Happy Hearts At Home

Trendy Blocks

2012-01-27T00:07:00.020-05:00

This article, With Blocks, Educators Go Back to Basics, made me chuckle. It seemed odd that parents have either forgotten or have never learned about unstructured block play. I must have been on the cusp of the last generation(born in 1966) to have half-day kindergarten with blocks and coloring.

Huddled together on the reading rug of a prekindergarten classroom on the Upper West Side, three budding builders assembled a multilayered church with a Gothic arch. Nearby, another block artist created a castle with a connecting courtyard. Meanwhile, a fifth toiled earnestly on a shaky tower, eliciting oohs and aahs from across the room when it came tumbling down.

These were not prekindergartners, but members of the Parents League of New York, who had crowded into an oversubscribed workshop on block building last month.

Jean Schreiber, a self-described “block consultant,” advised the group to engage their children in building by photographing their work. “Don’t rush to help them with structural challenges,” she said. “You don’t have to ask them a million questions. Just sit with them and notice.”

...Eva Moskowitz, the former city councilwoman who runs a fast-growing network of charter schools, said her schools had created a “religion around blocks,” and she proudly advertises their fully outfitted block labs alongside the chess program and daily science classes. The International School of Brooklyn is developing a program using blocks to reinforce foreign-language acquisition. And Avenues, the for-profit school scheduled to open next year in Greenwich Village, is devoting a large section of its kindergarten floor to a block center.

Phrases like fully outfitted block labs, religion around blocks, and comprehensive block programs make me think - way to take the fun out of blocks!

Read more here.

Old school "block labs":

...and no experts, trendy over-priced blocks, tuition, or public funding is needed.

Frugal Effective Moisturizer - Crisco Shortening

2012-01-26T15:11:00.003-05:00

After reading about the excellent moisturizing properties of Crisco shortening, I finally tried it on my face and hands. It works better than any of the natural oils that I use, and doesn't break me out. Crisco absorbed quickly, and my hands remained soft even through frequent hand washings. It has balanced my face which is middle aged and temperamental; I alternate between dry and blemish prone. Best of all, it doesn't stay greasy and has no odor. This is definitely something that I will continue to use on my skin. It may be too heavy for the summer, but I usually go moisturizer free during the warmer months.

Read reviews here at Make-up Alley.

Also see: Benefits of Crisco on Eczema

Ingredients:

SOYBEAN OIL, FULLY HYDROGENATED PALM OIL, PARTIALLY HYDROGENATED PALM AND SOYBEAN OILS, MONO AND DIGLYCERIDES, TBHQ AND CITRIC ACID (ANTIOXIDANTS). Vitamin E 15%

Library Finds: International Fairy Tale and Folktale Picture Books

2012-01-23T23:02:00.009-05:00

Random fairy tale and folktale books that we enjoyed this week. All are from different countries which is great for extending learning to geography. Preschool - grade two.

Very short and a bit silly: Tikki Tikki Tembo, a Chinese tale. The boy's purposely ridiculous long name will get a giggle with younger children, especially while the parent struggles to pronounce it!

A classic Irish tale, beautifully illustrated and medium length for older "littles": The Children of Lir

Humorous retelling for young children: The Monkey and the Crocodile: A Jataka Tale India by Paul Galdone

A tale from Spain(Moorish Iberia):Miller, the Boy and the Donkey, Based on the La Fontaine fable by Brian Wildsmith

Exciting third person, lyrical retelling of the final, "and most difficult, labor of Hercules, known as Heracles in Greek mythology, in which he must go to Underworld and bring back the three-headed dog, Cerberus". Beautifully illustrated and just short enough to catch the interest of small children. Hercules

The Magic Grove: A Persian Folktale

Lusciously illustrated Persian(modern day Iran) tale, surprisingly Christian in tone, only because I'm ignorant of Persian values and morals(I'm sure). The characters of this lovely tale of love and compassion continue to choose others before themselves despite desperate hardships. They are rewarded in the end for their kindness to some fantastic birds(of grace?) whose lives are spared.

The age old classic Greek myth, King Midas and the Golden Touch

Source of world map.

Mild Rainy Weather

2012-01-23T00:30:00.007-05:00

It was fairly warm despite the drizzly rain this past weekend, warm enough for my daughter to tear up our path way with a shovel! Ah well, she had fun digging rivers and dams, and floating leaf boats in the water exiting the spouts.

Such are the care free joys of childhood.

Shadow Puppets

2012-01-21T22:15:00.007-05:00

Active storytelling.

Source: designmom.com via Alexandra on Pinterest

I'm reading Grimm's fairy tales to my daughter. I might have to try this.

Lots of ideas here.

Many free to print vintage silhouettes here.

Printable puppet stage.

Source: etc.usf.edu via Alexandra on Pinterest

Washing Painted Walls

2012-01-21T00:17:00.008-05:00

I was thinking the only way to brighten up our walls was to repaint, but I've spent a few days wiping down the walls top to bottom, and they are so much brighter! I take the time to spot clean every week, but this thorough cleaning made a bigger impression of cleanliness. I found that a dampened microfiber towel wrung out with dishwashing soap removed dirt the best. Some of my spray cleaners that I've used in the past were too strong and caused paint to fade, especially on my door frames and wall corners in heavy traffic areas.

I rinsed the towel in clean water frequently and worked from top to bottom in a circular motion. Our walls are especially tough to clean because they are textured with plaster swirls. I use Palmolive dish soap, and this gets all the grubby hand prints, pen and watercolor marks, and other kiddie "art" out of the crevices and off of the wall.

Anyway, I think we'll get another few years out of our wall paint before I need to repaint. I got a good work out for my arms as well!

Early Spring?

2012-01-19T14:03:00.008-05:00

View from my window today. It's oddly spring-like this winter. I've even got daffodils and radish coming up! Our spring bushes are heavy with buds. I'll be back...I've been deep cleaning the house this week, and purging collections of outgrown toys and clothes. Tomorrow is donation day.

Easy Mom and Child Made Felt Softie/Plushie

2012-01-16T00:09:00.006-05:00

Inspired by one of my daughter's monster pictures, I drew out the picture on felt, cut it out, hand sewed it together, and stuffed it with pulled cotton balls. She didn't have the confidence to draw it out on the felt herself, but this is something a younger child could try and have an adult sew it together. She did watch me, and pulled through a few stitches which is super experience for early sewing and building fine motor skills.

We made a little heart as well.

I'd like to try this snail next week which requires embroidery thread for the detailing. The eyes should be on the stalks...not sure how to do this, but I'll experiment. This snail looks a bit like a butterfly with the antennae curls. ;)

Source: etsy.com via Melissa on Pinterest

Zero Cost Preschool Math

2012-01-14T22:06:00.003-05:00

Source: montessorionabudget.blogspot.com via Sarah on Pinterest

My daughter is too old for this, but the simplicity of this idea caught my eye. I think those are toilet paper rolls holding the number places. The sticks are nice for little hands to hold, and not likely to be a choking hazard like small round counters. Fun for children to collect and break as well.

Printable Peter and the Wolf Puppet Theater

2012-01-12T21:32:00.001-05:00

Source: sarahjanestudios.com via Cypress on Pinterest

Made from a cereal box, some sticks, and brads. See here.

Extraordinary Grace from Ordinary Acts When We Offer It Up

2012-01-12T19:30:00.002-05:00

Source: scrapstudio.tumblr.com via Annalea on Pinterest

Rise Up...Your Light Has Come...! Mass of the Epiphany

2012-01-07T18:19:00.007-05:00

Christmas is still with us as we celebrated the Epiphany tonight at mass with the usual reading from Isaiah, which never fails to lift me up. My six year old daughter sang Hosanna in the Highest at full throttle. Embarrassing, but beautiful at the same time. She has a very loud glass breaking soprano voice.

Rise up in splendor, Jerusalem! Your light has come,
the glory of the Lord shines upon you.
See, darkness covers the earth,
and thick clouds cover the peoples;
but upon you the LORD shines,
and over you appears his glory.
Nations shall walk by your light,
and kings by your shining radiance.
Raise your eyes and look about;
they all gather and come to you:
your sons come from afar,
and your daughters in the arms of their nurses.

Then you shall be radiant at what you see,
your heart shall throb and overflow,
for the riches of the sea shall be emptied out before you,
the wealth of nations shall be brought to you.
Caravans of camels shall fill you,
dromedaries from Midian and Ephah;
all from Sheba shall come
bearing gold and frankincense,
and proclaiming the praises of the LORD. ~Is 60:1-6

Children's Bathroom Organization

2012-01-06T19:15:00.001-05:00

Source: Uploaded by user via Hannah on Pinterest

I am so doing this! I'll have them use the longer space for toothpaste

Discounted Gift Cards - Money Back on Purchases

2012-01-06T17:27:00.007-05:00

In January, people begin unloading their unwanted Christmas gift cards, so it is a good time to purchase discounted gift cards. Mostly, I use Plastic Jungle to purchase gift cards at a discount, and stick to merchants that I use regularly like Jiffy Lube, Barnes & Noble, Walmart, Rite Aid, etc. Plastic Jungle is an online place to buy and sell gift cards. Plastic Jungle buys from individuals, and sells the cards at a discount online. All cards are verified and guaranteed by Plastic Jungle. I was able to get a Barnes & Noble gift card last night at an 11% discount(off face value), and it does not expire, so I can take my time using it. Since it's a gift card and just like cash, I can pair coupons with it and my member discount. This adds up to some nice savings.

Shipping is free and fast. I've had nothing but good experiences with Plastic Jungle. They offer e-gift cards as well, but I like to have the ones I can use both one and off-line.

Because Boxes are Fun and Useful

2012-01-06T14:21:00.006-05:00

My daughter made this doll house the other day, and it works as a portable craft table as well! She has been carrying it upstairs to color or paint on it while I do chores. We've got a children's chair(thrifted for a $1.00 last week) that is just the right height for it.

To waterproof a cardboard box table, cover it with contact paper.

Source: homeliving.blogspot.com via Alexandra on Pinterest

Nature Crafting: Winter Pinecone Man

2012-01-06T12:41:00.001-05:00

Source: make-it-do.com via Alexandra on Pinterest

Click on "Source" above to see directions.

Tea Party Kittens

2012-01-04T23:43:00.009-05:00

Today at tea-time, I was instructed to cover the tea party with numerous pictures of the goings-on. That's Fluffy; she's one of those motion activated Fur Real cats.

It was a welcomed break from helping my son with a unit on Polynomial Algebra(gag). The (real) cat was making a nuisance of himself anyway.

This guy wasn't invited, even though he eventually grew hands to hold the cups(which seemed to improve his mood). I'll make sure he's included next time.

Winter, The Phlegmatic Temperament

2012-01-04T00:09:00.005-05:00

Source: google.com via Alexandra on Pinterest

"...Sir Winter is also motivated by his physical being. Winter prefers to communicate in action and pictures and not as much with words. When one walks out into a winter wonderland they don’t hear the laughter of the summer brook, the chirping of spring birds, or the chattering of autumn squirrels. Instead one must switch their focus to the visual and the physical and notice the sloping snow drifts, the gently dripping icicles, and the physical beauty of each snowflake. When winter wants to communicate he does not shout, cry or laugh – he moves. Winter’s philosophy in life is “don’t talk about it – do it.”

However, as much as Sir Winter likes to keep to himself and is motivated by his own inner world, he can also be influenced to change by others. A snow-drift can be transformed into a snow-fort, a pile of sticky snow can become a snow-man, ice on the walk can be melted by salt and an avid skier can create modern art on Sir Winter’s powdery white surface. To the casual observer Sir Winter may seem impenetrable. However, to those that know him well, the secrets to bringing him out of his comfort zone are revealed. Because above all, the comfort zone is what matters most to Sir Winter."

What a wonderful description of the Phlegmatic temperament. Read more here. We've got an entire household full of Phlegmatics right down to the cat! ;) It's a winter landscape here, although my daughter has a few drops of sunshine(Sanguine).

More about the four personality temperaments(Waldorf homeschool) here.

No Sew Beginner Needle Felting

2012-01-03T23:27:00.004-05:00

This is new to me, but looks amazingly easy! See here for photo tutorial for needle felting these bees.

Source: passengersonalittlespaceship.blogspot.com via Julia on Pinterest

How to Draw an Elephant

2012-01-03T22:41:00.001-05:00

Source: blog.vanstee.be via Alexandra on Pinterest

As well as a drawing lesson, this would make a cute template for sewing an elephant softie toy.

God's Paintbrush

2012-01-03T12:16:00.001-05:00

Source: infinite-soull.tumblr.com via Alexandra on Pinterest

Craft Some Gold Brick Bookends

2012-01-02T21:10:00.002-05:00

Source: Uploaded by user via Myrnie on Pinterest

I need to try this. Simply spray paint a brick gold...or silver, or any favorite color.

Craft a Mini-winter Scene

2012-01-02T21:05:00.001-05:00

Source: cfabbridesigns.com via Lamb on Pinterest

Now I just need to find a brandy type glass at the thrift or dollar store.

General Cleaning of a Room, 1918

2012-01-02T18:49:00.007-05:00

From Household Science in Rural Schools (1918):
"Rooms which are in constant use should be swept and dusted every day. A thorough cleaning of each room in the house will be necessary every week or two, even though the room is swept and kept in order daily. First, all cupboards, drawers, and other receptacles in which articles collect should be cleaned; then all large movable articles should be dusted and moved out of the room; those that are not readily movable should be dusted and covered. The floor should be swept with the windows open; the ceiling and walls should be brushed with a covered broom, and the dust allowed to settle. The floor should then be wiped with a damp cloth on the broom. If the floor is of unfinished-wood, it will require a thorough scrubbing. After sweeping the floor and allowing the dust to settle, a small portion at a time should be scrubbed with a floor-brush and soap. When scrubbing, the grain of the wood should be followed. The scrubbing-water should be changed frequently. For rinsing and drying the floor, a cloth should be wrung out of clear water. The woodwork should be cleaned with a damp cloth and a soap that is not too strong. Soda or sapolio should not be used. The furniture should be carefully uncovered, and everything arranged in perfect order.

The things that are highest should be dusted first, and care should be taken to collect all the dust in the dust-cloth. After collecting the dust, the cloth should be shaken out-of-doors, washed thoroughly, and boiled. The dust-cloth should be dampened before using on all surfaces except the polished furniture and windows.

Sweeping should be done with short strokes and the broom should be kept close to the floor, so that the dust will not be scattered. The corners of the room should be swept first, the dust gathered in the center, and then swept into the dust-pan. The dust should be burned, for it may contain disease germs. Loose hairs and fluff should be removed from the broom after using, and it should also be washed periodically.

Small rugs should be cleaned out-of-doors. They should be swept, beaten, and re-swept, then rolled until ready to be put on the floor. If the rug is a large one and cannot be removed, it should be wiped over with a damp cloth, rolled, and the under side of the rug and the floor beneath it should be wiped.

After the room has been cleaned, the windows should be arranged so that a supply of fresh, clean air can come constantly into it. This is essential to every room in the house, if perfect health is to be maintained."

Wow! Now that's a clean room. I need a carpet beater.

The Leader of the Band Sleeps

2012-01-02T12:41:00.003-05:00

Our lazy winter cat. ;)

Beatrix Potter and Originality

2012-01-02T11:11:00.000-05:00

Source: lynnehoppe.tumblr.com via Cypress on Pinterest

Thank goodness I was never sent to school. It would have rubbed off some of the originality. ~Beatrix Potter portrait and quote

Sweet Chicken with Tamarind, Apricots, and Chipotle Sauce

2011-12-31T17:15:00.004-05:00

Recipe and photo tutorial here. I haven't tried this yet, but it looks delicious. Recipe is from Pati's Mexican Table.

Printable Domino Math Recording Sheet

2011-12-30T22:16:00.005-05:00

Source: firstgradeschoolbox.blogspot.com via Cypress on Pinterest

See here. Click on "print" at link and you'll see an option for a PDF download, otherwise it goes to a PowerPoint document which requires an app.

If you slide the page into a plastic sleeve you can use a wipe-off pen, making it re-useable without having to reprint.

Original link here.

Living History Revolutionary War Period(1776) Library Book Find(Grades 6-8)

2011-12-29T22:53:00.009-05:00

Found at our public library today for my son(age 14): Going to School in 1776 by John J. Loeper, published in 1973. I've skimmed through it and liked what I saw. The writing is clear and crisp, packed full of historical information written in interesting small bites, shorts sections peppered with old wood cut prints from childrens' books of the time. Highly readable, light, and not dumbed down, this is a super living book for history studies, especially to wet the interest in history of that time period. Although the children's names have been changed in the book, all the the events are real, based on historical record. It covers everyday life of several children against the backdrop of the political and military drama of the Revolutionary War. This slice of life coverage helps add a face and heart to historical facts, a stepping stone to in-depth study, or adjunct to current studies.

Sections covered: The Word of 1776(historical background), Being a Child in 1776, How Children Dress in 1776, The Schools of 1776, The Teachers of 1776, The School Books of 1776, The Lessons of 1776, The Discipline of 1776, Being a Girl in 1776, and Having Fun in 1776.

Loeper also wrote Going to School in 1876, and about a dozen other living history books for children.

Dishwashing Made a Pleasure

2011-12-28T22:00:00.010-05:00

From Things Mother Used to Make (1914).

First of all, remove all refuse from the dishes.

Place them near the sink, large plates at the bottom, then the smaller ones, then saucers.

Have a large pan full of very hot water.

Make a good soap suds by using a soap shaker.

Wash the tumblers and all glassware first, and wipe at once.

Use a handle dish cloth (which can be bought for five cents), for these, as the water will be too hot for the hands.

Wash the silver next.

Have a large pan, in which to place the clean dishes, cups and bowls first.

When all are washed pour over them boiling or very hot water, and wipe quickly.

Pans and kettles come last.

Always have a cake of sand soap or a can of cleaning powder, for scouring the pie plates and bottoms of kettles.

It is very little work to keep baking tins and kitchen utensils in good condition, if washed perfectly clean each time they are used.

Wash the dish towels, at least once every day, and never use them for anything else. With clean hot water, clean towels, and plenty of soap dishwashing is made easy.

If you live in New England, your sink will be in front of a window. Be sure and plant just outside of this window nasturtiums, a bed of pansies, morning glories, and for fall flowers, salvia. These bright blossoms will add to your pleasure while washing dishes.

More about vintage dish washing and kitchen cleaning hints here, at Vintage Recipes.

Pictured here, my next sink: farmhouse sink with double drainboards. Ideally, I'd like to find a vintage one in good shape for the rounded edges where it mounts on the wall. I don't like the utilitarian look of the angular edges.

Modern dish hand-washing tips for water conservation:

Hand-washing:

• Turn it off. Don’t leave the faucet running constantly as you soap-up then rinse off each dish.

• Divide and conquer. If you have a double-basin sink, fill one side with wash water and the other with rinse water. You can reuse the rinse water for each dish, and then reuse it again to water your lawn.

• Aerate. You can increase the efficiency of your rinsing with an aerator that limits output from 2.5 gpm to 1.5 gpm or less (going below 1.5 gpm, however, may be frustrating, given the time it would take to fill up the sink).

• Do you even need to rinse? In some European countries, water costs are so high that people wash their dishes and then just wipe the sudsy water off, without rinsing.

- From This or That: Dishwasher vs. Hand-Washing

Cute pink gloves from Oilcloth Alley.

Children's Art: Butterfield Horse from Twigs

2011-12-28T19:36:00.002-05:00

Source: elementaryartroom.blogspot.com via Alexandra on Pinterest

We'll be making this tomorrow(first grade art). Our backyard is filled twigs after mulch mowing the Autumn leaves and oak tree debris. All that's needed is twigs, glue, and construction paper. We'll draw the picture first for an outline, and fill it in with the twigs, cut or snapped to size. I'll use some dead fluffy plant fibers(from the yard) for hair.

End of the Year Thrifty Thrifter

2011-12-28T00:37:00.005-05:00

The end of the tax year approaches and that means a rush of last minute donations to non-profit thrift stores. If you enjoy thrift bargains, the end of this week, and the first week of January are ideal times to find many good quality items for the home and wardrobe. Some of the larger well known thrift stores will be packed with merchandise during the next week or two.

Not tax related, but I've noticed that our Craigslist had a good number more offers for kitchen ranges(other appliances) in very good condition. Many people swap out their stoves for new ones that were purchased at discounted Christmas prices. And some of them were not that old, a few had active warranties.

Are you a Night Owl or an Early Riser?

2011-12-28T00:13:00.003-05:00

Just for fun, Morning and Evening Types: Exploring Their Personality Styles, Juan Francisco Díaz-Morales, Personality and Individual Differences:

...morning and evening types think differently. Early risers prefer to gather knowledge from concrete information. They reach conclusions through logic and analysis. Night owls are more imaginative and open to unconventional ideas, preferring the unknown and favoring intuitive leaps on their way to reaching conclusions. Social behavior diverges as well: Morning people are more likely to be self-controlled and exhibit “upstanding” conduct; they respect authority, are more formal, and take greater pains to make a good impression. (Earlier research also suggests that they are less likely to hold radical political opinions.) Evening people, by contrast, are “independent” and “nonconforming,” and more reluctant to listen to authority—which suggests that teachers may have several reasons to prefer those students who wake up in time for class. Read more here(scroll to bottom).

Hmm, I'm an night owl, but not a rebel in the strictest sense. I do like being independent and imaginative though. :)

Bringing Back the Lard

2011-12-27T23:32:00.005-05:00

From Lard: The New Health Food?, Food & Wine online:

In response to the news that New York City's health commissioner had asked local restaurants to stop using cooking oils containing trans fats, comparing them to such hazards as lead and asbestos, Kummer proposed that we bring back lard, "the great misunderstood fat." Lard, he cheerfully reportehttp://www.blogger.com/img/blank.gifd, contains just 40 percent saturated fat (compared with nearly 60 percent for butter). Its level of monounsaturated fat (the "good" fat) is "a very respectable 45 percent," he noted, "double butter's paltry 23 or so percent." Kummer hinted that if I wanted to appreciate the virtues of this health food, I needed to fry shoestring potatoes or a chicken drumstick.
Read more here.

Homemade Lard Recipes, including Polish smalec.

Salo: Salo is a traditional Ukrainian, Belarusian and Russian food: cured slabs of fatback (rarely pork belly), with or without skin.

Homemade Lard(Vintage Recipes)

1910 Paper Doll Kitchen

2011-12-26T19:39:00.003-05:00

Source: 1910 Paper Doll Kitchen via Alexandra on Pinterest

Follow link below picture to enlarge(click on "full size" at link) and save for printing.

Keeping it Simple, A 1910 Kitchen

2011-12-26T19:30:00.003-05:00

Source: images.google.com via Alexandra on Pinterest

A 1910 New England restored New England kitchen - simple, utilitarian, warm. This is going to be the inspiration for my new kitchen(someday). I'm considering a minimalistic freestanding kitchen without traditional cabinetry.

Thinking About a Shikibuton Futon Mattress

2011-12-26T18:30:00.007-05:00

Source: images.google.com via Alexandra on Pinterest

I've had a platform bed for years, but lately I've been thinking about purchasing a Shikibuton, an authentic Japanese mattress(futon). Unlike the American style futon, which can be very lumpy and hard, the authentic Japanese futons(Shikibutons) are very comfortable. I've slept on them during my travels as a child, and my parents had one for years as a temporary guest bed.

I've found a few companies which make these by hand in the United States. One of them is in New Hampshire, J-Living; and another hand makes these in New Jersey, White Lotus Home. Right now I'm partial to one made by White Lotus because it is thicker and comes with a wool outer layer, if desired. White Lotus Home does not add perfumes, formaldehyde, or dyes to the natural fibers and materials. They also offer certified organic cotton for a bit more. Custom sizes can be made to order.

J-Living looks like the more authentic of the two Japanese futons. It has no wool outer layer and is made only with the traditional dense cotton batting. It can be easily folded away. Futon covers can be made to order with Japanese fabric, and they sell the Kakebuton, a traditional comforter.

I wonder if these Shikibutons will feel the same as I remember? We'll be using a tatami mat as a base. Reviews on both brands of futons have been favorable, so I hope it's a good experience when we purchase these.

Away in a Manger...

2011-12-23T01:00:00.001-05:00

Source: cuteoverload.com via Alexandra on Pinterest

Rejoice, the author of love is born.

Simple Christmas Giving, All Year Round

2011-12-20T16:41:00.014-05:00

Matthew 25:35:

"for I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me drink, I was a stranger and you welcomed me, I was naked and you clothed me, I was sick and you visited me, I was in prison and you came to me."

Throughout the years our Christmas celebrations have gotten much more simple. This year seems to be more about giving than spending. Considering worldwide economic hardships, I think the focus of many people has changed. A few very simple things busy families, even those on a tight budget, can do to ease the suffering of those less fortunate:

Clean out your pantry once a week and donate what you can spare to food pantries.
Purge you home regularly and donate items to Goodwill, Salvation Army, DAV, or another agency which gives people a hand-up as well as a hand-out.
Keep spare change handy for donations to places such as the Salvation Army Kettle, or The Ronald McDonald House(at all McDonald's drive-throughs), or any place that accepts coins.
Rotate Christmas and birthday monies through Microplace investments which offers short term and long term micro-loans to small business owners both here in the U.S and abroad.
Save Box Tops for local schools(our drop box is in our church)
Rather than gifts, donate money to charities in the person's name. Many charities will send a free card to the recipient. For example, I was able to donate to Saint Jude's Childrens Hospital online and arrange for the card to be sent with a personal message - very easy!
Donate reward points
Add a charity, school, church or non-profit to your shopping rewards cards. Our grocery store allows for this, and for every purchase, a portion goes to your charity of choice.
Donate a portion of your garden produce to food pantries.
Donate your old prescription glasses to the Lions Club(they also accept old printer cartridges, and other item). Drop boxes are at many shopping locations.
Donate your books to the public library. They'll place some into circulation and sell off the ones they don't keep.

And finally, the easiest gift of all, a gift of your time to someone who needs it.

Instructions for Vintage Adoration of the Kings Wall Hanging

2011-12-15T19:03:00.004-05:00

I love these vintage crafts. This one is from the early 1960's and has a mid-century modern vibe to it. Printable instructions here.

DIY Candle Stick Apothecary Jars

2011-12-13T10:39:00.000-05:00

" You will need 3 candlesticks. They were primed, then spray painted green. The jars were old Fry's salsa jars soaked in bleach solution and labels peeled off. The lids were spray painted to match the candlesticks. Lastly, the jars were glued onto the candlesticks with gorilla glue."

Source: thisoldchair.blogspot.com via Linda on Pinterest

Printable Folding Christmas Village

2011-12-12T12:57:00.001-05:00

Click on the first link below picture, The Pleasant Times blog.

Source: thepleasanttimes.blogspot.com via Alexandra on Pinterest

Indoor Garden Grow Light System

2011-12-11T23:10:00.006-05:00

I am still mulling over the idea of an indoor vegetable garden. This adjustable height grow light looks promising, and I may get this with Christmas money. I would love to grow green peppers, carrots, and cucumber indoors during the winter. Last winter, I experimented with indoor cucumber gardening and got one small cucumber(self pollinating organic) with no grow light, but full sunlight through a southwest facing window. I bet with grow lights I'd get much more. This one below is about $50.00.

Source: amazon.com via Alexandra on Pinterest

Hydrofarm Jump Start Grow Light System

REJOICE!

2011-12-10T23:00:00.000-05:00

The third Sunday of Advent, also known as Advent's Gaudete Sunday.

"...we light the pink candle on the Advent wreath. Gaudete is the imperative plural form of the Latin verb gaudere (to rejoice). It is a command ordering us to rejoice! In these days of penance and preparation leading up to the feast of our Savior's birth, it reminds us of the joy that is to come, and serves, amid this season of penance, as a kind of 'break' when we recall the hope we have because of the coming of Jesus.

In Advent, we not only celebrate the first coming of our Lord, but eagerly prepare for His Second Coming as well, when the restoration of all things takes place...The earliest Christians cried 'Maranatha! Come Lord Jesus!' expecting Jesus to come at any moment. So should we—we should long for His return with our lamps trimmed and our souls ready. It is indeed something to celebrate—and prepare for. Advent turns our hearts and minds to this reality." ~ Catholic Online

Reposted from 2010

DIY Sharpie Pillows

2011-12-10T22:58:00.000-05:00

Source: dearlillieblog.blogspot.com via Nicola on Pinterest

The Soul with a Body... He Knew All of Us

2011-12-08T18:24:00.001-05:00

Jeremiah 1:5 "Before I formed you in the womb I knew you ...

Source: facebook.com via Amber on Pinterest

A Budget of Christmas Tales by Charles Dickens, An Anthology of English and American Christmas Tales, 1895

2011-12-08T13:38:00.009-05:00

Unfortunately this book is no longer available via a PDF download at Google Books; however, you can read it on several devices. See the link for details; click on Read Book at the link. You can also read it online. I've switched the format to HTML, so you can right click on the image of the page to save individual pages to print or read later.

See here for contents and to read online, or save individual pages, or read via apps on your devices. Offered free at Google Books.

Free downloads at Project Gutenberg(just noticed this).

Mulch Autumn Leaves, Skip the Bags

2011-12-07T13:08:00.009-05:00

Source: marylenalynx.blogspot.com via Kirsi *itKuPiLLI* on Pinterest

With all this nice weather we've been having, the past two days have been spent on leaf clean-up. Instead of bagging them, we rake and blow them into big piles and mow over. We've got a mulching mower which makes short work of the leaves, chopping them into little pieces. Much of this remains on the grass to sift down to the soil as natural fertilizer. The excess is raked into piles, and shoveled off into the beds for mulch. We end up doing this several times in the fall in order to catch all the leaves, and make sure the leaves are chopped small enough.

Reason for leaf mulching:

Saves money on bags
Add nutrients back to the soil(free fertilizer)
Helps the soil retain moisture
Insulates plants from the winter cold
Environmentally friendly

Tips:

Make sure your mower blade is sharp
Lower blade to about 2.5 inches high
Mow twice or thrice to thoroughly chop up leaves.

Here's a good link on how to compost your leaves over the winter.

Gone But Not Forgotten

2011-12-07T11:10:00.001-05:00

Rest in Peace.

Dollar Map Coloring Books

2011-12-06T20:31:00.004-05:00

I found these map coloring books at the Dollar Tree today. I'll add pictures of some the inside pages once my camera is operational again. They are nicely detailed with pull out maps, flags, and highlights of each country/state. Picture and links are from Amazon.com:

Maps to Color and Learn Europe

Maps to Color and Learn United States

What's Important

2011-12-06T13:21:00.003-05:00

Source: google.com via Alexandra on Pinterest

Marjorie Pay Hinckley - “I don't want to drive up to the pearly gates in a shiny sports car, wearing beautifully, tailored clothes, my hair expertly coiffed, and with long, perfectly manicured fingernails. I want to drive up in a station wagon that has mud on the wheels from taking kids to scout camp. I want to be there with a smudge of peanut butter on my shirt from making sandwiches for a sick neighbors children. I want to be there with a little dirt under my fingernails from helping to weed someone's garden. I want to be there with children's sticky kisses on my cheeks and the tears of a friend on my shoulder. I want the Lord to know I was really here and that I really lived.”

Making Room in Our Hearts

2011-12-03T22:39:00.001-05:00

Source: etsy.com via Lauren on Pinterest

A Little Christmas Shopping

2011-12-02T22:49:00.006-05:00

I ordered this last night for my daughter:

Inchimals by Fat Brain Toys

Product Description from Amazon:
Inchimals is a set of 12 beautifully crafted, and thoughtfully designed wooden blocks which measure from 1" in height (the tiny ladybug) to the 12 " tall towering giraffe. Children learn math and have fun at the same time by combining the Inchimal blocks with the 100 write-on and wipe-off math puzzles. Kids explore counting, number value and recognition, scale, fine motor skills, language, and imagination. For ages 3 years and up. It can also be used for adding and subtracting.

She'll think this is more game than learning. I hope it's a hit.

I also got her a Blocks & Marbles Maze Super Set for her marble collection. She already makes her own marble ball runs with stuff around the house, so I think she'll love this.

A Southern Classic Sauce: Mississippi Comeback Sauce

2011-11-30T17:35:00.003-05:00

I've got to make this! See here for the recipe. This complex tasting creamy sauce is high calorie, built upon a mayonnaise base, but looks as if it would be delicious as a meat or vegetable sauce for occasional comfort meals.

Kitty Leisure Activities

2011-11-29T01:42:00.009-05:00

Spoiled pets seen here:
Daily fish watching along with a short drink from the bowl by resident cat. Our betta fish hides in his castle from my daughter, but not the cat! There's a bit of cat watching from the other side of the glass as well.

First Day of Advent

2011-11-27T23:28:00.003-05:00

A Root shall come forth from the stock of Jesse
And a Flower shall rise out of his root!
And the spirit of the Lord shall rest upon Him
the spirit of wisdom and of understanding,
the spirit of counsel and of fortitude,
the spirit of knowledge and of godliness.
The people that walked in darkness
shall see a great light,
For a Child is born to us
and a Son is given to us.
To Him all power shall be given.
His Name shall be: Wonderful One,
Strong God, Eternal One, Prince of Peace.
He shall sit on the throne of David,
And He will found a new Covenant
which will last for ever and ever.
~ Advent prayer based on scripture from Isaiah

Today is the first day of Advent.
(from the Latin word adventus meaning "coming") We light one candle today on the wreath in anticipation of the Nativity of Jesus.

DIY Extra Large Wall Magnet Board

2011-11-27T23:14:00.003-05:00

Made from a oil drip pan found at automotive stores, or some Wallyworlds for about $10.00, more or less. See here for more information.

Easy Sew Girls' Ribbon Christmas Tree Top

2011-11-27T13:56:00.000-05:00

Source: bjanebrewing.com via Cari on Pinterest

Dollar Store Fun - Table for Two?

2011-11-26T21:53:00.007-05:00

I got a few packages of flameless tea light candles(set of three) at a dollar store today for my daughter's "restaurant". What fun she has had for just a few dollars. They've also been selling those detailed miniature Japanese type food eraser sets which come apart, and are perfect for kitchen play. We purchased a sushi set a few weeks ago, and today a fast food set.

I requested a few "manners" books for young children from the library tonight. Maybe I'll read them as the animals dine, and have Mr. Brontosaurus act out what we learn(hee,hee).

Have a Peaceful and Blessed Thanksgiving

2011-11-23T23:22:00.000-05:00

"In everything give thanks: for this is the
will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you." 1 Thessalonians 5:18

Vintage Children's Thanksgiving Poetry for Those in Colder Climates

2011-11-23T22:56:00.000-05:00

THANKSGIVING DAY

Over the river and through the wood,
To grandfather's house we go;
The horse knows the way
To carry the sleigh
Through the white and drifted snow.
Over the river and through the wood—
Oh, how the wind does blow!
It stings the toes
And bites the nose,
As over the ground we go.
Over the river and through the wood,
To have a first-rate play.
Hear the bells ring,
"Ting-a-ling-ding!"
Hurrah for Thanksgiving Day!
Over the river and through the wood
Trot fast, my dapple-gray!
Spring over the ground,
Like a hunting-hound!
For this is Thanksgiving Day.
Over the river and through the wood,
And straight through the barn-yard gate
We seem to go
Extremely slow,—
It is so hard to wait!
Over the river and through the wood—
Now grandmother's cap I spy!
Hurrah for the fun!
Is the pudding done?
Hurrah for the pumpkin-pie?
~ Lydia Maria Child

Free and in public domain: Childhood's Favorites and Fairy Stories The Young Folks Treasury, Volume 1

Over the River and Through the Woods free geography lesson(grades1-2).

Repost from 2007.

Free Thanksgiving Coloring Pages

2011-11-23T10:30:00.000-05:00

Here is a sampling:

Click here for printable and saveable pdf copies. They print out nicely.

HT to Betsy who has an ongoing list of Thanksgiving links on her blog.

Repost 2007.

Made in the USA

2011-11-22T22:47:00.004-05:00

Just out of curiosity, I was browsing a website of 100% American made products when I came upon Texas Jeans. There is a sale and free shipping for the holidays! I may consider buying a pair as a Christmas gift for my husband. They have regular and trendy cut jeans. Check out their selection and prices here. It's hard to believe that the iconic Levi jeans(last made in USA in 2003) are no longer made here in the USA.

Some reviews of Texas Jeans here. Apparently they are extremely good quality and fit well.

Here's another USA made brand, Buddy's Jeans. The cowboy father and son modeling Buddy Jeans made me smile. These are super tough jeans with extra reinforcement.

Here's an interesting site which posts the history of various items made in the USA, and where they can be found for purchase. No posts have been made since April of 2011. I wish they had kept posting because it was fun to read. I was surprised to read that Okabashi footwear was made by a family owned business in Georgia.

Another neat site, Still made in USA. I've linked this to women's apparel. I recognized a good number of stores and brands: Jessica McClintock, Nordstrom's(search "USA"), Pendleton Wool, Spiegel(search USA), A Pea in a Pod(search "USA"), Eddie Bauer(keyword "women USA"), and more.

Peace

2011-11-21T22:22:00.003-05:00

Source: jesustotheworld.tumblr.com via Annalea on Pinterest

Let It Go

2011-11-21T22:18:00.001-05:00

Holiday stress advice:

Source: imgfave.com via Ashley on Pinterest

Children's Thanksgiving Coloring Page

2011-11-21T22:13:00.001-05:00

Right click on image to save and print.

Source: mostlypaperdolls.blogspot.com via Alexandra on Pinterest

DIY Children's Futon

2011-11-19T11:56:00.003-05:00

This was made from four pillows and three yards of fabric. See the blogspot link under the image for instructions. Openings can be left to remove pillows for washing. I think I'd use a velcro closure. I wonder if you could just sew together four pillow cases? Time to experiment.

Source: norestforthecreative.blogspot.com via Alexandra on Pinterest

Dish Dryer Rack for File Folder Organization

2011-11-18T18:16:00.002-05:00

Source: google.com via Elyse on Pinterest

Autumn Art Project for Children

2011-11-18T17:50:00.003-05:00

This autumn scene was embellished with gold paint. See link under picture for tutorial. I ordered the Sargent Art Metallic Tempera set of six($4.25) from Blick for this project.

Source: deepspacesparkle.com via Alexandra on Pinterest

Image is from the site tutorial.

Natural Tree Ornaments

2011-11-18T17:14:00.008-05:00

I happened to see these(see below) rough cut amethyst and citrine ornaments online today, and chuckled because my daughter made something similar for our Christmas tree this year. She asked to put the tree up early, so it's up and decorated, and very pink(new this year). From her ribbon scrap basket she hung up her colored mineral collection(mostly quartz), gumballs(from a tree) rolled in glitter, shells, and sea glass. A roll of tape is gone - she used this to tape the stones to ribbon for hanging. It is very pretty. I am not going to add to it. I'll leave our ornaments in the attic this year.

Source: vivaterra.com via Alexandra on Pinterest

"What Do You Do for Fun?"

2011-11-16T20:47:00.010-05:00

"What Do You Do for Fun?" I got this question from a family member recently. I had trouble answering the question to their satisfaction! The question assumed that I compartmentalize my life - fun and not fun. I didn't want to mention that everyday is fun, or life is what you make it, or that I actually enjoy my home and family life, or that a clean and happy home gives me great joy. I have fun when I am with my family because I love them. It's a lot of work and I have my ups and downs, but honestly when you homeschool, you generally enjoy spending time with your family, or you wouldn't pursue and continue with it. This particular person would have felt badly if I had mentioned all this, because I know she has a lot of regrets as a mother and wife, and is not the happiest person. I was also reminded(told) that my children are pulling away from me(not clingy babies anymore), as if this would send me into a tailspin. Meanwhile, I'm thinking this is a good thing! I have done my job if they feel comfortable being independent and secure. It has never been about me. It's always been about them(my husband and children). Both sides of my extended family tend toward narcissism, and they assume everyone else is just like them, or should be, even if it is unhealthy for those involved.

The hard work and love put into marriage and raising a family is a calling, a holy vocation, a sacrament, and a blessing. People who truly take this to heart and live it, generally don't have to chase after fun; they find joy in their vocation. Spending time with one and other, with your children is "fun" for me. Life is very short, and children grow quickly. I want to savor this time with them before the next season of my life begins. So what do I do for fun? I put God first, I pray that Jesus will work through me in all matters, and I feel the peace as the spirit fills me with His grace. Life is a gift, and everyday I wake up breathing is a "fun" day, a blessing, a joy. It's so true, Jesus is the light of the world, and the light will never be extinguished by the darkness(Gospel of John, I believe ). My focus in on the light, not the darkness.

The shortest answer, couched in the least threatening language I could produce is, "I just hang out with the fam', do fun stuff, and go places". A puzzled look followed, but oh well. I wonder what the culturally normative answer would be?

Fall Cleaning

2011-11-15T23:22:00.011-05:00

It seems that fall cleaning is almost as labor intensive as spring cleaning. Among other things, I am still clearing out wardrobes and donating old clothes to charity thrift stores. Today, I filled the trunk of the car, once again, with outgrown clothes. Teenage boys grow fast and outgrow clothing, pants especially, in a matter of months.

Fall also seems to bring a lot of dust, perhaps falling leaves and other decaying die-back, and the changing out of clothing and bedding from storage have something to do with it. I don't know, but I ended up having to do a thorough wipe down of all the baseboards, tops of doors, doors, walls, etc. It's weird how dust can accumulate on a vertical surface like the back of your interior room doors. Achooo - bring on the air cleaners.

I'm glad we pulled all the wall-to-wall carpets. I am enjoying our painted floors. Things stay much cleaner now because dirt is not hiding and accumulating in the carpets. The floors get wiped down and sanitized on a regular basis, so I know the dust levels have decreased in the house. Our new vacuum is working really well on the hard surfaces, and seems to be working equally as well on our super low pile area rugs.

In the next two weeks, I'll be tackling the cleaning of all the area rugs with Capture(dry clean), as well as washing throw pillows, bed pillows, and drapes; and vacuuming mattresses. I end up doing a deep cleaning every few months, but fall and spring seem to be done on a larger scale.

I have neighbors, both grandmothers in their late 60's, who have never heard of fall cleaning. So, thinking I was the only one who did this, I looked it up on Google and in my Google Books library. Sure enough, there is such a thing, and it's an age old ritual.

A few public domain vintage printables for children and adults. To save and print, simply right click on the images of the pages at the links. These books can be downloaded in their entirety as well.

"All went well—" said Mrs. Ladybug— "all went well until one day—this morning, to be exact—Mrs. Green opened the closet door and began to brush and sweep and wipe and dust. I heard her say that she was doing her fall cleaning. And of course that pleased me; for I was glad to learn that she was a neat housekeeper. ~ The Tale of Mrs. Ladybug by Arthur Scott Bailey, 1921

Practical Housekeeping, 1883, mentions both spring and fall cleaning.

Fall house cleaning in nature: To-DAY the September west winds have begun the fall house-cleaning by sweeping the tops of the pine woods. All the morning the little brown scales which nestle close to the base of each pine leaf as it grows, protecting it from the withering force of the midsummer sun, have been soaring and spinning in high glee, curiously lighting up with brown glimmers the solemn sanctuaries beneath. ~ Wood Wanderings,1910

Handy Household Hints and Recipes, 1910, Fall Cleaning: Bedbugs, ants and other pests may be gotten rid of by taking a cake of white soap or a piece of tallow, and with a knife scrape as much as needed, then add an ounce of powdered corrosive sublimate, making a smooth paste. After washing the bedstead with cold salt water, wipe dry and apply the paste to every crevice. This will not evaporate or soak into the wood, as liquids do, but will prove a ready and deadly feast for all partakers. For ants, spread a strip of muslin an inch wide with the paste and tack it around the legs, or under the cupboards, or lay them on the lower shelf under the papers. Put this on after fall housecleaning, and it stays there until spring, when it is all scraped off, the shelves are washed and the paste is renewed.

Fall Cleaning: Spring cleaning has long been an established custom. Getting rid of the winter's accumulations and dirt seems to be considered a necessity. What about the summer's accumulations? If allowed to remain undisturbed they will simply double the nuisance by spring. Go over your entire premises and put everything into the garbage barrel for which you have no use. Clean up the yard. Remove everything from cellar or attic which should not be there. If it is essential to remove such material in spring it is doubly necessary to do so in fall when your home will naturally he more closed for the winter. ~Buffalo Sanitary Bulletin, 1914

I also read that walls where traditionally whitewashed(limed) in the fall to kill over wintering pests.

Vintage 1910 November Blackboard Calendar

2011-11-13T20:56:00.002-05:00

Click on image to enlarge and save/print.
Source: The School Journal

Lift Me Up

2011-11-13T00:23:00.000-05:00

Source: jameipangilinan.tumblr.com via Meghan on Pinterest

Animal Bread

2011-11-10T21:30:00.008-05:00

Making this tomorrow for "cooking class"(giggle)! We'll make regular bread dough and shape it. Poppy seeds will serve as eyes.

Source: Uploaded by user via Alexandra on Pinterest

Update:

My daughter shaped most of these today. There are snails, slugs, bear heads(as pictured above from original idea), and other shapes. Many were rolled in poppy seeds for spotted versions of the animals. I added extra oil to this recipe so that it would be easier to shape, and probably should have let it rise only once because it obscured the shapes, which I knew would happen to some extent. We'll do this again. It was fun even though my kitchen looks like a flour explosion.

Here's a student lesson at RedStarYeast.com on the science of yeast.

Building Language Skills with Dictation and Art

2011-11-09T00:08:00.008-05:00

I've begun taking down my daughter's stories as she tells them. So far she seems to like this, and has begun drawing her stories on the same page where I am writing. I'm hoping to keep this up and put together a little book of her work(progress) at the end of the year. We don't have the room to save all the paperwork and projects, so I've begun taking pictures of them to add to a memory book. I hate to throw them all away, so I save a few each month in a three ring binder, but most get tossed to stave off a paper explosion.

This method of homeschooling English has been really good for her delayed expressive speech. I fell into dictation and art by following her lead, and as a bonus, it doubles as speech therapy. While telling her stories through her art, I'm able to re-phrase and correct her sentences, if needed; she then repeats, and can refine her sentences. When we are done, I re-read the story to her. I can sense the wheels turning - she is really wanting to move forward with improving her expressive speech, and this seems to be just her speed. I've met her at her comfort and interest level, so it flows naturally and painlessly. She is enjoying herself and learning at the same time.

The uninterrupted one-on-one time is very special, and there is a lot of conversation and connection. I thank God for this opportunity to give her this special attention in a relaxed environment full of love. This is my second trip through teaching a child with a speech delay, and what I've learned is that each child reaches to overcome this issue in their own way. What worked for my son, would not work for my daughter. Both need(ed) to come at the delay from their own specific learning style. My son prefers a very formal introspective(reading research) no-frills approach, whereas, my daughter is much more artistic, whimsical, and hands-on(quick observer) with her learning.

Free Printable Fall Writing Paper

2011-11-08T20:46:00.004-05:00

We used this for school today, just for a change of pace. See here to print.
There are many other selections with different themes. I printed out a few for my daughter today with butterflies, hearts, and a panda in the background.

Let Your Hope Make You Glad

2011-11-08T13:17:00.000-05:00

Source: borntomakeanimpact.tumblr.com via Kalyn on Pinterest

DIY Jellyfish Bottle Floaty

2011-11-07T15:43:00.003-05:00

I want to try this with my daughter! See source link below for tutorial.

Source: bhoomplay.wordpress.com via Therese on Pinterest

Clothes Pin Learning Fun for Young Children

2011-11-07T00:36:00.003-05:00

I think this was done with a balsa wood frog cut-out glued to a clothespin. I'm going to make this with cardboard. I bet I could think of some other animals(or letter/number animals) to make with a clothes pin. Great idea with many possibilities.

Source: flickr.com via Alexandra on Pinterest

House Plants Half Price Now

2011-11-06T23:42:00.006-05:00

I've been waiting all summer to get a big bushy palm, and this week they were half price at Wallyworld. I treated myself to a fern and a large palm. This was a nice treat considering we have several holes in our ceiling from two home repairs. One repair is still not fixed because the pipe is leaking again. Our vacuum broke(snapped in two!) after the workmen left on Friday, so there is still lots of dust. Amazon is sending us a new(different) stick vacuum for our hard surface flooring and low pile area rugs - hoping it comes quickly.

So I got some "pretty" to counter the ugly. I may check back in a week or two to see if the large house plants have been reduced some more. They really make a room feel lush and alive, and fill in empty corners nicely with texture.

Non-Traditional Kitchen Designs

2011-11-04T17:11:00.003-04:00

It's nearing the time for a completely new kitchen. We did an update about ten years ago, but now the 40 year old cabinets have reached the end of their life. Actually, we could get a little more life out of them with another repaint, but the lowers are not level and the water runs to the back of the counters. For some reason, a kitchen full of wall-to-wall upper and lower cabinets seems like an outdated design and a bit confining to me. I haven't always felt like this, but I'm going to go with a non-traditional approach to re-designing the kitchen, and see where that leaves me. It's a bit of a risk, but I plan to do it on a budget, and we can always add cabinets and counters later.

I leaning toward stainless steel restaurant work tables with no cabinets, and no full size oven or range. We'll use induction range plates and an induction half stove. Here's my Pinterest pin board with the kitchen items I may choose; I'm adding possibilities as I find them.

Old Fashioned Soft Molasses Cookies

2011-11-03T19:43:00.004-04:00

Ingredients:
3/4 cup shortening (3/4 cup correct amount)
1 cup packed brown sugar
1 large egg
1/2 cup molasses
2 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
1/2 teaspoon salt
2 teaspoons baking soda
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1 teaspoon ground ginger
1 teaspoon allspice
1 teaspoon nutmeg

Recipe here.

I substituted 3/4 cup of apple sauce for the shortening, and one tablespoon of canola oil. They were gone quickly! I also added a bit of cardamon. Soft and delicious!

Best Loved Stories, Character Education for the Very Young

2011-11-02T22:04:00.007-04:00

A few books that we have read aloud during the past month:

Treasury of Virtues: Courage, Love, Honesty
Twenty relatively short well known stories for the very young(ages 4-7) referencing the virtues of courage, love, and honesty. At the end of each story is a reflections page(summary) written specifically for very young child. There is nothing heavy, preachy, or dark here. These are sweet gently told tales. Stories include: The Little Red hen, The Elves and the Shoemaker, The Emperor's New Clothes, The Honest Woodcutter, The Boy Who Called Wolf, The Four Musicians, The Lion and the Mouse, Stone Soup, The Bell of Atri, The Gift, The Selfish Giant, King Midas, The Fisherman and His Wife, Jack in the Beanstalk, The North Wind, The Tortoise and the Hare, The Little Dutch Boy, Johnny Appleseed, and The Velveteen Rabbit.

Best-Loved Children's Stories (Padded Treasuries 6x6)
Best Loved Children's Stories(ages 4-7) includes these popular fairy tales: The Ant and the Grasshopper, The Twelve Dancing Princesses, The Brave Little Tailor, The City Mouse and the Country Mouse, Saint George and the Dragon, The Golden Goose, Demeter and Persephone, George Washington and the Cherry tree, Thumbelina, A Brer Rabbit Story, Abdrocles and the Lion, The Brownie of Blednock, Icarus and Daedalus, The Wild Swans, Ali Baba, and The Nightingale. Like the book above, Treasury of Virtues, this book also has a reflections page at the end of each story explaining the value covered. These story are light, friendly, and short enough for bedtime or snuggle time.

I picked up both of these books about ten years ago at a thrift store, but you may be able to find them at a public library. I've linked both which are in stock at Amazon .

A Manual Can Opener That Lasts!

2011-11-02T17:56:00.005-04:00

WMF Profi Plus Safety Can Opener

I've been using this bit of German engineering weekly for about six months now. I used to get so irritated with manual can openers not working properly or breaking after a month of use. This one has lasted, and it's easy on the hands. It took a while for me to get the hang of it because it opens the outside rim edge of the can, and has to be placed onto the can horizontally. It glides around the can without much effort leaving no sharp edges. It was a bit expensive, but the price was worth it for a reliable can opener. It opens those big 6.5 pound cans effortlessly. I picked this one after reading customer reviews of various can openers, doing a bit of research on Amazon.

All Saints Day(November First)

2011-10-31T18:20:00.003-04:00

Customs:

In Mexico, Portugal and Spain, offerings (Portuguese: oferendas, Spanish: ofrendas) are made on this day. In Spain the play Don Juan Tenorio is traditionally performed.

All Saints' Day in Mexico, coincides with the first day of the Day of the Dead (Dia de los Muertos) celebration. Known as "Día de los Inocentes" (Day of the Innocents), it honours deceased children and infants.

Portuguese children celebrate the Pão-por-Deus tradition, going door-to-door where they receive cakes, nuts and pomegranates. This only occurs in some areas around Lisbon.

Hallowmas in the Philippines is variously called "Undás" (based on the word for "[the] first"), "Tódos los Sántos" (literally "All Saints"), and sometimes "Áraw ng mga Patáy" (lit. "Day of the Dead"), which refers to the following day of All Souls' Day but includes it. Filipinos traditionally keep the two days by visiting the graves of deceased relatives, offering prayers and flowers, light candles and clean and repair the graves. People typically spend the day, sometimes even the whole night, picnicking and holding reunions at the cemetery near their loved ones.

In Argentina, Austria, Belgium, France, Hungary, Italy, Luxembourg, Malta, Portugal, Spain, and American cities such as New Orleans, people take flowers to the graves of dead relatives.

In Austria, Croatia, the Czech Republic, Finland, Catholic parts of Germany, Hungary, Lithuania, Moldova, Poland, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia and Sweden, the tradition is to light candles and visit the graves of deceased relatives.

In English-speaking countries, the festival is traditionally celebrated with the hymn "For All the Saints" by William Walsham How. The most familiar tune for this hymn is Sine Nomine by Ralph Vaughan Williams. Catholics generally celebrate with a day of rest consisting of avoiding physical exertion.

Source

I'll be thinking about my grandparents who have passed away - such great memories. I miss them very much.

Backing Up, Leaning Toward Unschool

2011-10-30T21:45:00.008-04:00

The novelty of structured school work wore off fairly quickly for my daughter, so we have backed up into an unschooly approach for English. So it happens like this now:

She wants me to sit with her while she draws pictures and tells me stories about them. So while she draws, I work on primer level school work, and she watches. Every once in a while she'll copy what I'm writing, or begins spelling what she sees me write. Her handwriting has gotten so neat. She is watching me out of the corner of her eye as I write and spell the words aloud, over and over. I weave my own stories and drawings as I work on these vintage reader pages. Each of us share our own picture stories, and it's creating some wonderful memories of happy relaxed times together. I've seen her writing some of the primer words with her soap crayons on the bathtub walls in the evenings, so she's absorbing what she sees and hears as I work the primer sheets.

What a funny way to learn, and it happened by accident. One day I got antsy, and felt I had to do something with my hands while I was sitting at the table as she drew, so I began doing her school pages! I'm enjoying the primer(giggle).

I'll be doing the same with numbers because she burned out on the Rod & Staff math book as we finished up the number nine. We've got a Think Fun Math Dice game which she has played a few times. I'll probably figure out a way to use the dice along with a story drawing as well.

We are still working on this vintage primer, printed out from Google Books .

The letters(in the picture) are from Appletters, picked out by my daughter at Barnes & Noble.

A Step Toward a More Humane Society - Respect Starts at the Beginning

2011-10-23T17:10:00.009-04:00

There was a Life Mass today, and for the first time, we could not get in the church! It was packed and parking was set up three blocks away at our church center. It was beautiful that it was packed, and I wish we could have gotten in for mass.

“The poor may possess little, but the unborn child possesses nothing . . . These are the poorest of the poor, and it is these that we have sought to help with our work.” Steven Mosher, Population Research Institute

"Every step we take in publicly witnessing to the sanctity of life is a step toward a more humane society. Archbishop Charles J. Chaput, O.F.M. Cap.

Almighty Father,
give us courage to proclaim the supreme dignity
of all human life and to demand
that society itself give its protection.
We ask this in your name,
through the redemptive act
of your Son and in the Holy Spirit.
Amen.

This Week's Public Library Book Favorites: Early Learning Health Education(K-3)

2011-10-22T23:45:00.007-04:00

A few public library books we enjoyed about germs and wounds. These address common lapses in manners and hygiene issues in children:

Germs Make Me Sick! (Let's-Read-and-Find-Out Science 2) (Reading Rainbow book) Good for children who cough and/or sneeze and forget to cover their mouth. Among other things, it explains why you should wash your hands and not share cups.

Ouch! A book about cuts, scratches, and scrapes Good for children who bother their wounds. In addition to other important facts, it explains what a scab is, and why you shouldn't touch it.

Both are very good at explaining physiology, first aid, and hygiene at a very simple level with quite a bit of detail. The cartoonish drawings such as the white blood cells who eats up the germs and the picture book like pages were just enough to keep the attention of my wiggly six year old.

On the Patio Today

2011-10-22T16:36:00.005-04:00

A few things I found this afternoon on the garden patio:

A shell display in the cat's extra water dish.

A Leaf-footed Bug in one of my kitchen plastic-ware containers(woop-woop-woop, mini-unit study opportunity!). Their back legs have what looks like a brown crinkled leaf piece attached.

Big Cat Rescue Snail Mail Cards

2011-10-22T00:44:00.008-04:00

I have an older family member who likes receiving snail mail cards and is a devoted champion of cats. She really doesn't need or want anything, and I do not live close enough to do something special for her. I wanted to give her something meaningful. This charity, Big Cat Rescue, fit the bill for an appropriate gift and had a nice option for a mailed card with a personal message(donation of $3.95). When I signed up, I discovered that the first card was free! I ended up donating a days worth of food for a lion(on another area of the site) in the name of the recipient, and mentioning this on the free card. She will really like this, and it was so easy for me to do this all online.

A little about Big Cat Rescue:

Big Cat Rescue is the largest accredited sanctuary in the world dedicated entirely to abused and abandoned big cats.
The sanctuary began rescuing exotic cats in 1992.
The non profit 501c3 sanctuary is home to more than 100 exotic big cats
The cats at Big Cat Rescue are here for a variety of reasons, including:
Abandoned by owners who wrongly thought they would make good pets
Abused by owners in order to force them to perform
Retired from performing acts
Saved from being slaughtered to make fur coats
Rescued as babies after hunters killed their mothers
Big Cat Rescue has 14 species of cats, many of whom are threatened, endangered or extinct now in the wild, including:
Tigers, Lions, Leopards, Cougars
Bobcats, Lynx, Servals, Ocelots, Caracals
Big Cat Rescue’s mission is to provide the best possible home for the animals in our care and try to stop the flow of exotic cats needing sanctuary by educating the public about the plight of the animals and supporting stronger laws to protect them.
The non-profit organization is:
Accredited by the Global Federation of Sanctuaries
Certified by Independent Charities of America as a “Best in America Charity”
Member of the World Society for Protection of Animals
Rated 4 Stars by Charity Navigator for sound fiscal management
The sanctuary is situated on 55 acres in the Citrus Park area of north Tampa.

TripAdvisor ratings: 4.5/5 for top notch educational park tours. Highly rated for nature science education.

Snails and Printable Early Reader Work Sheets

2011-10-21T19:06:00.010-04:00

A few vintage early reader pages:

Readers here and here. Simply right click on any page image that you want to save/print.

My daughter also played with her pet garden snail today. We found this big fella in the vegetable patch last week. His favorite food is sweet potato plant leaves. He's really fun to watch.

Other posts on snails.

Vintage Cut and Paste Stand-up Boy and Girl at Table Eating Lunch

2011-10-19T16:02:00.008-04:00

Here is the original which I cropped and lightened for better coloring. It's from an early 20th century newspaper. Right click on image to save and print. This might be good for a table manners unit study. We did it for fun today, gluing it to the back of a light weight cardboard food container box. The girl and boy and items on the table do not stand up, so I taped them. Only the table and chairs have cut-out folding stands, so if you want freestanding play you'll need to fashion your own support for the dolls.

Vintage doll stands: the first one is printable, the other an idea.

DIY Dollhouse Bookcase

2011-10-18T21:39:00.005-04:00

Source: style-files.com via Alexandra on Pinterest

I would love to make this for my daughter's room. Click on link(style-files.com) under picture for directions.

Planning Next Year's Garden

2011-10-18T02:13:00.003-04:00

Source: thisoldhouse.com via Alexandra on Pinterest

I'd like to try a more formal approach to a vegetable garden next year. In years past, I've planted all willy-nilly in a little side garden. These raised beds with gravel look wonderful - less weeds!

DIY Children's Tent

2011-10-15T21:04:00.002-04:00

Source: ana-white.com via Alexandra on Pinterest

We are going to make this for my daughter, and give it to her on Christmas day. I'll be sure to post pictures. Click on ana-white.com under the image for the directions.

Switching Gears: Homeschooling with Public Library Resources

2011-10-13T16:22:00.008-04:00

We've used Rod & Staff, Schoolaid, and a bit of Christian Light Education(Learning to Read) as our core curriculum since Kindergarten. They are very close in content to early to mid-20th century school books, and that appealed to us. They are also bargain priced and efficient(basics) without any frills. We've filled in learning with some great online resources, using free helps and public domain books and texts. In the eighth and last year of Rod & Staff schooling, my son is more than ready(antsy, really) to spread his wings and learn less formally. We are already looking ahead to the next school year, and this year we dropped the Rod & Staff eighth grade reading curriculum in favor of independent reading(with summaries and a vocabulary list) this year.

Next school year, we will be using only one prepared curriculum, and that will be Christian Light Education Math(Rod & Staff ends at grade eight); the rest we'll get from free online resources and the library. There are stacks and stacks of history and science books* at the library, more than enough to choose from for reading, books reports, and vocabulary lists. We go to the library every week, and I already have a section and titles in mind.

Rod and Staff English is advanced, so my son will be well versed in the formal rules of English at the end of this school year. He will be ready to focus on reading and writing. I remember reading only classics for ninth grade English, and writing report after report on them. I really learned to write and comprehend well that year, and the best part was that I was able to choose which classics to read. I chose mostly romantic classics written by Jane Austen, Charlotte Bronte, E. M. Forester, and Edith Wharton. We did nothing else but read, write, and keep vocabulary lists. It was a small overseas private school, so the teacher was able to get away with this. It is my best remembered and was my most enjoyable year of schooling. I'm planning to open up this possibility to my son as well - the ability to choose favorite classics or quality literature to spend the year with.

I'll be sharing these teen resources and our books here on my blog. Finishing up eighth grade will feel a bit like finishing up second grade, where you move from learning to read to reading to learn. It's like taking the training wheels off, and moving into the adult realm. How fast they grow, and what precious time we've spent learning together as a family. I love homeschooling!

*We'll begin Apologia science in the tenth grade.

Inexpensive Eye Glasses

2011-10-09T01:32:00.004-04:00

This is our third time ordering from Zenni Optical, an online optical store. They have great deals beginning at $6.95 for frame and lens. My prescription is fairly high, so I have to pay extra for a special thinner lens; however, my son is able to get a thinner lens for free. You don't have to choose the thinner lens, but at my prescription strength, it's much more attractive and comfortable. I just purchased my son's frame and lenses for only $10.90(includes shipping), a great help for keeping the budget in check.

When ordering through Zenni Optical, you'll need to remember to tell your optometrist to write down the Pupil Distance(P.D.) distance on your prescription. Usually this is done by an optician when you order glasses via a brick and mortar store.

Fat Free(no oil) Pumpkin Banana Bread/Muffin Recipe

2011-10-08T23:19:00.005-04:00

This turned out so well, and the missing oil is not missed. The sweet bread or muffin will be moist and light.

- One cup to one cup and a half of brown mashed bananas
- One heaping cup of pumpkin filling
- One cup of sugar(I used demerara cane sugar from Wallyworld)
- Three eggs
- A liberal splash or two of milk
- A splash of pure vanilla extract
- A few heavy shakes of cinnamon, cloves, and allspice
- Three cups of self rising flour

I pour this into one cake pan and one muffin pan(6), and it cooks quickly at 350 degrees. Easy and delicious.

Living Geometry, Algebra, and Calculus Books(and More)

2011-10-06T18:33:00.006-04:00

Life with Fred Series for Math(Elementary - College)

Someone asked me if I knew of a living math series for algebra. Well, this is pretty close to living books for math. It's learning math with a humorous whimsical storyline. Review and curriculum here at Rainbow Resources. I've never tried this series, but it looks like a good solution for a child who enjoys quirky humor and suffers from math phobia.

Sample pages here: