How hot was it?

It was so hot that our beads melted. OK maybe it isn't that hot but it is pretty darn close. To keep cool, we have been having a lot of arts and crafts time.

So, after this post about ridding our house of plastic, we decided to melt some in our oven and inhale the fumes. Nothing like the fresh smell of melting plastic. It does a body good.

That said, while the beads are "cooking" I recommend opening the windows/doors and heading outside.  Ellery was completely mesmerized by the melting beads. These are the easy steps.

1. Line a cookie sheet with wax paper


2. String the beads on a pipe cleaner as you make a design or just lay them next to each other (they need to be touching to stick)


3. Place the design in a cool over and set to 350


4. When the over hits 350 leave the beads in for 10 minutes


5. Turn the oven off and leave the beads in the oven until they are completely cool (we left them overnight)


6. Carefully peel the beads from the wax paper

Go try it -- melt some beads and let me know how it goes.

What everyone needs to know about Mary Kent

And the lucky winner is....Carmen! I have to know, what gave it away? Was it the fact that she collects nativity scenes (which by the way, is a little odd at best.) Was it the fact that she serenaded her parents' friends at dinner parties (Islands in the Stream - by Dolly Parton was a favorite?)

Whatever it was, there are a few things that EVERYONE should know about Mary Kent. Mary Kent is a twin and comes from a family of 6 kids - she and her twin are at the tail end. She has a keen sense of humor with a cutting edge. Mary Kent is honest and will always tell you what she really thinks - even if that results in a confrontation.

Mary Kent and I went to high school together and at our last reunion, she announced to a table of people that one of the occupants had taken an oath not to kiss her boyfriend in high school. Our classmate denied the oath. Mary Kent insisted. Our classmate denied. Mary Kent insisted. You get the picture. I have to admit, I was squirming in my seat and chuckling at the same time. The girl got up to leave our table. Mary Kent looked at Alan (with a very serious look) and said, "I don't care what she says, I know that girl took an oath not to kiss her boyfriend."

Talk about a tangent...back to the topic at hand people.

Mary Kent has a daughter named Mary Kent (many of you are scratching your heads at this point.) Mary Kent is a "confident" driver but despite her speedy maneuvers she is

A L W A Y S late. Always. Her friends can look past this because she delivers in countless other ways.

Check in tomorrow for some scoop on melting beads. Toxic fumes and all.

Who's that girl?

Introducing......

PICTURE DELETED

Wait, who is this? Well you have to guess. Welcome to a little game called "who's that girl?" Enter your guesses in the comments and check back on Monday when this mystery girl will be revealed!

Where were you born?

Atlanta Ga Crawford Long Hospital and my mom's doctor was Crawford Long (obviously the fourth or fifth)

What were you good at as a child?

I was also good at memorizing song lyrics which came in handy as entertainment at my parents' cocktail parties.

What was your first job?

first job - 10th grade - scooping ice cream - made me hate ice cream for several years

Tell me some truths, tell me a lie and let's see if we can figure out which is which.

• I once convinced a fireman to give me his uniformed shirt off his back while he was responding to a call.
• I published a paper about the illicit drug trade and the Mexican government.
• I went to the beach with brad paisley (singer)
• I collect Nativity scenes
• I was once a nationally ranked canoe-er
• I was in a commercial as a child (4th grade) for a Michael Jackson doll

And there you have it. Don't forget to leave a comment and see you on Monday!

Out with the old and in with the new

Our old plastic containers

Lately I have been fixated on this issue with plastic. We have all heard it before - chemicals from plastic seep into our food and poison our bodies. (For more on that look here or here.)

Most of you have probably taken some precautions to prevent this - only heat glass in the microwave, make sure you use the BPA free bottles or glass bottles for infants. Quite honestly, in the past I have done the bare minimum in this department - not because I didn't believe what I was hearing - rather, because I really didn't want to be inconvenienced. Yes, I am that lazy.

Our new glass containers

S L O W L Y, very slowly, the McKnights are trying to become less plastic dependent. And so step number one is getting rid of all of those plastic storage containers. I am not sure if this will work or even if this will stick for us -- but at least we are giving it a shot.  What else should I be doing?  Are you using plastic?  Am I neurotic? (that last question was rhetorical)

Are you all curious about tomorrow's post "Who's that girl??" A surprise is in the works....stay tuned.

Oh and some of you are asking, "What is Fredonia Falldown? Why is that the name of your blog?" More on that soon too!

When trouble comes a knocking....

This is the face of trouble. Study it, learn it, know it and be prepared because she is a sneaky one. This sweet, cuddly thing can throw a tantrum like you wouldn't believe. And just when you think she might pass out from all of the howling she will stop. Just. Like. That. She finishes with this glance all while that smile creeps across her face. 

In other news have y'all heard about little Kate? Click here to hear the story and here to read the latest.  It will pull you in and probably leave you feeling more grateful than you have in a while.

I love a parade!

There is nothing quite like a good, old fashioned 4th of July Parade. We strolled down to the end of my parents house and found a nice spot in the shade. The girls sat eagerly on the curb and waited for the festivities to begin. They were absolutely fascinated for a solid two hours. They absorbed it all - the antique cars, fire trucks, bands, dancers, clowns, bag pipes and even Elvis.

This morning, the girls and I sauntered into town and just as we reached Main Street, Ellery asked "Mom, can we have another parade today."

Lights Out.

Yesterday, just as I was getting the girls settled down for their naps, a strong summer storm rolled through Southampton. I admit the thunder was loud, the trees were blowing ferociously, but I sort of ignored Ellery when she said "I bet the power is going to go out." What does she know - she's only "three and three quarters?"

When it did in fact go out no more than five minutes later, I foolishly assumed it would be back on within an hour. So we went for a drive (to charge our cell phones in the car) around town and stopped at the Rec Center and playground, I assumed upon our return home the lights would be on.

Nope - the lights. were. out.

ALL NIGHT! Mom and I lit every candle in the house and hunkered down in the kitchen. And while having no power sure was inconvenient, it was also nice to not hear the hum of the refrigerator, to not hear the clanking from the dishwasher, to not hear the buzz from the voices on the tv. It was REALLY quiet.

But, we could only look at each other for so long - we felt like we needed to be doing something. So we ventured outside to see what we could see. And when we glanced down the street, we saw darkness. Not a light was lit. And when we glanced down on the sidewalk, we saw some really HUGE slugs. Game on.

Thus began our slug hunting adventures. I will leave out the gory details. Suffice it to say, no fewer than 14 slugs met their demise last night on Hildreth Street.