Einstein’s Grandkids’ Riddle

Einstein laughing

Einstein Laughing

Mr. Einstein is laughing because, as far as we can tell he didn’t have any children…so grandchildren would be “optimism to the point of foolishness.”

One lazy day a few summers ago, my daughter sent me a Brain Teaser called “Einstein’s Riddle” to mess around with. If I remember correctly—she hated it. Now, in her defense, I’ll tell you–she is one smart cookie, so it isn’t that she couldn’t do it. I think for some people this is an uncomfortable exercise–because it asks your brain to solve a problem in a way that many aren’t use to.

The story behind Einstein’s riddle is that Albert Einstein created it about a hundred years ago and claimed that 98% of the world population couldn’t solve it. I, personally have no idea if Albert Einstein had anything to do with this puzzle in real life, but I know this…more and more people are able to solve it these days.

Maybe our brains are evolving.

Maybe we play with numbers more than the average Joe did in 1909.

Maybe it’s the Wii.

Who knows?

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The bald kid read an article in Popular Science (I know, I know) that said, “There is a relatively untapped area of the brain that is activated by two known exercises— Sodoku and the Rubix Cube.” Sodoku actually keeps your brain young! Who’d of thought? I—in my infinite wisdom—believe that this riddle is along the same lines—though, luckily, not as complicated at a the cube.

Now the fun part.

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At the risk of being blasphemous to Mr. Einstein, we’ve taken the liberty of  “modernizing” his puzzle just a bit to keep it interesting. Fear not–the integrity of the original riddle is still intact. Take a minute and play with us—it’s the weekend…come on…

When you think you have the answer–post a comment saying, something like, “I’ve got it!”  Now listen carefully to this part…I mean it…

DO NOT POST THE ANSWER IN THE COMMENT SECTION.

That would spoil it for everyone–wouldn’t it?

Are you ready? Here goes—

Einstein Grandkids’ Riddle

– In a street there are five houses, painted five different colors.

– In each house lives a man with a different name. (William, Steven, Daniel, Tyler and  Greg)

– These five homeowners each have a favorite beverage, eat a different treat and keep a different pet.

Einstein’s riddle is: Who owns the Clown Fish?

Necessary clues:

1.  William lives in a red house.
2.  Steven has a poodle.
3.  Daniel drinks Powerade.
4.  The Green house is on the left of the White house.
5.  The owner of the Green house drinks orange juice.
6.  The person who eats M&M’s has a parakeet.
7.  The owner of the Yellow house eats Skittles.
8.  The man living in the center house drinks chocolate milk.
9.  Tyler lives in the first house.
10. The man who eats Twix lives next to the one who has a tabby cat.
11. The man who keeps a Buckskin Horse lives next to the man who eats Skittles.
12. The man who eats Lemonheads drinks Kool-Aid.
13. Greg eats Gummi Bears.
14. Tyler lives next to the blue house.
15. The Twix eater lives next to the one who drinks Vitamin Water.

Good luck!

Gathering Summer

There is so much goodness…

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that belongs only to summer…

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that it must be gathered with care…

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and sipped…

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so slowly…

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that not one…

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precious…

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moment…

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slips by…

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unnoticed…

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or unappreciated.

 

 

———————-

Week 24 Food Storage Prompt: 10 lbs. Powdered Milk

Don’t Look Nowww…

But we…have…a…crawler…

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Stationary is no longer good enough.

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Now when she sees something pretty…

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that before…she could only look at…

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and long for…

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from afar…

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it is magically within her reach…

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within seconds.

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Perhaps a name change is in order here, because…

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overnight, Baby “Chomp” has transformed into…

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the “Flash.”

And we’re keeping her.

The County Fair

We found another one…

a County Fair, that is…

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complete with a cow girl on a horse showing us where to park…

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lovely Elsie and Bossy the cows…

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and sleek, sleepy sheep.

Say that three times really fast…I dare you.

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I found a small smackeral of trimmed wool on the ground and I needed it.

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Baby Chompy wanted to play the rubber duck game…and she won…

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an amazingly cool stuffed wolf.

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We saw a pink tractor…

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and an oddly groomed llama.

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We ate fair food…

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saw blue ribbon vegetables…

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gorgeous quilts…August 16 057

beautiful preserves…

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and amazing artwork.

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Oooooh—slow down summer…

we aren’t finished with you yet.

Deep Chocolate Ice Cream

What is “Deep Chocolate Ice Cream” you say?

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It’s the kind of chocolate ice cream that people eat in slow, deliberate silence. It’s the kind of chocolate ice cream that makes peoples’ eyes flutter–just a bit–like they are sinking into some kind of trance. It’s the kind of chocolate ice cream that will make you run right out and get an ice cream freezer for yourself–if you haven’t already.

Oh, you can come to my place and taste some of ours—but I’ll warn you—beyond a heaping spoonful, we don’t share so good.

Just read the ingredients and see if they don’t send you shopping, at a sprint…of your own free will.

Deep Chocolate Ice Cream

Ingredients:

3 cups whipping cream

1/3 cup plus 2 tablespoons cocoa

1- 1/2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract

2 ounces semisweet chocolate, chopped

4 large egg yolks

1-1/2 cup white sugar

Directions:

In a small saucepan gradually whisk together the whipped cream and cocoa powder until it is smooth.  Place over medium-high heat and bring the mixture to the scalding point (the milk begins to foam up). Remove from heat. Add the chopped chocolate and stir until the chocolate has completely melted.

Meanwhile in a stainless steel bowl beat the egg yolks and sugar until light and fluffy. Gradually pour the hot  mixture into the whipped egg yolk mixture, making sure you keep beating so the eggs don’t curdle.

Place the bowl over a saucepan of simmering water and, stirring constantly with a wooden spoon, cook until the custard thickens enough that it coats the back of a spoon.

Immediately remove the custard from the heat and continue to stir the custard for a few minutes so it does not overcook. At this point stir in the vanilla extract. Cover and let cool to room temperature and then refrigerate the custard until it is completely cold–preferably overnight.

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Transfer the cold custard to the container of your ice cream machine and process according to the manufacturer’s instructions.

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Once made, transfer the ice cream to a chilled container and store in the freezer for a few hours or for as long as you can stand it.

Take it out when no one is around.

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Hide somewhere.

Make sure you have a big spoon.


Deep Chocolate Ice Cream
 
Ingredients
  • 3 cups whipping cream
  • ⅓ cup plus 2 tablespoons cocoa
  • 1- ½ teaspoons pure vanilla extract
  • 2 ounces semisweet chocolate, chopped
  • 4 large egg yolks
  • 1-1/2 cup white sugar
Instructions
  1. In a small saucepan gradually whisk together the whipped cream and cocoa powder until it is smooth.
  2. Place over medium-high heat and bring the mixture to the scalding point (the milk begins to foam up).
  3. Remove from heat.
  4. Add the chopped chocolate and stir until the chocolate has completely melted.
  5. Meanwhile in a stainless steel bowl beat the egg yolks and sugar until light and fluffy.
  6. Gradually pour the hot mixture into the whipped egg yolk mixture, making sure you keep beating so the eggs don't curdle.
  7. Place the bowl over a saucepan of simmering water and, stirring constantly with a wooden spoon, cook until the custard thickens enough that it coats the back of a spoon.
  8. Immediately remove the custard from the heat and continue to stir the custard for a few minutes so it does not overcook. At this point stir in the vanilla extract.
  9. Cover and let cool to room temperature and then refrigerate the custard until it is completely cold--preferably overnight.