Game Review... Spicy Farkel

Tee- Hee, this is what the game looks like

 in the package!

 For ages 8 and up. 

If you're thinking Farkel, this is the version to own. There are special dice that have one red side each. One has a red one, one has a red two etc, all the way through six. These count towards doubling the score (or quadrupling if there are two red die on the roll, etc) if they come up in your roll.

As you play you have to set aside one or more dice that score points and can continue rolling the dice that don't count towards your score. You can continue rolling as long as you have at least one die that scores points. If you finally have all six set aside for points you can then take them and roll all six again to continue adding up your scores. If you don't roll any scoring options you lose all accumulated points and it passes to the next player.
The High stakes rules makes this even more interesting. If you are afraid of losing your score with the next roll of the remaining dice/die you can stop and take the score you've accumulated to that point. But, with the high stakes version, the next player can take the chance you were unwilling to make and if he/she gets a scoring roll, they get the same score you had and can continue from there. This changes your strategy because you don't want to leave too many dice available to the next player to grab your score and run with it so you may press your luck farther than you normally would.

This game contains small parts and is for children 5 and older.

Boredom Busters! How to start a blog.....

                                                    How to start your own blog.....
Are you thinking of starting a blog to promote your business or profession, or do you just want to share your thoughts on a subject that you love? Blogging is either free or inexpensive, and you can get started in moments by creating a blog on a site like Blogger or WordPress.

Let's get started!
1. Ask yourself what it is you're passionate about, what is it that you know  a lot about that you want to share with others? If you decide to write about something on a regular basis and keep your blog fresh with new information, then consider writing about something that fires up your passion or something that reflects you!

 2. Here's some different approaches to creating your blog.... 
 Teach something. If you're passionate about a particular subject, and you have a lot of experience in that area, then you can offer your knowledge to both people who are new to the subject and others who are as experienced as you are
Provide the latest news and trends. Write about the latest developments related to your topic. You want to be someone who's viewed as the ultimate insider so that you can continue to increase your blog's readership. 
Make people laugh. Are you the funniest person you know? No matter what your subject area, you can present your experiences and thoughts in a humorous way that will really resonate with people. 
Inspire others. Have you overcome an obstacle, such as a serious illness or a difficult life experience? Do you want to turn your challenges into something that will inspire others to overcome their problems? If that's the case, then make your blog inspirational.

3. What NOT to blog about.....this takes a reasonable amount of common sense not to reveal family secrets, or talk about people in your workplace or school. Always ask permission to talk about someone you know.

4. Read and follow other blogs to see what's happening and what else is out there. This will help you stay fresh too.

5. Name your blog..... brainstorm for name ideas, ask your friends, and go for it. See if you can incorporate your theme in the title.

6. Research keywords related to your subject to help people find your blog. This site is a pretty amazing resource:  http://ubersuggest.org/

Now you are ready to write!

Grown Up stuff..... panhandlers.....

We realize this is a sensitive subject and a hot topic in many downtown areas across the country. We advocate assistance but to those organizations in each community who specialize in lending a helping hand or meal.  We also believe that education is the key as to what is allowed and protected and what is not.  We have  put together this information.....

       

PANHANDLING RESOURCES

Panhandling, vagrancy, and homelessness are not the same issue, although then can often overlap. Some people feel intimidated or don't know the best way to help. The following information is provided as a general guide. For chronic issues or concerns, please contact your city council representative and/or the Durango Police Department. 

What is and is not allowed in the City of Durango:

Passive solicitation—seeking a donation without approaching or stopping an individual or addressing a donation request to any specific person—is permitted throughout the City on public property.

 Aggressive solicitation is prohibited throughout the City.   Please report panhandlers who:

• Continue to solicit after being told “no”
• Make unwanted physical contact
• Follow or obstruct pedestrians
• Use profane or abusive language, exhibit violent behavior or make threats
• Solicit in a group of two or more
• Feel threatened in any way

Please call the Durango Police Department at 970-385-2900 to report panhandlers who

Violate these City ordinance provisions.

             

What to do when you see a panhandler or street musician in

Historic downtown Durango….

Every year, shop owners, employees, locals and visitors give thousands of dollars to panhandlers, musicians, and those attempting to sell their goods on the street.  Unfortunately, giving directly to panhandlers does not provide long-term solutions to homelessness. Instead, panhandlers negatively impact the economic development and quality of life of those living in, working and visiting our city.

Some interesting facts… many panhandlers:

• are not homeless; panhandling is their profession and they travel all over the country.

• prey upon our sympathies

• use money for drugs or alcohol and not basic needs

Guidelines for dealing with panhandlers…

DO answer requests for money with a firm NO

DO treat homeless with respect, realizing that only a small portion of panhandlers are actually homeless

DO offer information on where they can get help, including Manna Soup Kitchen, Volunteers of America, and United Way of Southwest Colorado.

DO make donations to organizations that have a proven track record of helping the homeless

DO talk to your kids about homelessness and panhandling

DO contact your City Council representative with your concerns

DO call Durango Police if you see someone smoking marijuana, being aggressive, or drinking an open alcoholic beverage. This is for everyone’s safety!

DON’T give money or food

DON’T allow anyone to camp or loiter on your property

DON’T allow anyone to store shopping carts, bedding or other personal belongings on your property

DON’T feel guilty!

What's in a pun?

Let's take a look at some defintions of  what a pun is.....

Most authorities agree on this:

"Pun (puhn):

the humorous use of a word or phrase so as to emphasize or suggest its different meanings or applications, or the use of words that are alike or nearly alike in sound but different in meaning; a play on words."

 

             What I found amusing and punny was this definition from a British Dictionary:

"the use of words or phrases to exploit ambiguities and innuendoes in their meaning, usually for humorous effect; a play on words. An example is: "Ben Battle was a soldier bold, And used to war's alarms: But a cannonball took off his legs, So he laid down his arms." (Thomas Hood)"

 

From Wikipedia:

"The pun, also called paronomasia, is a form of word play that suggests two or more meanings, by exploiting multiple meanings of words, or of similar-sounding words, for an intended humorous or rhetorical effect."

 

We find that once we get the ball rolling using puns in almost every sentence that we cannot stop! 

 

Like pointing to a chemistry set on Valentine's day and saying "we've got great chemistry together!"

Claiming that a Pirate's favorite place to eat lunch is ARRRRRRR- BY's

 

Here's some other examples that will wither make you laugh , shake your head, or just plain groan!

 

People say that as a child, William Shakespeare was very playful. -Sgt Snorkel

 

Of all the philosophers, Descartes can carry the most things.

 

Resale means to go yachting again. Joseph Leff

The salesman claimed the shoes were made from alligator, but I knew it was a crock. Larry Levin

 

Have you read the book about hands? It's a real page turner. Drew

 

I wasn't originally going to get a brain transplant, but then I changed my mind. Colin Thomas

So you see, we could go on and on and on, but now it's your chance to make up a few of your own.

To see the chemistry set we mentioned visit Durango Toy Depot!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

LifeHacks for everyone to use!

What is a Life Hack?

Life hacks are little ways to make our lives easier. These low-budget tips and trick can help you organize and de-clutter space; prolong and preserve your products; or teach you something (e.g., tie a full Windsor) that you simply did not know before.

Recycle Kitty Litter plastic jugs into watering cans by drilling small holes in the lid and one in the handle for air. These can be used by kids and grown ups for watering the garden or for bathtub play. It's a good idea to wash the jug out before use.....

Tie a small knot in the cord of your right ear bud, this way, you'll always know which is which....

At your next BBQ, put condiments like ketchup, mayonnaise, mustard, onions, and pickles in the cups of a cupcake tin for serving. There will be fewer dishes to do and everything will look really yummy!

Use a clothes basket in the bathtub to keep the toys within reach of your toddler. 

Set the child in the basket too!

Add a lint roller to your craft room for easy clean up of glitter and scraps of paper!

Place dry tea bags in smelly gym shoes , gym shoes, or lockers to absorb the smell.

Use a hand can opener to open pesky blister packs so you don't cut yourself.

Store stickers on a sheet of waxed paper to use over and over again!

Place an unused dryer sheet in your car and it will freshen your car instead of buying fancy car fresheners. You can also stash a couple in the kids closets, lockers, gym bags and drawers.

 
 

How to Whittle

What does Whittle mean?????

...carve (an object) from wood by repeatedly cutting 

small slices from it.

Whittling is an activity that can be enjoyed by most anyone all you need is a very sharp knife and some wood. The wood can be a fallen branch of any size, a chuck of craft wood, or even a fire log.
It helps if you have a rough idea in your head of what you would like to create but sometimes, spontaneity and accidental art works just fine too.

Whittling is carving but taking little slices off of the wood off at a time. Remember to work slowly and make small cuts so you don't take off too much wood at one time.

Choose your wood and prepare it by taking the bark off if necessary. You may even want to select a piece of wood that does not contain sap or is still soft and green.

The knife one would choose should have a very sharp blade and should be comfortable to handle for long periods of time. Either a kitchen knife, a hobby knife, or a jackknife are suitable for your whittlin' project. Good knife skills are important before attempting to whittle any project!

Learn how to sharpen your knife and take nicks out of the blade. There are several tools available for knife sharpening including the stones on the back of most electric can openers. Other tools would be a hand held sharpener which looks like this:

 and is held in one hand as you run the knife blade through the sharpening stones. Other types would include a rounded knife steel, or a flat sharpening stone in which you would run the knife blade over at an angle with some oil for a smoother edge.

Remember these safety tips!
Never run with your open knife in your hand!

Store the knife out of the reach of small children.
 Hold the knife firmly and always cut ayaw from your body and hands!

Slice with the knife, don't try to saw with as the knife may slip.

If you cut yourself, seek help immediately and wash the would under cold running water!

Now you are ready to begin your project! Start slowly and take small pieces of wood off your "stick"
by making short light strokes with our knife. Clean of the bark and begin to form your masterpiece!

With practice, you'll soon see what an amazing hobby this is creating animals, 

whistles, and even slingshots!

www.durangotoydepot.com 

Why it's important to Play!

10 Reasons why play is important!

1. Play lays the foundation for literacy. This is an authoritative voice! When children play, the learn and practice making sounds, try out new words and exercise their storytelling ability with their friends and family! See what happens when you hand a child a puppet!
2. Play is learning. Play nurtures development. Watch the stages of play from shaking a rattle, to peek-a-boo to hide and seek. Play is something you can do by yourself, with other kids, or with adults.
3. Play encourages adults to communicate with the children in their lives. Grown Ups support play by giving children the opportunity to play, by knowing when not to intervene, and by knowing when to intervene.
4. Play gives children the chance to be spontaneous. You may think your child should be rolling the truck on the ground but that doesn’t mean that truck is not equally useful as a stacking toy. Or that the blocks can't float!
5. Play gives children choice.Deciding what to play with or deciding who to play with are big choices!
6. Play gives children space. To test a new move, to set their own limits!
7. Play gives adults the chance to learn how to play again. One of the most challenging parts of play is putting yourself in it!
8. Play allows adults to learn their child’s body language. Knowing when to step in to play is an important role for grown ups!
9. Play teaches social skills. Learning to communicate, learning to cooperate, learning strategies, and learning sportsmanship!
10. Play is fun. We're the Instigators of Fun and you can be too! Check this out! Instigators of Fun!

To the Moon Alice!

"To the Moon Alice!" Back in the day.....

Now we have Estes rockets to launch in hopes of reaching the clouds! Or even the moon!

Here's a little model rocket history...

"In the late 50's much of the world was captivated by the Space Race which was lead by the United States and Soviet Russia. As Russia launched the Sputnik satellite many amateurs rocketeers began to become interested in the hobby of model rocketry. Unfortunately, many people soon found out using homemade explosives with metals can be a deadly mix.
Along came G. Harry Stine and Orville Carisle, who founded the first model rocket company Model Missiles Incorporated in 1957. The company was unable to mass produce rocket engines, so they did what anyone would do, before the Internet, consulted a phone book. The first listing, in the Denver area, for fireworks was a family business called Estes. Vernon Estes, the son of the fireworks owner, took it upon himself to create a way to mass produce rocket engines. He later created a machine named "Mabel" which allowed workers to create a rocket engine in 5.5 seconds while only using compressed air. Later Model Missiles Inc. went out of business, leaving a large market for someone to conquer, that man was Vernon Estes.
Throughout the years Estes model rockets have continued to put out new and unique designs of many styles of model rockets. Estes helped create the Skill Level rating of rockets which helps rocket builders determine how difficult it is to assemble a certain rocket. Vernon Estes also helped the National Association of Rocketry create the Model Rocketry Safety Code which is a safety guideline for all rocketeers.
Mr. Estes has had an incredibly large impact on the model rocket world and continues to influence model rocketry. Over the years Estes model rockets have provided countless bulk items to schools and youth groups to continue the expansion of space travel. The impacts of Estes' decisions and business ventures have forever re-shaped the hobby of model rocketry."
http://www.321rockets.com