Garden Planning

I have been itching to get outside and start my garden since about January. I am sure those of you who have had to endure this too long and too cold winter just might be feeling a bit like myself. I have been looking over my seed catalogs, reading and researching gardening methods and just daydreaming about my spring and summer garden.

I have plans to extend my vegetable garden this year. I will be trying a new gardening method of which I will be writing about in the next few weeks. The new method is a bit like the weed free raised garden bed I tried last year. I will be posting often about the new products I am using to keep my garden producing throughout the spring, summer and fall. I invite you to follow along with me on this new garden learning experience. If your green thumb is itching to get into your garden you may just want to stop over and read a few of my other garden posts for some great tips on keeping a garden planner, tips for gardening success and much more. Well, off I am to do some spring garden clean up, and get a few seeds started in side.  

Wild Hippo Chocolate And Treats

Disclaimer: Grandma Bonnie's Closet was not compensated for the review of this product. I received a free product in exchange for an honest opinion. The opinions in this post are all mine.

Anyone who reads Grandma Bonnie's Closet knows that I love anything chocolate. Well Wild Hippo was wonderful enough to share their delicious chocolate treats with me. Not only is their chocolate delicious it is handmade with love and is Organic, Wheat Free, Gluten Free, Dairy Free, Paleo, Vegan approved. 

This chocolate bar was so tasty and gave me my chocolate fix plus I shared it with my son as it was just enough for two. 

The chocolate hearts tin would make a great birthday gift, Mothers day gift and would be great for an Easter Basket.

Now, if you want more than chocolate then try these Sunbutter Cups which are sold by the dozen. I really like peanut butter cups and I found that these healthy Sunbutter Cups make a great alternative. I could eat them every day! 

If you are not into chocolate but would like some healthy Organic, Wheat Free, Gluten Free, Dairy Free, Paleo, Vegan treats check out their Date bites, Muffins and chocolate chip cookies here. 

If I may suggest all of these healthy treats would make great fillers in your grandchildren's Easter Baskets.

Wild Hippo also has a Organic, Hypoallergenic, Paleo, Vegan deodorant that I use myself. You can check that out here.

Italian Ice Recipe

I spent the day with my grandson and we found lots of interesting projects to keep us busy. Our first project was making an afternoon snack. My grandson likes ice cream but dairy and gluten are not allowed in his diet. So, grandma had to find a good alternative for Little Bug. I started making a simple Italian Ice from an old memory of my grandmother making Italian ice for the family.

That's Little Bug mashing the strawberries.
After mashing one or two cups of strawberries I added 1/4 cup of water and 1 tablespoon of sugar. I suggest sweeten to your taste.

Cover the strawberry mash and freeze. Take the strawberry mash out of the freezer about every 30 minutes and break up with a fork. This will stop it from forming a large frozen Popsicle block. About two hours or so your Strawberry Italian Ice will be ready to enjoy.

While waiting for his snack to freeze Little Bug did some painting.

Later on I pulled out some craft foam and we made a rocket ship and some space aliens. Little Bug wanted to make a city for his aliens so of course I helped him make a great city for him to enjoy.

That was our great day! How was yours?

Not Really MIA

I have been gone from my blog for a while now and I just wanted to stop in and let all my readers know I am not MIA. I have had some health issues recently and have been working on getting back to a healthier grandma. As my family and my health are important to me I decided my blog could be set on a back burner. With family in mind I thought I would share with you a few pictures of the growing grandchildren.
I will start with the youngest Little Roo.

Little Roo is the sweetest little stinker there ever was. As you can see in the photos below he is trying to climb into his Little People play house. He tried to climb in head first. Being a determined little guy he did not give up easily. When head first did not work he tried climbing in feet first. 

I just love the double shopping carts. Little Roo and Pooh Bear enjoy shopping together. Those carts make it easy on mom too.

Pooh Bear is growing tall as a weed. He sure does enjoy painting and crafts. He painted a bird house while we visited last week.

Here he is sorting an animal puzzle and jumping on his trampoline. 

Little Bug is as sweet as ever. We made a paper map for his cars to drive on. He is into cars, trucks and anything that can drive. 

Don't you think he has the prettiest eyes and curly hair there ever was on a three year old boy? 

Now here is Pumpkin. She is growing so fast. She will be turning seven in July. She is such a beautiful young lady don't you think?

Pumpkin just want to show off her doll and let me know she is taking good care of her. 

Pumpkin sister Sweet Pea is my youngest granddaughter. She also is such a girly girl and of course growing like a weed! 

There Sweet Pea is watching the older girls in ballet class. I know she can't wait to join them. 

Well, thats it for today. I hope to get back on in a few days and share with you a new pattern for my granddaughters American Dolls.