A Time For Everything

How do you know when it's been too long since you posted?

2012-03-05T06:32:00.002-05:00

When you're removing your holiday music

and posting a Spring picture at the same time! :)

Oh my goodness, it's about time ~ things have just been nuts and I'm so behind but I had to get something up over the New Year Greeting! Seeing how that was well over two months ago. :) We're all well and I hope to catch things up to speed soon! I appreciate the emails and comments from those that have stopped by and I apologize for just disappearing ~ it wasn't intentional, life is just happening faster than a jackrabbit. Thanks so much for thinking of us!!

Is it Spring yet?!

Happy 2012!!

2011-12-31T10:00:00.007-05:00

Christmas Day!

2011-12-25T22:18:00.270-05:00

The boys woke up even before the crack of dawn ~ Elliot barreling into our room exclaiming it's 6am and time for Christmas!! Shamefully, it took me a few minutes (but just a few:) to get my heart right and get over being startled awake. Thankfully it wasn't long before the boys' enthusiasm and wonderment rubbed off and I was ready for this very special day!! These aren't the best pictures, but I love that I captured this first moment when the boys ran downstairs (I watched from upstairs)

and were ooohing and aaahhing, admiring the gifts ~ they were so excited!!:)

What a scrappy bunch of bedheads ~ again, not the best picture,
but it's us:) ~~bright and~~ early Christmas morning ~ before coffee!:)

One of my goals this past year was to post more pictures (especially of me) regardless
of how unflattering they may be, and I think I've accomplished that ~ this blog,
especially from this year, is full of them ~ but I'm glad to have captured the moments. :)

I didn't get many pictures, but we had our yummy traditional brunch

of quiche/eggs & ham, fruit, sweet rolls, olives & cheeses, sweets and champagne ~

Then later snuggled up to watch a holiday favorite, "It's A Wonderful Life".

It was a wonderful Christmas celebration and I'm so thankful for my family ~ and for all the blessings in my life. I'm looking forward to 2012 ~ I have lots of plans and big dreams for this year! I think things are going to start off in a whirlwind ~ packing up/moving Grammy back to Boston, moving/reorganizing some of our rooms,

starting back to homeschool and a trip to NYC ~ and that's just in the first two weeks!

"Every man should be born again on the first day of January.

Start with a fresh page. Take up one hole more in the buckle if necessary,

or let down one, according to circumstances; but on the first of January

let every man gird himself once more, with his face to the front,

and take no interest in the things that were and are past."

~ Henry Ward Beecher

Christmas Is Coming!

2011-12-24T23:02:00.006-05:00

Our first weeks of December were quite enjoyable ~ lazy mornings, crafting, a little bit of baking ~ at some point shortly after the Nutcracker, it hit me that Christmas was very quickly coming and I was not ready! I must have went too extreme in my attempt at a simple holiday, ha! I scurried around a bit more at the last minute than I like, but it all got done and we had a wonderful Christmas season. The boys enjoyed counting down the days and went straight to our peppermint forest first thing each morning.

The first weekend of December, we finally got around to decorating our tree ~ we all wanted to just keep it simple and not bother with ornaments, so we strung popcorn and cranberries! We had a great time and I was quite shocked to realize that the boys had never done this before?! They did most of it themselves and did a great job, their garlands looked beautiful! However, little Miss Pixie-pants decided our beautifully-garlanded tree was her new play area and managed to pull off each and every thing in a matter of days. I still don't know how she reached everything ~ I mean, she can jump, but it's like she had a ladder she'd pull out each time we left! :) So Plan B ~ the garlands got strung outside for the birds, we moved the tree and used different ornaments
(that she didn't care too much for), mostly toward the top. :)

The boys had fun playing with their trains that had been stored away ~

We enjoyed Chinese take-out by candlelight ~

We made Christmas cookies and the boys did almost all of the decorating ~

and they did a great job, they turned out beautifully!

We also made homemade doughnuts, chocolate covered peanuts,

sea salt caramels and a gingerbread house.

I made gift boxes of Linzer cookies and caramels for neighbors and friends.

I finally got around to doing our cards ~ we didn't have a great family picture (again this year) so I had to be creative. As usual, I'm the one that ruins it since I take the worst pictures ever. But, I really wanted to include Grammy this year, so I just went with it ~ and I'm glad ~ we didn't know it then that she'll be moving back to Boston!

(back)

I didn't do a ton of decorating this year, I pulled out my Williamsburg village,

hung wreaths, glittered pine-cones, a few white trees, lots of candles and called it a day.

Like last year, we went on a Christmas Eve morning date ~

I guess we're starting a new tradition.

In the afternoon, Santa made his way through town, as he does every year,

on the fire truck passing out peppermints. Elliot was so excited! :)

In the evening, we were off to a beautiful candlelight service at church ~

we were thankful for the reminder and the moments of worship and remembering.

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 hope that St Nicholas soon would be there ~

"Happy Christmas to all, and to all a good-night!"

The Nutcracker

2011-12-15T21:17:00.207-05:00

We went to see the Nutcracker today, it was a daytime educational version and it was wonderful!! It was shorter than the main-stage production and they had question & answer time before the show, at intermission and after ~ it was such a treat to be able to interact with the dancers. Of course the costumes and stage-set were stunning!

The theater was filled with students from several Charlotte area schools, and somehow we lucked out with front-row seats ~ I'm sure it was just a numbers thing and how the seats were arranged, but I was pleasantly surprised by the attention given to us homeschoolers, thanks NCDance Theatre!

And to avoid the whole driving/parking hassle, we took the train uptown ~
something we haven't done in a long time. We had so much fun,
the boys were so excited and it made the morning even more special!:)

"Christmas long ago was the memory of a dream that seemed never to end.

But somewhere in the middle of that dream, I always did wake up ~

just in time to attend the Christmas party."

~ Clara, The Nutcracker

On the Thirteenth Day

2011-12-13T00:45:00.003-05:00

I'm taking it easy!! Thank you for following along the past twelve days ~
it's been fun to do something a little different ~ thanks for taking the time
to comment and share your ideas ~ and for joining in on the giveaway fun!
I've actually been relaxing all month, (most of my crafting was done last month),
we're taking December off from homeschooling for Winter break ~
we've been enjoying lots of lazy mornings, some crafting, a little bit of baking,
homemade decorations and just being together celebrating the season.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

"Gifts of time and love are surely the basic ingredients

of a truly merry Christmas."

~ Peg Bracken

On the Twelfth Day of Crafting {Paper Lanterns}

2011-12-12T01:05:00.197-05:00

Candlelight is wonderful this time of year, not only is it festive and elegant, it's comforting and warmth ~ daylight hours have dwindled, temperatures have dropped ~ it doesn't take much more than that to appreciate the warming glow of candlelight.

I think these paper lanterns are so cute ~ and oh how beautiful it would be

to create a whole candle-lit village! I made several, a couple of houses

and a few trees, although the one shown isn't completely cutout. :)

Directions:

1. Print out the template below.

2. Using a scalpel (or a box-cutter),

cut out the pattern inside the lines.

3. Leave a band around bottom for standing

or just tape to glass.

Never leave burning candles unattended!

Country Living December 2011

"There are two ways of spreading light ~

to be the candle or the mirror that reflects it."
~ Edith Wharton

"I think candlelight is the most beautiful light there is

and there's something very spiritual about it."
~ Nicole Kidman

On the Eleventh Day of Crafting {Cleansing Water}

2011-12-11T05:03:00.003-05:00

Ever feel like you need a good flushing ~ if so, here's a great recipe for just that
(or at least a start:) ~ found on JillianMichael's.com, this natural diuretic drink helps flush out excess water weight that you might be carrying around ~
she claims you could lose up to 5lbs in 7 days!
(Along w/eating lean proteins & greens and daily exercise, I easily lost 5lbs!!)

Combine:

60 ounces of distilled or pure water
1 tablespoon of sugar-free cranberry juice
(must be pure cranberry and not a flavored cranberry drink)
1 dandelion root tea bag
2 tablespoon of fresh lemon juice

~ Drink the 60 ounces every day for 7 days ~

It's that easy ~ you feel great and you just might feel a bit lighter!

(An easy way is to make a double batch using a gallon of water ~ pour a little out, add the two juices

and two tea bags ~ make the night before so it's ready in the morning, this makes enough for two days)

~ A few other (of her) tips ~

Take Vitamin C ~ Vitamin C helps suppress the belly fat storing hormone called Cortisol -

good sources include most citrus fruits like oranges, berries, tangerines and red peppers.

Eat Brazil Nuts ~ Brazil nuts are a good source of selenium and helps support your thyroidand your thyroid is responsible for a big part in the way your body burns fat. Brazil nuts also contain zinc which helps your body produce a hormone called leptin that makes you feel full so you won't overeat.

Eat Garlic ~ Garlic helps boost your testosterone levels and helps you maintain lean muscle mass helping you shed body fat.

Buy Organic ~ Inorganic foods contain toxins that will only make you fatter

by slowing down your metabolism.

Disclaimer ~ Every effort has been made to ensure the information in this post is accurate.

I am not a professional and the ideas, procedures and suggestions contained here

are not intended as a substitute for consulting with your physician.

On the Tenth Day of Crafting {Paper Pouches}

2011-12-10T00:36:00.002-05:00

Another super easy and very economical and kid-friendly craft are these little paper pouches ~ or at least that's what I call them. They can be machine-stitched or hand-stitched, made out of any type of paper, in any shape you can imagine

and filled with any small trinket or treat!

I used white and brown lunch bag paper, and also my favorite, doilies. Doilies are great because, especially if you're hand-stitching, they already have holes for the thread and because of their lacy look, the stitching doesn't show, so no worries on stitching abilities! I like machine-stitching the doilies using matching white thread,

it's incredibly fast and you can't see the ~~mistakes~~ stitching.

You'll need:

cut paper shapes or doilies

embroidery thread (in matching or contrasting color) and needle

something to tuck inside

Leaving enough thread to tie at end, start stitching all the way around

your paper shape, being sure to leave an opening for your treat.

At opening, fill with treat and tie to secure.

I hid several of these under the Christmas countdown cones and the boys love them ~

they love ripping them open! They take very little time, especially if you use a machine and the options are endless. I've filled them with candy, raisins, nuts, money and notes!

“Let's be naughty and save Santa the trip.”

~ G. Allan

On the Ninth Day of Crafting. {Dry Shampoo}

2011-12-09T05:01:00.009-05:00

If you're running late or don't have time to wash your hair,

here's an easy and very inexpensive alternative!
(that has saved me many times!!)

~ Homemade Dry Shampoo ~

(There are tons of other recipes out there and many ways to do this, this is just my recipe)

1/3 cup baking soda

1/3 cup talcum powder*

2 tablespoons all purpose flour (for volume!)

a few drops of essential oil (optional)

(I use lavender, peppermint or ylang ylang)

Mix together, put in shaker and sprinkle!

Okay, not great pictures, but thought a before and after would help ~

this is after two days, starting a third, of not washing my hair.

I sprinkle the dry shampoo onto my scalp ~
(much easier to do in front of a mirror :)

Including the back!
(which here looks like a rat's nest:)

Then brush it through really well, ~

it absorbs the excess oil, distributing some throughout the hair,

adding shine and my hair smells clean!

And looks so much better ~it plumps it right up!!

Can you see, can you see?!! :)

I think it's amazing the difference and although not a replacement
for washing, it's a great alternative when needed!

For darker hair, I've heard you can also use a little cocoa powder, but I wouldn't know about that. *If you don't want to use talc, you can omit that ~ I just like the consistency if offers. You can also use corn starch instead of baking soda. Let me know if you try it!

On the Eighth Day of Crafting {Stamped Cookies}

2011-12-08T01:43:00.001-05:00

I saw gorgeous stamped cookies awhile back and thought they were so creative and unique, and wanted to give it a try. As usual I didn't really know what I was doing but gave it a whirl anyway ~ they didn't turn out anywhere near as lovely as these, but with a little more effort and some practice, I think they could be absolutely darling!

How pretty to present a tray of these at a holiday party, as a party favor or for a special birthday! With the abundance of beautiful stamps available, the creative options are endless ~ names, monograms, sayings...

Apparently there are edible stamp pads, which would be ideal for this project. I however, just spread a thin layer of food coloring gel on a plate for dipping my stamp into, and then stamped onto the cookie. Just as with paper, it must be level otherwise the image won't transfer. I touched up any imperfections (I had a lot:) with my edible Wilton Writing pens. Once you have the right tools and some yummy fondant-frosted cookies, these wouldn't be hard at all and I think definitely worth the effort!

Links: Best Rolled Cookie Cutter Recipe, Best Rolled Sugar Cookie Recipe,

edible food colors/pens, Cavallini Birds & Nests stamp set.

"I will honor Christmas in my heart,
and try to keep it all the year."

~ Charles Dickens

On the Seventh Day of Crafting {Fabric Ornaments}

2011-12-07T05:05:00.155-05:00

I saw something similar to these awhile back, I don't recall where,

but they reminded me of ones I made when I was little ~

and because we wanted a more handmade Christmas this year,

I thought these would be perfect! They're simple enough

for anyone to make, require very few supplies,

very little cost and ooze with handcrafted charm.

I didn't have directions and didn't bother to look for any,
figuring it can't be that hard ~ so I'm not sure if I'm technically
doing this right, but this is what I did and it seemed to work. :)

You will need:

fabric

Styrofoam balls

(whatever size you want, I used 2.5")

cotton twine

straight pins

Directions:

~ Rip strips of fabric approx 3/4' wide, the longer the better.

(I also pulled all the fraying thread off before wrapping)

~ Prepare a knotted loop for hanging out of the cotton twine.

~ Just start wrapping a strip of fabric around the foam ball,

overlapping and making sure to cover all areas.
(one 56" long strip of fabric covered the 2.5" ball)

~ When covered, take the twine loop and with a pin, push through the knot

into the foam at the end of the fabric piece to keep from unraveling.
This is a great craft for kids ~ the creative options are endless!

"Happy, happy Christmas, that can win us back

to the delusions of our childhood days,

recall to the old man the pleasures of his youth,

and transport the traveler back to his own fireside and quiet home!"

~ Charles Dickens

On the Sixth Day of Crafting {Homemade Granola}

2011-12-06T01:29:00.002-05:00

For years I've been making this recipe for homemade granola ~ a couple of years ago,

after my detox, I changed the recipe up quite a bit to reduce the sugar.

My boys love this ~ it's chewy and wholesome and great with milk or yogurt

and makes a wonderful gift for neighbors and friends!

(Any of these ingredients can be adjusted to taste/preference)

~ Bed & Breakfast Granola ~

Combine:
4 cups old fashioned oats
2 cups coconut
1 cup wheat germ
1 cup pecans
1/2 cup raw sunflower seeds

Combine these next ingredients and pour over oat mixture:

1/2 cup oil
1/4 cup honey
1 teaspoon vanilla
1/2 teaspoon cinnamon

Mix and bake at 350' for about 25 minutes
or until golden brown, stirring occasionally.
Store in airtight container.

"Each day comes bearing its own gifts ~

untie the ribbons."

~ Ruth Ann Schabacker

On the Fifth Day of Crafting {Paper Snowflakes}

2011-12-05T00:50:00.000-05:00

There is nothing quite like the beauty and magic of snow ~

I hope to never forget Christmas of 2010 ~
seeing snow drift down from the heavens ~ on Christmas day,
was truly one of the most magical moments ever!
Waking up the next morning to everything covered in white,
inspired me to want to make my own handcrafted flakes.
And that is pretty much what I did ~ all day, in front of the fire,
with a stack of white paper and a scissors, in my pajamas.
Winter days don't get much better than that.

~ Christmas 2010 ~

Okay, I tried to do a tutorial but as you can see, I'm not very good at it ~

the piece of square paper is as far as I got :) ~ so I will refer you
to what links I can find and tell you this ~ it's more about the fold than the cut.

I wanted to give an idea of the cuts ~ there really is no right or wrong, and

it's fun to see what you'll end up with ~ just as in nature, there are no two alike.

Go here, here or here for step-by-step instructions.

“Nature is full of genius, full of the divinity ~

so that not a snowflake escapes its fashioning hand.”

~ Henry David Thoreau (1817-1862)

On the Fourth Day of Crafting {Lip Balm}

2011-12-04T03:04:00.011-05:00

I've been experimenting a bit with homemade 'beauty' concoctions lately ~
and one of my favorites is this homemade lip balm!

There are many different recipes to try, here are a few ~
Green Bee
(Easy, only three ingredients!)
FIMBY
Tipnut

For this batch, I used an adapted version of the recipe from FIMBY,
it's a peppermint balm and my lips are loving it!

Ingredients:

1 tablespoon beeswax

(chopped or shaved, mine was melted)

2 tablespoons coconut oil
(or 1 tbsp coconut oil and 1 tbsp shea butter)

1-1/2 teaspoon lanolin

3/4 teaspoon vitamin E

2 teaspoon raw honey

1/2 - 3/4 teaspoon peppermint oil

(or other essential oil flavor of choice)

Have everything ready beforehand because it melts quickly and hardens quickly!

Directions:

~ In a small pan (preferably w/spout), over medium-low heat,
melt beeswax and coconut oil.
~ Remove from heat and add lanolin, vitamin E, honey and peppermint, stirring well.
~ Pour quickly into containers. Let cool for at least 3 hours.

Makes approximately 6- 1 ounce containers
The bigger the container, the easier to pour into, these narrow tubes were
tough to get into w/o making a mess, the little pots are so much easier!
But, the twist-up tubes are great for applying!

I used a small pan for melting and then quickly transferred to a measuring cup for pouring ~ not ideal since it hardens quickly ~ small pan with spout would be better!

I bought my ingredients locally, but here are some links ~

Mountain Rose Herbs

(for beeswax, essential oils and most anything else!)

Country Soap Shack - Etsy

(this is where I got my stick containers)

eBeeHoney

(beeswax, raw honey, containers)

Once you have the ingredients, it's really quite easy!
The first recipe listed would be a good one to experiment with since it only has three ingredients. If you don't care for peppermint, you could always use a citrus flavor like orange or lime. I think these would make great little gifts too!

I also made a batch using the above recipe, but instead of 2 tbsp coconut oil, I used 1 tbsp coconut oil and 1 tbsp Shea Butter ~ I like using Shea Butter for it's natural SPF.

I bought the twist-up containers just to giveaway ~

I keep my supply in recycled jelly jars. :)

I have six lip balms to giveaway to three winners!!

(Each winner will receive two ~ 1 coconut oil and 1 Shea butter,

both peppermint flavored and in a twist tube)

So if you'd like to try this luscious buttery goodness, just leave a comment here by Thursday night and I will draw three names ~ that's more than the number of comments I usually get, so the chances of winning are very good. :) I'll announce the winners back here on this same post Friday morning!

~ The winners of the lip balm sets are ~

Preppy Pink Crocodile
Ms Mindless
Leslie

Congratulations ladies, the lip balms are on their way!!

On the Third Day of Crafting {Glitter Pine-cones}

2011-12-03T00:32:00.000-05:00

I think pine-cones are beautiful just as they are ~ I have a garland of them draping our fireplace mantle. Add some snowy white and a little bit of glitter and they're stunning!

This is a fairly easy craft to do, requires only a few simple items

and is one kids enjoy doing!

Here is what you'll need ~

pine-cones

spray paint

(I used silver and white)

glitter

small paper bag

~ Working outside or in a well-ventilated area,

have the pine-cones laid out to be painted

atop paper or paint cloth.

~ Have some glitter in a small paper bag

to shake the painted pine-cone in.

Spray a pine-cone, or a few if they're small,

and then toss into the bag of glitter and shake to cover.

Mine were small so I painted 3-5 at a time ~ you do have to work quickly since most spray paints dry fast, making sure to cover all sides and then into bag before drying.

Another option is to first paint all the pine-cones

and then use spray glue before dropping into bag.

This is a great craft for kids to help with!

(It can be a bit messy with having to hold the pine-cone

and turning it, etc, so gloves are always an option)

Of course there's always the au naturel frosted-look

of just dipping in glue and sprinkling with glitter ~

most of us have a few of those sparkly gems

brought home from kindergarten classes,

I know I do and I adore them! :)

" We hang everything on our Christmas tree,
ornaments big and bright,
and all these sparkling icicles
and twirling balls of white!"
~ Author unknown

On the Second Day of Crafting {Lavender Sachets}

2011-12-02T10:11:00.003-05:00

I'm a big fan of Trader Joe's Lavender Dryer Bags ~ well, of lavender

in general, but especially these ~ they make our laundry smell wonderful!

They're suppose to last 5-10 cycles, I think the most I've made it was

maybe 6 before the paper thins out and breaks open ~ which isn't bad,

as they are very reasonably priced, but it just seems wasteful

(we go through a lot), especially since the lavender is still fragrant.

I sprinkle the buds on carpets and rugs before vacuuming

as they suggest, but I still have a large jar full.

To use up some of the lavender and have something more economical,

I make my own version using simple flour-sack cloth and cotton twine ~

Take about an 8" square of cloth, heap a small pile of lavender

in the middle and tie/knot tightly with twine.

Incredibly easy ~ and definitely more economical ~

I know this certainly isn't a new idea, but sometimes it helps

to be reminded of another way, especially if it's simple and natural.
A bundle of these would make a lovely little gift!

They can also be hung from the faucet when filling the bathtub,

for clothes closets and linen closets and also tucked inside pillows.

Lavender is calming and aids in the relief of stress, headache,

migraine, sore muscles, burns and is a natural insect repellent!

There are just so many uses ~ these are great to have

throughout the home to keep things smelling fresh and

how wonderful to hand your guests lavender-scented towels!

When Ethan was a baby, I used this fancy Luxury European Lavender Wash

(you know when you're a new mom and only the best will do for your baby:),

which is a very nice product ~ it has actual lavender buds in the detergent ~

but decided to start making my own, using an empty container,

my own powder and some lavender buds for scented detergent.

I haven't bought it in years and wasn't sure if it was still made,

but I see that it is ~ found here! :)

Again, the homemade version would make a great gift!

For my dryer sachets, I'm still working through my supply of lavender

from a couple years of buying these and I also have a supply

that I brought back from France years ago (still...it lasts!)

and when I made sachets for my boutique, I purchased wholesale ~

all that to say, I've not purchased from any of these vendors,

but they all seem to offer lavender in bulk if you're interested.

~ Starwest Botanicals

~ Country Aire Lavender

~ Lavender Fanatic

~ San Francisco Herb Co.

~ Mountain Rose Herbs

“The air was fragrant with a thousand trodden aromatic herbs ~

with fields of lavender, and with the brightest roses

blushing in tufts all over the meadows.”

~ William Cullen Bryant 1794-1878

On the First Day of Crafting {Simple Wreath}

2011-12-01T14:30:00.002-05:00

I love the look of this wreath ~ these are easy to make and I think add such a

simple elegance to the home , any time of year, but especially during the holidays.

Here is what you'll need ~

rosemary or boxwood branches

multipurpose wire

(You can use whatever wire you're most comfortable with, thinner is easier to cut,

but you might need a few loops ~ I used green coated since it blends and is easier to cut.)

wire cutter or craft scissor

floral wire

tape

Cut wire for the size of wreath you want, form into circle

overlapping about an inch at the top, tape to secure.

Using the floral wire, attach the branches all the way around

overlapping them, to the fullness you want.

It should look something like this ~ not perfect, but simple and handmade. :)

You can attach ribbon or hang as is ~ they look lovely on cabinet fronts,

in the windows or on the back of chairs ~ anywhere really!

(To keep these looking their best, make as close to holiday/event as possible

and keep away from heat ~ occasionally mist w/water to refresh scent)

"The simplest things are often the truest."

~ Richard Bach

Pink Peppermint Forest {Countdown to Christmas}

2011-11-30T17:30:00.002-05:00

My original plan was to wrap little packages for the boys to open each day

until Christmas ~ I finally started on it last night and had gotten about

six done when I decided ~~I didn't like my plan~~ to take a break and check my emails.
I visited/responded back to a comment left from Proverbial Homemaker,

where I came across her recent post on Advent Calendar ideas
and saw this and loved it ~ and decided then and there to change plans!

I loved the green and was planning on that until I had this thought ,

"I wonder how this would look in PINK?!" :)

It would have been much easier to shop for coordinating paper,

instead of scraping together what I had on hand, but

I was too excited and only had a day left, so I got right to work!

As I started, I wasn't too sure about how it would all look,

but the more I worked and the more I got done, the more I loved them!
I think there are so many ways this could be done ~ I just love the pink
and since everything looks better in glitter, I went ahead and added sparkle!
(Little treasures are hidden under each of the 25 paper cones :)

Not sure what the boys will think ~ actually, I'm sure they'll love it ~

it is a countdown to Christmas after all!!

"Christmas waves a magic wand over this world ~

and behold, everything is softer and more beautiful."

~ Norman Vincent Peale

Over the River and Through The Woods

2011-11-27T22:18:00.058-05:00

In search of a Christmas tree ~ and what a beauty we found!!

The boys each found a little one they liked and cut down themselves ~

And then there she was ~ standing bright green in all her glory ~

magnificent and humble, our Christmas tree!!

Heading home to adorn our tree ~

(which we still haven't done, hopefully soon!:)

"When we recall Christmas past, we usually find that the simplest things,

not the great occasions ~ give off the greatest glow of happiness."
~ Bob Hope

Looking forward to a productive and festive week!

Cannot believe it's almost December!!

Thanksgiving Day

2011-11-24T23:19:00.102-05:00

We had a wonderful Thanksgiving ~

Grammy was up in Boston again this year, so it was just the four of us.

Preparations started shortly after I got up, around 8:30 or so ~ most everything was done yesterday, so there was very little to do and no rushing around. We had roasted chicken with stuffing, roasted vegetables, yam casserole, fresh cranberry salad and pies.

Everything was yummy and as always, our Thanksgiving meal was a celebration.

I really didn't have much expectation this year ~ hadn't really thought things through incredibly much ~ and certainly wasn't planning on doing anything fancy, mostly just glad to have the day together. It seems each year is more and more enjoyable ~

not sure if it's me changing or just the fact that the boys are older and more helpful.

(Elliot fascinated by the smooth, peeled garlic :)
Elliot wanted to help me, and I was thrilled to have him in the kitchen with me.

I initially gave him a few simple tasks, thinking he'd flee within moments,

but he stuck around and became quite productive! He mixed stuffing,

crushed and peeled the garlic, and snapped the asparagus.

Most everything was done by Wednesday evening, so after the boys were in bed,
when I went to set the table, I decided to pull out some fancier dishes and silver
and add a few special touches ~figuring, if not for Thanksgiving, then when?

~ Ready to feast ~
Dad read a scripture and prayed and then opened champagne.

Elliot surprised me with a sweet love note left by my plate ~

I think it made him happy that I let him do so much in the kitchen earlier. :)

You shall eat the fruit of the labor of your hands ~

you shall be happy, and it shall be well with you.

~ Psalm 128:2

When I said "picture time!", Elliot ran off and grabbed this mask,
we were cracking up. I'm just glad he came back ~
usually when he hears "picture time", he just runs off. :)

After our lunch feast and then clean up, I went for an hour-long walk. It was a gorgeous day and I was so happy to get out into the fresh air and walk ~ one of my favorite things to do. The skies were clear, the air cool, leaves were rustling and it all was so wonderfully peaceful. The boys were out most of the afternoon as well ~
between napping, afternoon coffee, time at the playground,
evening leftovers and Christmas dreaming, it really was the perfect day.
So thankful for all that I have. So thankful for my family.
Best. Thanksgiving. Ever!!

"Gratitude is the inward feeling of kindness received.

Thankfulness is the natural impulse to express that feeling ~

Thanksgiving is the following of that impulse."

~ Henry Van Dyke

Happy Thanksgiving!

2011-11-23T00:01:00.012-05:00

Pretzel Project

2011-11-22T19:31:00.061-05:00

We finished up our schoolwork today and are ready to start our long winter break!

Elliot is working on borrowing/carrying in math and doing well. He likes

problem solving and generally just enjoys math and also being quizzed

with vocabulary words. We weren't thrilled with Ethan's math program,
so we're gonna give Teaching Textbooks a go, which we're very excited about.
Today we finished our study on Native Americans ~ we snacked on dried turkey
and fruits and talked about the arrowheads that the boys each picked out at the
museum last week. We built "thatched-roof log cabins" for our project,
which we finally completed. The boys LOVED working on this particular craft,
mostly for the fact that they could eat the supplies. :)

Craft found here ~
(we used a stiff mixture of powder sugar, meringue powder
and water instead of peanut butter, which worked great
and we also used half-gallon cartons instead of the small size)

Our finished project!

Tonight the boys are having their best buddies over for a sleepover

and tomorrow is the start of our Thanksgiving preparations!

Painting Pottery

2011-11-19T21:34:00.003-05:00

We enjoyed our Saturday and having Daddy back home ~

after sleeping in a bit and our morning coffee,

we headed to Dean & Deluca for lunch salads and then to paint pottery.

Elliot painted an airplane and some gold bars

and Ethan painted an owl and a little turkey.

Then we hung out at home for awhile, napped a bit

and then back out for a little shopping/window shopping

and Pinkberry. It was great spending the day together.

"The informality of family life is a blessed condition

that allows us to become our best while looking our worst."

~ Marge Kennedy

Indian Museum

2011-11-18T16:21:00.004-05:00

We just got back from a field trip to a local Indian Museum.

First we explored an Indian Village and saw cedar post and bark houses.

The boys brought notebooks so they could take notes and draw

some of the details for our village project next week.

Following the path, we ventured into the cemetery,
where again the boys took notes on their discoveries.

Then we headed to more outdoor structures that included a Well House, Cabin,
Blacksmith Shop, Smokehouse, Barn with a Civil War period wagon, Spring
House and an Heirloom Garden w/strains or plants dating from 1840 or earlier.

"The ground on which we stand is sacred ground ~

it is the blood of our ancestors."

~ Chief Plenty Coups, Crow

Then we headed inside to explore the exhibits focusing on the

American Revolution, the Civil War, and life in our local area around 1900.

The boys enjoyed the schoolroom and the tales of how children learned

many years ago. Their favorite things were the desks with folding chairs

that were lined up and the stick that was used for "switching".

It was quite chilly, but still a nice morning and I'm glad we were able to get out

and explore. There was so much in the museum that we found fascinating,

the boys especially enjoyed the weapons ~ muskets, arrowheads, rifles
and the tent displays. It gave us some ideas and help for our project.

We're looking forward to our weekend ~Daddy has been gone
this week, so we'll be happy to be together again!

I can't believe it's almost Thanksgiving!

Homeschooling Update

2011-11-17T21:45:00.016-05:00

"How beautifully leaves grow old ~

how full of light and color are their last days."

~ John Burroughs

The last of the leaves are quickly falling and it seems to have literally

happen over night ~ it's amazing how that happens.

Last weekend we had beautiful 70' weather

and now we're back into the 50's ~ winter is fast approaching!

(I think we're getting our first frost tonight!)

The grill is covered, patio cushions are put away,

the pantry is stocked ~ we are ready.

It has been a busy homeschooling month ~ in a fun sorta way.

Lots of reading and crafting and creating.

The boys put together a box for a boy their own age for

Operation Christmas Child

It was a joy to see them chose each item

and so carefully pack it along with their heartfelt note. :)

(They included tee-shirts, toothbrushes, notebooks, crayons,

sunglasses, candy, harmonica/recorder, and prickly balls:)

Elliot wanted to make something in the kitchen,

so we made homemade granola.

This week we finished our study of Squanto,

Plimoth Plantation and the (modern day) first Thanksgiving.

We're working on a village that we'll complete next week ~

so far we've constructed tepees, Thanksgiving people and

birch bark canoes.

"I am Squanto ~

I speak to you as a pniese, a man of honor ~

I will never leave this land.

I give thanks for all of our people

to the Creator of All Things."

~ Squanto's Journey, the Story of the First Thanksgiving

Thanksgiving Tree

2011-11-14T15:15:00.003-05:00

One of our November/Thanksgiving homeschooling projects was making a Thanksgiving Tree. This was our first year making one and it has been great!

I made the tree trunk out of the inside of brown paper bags (cutting off the side pieces), and the branches by twisting those leftover side pieces. Then I cut paper leaves and left them in an envelope, along with some markers, attached to a door in our kitchen area. The boys loved it when they saw it!

I knew they would initially enjoy writing a few things and attaching the leaves,

but what I didn't expect was the thought they would put into it ~ and that it would be on-going. There have been moments where they are busy doing something, or just passing by and will stop to write something they are thankful for. That is exactly what I was hoping for and it has been such an encouragement for all of us.

"Nothing is more honorable than a grateful heart."

~ Seneca

Book Giveaway Winner!

2011-11-14T14:14:00.000-05:00

Thank you to those who participated in the book giveaway last week ~

out of 29 comments (not including #6), the winner was SUSAN!

(Susan said.....That sounds like a book for our family! Loving the homeschool updates. xo Susan): Congratulations Susan ~ please email me your address; so I can get the book out to your before Thanksgiving!!

(If anyone knows Susan, please let her know as I have no way to get a hold of her, thanks!)

Rural Hill

2011-11-12T22:04:00.013-05:00

We spent our afternoon today at Historic Rural Hill ~
today was a Scottish Festival and Sheep Dog Trials.
First stop ~ Pumpkin Chunkin'!

We brought our Halloween pumpkins from home and the boys were able

to fling them using a replica 11th century trebuchet ~

it was so fun and they loved it!

Ethan went first ~ he had the smaller one and it went far.

Then it was Elliot's turn ~ his pumpkin was huge, and heavy ~

And pretty much went straight down and SPLAT!!

This guy looks mad ~ he must know what's about to happen! :)

Then we watched a little of the Sheepdog Trials, which was quite fascinating.

We were explaining to Elliot how the dogs were going to herd the sheep back into the pen.

He watched for a bit, then turned and asked us why the dog was going to "hurt" the sheep. :)

We then visited and fed the beautiful Highland Cows.

Then the boys did the corn maze all by themselves ~ they did great and
loved every minute of it. While waiting for them, we strolled around a bit,
grabbed a drink and spent the rest of that time chatting with a couple
(their kids were also in the maze) and had a wonderful conversation
about their China adoption a few years back.

Then onto learning about how the settlers of Rural Hill would have lived

during the late 1700s. The Blacksmith was the boys' favorite.

The kitchen house and spinning wheel were my favorite.

The boys spent time exploring the log cabin ~ or the top part

of the kitchen house, where apple pie was being made over a fire.

We enjoyed freshly popped kettle corn!

Then finished our day off with a relaxing and scenic hayride.

It was a great day and we had a lot of fun ~

and were so thankful for the beautiful fall weather.

"Autumn begins with a subtle change in the light, with skies a deeper blue,
and nights that become suddenly clear and chilled.

The season comes full with the first frost, the disappearance of migrant birds,

and the harvesting of the season's last crops."
~ G. Wolff

Hand-Dipped Candles

2011-11-11T03:00:00.005-05:00

Yesterday was a cold, rainy day ~ the kind where you just wanna stay in and be cozy ~

which I thought was perfect for taking on our beeswax candle-making project!

The boys and I did this together and had a good time ~ we started with a pound

of beeswax and dipped and dipped and dipped. :)

Beeswax is amazing ~ from how it's produced to it's many benefits.

I love it's sweet, natural smell ~ I love that it's purifying the air as it burns ~

I like that there's no smoke or soot ~

and it's the only naturally occurring wax on earth ~ love that.

Ethan satisfied with his work. :)

Elliot making his candles ~ he was more looking forward to burning them! :)

Here is how we made our candles ~

We used ~ 100% natural beeswax, 100% cotton flat-braid wicking (medium size),

empty tin can for melting wax, glass of ice water and some wax paper.

100% natural beeswax with a golden hue is best (the white beeswax is chemically bleached), and can be found at most crafting stores. From what I understand

(after talking with a local bee-keeper) is that you must have purified beeswax,

which is what the stores sell. If you get it from a bee-person,

it would have to be purified first otherwise it will not burn.

Cut wax and put into tin can to melt (can sitting in boiling water/simmering on low). Once melted, take wicking lengths to fit your can (we used about 6-8" long wicks)

and dip into melted wax quickly three times then hold for a few seconds to cool.

The wicking won't go all the way down and will probably curl up, but that's okay.

Dip again three times, then into ice water to cool.

The wax should now start to accumulate ~

if the wicking is crooked, just lay flat and roll gently to straighten.

Dip and cool until desired size is reached.

(You might have to roll it a few times to keep it straight,

just make sure it's cooled before rolling)

I used a wooden skewer for stirring the wax, worked on a paper-covered surface

and used wax paper to lay cooled candles onto. There was very little mess

and everything cleaned up nicely with hot water.

Homeschool Blog Awards

2011-11-10T09:41:00.032-05:00

Polls are up and ready for the

7th Annual Homeschool Blog Awards ~

This is my first year participating in these awards and I'm so thrilled to have found so many inspiring and resourceful blogs ~ although I've been blogging for several years, I'm completely new to the homeschooling blog community. I have nominations in a few categories (not to get too excited, I think they're from my hubby and boys ~ thanks guys:) however am fairly certain I won't be winning since I'm up against some big time blogs (and some categories have over 100!) and probably a little late to the game, however, I'd love your support, if you feel this blog is worthy in any of these categories ~

Favorite Homeschool Mom Blog

Best Photos Blog

Best Homemaking or Recipe Blog

(just click on any of these links and check the button next to "A Time For Everything",

then to bottom of page and check "vote". Voting ends 11:59 (PST) Nov 18th)

check out/support all the other wonderful homeschooling blogs!

Classics Reading

2011-11-09T00:21:00.002-05:00

Literature is terrific fun! It encourages you to think.

It helps you dream. It is full of heroes and villains,

suspense and humor, adventure and wonder, and new ideas.

It introduces you to writers who reach across time to say ~

"Do you want to hear a story I wrote?" Curl up and enjoy.

~ Quoted from the Junior Classics for Young Readers series

I've mentioned before how much we are enjoying our Classics reading.
In September, we completed Johnny Appleseed (from a different series) and Pinocchio
and in October we read The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr Hyde
and also Frankenstein. I absolutely love reading these with the boys
and it's definitely one of the highlights of our homeschooling.
Jekyll-Hyde wasn't the easiest read and started out quite confusing
and shamefully we were tempted to give up but I'm so glad we didn't ~
once we figured out what was going on, we could appreciate this
powerful parable and the importance of choosing between right and wrong.

I had my doubts about Frankenstein as well, wondering if it was too evil
and questioning what we could possibly learn ~ and again it proved
to be a powerful tale, both of these heavily woven with biblical symbolism.

We're taking a break for the month of November to focus on our
Thanksgiving unit, but look forward to starting these back up!

“Ancient works are classical not because they are old,

but because they are powerful, fresh, and healthy."

~ Charles Augustin Sainte-Beuve (1804-1869)

The Next Two Months

2011-11-08T12:32:00.003-05:00

"I cannot endure to waste anything as precious

as autumn sunshine by staying in the house ~
so I spend almost all the daylight hours in the open air."

~ Nathaniel Hawthorne

It's hard to believe we're already through October and now into November ~ the final days of twenty-eleven are quickly coming to an end. I've been thinking a lot about the months ahead ~ I love the months of November and December for all that they hold ~
I want to be able to balance keeping busy (with the many projects I want to get done)
with enjoying peaceful, simple days. I tend to settle at either end ~ while I'm certainly not one to go nuts planning festivities, I do enjoy and look forward to many traditions.
A few things that are a must in the next two months ~

{lots of fresh air and nature}

{simple, meaningful holidays}
{completing my Bible reading goal}
I'm behind in the Old Testament!
{completing at least two major projects}

These were easy 'cause they're non-negotiable ~
and quite honestly as far as I'll probably get ~
which isn't bad at all and I think I'd be quite happy with.
Anything else would just be icing on the cake!

Book Giveaway!

2011-11-07T18:00:00.121-05:00

We have a busy homeschooling month ahead

and a lot to squeeze in before the Thanksgiving holiday ~

I'm hoping to update soon, but wanted to share one of the books we read today ~

"The Littlest Pilgrim ~ a sweet story about Mini ~ the littlest pilgrim in her village. Too little to sew, too little to bake, too little to fish ~ but not too little to make a friend."

If you'd like a chance to win your own copy of this book,
just leave a comment on this post by Sunday night,
and we'll draw a name on Monday November 14th!

(Linking up with Hip Homeschool Moms Giveaway Day)

Trick-Or-Treat

2011-10-31T22:29:00.052-04:00

The boys had a great time trick-or-treating and along with several of their friends, hosted a creepy trail that they had been working on for well over a month.

It was a success and since most of their evening was spent doing that,

they didn't bring home a ton lot of candy ~ they picked out a few favorites

and donated the rest to a local health store in exchange for a prize bag!

Mighty Oaks

2011-10-27T16:03:00.002-04:00

I finally narrowed down my favorite acorn pictures ~

these little things are quite amazing and I adore each one ~

and I adore this quote ~

and I can't get over their color ~

their amazingly gorgeous chartreuse color ~

Have a lovely autumn weekend ~
(All day long I've been thinking it's Friday ~ I guess I'm just ready for the weekend ~
our roof is being replaced and the noise and pounding is getting to be too much ~
I'm so looking forward to a quiet and relaxing weekend)

From little acorns mighty oaks do grow.

~ American Proverb

Autumn Sunshine

2011-10-26T18:02:00.008-04:00

I was feeling a bit down today, not sure why ~ could be fighting a cold or maybe it's just the time of year ~ I figured getting out for a walk would help, so after our schoolwork was done, that's what we did (I encouraged the boys to come with me:). It was such a lovely day and it felt so good to get out. As we walked, we chatted about neighbor's house and garden styles, we noticed the deep blue skies, the boys climbed some trees, we found a walking stick to add to our ever-growing collection, and I picked up more acorns. I've established a small collection ~ is it just me or are acorns beautiful to everyone?! I picked up a big pile last week and did a whole photo shoot with them! :)
I haven't posted those yet 'cause it's so hard to narrow down the ones I like
and I imagine if I posted too many ~ well that would just be nuts. :)

"I cannot endure to waste anything as precious as autumn sunshine

by staying in the house."

~ Nathaniel Hawthorne

The Pumpkin

2011-10-24T21:20:00.065-04:00

Oh! ~ fruit loved of boyhood! ~ the old days recalling,

when wood-grapes were purpling and brown nuts were falling!

When wild, ugly faces we carved in its skin,
glaring out through the dark with a candle within!

~ John Greenleaf Whittier, The Pumpkin (1850)

Dog Park

2011-10-22T16:16:00.080-04:00

There was another Iggy meet-n-greet at the park today, so we went

and had a great time! Amazingly, we met a gal who owned Pixie's sister ~

separated at birth, long-lost sisters ~ well, not that long ~

they're only six months old. :) Ethan just happen to chat with a woman

and after discussing ages and birth dates, etc, discovered that ours had the same!

We brought them together to see what they'd do ~ they were happy to meet and sniff, but not sure there was anything special beyond that. :)

Regardless, it was very exciting for us!!

~ Pixie and Lucy ~

Happiness is a warm puppy.

~ Charles M. Schulz

What I Loved About This Week

2011-10-22T00:30:00.002-04:00

~ Elliot spinning, twirling, dancing, climbing, singing, jumping ~

~ homemade cornbread ~

~ finally cleaning out the pantry ~

~ the boys going through their stone collection and choosing favorites ~

~ playing "survivor" in the driveway ~

(and hearing Elliot say as they headed out the door ~

"Ethan and Elliot (last name), brothers against the wild!" )

~ playing hooky from school/work to go to the playground and coffee shop ~

~ our homeschooling nature walk ~

~ homeschooling outdoors and discovering the treasures of autumn ~

Those who contemplate the beauty of the earth

find reserves of strength that will endure as long as life lasts.

~ Rachel Carlson

Nature Walk

2011-10-20T20:01:00.128-04:00

"The moment one give close attention to anything, even a blade of grass ~

it becomes a mysterious, awesome, indescribably magnificent world in itself."
~ Henry Miller

The boys and I headed out on a little nature walk today
and invited our neighborhood homeschooling group along ~

it was a beautiful, brisk autumn day.

I borrowed this idea of an empty egg carton to store our treasures in ~
I photographed twelve things to be collected and attached the printout to carton.
(Thanks Cheri!)

We had four other families join us and they all seemed to have a great time ~
my boys particularly enjoyed being together as a group and asked to do more of it!
Here is Ethan's collection ~

And here is Elliot's ~

Then back to our place for lunch!

"Look deep into nature, and then you
will understand everything better."
~ Albert Einstein

Five Years

2011-10-19T06:37:00.066-04:00

Our dossier was logged-in five years ago today ~ I can't believe it's been that long.

I'm definitely beyond any frustration and more excited that we've made it this far ~

this truly was not our intention nor plan, but has become our path.

I love this picture for what it represents ~
but I do hope this is the last year of posting it!

State Fair

2011-10-14T20:59:00.031-04:00

We took the day off and headed to the state fair today ~

We thought we'd be smart and go during the week when most everyone was at school ~ only to find out that Columbia area schools did not have classes today, ha!

We still felt like we had the place to ourselves and hardly waited in any lines.

We're not very exciting when it comes to fair food ~

Chicken Gyros, which was like a Greek salad on pita,

and Snow Cones was the extent of our indulgence ~
and a fried dough "Elephant Ear" :)

The boys had a great time on the rides ~

Elliot especially took advantage of the unlimited rides!

I didn't get a picture, but Ethan and I love the Matterhorn

and rode that a few times ~ we love how fast it goes and the music!

They always play classic rock and it's loud and so much fun! :)

We also rode the Ferris Wheel together

and took pictures of the view and of each other at the top ~

it was very windy and a bit chilly but the colors were amazing!

Ethan was fascinated with the workings of it all. :)

This is our favorite ride and the one we're on the most ~ it is a blast!!

We all get wet, but Dad gets drenched since he has to sit in front! :)

I was laughing at this picture of the boys holding on for dear life ~

not me ~ I went down with my arms way high up over my head! :)

We had a great time, but were exhausted and couldn't wait to get home ~

we all agreed that we're probably done with the state fair

and will find something different to do next year. :)

Homeschool Today

2011-10-13T20:02:00.019-04:00

We've been homeschooling outside of the classroom this week ~

Daddy is starting a new job and has this week off,

so we've been enjoying extra time with him!

Today we headed to the lake for some fishing ~

it was an amazingly beautiful Fall day ~

the kind where you just wanna lay back and watch the clouds go by ~

and that's exactly what we did.

"I have laid aside business, and gone a'fishing."
~ Izaak Walton

"We do not see nature with our eyes ~

but with our understandings and our hearts."
~ William Hazlitt (1859)

Glazed Lemon Cookies

2011-10-12T00:01:00.005-04:00

Ethan and I made these yummy Glazed Lemon Cookies ~
he did everything himself (except a little of the zest)
and they turned out wonderfully ~
hands were grabbing as soon as they were frosted!

Here are some recipes for these delightful cookies ~

(they're all very similar ~ we like the last one best!)

myrecipes

marthastewart

twopeasandtheirpod

Runaway October ~

2011-10-11T23:00:00.004-04:00

I'm naming this post after one of our favorite books Runaway Pumpkin ~

this month is flying faster than a runaway pumpkin down a big hill!

I'm a bit behind here, so I just want to get my pictures documented

before too much time passes ~ and as usual, it's just the mundane everyday. :)

I've been enjoying what I'm sure is the last of the Morning Glories out back ~

if it's not too cool, I'll sit out there in the quiet morning and have my coffee.

Ethan finished up his Fall Flag Football season ~ he completely enjoyed it and was sad to see it end. I was so proud of his leadership with the younger boys ~ he really enjoys helping the coach and leading the little ones. Throughout the season, we had several parents comment to us how much they appreciate Ethan helping their son or how impressed they are with how well he treats others ~ so grateful for his humility.

I like this cookbook, mostly for it's gorgeous pictures ~

I made the Stir Fry Beef w/Broccoli recipe, using Beef-less Strips
found at Tr@der Joe's for a vegetarian version ~

I marinated the strips with soy sauce beforehand ~

they were a big hit and no one knew until I told them!

I was pleasantly surprised at how yummy these were
and can't wait to try them with tacos, fajitas or grilled on a salad!!

After some of the cooler temps we've been having, the boys have been glad to get back outside ~ I couldn't resist taking pictures the other day while they were playing camouflage hide-n-seek and climbing trees ~

We recently had our annual neighborhood yard sale ~ I hadn't participate in a couple of years, and was ready to clean house. I gathered from the attic and the garage and all places in between ~ I really wanted to get rid of quite a bit, including some furniture, but when it got right down to it, it was more difficult than expected. I was planning on selling the boys play kitchen, but that morning, just couldn't do it ~

I did sell many other things though including a guest-room bed, golfing net, huge basket of Lincoln L0gs, building blocks, a ton of decorating books, clothes and anything else I could find to get rid of. The boys (along with some friends) had their own table and did very well selling books, P0kemon cards, H0tWheels and donuts. :)

(Yard sale dishes that I couldn't part with after all ~ a meal for a neighborhood family ~

new whiteboard menu plan ~ welcoming pumpkins ~ lots of homemade bread)

The boys have been doing a lot of baking the last few weeks ~

Ethan wanted me to teach him how to make one of his favorites, Pumpkin Roll

and one evening last week, after their bath, I let them pick

something to make before bed and they chose Hot Fudge Brownie Cake.

We also made vegan brownies, learned how to make dough in the bread machine, roasted acorn squash and made lots and lots of cinnamon rolls! :)

Let's see, what else have we done ~ some nature walks, bike riding

tomato picking and the boys love laughing silly over these stick-on mustaches

and who knows what else ~ if I don't have a picture, I don't remember

and since this post is already so long and so random, I'll just end it here! :)

Happy October!

2011-09-30T00:01:00.003-04:00

"I would rather sit on a pumpkin and have it all to myself

than be crowded on a velvet cushion."

~ Henry David Thoreau

~ Salted Caramel Mocha Latte

2011-09-29T09:00:00.032-04:00

Another yummy coffee drink recipe that we recently tried and was a big hit ~

~ Salted Caramel Mocha Latte ~

I'm sure there are many ways to make this, but this is our version ~ the boys loved it and didn't even mind the sprinkle of sea salt on top (as long as it wasn't too much:)

Ingredients:

2 cups milk ~ steamed

1 tablespoon caramel syrup

2 tablespoon chocolate syrup

1 shot espresso (or 1/2 cup strong coffee)

whipped cream, caramel sauce, coarse sea salt

Directions:
Add caramel and chocolate syrup to cup. Add steamed milk and espresso or coffee.
Top with whipped cream, caramel sauce and sea salt.
Of course everything can be adjusted to taste ~ if you want stronger coffee, add two shots, for stronger caramel taste, add 2 tablespoons instead of 1. If you are using a pump w/your syrups, then 1 pump equals 1 tablespoon.
Enjoy!!

~ Pumpkin Spice Latte

2011-09-27T08:56:00.002-04:00

Here's an easy recipe for an autumn Pumpkin Spice Latte ~

I like that it can easily be adjusted for flavor preferences and/or fat content. :)

I used canned pumpkin, but you could also use (1 tsp) pumpkin spice-flavored syrup.

I make mine nonfat by using unsweetened soymilk and agave nectar (no sugar) ~

these can all be adjusted to your preference!

Ingredients:
2 cups milk

2 tablespoons canned pumpkin
2 tablespoons sugar or sugar substitute
2 tablespoons vanilla extract
1/2 teaspoon pumpkin pie spice
1-2 shots espresso or 1/2 cup of strong brewed coffee

Directions:
In a saucepan combine milk, pumpkin and sugar and cook on medium heat, stirring, until steaming. Remove from heat, stir in vanilla and spice, transfer to a blender and process for 15 seconds until foamy or whisk really well with a wire whisk.
Pour into a large mug (or two). Add the espresso on top.

Optional: Top with whipped cream and sprinkle with pumpkin pie spice or nutmeg.

Yummy autumn goodness!!

Autumn's the mellow time ~

~ William Allingham

Apple Farm

2011-09-25T23:05:00.004-04:00

We made our annual trip to the apple farm today ~

the harvest was very early this year so instead of picking off the trees,

we picked the freshly harvested apples off the conveyor belt.:)

We also missed the one and only ~ Johnny Appleseed telling his life story,

something we look forward to every year ~

and how appropriate since we started that classic in homeschool last week.

In spite of that, we had a great time exploring the farm and orchards ~

Chasing chickens ~

Fresh apple cider and donuts ~

Chickens and pot-bellied pigs ~

(The boys loved these little piglets, especially Elliot and insisted we bring some home ~

he was so smitten with them ~ I love his genuine smile here :)

Scarecrows and pumpkins ~

and just general farm goodness ~

"Delicious autumn! My very soul is wedded to it ~

and if I were a bird I would fly about the earth

seeking the successive autumns."
~ George Eliot

Autumn

2011-09-22T17:20:00.003-04:00

"No spring nor summer beauty hath such grace ~

as I have seen on one autumn face. "

~ John Donne (1572-1631)

Autumn Leaves

2011-09-21T21:07:00.008-04:00

This second week of school has not been without it's challenges ~

we're still trying to adjust to our new schedule (mostly me) and figure things out.

We've had some fighting and tears, and moments of frustration but we've also had

lots of fun! One of the things we did today, was collect Autumn leaves ~

we then traced them onto construction paper and strung across the windows.

We started The One Year Devotions For Boys, on character-building principles ~

the boys are really enjoying it and this is the scripture we are memorizing this week ~

Ethan will be starting a new Math program soon and is working on general review until then. Elliot has been working on division and doing very well! Today when he started to get frustrated, I suggested he grab the bin of army men and use them to divide into piles to find his answers ~ he loved that idea and everyone was much happier! :)

We also finished up Pinocchio, another classic we all really enjoyed! I'm always amazed at how much of the story the boys are picking up on and the details they remember ~ they both did really well on their review quiz, getting all the questions right, with the exception of the first one ~ "A long time ago, in _____, there once was....."

( The answer is Italy ~ Ethan didn't know and Elliot wrote "the woods" :)

Now we're onto the adventures of Johnny Appleseed ~

learning all about his life and about apples!