You Can Have Britain's Got Talent...I'll Take Big Bear, Any Day!

"Let yourself be open and life will be easier. A spoon of salt in a glass of water makes the water undrinkable. A spoon of salt in a lake is almost unnoticed." ~Buddha~

The POPrs Family Archives are yielding the funniest shots, aren't they? Here is Big Bear, showing off his amazing talents. He'd put Susan Boyle to shame, I tell ya!

Happy Birthday, Shark Boy!

Another trip down Memory Lane for all you POPrs Pals today. We're celebrating Shark Boy's Big Day, and want to do it in style!

In this "vintage" 1991 photo, meet Big Bear, Uncle Lynn, The Birthday Boy and College Boy. Oh, and Mr. Gator. Aunt Julie conjured this Green Masterpiece as the young lad's birthday cake.

While the Black-Tipped Reef Shark Adventure was exciting, Shark Boy has much Bigger Fish to fry these days, including helping Mr. Pops launch the new retail line of POPrs - Coming to a supermarket near you, fingers crossed!

So, Happy B-Day, SB...May you live long and POPrs...er, prosper!

Friday Foto Fiesta Finish: A Quilt to Remember

In addition to being the POPrs Queen, Mom Extraordinaire and the owner of two rambunctious hounds, my SIL, Aunt Julie, is a quilter. You've seen quite a bit of her handiwork over here, most recently her Big Bear Creation.

In honor of Candid Carrie's Friday Foto Finish Fiesta, Julie Eliz wanted me to exhibit one of her creations from a few years ago. I love the simplicity of this schoolhouse design, don't you?

Easter Remembered: 1987

Dare I say it? This photo is a relic! Here we have Big Bear on the left, carefully dipping his egg in the dye, and Shark Boy, who finds the whole business really funny, for some reason.

However you may be celebrating this special day, I'd like to share a poem that my kids learned when they were even younger than this. The rhyme comes with hand motions, too, so knock yourself out. Happy Easter!

PS: I'm a newby at Sarcastic Mom's Weekly Winners, so please bear with me. Obviously, this is an old shot. Snapped by Aunt Julie with a Canon Rebel, I'm pretty sure. A classic film SLR camera...no digital back then!

Five little Easter eggs, lovely colors wore (hold up five fingers);

Mother ate the blue one, then there were four (bend down one finger).

Four little Easter eggs, two and two, you see;

Daddy ate the red one, then there were three (bend down next finger).

Three little Easter eggs, before I knew,

Sister ate the yellow one, then there were two (bend down next finger).

Two little Easter eggs; oh, what fun,

Brother ate the purple one, then there was one (bend down next finger).

One little Easter egg; see me run!

I ate the very last one, and then there were none (open up both empty hands)!

Candid Carrie Helps Big Bear Celebrate His Birthday

A few years back, when the world was slightly younger and so were we, Big Bear entered this crazy world. Today's his birthday, and Candid Carrie is helping him celebrate.

Aunt Julie and I were going through photo albums the other day, and came up with this precious shot. She's the New Mom in this photo. B-Squared was a cutie, wasn't he? Still is!

This celebration brought to you by Candid Carrie's Friday Foto Finish Fiesta. Happy Birthday, Big Bear!

Quilting with Candid Carrie

Here's a Friday Foto of Big Bear and one of Aunt Julie's latest creations. But before I explain, I want to remind you about The Great New Pop'rs St. Patty's Day Giveaway, featuring Pop'rs Prizes AND a $100 Target Gift Card! For more info on that, please Click Here.

Aunt Julie got in the mood to make another quilt a while back.

"It is the same pattern as College Boy's," Aunt Julie explains. "Called Texas Hold 'Em. My boys went through a poker phase, and I made the first one then. They are all the same pattern, with subtle differences. All three share the same plaids, with different borders and backgrounds.
Still need to make one more for Soccer Boy. And I have another one almost done and ready to photograph. All it needs is the binding!"

Thanks to Candid Carrie for hosting her Friday Foto Finish Fiesta. Our Pop'rs Pal Jammin' will be back tomorrow. And don't forget my giveaway!

Meet the Beatles!?!

Well, really, I want ya to meet Aunt Julie's side of The Pop'rs Family from a few years back. Auntie J. always does Creative Christmas Cards, and this was no exception. But somehow this little gem got stuck up on the fridge with a Beatles magnet...and you do see the resemblance, don'tcha?

In the phun photo on the left, clockwise (from left): Big Bear, Shark Boy, College Boy, Trouble Elizabeth, Moses and Soccer Boy. In the other phun photo, clockwise (from left-Geez Louise, I feel like this is a yearbook!): Ringo, John, George and Paul, sans dogs.

I don't know. Did the Beatles have dogs? Playing along with Candid Carrie today and her Phriday Photo Phinish Phiesta!

Why You Should Eat Your Veggies!

In honor of "friendship Month," Mary Beth over at Blogmania is featuring bloggers that have developed enduring friendships through blogging. And guess who she featured first? I hate to brag, but listen to what MB said about me:

"You can feel her energy in her writing, which is quite an accomplishment. I can only imagine how spunky she is in person. From what I have seen, she is devoted to her friends and family, to promoting Pop'rs and to living life to its fullest."

Why thankyouverymuch, Mary Beth! Here's the full interview with Veggie Mom, if you're interested. And the photo above? Taken last summer, when we could get all 10 of us together at the beach!

Tell us a little about yourself, your family, etc......
Well, there are 10 members of the “extended” Pop’rs Family. First off, there’s Uncle Lynn, my BIL, the creator of the incredibly good-for-you, wonderfully fun Pop’rs…the whole reason I’m online, urging everyone to Eat Your Veggies! Uncle Lynn is married to Aunt Julie, whose bailiwick is yummy food, homemade quilts, family photos, gardening and, of course, the dogs, Moses and Rowdy. Aunt Julie is also my hubby Moker’s Little Sis. Uncle Lynn and Aunt Julie have four boys: Big Bear, Shark Boy, College Boy and Soccer Boy. On my side of the family, there’s me, Veggie Mom, who’s married to Moker, Aunt Julie’s Big Brother. We have two girls: College Girl and The Wild One.

Besides blogging, what are some of your hobbies?
Let’s see…I love to read, garden, go for long walks…I’m a fairly decent cook, and a pretty good writer, so I’d include those in my interests, too. But as far as being crafty? That’s Aunt Julie’s side of the family! Except for coaxing day lilies out of the soil every spring, I’m just not that handy!

How did you get started blogging?
Well, Uncle Lynn wanted to get the word out this new seasoning he developed at his plant in Northeastern Wisconsin. He thought it would be fun to blog about Pop’rs, and asked me what I thought about the idea. Several of my friends have started blogs, so I naturally was pretty enthusiastic. On June 16th of last year I finally got my feet wet! It took me a while to find Veggie Mom’s “voice,” but the rest, as they say, is history!

What do you like best about blogging?
I consider Eat Your Veggies! to be a forum not just for Pop’rs and the Pop’rs Family, but for my visitors as well. I love sharing my everyday thoughts and dreams. Plus, as a blogger I have a built-in “sounding board” in the blogging community. I love the freedom that the Internet brings. I can be sitting here in my dusty basement, and communicate with others halfway around the world! I also enjoy meeting new friends and making common connections. And I get a lot of encouragement and advice, which is nice!

You have such a strong network of online friends. Which bloggers have you created an especially strong bond with?
I’m close with several blogging buddies. Susie, from Susie’s Homemade is one of my faves…she and her wonderful husband, Jeff, just redesigned my blog, which is awesome! I also have a strong affinity for Karla at Zander and Me, and The Lovely Mannequin, at Fractured Toy. Mannequin’s friends, Frankie and Cupid, are the best…plus they’re featured in my new redesign as well. Check out the Polaroid in the upper left-hand corner that’s labeled “Pop’rs Pals”!

Do you share any common threads with your fellow blogging friends?
We all love sharing stories about friends, family, work and food. Especially food! And every time Uncle Lynn hosts a Great New Pop’rs Giveaway, I seem to make even more bloggy buds. Wonder why that is?

Any fun vacation plans in 2009?
The Pop’rs Family vacations every summer at North Carolina’s Outer Banks. We’ve been going there for years, and consider this lovely strip of sand more of a sanctuary than a vacation spot. Last year we were able to get all 10 of us there at once, which was a very special treat! Other than our annual beach getaway, though, I’ve been saving my sheckels…with two kids in college, I can’t afford a fancy vay-cay right now!

The Airport. A Snowstorm. A Poem. And a Traveler's Tale.

~Stopping by Woods on a Snowy Evening~

Whose woods these are I think I know,
His house is in the village though.
He will not see me stopping here,
To watch his woods fill up with snow.
My little horse must think it queer,
To stop without a farmhouse near,
Between the woods and frozen lake,
The darkest evening of the year.
He gives his harness bells a shake,
To ask if there is some mistake.
The only other sound's the sweep,
Of easy wind and downy flake.
The woods are lovely, dark and deep,
But I have promises to keep,
And miles to go before I sleep,
And miles to go before I sleep.
~Robert Frost~

Yup. The Girls had to travel yesterday in the biggest dang snowstorm you ever did see. Substitute "airplane," "airport," etc., for "woods" in this classic Frost poem, and you'll get the idea. Pretty, but also pretty aggravating. Remember...these are the kiddos who had to be rescued by Big Bear the Sunday after Thanksgiving!

Hope all of you Hearty Midwesterners and Northeasterners get dug out safely and successfully!

Fx4: Christmas is for Children

The Pop'rs Family is headed for the Florida Panhandle tomorrow. Two weeks at the beach, returning in Early 2009. Wanted to get one more Cutie Pie in before they head South to warmer climes.

Eat Your Veggies! will remain online through the holidays, so never fear~Veggie Mom is Here!

Big Bear is sitting on Santa's lap, when the World Was Very Young. Aunt Julie calls Big Bear's Pal "The Best Santa Ever," and we agree!

Playing along today with Candid Carrie and her Friday Foto Finish Fiesta. Click on over there and have some fun!

Virtual Cookie Exchange!

You probably remember me blogging about my fabulous MIL, Grandma Vera. This wonderful woman was an Expert at All Things, from Babies to Baking. I remember when my SIL, Aunt Julie, had Big Bear, her first. He wouldn't stop screaming when Julie Eliz tried to put him down for a nap.

"Put him down and close the door," Vera counseled.
"But he still screams," Julie said.
"Then go down the stairs," Vera advised. "If you can still hear him, go to the kitchen. If you can still hear him then, go outside, close the outside door, and sit on the steps."

Vera knew such things instinctively. She also knew her way around a kitchen. Baking-especially Norwegian Christmas treats such as Lefse, Cut Out Cookies and Sandbakkels-was her specialty.

Sandbakkels-Norwegian for Sand Tart-are basically a different kind of sugar cookie, from Across the Pond and Up Nort in the Old Country. The recipe is deceptively simple, and the cookies are pressed in special Sandbakkel Tins to hold their delicate, sunburst shape. Some folks put some kind of custard in the Sandbakkel shells, or sprinkle sugar on them. Most of us here around the Pop'rs Family prefer them plain.

So here, then, is Grandma Vera's special recipe for Sandbakkels. We're playing along with Tracy P.'s Virtual Cookie Exchange. Click on over there for a delightful, delicious way to spend the Holidays!

Grandma Vera's Sandbakkels
1 stick butter
1 stick margarine
1/2 cup brown sugar
1/2 cup white sugar
1 egg
3 cups flour
big, rounded teaspoon of cardamom

Preheat your oven to 350 degrees. Cream butter and margarine together. Add the sugars and the egg to this mixture, and stir well. Gradually add the flour, stirring each time, and putting the cardamom in the first cup of flour. Chill the dough overnight. The next day, press the dough into Sandbakkel tins. Bake at 350 degrees until light brown, about 10 minutes. Turn the tins over on a sheet of aluminum foil, and after they cool slightly, squeeze each gently until the Sandbakkels pop out. Enjoy!

Fx4: Snow Angel

Remember Rowdy the Puppy? Well, here's R-Man enjoying his first snowfall. Aunt Julie says he relished this precipitation so much more than The Pop'rs Cousins, who had to be rescued by Big Bear during The Sunday Slip 'n' Slide!

As always, we're playing along with Candid Carrie's Friday Foto Finish Fiesta. Hope the weekend is a Fun One!

We Wish You a Merry SITSmas & Lots of Linky Love!

Today we're spreading SITSmas Cheer! The Gals over at The Secret is in the Sauce are hosting the First Annual Merry SITSmas over at their place. Heather & Tiffany, SITStas Extraordinaire, are getting all Festive and Fun by hosting a Day of Linky Love. Please visit them for Gifts Galore, and Share the Comment Love!

I saved a FanTAbulous Foto for just such a post. Here's Big Bear, enjoying time with Grandma Vera. The Always-on-the-Ball Aunt Julie sent me this pic with instructions to use it for a Special Occasion, so here ya go!

Update on Snowy Sunday. Or, as we've started calling it, The Sunday Slip 'n' Slide. College Girl and The Wild One landed at the Milwaukee airport, no problem. They picked up their car from a friend, and started the hour-and-a-half trek to Larry U. About 50 miles short of their goal, they had to pull off the highway; it was either slide into a ditch, or try to wait the storm out at a nearby Exxon station. Big Bear, being the awesome Pop'rs Cousin that he is, came to the rescue in his Tahoe. The girls went back to the Scene of the Crime yesterday, and picked up their abandoned Civic after the roads were passable.

As part of Spreading the SITSmas Cheer, I also wanted to Share a Shout-Out. Or, Several Shout-Outs, to be More Specific! More than 68 percent of my Pop'rs Pals are Fellow SITStas, as well. Please visit these folks and Wish Them a Happy!

A Day In Rhonda's Life

A Little Bit Nutty...

A Little Bit of Life On the Side

Art On A Limb

Blogstalker

Boys Will B Boys

Buried With Children

Candid Carrie

Deanna's Corner

Don't Get Married...You won't like it!!

Exceptional Voyage

Expectantly Waiting

Fractured Toy

Get A Grip, Mom!

Half-Past Kissin' Time

Honest And Truly!

I Heart Hair Bows

If Mom Says OK

Jeannie's Happy World

Just Lisa, No Filler

Katydid and Kid

KooKooForCocoaPuffs

Laural Out Loud

Lulaville

Mindless Junque

Mommy from the Midwest

My Dogumentary

MyCup2Yours

Not So SAHM

Not Your Average Soccer Mom

One Krazy Kat Lady

Pocket Change

Ritch in Love

SevEn cLoWn CirCuS

Susie's Homemade

Texas Word Tangle

The Journey

The Journey to the Hot Tub

The R Family Diaries

The Scholastic Scribe

This is the Life

Zander and Me

This photo of Shark Boy and Big Bear enjoying their apples on the front lawn started me thinking about the meaning of autumn, and of falling leaves. Then I found this quote, which made the picture complete!

"If winter is slumber and spring is birth, and summer is life, then autumn rounds out to be reflection. It's a time of year when the leaves are down and the harvest is in and the perennials are gone. Mother Earth just closed up the drapes on a another year, and it's time to reflect on what's come before."

~Mitchell Burgess, writer & producer of "The Sopranos" & "Northern Exposure"~

Cute Lil' Ol' Punkin, Ain't He?

OK, No One who Knows Him Now will believe this, but this Cute Lil' Ol' Punkin is Shark Boy, Back in the Day. I know, I know...Just Too Precious, huh? Auntie Julie stitched this costume, too, BTW. Found this pic while digging around in the Basement Boxes yesterday. Julie Eliz probably Doesn't. Even. Know. I. Have. It! They do Grow Up, don't they?

Also I've got an Editor's Note for ya, too. The M-I-C-K-E-Y in Yesterday's Post,was not Big Bear, but Soccer Boy! What kind of Aunt am I, anyway? Just to Set the Record Straight.

OK, on to the Great New Pop'rs Halloween Giveaway! Please Click Here to get started. And Here and Here, to add even More Comments, thereby giving you More Entries!

Remember, the contest is open both to Pop'rs Newbies--those who've never tried our delectable, nutritious and delicious seasoning--and to Pop'rs Veterans, too! The Vets, thankyouverymuch, are those who've won a Pop'rs Giveaway before.

Ya, Shore, Youbetcha, as they say in Our Neck O' the Woods! The Great New Pop'rs Halloween Giveaway closes at 11:59 p.m. on Friday. That's Halloween, and you'd rather be Treated than Tricked, right-o?

M-I-C...K-E-Y...M-O-U-S-E, and a Great Giveaway!

Does that song pinpoint my age right on the noggin? Oh, well. I saw this Cute Pic of Big Bear and Friends from Many Moons Ago, and it made me nostalgic for The Mickey Mouse Club, ya know?

If you've been cruising around the Blogosphere the past couple of days, you must know about The Great Pop'rs Halloween Giveaway! We've got 22 Pop'rs Prizes for ya, plus a couple of fun extras!

To get started, please click here. Or here. And definitely comment on this post, too. See, the more you comment, the greater your chances of winning. And How. Great. Is. That?

Remember, the contest is open both to Pop'rs Newbies--those who've never tried our delectable, nutritious and delicious seasoning--and Pop'rs Veterans. The Vets, of course, are those who've won a Pop'rs Giveaway Before. They have to Step It Up A Notch to remain competitive!

So, Let's Go, Everyone! We're waiting for your entries! The Great Pop'rs Halloween Giveaway closes at 11:59 p.m. on Friday. We don't want to be mean, on Halloween!

Nice Hair!

Alpacas

Alpacas are cool,

They have really warm wool,

Their favorite treat is grain,

But they don't like the rain,

They make a weird sound,

When something bad is going around,

They're so cute and cuddly,

Just like a baby puppy,

I love alpacas,

They are really cool.

~Cassandra (age 12)~

Borrowed from a site dedicated to Children's Poems About Alpacas. Another one of Aunt Julie's photos from Mark & Jan's place in Southwestern Wisconsin. You may recall the recent post that featured Mark and one of his Alpaca Buddies down on the farm. Or last Friday's F x 4 pic, of Big Bear and his Wooly Friend.

Speaking of Candid Carrie, we're part of her Friday Foto Fiesta Finish. Come along and join the fun!

Is Your Mama a Llama?

Or an Alpaca? This is Big Bear, down on the farm recently. BB's aunt, out Southwestern Wisconsin Way, plans to sell the Alpaca fiber from the 10 critters she owns to be made into yarn for soft, plush winter sweaters. Playing along with Candid Carrie today, and thought this was the perfect addition to her Friday Foto Fiesta Finish!

I'd also like to say "Yay!" today for Nik, over at Exceptional Voyage, who is our Bloggy Winner, selected by Random Drawing, in the Great New Pop'rs Giveaway! Nik wins Two Pop'rs Flavors of Her Choice! Uncle Lynn wanted me to remind you all that Pop'rs are only available online--they're not in stores yet! And, they come in eight delicious flavors: Buffalo, Butter, Chocolate, Colorbust, Cinnamon, Raspberry, Strawberry and Taco.

So, Nik, please e-mail me with your info, so Uncle Lynn can get those Pop'rs in the mail to you right away! And, everyone, listen up! Tomorrow, we announce our the Giveaway's Grand Prize Winner--so come back to see me tomorrow, and we'll have a little Bloggy Celebration!

"Everyone must take time to sit and watch the leaves turn."

~Elizabeth Lawrence~

And the First Winner Is...

...Channah, of Get a Grip, Mom! According to her Bloggy Profile, Channah has been blogging since May, which would make her a Newbie, just like Veggie Mom!

Uncle Lynn chose Channah yesterday, by Random Drawing! And what does she win? Her choice of two flavors of Pop'rs, that good-for-you seasoning, which really encourages everyone, young AND old, to Eat. Their Veggies! Remember, Bloggy Readers...Pop'rs are only available online from Uncle Lynn. And, they come in eight fanTAbulous flavors: Buffalo, Butter, Chocolate, Colorbust, Cinnamon, Raspberry, Strawberry and Taco.

So, Channah, shoot Veggie Mom an e-mail, and let her know what flavors you prefer. And remember: We'll be announcing four more winners this week, and a Grand Prize Winner on Saturday!

We'd also like to use our posts this week to showcase Fall, Our Family, and some Funny Stories we've be saving for ya. The shot above, an Aunt Julie Special, showcases Shark Boy, Uncle Lynn, Big Bear, and College Boy, who is hanging out in his Baby Backpack. They're in the Pumpkin Patch with their Newfoundland, Nelson. This photo was taken When the World was Very Young, of course, before Soccer Boy came along!

We'd like to leave you, Dear Readers, with a quote about Autumn. And, a Bloggy Reminder: Stay Tuned for more Great New Pop'rs Giveaway Winners!

Autumn is a second spring, when every leaf is a flower.

~Albert Camus, French Existentialist

A Bloggy Celebration and a Great New Pop'rs Giveaway!

Happy First Day of Fall! Aunt Julie and The Pop'rs Boys--Big Bear, College Boy, Shark Boy and Soccer Boy, pictured above with Trouble Elizabeth and Moses--love the changing of the leaves, the dropping of the temperatures and, of course, the playing of the football games every Sunday. Fall also means the advent of Halloween, which is Soccer Boy's favorite holiday, since it comes so close to his birthday!

We have an extra special reason to celebrate this season. Saturday will be Veggie Mom's 100th Post! And what better way to commemorate This Life-Altering Event than with a little ol' Bloggy Giveaway?

This Great New Pop'rs Giveaway is a contest With. A. Twist. It features two phases. Here are the rules, plain and simple:

• Giveaway Dates: Today through Saturday, October 4. In Phase One, contestants may enter as many times as they like, but all entries must be recieved by 11:59 p.m. EST on Friday, September 26. Phase Two of the Giveaway takes place September 29 through October 4!
• Giveaway prizes: Five Bloggy Friends will each win their choice of two flavors of Pop’rs, the good-for-you seasonings that make eating veggies fun! One Bloggy Friend will win the Grand Prize—a complete set of Pop’rs! Pop’rs are that tasty and fun seasoning that really encourages kids to Eat Their Veggies! Pop’rs, which come in eight flavors, add great flavor, and fun, to just about any kind of food, from applesauce to broccoli--all the way through the alphabet, to yogurt and beyond. Pop’rs, which are only available from Uncle Lynn at http://www.poprs.com/, have an added kick--as the name implies, they go POP! when you eat them.
• Giveaway Rules: Veggie Mom is celebrating her 100th Blog Post and the changing of the seasons, by offering a Great New Pop’rs Giveaway in two phases.

1. To enter the Giveaway, readers must post questions that they want to ask Veggie Mom, Aunt Julie, Uncle Lynn, or anyone else over at Eat Your Veggies! This is Phase One of the Giveaway. Readers get one Giveaway Entry for every question they post. There is no limit to the questions you may ask! Veggie Mom will collect questions from today through 11:59 p.m. EST on Friday, September 26, so make sure to get your questions in! I will answer all readers’ questions on Saturday, September 27—which happens to be my 100th Blog Post—and Sunday, September 28.
2. Starting Monday, September 29, Phase Two of the Giveaway begins! Uncle Lynn, The Pop'r King, will award Giveaway Prizes to one Giveaway Finalist each day, through Friday, October 3. He will announce the Grand Prize Winner in a post right here on Saturday, October 4. Finalists will each receive two Pop'rs flavors of their choice. The Grand Prize Winner will receive a complete set of Pop'rs--all eight flavors!

The changing of the leaves, the crisp Fall air, the NFL and a Great New Pop'rs Giveaway. You ask, we'll answer, and we'll both have Something to Celebrate!