Donna's Day

On a recent afternoon when my son texted me to check in, I nimbly replied with sticky fingers, “I’m preoccupied with taking pics of pints of pickled…” While laughing at the preponderance of P’s, I accidentally pressed “send.” He immediately wrote back, “Pickled PEPPERS? … ha!”

If you find a few soft, bruised apples hiding behind the pickle and mayo jars in the back of your refrigerator, or discover some cast-offs at your local orchard or farmers market, consider them perfect for this activity. Peel, carve and dry them for apple-head puppets.

Set aside a space on your kitchen counter or a table in your family room to showcase your kids’ summer nature collectibles. Their own museum of natural wonders can be enjoyed by friends and family who come to your home.

Pears star in this easy-to-make rustic galette that school-age kids will enjoy helping you prepare. The crust can be mixed quickly with young hands and muscle — or you can roll out a store-bought pie crust.

Say, “thank you.” Those two important words are so embedded in us as children that we continue to pass the gesture of politesse to the next generation as part of the social drill. mom was no exception.

“It was a dark and stormy night” could have been an apt beginning to an exciting tale told by Nancy Liddy to her two grandsons in Madison, Wisconsin, via Skype recently.

Looking for an easy, last-minute, chocolaty dessert idea that doesn’t require heating up the oven on a hot September day? Here’s a clever idea you and your kids will enjoy: Make yummy homemade brownies in a waffle iron.

As technology advances at a rapid rate, many of the traditional ways of doing things may be unknown to kids born in the 21st century.

It has been a watermelon summer. The luscious, juicy treat has made a regular appearance in our soups, salads, grilled sides, as well as sliced up on large platters for the perfect alfresco big-crowd dessert.

If your young kids and grandkids like blowing bubbles, they’ll love this activity. When the colored bubbles dry on construction paper, they will become the eye-catching background for a one-of-a-kind work of art.

Kristina Zajic, speech pathologist and mom of 8-year-old Aisha and 10-year-old Elizabeth, loves bins. She has sand-toy bins, Barbie bins, ball bins, pretend-toy bins, office-supply bins and even nail-polish bins.

I don’t know a young child who doesn’t love a hammer. Watch when kids grab one tightly in both small hands, lift it high and pound. Thud! They see it do something. It might only be a nick on a board, or, if lucky, they’ll hit a nail square on.

“Spending time with my seven young grandkids is about learning together and making discoveries that ignite the human spirit,” says Jan Bowman, retired teacher and grandmother of seven.

I’m not a financial analyst, but one thing I do know for sure is that cash is flying out of my billfold. Today’s $75 tab to fill the tank in our family car and even more to fill the refrigerator were a clear sign that costs are rising before my eyes.

A yellowed 4-cent postcard surfaced from the bottom of an old shoebox stashed in our attic. A classic in time, it was sent before ZIP codes and eons before cell phones and snappy email.

It’s time for a sidewalk parade. Whether it’s on the Fourth of July, or anytime all summer long, decorate bikes, trikes, scooters, skates and wagons, wear a funny hat and strike up the band. A couple of families with a few motivated kids is really all it takes to make it happen.

I’m obsessed with fresh strawberries right now. Sweet to the taste and bright red to the eye, this luscious berry can be tossed into just about anything to turn an ordinary meal into a celebration.

If Dad is a meat-and-potatoes type of guy, surprise him on Father’s Day with this clever twist on a traditional “Meatloaf and Mashed Potatoes” menu item. Your kids will get their hands in the preparations as they form the meat mixture into mini loaves in a muffin pan.

Amaze your preschoolers and young school-age kids with the exciting world of science with these three simple tricks. They are safe and fun to do at home when you’re looking for something new to share together.

Shopping for salmon at your local fish market or grocery store can be a real-life geography lesson for your kids, so be sure to take them along.

Remember catching baby’s first smile and cheering when your toddler took that first wobbly step? Life’s “firsts” are celebrations we don’t want to miss.

As the school year winds down, it’s time to show appreciation to a special teacher. Here’s a springy idea: Arrange a casual bouquet of flowers with offshoots of your child’s creativity.

Running a household requires the skills of a juggler. First come the kids and their schedules, then toss in cooking, cleaning, car repair and pets.

Young kids can let Mom know she’s the best, hands down, with this personalized Mother’s Day poster card. Their own handprints will create the blooms for an artful flower that Mom will treasure.

Enjoy the smell and feel the warmth of something special baking in your oven this week. These Austrian-style soft pretzels are a healthy and satisfying snack dipped in yummy mustard or as a unique accompaniment to a big bowl of soup.

Make simple no-bake bird’s nest treats with your kids to celebrate spring. Drop peanut M&Ms or natural-looking candy eggs in each one.

Shake and decorate hollowed-out Easter eggs, then save them as keepsakes to display from year to year as a whimsical “egg plant” centerpiece.

When it’s time to prep a dinner meal this week, get your kids stacking the green, white and red layers of fresh basil, mozzarella and tomato.

Have you ever had a crazy, mixed-up day where life feels upside down, backward and inside out? With April Fools’ Day around the corner, start planning some capers and silly surprises to create such an off-kilter day for your family.

Make weekend breakfasts extra special when you put this delicious puff pancake on your menu. This recipe is simple to prepare with kids and dramatic to serve piping hot, right out of the oven.

For those of us who don’t claim Ireland in our lineage, it’s a stretch to dance a jig, much less remember to wear something green on St. Patrick’s Day, March 17.

It tastes like summer when it’s not. Looks like pizza, but it’s not. So, what is it? Tomato pie! It’s our new family favorite for a winter supper when we long for something with a fresh and zesty Italian flavor.

What’s one of the first things you do after your baby is born? I mean, after checking to see what sex it is. You look for the first smile, don’t you? You hold the baby up to the mirror and you point and coo and tweet, trying to get him to laugh.

For those of us who could use an unexpected surprise to chase away the winter doldrums, here’s an idea that’s hard to beat.

Most chore charts — the ones where the days of the week run across the top and the chores are listed down one side — don’t take into account that family days are unpredictable.

Dance away mud, grit and grime from your shoes and boots with a whimsical doormat. Your family can paint it together and then use it every time you walk through the door during this wet and muddy season.

This month, make these colorful window decorations to brighten your child’s bedroom during gloomy winter days. When the glue has dried, these sun catchers will have the look of stained glass.

Is there such a thing as easy entertaining? When reviewing our busy December days, I admit that in spite of my intentions, parties became a bit of a production with my long to-do lists and shoutouts to kids to run last-minute trips to the store to pick up mushrooms for the gravy or to our Scandinavian market for lingonberries and herring.

It’s easy and fun to dress up drab latex rubber gloves with perky cuffs. Add rickrack, bows or sparkling brooches for extra bling and your household cleaning chores won’t seem so humdrum. Your kids can help with the fabric choice, measuring and cutting.

Make a holiday-season breakfast extra special with this stuffed French toast recipe featuring oranges and fresh pecans, which are abundant this time of year.

It was somewhere between a Norman Rockwell painting and a Hallmark Moment. Our extended family had just gathered for Christmas last year at our cozy cabin nestled in Northern California’s coastal redwood forest.

“It’s dirty work, but someone has to do it!” Now that we’re in the hustle and bustle of the holiday season, with guests coming and going in our homes, here are some practical and easy cleaning strategies for busy families.

I’m nuts about nuts. All year-round. I try to keep a bowl of fresh, shelled California almonds replenished and within easy reach on the kitchen counter for a grab and go snack. And thanks to my Georgia-raised friend, I have a stash of tasty pecans for tossing on salads and desserts.

It’s a rare day when I don’t have an avocado “in waiting” on my kitchen counter. And when it’s just ripe, guacamole is bound to be on the dinner menu as an appetizer with tortilla chips or as a final crowning dollop on a quesadilla, taco or grilled fish.

When you look over the colorful choices of squash in various goofy shapes and sizes at your market this week, tell your kids to snoop carefully to find an extra-fun variety you may have forgotten about or never tried — spaghetti squash!

When there’s a birthday in your house, fly a pennant. This personal pennant celebrates the occasion and how unique the birthday child is. Make them together with your children now and enjoy using them on their special day.

Homemade granola is tasty to eat any time of day, but in our family it’s a staple for fall breakfasts with nonfat plain yogurt and fresh fruit.

Kids everywhere love just about anything that’s gooey, slithery and slimy. That’s probably why this recipe for “gooey goop” is such a crowd pleaser when you get together with friends, especially at a Halloween party. It’s quick, easy and creates lots of laughter. What could be better?

Sorting through bills, advertisements and coupons, I get weary of the waste and the impersonal nature of daily junk mail. Occupant … Occupant … Resident … Occupant. When my name actually appears on an envelope in handwriting I recognize, I feel like a gem is passing through my hands.

A purple petunia here, a rosemary sprig there and even arugula. My old college roomie, Becky, brought a wonderfully fragrant, wispy centerpiece to our house last week as an add-on to an impromptu Saturday-night family supper.