Candyland

Yesterday I finally made it to my library retiree lunch date after missing November, December and January. I made a deal with Mother Nature that we wouldn't be encased in ice until after 1pm and she held off until 2:30.  We are down to five retirees these days and everyone was able to make it! No photos but my cup of tea and small pizza came to $21 plus tip.  I guess next time I will order water.

My fourth out of eight grandson was playing in his last basketball game of the season while the ice was falling and a member of the opposing Christian School's team forgot it was basketball and tackled him. His elbow is fractured and he will visit the orthopedist on Monday if the roads are open.  My oldest grandson qualified for whatever comes after sectionals in high school swim. He did not swim until evening so Mr Merry monitored the scanners to direct them home safely. 

My god daughter who runs the family beef and hog operations, farm market, farm stand and featured dishes in local restaurants and even has home delivery (in a location several states away from me) has started her yearly Recipe Challenge Contest.  I made the first challenge last night. She gave the option of using canned enchilada sauce, but I used her printable grocery list and was tricked into making my own enchilada sauce instead. Mr Merry loved the Pork Carnitas Enchiladas. 

The History of Friday Field Trips. In January of 2020 the youngest grandchild was able to sit in a high chair! Freedom! I decided we would institute Friday Field Trips.  

We took one field trip to the Home and Garden show at a local motel and went out for lunch. Then the world closed for Covid.  A few years later we started the field trips up again, but they aren't a regular occurrence.  

The way things are going I decided that we need to schedule as many field trips as possible before the next lockdown. Facebook algorithm has been showing me trip ideas and a nature preserve three counties away was having a life sized Candyland game in their conservatory. 

There were all kinds of rules and directions but we decided to just spin the wheel and follow the colored blocks. 

It was fabulous.  

The displays, which I am showing out of order, followed the game board. There were placards for adults which noted the changes in names and other parts of the game during it's history. 

I must have looked pretty shady because the worker told me twice not to throw rocks or coins in the water, lol. This was the molasses river or something. 

For the record, none of us had a rock or coin in our pockets. 

When we reached this, it meant we won the game. I spent most of my time taking detailed photos as I think it would be great to recreate in my yard for Christmas next year. Mr Merry does not support this plan in any way. 

Part of the Peppermint Forest. The detail was amazing. My photos do not do justice at all to either the game and decor or the facility. It would be an amazing tour without the game, so many plants and trees and all identified with lots of information.  There is also an outdoor area with a playground, some other something that was an icy parking lot away and we saw signs that they have hiking trails. 

We went to a sports bar for lunch. My grandson choose this side of the booth for he and grampa so they could watch eight televisions.  He chose the other side for me so that I could watch the stock market crash. 

I do have a tariff story.  A friend is also remodeling her bathroom. She has a "friend" doing it and she is doing the ordering of pieces and parts. I am not sure either has any experience at this.  It turns out she ordered the wrong size shower door and some other items. She was able to return it and re-ordered a custom size. They told her that many of the bathroom items they stock come from Canada and that there is a 15% overcharge on these items now because, although the tariffs are currently on "pause", they are afraid they could be in effect by the time the items ship.  

I also have a temu order that has been sitting in customs in San Francisco for a week now. I am not yet blaming tariffs for this because I think the whole temu world is shady anyway, lol .