Blackberry Cobbler

I couldn't resist the blackberries on sale for .88 a box. I bought almost a whole flat!   My mother always made cobbler with a biscuit or lattice pie crust top.  This was definitely  faster and much different than  mom's, but wow!   It takes 2 minutes to get this in the oven- and it comes out amazing!  My three year old loved putting all the berries on top (and sneaking a few along the way).  We've made it twice in one week!

 EASY BLACKBERRY COBBLER

1/2 c. butter
1 c. all-purpose flour
1 c. sugar
1 tbsp. baking powder
1/8 tsp. salt
2/3 c. milk
16 oz. frozen (thawed) or fresh blackberries 

Melt butter in a 2 quart casserole. Combine flour, sugar, baking powder, salt, and milk in a small mixing bowl, mix well.Pour mixture over melted butter, do not stir. Spoon blackberries over batter; do not stir.
Bake at 350°F. for 45 minutes or until golden brown.

Sorry no photo- it was gone too fast!

Pass on the envelope, please.

Today, while doing some much needed paper shredding, I made a pile of unused return envelopes.  It’s one of those annoying little things that I have always just ignored.  I was a little surprised at how many there were.  I thought, “There has to be some brilliant use for these wastes of paper!”

Here’s what I came up with so far:

1. Let your kids use them for a game of post office, or babies to crumple and throw around.  (My boys loved playing with the blue envelope of coupons that comes every month as well.)
2. Use them for (drum roll, please) mailing correspondence.  You have to figure out a way to deal with the window- like put a label on it or actually write the address on the contents behind the window.  Either way it really doesn’t look very fabulous- especially after you have taken a black sharpie to the bar codes so you letter to Aunt Suzie doesn’t end up at the publishers clearing house or your cell company.  The post office scans those codes and may not even need the address!
3. Use them for your grocery list and put any coupons that you will need on your trip in the envelope- or if you are on a budget- the amount of cash you can spend.
4. You could use them to separate coupons, spending money, or receipts by category or month.
5. Store tiny things like screws, washers, seeds, spare keys and tiny Lego pieces.

Still….  There has to be something a little less practical that I am missing.  Also, what am I going to do with all these envelopes once they are filled with stuff?  Photo Storage boxes are too narrow- I already tried it. Anybody have any fresh ideas?

Ornaments

Every year I take the boys to pick out a Hallmark ornament after Christmas.  This year we did it as a New Years Day excursion.  Samuel's choice will go nicely with last years classic Fisher Price school bus.  This See 'n Say really works, and sounds exactly the way I remember!  Caleb's Camp Snoopy goes nicely with Owen's vast array of Peanuts ornaments.

School Craft

Sheri helped Caleb's 2nd grade class make ornaments on the last day of school.  Caleb's teacher put up a Christmas tree and the kids had a book exchange.  These snowflakes are made from toilet paper tubes! The snowman is made from white and black beads strung on a  pipe cleaner.

Our new favorite thrifty activity!

Sheri saw Toy Story 3 with the boys for $3.00 tonight!   "Reel Family Time" is 75 cent admission for parties of 3 or more every Monday at Cinemark 8 in Round Rock.  You have to buy your tickets at the box office - and perhaps a little ahead of time.
 http://www.cinemark.com/reelfamilytime.asp

p.s. Yes, I love vintage toys, but please do not purchase a  Charlie the Chimp playing the cymbals, for Samuel.  EVER.  Thank you.

What shall we teach them before they're grown?

I am surprised at how many children we know can't swim!  Many of these kids attend dance lessons or play team sports, but have never had a swim lesson. Our family spends a lot of time around rivers, lakes and streams and the faster these two fun loving boys can do some self rescue, the better! Luckily, we live in a neighborhood that offers low-cost classes and year-round swimming. I suppose every family has their own priorities in what they want their children to know.  I've been  thinking of compiling a list of "Things to teach my kids before they're grown".  What would be your top contenders?  I'm not referring to the things everyone teaches their kids; like basic hygiene or how to safely cross the street, but rather things that are important to you and your family. Examples might be: swimming, changing the oil in the car,  how to speak Gaelic, or folding a proper paper airplane. 

Teaching sewing

Sheri embarks on the new challenge of teaching Caleb and a friend to sew.  I found these great stich-a-pal kits at Hancock Fabrics for One dollar! They come with a plastic needle, yarn and foam pieces to stitch together.   We used the needles to stitch on index cards yesterday. Next we will put these cute projects together.   The manufacturer is NICOLE P.O. Box 846 Mt. Laurel, NJ 08064