kids was to visit one of the local apple orchards in the fall of the year.  Apples were being harvested, cider was being made, and local orchards were very busy with the many customers excited to pick the awesome fruit!  At that time you were allowed to walk or drive through the orchard, and pick your own apples by the bushels full.  You would then go home to a hot kitchen to wash, peel, chop, cook, sieve, and can.  We would make the best applesauce you ever tasted.  It was always so much fun, we didn’t realize how much work it was.  We also would bake the most incredible apple dumplings that you ever put a fork into.  They would melt... [Read more of this post]

Catfish are Ugly! Growing up in Indiana – Part IV

My grandmother was an amazing woman. I have such wonderful memories of her, I tell stories about her all the time. She definitely left me with the example of what a good woman is, that I hope I have patterned my life by. She loved to fish. We usually took her mother with us. My earliest memory of our fishing trips was as far back as three years old. She was so funny; I remember she would pack Gerber chicken and noodles in the tackle box. I guess I would get hungry while we were out. Our favorite place to fish was a secret place as is true with most fishermen. If someone came by while we were there, they would ask “how are they biting?” Grandma, would always say, “They aren’t.”... [Read more of this post]

Stargazing with Children – Growing up in Indiana Part III

Outdoor Activities tend to wind children up, so sometimes you need quiet time activities that will help to wind them down. To know this is especially helpful in the evening time, when you yourself are exhausted from the day. Stargazing with your children is both educational and will give you an opportunity to create some amazing bedtime stories that they will remember, and then one day even retell to their children. Equipment you will need for this activity will include items such as star charts, binoculars, telescopes, cameras, and a pen and paper. None of these items are required in order to have a great time telling stories about the stars. You can retell stories that you were told as... [Read more of this post]

Weekend Camping Trips, Growing Up In Indiana Part II

One activity we enjoyed as a family during my childhood was camping. The first time out was a short trip to the Lake Erie area. Now, camping with small children can be quite a challenge and a big undertaking so it should take a little planning with safety always the number one priority. Our first trip out I believe I was probably about 8 years old. I had 4 other siblings at that time they ranged in ages somewhere from 15 to about 4 yrs old. With that wide a range in ages of children, I am sure my Mom and Dad needed a vacation from the vacation when we returned home! We as children know it was tense at times but we seriously only remember how much fun it was. It was nothing for Dad to... [Read more of this post]

Next Page »