Monthly Archives: November 2018

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Columbus Zoo – October 20, 2018 – Part 2

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Columbus Zoo – October 20, 2018 – Part 1

After we finished with watching the penguins, we first went to the food court by the Congo area of the zoo.  Since nothing was open yet, we decided to first visit the Congo area and then eat lunch.

The black and white colobuses.  I love them.

The cranes

The leopard – He was so active which was cool to see.  We don’t always get to see him be so active.

The gorillas – We got to talk to a volunteer who was watching the adult interactions.  

The river hogs

The bonobos

The mandrill playing with a pumpkin.

The fall foliage and one of the decorations in the area.

The okapi – We typically don’t get to see him/ her up close.

Have a magical day,
Traci

Recipes

My First Thanksgiving Meal | Disney College Program Memories

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I have so many memories of my Disney College Program.  I think I need to start a series with some of the memories so that I can reflect on them when I’m older.

My Disney College Program was September 5, 1995 until January 7, 1996.  Four months of memories and self discovery.  I worked at Disney-MGM Studios at Soundstage Restaurant and Sunset Ranch Market.

November 23rd of that year was Thanksgiving.  I was given 4 days off – Wednesday through Saturday.  I debated riding home on a Greyhound bus but opted to stay in Lake Buena Vista.

The majority of my roommates were International College Program students so they had never had a real U.S. Thanksgiving dinner.  I decided to make dinner on Friday the 24th since Celine, my French roommate, worked on Thanksgiving.  I did not make a turkey.  Instead I made chicken.

My grandma sent me the recipe for white salad which is a staple at Hudnall family gatherings.  (Hudnall is my mom’s family.)  After I made that white salad, I ate it for weeks afterwards.  

Grandma also sent me the recipe for her sweet potato casserole so I made that also.  I don’t remember the rest of the meal just those 3 dishes.

Anyway after I finished the dinner, Celine was supposed to clean the dishes.  The problem though was her boy toy, Brian, was over and they were hanging out/ making out on the couch.  It was an open floor plan so I was uncomfortable staying in the kitchen while they were making out.

My Italian roommate, Alessandra, was getting ready to move out the next day.  She was going to live with her other Italian roommates.  According to her, I was a lazy American.

Celine never cleaned up those dishes.  Alessandra got mad at me.  The next day, she yelled at me since the whole apartment was supposed to be clean before she moved out.  It was not my fault.  What happened later that day was a memory I’ll never forget.  I shared it on the white salad blog post.

The next time I made a Thanksgiving dinner was 20 years later.  

Have a magical day,
Traci

Recipes

Columbus Zoo – October 20, 2018 – Part 1

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Join me for a five part series about our visit to the Columbus Zoo on October 20.

The boys were gone for the weekend back packing in Kentucky so I decided to visit my favorite zoo.  The weather was perfect that weekend.  The animals were out and about which always makes the visit to the zoo even better.  It was Boo at the Zoo so a lot of kids were dressed up for Halloween.

I got a lot of great photos while we were there.  I hope you enjoy them.

The Columbus Zoo is located near Dublin, Ohio.  There is a lot of construction going on in Dublin.  I loved the flag on the crane as we were driving through the town.

Some of the decorations around the zoo

Since it was Boo at the Zoo, they had characters at the front of the zoo.  Even though I never went over to the characters, I made sure to take photos of the characters in between the costumed children.

The first exhibit we went to was the flamingos.  We got to talk to of the volunteers while we were watching the flamingos.

As always, click on the photos for a zoomed in photo.

Then we went to see the penguins. They were so active which was so cool.  One of them kept swimming fast through the water and jumping out because they were that fast.  So neat!  Hubby was so delighted.

Join me next time for the photos from the Congo area of the Columbus Zoo.

Have a magical day,
Traci

Recipes

Don’t be thankful just on Thanksgiving

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16 Rejoice Always,
17 Pray continually,
18 Give thanks in all circumstances; 
for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus.
1 Thessalonians 5

Happy Thanksgiving! Today is a day to give thanks.  It’s a day to remember all those who are no longer with us as we sit down as friends and family around the dinner table.

However we  need to continuously give thanks to God daily not just one day out of the year.

At church this past Sunday, my pastor talked about being in two ruts.  One rut is always complaining and never seeing the good in anything.  While the other is seeing the glimpse of goodness in everything even it is mundane or something we don’t particularly enjoy.

We need to have a heart of gratitude.  

Two years ago at the age of 41, I lost my sister, Tanya. It was such a hard and trying time in my life.  Although I could have given up on life because of my grief, there was some goodness that happened during that time period.  My mom and I really never spent any time together while I was an adult.  Since that fateful day, Mom moved to my town and we have spent more time together.  We even went on a trip together and a day trip.  

This Thanksgiving give thanks for everything.  However, live your life with gratitude.

That alarm reminds you that you are alive.  Sometimes traffic reminds us to slow down.  If you can while you are in traffic, look around if it’s safe enough.  You might discover something you may have not realized was there.  Then show gratitude to God for giving you that time to look around.

Sunrises and sunsets remind me to be grateful.  Sunrises show me the promise of a new day provided by God.  Sunsets reminds me that there is beauty in everything.

So on this Thanksgiving, let us be thankful for all.  On the other 364 days of the year, show gratitude towards God and all he has done for you.  Find goodness in all aspects of your life.  

May your Thanksgiving be blessed!

Have a magical day,
Traci

Recipes

The Clock Tower Inn – Berne, Indiana

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Swiss Heritage Center – Part 4

We stayed at the Clock Tower Inn while in Berne.  I loved the Amish furniture so I took a lot of photos of that Amish furniture.  I hope you enjoy the photos of the furniture.

If you want to see a zoomed in version of each of these photo collages, please click on each collage.

I loved that rocking chair.  So beautiful!

I hope you enjoyed our quick trip to see Fort Wayne and Berne, Indiana.

Have a magical day,
Traci

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Swiss Heritage Center – Berne, Indiana – Part 4

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Swiss Heritage Center – Part 3

Random shots of grounds – I wish it wasn’t raining and cold so we could walk around more.

More photos of the grounds – I love the fall colors.

The restrooms in the inside portion of the Heritage Center.

Some of the displays in the museum – I love the Swiss chalet doll house  

The coolest item in the museum was the display about the guy who won the Nobel Peace Prize in chemistry in I think in 2005.  So interesting.

More of the displays in the museum.

I hope you enjoyed the photos from the Swiss Heritage Center.  If you have time to visit, I would highly encourage it.

The address to the Swiss Heritage Center is 1200 Swissway Rd, Berne, IN 46711.

Join me next time for photos of the Inn we stayed in while in Berne.

Have a magical day,
Traci

Recipes

Swiss Heritage Center – Berne, Indiana – Part 3

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Swiss Heritage Center – Part 2

After we finished watching the glockenspiel at the Clock tower, we first visited a tiny bit of the inside museum while waiting for the other couple to return.  (I’ll share photos from the inside museum in a different blog post.)

First we visited the Baumgartner Church which was the first Mennonite Church in Berne, Indiana.  It was started in 1839 by Reverend David Baumgartner.  He was originally from Bern, Switzerland.  He was 73 when he began the church. 

Since there is no Bibles in Swiss, the Bible is a German Bible. They hold a Christmas service in both English and German.  So neat!


A very plain pulpit
The ladies sat on one side of the church while the men sat on the other side.  

Beautiful fall foliage


The photograph is the first couple who were married at the church.


The German Bible
The yellow piece of paper in the top left photo is the bulletin for the Christmas service.

After we finished with the church, we went to the doctor’s office.  When the doctor whose office we were visiting died, over 2,000 mourners came to his funeral.  That was a lot of mourners especially since there were less than 2,000 people in the town.

I’ve got one more blog post about the Swiss Heritage Center and then I’ll have one with photos from our hotel.

Have a magical day,
Traci

Recipes

Thanksgiving 2018 – Our Menu

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Here is this year’s menu:

I’m also going to have some deviled eggs and veggies to snack on until it’s time to eat.

Here is a breakdown of when I’m going to make the different recipes so that I’m not going to be in the kitchen all day long.

Monday – Finish shopping for the perishable items. 
Make the white salad.  Hope I don’t eat all of the white salad.
Assemble the corn casserole.

Tuesday – Make the vegetarian stuffing in the slow cooker.
Make the pecan pie bubble up.
Make the whipped cream.  Make sure there is enough for the Imaginative One to taste test.

Wednesday – Make the pressure cooker mac and cheese.
Bake the pumpkin pie sheet cake.
Hope the boys have cleaned enough for us to go see Wreck It Ralph.

Thursday – Turkey
Bake the corn casserole.
Make the green bean casserole in the casserole slow cooker.
Make the stuffing in the slow cooker.
Warm the brown and serve rolls.
Make the mashed sweet potatoes in the microwave.
Take the boys to the senior center so they can help serve lunches.
Watch Moana with the boys.  (Their request)

Have a magical day,
Traci

Recipes

Swiss Heritage Center – Berne, Indiana – Part 2

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Swiss Heritage Center – Part 1

After we finished with the Luginbill House, we went over to the Cheese House.  We learned how they made the Amish cheese which was interesting.  Did you know they have to boil the milk in a copper pot and check the constancy later with a silver spoon?  It’s interesting how they knew how the metals interacted with the different steps of the cheese making process.

  • That post was  used to press down  the cooked milk to get the whey out.
  • The cheese maker’s room
  • The cheese maker’s room
  • The cheese maker’s room

Next we went over to the Apple Cider Press. When it was in operation, it was the biggest apple cider press in the United States.  It was not original to the Berne area but was moved to the Heritage Center from a place within 40 miles away.

The press barn was rather dark so I apologize for the quality of some of the photos.

F. William Hauenstein built this press during the Civil War.  The pressing beam was oak that at time was about 300 years old so it was already growing when Christopher Columbus arrived in the West Indies.

More info about the press

After visiting the Cider Press, we left the Heritage Center to go watch the glockenspiel at the clock tower.  Then we came back to enjoy the rest of the tour with Char.

Join me next time when we’ll visit the church and doctor’s office at the Swiss Heritage Center.

Have a magical day,
Traci

Writing Workshop

Yes, it’s messy! We’ve worked all day!

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On Monday, my work space in my classroom was littered with folders, paper books, pens, pencils, and copies of worksheets.  One of my students told me that it looked as though a tornado had blown through my room.

Throughout the day, I provided services for my students while creating an emergency sub tub in my spare time. It’s that time of the year that I need to have something in place in case they actually get me a sub if I’m ever not at school.

I also decided I needed to clean off my desk.  I had a few random items that needed to be put away.

I also provided services to students while they were knocking random papers off the desk.  I kept having to move papers, folders, and other misc. so the students could have a space to work.  Only one of my students complained about the mess.

By the end of the day, my room was put back together.  My desk was a little cleaner. A sub tub was created.  I could breathe a little easier. 

If anyone looked in my room, they might have said it looked messy.  I would have said it’s a worn in look.  We have been working hard all day learning so we could become better students.

Then this afternoon, it was fifteen minutes before dismissal for Thanksgiving/ fall break.  I asked my last students of the day to help me clean up the room.  We wiped down the room with the Clorax wipes, threw away trash, and got it ready for learning on November 26th.  

When I walked back in my room from my dismissal duty, I could smell the Clorax.  It smells so clean in my room. Such a good feeling

When I get back from break, the room will once again get messy. That’s okay because it means they are learning.

Have a magical day,
Traci