Homebound Activities: Making Bread!

Since we are in Maine and winter is coming I figured I would also post fun things to do with your kiddos indoors when you just feel like staying indoors. I know it's super tempting to throw on a movie and popcorn to snuggle on the couch. From personal experience very time I do that I feel like crud. Who is really benefitting from this experience in the long run?  Since I have been home on leave I have been spending A LOT  with the two IN the house. All of this time indoors brought me back tot he days when I was with my Grandmother at her house and the things I would do with her.

We, my daughter and I, have started a weekly tradition of making breads. Since most of the time the recipes make two loafs we have been giving a loaf to friends that means a lot to us. I feel this works on so many skills and teaches her a lot. We do math (counting when adding ingredients), fine motor and gross motor skills ( scooping, pouring, leveling and mixing), sensory ( kneading the dough), science (watching it proof and raise) and social skills ( delivering to people we care about/ thinking of others). This does make a mess, again cleaning up is a learning opportunity as well! Below is the recipe we use and it's an idea to teach your children to give!

Wheat Bread Recipe

• 1 Tbs. dry yeast
• 3 1/2 cups warm water ( 110- 115 degrees)
• 1 Tbs. raw sugar
• 2 tsp. salt 
• 8-9 cups whole wheat flour

Grease two large loaf pans (9 x 5 x 2 3/4)

Pour water into a large mixing bowl and sprinkle yeast over it. Wait at least 5 minutes before it completely dissolves. Add sugar, salt and 4 cups of flour. Stir well ( I use this as an chance to practice our counting too). Continue stirring and adding flour, a little at a time, until dough becomes stiff and pulls away from the side of the bowl.

Turn the dough out on a floured board and knead for 5-7 minutes or until the dough is smooth and elastic.

Divide dough into two equal parts, shape and place in bread pans. Cover with a clean dish towel and allow to rise in a warm spot until it doubles in bulk.

Pre-heat oven at 350 degrees

Bake for 40-45 minutes or until done

What we do with the left over flour and dough remains is add a little water and let our daughter play with the dough. She usually asks to add spices, I may let her and let her sniff them and tell her what she is smelling. Sometimes she brings it to her play kitchen and bakes her own bread or put the dough in cupcake holders and makes "cupcakes". I let her be creative with it and have fun. She always get excited about delivering the bread to friends and I always feel good knowing how excited she gets to share our work with people we care about. Building community is so important to us and being able to give back to folks. I know we have one neighbor that gave us some of her surplus tomatoes she didn't know what to do with and she is next on our list :) 

What's Happening the last week of September?

I feel bad because this is my weekly "big post" and I've severely neglected them for almost a month and a half now. I am sorry to folks that look forward to my posts! Having four huge transitions all within that span made this a rough time to continue with the blog. In the meantime, I hope some of our past posts inspired ideas and got folks out and about!

Tuesday -9/27/16

• Maine Discovery Museum
• Science Detectives 
• 11:00 to 11:30
• Ages 2+

• Maine Cloth Diaper Co.
• Mommy and Me Low Impact Cardio Fitness
• 10:00 a.m. to 10:30 a.m.
• $12 drop-in fee
• Bring Slings, Wraps or Carriers for your Little ones! 
• Music With Miss Julie
• Free at 10:30 a.m. 

Wednesday- 9/28/16

• Maine Discovery Museum
• Bendy Sculptures
• 10:30 a.m. to 11:00 a.m. 
• Ages 2+

• Nocternem Draft Haus
• Toddler Tap Takeover
• 5pm to 7 pm

Thursday- 9/29/16

• Maine Cloth Diaper Co.
• 4th Trimester Tribe 
• 10:30 --free
• Maine Discovery Museum
• Nature Time
• 11:00 to 11:30
• Ages 3+

Friday- 9/30/16

• Maine Cloth Diaper Co.
• Fine Motor Play
• 10:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m.
• $10 drop-in fee
• September Tree and Hand Prints
• 12:00 to 6 p..m. 
• $5 paper craft
• $10 canvas craft
• Maine Discovery Museum 
• Clay Play
• 11:00 to 11:30
• ages 2 + 

Saturday- 10/1/16

• Maine Discovery Museum 
• Leaf Luminaries
• 2:00 p.m. to 2:30 p.m.
• 3+
• Boothbay Railway Village
• Family Harvest Days
• 10a.m. - 5 p.m.
• $12 adults
• $6 ages 3-18
• Free for 3 and under
• Well behaved four legged friends welcome
• Leonards Mills - Bradley , Maine
• Living History Days

• 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. 
• $10 adults
• $5 kids
• 20% discount with proof of Bradley residency
  
  
• Curran Homestead Living History Farm and Museum 
• Fall Harvest Festival
• 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. 
• $9 Adults
• Free for kids under 12
• Brewer Preforming Arts Center
• Rick Charette and The Bubblegum Band
• 2 p.m. 
• $12 Adults
• $8 ages 4-12
• $8 students/ seniors/ military 

Sunday- 10/2/16

• Maine Discovery Museum
• All Ears for Animals 
• 2p.m. to 2:30 p.m.
• 3+
• My Day to Play
• For children on the Autism Spectrum and family
• 4:30 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. 
• $4.50/ family -- workers or aids included. 

• Boothbay Railway Village
• Family Harvest Days
• 10a.m. - 5 p.m.
• $12 adults
• $6 ages 3-18
• Free for 3 and under
• Well behaved four legged friends welcome
• Leonards Mills - Bradley , Maine
• Living History Days
• 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. 
• $10 adults
• $5 kids
• 20% discount with proof of Bradley residency 

Rachel's Pick of The Week : Leonard's Mills

     The reason I am choosing this post for this week is not only because I am head over heals about this location, but because this upcoming weekend (October 1st and 2nd) are Living History days here. I truly urge everyone that reads this blog to go out and check out this once a year event. We never miss these events and we even stopped into a random event in Orrington this summer thinking it would compare we love this event so much. Seriously, if there was one event to go to all year long this would be my choice or at least a close tie to the Common Ground Fair. I would have to be in the hospital or physically unable to leave the house before I would miss this event. Lets put it this way, I had a newborn a month ago and I plan on being there with my two year old.

     Leonards Mills is located in Bradley, Maine and is a part of the Umaine cooperative extension and experimental forest. It is considered Maine's Forest and Logging Museum. Located off route 178 between Bradley and Brewer.

     Before Billy and I had kids we made Leonard Mills a tradition, it was a family tradition of his that he shared with me and I immediately fell in love it. We would bring his niece( now my niece too) and enjoy a day out with his whole family. As we got older we became family and our family grew it became a staple in our activities to make it out in the spring for the Elwives Festival, in the fall for Living History Days and soon to begin in the winter for sleigh rides ( Our little one was too small before).

      Here are the things that make this event memorable and drew me into loving this place. First off, the location is remarkably beautiful all year round. I take pictures of these event and people are asking for weeks where I got those pictures taken/ where I found such a nice spot. Secondly, we love the outdoors and this location has a beautiful stream that runs through the property making it a great choice for a mill as well as a place to watch the elwives run in the spring. The preservation is exceptional and living history days are the most impressive part in my opinion. People really get into character for a day and live as if they were sent back into time. They have cottages, smoke houses, tents and boats accurate to the times. The offer fresh cider, biscuits and baked beans made authentic to the 1800's ( I suggest bringing cash because they are to die for and it's first come - first serve). They have a petting zoo for the kids, wagon rides pulled by oxen and/or horse (depending on the year), boat rides and wax candles that kids get to make themselves. Lots of grounds to cover and spread out enough for there to be a lot of people, yet feel not crowded.

Suggestions! You may need a carrier, sling or a stroller for your little ones.We find our sling or carrier since it's easier to go on horse and/or boat rides, tours of the saw mill without worrying about leaving your stroller behind. With that said-- most parents have certain comfort levels and we respect that too. We also bring snacks since we tend to spend a few hours there and while some kids like baked beans and biscuits others do not. Lets just say we have a mix in our family as far as picky eating is concerned. I would bring at least $40 in cash if you are going to living history days for a family of four. Adults are $10, kids are $5. That's just because we all like to get the food and they also have a neat gift shop at the beginning that has cool t-shirts, whistles and knick knacks. We don't mind splurging every now and then when we know the money goes to such a great place. Knowing we are aiding in the preservation of Leonard's Mills is enough for us. 

Family Friendly Restaurant Ratings : Pat's Pizza

As a new addition to our blog, my husband and I have discussed this a number of times, in reference to where one can bring ones child out to eat.  Here are our guidelines and how we will be rating:

1. High chairs and booster  seats
2. Have food the kiddos will eat 
3. Entertainment for said child  ( coloring books, toys, puzzles, etc.)
4. Changing rooms in both restroom areas for both parents  
5. Atmosphere that is child friendly 
6. Affordability
7. Child friendly staff
8. Kids Cups
9. Breastfeeding friendly
10. Out of the way extras for kids

So I will slowly be adding places to this rating list based on these parameters and expectations. We do not count promptness of service for a number of reasons. Mostly because if they busy they are busy and you can't do much about that.

Our first post will be a place near and dear to our hearts, Pat's Pizza in Orono. They have six high chairs and four booster seats in the whole place, a great kids menu, toys, puzzles, books and coloring pages to keep the kiddos busy. They have a family bathroom in the Red Room with a changing table. They also have three additional restrooms available without changing tables for the potty trained. They are super affordable with kids menu items no more than 5 dollars at most. As a family owned and oriented business they love kids and most staff have kids of their own. They have kids cups and tiny straws that don't need cutting! Breastfeeding is OK I've done it a number of times. All kids get a free lollipop when leaving in house or for take out!

Apologies and New Weekly Plan C's

I wanted to apologize for my inconsistency in regards to my blog for the last few weeks. We have welcomed our newest addition to our family for folks who don't know us personally on top of moving into our new place. So after focusing on the home front for a few weeks I am ready and stir crazy at home to start my blog up again. While I may not be attending many of these events, I urge folks to check them out. They all sound like fun!

I was made aware of a couple of local things that are starting up again/ opened recently and wanted to share them! A lot of these events were postponed / cancelled due to school being out so now that school is session there has been an increase in local activities again.

Orono Trampoline Park:

Where: IGA Plaza in Orono

When: From 3 pm to 8 pm daily 

Cost: 

• Toddlers 

• 60 minutes -$8 

• 90 minutes- $15

• 120 minutes- $20

• General 

• 60 minutes -$14

• 90 minutes- $20

• 120 minutes- $25

• Socks

• $2.50

Orono Public Library :
Pajama Story Time ( ages 2 and up to 12)

• October 13th

• November 10th

• December 15th

Thomas School of Dance :

• Where: 14 State st. Bangor, Maine

• Mommy and Me pre-ballet and creative dance for 18 months to 3 years. Adult participation required. Does not perform in end of year show.
• Saturday 9:00-9:30 Offered in 6 week sessions for $60, Next session starts 9/10. Pre registration required.  Online registration available https://thomasschoolofdance.coursestorm.com/ 

• Young Preschool Class ½ hour pre-ballet and creative dance for 2 1/2 to 4 year olds. No parent participation. Offered in 6 week sessions and ongoing sessions.  Does not perform in end of year show.

• Saturday 8:45-9:15 6 week session for $60; Next session starts 9/10 .  Pre registration required. Online registration available https://thomasschoolofdance.coursestorm.com/
• Monday 3:30-4:00 6 week session for $60; Next session starts 9/12 .  Pre registration required. Online registration available https://thomasschoolofdance.coursestorm.com/
• Saturday 9:30-10:00 ongoing class for $165/semester. Pre registration required.

• Preschool Dance for 4 – 5 year olds not yet in kindergarten. No parent participation. Will include pre-ballet, creative dance and introduction to tap. Option to perform in spring recital.

• Wednesday 4:30-5:15
• Saturday 9:15-10:00

Merrill Hall Infant/ Toddler Program:

Where: University of Maine, Merrill Hall, Room 119

When: 9:30-10:30 Tuesday- Thursday

Cost: $30 a semester ($3 a session) , however scholarships are available.

• Tuesday- ages 1-2 years

• Wednesday- ages birth -1 year

• Thursday- ages 2-3 years

Toddler Tap Takeover:

Where: Nocturnem Draft Haus

When: 5 pm to 7 p.m. every 4th Wednesday

What: The purpose of this event is for parents to be able to bring their kids out to dinner without forcing them to be sit down and be quiet. The lounge is closed off so they can be as loud and rambunctious as you let them! Also, they'll have a special kids food menu for the event!