Ode to Ice Cream

"I LOVE ICE CREAM"

For years this bumper sticker lopsidedly sat on the back of my Pop's yellow Cadillac's bumper.

It's true though.

Dad loves Ice Cream.

As kids we often walked to Baskin Robbins for a few scoops of the happy stuff. I remember once after a bad day, Dad took me to Baskin Robbins and said these words of wisdom, "There is nothing so bad, that a little ice cream won't help feel better." It is true. A scoop of ice cream somehow makes everything seem brighter and bearable; two scoops is even better. Try this magic formula sometime after a bad day. (My personal favorite: Baskin Robbins Chocolate Chip and Mint Chip).

On a side note: Making Homemade Ice Cream is such a fun family summer activity. Here is a recipe for making Ice Cream in ziploc bags and you can even make it with milk--in other words, you can make this NOW without a trip to the market or target.

Make sure you seal everything properly or you could end up with a huge mess.
I also read about people who shook up their bags by jumping them on the trampoline or putting it all in a large can and kicking it around the yard.
Good Luck and Enjoy your Summers!

RECIPE INGREDIENTS:
2 tablespoons sugar
1 cup half and half
1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
1/2 cup salt (The bigger the granules, the better. Kosher or rock salt works best, but table salt is fine.)
Ice cubes (enough to fill each gallon-size bag about half full)
1 pint-size ziplock bag
1 gallon-size ziplock bag

1. Combine the sugar, half and half, and vanilla extract in the pint-size bag and seal it tightly.
2. Place the salt and ice in the gallon-size bag, then place the sealed smaller bag inside as well. Seal the larger bag. Now shake the bags until the mixture hardens (about 5 minutes). Feel the small bag to determine when it's done.
3. Take the smaller bag out of the larger one, add mix-ins, and eat the ice cream right out of the bag. Easy cleanup too! Serves 1.

Renouf Family Reunion 2008

Phew! What a fun filled Family Reunion! I'm exhausted!
It was so much fun to see everyone. A BIG GIGANTIC HUGE thanks to Mom and Dad for providing such an amazing vacation for everyone. Thanks to everyone who helped. We are a big group and it takes a lot of work to keep us moving. THANKS!!!
These pictures were taken by Shane (I will add more as I get them. SEND ME ANY PICS YOU WANT POSTED). I hope you enjoy the memories! I can't wait until the next reunion.
See Favorites and add your own below:

Some favorites:
My (H#7) favorite activity was probably the Marv's Party. Although my baby was sick and miserable, I had such a fun time watching Leslie and Laurie run the party, and seeing Michelle and Erin Hoola Hoop. I felt like a kid again watching my cool older sisters make everything fun and hip. I loved watching all the kids dance, too.

Reeve loved Uncle Mike's boat the best. It was his first boat ride and he was so excited--it was killing him not to stand up and tigger jump on the ride. Reeve also loved his surfer birthday party.

Ivy loved playing in the sandbox and seeing Grandpa and Grandma.

Lavender loved her cousins and finally getting that ear healthy.

PLEASE COMMENT ON YOUR FAVORITES!!!

Lollipop Tree Part II

The Lollipop Tree adventure continues:

I have looked all over the place trying to find the Lollipop Tree music...aside from contacting Miss Riddle myself, which probably would have been the easiest, but would require me to go against my Boo Radley ways and actually speak instead of type.

Sadly, all I could find was this very very strange and confusing video. The music is great. It really is. It is Mr. Burl Ives singing (classic!), but why oh why there is a teenage boy dancing around, I am not sure. Please close your eyes and listen to the video, then you too can experience the magic of the Lollipop Tree. Don't forget to scroll down and STOP the music at the bottom of the page first, otherwise you will have lollipop overload.

I love this song, and wasted many a birthday wish on such a tree. Although I must confess, lollipops are tricky little things. They looks so delicious, but after two bites, the love is lost for me. Anyone else have this problem? Luckily, the song's charm lasts forever!

Rumour Mill Sidenote: Is Miss Riddle really retiring? How can she do this to the Renouf grandchildren? Sad sad news! I need a lollipop.

Raise your hand if you remember this song?

The Lollipop Tree

One fine day in early spring, I played a funny trick.

Right in the yard behind our house, I planted a lollipop stick.
Then every day I watered it well and watched it carefully.

I hoped one day that stick would grow to be a lollipop tree.

Chorus: Ah ha ha ho, Oh ho ho what a place to be Under my lollipop, lollipop,lollipop, Lolli-lolli-lollipop Tree. Under my lollipop, lollipop,lollipop, Lolli-lolli-lollipop Tree.

Then one day I woke to find a very lovely sight. A tree all full of lollipops had grown in the dead of night. Well I sat beneath that wonderful tree, and looked up with a grin. And when I opened up my mouth A lollipop dropped right in.

Chorus

Winter came and days grew cold, as winter days will do. And on my tree, my lovely tree, not one little lollipop grew. (cry) From every branch an icicle hung, the limbs were bare as bones. But when I broke those icicles off, The turned into ice cream cones.

Chorus

CALLING ALL LITTLE GIRLS!

CALLING ALL LITTLE GIRLS! LITTLE GIRLS ALERT!

I HAVE A SPECIAL MESSAGE FROM SAILOR!

ALERT! ALERT! LISTEN CLOSELY!

Please wear your white dresses from Jack and Rosie's wedding (or any white dress you have) on the Sunday during the Reunion (June 15th). If you have a pink sash to go with it, that would be lovely, too. Won't it be fun to all match again?

See you there!

The Wheels on the Chair Go Round and Round

Preface: A few weeks ago, Mom had extensive foot surgery and was sentenced to a wheel chair for 2 months. I asked her to send me her TOP 10 things she 'disliked' about her wheelchair, or on a more positive spin, 10 things she couldn't wait to do when she got out.

The little poet wrote it beautifully:

Aging Wheel Chair Style

The first time I ever thought about a wheel chair
Was seeing Mother Evelyn sitting in one,
Well, I had a small inkling that down the road
I might one day be sitting in one
But I quickly banished that thought from my mind.

Foolish prideful girl that I am
I would also be learning to maneuver my self
In one of those chairs for the aged.
But I am not aged I screamed to my inner self
You may think that but none the less
You are not going to be walking around free as a bird
Your days for the next two months will be
Either sitting, lying down or taking a walk
In the wheelchair.

There are many lessons to be learned
In a brief span of time
And one of them is learning to overcome Pride,
That baneful parasite to the soul.
It depletes sensitivity, compassion and wisdom.
And a wheelchair is the vehicle of choice
That can purify those feelings right out of your heart.

Now and from on forever, when I see a dear soul
Riding around in chair on wheels, I will wince
And think back, remember, and offer to this new
Kindred spirit, my hand or a smile of comfort
And kind sympathy…..this whole aging bit
Is the scene that must be portrayed with all
The courage
That an actor on this mortal stage can give.

The ability to smile through tears, and laugh
In spite of awkward faltering steps and being
Thought of as old and ailing when all the while
You hear yourself, “But I am not old, this is
All some what of a very cruel joke. Yet the
Actress in me, says,
“My show must go on and all will be well
In a very short moment, if I can bear it
In quiet dignity.”

Barbara Renouf June 2008