June 6: National Gardening Exercise Day

National Gardening Exercise Day is a day to encourage you to get up, go outside, breathe some fresh air, and garden.

Gardening is good for you for many reasons. It works many different muscles and it allows you to be outside, instead of being cooped up inside.

I had some help to celebrate this day.

This is Moosey, he is Christopher Henry's best friend.

Moosey donned a hat and a gardening glove and attempted to assist my dad while planting flowers.

Moosey also admired some colorful flowers and would like to point out that his colorful tie-dye t-shirt matches these flowers quite well.

 All this gardening is exhausting, so Moosey takes a nap on the hot tub.

What's this Moosey? Taking a break and going for a bike ride? I guess since you worked so hard gardening, you deserve a little break.

Thanks for all your help Moosey!

April 7: National Coffee Cake and Beer Day

Today was a delicious day. I found a really easy recipe that resulted in light and fluffy coffee cake! Of course I tweaked it and added more cinnamon.

JazzyJ's Light And Fluffy Cinnamon-y Coffee Cake:

Ingredients:
- 1 1/2 cup flour
- 3 teaspoons baking powder
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1 egg
- 3/4 cup sugar
- 1/3 cup melted butter
- 1/2 cup milk
- 2 teaspoons vanilla

For the crumb top:
- 1/2 cup brown sugar
- 1/4 cup flour
- 1/4 cup butter, softened
- 2 tablespoons cinnamon

 Directions:
1. Mix all the ingredients together for the crumb topping and set aside.
2. Mix the flour, baking powder, and salt together in one bowl.
3. In another bowl, beat the egg, sugar and butter together until soft and fluffy. Mix in the milk and vanilla.
4. Add the dry ingredients to the wet ingredients.
5. Sprinkle the crumb topping on top. 
6. Pour into a 9" by 9" inch pan and bake for 25 - 30 minutes at 375 degrees.

That was it! It was easy. I wasn't expecting it to be so light and fluffy, which was a nice surprise.

And since it's also National Beer Day...

Just kidding though. I actually hate beer. I didn't drink this one.

But Christopher Henry on the other hand...

February 8: National Fly A Kite Day

Today, Christopher Henry and I braved the bitter winds of the high-desert to fly a kite. We avoided deer poop pellets and mud piles and by golly, we flew that dinosaur kite.

Christopher Henry decided to mimic one of his idols, and tried to recreate the historic moment when Benjamin Franklin discovered electricity. Christopher Henry donned his raincoat (or rather, he borrowed my dad's raincoat), tied a key to the kite string, and the rest, as they say, was history.

 

Unfortunately, Christopher Henry got the kite stuck in a tree...

But that's ok.

 

We still had fun.

February 5: National Shower With A Friend Day

Warning: This post is entirely appropriate.

I wasn't quite sure how to celebrate this day. I also wasn't sure what pictures to feature as this is a G-rated blog. Luckily Christopher Henry and the gang came through and volunteered to celebrate this day for me instead.

Notice how Pluto on top of Christopher Henry's head is wearing a shower cap? He was a little scared to ruin his hair. While they might not all look thrilled, a lot of water was saved by showering together.

January 29: National Puzzle and Corn Chip Day

I have a confession. I'm a puzzleholic. I love puzzling. Something about it is so relaxing. 

Which is why today, which is National Puzzle (and Corn Chip) Day made me so excited! I'm currently working on a 1000 piece puzzle. I've done a 2000 piece puzzle before. That was challenging. I glue all my puzzles when I'm done. Someday, when I have my own house, it's going to be decorated with my puzzles.

Once again, Christopher Henry helped me out.

Christopher Henry determines his next move.

Notice how Christopher Henry got a little confused. He put a corn chip IN the puzzle, and a puzzle piece ON his snout.

Today was a good day to celebrate because I love puzzling and Christopher Henry loves corn chips, so it was a win-win situation.

This is the 2000 piece puzzle I completed. Notice how it's mostly scenery? Yeah, there was a lot of blue and green pieces.

Bonus questions: Can you name the castle in the picture? Can you figure out what the puzzle Christopher Henry is working on?

Make sure you check back tomorrow, I'm going to attempt to make home made croissants!

January 28: National Blueberry Pancake Day

So today is National Blueberry Pancake Day! I love brinner. What is brinner you may ask? It is breakfast for dinner. I love pancakes. And I love blueberries. And what makes this even better is that there is still cake from National Chocolate Cake Day left over so that means cake for dessert!

This is the blueberry pancake recipe that I used:

• 1 1/4 cups flour
• 1 tablespoon baking powder
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1 tablespoon sugar
• 1 teaspoon baking soda
• 1 tablespoon cinnamon
• 1 1/4 cups milk (I used almond milk and it was delicious)
• 2 eggs
• 2 tablespoons melted butter
• 1/2 teaspoon vanilla
• 1 cup blueberries

 Mix the dry ingredients together and then add in the wet ingredients. Makes about 6 - 8 pancakes.

It's about time that I introduce you to Christopher Henry. He is my sidekick in quirky adventures and my confidant. He is a lover of all things that don't involve exercise, and all things that do involve food.

This is Christopher Henry!

Pancake batter!

On the griddle!

                                                                           

Before I knew it, Christopher Henry was scarfing down the blueberry pancakes like he had never had any before! To be fair, I don't think he has had any blueberry pancakes. I've never seen a blueberry pancake grow wild in the wilderness in moose territory.  He tucked his napkin into his apron, and he ate those blueberry pancakes for brinner!