Rocky Comfort Farm

Today, we went to Rocky Comfort Farm near Quincy, Florida with the Tallahassee Homeschool Group.

Our tour began with an educational presentation about the life cycle, varieties, and uses of pumpkins and about bees.

There was then a hayride and walk through a millet maze.









The homeschoolers were split into two groups, to fit onto the hayride, so this is just the group we were with:



The farm also had a nice play area.









Blaze has been enjoying photography lately and took this picture of me:

Putting More Punk in our Steampunk for Halloween

Actually, I had to explain punk rock to him and explain why this would be a fun costume. Steampunk he understands and loves, but his only experience with punk music is The Men That Will Not Be Blamed For Nothing:



According to the local school district, there is no school today because of that festive occasion known as "Fall Holiday". We celebrated by canceling lessons and having a Halloween costume photo shoot.

Happy Autumn!

The Autumnal Equinox is at 10:29 p.m. so tomorrow will be the first full day of Autumn.

Día de los Muertos (Day of the Dead) part 2

We made one final addition for our Day of the Dead display, skeleton statuettes. We made these by covering pipestem cleaners with Model Magic "clay". One pipestem cleaner, bent in half is just the right size for the body and legs, while one-half of a pipestem cleaner becomes both arms.



After the "clay"has air dried over night, paint with a glossy black paint. Wait for that to dry. Then, use white paint to paint on the bones of the skeleton. Clothes can be added after the white paint is dry, but we ran out of time.




Food is an important part of the Day of the Dead, which sometimes includes taking picnics to eat at the cemetery. I created a Day of the lunch for Blaze, by using the skull molds, from the sugar skull kit, to mold sweet rice (sticky rice). By using carrots, pumpkin seeds, olives, and refried black beans in a pastry bag, I was able to make a savory version of the sugar skulls.





Our completed ofrenda:

Pumpkin Cupcakes

Pumpkin Cupcakes:

1 1/2 cups unbleached white flour

1 teaspoon baking powder

1/2 teaspoon baking soda

1 teaspoon ground cinnamon

1/4 teaspoon ground ginger

1/4 teaspoon ground cloves

1/8 teaspoon ground nutmeg

1/2 teaspoon salt

1/2 cup butter, room temperature

1 cup sugar

2 large eggs

1 teaspoon vanilla 

3/4 cup canned pumpkin puree

Pre-heat oven to 350 degrees F.
Mix all of the dry ingredients in a small mixing bowl and set aside. In a larger mixing bowl, combine butter and sugar. Beat with an electric mixer until thoroughly mixed and creamy. Add eggs and vanilla. Beat. Mix in the pumpkin. Gradually add the flour mixture, beating all the time on low setting.

Use a non-stick baking spray or additional butter to grease muffin pans.

Bake for 18-20 minutes. Cool before decorating with cream cheese frosting.



Cream Cheese Frosting:

4 ounces cream cheese, room temperature

2 tablespoons butter, melted

1 teaspoon vanilla

1 1/2 cups powdered sugar

Beat all the ingredients together until smooth and creamy.

Soccer Season Begins

Last night's Top Soccer practice began the new fall season. With temperatures hovering right around 100 degrees F. it certainly didn't feel like autumn, but the kids had fun anyway. They just took frequent water breaks.

Harvest Muffins

Harvest Muffins

1 Cup packed dark brown sugar

1 Cup canned pumpkin puree

1/2 Cup apple cider

1/2 Cup vegetable oil

1 egg

2 Cups unbleached white flour

3 tsp. baking powder

1 1/2 tsp. cinnamon

1/2 tsp. ground ginger

1/4 tsp. ground cloves

1/4 tsp. salt

1/2 Cup chopped nuts or toasted pumpkin seeds (shells removed)

1/2 Cup diced fresh apple

1/2 Cup dried cranberries


Grease 12 muffin cups.
Preheat oven to 350 degrees. In one bowl combine all the liquid ingredients. Stir well. In a separate bowl, combine all the dry ingredients. Stir. Add the dry ingredients to the liquids and stir well.

Prepare streusel topping:

2 Tablespoons salted butter, softened

1/4 Cup white sugar

3/4 tsp. cinnamon

5 Tablespoons all purpose flour

2 Tablespoons toasted pumpkin seeds (shells removed)

Combine all the streusel ingredients using your fingers to form a crumb-like consistency.


Divide muffin batter equally between the 12 muffin cups. Sprinkle each muffin with the streusel topping and bake for 30-35 minutes.

Autumn Colors, Florida Style

Cold is not the only thing that can trigger leaves to change color and fall from the trees. We've had no cold nights yet, but we are surrounded by autumn colors, caused by the changing amount of daylight and the lack of rain.



Yesterday afternoon, on the way home from McIntosh, Blaze and I stopped at the Paynes Prairie Overlook. For much of the year, the boardwalk at the overlook allows people to walk above a marshy wetland where alligators live. It has been so long since we have had any rain, however, that now it is dry dirt.



It's still pretty, though.





This was the only bit of water that we could see.