This and That

Lately, I have been preparing for an upcoming visit with my sister.  I have three sisters, so they probably get frequent mention on my posts.  I also have a brother who recently visited.  Only one of my sisters lives close to me, but we are all close in heart.  Sisters are such a blessing! 

Also recently we made some homemade playdough, so easy to make, and were soon serving up tasty playdough cakes.  Later, the children had a tent made with the dining room chairs, and I saw strips of playdough hanging over the rungs of the chairs.  The children explained that a blizzard was coming, and they had hung smoked meat up in the attic, like Pa and Ma of Laura Ingall's Little House in the Big Woods. I love the creativity of little ones!

On our read-aloud list for homeschool was Dr. Seuss's Green Eggs and Ham. We have read that, of course, many times before, so to add an element of fun, I made green scrambled eggs. We don't eat ham, so I served it with smoked turkey lunchmeat. It was well received, especially by my little one, who loves eggs made every way!  My older daughter is in her first year of homeschool, and we are using Memoria Press Curriculum, which you can view here: Memoria Press. We are 11 weeks into the lesson plans, and I am so pleased with it!  This is my first year to homeschool, and I wanted an easy to follow, challenging, and yet not boring, curriculum.  I am so glad I found their package!  My daughter is now reading many CVC words, counting to 100, learning her addition facts, memorizing scriptures, hearing lovely music, and seeing beautiful artwork. 
If you homeschool, what do you use for homeschool curriculum?

12 New Things- Doll Quilt

Like a Warm Cup of Coffee

A few posts back I linked up with Sarah Mae's Like a Warm Cup of Coffee, 12 New Things Challenge.  My challenge of choice for August was to sew a proper quilt...beginning small with a doll quilt. I am not yet finished, as all last week I had workers at my house, and after that my sister abducted my sewing machine! (And she still has it, ahem, ahem, sister!)  Not to mention, one of the quilts is a teaching effort with my older daughter.  Nonetheless, progress has been made, and they look like this....

This one just needs the actual quilting sewing. I made the whole back portion come around and be the binding...I won't be doing that with the other, it isn't quite the right thing to do.

The other my daughter and I are working on together, some blocks she is hand sewing together, and some machine. This one still needs lots of work...

I am enjoying this project and will post my updates along with my September 12 Things!
Click here for my list of 12 New Things.

Children's Book Favorites

Today I would like to share a few of my favorite children's books. It's so nice to find interesting, educational, character building stories that your kids appreciate! Children in the age range of 3-8 years old would enjoy these.

The Best Loved Doll, by Rebecca Caudill: When a little girl is invited to a doll party, she has to choose which of her four dolls to take along to win a prize.  But she and her kindhearted worn old doll know what is more important than prizes...love! Darling illustrations in this book.

Ox-Cart Man, by Donald Hall:  A journey through a year of a colonial family's life, and the contributions they all made for the good of the family.

The Creation Story for Children, by Helen and David Haidle:  Beautiful Illustrations, creation scripture and conversation starting questions, as well as facts about interesting and amazing animals. It also includes personal reassurances of God's love for each of us.

Miss Rumphius, by Barbara Cooney:  A girl is inspired by her grandfather to travel the world, live by the sea...and make the world more beautiful.  The author/illustrator of this story also illustrated Ox Cart Man.

Happy reading!

Monday Homemaking Inspiration- A Little Bit of Laura

Tomato Preserves, just like Laura Ingalls and her Ma used to make!

One of my favorite famous homemakers is Laura Ingalls Wilder. How well she used her time, and what a legacy she left us!  Generation after generation learn to appreciate the simple things and spend cozy times reading together.  Her memories become our memories, her family becomes our long ago ancestors. I'd like to share some inspiring quotes from newspaper articles she wrote, as compiled in Little House in the Ozarks, edited by Stephen W. Hines.

Frugal Friday - Wall Art

Here is something I made today for my children's room. It is simply scrapbook papers glued onto canvas, and punched flowers from scrapbook papers with jewels on them. Hang it up in a room with a ribbon.  Fun, easy, and pretty!

I'm linking this up to The Shabby Nest - Frugal Friday
Also linking up to 733 - A Creative Blog, for their Sugar and Spice Weekly Link Party