Playgroup for 5/15

We'll meet at the park! Bring sunscreen and water!!
-Charish

Playgroup for May 8

It's supposed to be a little chilly today, but should warm up. We'll go ahead with the park. I might not be able to make it. So if not, hope you all have fun...don't forget your camera's!
Charish

azaleas at the arboretum

If you think it looks like a Thomas Kinkade painting in your neighborhood with all the flowers in bloom, you should visit the National Arboretum. The 454 varieties of azaleas are in bloom right now. Thousands of azaleas cover the wooded hillside in a blaze of color. We visited it last year at this time and we couldn't believe the colors and the intensity of all the azaleas, it was really surreal.

It was a little tricky to find the arboretum, so bring a good map and directions. But once we got there, we just strapped Mo onto our backs and hike the small trails that lead you through the azaleas. I think this year he will love just walking with us. I wouldn't recommend a stroller because as I recall the trails weren't paved.

Recipe of the Month

I thought it would be fun if we did a recipe of the month (where we all submit a recipe once a month). That way we can have fun trying out each other's recipes and building up our own cookbooks as well! I can't wait to try everyone else's!
Charish

Charish's Recipe for May

Strawberry Rhubarb Pie
(Adam's favorite!!) His family always requests pie instead of birthday cake...I learned to make this one asap!!

Filling:
1 1/4 cups sugar
1/8 tsp. cinnamon
3 Tbl. flour
3 cups fresh rhubarb (cut into 1/2 in. pieces)
3 Tbl. quick tapioca
1 cup fresh strawberries (sliced)
1/4 tsp. salt
1 tsp. grated orange rind
1/4 tsp. nutmeg
1 1/2 Tbl. butter

- Mix together dry ingredients. Add fruit and orange rind. Mix well. Pour into pie crust and dot the top with butter. Cover with top of pie crust (cut vents or make a lattice top). Bake at 400 for 35-40 minutes.

Crust:
2 1/2 cups flour
1/4 cup water
1 cup shortening
1 egg
1/2 tsp. salt
1 Tbl. vinegar

-Cut together flour, shortening and salt. Set aside. Mix water, egg and vinegar. Slowly add water mixture to flour mixture and mix with forth. Press together to form ball. Handle the least amount possible. Divide in half. Roll out. Makes a double crust.

Photos from 5/1

Here are the photos I took of the kids. I know they're not great...the kids weren't too interested in posing while playing!! But there are some cute one's.
Charish

Lincoln

Haven

Brian

Preston with Mom

James and Jefferson

Isaac

Moses

Tyler

Bradley