Recycling and Reusing: Old Sweaters Become Felted Crafts

A cute craft using felted wool sweaters. See tutorial here: Miniature Stocking Ornament From Sweater.

Making Liquid Soap

If you've ever tried to make liquid soap, it's not so easy. Down to Earth successfully made some liquid soap and shares the tutorial. My experiences were like her's before she found a good recipe. It can turn into a slimy mess without the benefit of a good recipe. Check it out here if you are feeling adventurous.

Free South America Children's Reader

I found this South America geography reader at Google books, and we have been reading it aloud in the evenings. It's general enough to still be relevant even though it is a vintage reader. It's also complementing our Rod & Staff Social Studies book, Understanding Latin America. We were reading about Cacao tonight which just happens to be in tomorrow's lesson about the lowlands. Nice pictures and maps throughout as well.

I especially liked the way they touched upon the differences of customs between the United States and Latin America with a wry sense of humor, pointing out that each of us could learn from each other. Subtle character lessons and the importance of learning about the world around us are transmitted which is always a nice bonus in a children's textbook.

South America: a geography reader
"Land and peoples" series
Author Isaiah Bowman
Publisher Rand, McNally & Company, 1915
Length 354 pages
Overview here.

Free and in public domain. We downloaded this book to a laptop for relaxed sofa reading, much more comfortable than sitting at the computer.