Imagine Childhood : Magic & Memories That Last a Lifetime

... nature walk: denver botanic gardens

This week's lovey nature walk comes to us from Denver, CO where Katie wandered down the winding paths of the the Denver Botanic Gardens. There she discovered wild prairie grasslands, brightly colored cabbage, seed pods, and Autumn's last blooms. Thank you Katie for sharing!

If you would like to contribute to our weekly Nature Walk series, you can learn more about submitting photos here, or you can also visit our Nature Walk Group Pool on Flickr to add your adventures to the collection.

Thanks again for sharing!

 

*Last time in Nature Walks: Westcliffe, Colorado

... pumpkin eater bean bag toss

Every once in a while a quick fun project is exactly what the doctor ordered, and that is exactly what we have here, just in time for Halloween!

With some paint, cardboard and a few fabric scraps...

... sewn into...

... pumpkin seed bean bags for tossing...

... this game is good for hours of fun for any age group and there's extra points for getting the seeds to land on the pumpkin!

Pumpkin Eater Bean Bag Toss:

• Cardboard
• Paint
• Scrap fabric
• Dry corn, beans, barley or rice
• Needle and thread
• Ribbon or raffia for hanging the pumpkin cut out

Draw the pumpkin shape and face you'd like, making sure the mouth is big enough to toss the bean bags through (for an easier game make this bigger, or for higher difficulty you could make the mouth smaller).

Once you have this shape cut out the exterior of the pumpkin and the interior of the mouth.  Then, using your favorite paints paint the eyes and nose one black and the pumpkin orange.  Set aside to dry.

As the pumpkin is drying, cut out simple seed shapes for the pumpkin seed bean bags and sew two of the pieces (right sides together) three quarters of the way around and then turn right side out.  Repeat for as many seeds as you'd like.  Once this is complete, fill them all three quarters of the way full with your corn, beans etc. and hand sew them closed.

Take your dry pumpkin outside and tie it up to a low tree branch and invite your players to "feed the pumpkin" by trying to toss the bean bags into his mouth!

Happy Halloween!

~ Sarah

*Last time in Crafts and Activities: Leaf Lanterns

 

... costumes

All Hallows Eve is just around the corner, and we can almost hear the pitter patter of little feet in search of sweet treats. Of course a great costume is a must, and the quest for such an item can be daunting...

... never fear, a little ingenuity and inspiration from Mother Nature is all you need! And just like that, Eagles and birds of prey take flight...

... fall leaf capes flutter in the cool night air...

 ... bears and lions keep little ones warm and cozy...

 ... and ladybugs bring luck to all they land on.

We think Mother Nature has some great ideas when it comes to costumes. Be safe, and have fun out there this All Hallows Eve! 

 

Trick or treat!

 

P.S. Don's forget to enter our "Fall Refer a Friend Giveaway"!

*Last time in Imagination: Leaf Lanterns

... fall refer a friend giveaway!

From beautiful apples for the birds...

... to preserving this year's harvest for next year's garden...

... to floating on the autumn winds...

... and meeting sweet new friends...

... fall is full of beautiful, colorful fun!

And today, we're going to make it even more enjoyable by giving a gift to you AND a friend!

Enter to win a $75 gift certificate to Imagine Childhood  and win one for your friend too!

The giveaway will close Friday 10/28/11 at 3:59pm and the winner will be chosen by random number.  If the winning comment has a name in it... BOTH!!! individuals (yes, that means you AND your friend) will each win a $75 gift certificate. 

Good luck!

And the winner is Miriam who wrote:

"My daughter would love that rake!"

Thank you so much for participating everyone!!  Wishing you all a lovely Sunday!

...pumpkin cream puffs with maple frosting

Cream puffs are an amazing cooking experience for adults and kids alike, it's magic right before your eyes a dense dough becomes as light as air...

Add Pumpkin pie filling some mascarpone cheese and maple syrup with a sprinkle of pumpkins seeds if you want and you have a desert for your harvest table or all hollows eve.  A very special note,the eggs came from the little girl in red boots! The shells were hard and strong and the yokes a rich yellow.

Boil water, butter and salt..remove from the heat quickly add a cup of flour all at once, mix until glossy and smooth. Let it cool for a minute or two not much longer, then add one egg at a time mixing until smooth and glossy.  When all the eggs are mixed in take a teaspoon for a bite size puff, a tablespoon for a mouthful, drop the batter onto a cookie sheet lined with parchment paper. Place into the oven that was preheated to 450, bake for 15 minutes then reduce heat to 350 and bake until no bubbles of fat remain on the surface of the puff.

1 cup water

1/2 cup butter

1/4 teaspoon of salt

1 cup shifted flour

4 eggs

I tried several choux pastry recipes but the New York Times Cook Book had the very best and the simplest.

We filled them with a mixture of Mascarpone cheese flavored with organic pumpkin pie filling. About 10 tablespoons to a pint, but flavor to your taste with a little more or less.  The only guideline is to keep the mixture firm so it will fill the puff and not drip out.. If you are running short on time, ice cream or whip cream works just as will.

The icing was made with maple syrup and powdered sugar, add the syrup to the powdered sugar until it turns into icing. When finished glazing store in the refrigerator until ready to serve.  Cream Puffs are magic in a pot...such fun for young and old alike!

~ Deb

*Last time in Recipies: Mama, Papa and Baby Caramel Apples