Day 20: Homemade Play Dough

The break in the weather the last couple of days has been refreshing.  Don't get me wrong--the sunshine and the month of August, especially, goes a long way for us here in the rainy state.  But there is something about a good cool off to refresh the landscape, the garden, and those of us who have been parched by the sun with all of the outdoor activity.  Today's craft is perfect for days like these.

Homemade Play Dough

makes about 2.5 Cups

1 1/2 cups of flour
3/4 cups of salt
1 1/2 cups water
1 TB vegetable oil
1/2 TB cream of tarter
*food coloring - I used Wilton for deep hues

Directions:

Mix all of the ingredients into a saucepan.  Children can help with this step

Adults only:
Set your stove top to medium-low (about a 2.5 on a glass top stove). Stand by the pan and stir occasionally. When the batter look is gone and the ingredients start staying together when you stir (5-8 minutes), remove the pan from the heat. Scoop dough into four sections and lay place onto wax paper. Use a toothpick to add food coloring to each section and knead.  Make sure you check for heat!  Don't burn yourself.  If you choose to knead the food coloring like I did, it may STAIN your hands a bit.  Another option would be to put dough into a mixer and add food coloring that way.  Knead or mix dough until it has become smooth and ready for use. 

Store play dough in an air tight container or zip block bags for future use.  Home made play dough makes great gifts, too!

A post you may have missed--

Day 17, 18 and 19: The Fall, Picnics and Games Outdoors

Recipe via Art Nest

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Day 17, 18 and 19: The Falls, Picnics and Games Outdoors

It's the weekend!  With the heat at its peak for the summer thus far, I hope you are staying cool and hydrated! 

Day 17:  Visit the falls in the area and take advantage of the naturally cooler climate.  Multnomah Falls and Silver Falls are each a beautiful site and experience for both visitors and locals. 

Multnomah Falls, a 611 foot waterfall provides an amazing site each time you visit, and trails leading to spectacular views from the top of the falls and overlooking the Columbia River Gorge.  No Northwest Forest Pass required.

Silver Falls, nestled near the base of the Cascade mountain range, offers the nationally recognized Trail of 10 Falls and the Canyon Trail, with a rain forest-like landscape, covered in moss, ferns, wildflowers and trees.  Daily day use: $5.

Did you miss Dr. Marc's list of favorite hikes?  Many of them include waterfalls and draw much less traffic than the large falls listed above. 

Day 18:  Picnic in the Park, city, on the waters edge or in your backyard.  Preparing a picnic lunch is a great way to change up the scenery, and you can do it fairly hassle-free and on the cheap!  Check out the New York Times' list of 101 Picnic Dishes for food inspiration!

Day 19:  Coordinate an evening of games.  Invite your friends out to the park or your backyard to enjoy frisbee, a game of volleyball, capture the flag or croquet!  Or string up some outdoor lights and move your card and board games outdoors.  Games with friends outdoors is a great way to make summer memories.

Enjoy your weekend!

Did you miss some posts?

Day 14: What To Do With All That Zucchini?

Day 10, 11 and 12:  Three Weekend Crafts You and the Kids Will Love

images 1, 2, 3

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Day 15: 2012 Columbia Gorge International Film Festival

 Did you know that tonight marks the opening of the 2012 Columbia Gorge International Film Festival, held in Vancouver?  The festival begins at 7pm at Kiggins Theater and is free to guests, as is the entire festival. 

To become a festival guest, visit:

CGIFF 2012 Headquarters

108 E 7th St, Vancouver, WA 98660

To attend opening night, visit the festival headquarters by 6pm tonight.  The headquarters will be closed during the opening night.  Reference the schedule for headquarter official hours.

The films and screen writing workshops of the festival will be held in different locations such as Angst Art Gallery, Brickhouse, Pop Culture, Serendipity Playhouse, Source Climbing Center, Torque Coffee, and the Vancouver Community Library.  Reference the schedule for times and locations. 

To view the official film guide, visit Angaelica.com.

Would you like the opportunity to meet with fellow artists, filmmakers and screenwriters?  Attend a scheduled mixer or happy hour! 

Enjoy the free entertainment!

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Day 8: Free Concerts/Opera in the Park

Are you hot, bored and not sure what to do with yourself?  Enjoy a free concert or Opera in the park!

Upcoming events in the area:

Esther Short Park:
Noon Concerts in the Park.
Bluegrass Jams on Wednesdays. 
The Six to Sunset concert series in Esther Short Park on Thursdays.  All events are free.

Crown Park in Camas:
Misty Mamas on Wednesday, August 8, at 6:30 pm in Crown Park.  Old-time Bluegrass, Gospel and Folk.
Stranded on Wednesday, August 15, at 6:30 pm.  Blues.

And since we're so blessed to be just a hop, skip and a jump away from Portland...
Portland's Concerts in the Park:
Stringed Migration on Wednesday, August 8, at 6pm.  Celtic/World Music Synthesis
Bobby Torres Band on Thursday. August 9, at 6pm.  Swinging, Rhythmic Latin.

Portland Summerfest--Opera in the Park:
Free performance of Die Fledermaus on Saturday, August 11, 6 pm, at Concordia University Campus Green in NE Portland.  Families and picnics welcome.

Click links for more upcoming shows and times.

Did you miss Day 6: Kids Bowl Free! or Day 7: Berry Pickin'?

Check them out!

image

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Day 2: Super Sidewalk Paint

Don't feel like leaving the house, but the kids are complaining that they're bored? 

Get creative with homemade sidewalk paint! 

Whisk it all together!

And find a shady spot to get creative!

Easy, cheap and hours worth of fun!

Want to go back?

Day 1: Outdoor Movie Night

images: 1. sophistimom 2. spoonful 3. lalagirl 4. pinkandgreenmama

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FREE Head and Neck Cancer Screening

As part of national Head and Neck Cancer Awareness Week, the OHSU Knight Cancer Institute is offering FREE head and neck cancer screenings.

Screening is quick and painless. You’ll receive a personalized risk assessment for the following:

• Skin cancer (face and scalp), including melanoma
• Oral (mouth and throat) cancer
• Thyroid cancer
• Neck cancer

OHSU doctors will also answer your questions and help you tell the difference between harmless symptoms and potentially dangerous signs of cancer.

Help Us Learn More

Researchers at the Knight Cancer Institute are exploring the link between some types of head and neck cancer and the human papillomavirus (HPV). At the screening event, you will have the opportunity to participate in a clinical trial to learn more about HPV-associated head and neck cancers.

Lower Your Risk

Many head and neck cancers can be linked to tobacco use or sun exposure and are preventable. Head and neck cancers can be cured if found early. At the screening get information to help you stop smoking and stay safe in the sun.

For more information, visit the OHSU Knight Cancer Institute online, here.
Screening information via OHSU Knight Cancer Institute online.

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Crayfish...Not just in the Boondocks.

Care to insert some tunes for your read? 

Little Big Town mentions Crayfish in their song, Boondocks! 

During a recent sunny afternoon, the kids and I decided to go crawdad/crayfish catching. I believe their fun Uncle Nathan and his brother taught them how to find them a year or two back. Since then we have gone out on the Washougal River three or four times. It is a fun time in the sun and sure beats the kids playing X-Box!

One year, the older kids and their friends brought several home and cooked ‘em up in boiling water and ate ‘em up like mini lobsters. This year, however, we just caught them for the sport of it and then released them again.

Our kids and some friends (ages 4 to 15) had fun, even those terrified of being in the water with anything that could “get them” had a blast searching and pointing to where they saw one, like hunters cornering their prey.

Caleb releasing the crayfish back into the water.

Thank you Dan for taking pictures with your phone.

FUN FACTS: 

• Crayfish are farmed and are quite a lucrative business for many farmers across the nation.
• There are over 300 species of freshwater crayfish in the USA with different colors, sizes and temperaments
• Crayfish, when farmed are fed natural sources of food such as hay, grass and other vegetation.  They are also fed processed feed such as crayfish feed, sinking fish food, pellets and even dog food.
• Some crayfish, in the right living conditions, can grow to be as long as a dollar bill or larger!

picture and information source

Items needed for your Crayfish fun: sunblock, sunglasses and/or hat, swimsuit (you will get wet—the rocks can be slippery), a container such as a small cooler (emptied and filled with a few inches of the river water) to hold your catch, watersocks or sandals with a strap in the back (flip flops don’t work well) and a camera to record the fun.

Our favorite location: park at the Washougal skate park (old bowling alley) and follow the trail to the boat launch.

Have you come across any favorite free places to visit in the great NW, lately?

-Dr. Marc

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