Mad Science

Well, hello Monday!

Seems like you were just here, doesn't it?

Last week, like many of my weeks, was a complete blur!

I've ran to and fro between practices, ball games, and the grocery store countless times.  Then you throw in an inkling to organize every drawer, cabinet and storage room within a 10 acre radius, and here I sit.  Ready to start it all over again.  

Please don't think I'm complaining!  I enjoy a busy life.

I do not believe the quote that says....

“Life is just a quick succession of busy nothings.” ~ Jane Austen.   

I do believe that for myself, idleness leads to boredom.  I'm happiest when I'm involved with my family, my children, my husband and my friends.  

You don't have to agree, that's just my way.  And for me, it seems to work.

In between the aforementioned things I accomplished last week, I decorated for Halloween.

I love to "SPOOK" the house up a bit.  I dangle snakes from the light fixtures and place mice on the bookshelves.  I drape gauzy fabric from the furniture and pose the skeletons on mantel.

I add something new every year to our crazy collection of eerie frights.  

This year I may have my new all-time favorite.  Dr. Giggles, the mad-scientist.  I love him for 3 reasons.

#1. He makes reference to diarrhea, and that instantly made him apart of our family.

#2. He seems more rattled than me, based on the four or five things he says.

#3. He seems misunderstood........and I always root for the underdog.

Without further ado, friends, I introduce to you, Dr. Giggles.

Dr. Giggles, I introduce you to my cyber family.

I supplied Dr. Giggles with an assortment of chemicals and potions for his experiments and such.  

Everyone knows that you cannot complete a lab experiment without deer antlers and severed fingers.  

I combined potassium chloride and liquid ammonia to make a potent truth serum.  Anyone care to join me for dinner?  Mah wah hah!  

(Disclaimer:  I have no idea what happens when you combine potassium chloride and liquid ammonia.  Do not try at home.  I may.....or may not have added a wee bit of red food coloring to water and slapped a Martha Stewart halloween label on an old margarita mix bottle.)

These beauties on the other hand are authentic, certifiable, and bona-fide.  These are old medicine bottles that Rick and I have collected for eons.  Grandma and Grandpa Howe and my Aunt Pammy have helped us add the assortment over the years.  

Rick's Granny and Grandpa Smith owned a pharmacy 

When Grandpa passed, Granny had an auction and we purchased some of their old supplies.  We were newly married and pinched for extra cash, so we didn't get it all.  We kick ourselves for not buying it all now....but at the time, it just didn't seem practical.  

You may have to squint, but I am amazed at the advise this author gave pregnant women on smoking.  Jeez...times have sure changed.  

I thought I would close with a few mad scientist images I found and a rock candy science experiment I would like to try with the kids.  I'm off to mow the yard.  Hopefully for the last time this year!!!!!

Happy Monday! 

Rock Candy for Kids

Ingredients

• 2 cups granulated sugar

Heavy cord

• 1 cup water

Directions

1. Put one cup of water into a small saucepan, pour 2 cups of granulated sugar into the water, heat the water and sugar on the stove over a medium heat, continue stirring until the sugar melts, keep adding sugar and stirring until it melts, stop adding sugar when you see that it will no longer dissolve in the water (that is until you see sugar lying on the bottom of the saucepan). Remove the pot from the stove, let the liquid cool until it is just warm.
2. Pour the liquid into a clean glass jar.
3. Tie one end of a piece of heavy cord around the middle of a pencil.
4. Place the pencil over the top of the glass jar letting the cord fall into the liquid.
5. Crystals will begin to form in a few hours The next day, remove the cord from the jar, pour the sugar liquid back into the saucepan, reheat and cool it just as you did before. Pour the liquid back into the jar and reinsert the cord with the crystals into it. More crystals will form.
6. If you repeat this procedure every day the crystal candy will grow bigger and bigger.
7. When it has reached a size that pleases you, snip off any excess string and enjoy.