We’ve been doing pretty good at staying out of McDonalds, especially with the girls. Every once in a while it’s the answer, like today. So we’re sitting there and Erin is looking at her Happy Meal.
Erin, “Ba da da da da ta . . . I’m not loving it”
On my own last night with my two little beauty queens. We’re batting around ideas for dinner. Austen just had her braces tightened so she was thinking something soft.
Me, “What about pancakes?”
Austen, “Yeah, that sounds good, I’m gonna get the chocolate chip pancakes.”
Me, “Erin, whaddya think, IHOP for pancakes?”
Erin, (grasping her stomach and bent over in faux pain) “Ughh, IHOD . . . here it comes.”
Quick note here for Upper Crust Bakery in Colesville, Md. (Intersection of New Hampshire Avenue and Randolph Road) For several years we’ve been getting holiday pies from UCB, they are fantastic. They also have great breads, check the NY Rye. The rugelachs are without question the best in the area that I’ve tried. They offer 3 flavors, Chocolate, Raisin and Raspberry. My mother-in-law, (an authentic Jewish mother-in-law from Chicago) agrees that these are THE best rugelach, that is saying something. The cherry pie is just delicious, wonderful flavor, excellent crust and the top is coated with big granular sugar. As posted before, I like Woodmore Pastry in 4 corners for dinner rolls, hamburger/hot dog buns . . . and donuts . . . mmmm.
Got Milk? If you drive a little past Upper Crust on New Hampshire Ave. you can pick up some farm fresh milk from Heyser Farms to wash it all down.
The milk is delivered from an organic farm in Pennsylvania. In fact, it’s the same people who supply milk to some of the local Whole Foods Markets. The milk comes in real glass containers! The clinking noise they make takes me back to being a kid. My 2 growing daughters love the taste. There is a charge for each glass container, but it’s refunded with your next purchase. Support the little guys, they need it more than ever now.
Let’s get something straight right off the bat, we ain’t real hikers. We’re “can we make it a few more steps” (under ideal conditions) before passing out type hikers. Reminds me of the time we took the girls strawberry picking in Hades. Well, not Hades but it was 1000 degrees in the shade at 9am. Note: When you stand up from your strawberry row and your vision gets all spotty and your heart races, that’s not good. Hhmm, maybe we should have brought water.
Nevertheless, this is a great time of year to take the kids out for a quick hike. There are numerous places to go but we like a couple. Great Falls on the Maryland side is nice. It’s an easy walk to get out over the falls and the scenery is breathtaking. It’s on the C&O canal so you can walk as far as you’d like or as short. Regardless of the time of year you’ll be guaranteed to see kayakers in the falls whitewater.
Our favorite place for walks is Brookside Gardens in Wheaton, Md. You can walk the paths around the gardens or go into the woods behind the Nature Center. There are a couple of paths behind the NC, one is real short the other takes you back toward the lake that was just renovated. The short path is ideal for little hikers, you can do it easily with tiny dawdlers in a half an hour. Don’t forget Brookside has its “Garden of Lights” holiday light show going on now. It’s another fun way to get some exercise. Here are some pics of our recent outing.
Another local gem is Croyden Creek in Rockville, Md. It has a nice Nature Center and some easy paths. I’ve only been on one of the paths there but very similar to Brookside, plenty manageable and fun.
The main idea here is simple, get outside with the kids. I guarantee they’ll love it. Don’t forget to take some binoculars and your camera.
Yesterday, I got my haircut. This morning, as usual I walked with Erin to her bus stop. There I have several little pals with which I converse daily on all matter of subjects.
Little girl pal #1, (she eyes me in sort of a squinty look) “You look different.”
Me, “Oh yeah?”
Little girl pal #1, “Did you get a haircut?”
Me, “No . . . I didn’t get “a” haircut, I got a lot of hairs cut.”
Little girl pal #1, “Hhhmmn.”
Me, “Did I get too much cut off?”
Little girl pal #1, “Yeah . . . I can see through to your head.”
Enter little girl pal #2 to the conversation.
Little girl pal #2, (big eyes all sad) “My cat died.”
Me, “Oh wow, I’m sorry to hear that.”
Little girl pal #2, “I might get a puppy.”
Little girl pal #1, (not to be outdone) “My cat and Grandma and Grandpa died too . . .”
Me, “Wow, I’m really sorry to hear that.”
Little girl pal #1, “My cat was a boy.”
Little girl pal #2, (excited) “Wow, my cat was a boy too.”
Little girl pal #2, “That is SO amazing. That is SO amazing.“
Other little pals, (all screaming) “The busssssss!”
Conversation over.
