Adirondack Family Time™

There are quite a few celebrations, festivals and events planned for this Labor Day Weekend. Port Henry will start the celebration this evening with music and fireworks on Champ Beach with a Labor Day Parade down Port Henry's Main Street @ 1 pm will have a Quadricentennial theme. Westport Marina celebrates its 43rd annual Lobsterfest Weekend with cardboard boat races, BBQ dinner and dacing. Sunday's Chix BBQ has been sold out but come for face painting, balloon art of the Kayak races. Long Lake's Mt. Sabattis Pavilion will host a BBQ, music from the Fulton Chain Gang and fireworks. For those interested in the Festivals, here are a few: The first annual Hobo Festival ( read more about the music scene in Adirondack Almanack ) which will take place on Depot Street in Saranac Lake not "the big rock candy mountain" and the Irish Festival which will include hay bale tossing and keg lifting. In my world that just spells "family reunion." To attend an Irish ...

I first saw this recipe in the Adirondack Daily Enterprise section "Lake Clear News" and wish to give credit to Charlotte Hall. I am not sure if now having the ability to make chocolate cake in 5 minutes in my microwave is actually a good thing. Tasty, yes. This is instant gratification at its best. Tip: Have your children help mix their own dessert. 5-Minute Chocolate Cake (This recipe is all over in the internet and I couldn't find an original source.) 1 large microwave safe coffee mug 4 Tbsp. flour 4 Tbsp. sugar 2 Tbsp. cocoa 1 egg 3 Tbsp. milk 3 Tbsp. oil 3 Tbsp. chocolate chips (optional) a small splash of vanilla extract 1. Add dry ingredients to mug and mix well. 2. Add the egg and mix thoroughly. 3. Pour in the milk and oil and mix well. 4. Mix in the chocolate chips and vanilla extract. 5. Place mug in the microwave and cook for 3 minutes on High. The cake will rise above the top of the cup. Remove from microwave . 6. Remove from microwave and let cool. 7. Enj...

Today is the first day of school for my now 1st and 4th graders. After doing a meet and greet with the 1st grade teacher, I moved along to my son's classroom. There is something disheartening to have to explain to a teacher that your child, who receives wonderful grades, thrives in school and enjoys learning is unable to distinguish between the red and green markers used on the Smart Board. Luckily, his teacher is amazing, thoughtful and willing to watch out for any issues. For most people being colorblind (a misnomer) is never an issue. If anything, it should be more accurately called color deficiency. It only effects 8% of males typically of European descent and 1% of females. The most common type is red/green from an inherited mutated X chromosome. Yes, he received that from me as well as his sparkling wit. My father carries the same trait and assures me that it never hindered him at all plus we were able to place blame on his fondness for mixing patterns and a flair for black...

This is long overdue but I am honored to announce that I have been asked to contribute a weekly family activity to the Adirondack Almanack blog. I hope you enjoy! -Diane