Give Peeps a Chance

“Give Peeps a Chance”

I can’t take credit for that cute pun; www.makinglifewhimsical.com posted free Easter printables like the quote above under the blog post, “Show Me the Peeps.”  As Easter approaches, there is the pain accompanied with only having our daughter home for a few weeks a year.  She loves Peeps and loves helping in the kitchen.  It would have been fun to create dozens of Peep treats and throw a Peep party.  The bright side is that I consume far less sugar by living vicariously through the blog posts I scroll through on Pinterest and that by writing about those colorful, sugary treats I can interact with the candy in a totally calorie-free manner. 

Just in case you haven’t seen the pastel-colored candy displayed prominently in stores the last few weeks, Peeps Brand Marshmallow candies are made in the USA by the Just Born Inc candy company.  “The wonderful combination of sweet colored sugar and fluffy marshmallow creates an unforgettable taste experience,” ( www.marshmallowpeeps.com).    This year I was first inspired by Peeps when I saw a pic of a sunflower cake using yellow chick peeps as the petals of a sunflower.  Last year, it was Easter Peeps S’mores dessert mix in mason jars.  Because Peeps are marshmallow at the core, you can use Peeps as a marshmallow replacement.  Remake S’mores treats.  Create colorful popcorn balls using Peeps instead of marshmallows.  Rice krispie cereal treats take on a springtime hue when using Peeps instead of mini marshmallows.  Or hide Peeps in chocolate brownies.

Peeps-fruit kabobs can be made with strawberries, pineapple, grapes, melon and Peeps by layering the fruit and candy on bamboo skewers.  Craft a colorful candy bouquet using one bunny-shaped peep per bamboo skewer and arranging the “bunny flowers” in a flower pot.  Search the internet for a make your own Peep recipe if you want to challenge yourself this Spring. 

From Peep-inspired cocktails (Patron tequila, sparkling grapefruit juice and Monin Rose syrup or Peep martini:  fluffed marshmallow vodka, vanilla syrup, simple syrup and sugar) to wreaths, cupcakes, coloring pages, and humorous dioramas, homemade popsicles, sewing patterns, toys and science experiments, peep straws, the possibilities are endless.  Have fun this Easter and play around with this brightly colored candy. 

Share your successes at www.sustainablysadie.blogspot.com.  Thanks for reading!

Twin Bits

Create unique artwork this spring with Kelly Downing at the Twin Bridges School.  Kelly is teaching a second round of Mixed Media Art as adult ed course.  Call TBS at 684-5656 to reserve a spot in this space limited class.  The first class will be 8 am to noon, Monday April 1st at the school with the rest of the classes scheduled after the first gathering.   

The next TBCA meeting will be Friday April 12 at 8:30 am at The Old Hotel.  Election of Board of Directors will be held that day.  Vote in person or by proxy.  Nominations:  Jack Leber for Chair, Heather Puckett for Treasurer, Pat Bradley for Secretary.  At this time the Vice Chair position is still vacant; the TBCA can operate without a Vice Chair but it is helpful to the organization to have the support of a Vice Chair.  There is room for Write-In nominations.  Paula Kinoshita, out-going Chair, is taking comments and suggestions until the April 12^th meeting at oldhotel@3rivers.net.  The civic organization is also looking to change the meeting time—on the floor is the suggestion of moving meetings to Wednesdays at Noon.  Pass on your ideas and volunteer by contacting Jack Leber at jack.leber@prumt.com.

The Buy Local Business Expo will be held at the fairgrounds on 4 May 9 am to 2 pm.  There are still a few vendor spaces available for Ruby Valley businesses.  Call BoB Reimard at 842-7900 to reserve a space. 

 Jackson’s Garden will host an afternoon of discussion about gardening with a panel of local gardening experts at their annual Spring Fling, Sunday April 7th at 2:00 pm at Bethany Hall in Sheridan. 

Mike Morgan will talk about composting; Sarris Marsh, owner of Marsh’s Mountain Greenhouse in Sheridan will talk about seed germination and container planting; Linda Day will describe how to start a lasagna garden; Debbie Rogers will explain how to extend your growing season with walls of water and how to protect your garden from herbicide contaminated manure. Paulette Hardy will discuss various ways of mulching vegetable and flower beds and will answer general gardening questions.  Plans for this year’s growing season at the Garden will be discussed as well as adult education, such as canning work shops, the Kids Club and opportunities for volunteers at the Garden.  Afternoon tea will be served and everyone is invited to this free event. For more information, contact Carla at 842-7956 or Linda at 842- 5678. For more information about Jackson’s Garden visit our website at jacksonsgarden.org

From TBS Calendar:

March 28- April 1:  No School, Easter Vacation

April 1- 4:  Bow Hunter Education @ MT Room, 6 pm, contact Doug Stonebraker

Wed April 3:  Booster Club mtg @ MT Room, 6 pm

Sat April 6:  State FFA Convention @ Billings; Track Meet

Thurs April 11:  Senior Citizens Spring Dinner, 11 am; Pre-Festival Concert 7 pm; VFW mtg @ MT Room, 7:30 pm

Mon April 15:  Trailblazers 4-H mtg @ Lunchroom, 7 pm

Tues April 16: Reg. School Board mtg @ MT Room, 7 pm

Wed April 17:  Big Hole Watershed mtg @ MT Room, 7 pm

April 19-20:  District Music Festival @ Deer Lodge

Mon April 22:  No School, Spring Break

April 21- 28:  Close-Up Trip to Washington D.C.

Tues April 30:  Nat’l Honor Society Induction/ Banquet, 6 pm

I am here to promote activities and events in the Ruby Valley.  Please contact me at sustainablysadie@hotmail.com, call me at 684-5222 or snail mail: P.O. Box 491, 59754

Redneckified Prius Tales

Redneckified Prius Tales

Two gents from SW Montana take a Prius on road trip.  No, it’s not the beginning of a fabulous joke.  It’s a true story and the only joke here may be counter-culture yarn spun at the gas pump with two carpentars chuckling as they kick tires with steel-toed boots.   There is a breed of man out there who prefer small, economical clown cars to putput around in and though comical it may be to see a couple of outdoorsmen flying down the interstate in a hybrid, they are saving money and the environment. 

They’re breaking the stereotype and having fun as every minute they check on the status of their miles per gallon.  The gauges in the car tell them that they are getting between 99 and 29 mpg.  It’s a constant conversation as they make their way to Missouri and eventually Bass Pro Shop in Independence.  They eat gas station hot dogs for breakfast, dinner at Hooters (it was the only restaurant without an hour wait on St. Patrick’s Day).   They make fun of each other’s taste in music. 

Camo seat covers and the appropriate hunting and fishing bumper stickers make this green prius unique.  Ever since planning this trip, remarking at the amazing gas mileage of the hybrid car has become my husband’s favorite conversation topic.  While I think it is important for us to have a vehicle with 4-wheel drive for getting up into the mountains, there may be a hybrid car in our future.  The freedom to do more traveling because it will be more affordable is pretty tempting for getting our family out into the world.  Taking this trip with his buddy has been a great experience for my husband.   A much-deserved man-cation/ research venture has helped to recharge batteries and provide distraction from the work-a-day business life.  It was a change from the daily drive in the work truck, averaging 12 mpg.  They averaged 48 mpg on a 3200 mile round trip. This isn’t the end of “Redneckified Prius Tales” I’m sure.  Prius and other hybrid models aren’t just for city folk…there’s good reason to look into a more fuel efficient vehicle as we roam our wide open prairies and meander through Big Sky river valleys. 

Share your thoughts at www.sustainablysadie.blogspot.com or www.facebook.com/SustainablySadie.  Thanks for reading!

Twin Bits

The Ruby Valley Foundation is sponsoring an event facilitated by Carol Delisi:  “Collaborating to Enhance the Quality of Life in the Ruby Valley.”  Please join the conversation April 2^nd at the Episcopal Parish Hall in Sheridan, 5:30 pm.  Hors D’oeuvres provided.  If you have any questions, suggestions, or thoughts about our community organizations please check out this interactive event. 

The next TBCA meeting will be Friday March 22^nd at The Old Hotel, 8:30 am.  Contact TBCA chair Paula Kinoshita, 684-5959.

From TBS Calendar:

Thurs March 21: Tentative Ski Day

Friday March 22:  Jr Hi Band Festival @ Phillipsburg

Sat. March 23:  Ruby Valley Prom @ Sheridan, 8 pm to Midnight, Grand March @ 8:30pm; Madison Country March Madness Basketball Tourney @ both TB gyms

March 28- April 1:  No School, Easter Vacation

I am here to promote activities and events in the Ruby Valley.  Please contact me at sustainablysadie@hotmail.com, call me at 684-5222 or snail mail: P.O. Box 491, 59754.  

Community Involvement

Community Involvement

The Twin Bridges Community Association recently posted this quote on their Facebook page:  “Heroes are not giant statues framed against a red sky.  They are people who say:  This is my community, and it’s my responsibility to make it better.”  ~Tom McCall, Oregon Governor, 1967-1975~

The Mission Statement of the Twin Bridges Community Association:  “The TBCA, a not-for-profit organization, strives to enhance the lives of people who call Twin Bridges ‘home’ as well as those who visit, through beautification efforts, promoting our amenities, planning and supporting healthy events and activities that provide economic growth and entertainment for the community.”  Since 2010, this completely volunteer organization has been responsible for Floating Flotillas and Fish Fantasies festivities as well as the Twin Bridges Christmas Stroll.  This community organization beautifies our small town Main Street with Fall-themed decorations, Christmas decorations, flower box benches (with help from the Twin Bridges school) and, with help from the Town of Twin Bridges, blue and gold banners attached to our street lights.  The TBCA supports the River’s Edge Gallery – a non-profit gallery that often offers classes and workshop in various art media, the Twin Bridges Farmer’s Market, and Cruz by the River Car Show.  Other events cultivated by the TBCA include a Fall Festival and Wine Tasting Fundraiser. 

Born from the Horizons project of the Northwest Area Foundation, this organization – like many others in the Ruby Valley, is running low on volunteers.  All our community organizations need more bodies in order to continue their efforts.  The Greater Ruby Valley Chamber of Commerce and Agriculture (GRVCCA) that connects Ruby Valley businesses and provides support to businesses, community organizations, and events is also in desperate need of volunteers.  The Main Street Improvement Team and Jackson’s Garden of Sheridan need volunteers. 

You are apart of your community, not separate from it.  Take a few minutes to look at your time budget and calculate exactly how much time you have to donate to your community (thereby making it more beautiful, fun and lively).  How do you want to help your community?  Then seek out the appropriate contacts.  If you have one day a year that you and your family could give the gift of your time to your community that you love, perhaps you can help with set-up or clean up of one of our festivities.  Maybe you want to help plant flowers for Main Street. Share your thoughts, the gift of your input is just as valuable as your ability to help put up or take down decorations. 

We live in a beautiful place among caring neighbors and friends.  Become apart of your community, give input, enjoy the events and amenities.  Share your ideas on Facebook (you can find me there at www.facebook.com/SustainablySadie).  Thanks for reading and participating! 

Twin Bits

The Ruby Valley Foundation is sponsoring an event facilitated by Carol Delisi:  “Collaborating to Enhance the Quality of Life in the Ruby Valley.”  Please join the conversation April 2^nd at the Episcopal Parish Hall in Sheridan, 5:30 pm.  Hors D’oeuvres provided.  If you have any questions, suggestions, or thoughts about our community organizations please check out this interactive event. 

The next TBCA meeting will be Friday March 22^nd at The Old Hotel, 8:30 am.  Contact TBCA chair Paula Kinoshita, 684-5959.

TB Sophomores will be displaying their Big Read Projects during Teacher Conferences, March 14th, 1 pm to 8 pm.  

From TBS Calendar:

Wed March 13:  HS Academic Olympics @ MSU

Thurs March 14:  Early Out, 12:30 pm; Parent-Teacher conferences 1:00 pm to 8:00 pm; VFW mtg @ MT Room, 7:30pm; Book Fair and Industrial Arts Silent Auction during conferences; Industrial Arts Silent Auction

Friday March 15:  NO SCHOOL—March break

Mon March 18:  Trailblazers 4-H mtg, 7 pm @ Lunch Room

Tues March 19:  Reg. School Board Mtg @ MT Room, 7 pm.

Thurs March 21: Tentative Ski Day

Friday March 22:  Jr Hi Band Festival @ Phillipsburg

Sat. March 23:  Ruby Valley Prom @ Sheridan, 8 pm to Midnight, Grand March @ 8:30pm; Madison Country March Madness Basketball Tourney @ both TB gyms

March 28- April 1:  No School, Easter Vacation

I am here to promote activities and events in the Ruby Valley.  Please contact me at sustainablysadie@hotmail.com, call me at 684-5222 or snail mail: P.O. Box 491, 59754.  

Daylight Savings Time

Daylight Savings Time Begins 2 am Sunday March 10.

I can’t stand the time changes.  My understanding behind the history of this act is to provide more daylight hours for farmers…or baseball.  Considering Farming isn’t an occupation listed in the census, it seems unlikely that 300 Million Americans are arbitrarily moving their clocks ahead in the Spring and back in the Fall so the tractor-driving person can have a few hours of daylight after coming home from their other job. 

Not all of the states participate; the rest of the globe certainly does not.  It complicated communication with my husband’s ex when she lived overseas; not realizing that the hour had changed, she would call our daughter while she was still in school for the day while she meant to speak with her after school.    

I’m curious who gains by complicating American life twice a year with these time changes so confusing we have to memorize a silly phrase to help us remember which way to turn the dial: “Spring ahead, Fall back.”  Our devices automatically update the time, so that can help us to remember—our computers, phones, and tablets should all automatically update the time as soon as it happens.

Lots of jokes and quotable quotes fly around the internet and one that caught my eye last week was a picture of Native American man in head dress and traditional garb with the quote, “When told the reason for daylight savings time the Old Indian said, ‘Only the government would believe that you could cut a foot off the top of a blanket, sew it to the bottom, and have a longer blanket.’”

Last year, I decided to start gearing up for the Spring time change by waking up a little bit earlier each day the week before the change.  That is my sustainable tip: in order to stay sane, prepare your body and your mind for losing an hour of sleep.     Perhaps start going to bed earlier; that 9 o’clock bedtime this week is going to feel like 8:00 pm next week. 

Share your thoughts on the time change at the blog, www.sustainablysadie.blogspot.com.  Thanks for reading!

Twin Bits

"The Taming of the Shrew" - written by William Shakespeare and

directed by Virginia Cook - will be presented by the Sheridan High

School Drama Dept. on Friday March 8 and Sat. March 9 at 7:30 p.m. in

the high school auditorium at 117 Madison Street. Tickets are $7 and

$5.

Thurs. March 7: Juniors Heritage Fair at Parent/Teacher Conferences,

Sheridan Schools Elementary lunchroom and gym from 4-7 pm.

The next TBCA meeting will be Friday, March 8, 8:30 am at The Old Hotel in Twin Bridges.  

TB Sophomores will be displaying their Big Read Projects during Teacher Conferences, March 14th, 1 pm to 8 pm.  

From TBS Calendar:

Wed March 6:  Booster Club Mtb @ MT Room, 6 pm

Thurs March 7:  Butte Science Fair, Grades 5-8; Ramblin’ Rose Group Practice (Sherrie High) @ MP Gym, 7 pm

March 7- March 9:  State Boys’ Basketball Tournament @ Bozeman 

Tues March 12:  JrHi Academic Olympics @ MSU

Wed March 13:  HS Academic Olympics @ MSU

Thurs March 14:  Early Out, 12:30 pm; Parent-Teacher conferences 1:00 pm to 8:00 pm; VFW mtg @ MT Room, 7:30pm

Friday March 15:  NO SCHOOL—March break

Mon March 18:  Trailblazers 4-H mtg, 7 pm @ Lunch Room

Tues March 19:  Reg. School Board Mtg @ MT Room, 7 pm.

March 28- April 1:  No School, Easter Vacation

I am here to promote activities and events in the Ruby Valley.  Please contact me at sustainablysadie@hotmail.com, call me at 684-5222 or snail mail: P.O. Box 491, 59754.