Leave.
When that isn't an option, there are some ways to stay cool and have some fun.
1. Discovery Museum: at nearly $20 a person the price is a little steep for a one time visit, but the Family and Discovery Memberships are quite affordable and let you in as often as they are open. Plus, there is an attached parking garage. So your car won't bake while you are enjoying the cool (temperature and atmosphere) museum. Three floors of interactive exhibits for children of all ages. Little ones enjoy the slower pace in Toddler Town. Everyone loves the water exhibit, and there are ponchos provided to keep kids drier than they would be without them. Older kids can head up to the third floor to solve a mystery or build new inventions and test them out in the wind tunnel or on ramps.
2. Mount Charleston: up to 20 degrees cooler, explore the new Visitor Center or take a hike. Linked here is NOT the official site for the area, but it's easy to read and quickly summarizes what's available to visitors. Some of our favorite hikes are Mary Jane Falls, Robbers Roost, the Bristlecone Trail, and the Deer Creek Picnic Area (a little hiking, more picnic and recreation). There are restaurants on the south side of the area at the Mount Charleston Lodge and Resort, if just looking to escape the heat.
3. Go Swimming: City of Henderson offers a few recreation centers with pools, indoor and outdoor. Our favorite is the Henderson Multigenerational Center. The outdoor pools include a toddler pool and water features. There are also pools and water parks at these Clark County Centers.
4. Find a Splash Pad: many local parks have splash pads. One of our favorites is at Sunset Park. City of Henderson list.
5. Visit the Library: the libraries offer programs for all ages, birth through adults. Additionally, there are toys and puzzles for younger patrons, computers (for games) for older children. Check your local library for a list of the programs currently available.
Monday, June 29, 2015
Thursday, December 18, 2014
Perfect Stovetop Oatmeal
I'm sure I'm not the only one who struggled with making oatmeal on the stove. Right before it would be done it would start clumping and burning and sticking to the pot. I discovered a secret, remove the oatmeal from the heat just before the water is completely absorbed (and before it starts sticking). The heat from the water and pot will continue cooking the oatmeal and you have a clump free, sticky free pot of oatmeal every time.
Monday, September 22, 2014
Prickly Pear Limeade
We occasionally get fruit from a co-op in town. The last time we picked up our produce, there were a bunch of limes and a bunch of prickly pears. The Hermit Crabs love eating the Prickly Pears, but they can't possibly eat through 12 of them on their own. We ate some, but ultimately, there are too many seeds inside to make eating them pleasurable. Therefore, the recipe for Prickly Pear Limeade was invented.
Ingredients:
10-12 limes (to make about 3/4-1cup juice)
3 prickly pears (to make about 1/2 cup juice)
1/4-1/2 cup raw agave nectar
3 cups water
Directions:
Juice limes and prickly pears.
To juice prickly pears, cut ends off of the fruit, gently slice through the skin and peel off. Press fruit through mesh sieve.
Combine agave with 1/2 cup of warm to hot water (to make agave easier to combine).
Combine all ingredients well and serve over ice.
Note, when I made it today, I only had about 3/4 cup of lime juice and used 1/4 cup of agave. My drink is on the tart side.
Sunday, September 21, 2014
Old Thyme Potatoes Recipe
Ingredients
1-2 Potatoes per person
Dried Thyme (about 2 tsp, to taste)
Salt (pinch)
3 Tbsp Olive Oil
Directions
Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
Slice potatoes thinly (1/8" thick).
Rinse potatoes under cold water to get rid of some of the starch.
Lightly grease cookie sheet with olive oil. (<1tbsp)
Pat potatoes dry.
Place potatoes in a single layer on a cookie sheet.
Brush a light layer of olive oil over top of potatoes.
Sprinkle with Thyme and Salt to taste.
Cook 15-20 minutes. Remove from oven and flip. Return to the oven for another 15-20 minutes. Potatoes should be lightly browned, or cooked to your liking.
Notes
Use longer time if cookie sheet is lined with parchment paper. Potatoes do not brown/crisp as much.
Use shorter time, and check about 10 minutes into 2nd cooking time, if cookie sheet is not lined or is lined with foil. Potatoes brown/crisp quickly toward the end.
1-2 Potatoes per person
Dried Thyme (about 2 tsp, to taste)
Salt (pinch)
3 Tbsp Olive Oil
Directions
Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
Slice potatoes thinly (1/8" thick).
Rinse potatoes under cold water to get rid of some of the starch.
Lightly grease cookie sheet with olive oil. (<1tbsp)
Pat potatoes dry.
Place potatoes in a single layer on a cookie sheet.
Brush a light layer of olive oil over top of potatoes.
Sprinkle with Thyme and Salt to taste.
Cook 15-20 minutes. Remove from oven and flip. Return to the oven for another 15-20 minutes. Potatoes should be lightly browned, or cooked to your liking.
Notes
Use longer time if cookie sheet is lined with parchment paper. Potatoes do not brown/crisp as much.
Use shorter time, and check about 10 minutes into 2nd cooking time, if cookie sheet is not lined or is lined with foil. Potatoes brown/crisp quickly toward the end.
Thursday, September 18, 2014
Kid Friendly (Free) Things To Do in Las Vegas-Tourist Edition
In alphabetical order, not by order of preference.
1. The Bellagio Conservatory: rotating themes featuring botanicals. In the Spring and Summer there is usually some sort of live exhibit. This summer it's birds in an aviary. Christmas is also a fun time to go. Huge Christmas Trees and last year there were trains. The downside, it's on the Strip, so that means traffic and often crowds, unless it's a weekday on a quiet week during the day. While there make sure to visit the world's tallest chocolate fountain (located just down the hall behind the conservatory) and the fountains (if they are running). Continuing down the hall, and to the left, the Bellagio is connected to the City Center by a monorail. For another adventure take the monorail to Crystals (a mall) to see the ice poles and whirlpools (located on the lower level of Crystals). We also just ride the monorail because it's a train, it's free, and it's fun.
2. Clark County Wetlands Park: It's located by the Las Vegas Wash. There are many trails, paved and not paved. The park is beautiful and keeps improving. There is now a visitor center where guests can learn about the area and water treatment/conservation. Explore the trails, especially those not paved, there are some extra beautiful areas. Note, the water in the park is reclaimed water, or waste water that has been treated, so some days the area smells a bit swampy. Also, that means no swimming or wading.
3. Ethel M Chocolate Factory and Botanical Cactus Garden: The garden boasts 300 different plant (cactus) varieties. The paths through the garden are paved (stroller friendly). Beware, it's a cactus garden, stay on the path, and do not hug the Teddy Bear Cholla. In the winter, the garden is decorated with Christmas lights so it becomes a magical desert Winter Wonderland. The chocolate factory tour is a hallway with windows where you can look into the factory to see chocolate being prepared. It's a self guided tour with free chocolate samples at the end. More often than not, there isn't a lot of activity in the factory, but there are screens along the way to describe what happens in each area. The free chocolate makes the tour worthwhile even if it is a slow day.
4. Springs Preserve: the part that is free is the outdoor areas only. Visiting in the early Spring, or Fall/Winter is best. There are gardens, a play ground, and hiking paths.
1. The Bellagio Conservatory: rotating themes featuring botanicals. In the Spring and Summer there is usually some sort of live exhibit. This summer it's birds in an aviary. Christmas is also a fun time to go. Huge Christmas Trees and last year there were trains. The downside, it's on the Strip, so that means traffic and often crowds, unless it's a weekday on a quiet week during the day. While there make sure to visit the world's tallest chocolate fountain (located just down the hall behind the conservatory) and the fountains (if they are running). Continuing down the hall, and to the left, the Bellagio is connected to the City Center by a monorail. For another adventure take the monorail to Crystals (a mall) to see the ice poles and whirlpools (located on the lower level of Crystals). We also just ride the monorail because it's a train, it's free, and it's fun.
2. Clark County Wetlands Park: It's located by the Las Vegas Wash. There are many trails, paved and not paved. The park is beautiful and keeps improving. There is now a visitor center where guests can learn about the area and water treatment/conservation. Explore the trails, especially those not paved, there are some extra beautiful areas. Note, the water in the park is reclaimed water, or waste water that has been treated, so some days the area smells a bit swampy. Also, that means no swimming or wading.
3. Ethel M Chocolate Factory and Botanical Cactus Garden: The garden boasts 300 different plant (cactus) varieties. The paths through the garden are paved (stroller friendly). Beware, it's a cactus garden, stay on the path, and do not hug the Teddy Bear Cholla. In the winter, the garden is decorated with Christmas lights so it becomes a magical desert Winter Wonderland. The chocolate factory tour is a hallway with windows where you can look into the factory to see chocolate being prepared. It's a self guided tour with free chocolate samples at the end. More often than not, there isn't a lot of activity in the factory, but there are screens along the way to describe what happens in each area. The free chocolate makes the tour worthwhile even if it is a slow day.
4. Springs Preserve: the part that is free is the outdoor areas only. Visiting in the early Spring, or Fall/Winter is best. There are gardens, a play ground, and hiking paths.
Updated Crabitat Pictures
Last ones for a while, I promise. Well, until my Ecuadorians come up and I take pictures of them.
We planted a Bromeliad in the Crabitat because I was reading that CO2 levels could build up at the bottom, and I wanted a live plant. We will see if the crabs climb or eat the plant. I expect it'll get a lot more wear and tear when the Ecuadorians are introduced to their new home (when they come up).
We also fixed my mother a Crabitat for her 2 medium/largeish crabs. She went from a 5 gallon tank to a 50 gallon tank. It's funny how much littler her crabs look in the huge tank. There's about 7" of sand/EcoEarth substrate at the deep end and it sloped down to the water. We planted two bromeliads in her tank along with some aquarium plants and there are a couple hides (a reptile basking rock cave and a bridge, not to mention all the plants). The top is a mesh screen, thus the towel over the top to help with humidity for now. Better plans for covering the top are in the works.
We planted a Bromeliad in the Crabitat because I was reading that CO2 levels could build up at the bottom, and I wanted a live plant. We will see if the crabs climb or eat the plant. I expect it'll get a lot more wear and tear when the Ecuadorians are introduced to their new home (when they come up).
We also fixed my mother a Crabitat for her 2 medium/largeish crabs. She went from a 5 gallon tank to a 50 gallon tank. It's funny how much littler her crabs look in the huge tank. There's about 7" of sand/EcoEarth substrate at the deep end and it sloped down to the water. We planted two bromeliads in her tank along with some aquarium plants and there are a couple hides (a reptile basking rock cave and a bridge, not to mention all the plants). The top is a mesh screen, thus the towel over the top to help with humidity for now. Better plans for covering the top are in the works.
Wednesday, September 17, 2014
Updated Crabitat
We purchased some plastic vines at Hobby Lobby yesterday. I also am working on a net/hammock for a second level. We also picked up a coconut hut so there are plenty of places to hide now.
South view, coconut hut just visible, salt pool in foreground.
Front view, the "bush" by the coconut hut is obscuring the other hut. I balanced the cholla on the rocks and put vine pieces into the cholla and behind the rocks. The crabs like to hang between the rocks, though it's more open with the cholla propped up. I may put in some more bush pieces in front of the rocks.
North view, freshwater pool in the foreground. There is room for the crabs to go under the bush between the huts.
Top view. 12 o'clock, shell shop, 2 o'clock hut, 3 o'clock coconut hut, 5 o'clock fresh pool, 6 o'clock food, 8 o'clock salt pool. Center rocks and cholla. I've tried to make sure there is room to traverse around the rocks between sides, huts and pools.
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