Adirondack Family Time™

3 cups flour 3 tsp baking powder 1 1/2 tsp. salt 1/2 cup white sugar 1 can of beer (various flavors will alter the taste. The darker the beer, the stronger the taste.) DIRECTIONS Preheat oven to 350. Mix together all the dry ingredients in a large bowl.* Add beer and mix. The batter will be lumpy and sticky. Pour into a 9 x 5 inch greased loaf pan. Bake for 50 for 60 minutes. *For a quick hostess/housewarming gift put all the dry ingredients in a glass jar, close the lid tight, print out the directions and attach with a ribbon. Alterations: Try using a carbonated beverage like a sparkling juice or seltzer

Even with criticism of over-scheduled youth, there is still a part of me that believes carefully laid out plans and a boxed lunch can accomplish anything. The voice in my head warns me that we’re one pit stop away from complete chaos. The other devil argues that just a small percentage of kids are over-scheduled while a good portion do nothing at all. So I justify our carefully laid out plans knowing we will be waylaid along the way. That said, the June 6th Plattsburgh Museum Day seems more museum marathon than museum day. This is not an open door to one museum but eight different venues offering lectures, children activities and free admission. I spin briefly wondering how to fit it all in. The earliest event is the North Country Underground Railroad Historical Association Conference at SUNY Plattsburgh (8:30-10:00 a.m.) where one can learn about the Champlain Valley Underground Railroad Canadian connection. Then perhaps to the Feinberg Library where films on the Underground Railroad,

Speakers from the Nature Conservancy were on hand at the 2nd annual Wildlife Habitat Day at Wildlife Refuge in Wilmington on Saturday, May 30th. Handouts and demonstrations were given to educate the public on invasive species to the Adirondack Park. The Adirondack Park Invasive Plant Program (APIPP) is one program partly sponsored by the Nature Conservancy that helps to coordinate t the Aquatic Invasive Species Project and the Terrestrial Invasive Species Project. Aquatic Invasive Species include: Eurasian watermilfoil Curlyleaf pondweed Water chestnut Terrestrial Invasive Species include: Garlic mustard Fly and tatarian honeysuckle Purple loosestrife Japanese knotweed Common and smooth buckthorn for a complete list of invasive plants and how best to education yourself and children on their removal, please go to Adirondack Park Invasive Plant Program (www.adkinvasives.com) for more information.

What to do if you or your children come across a wild animal baby: 1) Do not touch. Leave the animal alone for the first 24 hours. In most cases the animal is there for a reason. 2) If a bird fell out of its nest, try to put it back. It is a myth that the mother won't return if a human touches it. 3) If the animal is obviously injured than call the experts like the Adirondack Wilderness Refuge at 518-946-2428

1/3 cup butter melted and mixed into 3/4 cup milk = 1 cup cream in baking and cooking.

I sent pictures of our recent trip to The Flume and got a response back from Cornell Cooperative Extension in Westport, NY. Cornell Extension is a wonderful source of information (counties.cce.cornell.edu/essex) The pictures I sent were identified as poison ivy (see blog for help in identifying poison ivy)

I just wanted to list some regulations that all parents should be aware of when choosing a summer camp! (taken from the New York State Health Department Children's Camp in NYS. Here is a link to the complete brochure. http://www.health.state.ny.us/environmental/outdoors/camps/docs/nyscamp.pdf 1) Check the staff credentials/supervision: What are the qualifications of the camp director? All directors' background are screened by the Office of Children and Family Services Central Register Database. Make sure the camp director has been cleared by the NYS Health Department. 2) In NYS all summer camps must have a state, city or county health department permit to operate legally. 3) The camp must be inspected twice yearly by a health department representative. 4) Ask about counselor training and camper supervision. 5) What medical staff is in residence? 6) Is the facility safe? What procedures are in place? 7) Are the waterfront personnel qualified? 8) How much experience does the co