Office Happenings

          It has been busy around here, obviously since I typically write these on Tuesday but it is now already Thursday! Anyway, I have been out and about recently which is nice to get out of the basement office.
          I continue to have computer assistance appointments with the lovely senior citizens of both Ainsworth and Bassett.

          Pam and Denny have been out of the office this entire week as they are traveling with a group of 4-Hers from the surrounding counties to Washington D.C. I have never been and tried to convince them to pack me in their suitcases so I could learn more about our nations history and see the wonderful sights of Washington D.C. I am sure I will hear the stories that will make me jealous from the local girls that went as well as Pam and Denny. Everything seems to be going fine for them as we get daily updates.
          On Tuesday, a group of 4-Hers, myself, and Amber from Farm Buruea found ourselves in a hot situation. We were seated at the corner or Main and Hwy 20 in the blistering sun participating in the statewide food drive, "Can Care-a-Van." This event has been going on for 24 years sponsored by 1011 News and Nebraska State Farm Bureau. We were outside from 11:00 am till 3:00 pm, where we all got a little sunburnt (sunscreen did not help me any!). It was a great drive though as we collected 156 pounds of food and $246.00. The way it works is for every $1 = 2 pounds of food, so our grand total was...

648 lbs of food

Donated to the Ainsworth Food Pantry



          So that was Tuesday! Now Wednesay I really got to enjoy a day outside! I headed on over to Valentine, the Heart City, to help at the Environmental Skills Day. We had 14 4-Hers from 3rd grade up to 11th grade participating. Both they and myself learned about:

Range- Marla, NRCS representative, discussed cool season grasses to be pressed for a project idea. The grasses collected included:

• Kentucky Bluegrass
• Crested Wheatgrass
• Smooth Brome

Invasive species- Emerald Ash Borer (EAB)- this was my presenation. The emerald ash borer is a green metalic tiny bug that is currently killing ash trees in 15 states. It is NOT yet in Nebraska but soon could be. We played a little game where they had to go to ficitonal locations (i.e. backyard, fishing area, city park, forest, etc.) and answere a question about the emerald ash borer. They were given 5 sticks, some long, some short. If they answered the question right, they would leave any stick. Once everyone was done, we gathered up and I explained that the sticks they were carrying was "firewood." The long sticks were infected with EAB while the short ones were healthy. They did not know this and could not tell the difference. That is how EAB has been spread due to people moving firewood which moves the bug. Their take away message was...

 DON'T MOVE FIREWOOD...BURN IT WHERE YOU BUY IT!



Saw one of these at Keller State Park
last night when Roger and I headed
up there to relax for the evening.
The state is trying its hardest to
inform Nebraskans to be smart and
not spread the bug.





Get places to find information about the EAB:

Stop the Beetle
Emerald Ash Borer

Both sites have some great activities for kids!

Forestry- Sandy, Nebraska Forestry representative, showed the kids how to measure tree height, circumference, and count the tree rings to determine its age.

Wildlife- Brett, U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service and Wendy, Midplains Community College helped the kids learn to use binoculars for watching birds or other wildlife and wildlife tracking. They made plaster of paris animal tracks! They discussed different 4-H projects in both areas.

Intro to Kayaks and Canoes- Michelle and Linda, Niobrara Council gave the kids Kayak and Canoe 101 and got out on the Mill Pond to test their skills. This was what everybody had been waiting for. Luckily, there were NO tipped kayaks or canoes so everyone stayed pretty dry even though the water would've felt great!

Like I mentioned earlier, it was a great day! The weather was perfect, the kids were well behaved, and the lessons learned were endless. I learned a lot throughout the day as well!

Washing the roots of the
cool season grasses
before pressing

Measuring the cirumference
of a tree



Bird Watching



Animal Tracks



          Tomorrow, I am headed to volunteer at the Regional State 4-H Speech contest! And then headed to Burwell for the Sandhills Sandbur 5K Run on Saturday!

Peaunt Butter Pretzel Bites

          If you are a family member, were in Denver at the National Western Stock Show in January, or work with me in the BKR Counties Office, you know exactly what these delicious sweet & salty treats are! I found this recipe during Christmas break and have made it a point the past two years to make some homemade snacks to give to family and friends. This past year I made these bite sized snacks, Oreo cookie balls, and homemade caramels (which are my downfall!). We will see what I find to make this coming Christmas season! I'll take suggestions or just search hard on Pinterest.

          Anyway onto the recipe that many of you have been asking me for:


Peanut Butter Pretzel Bites

recipe courtesy of Two Tiny Kitchens via Foodaphilia

Calorie estimate: 4,000 – 5,000 for complete recipe (depending upon dipping chocolate and pretzels used, etc.)
Yield 60 – 80 pretzel bites

Ingredients
1 cup creamy peanut butter
2 tbsp softened butter
1/2 cup powdered sugar (maybe more)
3/4 cup brown sugar (maybe more)
Pretzels
1 bag  semi-sweet chocolate chips (or I used 1 package of chocolate almond bark)

Directions

Combine peanut butter and softened butter in a large bowl with a fork or whisk, or in a stand mixer.  Add the sugars and mix to combine.  At this point if the filling will roll easily into balls without sticking to your hands you’re ready to go.  If not, add a little more of each sugar until you reach a consistency that is easy to roll (I used about 3/4 cup of each sugar).

Use a teaspoon measure to scoop the filling.  Roll each portion into a small ball, then sandwich them between two whole pretzels.  When all the balls are rolled and successfully sandwiched, stick the whole tray in the freezer for about half an hour.

Pour the chocolate chips (or almond bark) into a microwave safe bowl and heat at 30-second intervals, stirring occasionally until completely melted.  Remove the pretzel sandwiches from the freezer and quickly dip each half-way into the melted chocolate.  Return to the tray and repeat with remaining sandwiches.  When all are dipped, return the tray to the freezer to set up completely.  Store the sandwiches in the refrigerator until serving time.

Yum, Yum, Yum!