No-Sew, Kid-Friendly Table Runner in 30 Minutes or Less

Naptime Gnome Idea #6

Don't throw away the trimmed ends of pull shades! Re-purpose! 

Two dilemmas needed fixing: 

1. We needed a kid-proof runner to cover the seam in our packing paper "table cloth"
2. There were some several-year-old trimmed ends of window shades that needed to vacate the craft space

Solution:
A wipe-clean table runner made from castoff window pull-shade scraps

NOTE: You could do the same thing with any spare scraps of vinyl or paper. 

DIY Paper Punch Vinyl Table Runner

Crafty Gnomes: 1

 (See the Crafty Gnome Key)

Time to Complete: 1 naptime with time to spare!

Supplies and Tools

• Vinyl pull-shade trimmed end

-Any kind of narrow scrap vinyl or paper will work.
-This same technique on butcher paper would make a pretty lacy table covering for a girls' tea party, don't forget to set the table with a Crayon Bouquet (see tutorial)!

• Scissors
• Paper punch or decorative shears

 
Measuring your runner

1. Determine your desired length and width for your runner and cut with scissors to fit. This scrap vinyl was 13" wide, which was perfect, then I just rolled it out over the table and cut off enough that it hung over about a foot on either side.

2. Starting on one end, begin punching the edge of the runner. If you are using shears rather than a punch, be sure to remain consistent in the amount of material you are removing. You may consider drawing a faint pencil line 1/4" from the edge to follow along to keep your runner's edge straight.

The punch I chose had guides to line up the pattern after each new punch, this ensures a consistent pattern and even edge.

 3. Repeat on the other side. Be sure to keep whichever side you would like to be the top facing up. Some punches emboss the edges slightly, flipping the vinyl over will result in the two edges looking mismatched.

4. If you are going to punch the ends too, you will need to trim the pattern so your design will flow on the corners. I opted to leave my ends straight.

5. If you are not punching the ends, you may need to trim them so you have a complete pattern (you don't want half of a scallop or just a bit of a flower at the end.

6. Inspect your design for any obvious flaws or hanging tags. Carefully trim with sharp scissors.

 

7. If your material was rolled, it may need smoothing. It was hot enough here to "iron" it with the heat from the sun. Spread it out on a relatively clean/dry surface, we have artificial lawn, but a patio, chaise lounge, or even a kid's slide will work great. Then smooth out the creases, let sit for about 10 minutes and smooth again.  If it's cool, wet, or both, spread out your runner and blow lightly with a hair drier, be careful that it doesn't get too hot... you don't want to burn yourself or melt your runner onto anything!

8. Smooth over your table... step back and enjoy your masterpiece.

 

9.  Throw a paper table cloth down under your runner and make a Crayon Bouquet to go with it! (Optional <;')

Other Ideas

•  No paper punch on hand? Here are some other edge ideas, noticed some worked better than others, so do a practice run with a bit of scrap first.

 

• Not crazy about table runners? Consider making a set of place mats instead!
• If you have a house full of windows worth of shade trimmings, consider making runners or place mats for holiday presents, or make a few and keep on hand for housewarming, hostess, or random "I-Love-You" presents.

ENJOY!

The Naptime Gnome <;')

Fun Services and Innovations at Our Local Libraries

Mommy Vegas Idea #8

Your Library Card, not just for books anymore!

We have always been big library fans, but having lived in Henderson for quite some time we tended to frequent the Henderson Libraries, which are fabulous by the way. Our favorite is Paseo Verde, it feels a little like the big fancy book store chains, complete with coffee shop and comfy seating, but a lot more intimate.

We decided to mix things up a bit this week and try a different library, so I hopped on the Clark County Library website to explore some of our Las Vegas options (for those who aren't privy, Henderson Libraries are actually distinct from the Clark County Library District).  After looking through the extensive calendar of events for the many valley locations, we settled on "Gotta Move Monday," an interactive storytime format for 0-5 year-olds, that includes singing, dancing, and general silliness, in addition to the regular reading and library fun. 

We had a great time at Gotta Move (even have a blog post all cued up to be posted just prior to the next one, in October), and though we were pressed for time to get Little Bear back home to prep for afternoon preschool, we had fun exploring some of the attributes of the Enterprise Library, namely the features of the Children's Section.

It occurred to me that libraries have become far more than a collection of free reading material. So in the spirit of "Library Card Sign-up Month," seriously, September apparently has a special designation as such, I thought we'd share some of the exciting services and activities available at our local libraries. Many of the following are available at both Las Vegas and Henderson Libraries, for more information on the details visit their websites (if you don't happen to live in Southern Nevada, I strongly encourage you to check our what your local library has to offer)!

IN A NUT SHELL

• Storytimes (of course)
• Clubs and Special Interest Groups
• Events/Programs/Special Event Rental Space
• Tech Services, including mobile printing!
• eMedia, including free eBooks, eAudio Books, and even  FREE MUSIC!
• Book Bundles
• AND EVEN WIN tickets to Madame Tussauds Las Vegas!

STORYTIMES
There is a wide variety of storytimes at all the libraries, I love how they have some available for different age groups, as well as a catchall for those of us with kiddos in more than one age range. Many of the locations also feature weekend storytimes great for working parents, and for the stay at home parents that just need a break, these make great "Mommy/Daddy and Me" activities, to give you some alone time on the weekend!

Example of Weekly Storytime Schedule, Enterprise Library

Many of the locations have a check-in or ticket system (don't worry, it's still free!) to help them regulate the number of guests and keep track of attendance. Be sure to check in with the Circulation Desk or Children's Services Desk prior to starting time just in case!

 

CLUBS AND SPECIAL INTEREST GROUPS
Be sure to check into special interest groups too!  Book clubs are prevalent, obviously, but there are also "Reading with Rover"-type programs, early literacy programs, English as a second language as well as other enriching activity based groups, for example, multiple locations have Lego or Duplo Clubs. They often meet once a month to explore themed activities.

Both library systems feature pro-literacy programs. The Las Vegas branches participate in the 1,000 Books Before Kindergarten program. My Little Bear was SO tickled with this wall, he has decided that his name belonged there as well. So guess what we'll be working on! He doesn't realize he's already well surpassed this number... but I'm not telling him that!

EVENTS/PROGRAMS/PRIVATE EVENT SPACE
Many of the libraries have multipurpose rooms or auditoriums. The (main) County Library on Flamingo near UNLV actually has a full theater. It's truly spectacular, as is the entire library.

They regularly feature author tours and book signings, motivational talks and fun kid's programs and performances.  They also rent many of these spaces to the public at below industry standard rates!  So while you may not be leaping to have a wedding reception at the local library, you may consider these spaces for future meetings, club gatherings or special event.


TECH SERVICES
For years anyone with a library card could enter a library, just about anywhere, and use a computer. Even our tiny community library where I grew up (actually doubled as the school library!) had computers available for patron use, even in the late 80's/early 90's I remember being enamored with the idea of "free internet!" Technology has come a long way, and our libraries haven't been left behind.

In addition to computer labs and public use computers, the libraries also feature wi-fi and mobile printing stations. Oh, and don't forget you can access your library from anywhere, and not just to reserve or find a book, you can have that book, magazine or song in your possession digitally in moments! Thank you Al Gore!

FREE eMEDIA
There are also all sorts of eMedia freebies available through both library systems, including free eBooks through various providers and music downloads with "freegal." This awesome program is definitely worth checking out! You just sign in with your library card (from your comfy little seat... seriously, you could go do it right now, provided you have an active library card!), find the songs you like, and download up to five a week! That's right, you can download up to five songs a week for free.  Oh, and you get to KEEP them, no due date - no late fees! There is even a wish list so you can keep track of what you will garner next! If the AWESOME hasn't hit you yet, that could be over $200 in free music a year if you play it up right!
 

AND THE LIST OF COOL OFFERINGS GOES ON AND ON...
Speaking of awesome, if you find yourself in a rush, after storytime or on your way home from work one day and want to bring home a little surprise, you can pick up one of these handy book bundles.   These hand selected bundles take the guesswork and time investment out of bringing home a bag full of books!  Check this station out next time you stop by, you may find the perfect bundle has already been created for you!
 

 OH MY GOODNESS, THIS IS GENIUS!!! Yes, I'm totally text yelling.

Now, to top it all off, in honor of Library Card Sign-up Month, the Clark County Library District has put together a drawing to help drive library love and use. The program includes an opportunity to win a family four-pack of tickets to Madame Tussauds Las Vegas, and a huge discount on tickets for those who do not find themselves lucky winners! All you have to do is either sign up for a library card, if you do not already have one, or show your love on Facebook to be entered in the drawing. Want to collect on that nearly 60% ticket discount? You don't even have to have a Facebook account, just flash your Clark County Library Card at the Box Office through September 30th! Click here for more details!

Would you like to be the proud owner of one of these magical cards? Click here to fill out the application online!

Happy reading,

Candice

The Pit Match of Porcelain Cleaners...

Naptime Gnome Idea #5

Which Common Household Cleaner Cleans Porcelain Coated Sinks Best? 

I once spilled some Kirkland Brand dishwasher detergent, in doing, I somehow managed to ruin a pair of shoes, the kitchen rug and a rather cute shirt in moments, but in the time it took me to wipe up the mess, the dollop that assaulted the kitchen sink left a sparkling white signature! What magic is this? I could hardly be flustered by my ruined attire when faced with irrefutable evidence of its raw stain fighting potential! While I became much more careful in its handling, the dish washing detergent quickly became the favored stain treatment on hard-scape around the gnome kingdom! Even a rust stained sink, after weeks of apple processing was no match for The Naptime Gnome and her trusty sidekick Kirkland!

But when Costco changed their formula to the "new, improved... leaves all plastic, including children's sippy cups, impregnated with artificial floral chemical stench" variety, the partnership had to come to an end. Though more expensive, Cascade was welcomed into the kitchen, and while my water cups exhibit the sweet sweet smell of NOTHING once more, not a darn thing the stuff touches is "clean." Including my sink. <:-P

So in a quest to find the next great sink warrior, I put together the following pit match. Who will triumph? READ ON FAIR CITIZEN!

The Contenders: 
(It's a bit of a wild hand, but it's really what I had on hand when the idea struck)

• Cascade Advanced Power
• Soft Scrub with Bleach
• Lysol Toilet Cleaner with Bleach (I know, but the dishwasher detergent worked, why not!?) 
• Hydrogen Peroxide (3%)/Baking Soda Paste (I love this one, great toothpaste in a jam and works wonders on carpet stains... SPOT TEST FIRST)

The Method:
The sink was first mucked up with oodles and oodles of fruit processing rubbish, mostly apple bits, coring leftovers and skins. 

1. Then scrubbed clean (to the best of my greasy elbows' abilities) with dish soap and a Scotch pad (we use Kirkland's Eco-Friendly Liquid Dish Soap). The sink was dried and masked with painters tape to yield 4 sections, each to receive one cleaner, the taped off portions to act as controls.
1. A thick paste was made using baking soda and household/pharmacy grade (3%) Hydrogen Peroxide (I used this same type of paste to whiten our bathroom counters, wanna see?).
2. Then each of the four cleaners was smeared upon its own section of sink and let stand for 5 minutes.
3. With tape still in place, the sections were individually wiped clean with a paper towel...
4. ...then rinsed. The tape was removed and the surfaces compared. 

Cascade and Lysol where fairly ineffectual, while the Soft Scrub and Peroxide/Soda paste worked about the same - Soft Scrub leading by a narrow margin. I ended up cleaning the entire sink with the paste as I was about out of Soft Scrub.

This image was compiled with strips from 4 successive photos.

RESULTS

I would say over all, Soft Scrub worked marginally better than the Hydrogen Peroxide/baking soda (H2O2 + NaHCO3 in the pic), but if you are like me, and would prefer to have fewer harsh chemicals around, I'm a fan of the mixing of a weakly concentrated boo-boo treatment and a powder readily used in cookies and children's science experiments!  The best part is neither required ANY scrubbing!  I used the paste on the white stove top next... with fantastic results! Next stop, tile grout - I'll let you know!

ENJOY!

The Naptime Gnome <;-)

Crayon Bouquet, Girl's Tea Center Piece

Naptime Gnome Idea #4

Make a fun and easy center piece for your next kid-tastic party!

Inspired by the prissy pens at the bank, all gussied up in an attempt to make them harder to pocket, the Gnome fired this out for our annual Mad Hatter Tea Party a couple years ago, but it comes back out all the time because the kids LOVE it. It's required quite a few replacement flowers as they tend to get given away to very attached and enamored little ladies. The kiddles had it out the other day while some friends were visiting.  After some spirited demands for one of their own, it occurred to me that some house gnomes may appreciate some direction on planting crayon flowers.  I'm thinking of "growing" one that matches our kitchen decor to just leave on the table.

Faux Flower Crayon Flower Pot

Crafty Gnomes: 1

 (See the Crafty Gnome Key)

Approximate Cost: <$5

Time to Complete: 1 naptime

Supplies and Tools

• Crayons
• Wire cutter (needle nose pliers or old scissors are fine)
• Green floral tape
• Scotch tape (optional)
• Container to hold your bouquet (flower pot, small pail, plastic vase, you get the idea! <;)
• Ribbon to decorate your container (optional)

Gather Your Materials
Special note on this one, particularly if you're making more than one...

• Try to use things you already have, like lightly used crayons, bits of ribbons from past gifts, containers in which you've received arrangements in the past, faux flowers you've come across that are maybe a bit too fake to use for anything fancy, etc. 
• The dollar store often has bouquets for cheap, and they tend to carry floral tape as well. I've purchased it at both the Dollar Tree and the 99¢ Only Store. Oh, and you don't need much, a roll will make OODLES AND OODLES of flower crayons.

Prepping Flowers
1. Just like when you prep real flowers for arrangement, you'll want to thin out the greenery. Maybe leave the leaves <:-) closest to the bloom and removed the rest. You will also want to pull off any small parts, particularly if you have any bitty guests that may be inspired to color. 



2. Using wire cutters (or some other cutting implement you really don't care about much), trim the stems so they are long enough to wrap around the crayon once or twice loosely.







Affixing Flowers to Crayons

3. Wrap the stem around the crayon, bending the wire to conform. Take care to not break the crayon. If you are in a rush, this step isn't imperative, but it will improve the longevity of your work, particularly if you plan on using them often.

4. Wrap a bit of Scotch tape around the crayon and the base of the stem, and another length around the end of the crayon closest to the flower, this will also add some durability so the stems are not simply ripped from the floral tape added in the next step. Again, if you are in a rush, and they don't have to hold up, you can skip this step.

 Wrapping

 5. Starting at the flower end of the crayon (top?), begin snugly wrapping the floral tape around both the crayon and flower stem, working your way down the crayon (imagine the spiral stripes of a candy cane and "follow" them).

NOTE: You do not necessarily have to start wrapping near the flower, but you should definitely finish the wrap near the flower so the end of the tap is not where you would hold the crayon.

6. Once you've reached the end of the crayon wrapper, begin wrapping back up towards the flower.

7. Once you've reached the place you started wrapping, you can repeat the wrapping process a few more times to make sure the flower isn't going anywhere.

8. Because ours get A LOT of love and I usually have several rolls of cheapy paper floral tape on hand, they are wrapped down-and-back, 3 times. But I've tried both once and twice, and they are perfectly serviceable.  With the plasticized floral tape, you only need to make one "lap."





9. When you are satisfied with your wrap job, simply tear (or cut if using sturdier plastic tape) and wrap the end around snugly.






10. Press the tape end snugly with a wiping motion over the end to secure it.


11. Repeat for all the crayons. With this arrangement I used the same color crayons as flowers. The leave are attached to various green crayons.

12. Decorate your container as you desire and insert your "flowers."

ENJOY!

 The Naptime Gnome <;')

Crafty Gnome Key

1 Crafty Gnome = Simple cutting, gluing, tracing, and/or painting, etc.
2 Crafty Gnomes = Any of the above, plus the use of a few tools, and may involve a sewing machine for some simple seams... nothing crazy.
3 Crafty Gnomes = Could require some practice with any of the above items, and/or could involve power tools (you'll meet Burly Gnome soon enough)
4 Crafty Gnomes = Includes most or all of the above... A bear of a project or requires a bit of help.
5 Crafty Gnomes = Perhaps a bit sorry I attempted it.

Purple Penguin Closing for the Cooler Months

Mommy Vegas Idea #7

Farewell Fine Frozen Fair

If you are not a fan of the Purple Penguin, I send you my deepest condolences, as you have obviously never tried the Purple Penguin's excellent snowy snow cone delights, and are thus simply missing out! If you are a fan of the Purple Penguin, I likewise, send my condolences, for you are to lose the convenience of this treasured treat until the days lengthen once more.

That's right, the Purple Penguin Snow Cone Shacks will be closing their window hatches on September 29th, not to be wrenched back open until next Summer.  So if you're a regular, hurry up and use your free coupons. If you haven't tried it yet... go forth and sample. If by chance you have tried snow cones elsewhere and have been left wanting, perhaps the ice was not fine enough, or the syrup not quite plentiful enough for your liking. I don't know what method they use, but the "snow" is as fine as freshly fallen snow, you half expect a real penguin to peek out the window and the syrups have a fuller/fresher less artificial taste to them. Yes, I'm aware they are still slightly watered down sugar, but my goodness do those calories hit the spot!? May we recommend the Tiger's Blood with Cream?  This coconut/berry concoction is the favorite among 3 of our 4 samplers ;).  The hubby likes just about anything with ice cream in the bottom, tending to favor the daiquiri and cotton candy. They also have a few sugar-free options, if that's how any portion of your party rolls.  The flavorful options are truly endless and with only a few weeks before their time is up, you should really get a move on!

The Penguin has two locations, one at Horizon Ridge Parkway and Arroyo Grande in Henderson/Green Valley, the newer location is on Cactus and Southern Highlands Parkway (the Southern most portion of Decatur) in Las Vegas/Southern Highlands. For more info on these fun food carts, visit their Facebook Page.

Happy tasting,

Candice

Valley of Fire Day Trip

Mommy Vegas Idea #6

This Valley's ON Fy-AH!

Well, not really, but it sure is hot (at least for now), vibrant, and a great way to spend the day!  The Valley of Fire is a must see, at least once.  If you're a bit of a shutter bug, this is the place for you!  Even an old beat-up camera phone would find a chore in taking a bad pic here!  The contrast of the red sandstone on the brilliant blue sky is just sooo complimentary - simply breathtaking!  The best part is it's great for just about any age explorer.  Both of the littles even played photographer this time.  The older kids will enjoy the short jaunt down the slot canyon to Mouse Tank, and while you cannot climb on all the rocks (clearly posted), there are plenty of places to hike, scramble and take in the sites.

But what if you're not an outdoorsy person, or not quite up to a hike? The new baby will look splendid held in a natural stone picture frame, just strides from the turn-off, for all the family to adore in those baby announcements you keep meaning to do... Grandma will love that she can admire the beautiful colors and rock formations road-side, or with just a short walk on well graded surfaces.  There are also some visitor centers and camping areas to spend some extra time experiencing the valley.




The park is well frequented these days, but it's been a popular spot on-and-off for the last 2,300 years or so. The natives have left their mark, keep your head on a swivel and you will see countless  petroglyphs, but you'll also see plenty of the canyon's modern day residents.

Our last trip, not everyone was feeling quite up to it.  Little Bear was starting to come down with a bit of the dreaded back-to-school funk... so glad we're all learning to share so well at school! :) But even with our trip being cut short due to some sorrowful requests to head home, we were able to get two fun little walks in, and a couple other stops for some quick pics. In fact, to my surprise (read: "SHOCK and AMAZEMENT"), when Daddy Bear inquired as to our activity for "Fun-outing-Friday," Little Bear eagerly recounted the events of the day, complete with enthusiastic mention of all the critters we saw (which, I have to be honest, I thought went mostly unnoticed).

At one point we saw three chuckwallas (fairly large iguanid lizards, see above) scampering about in a slot canyon!  It was a bit of a desert safari, between the Antelope Valley ground squirrels, chuckwallas and a few other lizards. We even saw an ELEPHANT!
Well, an elephant shaped rock that is! Seriously, tell me that doesn't look like an elephant! This fantastically friendly elephant is always guaranteed to greet you near the lake entrance outdoor Visitor Center, keep your eyes peeled for signs indicating "Elephant Rock."

Though they don't pose quite as well as the elephant, the ground squirrels certainly aren't shy! We were able to bait a small crew with some water at a picnic area.  Here's one that couldn't resist the lens... or the water rather... probably could have touched this braisen little guy, but of course that's a great big no-no.  As with all wild critters, look, but don't touch. 

If you're lucky, and you know where to look, you may see some of the other popular inhabitants:

• Big horn sheep are prevalent up along the ridges and near watering holes.
• Desert tortoise can be seen in the cooler hours, particularly in late spring and early fall, often near washes and other fairly open areas. 
• Various birds, the list is too long, but definitely some quail, hawks, road runners, and even the occasional chukar.
• Horned lizards, they used to be called "horny toads," are also a fairly common sight. You can get rather close to these little guys. 
• All kinds of other lizards including gila monsters if you're lucky. I've never seen one here, but the habitat is certainly appropriate.

Getting There
The Valley of Fire State Park is located on the northern edge of Lake Mead, most easily accessible from I-15 North bound (on the way to Utah), though you can also access the park from the "back"-side, coming from Lake Mead or the Overton/Logandale area.

This isn't really a spur of the moment trip, at about an hour from the center of Vegas, you'll spend at least two hours in the car, and there isn't anywhere terribly close to stop for nourishment, so be sure to bring your own rations, including plenty of water!

From Las Vegas, the fastest route is North on the I-15 toward St. George, Utah. About 20 miles North of Las Vegas there is a well marked exit for The Valley of Fire/Lake Mead (Exit 75, at time of posting). Take this exit to the right and travel East into the hills about 15 miles. TA-DAH! Pay your entrance fee of about 8 bucks for Nevada Residents (day pass, be sure to show ID for the discount) and travel down the easy-to-navigate main road.

Let the adventure begin!

CHECK THE MOMMY VEGAS MAP!

The Sites

A beautifully maintained main road winds through the park with several off-shoots along the way.  The Valley of Fire is unique in that most sites are near the road/parking. 

Starting at one end of the park, you can pick and choose your stops, or if you have the time, spend a bit of time at each location. Paper maps are available at the fee stations on either side of the park, or you can check out kiosks (like the one below) at the lakeside entrance and the visitors center!

If you enjoy archaeology or art of any era, you will not want to miss Atlatl Rock or Mouse Tank where petroglyphs abound!  The valley was popular with natives, mostly of the Ancient Pueblo Peoples as far back as 300 BC(E) (http://parks.nv.gov/parks/valley-of-fire-state-park/), and their activity in the area has left some lasting evidence, including these unique and often beautiful works. Much of the art in the Valley of Fire is of the petroglyph form, that is drawings that have been carved, or more often "pecked", out of the dark patina, or desert varnish, revealing the brilliant red rock below.

There are many sites to see, but some other popular ones are:

• The Seven Sisters, a group of rock formations (seven actually) you can see on the right just after the main Visitor's Center, if you are traveling from the Las Vegas direction. 
• Elephant Rock is also quite famous. Just down the road from the Sisters on the opposite side, if you are paying attention you'll see it from the road, but the parking lot is a bit farther down, also on the left.  Park, venture through the small visitor's outpost and follow the stylized rock cairns (like the one to the right) out and to the left about 1/8th of a mile. 
• The Cabins, were originally built by the CCC (Civilian Conservation Corps.), for travelers during the labor movement of the 1930's great depression.  They are now available for picnics and special events.  They also feature some restrooms should you need them!
• The Petrified Logs can be viewed in two locations.
• Arch Rock, is a beautiful spot with a natural arch formed by erosion (mostly wind, but rain as well) on the scenic loop, near the main entrance features restrooms and camping. 
• Balanced Rock and the Visitors Center, near the center of the park, just off the turnoff for Mouse Tank and White Domes.

MVP Take-Along Activity

You may notice in the park that English is not the primary language spoken.  Our beautiful parks are popular spots with foreigners, and understandably so, but how can the parks communicate important messages to the masses when not everyone is speaking the same tongue? "Sign" language!

If you've traveled abroad you've probably noted that much of the pictorial signage is not that dissimilar to ours... although I once saw a sign in Europe that seemed to insinuate... oh, never mind.  The point is, there are many important messages that need to be expressed to everyone - where the restrooms are located is often a popular one for those who have been in the car for some time, or how to find help, in the form of a ranger station, or how about where to get potable water?

Here are a few activities you can use to help accustom your kiddos to the language of park signs.  I highly recommend giving these printables a try... particularly if you have any troops that may not be terribly keen on sitting in the car for two hours just to see "a few piles of rocks."  Print a few and make it a family affair, or file some away for trips to other state and national parks in the future!

The first is a scavenger hunt (my little bear is game for anything, even grocery shopping, if he can be a mighty hunter in the process). The second let's you try your skills at guessing the intended meanings of the signs. When you're done, compare guesses at the visitor's center, or pull this page back up and compare to the picture above.

Spice it up a bit by making the signs the focus of some of your shots. Maybe get a pic of the crew with their camping gear and a camping/group camping sign, or snag a shot of the picnic area sign with grub in hand... telephone short on signal in the park?... no worries, it will still make a great prop alongside the telephone sign! 

 

Download MVP Activity

Have fun and happy snapping,

Candice

Super Short, Kid-Friendly Springs Walk/Hike, Near Red Rock

Mommy Vegas Idea #5

The Weather is Great, Let the Exploring Begin!

I've always had an affinity for desert springs. I love the visual contrast of these lush green little oases, nestled amidst the dry and vibrant desert backdrop. In my view, the best desert hikes are somehow associated with springs, creeks, waterfalls, ponds, and the like. Not only because the foliage is alluring, but they are often teaming with life!

In one pond you are likely to find, aquatic insects (gerrids or water striders, boatmen, predaceous diving beetles...) and aquatic insect larvae (dragonflies, mayflies, damselflies, caddisflies...),  frogs/toads and, if the time is right, their eggs or larvae, crustaceans (copepods, fairy shrimp, triops or tadpole shrimp...). The temporary pools, or tinajas, are particularly exciting, like little freshwater tidepools... with a much more infrequent "tide."

I'm sure your sensing my enthusiasum at this point, which is probably prompting you to believe that as the weather cools, I'll be posting more and more hikes with water features... and you'd... be... RIGHT!  So, without further adieu...

Wheeler Camp Springs

Hike Difficulty: EASY, even toddlers can try 

there legs on much of it

Distance:  Variable, it's more of a wander than a 

directed hike, less than a mile will give 

you plenty of things to see.

Other Notes: Be sure to avoid feeding the Burros.

Bring a bag for wet clothes and muddy shoes.


I thought we'd start out with a very simple, straight-forward excursion, but one that very few people seem to know about.  Wheeler Camp Spring is a beautiful little spot adjacent to the quaint town of Blue Diamond. It has approximately three aquatic, or wet, areas all of which are neatly fenced in an Audubon Preserve.

This little oasis has plenty of photo ops (don't forget those holiday card pics you've been meaning to take!) and opportunities for the littles to learn about nature. There is a well manicured gravel/dirt parking area accessible from Highway 159 (though technically this is a stretch of Blue Diamond Road, I often hear it called "the Road to Red Rock", or more confusingly "the Red Rock Loop"... not to be confused with the Red Rock Scenic Loop -- it's the road that you are dumped onto if you drive West on Charleston long enough, or you can turn onto from Highway 160/Blue Diamond, in order to get to Red Rock.

Note: this is NOT located on the Red Rock Scenic Route (the portion within the Park).

Getting there

For convenience, and ease of tracking our recommended excursions, the Naptime Gnome has put together a little map (the "Maptime Gnome?") where you can find all of the outings once they've been posted... click here to see it.

If you are coming from the Southeast side of Vegas or coming in from Pahrump, take Highway 160/Blue Diamond to the Red Rock turnoff, then travel NW on Highway 159, the turnoff will be the very next one on the left after the little town of Blue Diamond, you'll see the large Cottonwood Trees from the highway.

If you are coming from the Summerlin side of Vegas, you will continue on Charleston past the Scenic Loop and Red Rock Visitor's Center, past Spring Mountain Ranch and Bonnie Springs, then on the right you will see a few green areas, the first is Oliver Ranch, the next will be the turn off for Wheeler Camp Springs, hang a right and park in the gravel/dirt parking area.

The Hike
Once there, you'll see a small chain-link gate and a wood turn gate, go through both and you will be on an old road that now doubles as a trail. The signage stresses that you close the gate, so please take heed.  I'm not sure what we're trying to keep in... or out... but my guess is the burros put a serious hurtin' on the joint when given the chance, they're thirsty little buggers.  Follow the trail away from the parking area and toward the green. You will be dumped somewhat unceremoniously onto a wash bed, follow that down and enjoy!

You really can't get lost. The last time we where here we had an unofficial round of Marco Polo going where I would try to have Little Bear follow my voice, I could actually see him the whole time, but he thought he was being a brave explorer.

The water will be mostly to your right, with various use trails jetting off once the green starts to thicken. Be sure to stay on areas that have obviously been tread upon in the past. Enjoy the beautiful views and sounds and see who can spot the most critters!  Our last trip we saw countless lizards, much to Little Bug's delight. There were also various birds, dragon flies, ground squirrels, and even some Pacific Chorus Treefrogs (Pseudacris regilla), which twill beautifully in the evening if you're lucky.

This time of year there is not usually very much water, but with all the rain of late, there re a few good wet spots.

Remember, as with all hikes, "Take only photographs and leave only footprints."

Happy hiking,

Candice