Zoo Bee Doo

We had just one baby grand today, and the weather was gorgeous, so we packed Jac into the car and headed for the Santa Barbara Zoo. 

Turns out Mary had the same thought, so Jac and Donovan got to hang out together someplace besides grandmas house.

Jac’s choice for our first stop? 

Baby Pauline, the new lion cub, and her sleepy parents.

I wonder if lions suffer from sleep-deprivation like human parents do?

Lots of new stuff going on, from construction - switching the former elephant enclosure over to an Australian walkabout (crossing our fingers for kangaroos) - 

to new animals - 

among them a mate for Ajax, the Amur leopard. Crossing our fingers for baby leopards too.

It’s sad to lose the older animals we’ve come to know over the years (most recently the elephants and alligator) but also exciting for babies! and newness!

We always let the grands pick something from the zoo gift shop as we’re leaving. I can usually predict what will interest each kid but Jac surprises me the most often.

Today’s treasure? An emperor penguin play-set, complete with penguins, fence (?? I’ve never pictured fences in Antarctica), kayak and adventure guy. 

I have to admit I didn’t see that one coming. 

Progress

The blocks for Leanne’s birthday quilt are done - 

the most time consuming part - 

so now I just need to put it all together by Thursday. Piece of (birthday) cake. 

 
Another 10 days are finished on my 2021 temperature quilt, bringing it up-to-date as of Feb 7.

Three rows down, so there’s only 25 more to go. Whoo!

Cupcake Day

Jac is really into baking this week, so today we made cupcakes from scratch. I may never go back to cake mixes again - these were goooooooooood. 

Jac is pretty good at cracking eggs (as long as we check very closely for errant shell pieces) and mixing things together but I think this was her first time filling the cupcake papers. 

Not too bad! 

Her favorite job was using a straw to poke holes in the cooled cakes so the icing could seep down inside. 

 Warmed strawberry preserves for icing

I had in mind one or two holes but Jac assures me her way is *much* better. 

Also, Jac has new blue-light glasses and a horse named Cinnamon, both of which she loves. Is there anything cuter than a kid in glasses??

Old or Cold

I’ve mentioned before how Lily Kitty avoids everyone but me, and has since she was a tiny kitten. She’s mellowed enough this past year that if I catch and hold her, she’ll allow the baby grands to pet her. And by “allow” I mean not actively try to escape as long as I’m petting her too.

So you can imagine my surprise when Lily jumped up on my chair and made herself comfortable, snuggling in next to the sleeping Jackie in my lap.

And stayed there long enough for Leanne to wake up (she swears she fell asleep after school was out) and take pictures.

I’m not sure if my old girl is mellowing (she turned 11 last August) or if she hates the cold enough to tolerate the littles. Either way, I’m treasuring this memory. 

On a side note - Ventura County lowered COVID vaccination eligibility to 65 and over yesterday and hubby and I got our first shots today. Hooray! The entire thing took less than 30 minutes, including the required 15 minute wait period afterward. Only 21 days to go for shot #2!

Snakes and Pillows

Today’s baking project was pretzel bites,

now, and forever more, known as “pillows”

 Making snakes

after Jac told Pop, “first we roll them into snakes, then we cut them into pillows!” 

Donovan wasn’t here today, so Jac was in charge of the egg wash. 

I was concerned she was using too much egg - 

the poor pillows were drowning in it - 

but turns out the 4-year-old knows best. They were delicious!

They were so good, everyone was grabbing them off the hot baking sheet before I could get a photo! We’ll definitely be making these again. 

Satisfying

Jac and I tried a new French bread recipe today.

Jac’s favorite part, by far, 

was punching down the dough 

every 10 minutes while it was rising. 

Says Jac, “This is very satisfying.”

She also figured out, after watching me do it once,

how to fold the smushed dough 

and roll it back into a ball for the next rise.

Then Donovan brushed on the egg wash,

under Jac’s supervision of course,

before we popped the loaves into the oven.

And yes, it was every bit as good as it looks. 

He Likes It!

We had a surprise visit from Donovan today because “Granma has present me!” 

And you don’t let presents sit around waiting to be opened, especially when you’re two. 

Pretty sure he likes it. 

Amuse Bouche

Today’s project - 

something quick and easy, the quilting equivalent of amuse bouche (I may have watched too many seasons of Top Chef.)

Donovan is crazy for dinosaurs, especially T. Rex. He’s going to be so excited when he sees this.

This took about 3 hours, start to finish, using a tutorial from Missouri Star. The most time consuming part was measuring/cutting the fabric; sewing actually took less than an hour, including the decorative finishing stitch. Now all it needs is a spin through the laundry and it’ll be ready for Donovan’s nap on Tuesday. 

Note to self: cut larger fabric 10” longer and wider than front piece; can be either square or rectangle. Panel was 30x42”, flannel was 40x52”.

Celebrating

Celebrating a sunny day with chalk time, hopscotch, dinosaur boy and mug-a-cousin.  Good times.