Once more with the plagues.

Passover may have passed over for 2011.

But really any time of year is a good time of year to introduce your 3 year old to the concept of plagues.

Bag of Plagues.

Apparently it's a  "fun and educational way to involve children in the Passover experience".

Includes:

1 red disc for BLOOD

1 frog for FROGS

1 small black bug for LICE

1 lion finger puppet for WILD ANIMALS

1 cow mask for CATTLE PLAGUE

1 sticky hand with white dots for BOILS

1 plastic ice cube with red crystals for HAIL

1 large green locust for LOCUSTS

1 pair of sunglasses for DARKNESS

1 - 12 pc. puzzle for DEATH OF FIRSTBORN

Ages 3 and up

 

What can I say?

Frotato and Pog - the Hatching!

The parents-to-be kept a round-the clock watch.

Potato happens to be on duty when the happy moment finally arrives.

Twins!

Frog comes rushing to meet the babies.

And with great excitement the family leaves the eggplant to head for home.

Frotato or Pog (3)

A few days later, the fruit of Frog and Potato's loins had changed again.

It had filled out and changed colour once more - this time to a light brown.

Once again Frog was worried, but Potato was confident this was a good sign.

"I think this means they are about to hatch".

Frotato or Pog (2)

A few days later, Frog was in despair.

Their beautiful egg had grown but.....

 it was now purple!

"Don't worry", said Potato soothingly.

"I am sure it is quite normal".

"I come from a long line of purple potatoes".

Frotato or Pog

Every day Frog and Potato came to visit the eggplant, anxious to see what progress had occurred in the development of their offspring.

One day, a small white egg-shaped fruit appeared.

Frog saw it first.

Potato could hardly believe her eyes.

Together they stood and watched.  It was one of the proudest moments of their lives.

Biological potato clock

Although many couples these days take their time when having children, Potato knew her time was more limited than Frog's and so set about planning a family as soon as she could.

You might remember that she found a suitable place to lay her eggs.

Yep. An eggplant.

They brought it inside to protect it from the forces of evil (toads) that are know to prowl around.

Each day, Potato returned to the plant to see if anything had happened.

Imagine her excitement when a flower appeared (remember people, potatoes can reproduce from sprouts or from flowers which set fruit and produce seed. Combine these two options with frog reproductive methods and you begin to see the range of possibilities Potato had to contend with).

She rushed off to get Frog ...

who was absolutely delighted.

(To be continued)

The trials and tribulations of cross-species love

Regular readers of this blog will remember our very own Romeo and Juliet or, as we like to call them:

Frog and Potato.

They met in the vegetable patch.

He wooed her with poetry ...

 and flowers.

They ran away together.

Their families pursued them and threatened to disown them ...

 but then were reconciled to this great love affair and to each other.

 

 Frog nearly threw it all away through reckless and thoughtless behaviour.

But true love triumphed and they were married in front of friends and family.

However, as we now know, the lifespan of a potato (3- 5 months) 

 is very different to that of a frog (2-15 years).

What will happen next?