Posted in Books and Reading, From my kitchen, Learning, Locally grown, Outings on Dec 17th, 2008
We finished this book, but the girls’ interest in all things relating to “life on the prairie” has yet to wane. Firecracker had been asking all through the book, “What does salt pork taste like?”, so when we were in the area, we decided to visit the butcher at our local New Seasons to find some.
He didn’t [...]
Posted in From my kitchen, Giving, Learning on Dec 15th, 2008
Homemade marshmallows we brought to the market Friday. They are so light and special. A real treat – handmade with love and far beyond anything bought at the store. Wonderful dipped in dark chocolate, or melted into hot cocoa, or just as they are.
Today we made another batch to give as Christmas gifts. I know they made [...]
Posted in Crafting, From my kitchen, Giving, Learning, Locally grown, O Come, O Come Emmanuel, Outings on Dec 13th, 2008
Our table at the Portland Homeschool Children’s Holiday Market, where our family sold homemade gift tags, peppermint bark, and marshmallows. It was a wonderful venue for the girls to show off their projects, to raise money for various charities, and to network with other Portland homeschoolers.
We raised $28 dollars for charity and sold nearly everything we brought (prices were [...]
Posted in Changing Seasons, From my kitchen, O Come, O Come Emmanuel on Dec 12th, 2008
This is an easy holiday candy that preschoolers/primary-aged children can make with only a little supervision. The entire project (minus chilling time) takes about 15 minutes.
You will need: 2 lbs white chocolate, chopped, or 2 lbs white chocolate melting chips,
about 10 candy canes, crushed (to equal one cup) (my girls put the candy canes in a [...]
Posted in Crafting, O Come, O Come Emmanuel on Dec 11th, 2008
Tuesday we spent the evening stringing popcorn and cranberries for the Christmas tree while sipping apple cider (homemade - from our dear friend, Linda). We listened to Hubby read our nightly Advent reading, and then to this wonderful music. Peaceful, joyful. Now, this is Christmastime.
Our tree has very densely packed branches, so we voted to leave off the paper chains [...]
Posted in Uncategorized on Dec 10th, 2008
A few more shots from Monday’s card making session. I kept the holly card for myself. I couldn’t help it, I love holly, The Holly and The Ivy is my favorite Christmas song, and this card was too darn cute with the spelling and all.
Posted in Crafting, Giving, Learning, Moderation and Economy on Dec 9th, 2008
This coming Friday, the kids and I are participating in the Portland Homeschool Children’s Holiday Market. Several families are making crafts and baking goodies to sell at this fair, and all of our family’s proceeds will go to a few charities (Heifer International, OutsideIn, and the Oregon Humane Society).
The girls are VERY excited about this whole project. [...]
Posted in Books and Reading, Changing Seasons on Dec 8th, 2008
Our nature table takes a little respite during the Christmas season. First, it is our book table, and then, our Christmas tree’s home (the books transition to a basket on the floor underneath). The nature table will reappear in late winter.
Many of the girls’ Christmas books are at Grandma and Grandpa’s house in Florida, where [...]
Posted in Knitting, Moderation and Economy on Dec 7th, 2008
Cold, rainy, miserable weather today. I was glad I had finished my Evangelines because I sure needed them!
I found this pattern via A Friend To Knit With, and stuck it in my stack of “gotta try these” patterns. Recently, while thumbing through the stack to look for baby sweater patterns, I came across it again, [...]
Posted in Changing Seasons, Giving, The Gift of God on Dec 5th, 2008
With the Christmas season in full swing, I thought I’d give a little nod to Advent Conspiracy.
I firmly believe in making Christmas simple, homemade, and reverent. It is a struggle to fit our family’s vision of Christmas in with our extended family and the greater culture. We made the decision to spend very little and [...]