January 18, 2008
-
M-n-Ms, Mince, and Museum
Pip, pip, cheerio and all that jazz. How are you? I have foundered myself with peanut M-n-Ms. One of the things I stuffed in my suitcase was a 45 ounce bag of those chocolate yummies. Last night we opened them, and I don’t think they’ll be long for this world. You just can’t get glutton-sized bags of candy like that here in Cambridge.
But, one thing you can get is mince. I always wondered what mince was. It turns out, it’s ground beef! We bought some and made hamburgers tonight. Tasted just like ground beef should.
This afternoon, TGD came home after his talks and we headed to the Museum of Zoology. There are about five real-live museums in Cambridge in addition to all the history dripping from every building you pass. Skeletons and stuffed things seemed like a good plan for a gray afternoon, so off we went.
Outside the museum hangs a real skeleton of a whale. (I forget what kind, but it’s huge.) Inside are all sorts of nifty dead things and fossils and skeletons and stuffed things. One of my favorite parts was the big display of stuffed, local birds. (With all those M-n-M’s, I might qualify for the stuffed part.) It enabled us to identify several birds we had seen in our yard and in our ramblings.
I also liked the grin on the rhino.
Hunter narrowly avoided an attack by this–um–skeletal thing.
Tonight, our Youth Group back in PA meets. They are going to Skype us for the first hour of the meeting so that my kids can visit with their friends and play Pictionary with the crowd. It means a late night for us (midnight start time), but it will be well worth it.
If you aren’t familiar with Skype, I highly encourage you to check out this FREE system for calling anywhere in the world and having a webcam link as well. We’ve loved it. My mom calls almost every day and visits. It makes us not feel so far away. Go HERE to learn more because it is really neat and totally free to download and to call and is a great way for grandmas to see their grandkids every day.
Off to listen to TGD read aloud to us while I quilt and then watch another episode of Horatio Hornblower. Bliss.
Comments (26)
I have not had M & M for ages, the last packet I bought was the chocolate ones
I’ve been in a serious peanut M-n-M addiction phase for a few weeks now. I have to have my dose every day.
Is the mince to which you refer the same as in mincemeat pie? How could this be?
So nice you can connect back home on Skype. Can you imagine what it would have been like a century ago if you had gone overseas? Weeks and months before communicating, and that so incompletely!
What are you quilting?
I guess you like the Hornblower series…..I haven’t seen any of that in ages. Maybe I should check it out. Sounds terribly British, does it not?
Cheers! Glad you sound more like your chipper self!
More rested? Hey! Where are my M-n-M’s…..
Your kids are so lucky to get to visit all of these places.
Glad you all had a good time! I LOVE the pics! Hope your kids’ late night Pictionary fest is great fun! Party, party!
we skype with the grandbaby on the other side of the country, so it is great.
you know, you do have friends here to replenish things like m&m supplies.
Oh my goodness; those pictures are hysterical!
I am so glad you can keep in touch with your friends through modern technology. When we were overseas, we used the blue air-mail thingies. They had to be folded properly to get put in the mail. Do they still have such things?
Peanut-M&M are not good for me. If I open a bag, I will not stop until the bag is empty and it doesn’t matter what size the bag is! In fact, if the bag is a small one, I will go get another.
Not to be confused with minced meat..which is really nasty-ish fruit stuff in little pies.
Yay for M and N’s. Smart you for packing them. “Smarties” just aren’t the same–have you seen them?
We’ve got Skype. You can talk to me any time! Lady of the Manse.
The museum looks awesome to visit..
First time I ever learn about mince as they use it as ground beef.. Ohhh, that make sense to me. 
I had M&M not too long ago.. haha..
Your museum pictures remind me of when we went to the Creation Museum back in December……….FUN! And, I’ve got a little stash of ‘Raisinettes’……..I love M&M’s too though. Well, I like them intensely I should say.
I’m gonna check out Skype…….I’d heard of it before, but forgot about checking into it! Tanks for the reminder!
Becky
When bkroeker has time we hope to have skype soon. My kids LOVED seeing your kids last night! I wish I could have seen that. Looks like a great museum!
Mmmmmm m&m’s sound good!!!!!! haha I enjoyed the pics!! Love the faces!!! hehe
Mince–who’d've thunk it?
Never tried Skype, but it sounds totally cool. How great that the kids can still be part of their group at home!
Cute pics!
And isn’t it interesting that only Americans demand candy in bulk…
I am so enjoying your stay in England. Any thoughts on visiting Egypt? I really want to visit the museum in Cairo again and this way if you go and take really good pics and write descriptive, intriguing stories about your adventures it will save me the airfare and other travel expenses! Also, my last stay there left me with a nasty little intestinal bugger that I wouldn’t like to experience again. So…toodle-loo! And on a serious note enjoy every minute!
Horatio Hornblower= best movie series ever! *coughMr.Kennedycough*
You must now learn to make mince pies! I’ve always wanted to try a mince pie, J.K. Rowling makes them sound so yummy!
Love the profile picture…
…and the above pictures. Those facial expressions are PRICELESS.
Cool photos!
I love the peanut M&M, just can’t buy them here.
well, of COURSE HH is the real deal, but kennedy is hot in a witty, smarmy, english kind of way. but you can’t expect the british to measure up to the American Cuteness, now can you?
I agree with you, HH is IT. Hey, if you guys ever get a chance to hear the Cambridge Singers, they are probably the best choir in the world. I have about 6 of their CD’s and it just occurred to me that you are RIGHT THERE WHERE THEY ARE!! I would give anything to hear them live, especially if John Rutter is conducting. Hunter would be very impressed. They sing some of the most beautiful, worshipful music in the world, much of it written by Rutter. Let me know if you hear anything of them while you are there.
I LOVE the pic of the big grins… Lol. So adorable. What a smart woman to bring a supply of VIP vitamins.. ha. I tell my kids they’re vitamins.
What fun! I really enjoy reading your posts. Life looks so interesting over there. Take care…
Glad you have the M&M’s to tide you over for awhile.
We skype with Secunda, The Pan and little Widget while The Pan is off getting his PhD. I would love to skype with you sometime! Mince is ground beef huh? I really enjoy mincemeat pie, but I always thought mince had something to do with the spicy raisin-y part of the pie.
I am surprised they let you touch the bones. Cool! Did it bring up any memories of Night at the Museum? Or have you seen that movie yet?
I love peanut M&Ms…you actually have me craving them right now
Your pictures are wonderful, as always. I love how your kids always seem so involved in everything you do. Great job mom
I’ve been off Xanga for awhile and am slowly catching up on your time in England. It’s a slow day (re: nothing to do) at work so I’m enjoying the stories and pictures.
I wanted to comment about Skype – what a fabulous tool! Our church has used it a couple different times in Sunday morning services to talk with missionaries and sister churches we support around the world. We get to “meet” them and they get to experience one of our services.
@smarkas -
Great to hear from you! Wow. If you are commenting way back here, it has been a while since you’ve read.