Happiness in a Rainbow

 

 

Living on a farm most of my life and all the time while my children were born and raised, rainbows were always so exciting to find. You learn to begin searching for rainbows by the way the sky looks, the air feels and smells, in the way the rain drops fall and the clouds move and the sunshine breaks through. A sixth sense develops and you might be busy doing another activity but you somehow know to look outside the window or to look up from whatever you're doing and catch the colors. There's a child-like "awe" that remains. My mother, grandmothers and aunt always told me that rainbows represent promises and hope. As a mother and grandmother, I've always tried to quietly instill that same concept, "never give up, keep trying your best, there will be a better day, something wonderful is waiting just around the corner." I hope my boys remember every time they see the bow arched in the sky not only spotting them with me, but the messages they bring.

 

RAINBOW BUBBLES

small mixing container

spoon

2Tbsp. sugar

1/2 c. water

2 Tbsp. liquid Joy dishwashing soap

 

Mix sugar and water together in the container. Stir until all the sugar dissolves. Add liquid Joy and stir gently to mix. Use pre-purchased bubble wands or make your own. We experimented with metal hangers (re-shaped into a circle), ropes, and strings.

 

RAINBOW SAND

jar with a lid

ziplock baggies

1/2 c. salt

1/4 teaspoon dry tempera paint

 

Place salt in a ziplock bag, using one bag for each color. Add one color of tempera paint, zip and shake until the color is mixed in. Once mixed, layer the salts, alternating colors, in a jar. Use a toothpick, pencil, craft stick, etc, to create designs along the edges of the jar. Secure lid.

 

GRANDMA VONDENE'S ("Vonnie's") RAINBOW JELLO

Ingredients: 1 c. boiling water per color of jello

Jello gelatin flavors in 3 oz. packages (in order of layers):

strawberry

orange

lemon

lime

blueberry

grape

sour cream

Cool Whip

9x13" glass pan

cooking spray

 

Lightly spray the bottom of a 9x13" pan with cooking spray. Set aside. Boil enough water for each flavor of jello and you'll separate it out per color. In a small mixing bowl, add strawberry flavored jello gelatin and one cup boiling water. Mix until smooth. Pour half of the mixture into the 9x13" pan. Place in refrigerator for 10-15 minutes until mostly firm. In the other half, add two large tablespoons of sour cream and stir until smooth. When first layer is set, add sour cream mixture on top and let set until firm. Do the same for each layer going in order of the colors of the rainbow (ROYGBIV, red, orange, yellow, green, blue, indigo and violet). Refrigerate until firm. Cut into squares when serving. Grandma always served this jello with a layer of Cool Whip on top and called it "the clouds".

She frequently told me about her travels to the Hawaiian Islands and once I was older, I followed in her footsteps and fell in love with the place she lovingly "talked story" about; Maui. There I learned that the natives uphold a belief that rainbows are bridges from the earth world into the spirit world and hold significant meaning and honor in their culture. One of the simple things in life I cherish most is the happiness found in a rainbow.