Fort Fun Families

You might remember a post I did - back in March - that shared all about eggs.

At the end of that post I said

I think the best way to get great eggs would be to raise the chickens yourself. But if you can’t (like I can’t), organic eggs are the best way to go.

Well, due to the efforts of Dan Brown and the Fort Collins Urban Hen Coalition, I may soon be able to!

Being that I already have plans for Tuesday evening, I can’t make the first City Council Meeting where Dan is going to present the initiative, but have the second one on my calendar.

I highly recommend anybody who is interested in even the possibility of raising your own hens to go to the meeting and show your support!

Tuesday, June 3rd @ 6:00pm - City Hall West, 300 LaPorte Ave

Please share this with everybody! You never know which of your friends and neighbors has a secret hankerin’ to raise their own hens for eggs and backyard bug eating.

Do you hear that a lot?

My daughter is now counting down the days until her birthday. I figured out the days until then a couple of days ago, but didn’t keep track.

When she asked me again today, I didn’t really want to figure it out again, so I went online looking for a calculator.

Isn’t the internet so cool?!!

I found one, and then found out that you can put that calculator (and a few other cool ones) on your own website.

Thinking that it’d be a fun thing to share with other parents, and so I wouldn’t have to search for it again, I added it to Fort Fun Families.

So whenever your child next asks “how many days until…”, you can pop right over here and put the date into the calculator right over there in the sidebar.

You will make your child’s day by being able to give them the answer quickly and without frustration.

Free range… Organic… Cage Free… Natural…

What’s the difference?

Are you getting the type of eggs you truly want?

Here are some interesting facts about eggs that you may not know.

But first, a cute picture of some adorable chicks future egg layers.

What does it mean if an egg is labeled “organic”?

Eggs that are labeled organic - which is done by the USDA - come from chickens that eat food made without toxic or persistent insecticides, pesticides, genetic engineering, sewage sludge, or animal-derived protein. The chickens are allowed to move around freely, and are raised without antibiotics, added growth hormones, or genetic modification. Also, organic eggs have not been irradiated.

Here’s a cute photo of a 2-day old chick falling asleep, literally.

What do all those labels mean? And which are verified by third-party inspectors?

Free range: Chickens have unrestrained access to the outside world.

Cage free: Chickens are not restricted to cages.

Free farmed: Poultry was raised with adequate space and comfort, without unnecessary antibiotics.

Natural: Eggs are minimally processed and free of artificial flavors, colors, or preservatives.

Only free farmed eggs. Free range is only defined for chickens that are eaten, not those that lay eggs. Cage free only guarantees that the chickens aren’t in cages, but that doesn’t mean that they have access to the outdoors.

Here’s my oldest son holding a chick.

Did you know that it only takes a hen 24 to 26 hours to produce an egg? Then she starts all over again.

And one more thing you may not have known…

Raw eggs will keep from 4 to 5 weeks, yes - weeks! - beyond their pack date, provided they’re kept refrigerated in their carton; hard boiled eggs can be refrigerated for up to one week.

I think the best way to get great eggs would be to raise the chickens yourself. But if you can’t (like I can’t), organic eggs are the best way to go.

FAST FACTS
* Unique Repeats is located at 103 Pennock Avenue in Fort Collins.
* Phone: 970-495-8890

If you’re on a budget, trying to save money, or just trying to save something from the landfill, you probably shop at thrift stores. Another reason for shopping at thrift stores is that you may find cool, outdated items that aren’t made anymore, like the manual typewriter (with carrying suitcase!) I got for $2.

I’ve slowly been investigating Fort Collins thrift stores and so far Unique Repeats is at the top of my list. It’s not a very large store.

It isn’t open on the weekends.

It doesn’t have a huge selection. This is the extent of their kid clothes, about three racks total.

And the shelf of books and videos is rather small. So you can’ t shop at Unique Repeats when you need something specific.

But if you’re looking for the lowest prices in town, this is the place. I have found snow pants for my boys and a friend in the price range of $.75 to $3.00 and the shirts and pants tend to be about one to two dollars, often less than one dollar. I find jeans for my husband for three dollars. I saw two bread makers last week for five bucks. I picked up some old Tupperware plates for our preschool cooperative for $.10 each. A stack of thirty, plenty for lunch and projects set me back a whopping three dollars. You get the picture. I spoke with the cashier and she said that the staff are all volunteers from the hospital and that’s why they can keep the prices low.

I’m always on the lookout for a good deal, so drop me a note in the comments if you know of another great thrift store in town. Or check out Unique Repeats and let me know what you think.

I love jasmine tea - just love it! And not just any jasmine tea; it has to be Jasmine Yin Hao.

Which you can’t get in tea bags from the local grocery store. What I mean to say is, while you can get jasmine tea in tea bags from local grocery stores, it’s not quality jasmine tea.

Even the “jasmine” tea I’ve tasted at local Asian restaurants is not the best quality tea (unfortunately it doesn’t even taste ‘jasmine-y’ to me).

And while I enjoy tea from tea bags, and have a cabinet full of herbal tea from Celestial Seasonings, I’ve found that the quality of loose teas are far superior to bagged teas.

You might be under the impression that you have to fork over a lot of money to get a good quality tea, but that’s not the case.

You can find a bunch of great stores online that sell wonderful loose teas, but you don’t have to search far, because we have a superb gourmet tea provider right here in Fort Collins!

The Tea Table used to be a brick-and-mortar store located in Old Town. Several years ago the owner, Lori, decided to make her tea available exclusively online.

I was a little bit sad about that, because I enjoyed going into her store and smelling the wonderful teas, and tasting the samples that she had lining her counter.

Still, having young children kept me out of her shop more often than not because her shelves were lined with gorgeous tea pots and china, and my little ones love to “see” (you know, with their hands) everything.

But Lori decided to do two things that ensured I would only order from her.

• She offered up to 5 free samples of tea with a paid order, and
• She offered local pick-up without any associated fees (and has since expanded to two locations)

The Tea Table also has a monthly (give or take) newsletter that is brimming with information about the benefits of tea and other interesting tea-related information, which always includes a coupon.

If you don’t like tea but enjoy a hot drink, you should check out her selection of rooibos. From the site

Rooibos (pronounced “roy bus”) is made from the needle-like leaves of a caffeine-free bush native to South Africa. It is oxidized like black tea, and is a popular alternative to decaffeinated black tea. Good both hot and cold, it has a mild flavor and won’t turn bitter with extended brewing. It is reputed to be even higher in antioxidants than green tea and is known for its soothing properties.

If you like iced tea but not hot (or at least not during our hot Colorado summers), she provides information on how to prepare many of the teas cold.

There is so much to be said about the store, the gargantuan list of teas (and related products) available and the tons of information given about each tea, as well as Lori’s wonderful customer service, that I am constantly recommending The Tea Table to anybody who enjoys tea, hot or cold.

Go check it out; you’ll be happy you did!

Did you know that there are a number of different places to return library books in Fort Collins, besides the Main and Harmony libraries?

Main Library Locations
All library and Prospector materials can be returned 24 hours a day, 7 days a week at the Main Library at 201 Peterson Street, or the Harmony Library at 4616 South Shields. InterLibrary Loan materials must be returned to the Circulation Desks at either library.

Bookdrop Locations
Bookdrops will be collected twice daily Monday thru Friday, no service on Saturdays and one collection on Sunday morning.

Albertsons
1636 N. College Avenue

Cache La Poudre Elementary/Junior High School
3511 W. County Road 54G
Laporte

First National Bank (drive-up)
155 E. Boardwalk Drive

Fort Collins Senior Center (drive-up)
1200 Raintree Drive

King Soopers at Rigden Farms
2602 Timberline Road

Preston Junior High School
4901 Corbett Drive

Make a week’s worth of school lunches

Here’s an idea from parenthacks.com, by Asha Dornfest on getting organized.

Cynthia’s batch lunch prep makes so much sense, it’s a wonder we aren’t all doing this.

We have to bring lunch to daycare 3 days a week. I used to struggle with getting lunches ready in the morning, and with keeping my husband from eating the lunch supplies before I could pack them. Then, I realized that the lunch fixings would be just as cold inside their paper bags as they are in their original packaging. So, here’s what I do on Sunday night:

1. Buy a half pound of sliced turkey or ham, a package of kid yogurt, 100-calorie packs of goldfish crackers, and a bunch of bananas. Obviously, you would substitute what your kid likes for lunch. I’ve used chicken drumsticks, leftover roast beef, hard-boiled eggs, string cheese, artichokes and baby carrots. Note, though, that sandwiches get yucky sitting in the fridge, so pack the parts separately.
2. Write my daughter’s name on the front of 3 paper bags, and draw a cute little picture on each
3. Unwrap the lunch meat, cut it into 3rds, and put 1/3 in each of 3 Ziploc baggies.
4. Place a baggie of lunchmeat, a banana, a yogurt, and a pack of crackers into each bag
5. Fold the bags closed and stick them in the fridge.

Each morning, I just grab the bag in front. Easy. And my husband knows that what’s in the bags is off limits.

Sounds too simple to make a difference, but our mornings are much smoother, and we haven’t forgotten lunch once since we started doing this.

Did you know that trash and recycling trucks are the single largest source of toxic air pollution in Fort Collins?

Some neighborhoods have 8 trucks on their streets per week (I believe we have more than that in my neighborhood )!

Did you know that it is estimated that in Larimer County, the cancer risk from diesel soot exceeds all other air toxics combined?

And did you know that one simple change - that won’t cost the trash companies any more money (with everything considered - more below) - can

• give Fort Collins cleaner air
• support American farmers & business
• reduce our dependence on foreign oil

What is that one simple change, you wonder?

Switching to biodiesel!

From Biodiesel.org, biodiesel is

the name of a clean burning alternative fuel, produced from domestic, renewable resources. Biodiesel contains no petroleum, but it can be blended at any level with petroleum diesel to create a biodiesel blend. It can be used in compression-ignition (diesel) engines with little or no modifications. Biodiesel is simple to use, biodegradable, nontoxic, and essentially free of sulfur and aromatics.

Some other interesting facts about biodiesel:

• Biodiesel is better for the environment because it is made from renewable resources and has lower emissions compared to petroleum diesel.
• It is less toxic than table salt and biodegrades as fast as sugar.
• It is made in the USA from renewable resources such as soybeans (which is how its use decreases our dependence on foreign oil and contributes to our own economy).
• It prouduces 80% fewer cancer causing emissions and 50% fewer asthma causing emissions than petrol-diesel.
• There are reports of increased fuel mileage and reduced maintenance costs.

You’d imagine that it would be a no-brainer for our local trash companies to switch to biodiesel. But it’s not. According to a flyer I received from the Community for Sustainable Energy, there are two reasons why trash companies won’t switch.

1. They are afraid to try something new
2. Their current fuel providers don’t carry biodiesel

But our local bus company, Transfort (whose buses run on either biodiesel or compressed natural gas) and the Denver trash trucks have already taken these steps and use fuel providers who do carry biodiesel.

As customers we can influence the decisions of our trash companies! By sharing our opinions on the matter with our trash companies, and organizing consumer demand, we show them that they can increase their market by being socially responsible.

If you are a customer of Gallegos, you can thank them for taking the lead and bio-fueling their fleet! From their site:

We are concerned with current environmental issues and believe in doing our part. We are constantly seeking ways to reduce emissions through improved routing and the use of bio-desiel fuel (coming soon). We offer experimental services such as curbside yard-waste collection , construction and demolition recycling, and electronic waste disposal alternatives.If you’re a customer of either Ram’s or Waste Management, let them know that you would like them to switch to biodiesel. Let them know that you are concerned for the health of your family and friends and would like to see them making a huge difference in the quality of the air that you and your family breathes.

We’re already customers of Gallegos and have sent them a letter of thanks for being on the leading edge of trash companies in Fort Collins.

If you use Ram Waste Systems, Inc. (no website) or Waste Management, you might consider contacting them to let them know how important this switch is to you and your family. If you feel drawn to do so, you might even let them know that you’re willing to switch to Gallegos because it is that important to you.

I just finished dressing two of my children for spending time in the snow.

Spending time in the snow is the key phrase here.

If I dressed them up “warmly”, they’d have been back in a split second, peeling off clothes that got covered in snow which will then start melting all over my carpet as they run about crying while I chase them to help them get the offending clothing off.

I wanted to dress them so that they’d be able to stay out and enjoy the snow for a while - at least 10 minutes, lol.

Personally, I’d rather stay inside. And I do. But I remember being a kid, and I loved playing in the snow. I see that they enjoy it and I want to help them retain that feeling.

As I dressed them, one at a time (my daughter didn’t notice her dad and little brother were going outside until I finished getting her brother ready), I explained to them that the key to dressing for the snow was layering.

Okay, I know that a 5 year old and a 2 year old won’t really “get” this now, but as I repeat this over the days and years, it’ll become part of their subconscious … I can hope.

Having just sent my daughter out complete in her layers and waterproof outer clothing, I thought that there might be some people who weren’t really familiar with dressing for the snow. Hence this post.

So I found a great link with lots of information for you. It’s an easy read and easy to understand, with great tips on clothing and accessories for the weather.

The basics, from the article, are to dress in 3 layers.

I love their list of other important clothing items!

• Sunglasses or goggles to protect your eyes from harmful solar radiation, the wind, and to keep ice pellets or snow from stinging your eyes. Remember bright sunlight reflecting off the snow can be just as bad as direct sunlight. Select goggles that allow for appropriate range of peripheral vision. Look for wide-angle frames or sport shields. Sunglasses and goggles also come in specific tints to help you see dips and bumps in the snow on a dull day.
• Hat or Cap for warmth (although it won’t provide protection). Make sure that the hat or cap can cover your ears. Some jackets have a useful hood tucked into the collar. You can lose a tremendous amount of body heat through your head: cover it, and your feet and hands will be warmer.
• Wear a helmet to protect your head and for warmth.
• Fleece neck gaiter or facemask to protect your face when it’s really cold.
• Gloves or mittens made of waterproof but breathable fabrics. Snowboarding gloves and mittens often have a reinforced palm and fingers to stand up to the wear caused by balancing on the snow. Some also have built in wrist guards. Long , elasticized wrist or strapping on cuffs to keep out snow is a good idea.
• Socks with flat seams and stretchy material that doesn’t wrinkle against your skin will minimize sharp pressure points against the foot. A thin liner socks (synthetic socks) covered by a thicker wool or pile socks or snowboard/ski socks works especially well. Avoid extremely bulky socks that can keep you from feeling connected to the ground, which is necessary for good control.
• Sunscreen should always be used to protect you from sunburn and chapping in cold winds. A lip balm will prevent your lips from cracking.

The snow has been coming down all day and I don’t see a break in sight. Dress yourself and your children right if you’re going to be spending any amount of time in the snow!

FAST FACTS
* Centennial Livestock Auction is located at 113 N.W. Frontage Road, Fort Collins.
* Contact info: (970) 482-6207 or cla.auction@prodigy.net
* Website: www.claauction.com

So it’s officially winter here in Fort Collins and since my boys are a bit wimpy when it comes to snow and cold (and I’ll admit to getting tired of the bundling-in-layers-and-snowsuit rituals required to play outdoors) I’m on the lookout for indoor activities around town. Here’s one you may not have thought of : Centennial Livestock Auction.

I grew up in Ohio and used to go to animal sales regularly and was excited to learn that Fort Collins had a livestock auction house not too far from my house. A few weeks ago we checked out the animal action; we went on a Wednesday when they sell sheep, dairy cattle, goats, baby calves, hogs, and horses. The auction starts at 10 according to the info, but things didn’t really get rolling until 10:30. They bring out a group of animals, run them around a bit so you can look them over –all the while, the auctioneer manages the bidding and makes the sale– and then they are on to another group. We settled into the front row and the boys had a ball watching the sheep come and go; we also enjoyed the old billy goat that came out with each group to calm the sheep.

There were ALOT of sheep, about 90 minutes worth, at least, and even with snack the boys eventually tired of sheep gazing. So, we headed outside to check out some of the other animals. There is a walkway that allows you to scan the animals from above.

It was interesting to see the incoming animals herded into their corrals.

We couldn’t resist getting a closer look at the longhorns.

And we stopped to pet the goats.

The auction house has a little restaurant so we headed in to warm up and have some lunch, then went back to watch some baby calves being sold. Thank goodness my trunk is so small; those little ones were so cute I was ready to take one home. By then it was getting close to naptime so we headed home. We’ll be back…maybe with a pickup truck next time.