Kitchen Pantry Dry Skin Relief

All natural olive oil is effective at getting rid of itchy dry winter skin. We have sensitive skin in my family, and this natural oil works gently for the children and adults. I've even tried canola oil, but it's a bit too light as a moisturizer for winter. Heavier kitchen oils work the best. Between baking soda baths and olive oil as a moisturizer, I've managed to keep away my daughter's winter rash.

Olive oil is also great for hot oil dry hair treatments. However, just warm it slightly; it gets hot very quickly.

Although we usually get a large sized olive oil at our local Save-A-Lot grocery store, I've seen olive oil at the Dollar Store, so it can be found very inexpensively. I also get a large container of sea salts at the Dollar Store for a natural facial scrub. There is something about winter dry skin and blemishes that calls for a gentle scrub to help turn that flaky skin over.

Also see 15 Household Uses for Olive Oil.

Great Masters Art History Freebie for Elementary School Students: Fra Angelico

Fra Giovanni da Fiesole (1387-1455) (surnamed because of his saintly character " Angelico ") was an Italian Dominican monk. He is said always to have said a prayer before beginning to paint. "The life of this really angelic father," says Vasari, "was devoted to the service of God, the benefit of the world, and duty toward his neighbor. He shunned the worldly in all things, and during his pure and simple life was such a friend to the poor that I think his soul must now be in Heaven. He painted incessantly, but would never lay his hand to any but a sacred subject; he might have had wealth, but he scorned it, saying that true riches were to be found in content. He might have ruled over many, but he would not, saying that obedience was easier and less liable to error. He might have enjoyed dignities, but disdained them, affirming that the only dignity he sought was to avoid hell and gain Heaven. He was wont to say that the practice of art required repose and holy thoughts, and that he who would depict the acts of Christ must learn to live with Christ."


Method. — Show the children as many of the angels as is possible, and allow them to choose their favorites. Tell them the story of his life, giving to them some idea of monastic life. Read to them portions, at least, of Vasari's account given above, and perhaps even bits from Ruskin. (See pp. xvii, 7, 8, 9.)  Read entire lesson here, pages 69-72.

From:
Picture study in elementary schools: a manual for teachers
Author Williams Wilson
Publisher The Macmillan company, 1909
Book free and in public domain - downloadable, printable, and readable online. To print, simply right click on image of page at the link, save or view image, and print.

January studies also include:

Mona Lisa , Leonardo De Vinci
Delphic Sibyl, Michelangelo
Sistine Madonna, Raphael

Free Printable Moon and Stars Kindergarten and Early Elementary Stories

The Wind and the Moon by George MacDonald, pages 245-248.

Linda and the Lights by Emilie Poulsson, pages 404-406.

To print, simply right click on the image of the page, save or view image, and print. Both are in public domain.

Free Printable: The Story of Saint Agnes

"THE story of Saint Agnes is one of the oldest and most authentic, as well as one of the most beautiful, in religious history. There is none, next to the Evangelists and Apostles, whose effigy is more ancient, for representations of Saint Agnes are found on glass and earthenware vessels used by Christians as far back as the early part of the third century. In these early portraits the lamb, which later became her inseparable emblem, does not appear, but there is no doubt as to their identity, for they are inscribed with her name. It is not known just when the lamb was first employed, but all the later painters used it as an emblem of the virgin-martyr's innocence and meekness. It is probable that the similarity of her name to agn us, Latin for lamb, led to this association, the more so on account of her chaste and gentle disposition.

...On her refusal to worship the heathen gods, Sempronius became furious and threatened her with death in terrible forms, even dragging her before the altar in chains ; but she remained steadfast in her faith."

Read entire story at Godey's magazine, 1887 here(pages 22-26).

To print, simply right click on the image of the page, save or view image, and print.

The feast of Saint Agnes is January 21st.

Bamboo Furniture Plans

This DIY project a bit advanced for most people, but a great eco-friendly furniture plan if you are a good carpenter, and have access to bamboo. Taken from a 1920 Popular Mechanics magazine, see pages 789-791.

Frugal Chicken Recipes

"Chicken is an excellent low cost meal ingredient which can be purchased in bulk and stored in manageable quantities in the freezer until required. Try these chicken recipes using various cuts of chicken."

I use versions of these recipes. It was nice to see them all in one place to share. These are wonderful for cost cutting variety when it comes to chicken meals.

Here's another recipe that I found which is very similar to what we cook at least once a week: Til Payday Casserole . This recipe uses ground beef, but I've used other meats such as turkey or chicken. Instead of tomato sauce, I've added a can of mushroom soup without the water. I also use much more spices/seasonings to suit our family's preference.

Thus one is good as well:Fast-n-Easy Southwest Chicken Chili I add black eyed peas to mine.

Geography and Map Skills with Picture Flashcards

I purchased some National Geographic world picture flashcards years ago for around a dollar at a closeout sale. I'm just now using them, and they have come in handy this year for our social studies - Rod & Staff's Understanding Latin America. I've grouped all the South American cards together, and on Monday my son will read each card and locate the places on the map at left.

The cards show a picture of the location on one side, and history and statistics on the other. If you can find these, they are well worth the cost.

I haven't tried this service yet, but it's a free Geography flashcard online program. Create your own, or view existing sets.

Chicken Quarters in a Pot

Bottom's Up! Only .79 cents a pound this week at Save-A-Lot.

Result: About five pounds of shredded chicken from a five pound bag, and half a stock pot of chicken stock. I even cracked a few of the bones for the marrow. This makes for a healthful stock. Boiling the chicken quarters is the best way for me to get every last shred of meat off these leg quarters, not to mention I can skim off the artery clogging skin and fat..

Chicken or turkey stock recipe. 

After seeing this recipe for bone stock, I also made a separate stock from the leftover bones.

Children's Christmas Poem

Christmas Bells

I heard the bells on Christmas Day
Their old familiar carols play,

And wild and sweet
The words repeat

Of peace on earth, good will to men.

And thought how, as the day had come,
The belfries of all Christendom

Had rolled along
The unbroken song

Of peace on earth, good will to men.

Till, ringing, singing on its way,
The world revolved from night to day

A voice, a chime,
A chant sublime

Of peace on earth, good will to men.

Then from each black, accursed mouth,
The cannon thundered North and South,

And with the sound
The carols drowned

Of peace on earth, good will to men.

It was as if an earthquake rent
The hearthstones of a continent,

And made forlorn
The households born

Of peace on earth, good will to men.

And in despair I bowed my head;
"There is no peace on earth," I said;

"For hate is strong
And mocks the song

Of peace on earth, good will to men."

Then pealed the bells more loud and deep
" God is not dead, nor doth he sleep!

The Wrong shall fail,
The Right prevail,

With peace on earth, good will to men!"

~ Henry W. Longfellow


Reading with Expression, 1911, fifth grade

Printable version at Google Documents.

Twas the Night Before Christmas...

'TWAS THE NIGHT BEFORE CHRISTMAS

'Twas the night before Christmas, when all through the house

Not a creature was stirring, not even a mouse;

The stockings were hung by the chimney with care,

In hopes that Saint Nicholas soon would be there;

The children were nestled all snug in their beds,

While visions of sugarplums danced through their heads;

And mamma in her kerchief, and I in my cap,

Had just settled our brains for a long winter's nap,—

When out on the lawn there arose such a clatter,

I sprang from the bed to see what was the matter.

Away to the window I flew like a flash,

Tore open the shutters, and threw up the sash;

The moon, on the breast of the new-fallen snow,
Gave a luster of midday to objects below;
When, what to my wondering eyes should appear
But a miniature sleigh and eight tiny reindeer,
With a little old driver, so lively and quick,
I knew in a moment it must be Saint Nick!

More rapid than eagles his coursers they came,

And he whistled and shouted and called them by name:

"Now Dasher! now Dancer! now Prancer! now Vixen!

On, Comet! on, Cupid! on, Donder and Blitzen!

To the top of the porch! to the top of the wall!

Now dash away, dash away, dash away all!"

As dry leaves that before the wild hurricane fly,
When they meet with an obstacle, mount to the sky,
So, up to the housetop the coursers they flew,

With a sleigh full of toys,—and Saint Nicholas, too.
And then, in a twinkling, I heard on the roof
The prancing and pawing of each little hoof.
As I drew in my head and was turning around,
Down the chimney Saint Nicholas came with a bound.

He was dressed all in fur from his head to his foot,
And his clothes were all tarnished with ashes and soot;
A bundle of toys he had flung on his back,
And he looked like a peddler just opening his pack.
His eyes, how they twinkled! His dimples, how merry!
His cheeks were like roses, his nose like a cherry;
His droll little mouth was drawn up like a bow,
And the beard on his chin was as white as the snow;
The stump of a pipe he held tight in his teeth,
And the smoke, it encircled his head like a wreath.
He was chubby and plump, a right jolly old elf;
And I laughed when I saw him, in spite of myself.

A wink of his eye and a twist of his head
Soon gave me to know I had nothing to dread.
He spake not a word, but went straight to his work,
And filled all the stockings; then turned with a jerk,
And, laying his finger aside of his nose,
And giving a nod,—up the chimney he rose.

He sprang to his sleigh, to his team gave a whistle,
And away they all flew like the down of a thistle;
But I heard him exclaim, as he drove out of sight,

"merry Christmas To All, And To All A Good-night!"

Clement C. Moore

Copy and paste to your own document if you like. Free and in public domain at Google Books.

A Little Christmas Botany

Poinsettia Study:

From Botany: an elementary text for schools:

To examine gum-resin: Mount a little of the "milky" juice of the leaf stem of the garden poinsettia (Euphorbia pulcherrima). It is of a creamy consistency. Examination under the microscope shows that it is not white, as it seems to the naked eye. The particles are yellowish or colorless and are insoluble. These particles are gum resin. They have been emulsified by the plant, making the juice appear white.

398. CONTENTS NOT IN SOLUTION.—Starch is the most abundant of the solid products of the cell. Starch grains have a definite form for each group of plants, and groups can be determined by the form of their starch grains. Detection of adulteration of various products containing starch is accomplished by the aid of the microscope. In potato starch the grains are ovate, with a "nucleus" near one end, as shown in Fig. 391. In poinsettia they are dumbbell-shaped, with two nuclei (Fig. 391).

Books is free and in public domain at Google Books - downloadable, readable online, and printable.

Vintage Santa Coloring Page

Image found in public domain at Google Books. Just click on image and save. This outline of Santa made a very nice coloring page.

Free Vintage Gift Tags

I'm learning GIMP, a free image editing software. Here are a few gift tags which I made with vintage public domain images. Click on images to enlarge and save.

A Few More Vintage Freebie Children's Christmas Cut and Pastes

All are from the early 20th century and  in public domain found at Google Books. Click on images to enlarge and save - candle, Christmas goose, and tree with ornaments.

Twelve Years Ago Today...

by the grace of God, my son made his appearance into this world. Gone are the days of animal shaped birthday cakes. He requested a plain one layer cake with homemade light sugar icing, pizza, and a movie. So we are off to see The Christmas Carol at the theatre.

Children's Acrostic Christmas Poem

C is for Christ Child who came to the earth.
H is for Heralds who told of His birth.
R is for Riches the wise men bring.
I is for Incense they offer the King.
S is for Star that showed them the way.
T is for Tribute the wise men pay.
M is for Manger, the dear Christ Child's bed.
A is for Angels who guarded its head.
S is for Shepherds who heard angels sing
Hosannas to Jesus, the new-born King.

Image and poem found at Google Books in public domain. Copy and print for yourself if you like.

Vintage Christmas Cut-out Freebie: Camel

"Color bridle royal purple and blanket royal purple with gold fringe.

The rockers and standard may be colored if desired. Cut rocker double.

Cut out and fasten in place indicated by A, B. Fold on dotted lines. Cut on heavy lines C for camel's feet."

Found at Google Books in public domain. Should be pasted to heavy paper or light cardboard. Click on image to enlarge and save.