"Rocky" Homemade Paniata was a "Hit of Fun"

This weekend we had family at the cottage for the July 1st and July 4th celebrations.  I want to share the paniata I made for the children.

I started making it on Sunday night blowing up a large balloon...

Then I made paper mache with 2 to 1 parts of flour to water, stirred that up and slipped torn pieces of newspaper through the mache and on to the balloon.  I made 5  layers adding one good layer each in the morning and after work for the next 3 days.  This allows the paper mache to dry up in between layers.  I had it sitting on a large metal bowl and periodically I would turn the paniata so that part could dry.

On the last night I cut up little pieces of yellow tissue paper, scrunched it and applied to the birdie with modge podge.  It resembled his little feathers.  I painted the bottom third with acrylic folk art paints.

This is how I filed in the "featherlike down" with tissue paper.

I made his beak with 2 separate pieces of yellow cardstock, folded and glued in place. 

The cardstock made round yellow eyes which I drew in with a brown sharpie pen.  His little wings were also of cardstock. I poked a hole on either side about 2" from the top for the string to help tie it.

 We filled him up with party favour toys and candies scrunching additional tissue papers between layers so the candy wouldn't fall to the bottom only.  It makes it fun for gathering goodies later on.  I glued tissue paper across the top to close the hole.

 Marc named it "Rocky" because the cottage is on Rockledge.  Here he sits proudly on the table at the lake.

After we had finished our picnic we hung him up from a rope that was strung over a branch in a tree and held in place by an adult.  That way it could be adjusted to the height of the child.

 We started from the smallest child....

 Here Madeline gives it a try.  Although she did give it a hard wack or two it wouldn't break yet.

It took the very last and biggest boy to break through and then there was scurrying by the children as they gathered up the goodies.

 Austin decided to try Rocky on for size...

Our weekend celebrations for Canada's July 1st and the July 4th for the States was a lot of fun.
How are you celebrating this weekend?  Judi xoxo

Happy Birthday Canada...Happy 4th of July...Happy Family Get Together..and More Birthdays

Lots of Happy Happy this weekend starting tomorrow.

Tomorrow is Marc's Birthday.  Happy Birthday to MY bunny..*hugs* (thats what we call each other).   We are both off work tomorrow and I'll get up bright and early and drive to the cottage in NY.  Can't wait.  I will take him out for dinner....just the 2 of us to our favourite local Village Inn Restaurant.

On Friday is July 1st is Canada'a Birthday!  Happy Birthday Canada!

We are having a family reunion weekend at the cottage.  My sons and their families will come on Friday along with Marc's Janet and family, and Marc's brothers children (who are big like mine).  The "kids" will be pitching tents alongside each other which sound like fun.

Saturday we'll have more family drop in  for a bbq  so we like everyone else will hope for gooood weather.  *crossing my fingers*

Sunday is Austin's 6th birthday and a week Sunday is Madeline's 7th birthday so we are celebrating more Happy Birthdays.  Happy Birthday my sweet little ones.  I made a pinata!  I have been making it most of the week but haven't had a chance to take a pic of it since I finally finished it tonight.  I will share it with you next week.  I have all kinds of goodies to put in it and I hope it holds up!

Monday is July 4th and that is another Happy Celebration!  We'll be sure to have fireworks for the 2 holidays on Saturday night  It does sound like a lot to be happy about.

Ryan has been working hard at trying to get our deck finished for the weekend.  He hasn't had too much free time to build but has taken some vacation time.  I hope he meets his goal even for his sake.  He has been trying to do this for Marc.  Thank you Ryan.

Have a wonderful weekend to my Canadian and American friends as we celebrate special holidays...*hugs*

Happy Canada Day - Oh Canada

Happy Canada Day to all my Canadian Friends. I hope you have a lovely day celebrating Canada's Birthday.....

I'm across the Lake (Ontario) at the cottage state's side but we celebrated the day. Its a beautiful day and the lake has been gently rolling all day. Tonight we'll look across the lake because its a clear and calm evening. We will often see the fireworks as they light up the sky about 35 miles across the lake....amazing eh? On a clear evening we can see them.....

Enjoy this weekend... Judi xoxo

Canada Day!!...A video...Warm Reuban Dip Recipe - Dry Shower - Rained Out Picnic

Check out my video with Abby and my baby talking at the end... Don't laugh..

Today is Canada's 142nd Birthday. Happy Birthday Canada. Happy Canada Day to all my Canadian blogging friends. We're going to have a picnic with friends here at the cottage as you know across the Lake Ontario from Canada in New York State.

On the weekend Marc and his SIL started installing a new shower stall. They worked all day and we weren't ready for a shower at the end of the day when he had to go home. I had worked in the garden and planting the wheelbarrow. At about 9:30 p.m. we packed our towels and change of clothes and headed down the beach road to our friend's shower.

The next day the work continued and it was rainy again. We all had picnics to go to and the shower wasn't progressing very well by the late afternoon. Eventually we were all late for our parties but the shower was useable.

Our picnic was an Elk's Past Exalted Ruler picnic. It was raining which put a damper on the picnic, no pun intended. I made a Reuban dip and we served it with rye cocktail bread and crackers. We don't back that back in "my" country as Marc and I say about Canada and the USA. It was yum. In case you haven't made it, here is the recipe:

Warm Reuban Dip

In a 1 1/2 qt. casserole, mix together the following ingredients:
8 oz Cream cheese
2 tbsp Mayonnaise
1 tbsp Russian dressing
dash of Garlic powder
2 tbsp Sour cream

Mix in:
8 oz can Sauerkraut, drained
6 oz Corned beef, snipped into small pieces
4 oz Cheddar cheese, grated
4 oz Swiss cheese, chopped

Bake at 325° for 20-25 minutes. Serve with rye bread slices quartered or cocktail rye slices. It was a hit and we have copies of the recipe we have to email out.

The following is the Abby Video....

I've recently discovered how to video with my digital. Its been pretty bad and I haven't wanted to share them with you. Today I'm doing it though...for all its worth. Don't laugh. *lol*.

Have a lovely day... Judi xoxo