Luray Zoo

Next, we headed over to the Luray Zoo.

Luray Zoo is a rescue zoo that provides a safe and permanent home for unwanted, confiscated, or abused exotic animals.

This zoo houses an extensive collection of snakes.

T is checking out a snake!

We saw many unusual birds.

Scarlet Macaw

The Macaw is a large bird common to Central and South America.  These colorful birds can grow to a height of over 30 inches and a weight of over two pounds.  They use their large, hooked beaks to crack open Brazil nuts and to slice fruit.*

Eurasian Kestrel

This Eurasian Kestrel was born in captivity and was bred to be a falconry bird. Sadly, she was born with a deformity called angel wing.  As a result, she has only 70% use of her right wing and can't fly well enough to catch prey.*

Gyrfalcon

The Gyrfalcon inhabits arctic regions in North America, Greenland, Europe, and Asia.  It reaches a length of 24 inches and a weight of two to four pounds and prefers open areas and rocky cliffs from which it can hunt easily.*

Kookaburra

The Kookaburra is recognized easily by its long, sharply-pointed beak.  It inhabits woodlands in Australia.  It is the largest species of Kingfisher and reaches a height of 18 inches and a weight of one pound.*

I think my favorite was the tiger.  I've never seen a tiger so "up close and personal" before.

This Bengal Tiger was born in captivity on July 4, 2003.*

Bengal Tiger

The coat of a Bengal Tiger varies from reddish-yellow to rust brown.  These tigers reach a body length of five to nine feet and a weight of 350 to 550 pounds.  They are found throughout India, with smaller populations in Nepal, Bangladesh, and Burma.*

T loved the petting zoo.

T was having so much fun that he asked us to buy more food for the animals to eat.

T is signing the word more.

How could we resist that sweet boy...and those hungry animals??!  ;o)

T definitely was very "into it" until the donkey made his presence known!

He brayed so loudly...on and on.  T covered his ears with his hands and started to truck it out of there.  We had to coax him back...but he would not go anywhere close to that poor, hungry donkey for the longest time!

Wallaby

A Wallaby is only pregnant for 30 days before she gives birth.*  I think this Wallaby has a little one in her pouch.

We also saw Ring-Tailed Lemurs; however, this one was my favorite:

My Ring-Tailed Lemur!

~A warm day and a worn out boy!  :)

*source:  Luray Zoo

Covered Bridge

On our way to the potato chip factory, we crossed this covered bridge.

According to a nearby sign, it is Meem's Bottom Covered Bridge...built in 1892 by Franklin Hiser Wissler to provide access to his apple orchards at Strathmore Farms, and is the longest remaining covered bridge in Virginia.

A 200-foot single span, the bridge is a Burr Truss design ― a combination of arch with vertical and diagonal supports.  All construction materials were obtained locally.

Damaged by arsonists in 1976, the bridge was restored and reopened in 1979.

Potato Chip Factory

Today, we visited a local potato chip factory...the Route 11 Potato Chip Factory.  It was fascinating to watch the entire potato chip-making process, from whole potatoes being cut into slices to seasoned chips being put into bags.

Unfortunately, they did not allow photos to be taken of the process.  However, they did permit photos to be taken in their lobby.

say "chips"

Here is T, sitting in front of a huge Route 11 interstate sign which they found at the dump!

We bought some small bags of chips.  They offered several different flavors for sale.  Actually, we purchased three bags...and then added a fourth after sampling the pickles flavored chips.  Who would have thought pickles flavored chips would taste so good?!  lol.

They are open to the public Monday-Saturday from 9am-5pm.  They do not offer walk-through tours of the facility, but they do have an amazing fry-viewing experience.  They do not fry every day, but we happened to be there on a day when they were frying!

―Did I mention that their chips taste outrageously delicious?!!  :P

Vacation in Virginia

We left home early this afternoon for an eight-day family vacation in Virginia....I guess I'll go ahead and admit that it would have been a nine-day vacation if we'd left yesterday as originally planned.  I somehow just couldn't quite get it together.  :/

We stopped at the North Carolina welcome center for a mid-afternoon picnic.  ~A bit cool and breezy...but nice, nevertheless.

Later, we stopped at the Virginia welcome center to stretch our legs...

and arms!  :)

Finally...about bedtime...we arrived at the resort in the Shenandoah Valley region of Virginia.  The drive was beautiful...until it was too dark to see much!  ;o)

The condo was clean.  Hmmm...what else can I say about the condo?  Umm...it was clean!  Actually, it was about what we expected after reading reviews about it ― straight out of the 70s, with lots of mirrors!  lol.

Homeschool Convention

I was able to attend the SouthEast Homeschool Convention in Greenville, South Carolina this past weekend...actually, last Thursday through Saturday.

I am so grateful to my husband for taking vacation days from work in order to watch T.  The convention did offer a children's program, but it was so much easier for me...and less expensive  ;o)  ...for my husband to take care of him.  They had a good time together.  They went to the zoo and did all kinds of other fun stuff.

Anyway...back to the convention.  It was awesome!  I attended some terrific workshops:
   o  Stop the Yelling, Lecturing, and Power Struggles
   o  Overcoming Being Overwhelmed
   o  Beginning Reading:  How to Make Sure Your Child Succeeds at Reading
   o  25 Ways to Significantly Cut Your Grocery Bill Without Clipping Coupons
   o  Tuning In to Your Homeschooler's Unique Learning Pathway
   o  Help!  It's 5:00, and We're Still Doing School!
   o  Active Child?  ADHD?  Laying the Groundwork for Solutions
   o  Helping Our Kids See the Glory of God
   o  Mary and Martha Decide to Homeschool:  A Workshop for Mary's Only!
   o  Discovering My Child's Learning Style

I also was able to purchase CDs for the workshops I wanted to attend but wasn't able to...because of too many "good" workshops in the same time slot, or because of a need to browse the exhibit hall.  :)

The exhibit hall had a massive number of exhibitors...170+, I believe!  I enjoyed being able to talk with the vendors and to view their products.  Also, all of the vendors offered some sort of "event special" or discount...a terrific way to save some money on the cost of curriculum or other materials.

Amazingly, I won a drawing for a book from EI School of Biblical Training.  How fun is that?!!

Amazingly, another attendee offered me her ticket to the Tim Hawkins comedy performance.  Apparently, she is a nurse and was called in to work on Saturday evening.  ~How kind of her...and how wonderful that she chose me to whom to give her ticket!  I had never seen Tim Hawkins before; it was a sold-out show, and I saw why.  I laughed for a solid hour and a half!  :)  He was so funny.

I received an e-mail yesterday from Sonlight with the link to an article:  Homeschool Convention Survivor's Guide.  Ummm...it might have been helpful to have had that before the convention!  ;o)

I'm so glad I attended.  Now all I need to do is find the time to:
   o  review the spiral-bound notebook I filled with notes, and
   o  wade through the colossal pile of catalogs, brochures, etc. I picked up/was given!

I love conventions!!

Valentine's Day Supper

We celebrated Valentine's Day at home with a candlelit supper...very simple.

My husband and I ate Stouffer's Lasagna...a tradition since before we were married (the lasagna part...not necessarily the Stouffer's part!).  I made meatloaf and mashed potatoes for T...his favorites...since he's allergic to tomato-based foods.

For dessert, we made s'mores...with heart-shaped marshmallows!

~So fun!!

At the end of an evening full of festivities, T was tuckered out!

<3  Lots of love!  <3

Snowy Mountain Peaks

This afternoon, I baked some Snowy Peaks cupcakes.  I thought they would be a delicious winter treat.  Mmmm!  Ü

Here is the recipe (as I revised it*), in case you want to bake some Snowy Peaks, too.  :)

Snowy Peaks

1 box white cake mix, plus ingredients to prepare mix
4 egg whites, at room temperature
6 tablespoons sugar

Preheat oven to 350°F.  Line 10 jumbo muffin cups with paper baking cups.  Prepare cake mix according to directions on box.  Spoon batter into prepared muffin cups, filling two-thirds full.

Bake 20 to 25 minutes or until toothpick inserted into center comes out clean.  Cool in pan 10 minutes.  Remove to wire rack; cool completely.

Increase oven temperature to 375°F.  Beat egg whites in medium bowl with electric mixer at high speed until soft peaks form.  Gradually add sugar, beating until stiff peaks form.  Pipe or spread meringue on each cupcake.

Place cupcakes on a baking tray.  Bake 5 minutes or until peaks of meringue are golden.

Makes 10 jumbo cupcakes

source of inspiration (*I did not follow the recipe exactly):  Publications International, Ltd. Cupcakes & Fun Stuff, Vol. 3, No. 41

Winter Sleigh Ride

I don't know if sleigh riding qualifies as a winter sport (the Bento Blog Network theme this week)...but if not, we can pretend, right?  It's definitely a winter activity, and that's good enough for me!  :)

This was T's lunch today.

• sleigh = peanut butter and jelly sandwich with colored sugar, sprinkles, and jumbo sprinkles to decorate
• Hello Kitty = peanut butter and jelly sandwich with jimmies and sprinkles to decorate  (The bow is two heart-shaped savory crackers with colored sugar and a jumbo snowflake sprinkle.)
• snow = popcorn
• snow-covered evergreen tree = Little Debbie cake (from my freezer!)

I used the sleigh cutter to cut off the bottom of the Hello Kitty bread to make it appear that she is riding in the sleigh.

The Hello Kitty toy is from a Happy Meal...not recently!

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Luv It!

I was so thrilled when I was contacted by FunBites to do a review.  My first impression upon receiving the FunBites Luv It! food tool was Wow, that's nice -- heavy-duty and well-made, and a very fun, vivid color!  Obviously, T shared my opinion.  I had put the cutter at the Very Back of the counter...and when I returned to the kitchen less than 15 minutes later, T already had "discovered" it and checked it out; I found it at the Front of a Different counter!  ;o)

photo source:  FunBites

I tried a new recipe for Savory Crackers...and used my new food toy tool.

The FunBites Luv It! was so easy and FUN to use!  After unrolling a pie crust, I cut it into many geometric shapes.

I placed the FunBites cutter on the pie crust.

Using the handles, I rocked it back and forth a few times.  In a matter of seconds, I had lots of geometric shapes!

Using the FunBites insert, I popped the shapes out of the cutter and onto my baking sheet.  (That insert is a genius idea!!)

I used the geometric shapes to make fun pictures:

a sun for me...

and a king wearing his crown for T.

My husband informed me that the king's mustache is upside down...and that that's why he doesn't look more like a king.  Oh.  Okay.  I get it.

Before T and I enjoyed eating our snack, I had to get in a little "shapes" practice!  ;o)

T used his FunBites geometric shapes to help Elmo hunt for shapes.

After we finished playing with our food, I cleaned up in a snap.  The FunBites set can be hand washed -- the FunBites preferred method -- or put in the dishwasher -- my preferred method.  <g>  (I do love that it is dishwasher safe.)

Not only is FunBites really easy and fun to use, it also is BPA free.  I like that.

FunBites has another cutter, FunBites Cube It!, that cuts food into little squares.

photo source:  FunBites

Wouldn't this lunch have been quicker and easier to prepare using the FunBites Cube It!??

Would you like a FunBites Luv It! of your own...just in time for Valentine's Day, no less?!  You can purchase one at www.FunBites.com...and FunBites generously has offered Free Shipping!  Just enter the code, ValentineFun.  While you're there, you can check out all of the other terrific food ideas using FunBites!

Disclosure:  FunBites provided me with their Luv It! product to review on my blog.  The opinions I have expressed are my own; they were not influenced by the company or the complimentary product I received.

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