Ten times larger!!!

Last night our Cub Scout activity was about geology. Now that the boys have completed their Cub Scout requirements and have their badge, we are going to do different things. We are going to start out with Geology. Once we complete this section, the boys will get their geology belt loop. I collected lots of different mosses, rocks, fungus, plants and bugs. We looked at it all under a Microscope. The boys were so amazed how different everything looked. They got very adventurous. One of the boys wanted to look at his finger under the Microscope. Instead, I cut off a piece of his fingernail and we looked at it. They were so curious and amazed that a nail would look like a scaly bone. It was so funny to see their response.
Here we are waiting for the rest of the den to arrive. 

All the different kinds of earth items the boys saw, stagnated water, spanish tree moss, moss that grows on a rock, burnt wood, air moss, fungus growing on a stick, a weed, pollen on a leaf, wood mushroom fungus, rocks, a spider and a silver fish. 

They could not get enough of everything they saw. They want to do it again next week. But this time, I am having all the boys bring in something from home that they want to see under the microscope 

A taste of Spring!!!!

The past two days we have had a taste of spring. The temperatures have been in the high sixties and low seventies. After two months, I finally got out in my back yard where it is usually in full bloom. I have lush green plants and flowers growing all over the yard. I love living in Florida because everything blooms all year long. This time last year, all my lily and tulip bulbs were starting to grow. Due to the hard freezes, I have nothing growing. The plants that were hit the hardest are my palm trees. I have tons of work ahead of me to get everything back in shape. I know I cannot compare Florida to most of the country with the horrendous snowstorms. Hopefully the weather will stay worm.

I didn't think Pompas grass could freeze...Hummmm

Chicken Marsala with Mushrooms

Chicken Marsala is a very tender lightly coated chicken that is pan fried.  The Masrsala sauce is a sweet brown wine sauce. The tast of the lightly coated chicken and the Marsala sauce is so wonderful with every bite.  It sounds complicated to cook but it is very easy.  You cook everything three stages and in the same frying pan. 

Ingredients
•1/2 cup flour plus 2 tablespoons
•2 tablespoons of butter
•1/4 tsp salt
•1/8 tsp black pepper
•1/2 teaspoon dried oregano
•1/4 cup chopped parsley
•2 chicken breasts, boned, skinless
•1/4 cup olive oil
•1 cup Marsala wine
•1 cup sliced mushrooms, sliced
•1/2 onion chopped
•3 cloves of garlic chipped.
•1 cup chicken broth
•2 tablespoons of parmesan cheese

Directions
First stage: 
Chop onions, garlic and parsley and put in a pan with two tablespoons of olive oil and butter.
Once onions are see through add the mushrooms and cook well. Once they are cooked remove them from pan and set aside.

Second stage:
In a medium size bowl, mix together the flour, salt, oregano, and pepper.
Pound the chicken breasts gently (with the flat side of your meat mallet). Place a piece of plastic wrap over the chicken to prevent chicken from splattering all over the place.
Put the chicken in the flour mixture and make sure both sides are well coated.
On medium-high, heat add the 1/4 cup of olive oil and brown the chicken on both sides. Then put chicken onto a plate.

Stage three:
In the same pan, pour wine into the oil and heat on medium heat. Mix in the mushrooms, chicken broth and 2 tablespoons of flour. Once the Marsala sauce is hot, put the chicken in the sauce and simmer for five minutes. After the five minutes put chicken on a plate and pour some sauce over the top. Sprinkle parsley and Parmesan cheese on top. For more of my favorite recipes go to Family Heritage Bookbook.

 

Blend spices with flour

Flatten to 1/4 inch thick

Add Marsala wine, chicken broth and flour.  Once sauce is thickened add mushrooms and onions.  Salt and pepper to tast.

For more scrumptious recipies go to .  Temp my Tummy Tuesday.

A parent could not be any prouder!!!

We had our Blue and Gold Ceremonies at the National Guard Armory on Saturday. 

As we walked in the door the head, Committee Chairman asked if the Cisco Kid would represent the Cub Scout Den and read a small paragraph on stage with five other ranking members. I looked over the paragraph to make sure it was in his reading level. There was only one word that he will have to concentrate on and that was, program. We said yes!!!

The paragraph the Cisco Kid read.....Scouting is a program for young men and boys which is much bigger than just people who are Scouts. When we join together, we are able to do more and be more than just ourselves.

The Cisco Kid did so great and the Chief and I could not be more proud.

They have invited a marine to speak. He talked about how the scouts have helped him in his life and how proud he is to have had the experience.

The Cub Scouts were first to receive their badges. This part of the ceremonies I am to paint a line on each finger that represents the five achievements and their journey to become a Cub Scout.  

Once their hands were painted, the boys were awarded their badges and the parents pined their scout.

 

This portion of the ceremonie was the journey and moving from Cub Scouts on to Boy Scouts. It is also known as the Arrow of light.

The boys were blindfolded and lead to the stage by their parents. Their parents then removed the blindfold. At the other end of the stage was the Boy Scouts ready to welcome them into their pack. Each boy was called to cross over the bridge. This signified the boys have completed the Arrow of light and are now crossing over to become a Boy Scout.    

 This bridge is such a treasure. One of the den leaders made this wonderful contribution to the pack.

He has put three significant emblems on the bridge. The emblems showed the start with Cub Scouts and the boys journey following the arrow of light through the cross over to the Cub Scouts. You can plainly see that allot of thought and work went into building this bridge.

 This bridge is so detailed that many words that the boys stand for were engraved into the wood. The first plank the Den leader had every boy who was crossing over sign the back of the plank. Hopefully every year when the new den crosses over they will sign it as well. 

This is our new Cub Master being sworn in.

As soon as all the awards were completed there was a great dinner planed. There was shredded pork, chicken, chicken legs, string beans, potatoes and garlic bread. It was such a memorable experience for our family.