Emma's Edible Map.

Emma finished today her first social studies project of the new academic year - an edible map of her bedroom.

At first we were going to hot glue candy to construction paper. Emma sketched out a rough draft of the project last weekend. But then at the orientation the other night one of the teachers mentioned using frosting to "glue" the candy to the map. So then I started thinking, well, they did say "edible map."

I pitched the idea of a truly edible map to Em on Friday and she agreed it was a great idea. So we made a box of chocolate chip cookie dough and spread it in a shallow baking tin and that forms the base of the map. Here she is, happy and proud. (She whined a few times about doing homework on the weekend but while she was working on the map -- and she did this on her own, except for the hot gluing of items on the key -- she said, "I didn't know this was going to be so much fun.")

So, whew! first project of the year done. Many more to go.

Escaping the Heat.

Emma and I spent Saturday in the mountains, heading up to Estes Park for the Colorado Hunter Jumper Association's horse show. Stanley Lake is across the street from the fairgrounds, so we went there twice. I suspect Emma enjoyed walking in the lake more than watching the jumpers.

It couldn't have been a more beautiful day to be up there. Warm, but not hot. Sunny with enough clouds so that every few minutes you got a break from the heat. Steady breeze. And, of course, the scenery. It was one of those days where I spent a lot of time thinking, "I can't believe I live in such a beautiful place."

Oh, the top pic shows one of the most famous places in Estes Park -- other than Rocky Mountain National Park, of course: The Stanley Hotel, which inspired Stephen King's "The Shining." Beautiful place.