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09 Mar 2008 03:50:23 | Rondi Hillstrom Davis and Janell Sewall Oakes
Contact: info@togetherparenting.com Description: Family
activities/recipes for St. Patrick’s Day and spring Word Count:
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Rondi Hillstrom Davis and Janell Sewall Oakes are the co-authors
of the award-winning book Together: Creating Family Traditions.
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THINK GREEN
This month, our theme is Think Green. Spring is just around the
corner. Even though there is still snow on the ground in many
parts of the country, here in the South our daffodils have
already begun to bloom. You too, can enjoy a little bit of
spring indoors. Use your green thumb to try planting some seeds
in a terrarium or forcing some bulbs.
Did you know that the shamrock, or three-leafed clover, is a
sacred plant in Ireland because it symbolizes the rebirth of
spring? Check your local nurseries. Many will carry shamrocks on
or around St. Patrick’s Day, March 17th.
Speaking of St. Patrick’s Day, children love fables of
leprechauns. In Celtic folktales, ornery leprechauns were
notorious for the tricks they used to protect their pots of
gold. Here, we’ve included our own concoction, fit for any
leprechaun.
March is the 100th anniversary of Theodor Seuss Geisel's (Dr.
Seuss) birthday. Celebrate by reading your favorite Dr. Seuss
books with your family. Do you like green eggs and ham?
Project: Forcing Spring Bulbs
Bring a bit of Nature indoors. You can force hyacinth, paper
whites, crocus, and tulip bulbs to bloom by placing them in a
shallow bowl filled with gravel.
1. Bury the bottom half of the bulb in the gravel.
2. Add just enough water to cover the stones.
3. Place the bowl in a cool dark place for three weeks.
4. When green shoots emerge, move the bowl to a sunny window.
Soon fragrant blooms will appear.
Recipe: Leprechaun Limeade
Ingredients: 2 Cups Water 1 Cup Sugar 10-20 Mint leaves ½ Cup
Lime Juice (3-5 limes) 4 Cups Cold Water 1 Drop Green Food
Coloring (optional)
Directions: 1. Combine the first 3 ingredients. Boil for 5
minutes, stirring occasionally. (This can be done on the
stovetop or in the microwave).
2. Remove from heat. Once the mixture has cooled, remove the
mint leaves from the sugar syrup.
3. In a 2-quart pitcher, combine the syrup, lime juice, and 4
cups of cold water. Add food coloring, if desired. Serve over
ice. Just for fun, garnish with shamrocks.
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