Oscar Stew

One of my favorite things about living in Colorado is The Berry Patch, it’s almost enough to make the long winters worth living here. We try to go a few times each summer to collect enough berries to make a year’s worth of jam.  I don’t think we will ever be able to go back to store-bought jam. Ever.

Drew and Brinley are veteran berry pickers, and are extremely meticulous in their selection. mmhmmm.

The experience just wouldn’t be the same without a healthy dose of Binnie Crack. She always ends up being the butt of the joke…

Her majesty got to observe from her throne on high. This is also physical proof that I exist, and that Ryan actually knows how to operate a camera. Go Ryan!

The Berry Patch is an organic farm, so one must exercise caution and avoid the prickly weeds.

Good ones Drew!

The fruits of our labors! Rowan might have some of her own jam in her pants. Any takers?

After some back-breaking manual labor nothing feels better than being blasted by an ice cold swamp cooler while chewing on a cookie.

I’m sure you have all figured out by now that I am a sucker for all things cheap and homemade. I have to give credit to my mom for teaching me how to get my hands dirty, and my dad for the cheapskate genes. I think I got the best of both worlds!

When the thunderstorms roll in, I love to gather the kids around the kitchen table and get crafty. We have several sets of store-bought watercolors, but I wanted to try this recipe to see how it compares. Plus I knew the kids would enjoy mixing it up themselves. Recipe courtesy of Kid Concoctions.

3 tbs corn starch
3 tbs baking soda
3 tbs vinegar
1 1/2 tsp of corn syrup
food coloring
small containers

Mix the cornstarch, baking soda & corn syrup, then add the vinegar. Divide into small containers and add 7-8 drops of food coloring.

Drew really enjoyed watching the vinegar and baking soda fizz up, Brinley wasn’t phased at all until we mixed up the pink paint.

We used the watercolors to paint on sturdy chipboard that I had previously cut up and made into postcards. (if you think you might be on our mailing list, act surprised when your postcard arrives!)

Rowan was chillin’ in bouncer on the table (gasp!) while we worked. Before I know it, she will be old enough to join us…

Drew and Brinley were both quite serious about their work…

Ever since Drew started Kindergarten, he is all about drawing/painting flags.

So, my review? The water colors were MUCH more vibrant than the store bought variety, easier to use too. When the paint dried, it left a powdery residue on the paper that brushed off easily. And you do have to stir the containers every once in a while because the cornstarch starts to settle at the bottom. After the kids were done I let the watercolors dry up in the containers, so all we need next time is a wet brush and we are good to go. I’d say it was a success!