My New Jewelry Tree
We’d already started on the bathroom remodel project when Cute W said his mom needed ideas for a Mother’s Day gift for me. I immediately thought of my soon-to-be counter space that would come with my little window seat. After all, how much sitting around would I actually want to do in the bathroom? (I thought that the answer was hardly any, but now that I see it, we’ve been joking that we might start having parties in the bathroom. “People can bring their swimsuits and you can give them margaritas and beer in the shower,” M suggested. She’s a clever girl).
Anyway, all that impending nice free space just made me want to accessorize. And besides, I’d already asked for a jewelry tree for Christmas because my necklaces keep getting tangled. I have a lovely wooden jewelry box that Cute W gave me years ago, but there’s not quite enough space. And it doesn’t help that J is constantly begging to paw through it so that she can see everything.
I explored a bit and ended up requesting a metal jewelry tree made by Serendipity Metal Art and sold on Etsy. It arrived recently and it’s absolutely gorgeous. Seriously, this photo doesn’t do it justice because of my poor photography skills. It’s a bit of a silhouette here, and in person, it’s a gorgeous copper color. In fact, you can click the link to see the color better on the site (you can also go for silver-toned instead).
One of the features that I’d liked when I’d read the description was that you can gently bend the limbs to make the flat tree a bit more three-dimensional. But when it arrived looking so beautiful, I was a afraid to mess with it. I didn’t want to ruin a good thing. But really, if you want to use a bunch of different limbs, the only practical thing to do is to bend them a bit, because otherwise everything would be overlapping. So I held my breath and started shifting things. Again, the photograph doesn’t do it justice, but once I started moving little branches forward and backwards, it just started looking better. Plus, it was fun, because I got to feel like I was being crafty and creative without any skills or talent whatsoever. Love that! So here it is with shifted limbs and a bunch of my jewelry hanging off of it.
Pretty, right? Plus, I don’t exactly wear a ton of jewelry, but that doesn’t mean that I don’t like the stuff I have. So now I can enjoy it every day instead of having it all stuffed in my jewelry box, which is plenty full with earrings and other jewelry that I don’t want to get rid of but which didn’t make the “display” cut. And it will look lovely in my new bathroom!
May 24, 2013 1 Comment
Halfmoon Carnival, Full Moon Hike, Patriot’s Invitational, Karner Blue Time, and More This Memorial Day Weekend!
Can you believe it’s Memorial Day Weekend already? Instead of in the listings below, there’s a list of Memorial Day Parades and Observances here. Speaking of KidsOutAndAbout links, here’s this year’s KidsOutAndAbout survey of top places to take your kids in the Capital District. So vote and share to make sure your favorites get the credit that they deserve. And finally, here’s the weekly newsletter.
Multiple Days:
- Family, Friends, and Solo Camping at Camp Little Notch at Friends of Camp Little Notch. Come to Little Notch to share the beauty of the land. Family, Friends and Solo Camping is a perfect opportunity to get outside, unplug, and have time to breathe deeply and explore nature. *No one will be turned away for lack of funds.
- Free Kiddie Cones with Kids Meal Purchase at Pirates Lakeside Grill on Fridays During Our Season! at Pirates Lakeside Grill. Get a free vanilla, chocolate, or twist kiddie cone or cup with purchase of a Kids’ Meal at Pirates Lakeside Grill! See our menu and hours at www.pirateslakesidegrill.com. 266 County Road 7 Nassau, NY 12123 (518) 265-7087
- Halfmoon Carnival at Halfmoon, Town of. Come and ride the midway by Gillette Shows. Rides – Food – Family Fun. 20% of all ride sales benefit Relay For Life of Southern Saratoga County!
- Friday, May 24: Wiggle & Giggle at The Children’s Museum at Saratoga. This is a special time for younger children to learn what they can do with their bodies through structured group activities and guided free play.
- Friday, May 24: Aquarium Adventures at Berkshire Museum.
- Friday, May 24: Family Storytime at Troy Public Library. We will share stories, music, movement, and a simple craft.
- Friday, May 24: OPEN BOUNCE!!! at Afrim’s Sports. You’ll Love Our Bounce Zone… Starting May 1st, 2013 our bounce hours will be on Tuesday and Friday Nights from 4:30-8:00pm (Ages 3-9 ONLY)
- Friday, May 24: Pre-School Story Hour with Pam at the Open Door Bookstore at Open Door Bookstore. Enjoy songs & stories every Friday with Pam!
- Friday, May 24: Investigate Nanotechnology @ miSci at miSci Museum of Innovation and Science (formerly the Schenectady Museum). Explore nanotechnology, an area of science so small you can’t see it, at this fun science demo.
- Friday, May 24: Full Moon Hike at Moreau Lake State Park at Moreau Lake State Park. Join the Park Naturalist on a full moon evening hike around Moreau Lake.
- Saturday, May 25: Investigate Nanotechnology @ miSci at miSci Museum of Innovation and Science (formerly the Schenectady Museum). Explore nanotechnology, an area of science so small you can’t see it, at this fun science demo.
- Saturday, May 25: Wildlife Program at Thacher Nature Center at Emma Treadwell Thacher Nature Center. Meet local wildlife up close with a licensed wildlife rehabilitator!
- Saturday, May 25: Kitchen Ka-Boom at Berkshire Museum.
- Saturday, May 25: Chow Time in the Aquarium at Berkshire Museum. Chow Time has a new look and format! Visit the Aquarium and lend a hand, helping to prepare feasts fit for turtles, fish, and even a skink.
- Saturday, May 25: Science Discovery Demos: Light Waves @ miSci at miSci Museum of Innovation and Science (formerly the Schenectady Museum). Have an explosive visit with this bonus educational opportunity! Learn all about light waves and spectroscopy at this educator-led science demo.
- Saturday, May 25: Patriot’s Invitational at Empire State Sports Council. Developmental youth track meet
- Saturday, May 25: Family, Friends, and Solo Camping at Camp Little Notch at Friends of Camp Little Notch. Come to Little Notch to share the beauty of the land. Family, Friends and Solo Camping is a perfect opportunity to get outside, unplug, and have time to breathe deeply and explore nature. *No one will be turned away for lack of funds.
- Saturday, May 25: Moreau Lake Kayak at Moreau Lake State Park. Come kayaking with us!
- Saturday, May 25: The King’s Garden is Open for the Season at Fort Ticonderoga. Tour the restored 1920’s Colonial Revival King’s Garden, the site of the original Fort Garrison Garden.
- Saturday, May 25: Story Art at The Children’s Museum at Saratoga at The Children’s Museum at Saratoga. Each week we’ll listen to a new story and create a craft inspired by it.
- Saturday, May 25: Paper Capers at The Children’s Museum of Science and Technology (CNSE CMOST). Find out the power of paper with our paper caper workshop.
- Saturday, May 25: Karner Blue Walk at Albany Pine Bush Preserve & Discovery Center. See the Karner blue butterfly. Once common in the glacial Lake Albany sand belt, the Karner blue is now a federally endangered species. Learn about its natural history and what efforts are underway to rescue it from the brink of extinction
- Saturday, May 25: Birding for Beginners at Dyken Pond Environmental Center. Let’s start at the beginning! Learn how to identify birds by field marks, use binoculars, and learn to identify birds by their song. Leave being able to identify at least 10 birds or more!
- Sunday, May 26: Scavenger Hunt at Moreau State Park at Moreau Lake State Park. Spring is here and the kids are getting antsy. Please come and enjoy a fun scavenger hunt organized by our Park Educator.
- Sunday, May 26: Science Discovery Demos: Light Waves @ miSci at miSci Museum of Innovation and Science (formerly the Schenectady Museum). Have an explosive visit with this bonus educational opportunity! Learn all about light waves and spectroscopy at this educator-led science demo.
- Sunday, May 26: Memorial Day Weekend Picnic at Garnet Hill Lodge at Garnet Hill Lodge and Ski Center. Join us on May 26 for pulled pork and BBQ chicken from 1 PM to 4 PM. There will be music, lawn games, and free use of our mountain bike and hiking trails.
- Sunday, May 26: Karner Blue Walk at Albany Pine Bush Preserve & Discovery Center. See the Karner blue butterfly. Once common in the glacial Lake Albany sand belt, the Karner blue is now a federally endangered species. Learn about its natural history and what efforts are underway to rescue it from the brink of extinction.
Memorial Day, Monday, May 27th:
- Monday, May 27: Lupine Walk at Albany Pine Bush Preserve & Discovery Center. Do you know why the wild blue lupine is so vital to the Albany Pine Bush and the survival of the Karner Blue Butterfly? Join in an hour hike over rolling terrain to explore Karner Blue butterfly habitat and discover wild blue lupine.
- Monday, May 27: Treasure Hunt (and Sand Sculpture Contest) at Grafton Lakes State Park. Look for clues and animal signs along the trail with your team, and you’ll find you way to treasure at the trail’s end!
- Monday, May 27: Memorial Day at Fort Ticonderoga. Join Fort Ticonderoga on Memorial Day, May 27, to salute the service of the armed forces of the United States on the very grounds where so many American soldiers fought and sacrificed.
- Monday, May 27: Memorial Day Observance and USS SLATER Open for Tours on Memorial Day at Destroyer Escort Historical Museum . Make Memorial Day meaningful and learn about how the USS Slater’s crew defended the USA during World War II. 8:30 am observance of Memorial Day, tours follow
May 23, 2013 No Comments
Stormy Weather
You know things aren’t wonderful when I wake up extra early in the morning and can’t go back to sleep. Maintaining sleep is one of my greatest talents. But our school district’s budget was voted down last night–not just voted down, but, like, trampled upon–and now who knows what schools are going to close or which teachers are going to be laid off. It makes me sick to my stomach just thinking about it. Of course, it’s tough to whine and complain about anything school-related when you’ve so recently watched videos of elementary schools smashed into smithereens. But since yesterday morning, when I biked to the high school and saw a bunch of plastic-wrapped “Vote No” flyers that had been tossed onto people’s driveway like old potato chip bags, I’ve been alternating between white-hot rage and despair and trying not to think about it. And I do feel like, if there were any justice, people who had actually gone to budget meetings and written to their legislators and their school board would get extra votes. Because anyone who thought that budget was decided lightly clearly hasn’t been paying attention. And I didn’t even love the budget, but I rarely do. Okay. I’m going to try to stop moaning about that.
I was also fretting this morning because we’d installed some tiles in the new bathroom that were just bad, which means that we’ll have to yank them off and order something else. That’s a delay. We ended up going to shop for Tile at 8 am before Cute W headed off to work. We picked something nicer. At least, I hope it’s nicer, because the drywall’s already going to be angry with us.
M’s been fighting off a cough that makes her sound like she has tuberculosis. Luckily it looks like they’re going to have to call tonight’s soccer game. I think she could use the rest.
The good news is that my neighbor Mary is improving. She could still use any good-health karma that you can throw her way.
Yikes! Anybody else’s lawn flooding? I think I’m going to go down and murmur encouragement to my sump pump.
May 22, 2013 2 Comments
Updates
The fish remain alive, and they seem pretty perky. We have a ridiculous, noisy, jerry-rigged filtration system, and if the pets survive through the week, we’ll probably buy something more suitable this weekend.
Have you been wondering how the bathroom’s doing? Afraid to ask? It’s true that we hoped that we’d be done by now, but they’re making progress every day. Today the toilet and sink were installed along with a door, closet doors, and the shower doors. So we’re getting closer. I’m waiting to just do one final post with the full reveal because I don’t want to bore you with too much information. Tonight I ran out to Lowe’s to pick out a toilet paper holder and a towel bar as well as some more tiles to make a little back splash for our sink. And my children are arguing over who gets to use the toilet first. Also, who gets to shower first.
M: Can I use the shower first?
Katie: No.
M: Why not?
Katie: Because Daddy or I will get to use the shower first.
M: Not fair!
Katie: It’s quite fair, really. In fact, to be really fair, maybe we should take the first shower together.
M: GROSS!!
I hoped that this would make M change the subject. Mission accomplished.
My neighbor Mary could still use your prayers and positive thoughts.
Tomorrow’s the school budget vote. I wrote a while back about why schools are struggling so much. I’m pretty nervous, actually. Our school district exceeded the tax cap and needs 60% approval for the budget to pass. If it doesn’t, closing M’s middle school or an elementary school are back on the table. They also might switch from full-day back down to half-day kindergarten. I hate the whole process, because it would make so much more sense if we could vote on pieces of the budget while it’s being formed. As it is, you’re pretty much screwed when you vote for it and screwed worse if you vote against it. So we’ll see what happens.
I still haven’t planned out our activities and camp schedule for the summer, and when I start to think about it, I sort of feel like I need to breathe into a paper back. But then the next thing you know I’m washing dishes or running out to choose bathroom accessories and I forget about it for another day and a half. I really need to get on that. This morning I was putting together the KidsOutAndAbout special camps newsletter, and there are some seriously cool camps out there. Here’s the page that links to them. Personally, I like just browsing through the week-by-week lists.
Hope you’re all well.
May 20, 2013 4 Comments
This Week
I’ve been absent all weekend. Sorry about that. Yesterday was Niska-Day, and that’s a big day at our house. On Friday night M had two friends sleep over, and in the morning they were already on their way to roam the neighborhood as I stumbled out of bed. M and her friends ran the one-mile Fun Run, helped me bring furniture to the front yard, and volunteered to be J’s “staff” as she organized her Melon Ball Stand. They even wore name tags, hers labeled “Boss” and theirs labeled “Staff.” When Little Sister gets to play with Big Sister and her friends, that’s one of my favorite things ever, right up there with when Big Sister used to help Little Sister read or when either Baby would fall back asleep in the wee hours of the morning. We had a nice bunch of folks hanging around our lawn, and it was so busy at home that we never even got around to walking up and down the street to chat with neighbors. After the parade our children were both whisked away to by friends’ parents (awesome!), although we followed soon after. J was excited to come back home to hang out at our neighbors’ party, which featured a bounce house, a slip and slide, and a hot dog rotisserie. Meanwhile M stayed at Niska-Day straight through to the fireworks, except for when she briefly dropped by while we were at the neighborhood party to drop off two goldfish!
I was appalled. I asked her, didn’t she remember the Great Fin Debacle of Carrot Festival 2010? Oh, she did. But she was cheerfully optimistic that things will go much better this time. What made me most annoyed was that she hadn’t even won the fish herself. A friend had won the fish but wasn’t allowed to take them home, even though they’d successfully kept another fish alive for four years! So, why, why, oh why, can’t they care for these other two as well? M dumped the fish into Fin’s old bowl, rounded it out with some tap water with no regard to temperature shock or potential invisible toxins, and then she sprinkled in some two-year-old fish food.
By the time we arrived home and saw them, the fish were clearly unhappy, and I expected them to die overnight. This morning they were alive but suffering, and I was searching the internet for goldfish advice. The trouble was that most sites explaining the care for goldfish offer complicated and costly lists of what to do to encourage optimal health and emotional well-being. I was like, where’s the site that tells me how to just make sure I don’t make them suffer or kill them? We fussed with some fish tank equipment we’d inherited (the mom who’d allowed M to come home with fish–I’m beginning to think it was just a scheme so she could unload an old tank, two-thirds of a filtration system and random supplies), I transferred the poor things to a larger tank with warmer water, and by the end of the day they seemed perkier. And J is getting attached already. Yikes.
Today we had one of our favorite church services of the year, when the graduating seniors and the rest of the youth group run the show, and it included a meditation on bacon that thrilled the girls. On the ride home, my bickering children irritated me so much that I took a Mama Break and went up to my room to read a magazine for a few minutes. J, who had been the less annoying child by far during the ride home, came upstairs to apologize, then stretched out on top of me like I was a bed, and she was asleep–lying on my back–within five minutes. Clearly she was still recovering from the Niska-Day festivities. M had an afternoon soccer game in the middle of all that cold and rain. When it was over, M bounded over to me and asked, “Remember how the game stopped because the girl from the other team had to go out because she hurt her teeth?” I’d seen the girl go out, but I didn’t know it was a tooth issue, I answered. “Yup,” M beamed. “And look! She hurt her teeth on my arm!” She held out her arm, covered with a huge bandage. Apparently she’d been bleeding on the field, but I’d missed this completely. Later she was touching her wound, and Cute W accused her of trying to irritate it to encourage a scar for bragging rights. Honestly, I wouldn’t put it past her.
So here’s what’s up this week.
- Monday, May 20: FREE Youth Soccer Clinics and Food Drive – Siena College at NY Elite FC Premier Soccer Club. Come learn some cool soccer moves and get some extra practice. Sign up for one or all sessions, bring your friends! Collecting canned items for local food pantry.
- Monday, May 20: FREE Youth Soccer Clinics and Food Drive – St. Rose, 10 Frisbee Ave, Albany at NY Elite FC Premier Soccer Club. Come learn some cool soccer moves and get some extra practice. Sign up for one or all sessions, bring your friends! Collecting canned items for local food pantry.
- Monday, May 20: Messy Monday at The Wonder Room. Every Monday we are open from 9am-3pm – and we always have something extra messy out on Mondays! Come play with us!
- Monday, May 20: Preschool Pioneers at Wilton Wildlife Preserve and Park. This monthly program is for our youngest explorers (ages 3-6 years old).
- Tuesday, May 21: OPEN BOUNCE!!! at Afrim’s Sports. You’ll Love Our Bounce Zone… Starting May 1st, 2013 our bounce hours will be on Tuesday and Friday Nights from 4:30-8:00pm (Ages 3-9 ONLY)
- Tuesday, May 21: Tuesday for Tots at The Children’s Museum at Saratoga. This is a special time for our younger visitors to gain preschool readiness skills in a fun and social environment. Join us anytime between 10am and 12pm or 1pm and 3pm for play dough, crafts, games and friends!
- Tuesday, May 21: Playdate: Fun on the Farm! at Tykesadelic Music Studio. Celebrate May with a musical playdate all about the farm!
- Tuesday, May 21: Math Lab at The Wonder Room. Free with admission!
- Wednesday, May 22: Welcome Wednesday at Oakwood Christian School. Open House -
- Wednesday, May 22: Grown-up Program: Summertime Reading activities! at The Wonder Room. We have some ideas to make summertime reading special! You will create some tools to take home that will set you off on a journey through stories, poems and non-fiction texts!
- Wednesday, May 22: Kid’s Sculpting Workshop at Troy Public Library. Wednesday, May 22 at 4:00 pm. For ages 6 to 12. Register online or call 274-7071.
- Wednesday, May 22: Family Storytime at Troy Public Library. We will share stories, music, movement, and a simple craft.
- Wednesday, May 22: Storytime at Altamont Free Library. All ages drop-in storytime with songs, rhymes, stories and a craft. Followed by free play.
- Wednesday, May 22: Parent/Child Craft Nights at Niskayuna Central School District. Enjoy some one-on-one time with your child with this series of five craft nights!
- Wednesday, May 22: OPEN HOUSE at KidZone where fun begins. PRESCHOOL OPEN HOUSE: Wednesday, May 22 5pm
- Wednesday, May 22: Family Storytime at Troy Public Library. We will share stories, music, movement, and a simple craft.
- Thursday, May 23: Family Storytime at East Greenbush Community Library.
- Thursday, May 23: World Turtle Day Celebration at The Children’s Museum of Science and Technology (CNSE CMOST). Join us for a special animal program all about turtles.
- Thursday, May 23: Relay For Life at KidZone where fun begins. Bring your child to kidZone to have fun on Thursday May 23 and Thursday May 30 to support the American Cancer Society.
- Thursday, May 23: Silly Science at The Children’s Museum at Saratoga. Join us for our newest program, Silly Science! Each week we will explore the different ways science is all around us.
- Thursday, May 23: Almost Full Moon Hike at Albany Pine Bush Preserve & Discovery Center. Enjoy Pine Bush at night with an hour long hike under an almost full moon. We will walk about 1 mile over rolling topography stopping intermittently for night vision and sound observations.
- Thursday, May 23: Relay For Life at KidZone where fun begins. Bring your child to kidZone to have fun on Thursday May 23 and Thursday May 30 to support the American Cancer Society
- Friday, May 24: Wiggle & Giggle at The Children’s Museum at Saratoga. This is a special time for younger children to learn what they can do with their bodies through structured group activities and guided free play.
- Friday, May 24: Aquarium Adventures at Berkshire Museum.
- Friday, May 24: Family Storytime at Troy Public Library. We will share stories, music, movement, and a simple craft.
- Friday, May 24: OPEN BOUNCE!!! at Afrim’s Sports. You’ll Love Our Bounce Zone… Starting May 1st, 2013 our bounce hours will be on Tuesday and Friday Nights from 4:30-8:00pm (Ages 3-9 ONLY)
- Friday, May 24: Family, Friends, and Solo Camping at Camp Little Notch at Friends of Camp Little Notch. Come to Little Notch to share the beauty of the land. Family, Friends and Solo Camping is a perfect opportunity to get outside, unplug, and have time to breathe deeply and explore nature. *No one will be turned away for lack of funds.
- Friday, May 24: Free Kiddie Cones with Kids Meal Purchase at Pirates Lakeside Grill on Fridays During Our Season! at Pirates Lakeside Grill. Get a free vanilla, chocolate, or twist kiddie cone or cup with purchase of a Kids’ Meal at Pirates Lakeside Grill! See our menu and hours at www.pirateslakesidegrill.com. 266 County Road 7 Nassau, NY 12123 (518) 265-7087
- Friday, May 24: Pre-School Story Hour with Pam at the Open Door Bookstore at Open Door Bookstore. Enjoy songs & stories every Friday with Pam!
May 19, 2013 No Comments
St. Sophia’s Greek Festival, Lupine Fest at Albany Pine Bush, Niska-Day, the Little Mermaid Jr., Bike Rodeo, and More This Weekend
Hey everyone. I was trying to decide what to write about, and then I remembered it’s Thursday, so I’ve just got the listings for you.
Here’s this week’s KidsOutAndAbout.com newsletter. Come to think of it, we’ve also got a running list of Memorial Day Parades and Summer Camps. And here’s what’s up this weekend.
Multiple Days:
- The Little Mermaid Jr. at Home Made Theater at Home Made Theater at the Spa Little Theater. In a magical kingdom,the mermaid Ariel longs to leave her ocean home to live in the world above.First,she’ll have to defy her father,make a deal with the evil sea witch Ursula,and convince Prince Eric that she’s the girl with the enchanting voice.
- Spring Stewardship Weekend at Camp Little Notch at Friends of Camp Little Notch. We invite you to enjoy camp and community building on Friday evening. Stewardship projects begin at 9:00 a.m. on Sat. and Sun.
- Greek Festival – ST. SOPHIA GREEK ORTHODOX CHURCH at ST. SOPHIA GREEK ORTHODOX CHURCH. EAT- DANCE – LIVE! A Family Festival Not To Be Missed!
- 2013 Baby Animal Days at Indian Ladder Farms at Indian Ladder Farms. Chicks, Ducklings, Turkey Poults, Bunnies, Piglets, Lambs, Goat Kids, Calves…
- WALKING TOUR OF THE NATIVE PLANT TRAIL at Landis Arboretum. Join Native Plant Trail designer and curator Ed Miller for a free tour of the Trail. The tour is about an hour long over moderate terrain with some hilly climbing. Saturday or Sunday.
Friday, May 17th:
- Friday, May 17: Free Kiddie Cones with Kids Meal Purchase at Pirates Lakeside Grill on Fridays During Our Season! at Pirates Lakeside Grill. Get a free vanilla, chocolate, or twist kiddie cone or cup with purchase of a Kids’ Meal at Pirates Lakeside Grill! See our menu and hours at www.pirateslakesidegrill.com. 266 County Road 7 Nassau, NY 12123 (518) 265-7087
- Friday, May 17: Family Storytime at Troy Public Library. We will share stories, music, movement, and a simple craft.
- Friday, May 17: Aquarium Adventures at Berkshire Museum.
- Friday, May 17: Wiggle & Giggle at The Children’s Museum at Saratoga. This is a special time for younger children to learn what they can do with their bodies through structured group activities and guided free play.
- Friday, May 17: Pre-School Story Hour with Pam at the Open Door Bookstore at Open Door Bookstore. Enjoy songs & stories every Friday with Pam!
- Friday, May 17: Fort Ticonderoga is Open for the Season at Fort Ticonderoga. Fort Ticonderoga opens for the 2013 season!
- Friday, May 17: Art Night Schenectady at Art Night Schenectady. Celebrate the visual and performing arts, music and fun throughout Schenectady on the third Friday of each month
- Friday, May 17: PARENTS NIGHT OUT – Every Third Friday of the Month at Tiny Tots Tea Room . Drop the Munchkins off for Parents Night Out for Dinner, Play, Crafts and More!
- Friday, May 17: ALBANY SINGS! To benefit the Upstate Chapter of the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society at Albany Pro Musica. Albany Pro Musica and Albany High School Chorus take the stage at the Massry Center at the College of St. Rose!
- Friday, May 17: OPEN BOUNCE!!! at Afrim’s Sports. You’ll Love Our Bounce Zone… Starting May 1st, 2013 our bounce hours will be on Tuesday and Friday Nights from 4:30-8:00pm (Ages 3-9 ONLY)
Saturday, May 18th:
- Saturday, May 18: Annual Veterans Parade in Malta at Malta, Town of. Parade held in honor of our veterans, previously held in September, on Route 9 in Malta
- Saturday, May 18: Spring Stewardship Weekend at Camp Little Notch at Friends of Camp Little Notch. We invite you to enjoy camp and community building on Friday evening. Stewardship projects begin at 9:00 a.m. on Sat. and Sun.
- Saturday, May 18: Playing With Pattern and Design with Robert R. Zakanitch at The Eric Carle Museum of Picture Book Art. Join artist Robert R. Zakanitch as he walks you through his “garden” sharing the miracles he wrought using color, shape, and design. Book signing to follow
- Saturday, May 18: All About Kids Event at Sportsplex of Halfmoon. Over 40 interactive booths that are “all about kids” Bouncy bounce houses, summer camps, dance classes, educational outlets, an entertainment stage and more!
- Saturday, May 18: Family Fun Day at the New York State Museum at New York State Museum. On the 3rd Saturday of every month the Museum offers fun for the whole family with games, crafts, and other theme-based activities.
- Saturday, May 18: Art for All at Albany Institute of History and Art . Adults and children of all ages are invited to drop in on Saturdays to explore history and art through creativity. We invite you to experience works of art through sketching in our galleries and then transforming your ideas in a variety of ways.
- Saturday, May 18: Vivaldi’s “Four Seasons” at Albany Symphony. Vivaldi’s lively and enchanting concertos about the four seasons come to life alongside two modern masterpieces by Stravinsky and John Adams.
- Saturday, May 18: Lupine Fest 2013: Living History at Albany Pine Bush Preserve & Discovery Center. Discover the Pine Bush at our 7th annual Lupine Festival. Journey through time, from the end of the Ice Age through today! Olus, enjoy musical performances, storytelling, the ancient sport of falconry, historic re-enactments and more!
- Saturday, May 18: Chow Time in the Aquarium at Berkshire Museum. Chow Time has a new look and format! Visit the Aquarium and lend a hand, helping to prepare feasts fit for turtles, fish, and even a skink.
- Saturday, May 18: The Little Mermaid Jr. at Home Made Theater at Home Made Theater at the Spa Little Theater. In a magical kingdom,the mermaid Ariel longs to leave her ocean home to live in the world above.First,she’ll have to defy her father,make a deal with the evil sea witch Ursula,and convince Prince Eric that she’s the girl with the enchanting voice.
- Saturday, May 18: Niska-Day 32 at Niskayuna, Town of . Celebrate Vegas-style in Niskayuna! More info. here.
- Saturday, May 18: Children’s Star Sighting Show at Albany Heritage Area Visitors Center & Henry Hudson Planetarium. Interactive program exploring the stars, planets, comets and constellations in the night sky. Geared to children ages 3-7 and their families.
- Saturday, May 18: First Annual Gold Star Mothers, Fathers & Family Members Motorcade Procession at Please Remember Me. Members of the public are invited to watch and pay their respects as the motorcade proceeds on Route 9 from Memorial Hospital area, past Siena College to Route 155 in Latham, a 4-mile stretch.
- Saturday, May 18: Signing Smart Play Class- Come learn sign language! at Happy Babble. Come sing, sign & play! Come learn how to integrate ASL (American Sign Language) signs and communication strategies into daily life. Classes are for children and parents/caregivers ages 6 months to 2 years.
- Saturday, May 18: FREE Youth Soccer Clinics and Food Drive – Luther Forest Athletic Fields, 30 Rocket Way, Malta at NY Elite FC Premier Soccer Club. Come learn some cool soccer moves and get some extra practice. Sign up for one or all sessions, bring your friends! Collecting canned items for local food pantry.
- Saturday, May 18: NY Elite FC Boys Golf/Yard Sale Fundraiser at NY Elite FC Premier Soccer Club. NY Elite FC Boys Mini Golf, Par 3, Ice Cream and Yard Sale Fundraiser
Sunday, May 19th:
- Sunday, May 19: Annual Benefit Concert and Honors Recital at Performance School of the Arts. This year’s Benefit Concert & Honors Recital will be raising money for student scholarships.
- Sunday, May 19: For the Birds at The Children’s Museum of Science and Technology (CNSE CMOST). Join us as we search for our local bird population now that they’ve all returned from their winter migration.
- Sunday, May 19: Children’s Art Classes at Center Square School. Weekend art classes for children aged 2-4 and their families. Experiencial activities with paint and clay.
- Sunday, May 19: Camp Wa Wa Segowea Camp Open House & Free Family Fun Day! at YMCA Camp Wa Wa Segowea . Come see Camp Wa Wa Segowea and see how our program Builds Character, Confidence, Skills, & Memories!
- Sunday, May 19: APD and PAL Bike Rodeo at Albany Police Athletic League. Kids of all ages can learn, practice, and demonstrate their bicycle handling skills in a fun, non-competitive atmosphere. Free helmets while supplies last.
May 16, 2013 No Comments
Slow Cooker Meals
Our schedule continues to be crazy, especially at dinnertime, so I’ve been trying a bunch of new slow cooker recipes. I thought I’d share some links.
The clear winner among our new recipes was this Chickpeas in Curried Coconut Broth recipe from Oxmoor House on the My Recipes site.
In fact, our only problem with it was that it didn’t make enough for everyone to get leftovers the next day. I’ll absolutely double it next time. This one was spicy, and when I first tried it, I thought it might be too spicy, but mixing it with rice made it perfect, and all four of us liked it. We are so doubling it next time. Wait, I said that already, didn’t I?
I also tried Slow-Cooker Asian Pork With Snow Peas, Red Peppers, and Soba Noodles from Real Simple. Cute W and I liked this one, but both girls turned up their noses with this one. They didn’t even want to eat the noodles. The one thing I liked was that the pork tasted like pork I’ve eaten at Chinese restaurants, something I’d never achieved, but between the girls’ lack of enthusiasm and the extra work at the end (cooking noodles and the veggies separately), this one isn’t a do-over for us.
M’s favorite of our new recipes was a Crock Pot Cream Cheese Chicken by Food.com. It doesn’t win the healthful award, but it was a surprisingly unique flavor–tasty, tasty. We followed the advice in the comments and added mushrooms and some white wine, and at the end I threw in a bit of cornstarch to thicken the sauce.
M was out the night that we tried Slow Cooker Cuban Braised Beef and Peppers from Real Simple, but the rest of us thought that it was worthy of a do-over. The only criticism, from all of us, was that it was a bit bland. Next time we’ll add a couple more peppers that are spicy. Instead of rice, we ate these with corn tortillas for a change from some of the other sides.
Black Bean and Butternut Squash Chili from All You on the My Recipes site was a final surprise hit. Everyone ate it happily, and it’s super-healthful. I took a shortcut and used that frozen pre-cubed squash (I’d also done a ton of chopped onions earlier in the week) to make it a little easier.
Really, it was a pretty successful Slow Cooker Initiative. I thought I’d have some more patter, but I’m too sleepy for chatter tonight.
May 15, 2013 2 Comments
Girl Drama
I mentioned recently that M is going through some social turbulence these days, but I just didn’t have the energy to figure out how to explain it in a way that protects her privacy but gives a little insight into my current mom issue. First of all, I have to take a moment to express my deep gratitude to the Universe that my life is this good. Both of my children are healthy and happy, they’re doing fine in school, they (mostly) behave themselves, and they have friends. It is only because our lives are going along so smoothly (knock on wood!) that I can pay any attention whatsoever to my 5th grader’s social life. And in fact I’m increasingly thinking that my best bet is to stop paying attention.
Among M’s friends, there’s been quite a bit of shifting and realigning over the past few months. M has inherited Cute W’s lack of social anxiety, so she doesn’t seem particularly concerned about any of this. But I get the sense that there could be both hurt feelings and anxiety among the girls, and the moms. It’s awkward for us mamas. We’re friendly, and we’re used to carpooling, coordinating plans, and signing up for camps together. Now all of that’s become tricky as the daughters and their relationships are evolving. Personally, I’m not worried about M being bullied (she’s tough), but I do fret about her being unkind or standing by while girls are getting their feelings hurt, either because of divided loyalties or because she’s oblivious (like–ahem!–her father can sometimes be). But knowing too much isn’t helpful, because I don’t have too much control over anything anyway. But I hear plenty of news from the moms who get more information than I do. It feels like a stark contrast from how things worked back in the old days when I was in elementary school. Back then my mom was concerned that I stopped asking friends over for a year or so, but she had no idea about the details. Which were, basically, that Jodi B. had declared me her best friend and asked me to say it back, and when I told her that I didn’t want to rank my friends, she shunned me and told all of the lemmings in our group of friends to shun me, too. If asked thirty years ago, I could have explained it in a 45-page document. So I had to depend on compassionate random acquaintances to allow me to sit on the fringes of their lunch tables for a year or so, but I settled in with another crowd eventually.
I’m beginning to think that 5th grade social dynamics feels a lot like going to that gymnastics meet where J didn’t even score a participation ribbon. It was excruciating to watch, but she got through it, and my fretting didn’t help. So I’ve told myself that I just need to stay out of it. I mean, seriously, what would have happened if my mom had taken on Jodi and her friends (and all of their mothers) to negotiate on my behalf? It probably just would have caused additional angst and humiliation on my part. Or, if anything my mom did helped us to remain friends, I’m sure she would have been sorry if she’d known that she’d helped keep me in the clique that was doing drugs and giving boys blowjobs within a couple of years. Which sounds crazy, because I can’t imagine any of these cutey-patooties going the way of the Jodi B. crowd. But just like my mom didn’t know my friends as well as I did, I don’t know M’s friends as well as she does.
Of course the intellectual idea that I should stay out of it all is easier said than done. I’m curious about anything that happens with M. I’m constantly hungry for information, and she feeds me so little! Plus, there are even studies that show that gossip can function for good in moderating behavior. If there are girls doing things like making up fake messaging accounts in others girls’ names, I want to know about it, if only to remind my daughter that that kind of behavior is not acceptable. But while chatting with the mamas about what’s happening lately, it’s hard not to slide into outright diplomacy efforts, justifying my daughter’s position in the latest brouhaha. Which is just ridiculous. I mean, I have heard myself saying things where I’m like, “Katie, get a hold of yourself and shut up already. ” So I’ve told M I’m going to try to resist the mom chatter unless I hear about something specific she’s done that needs to be addressed, and I’m not going to ask for details on her social life unless she’s got something she wants to share (she’s not big into sharing). The only stipulations were that I always want her to be kind no matter who her friends are, and if she notices that any girl is consistently sad or receiving abuse, I want her to let me know so that I can pass the information on to that girl’s parents.
We’ll see how it goes. Probably more than a year ago I made some random joking remark that was the sort of thing one of her friends might say, and she was fine, but as soon as it was out of my mouth, I thought, “That was a screw-up.” Because she doesn’t need another joking friend, and she doesn’t need someone who’s emotionally involved in her daily social life. She needs her mom to be an oasis from all of that. So I’m going to do my best to take a step back, and I checked out Queen Bees and Wannabees (Rosalind Wiseman) with the hope that a little solid advice will help me avoid future screw-ups. Or at least reduce their number.
You know, I’d been worried about middle school because I always think of it as fraught with social peril, but we seem to have moved into the social peril phase, anyway. So now I’m hoping that the prospect of some new friendships will be good for my daughter and all the girls.
Am I being insanely optimistic?
Maybe.
But I’m definitely grateful that I’m not turning 11. It seems exhausting.
May 14, 2013 7 Comments
What’s Up This Week
I had a relaxing Mother’s Day. The girls know that breakfast in bed is not what this mama wants. Instead, I am encouraged to sleep in. But I did have a surprise waiting for me:
During the day, the girls helped me to pot a bunch of succulents. My plan is to put them on top of the cabinet in the new bathroom. My original “artistic vision” was a long terra cotta something-or-other, but I couldn’t find one, so I went with some dip bowls from Target with some rocks for drainage at the bottom. Hopefully they’ll work.
And we ended the day with Indian food and a show:
I hope that you all had a wonderful Mother’s Day. Here’s what’s up this week:
Multiple Days:
- Little Critters Consignment Sale at Little Critters Consignment Sale. Little Critters Consignment Sale Albany NY Monday May 13th 9-7 pm Tuesday May 14th 9-7pm Thousands of children’s items for sale–Don’t miss out!
- 2013 Baby Animal Days at Indian Ladder Farms at Indian Ladder Farms. Chicks, Ducklings, Turkey Poults, Bunnies, Piglets, Lambs, Goat Kids, Calves…
- OPEN BOUNCE!!! at Afrim’s Sports. You’ll Love Our Bounce Zone… Starting May 1st, 2013 our bounce hours will be on Tuesday and Friday Nights from 4:30-8:00pm (Ages 3-9 ONLY)
Monday, May 13th:
- Monday, May 13: Barnyard JAM at Capital District Mamas. Join the CD Mamas for a fun filled story time and social hour, (for moms and little ones!) with special guest Rebecca Demarest of Happy Babble Sign!
- Monday, May 13: Zentangle Workshop for Teens at Troy Public Library. Make amazingly beautiful, amazingly simple art through this repeating pattern technique!
- Monday, May 13: Horseback Riding for Kids at Niskayuna Central School District. Get into the saddle at New Horizon Stables!
- Monday, May 13: Messy Monday at The Wonder Room. Every Monday we are open from 9am-3pm – and we always have something extra messy out on Mondays! Come play with us!
Tuesday, May 14th:
- Tuesday, May 14: Video Game Creation at Niskayuna Central School District. If you think playing computer games is fun, imagine what a blast learning to program your own games will be!
- Tuesday, May 14: Math Lab at The Wonder Room. Free with admission!
- Tuesday, May 14: Tuesday for Tots at The Children’s Museum at Saratoga. This is a special time for our younger visitors to gain preschool readiness skills in a fun and social environment. Join us anytime between 10am and 12pm or 1pm and 3pm for play dough, crafts, games and friends!
Wednesday, May 15th:
- Wednesday, May 15: Duct Tape Accessories Workshop at Troy Public Library. Wednesday, May 15 at 4:00 pm For ages 8 through Teens. Come design your own bracelets & hair bows!
- Wednesday, May 15: Welcome Wednesday at Oakwood Christian School. Open House
- Wednesday, May 15: Discover the Desert at Schenectady County Public Library. Stories, activities & craft for kids in Grade K-5. Please register beginning May 1 by calling 388-4540.
- Wednesday, May 15: Family Storytime at Troy Public Library. We will share stories, music, movement, and a simple craft.
- Wednesday, May 15: Storytime at Altamont Free Library. All ages drop-in storytime with songs, rhymes, stories and a craft. Followed by free play.
- Wednesday, May 15: Parent/Child Craft Nights at Niskayuna Central School District. Enjoy some one-on-one time with your child with this series of five craft nights!
- Wednesday, May 15: Taconic High School Honors Chorus in Concert at Berkshire Museum. Enjoy an eclectic selection of music presented by this group of talented young singers, led by Jessica Passetto.
Thursday, May 16th:
- Thursday, May 16: PechaKucha Pittsfield Night #6 at Berkshire Museum.
- Thursday, May 16: Yoga for Kids at Niskayuna Central School District. Help your kids relax after a busy day! Perfect timing — just before dinner….
- Thursday, May 16: Family Storytime at East Greenbush Community Library.
- Thursday, May 16: Silly Science at The Children’s Museum at Saratoga. Join us for our newest program, Silly Science! Each week we will explore the different ways science is all around us.
Friday, May 17th:
- Friday, May 17: Free Kiddie Cones with Kids Meal Purchase at Pirates Lakeside Grill on Fridays During Our Season! at Pirates Lakeside Grill. Get a free vanilla, chocolate, or twist kiddie cone or cup with purchase of a Kids’ Meal at Pirates Lakeside Grill! See our menu and hours at www.pirateslakesidegrill.com. 266 County Road 7 Nassau, NY 12123 (518) 265-7087
- Friday, May 17: The Little Mermaid Jr. at Home Made Theater at Home Made Theater at the Spa Little Theater. In a magical kingdom,the mermaid Ariel longs to leave her ocean home to live in the world above.First,she’ll have to defy her father,make a deal with the evil sea witch Ursula,and convince Prince Eric that she’s the girl with the enchanting voice.
- Friday, May 17: Family Storytime at Troy Public Library. We will share stories, music, movement, and a simple craft.
- Friday, May 17: Spring Stewardship Weekend at Camp Little Notch at Friends of Camp Little Notch. We invite you to enjoy camp and community building on Friday evening. Stewardship projects begin at 9:00 a.m. on Sat. and Sun.
- Friday, May 17: Aquarium Adventures at Berkshire Museum.
- Friday, May 17: Wiggle & Giggle at The Children’s Museum at Saratoga. This is a special time for younger children to learn what they can do with their bodies through structured group activities and guided free play.
- Friday, May 17: Pre-School Story Hour with Pam at the Open Door Bookstore at Open Door Bookstore. Enjoy songs & stories every Friday with Pam!
- Friday, May 17: Fort Ticonderoga is Open for the Season at Fort Ticonderoga. Fort Ticonderoga opens for the 2013 season!
- Friday, May 17: Art Night Schenectady at Art Night Schenectady. Celebrate the visual and performing arts, music and fun throughout Schenectady on the third Friday of each month
- Friday, May 17: PARENTS NIGHT OUT – Every Third Friday of the Month at Tiny Tots Tea Room . Drop the Munchkins off for Parents Night Out for Dinner, Play, Crafts and More!
May 12, 2013 No Comments
A Poem for Mother’s Day
Happy Mother’s Day!
I’ve been saving up this awesome poem for the occasion ever since I heard it, gosh, months ago. And if you all already knew it, well, you should have told me. Because it’s a new favorite. It’s “The Lanyard” by Billy Collins.
If that one leaves you craving more and you have some Serenity Time, check out his “To My Favorite 17-Year-Old High School Girl.” And before long you might get so sucked in that you’ll just have to read a whole bunch of Billy Collins poems.
If you’re a new-ish reader, here’s a list of other Mother’s Day links that I’ve shared in years gone by:
- Steve McCurry’s beautiful photography blog
- For my first Capital District Fun Mother’s Day I offered up the Mother’s Day Weep-Fest Triple Threat.
- I wrote The Mother’s Day Gift, about our tree swing.
- I whined about all the love cluttering my house in a post I called Mother’s Day Minefield.
- Motherlode’s little essay from Anna Quindlen in which she tells us that the best is yet to come.
Enjoy the day.
May 11, 2013 1 Comment






