Cub Scouts Biking Event

The biking rodeo was in full swing with tigers, bears, wolfs and weblos, OH my! The event had several stations including a safety station, figure eight, turtle crawl, obstacle course and a mile bike ride. Badges and bike loops were being earned but smiles were given freely:)

Lantern Walk

The annual lantern walk tells a story of St. Martain. Martain was a Roman soldier who one cold November night shared a piece of his warm cloak with a beggar. That night, he dreamed that the beggar's face was really Christ, and he learned that by helping others, he was really in service to God and the betterment of man. He quit the army and devoted his life to service, eventually becoming the Bishop of Tours.

We made a lantern and decorated ours with tissue paper pieces, leaves, and glitter glued onto a mason jar, then string and a wire were placed around the lip of the jar for a handle. We placed a tealight in and voila, a lantern!

We headed out on a walk through the trees singing lantern songs and looking out for wildlife. Deer scampered away as we walked on the path. Looking around, it appeared the lanterns were fireflies floating afar. Autumn is, indeed the crowning glory of the year, bringing us the fruition of months of thought and care.

And I will have to tell a few stories that tickled me this last week. I pushed my coffee table on it's side so I could vacuum.

Connor climbed to the top and sat. I said "Connor, you know you aren't suppose to sit on my coffee table like that!"
Connor said" Well mom, today I'm Humpty Dumpty."

So close to Thanksgiving but Christmas is in the air. We went to the local mall and Santa is already welcoming the children.

Connor pointed at Santa and said "Evan, Evan look it 's Santa!"
Santa said "Well, Hello Evan!"
Evan fell silent and his eyes went round "Santa knows my name!"

Happy Diwali!

Happy Diwali! Diwali is popularly known as the festival of lights, is an important five-day festival in India occurring between mid-October and mid-November. For Hindus, Diwali is the most important festival of the year and is celebrated in families by performing traditional activities together in their homes.

In each legend, myth and story of Diwali lies the significance of the victory of good over evil; and it is with each Diwali and the lights that illuminate our homes and hearts.

Rangoli decorations made from colored powder, is popular during Diwali. From darkness unto light — the light that empowers us to commit ourselves to good deeds, that which brings us closer to divinity.

The red 'kumkum' or 'tika' between the eyebrows is said to retain energy in the human body and control the various levels of concentration. It is also the central point of the base of the creation itself — symbolizing auspiciousness and good fortune.

While the story behind Diwali and the manner of celebration varies from region to region, festive fireworks, worship, lights, and sharing of sweets are always a part of the agenda!

Santa Lucia Preserve

Field Trip! The Santa Lucia Conservancy was donated in the 1830s, when California’s Mexican governor granted the Preserve’s original parcels of about 20,000 acres. This is the bottom tip of the Coastal Redwoods trees being preserved; the top coastal tip advancing to Oregon.

This was our tour guide showing us that Redwoods live to be 2,000 years old. Most of the Redwoods in our area are under 1,000 years old.

These redwoods are several hundred years old. When looking from below, the top of the tree seems never ending.

Then there are the mother trees that would take about 20 people holding hands to be able to encircle.

The unusual branch pattern has become a Village for Owls. It was fascinating to walk below the trees and view the pellets of the un-digested 'stuff' such as fur and bones that squish together to form a ball-like figure, otherwise called a cast.

Halloween Village

Ghostly Greetings! This boo-tiful pumpkin was carved by Hailey and won the pumpkin contest.

Caution! Skeleton Crossing! Halloween Village sent many goblins leaping with delight. Logan's class was in charge of the Haunted Garden. The kids sang songs and then crawled under the spider webs to get out of the graveyard! No bones about it!

As the kids journeyed through each room, the wall of explorer's were waiting. We encountered famous painting's of explorers and the frame traveled around the room explaining who each explorer was and why they know in history for their unique excursions. Hailey's explorer was Zheng He (pronounced jung huh) was a 15th-century skilled Chinese commander who made seven voyages from Asia to Africa at the height of Chinese maritime dominance.

After all the travels through Halloween Village, it was time for a coffin break to eat some boo bites. Bat Wing Soup is Now being served.

Listen to your mummy! When black cats prowl and pumpkins gleam,
good fortune may be yours this Halloween.

Pumpkin Festival

Fall is in the air! With scents of pumpkin spice and everything nice. Autumn is is particily special on scenic coast around Half Moon Bay. The Pumpkin festival is surrounded by magnificent vistas of seaside farm country dotted with vast, rolling fields of orange, scarecrows, barns, and pick-your-own pumpkin patches. No rainy weather was going to hold back our family from sinking our teeth into some pumpkin pie and pumpkin roles. Unfortunately, no pie eating contest this year for the little boys because they were under the weather but we all had a smashing good time.

Dragon Bread

A trip to the bakery is always fun. Our class took the bus to a local bakery for a fantastic learning experience. The brave souls at Parker- Lusseau taught 20 eight year olds how to make dragon bread. We watched the dough rise and each student received a piece. They squished, patted, and rolled them into long forms. They cut the dough into "dragon" shapes and then decorated the yummy dough with raisins and almonds. Some made the slivered almonds appear like scales all over the body while the raisins were great for eyes and claws.


Here's a yummy Dragon Bread Recipe


1 cup warm water
3 tablespoons honey
1 tablespoon yeast
4 cups whole wheat flour
5 teaspoons baking powder
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon cardamon
1 teaspoon salt
1 1/2 sticks butter, warmed
almonds - slivered and sliced
sunflower seeds
raisins

Combine the water, honey (or sugar), and yeast. Combine the flour, baking powder, baking soda, cardamon, and salt; cut in the butter. Add the yeast mixture and stir until stiff. Knead 5 minutes. Place dough on a cookie sheet and shape it into a dragon lying flat (side view) or have lying on belly making hands, feet and tail - almost lizard appearing. Decorate dragon with almonds, sunflower seeds and raisins. Bake at 450 degrees for 15-20 minutes. Serve him for dinner!