A play dough recipe has saved the day through the years more than once with the children in my life.  It is fun to make together and even more fun to cut, shape, and design.  Add a few lids, cookie cutters, plastic utensils, and /or rolling pins and the imagination does the rest.  Most all pantries already have the ingredients on their shelves.  I never tried the Edible recipe, but it looked interesting when I found it in my recipes.  The others always worked for me.

PLAY DOUGH FOR KIDS # 1

1-cup flour

½ cup salt

1-cup water

1 T. cooking oil

1-teaspoon cream of tartar

Food coloring

Combine ingredients and heat stirring constantly until the mixture thickens to a large ball.  Dump on waxed paper and knead to remove any lumps.  Store in a plastic bag or in airtight container.

PLAY DOUGH RECIPE # 2

3 cups flour

1/ ½ cups salt

3 cups water

1 Tablespoon vegetable oil

1 Tablespoon cream of tartar

A few drops of food coloring (OR 1 package unsweetened Kool-Aid)

Mix together in a saucepan.  Cook over low heat, stirring intermittently until the dough comes away from the edges and is thick and difficult to move the spoon.  Let dough cool in pan until it can be handled.  Turn out on waxed paper and knead 3 or 4 times.  Play!  Store in airtight bag or container.

Play Dough # 3 EDITABLE PLAY DOUGH

¼ cup honey

1/4/cup creamy peanut butter

1-teaspoon vanilla extract

1 cup dry milk powder

Slowly mix honey, peanut butter, and vanilla flavoring in a mixing bowl until creamy.  Gradually add dry milk a little at a time while mixing slowly.  If mixture is sticky, add more dry milk.  Add water if mixture is too dry.  Knead for consistency.

Store in airtight bag or container and store at room temperature.  Mixture can be stored for a few days.

If desired, place shaped dough on a cookie sheet in a preheated oven at 200 degrees for 30 minutes or until dry.

Divided only by time

Fossils scrapbook their journey

As the wind sings a same song

I share the sky with the *Archaeopteryx

When my eyes slice through the willowy clouds

And kindred winds tickle my skin

As I drink in the sun’s consoling warmth

For each new earthly wind,

Cloud, sunshine, and walk,

Offer exhilarating freshness

For the dinosaurs, me,

And all the creatures to follow

*Archaeopteryx – “one of a family of extinct reptile like birds of the Jurassic period”

Two angels of a Halloween past.

No one should be around

Is someone at the door?

There it goes again

It was much louder then

I do not want to hear more

The gate is locked

No one should have knocked

I am frightened to the core

All my courage I seek

Tiptoeing to the door I peek

The horse is rubbing its butt against the door!

Smiling as I walked her back

To the waiting hay stack

Relieved that Fear was no longer knocking at my door

What do you see?

Stopping and starting

Behind each tree

Busy roadrunner

Traveling so fast

It is clear to all

You will never be last

Clever roadrunner

Took wise advice

To stop, look, and listen

To avoid one’s demise

Abby and Emma

Sat on the floor

Carefully waiting

Not far from the door

Grandma’s dogs

Jumping with excitement

While waiting

For a fun lap placement

Smiling little girls

Happily did grip

Wiggly little poodles

That quickly out of their hands did slip

I love the sand between my toes
And for building a beautiful castle
But when I eat my favorite cookie
The sand becomes a bit of a hassle