February???

The weather was so beautiful and warm yesterday that we spent most of the afternoon outside. We started with a trip to the park, and when we got back home, the kids were all clamoring to run through the sprinkler, so here they are – having the time of their lives – in the month of February.

Of course, this is Texas, so today the high temperature will be 50 degrees, and we are back in long pants and jackets. It was a nice taste of what’s to come, though!

Blessings,
Nancy

Signs of Spring . . .

“To-day the glint of green is there;
Tomorrow will be leaflets spare;
I know no thing so wondrous fair,
No miracle so strangely rare.
I wonder what will next be there!”
~L.H. Bailey

Blessings,
Nancy

From the Learning Room ~ Homemade Dye and “A New Coat for Anna”

One of our activities last week to go along with our study of “A New Coat for Anna” by Alfred A. Knopf was to make a homemade dye, as they did in the story. In the story, Anna and her mother picked lingonberries to “make a beautiful red dye”. This was the first time I had ever heard of lingonberries, so I didn’t expect to find any, but I did have some fresh blueberries in the freezer that would make a nice substitute.

First I boiled a pan of water -

Next I added the blueberries (thawed) and let them boil for about 1/2 hour – until it looked like the water had turned a nice deep color -

I took them off of the heat and let them set for awhile to steep as much color out of the berries as possible. I then strained them through cheesecloth into another pan. I gave each child a swatch of white fabric and they each placed their swatch into the pan of dye. We pressed the fabric down into the dye with a wooden spoon and left it for awhile, while we watched our nightly “Little House” episode. -

When we came back to it, the white fabric swatches had turned a lovely shade of purple! We squeezed them out and laid them on waxed paper to dry.

Tommy’s finger here is pointing to the white swatch (hard to see) we started with, which shows the transformation -

I will be ironing these and then cutting them into the shape of a coat(s). We will then mount them on a piece of cardstock with the title of the book and they will be placed into the children’s notebooks.

Another short project that I did with the littles last week was to make these cotton ball sheep -

The olders and I read about sheep in the encyclopedia and we all took a short drive down the road to take a look at a neighboring farmer’s flock of sheep.

I shared these pictures earlier of the children weaving placemats to complement our study -

We haven’t played that game of “Made for Trade” yet, as I did end up taking Anna in to the doctor for an infected ear, but we did spend some time discussing bartering and, hopefully, we’ll be able to get that game in today.

If you’d like to see what other topics we discussed in relation to this story, click here.

Have a wonderful day!

Blessings,
Nancy

The Simple Woman’s Daybook ~ February 23

Good Morning! Here is my Daybook entry for today ~

Outside my window. . .the sun is shining, the beginnings of a week of warm spring-like temperatures. Birds and squirrels are busy at the feeders, as a gentle breeze blows the trees and shrubbery to and fro.
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I am thinking. . .more about my garden plan for the year.
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From the learning room. . .finishing up our “Anna” study today with a discussion of bartering and then playing the board game “Made For Trade”. Tomorrow we will start a short study of the book “The Duchess Bakes A Cake” by Virginia Kahl. This will be a fun, light-hearted study, which will be a nice change from all of the projects of the last study. We will briefly discuss medieval society and the importance of following directions, but probably won’t delve too deeply into anything – just enjoy the story – unless someone decides they want to learn more at this time.
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I am thankful for. . .finding a wonderful new restaurant right here in our small town. We enjoyed a delicious meal out with my brother-in-law and sister-in-law this weekend, complete with Fried Green ‘Mators, and look forward to going back again soon.
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From the kitchen. . .Pigs in a blanket and chips for dinner tonight.
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I am wearing. . .pj’s – haven’t hit the shower yet.
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I am creating. . .I made four beautiful cards at Stamp Club yesterday – our leader always comes up with such wonderful ideas. I’m hoping to get some quilting done this week.
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I am going. . .to probably be taking Anna to the doctor today – her ear started hurting her last night.
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I am reading. . .my Bible and Spurgeon devotional.
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I am hoping. . .that the plumber comes soon to fix our broken pipe outside.
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I am hearing. . .little children playing with a kitty, “Animal Crossing” music on Sarah’s DS.
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Around the house. . .jackets piled up on the table following a chilly weekend; some new ice skates have arrived in the mail for Tommy and Sarah – we will be returning to the rink next week for Tommy’s birthday; a broken pipe outside is limiting our use of water inside – slowing the laundry down; a couple of new spring books also arrived in the mail, which I can’t wait to dig into.
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One of my favorite things. . .watching the birds at the feeders while I wash dishes.
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A few plans for the rest of the week. . .Basketball award night, orthodontist appointment for Matthew, Homeschool Support Group meeting, lots of playing outside and sitting on the porch.
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Here is a picture thought I am sharing. . .

An old bird’s nest from last year – maybe someone will decide to move into it this spring.

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To read more Daybook entries, please visit Peggy at The Simple Woman’s Daybook, and have a lovely day!

Blessings,
Nancy

Antique Shopping

I shared in my Daybook earlier this week that Jeff had taken me antique shopping for Valentine’s last weekend. He knows my love for primitive, especially pioneer-related, especially pioneer kitchen-related items, and we have often found just such items in the old downtown square close by.

This trip was no exception, but the most exciting find was this barn red primitive hutch. It is now sitting in my kitchen while I eagerly ponder exactly what all to fill it with. Here are a few pictures of it and some of the items I have chosen so far -

These two bowls (one a small crock) were purchased last weekend as well. The little one has “Mama” written on the bottom of it – so sweet.

The canning jars here were my grandmother’s. They had been living on top of my cabinets, where I couldn’t see them very well and where they were gathering dust (as you can see). I am glad to have them down where I can see them (especially after I give them a good washing!) The little glass nesting hen was being displayed in the hutch at the store, and I thought it added a nice touch. This rolling pin is my newest addition to my small, but ever-growing collection (see next picture) – I love the colors on it, the deep and worn red on the handles and the darker color to the wood.

My rolling pin collection. Some of them have suffered as they used to be stored on a shelf on the wall, and periodically fell to the floor, but I still love them, and they’ll be much safer here. The potholder in the background is my very first quilt block that I made a few years ago. I made it into a potholder, but only use it for decoration.

Another bowl that I found last weekend – I just love the history that is evident all over it.

My sweet little strawberry picking basket, complete with wooden strawberries.

This is an old egg basket given to me by my brother-in-law – it was left in the bank when they moved in. (That reminds me – I never did write that follow-up post on the bank renovations – guess I’ll search out the pictures and add that one to my list forthcoming!) The little silver pail is definitely not primitive or antique, but it reminds us all of the little lunch pail that Laura and Mary carry in Little House, so it is present for it’s pioneer inspiration!

I love the little drawer in the hutch, which will soon be filled with cloth napkins that I use for wrapping up bread and rolls.

The bottom two shelves will be holding baskets (what else?), but, so far, it only holds the girls’ little picnic set . . .

. . .and sometimes Macey.

I will be shifting all of these items around to make room for my Yankee candle storage, and possibly my grandmother’s old everyday dishes, which would look lovely here, as well. I want to add more berries to the top and possibly some little white lights. It’s a work in progress, which I will also probably be tweaking for each season, so expect more pictures as I work on it.

Just a couple more pictures, showing some of the old details that I love so much. First, the latch in the front – all nice and worn and rusty.

One of the top corners showing the trim that runs along the two sides.

The sides are made up of this wonderful paned pattern -

Well, I hope I haven’t bored you too much with this tour of my new hutch! It took awhile to get it posted as I was having trouble with the camera – it kept making the red look pinkish -eww! I love pink, but the hutch is definitely not pink! Jeff taught me how to turn off my flash, so that the color is more true.

We have been busy all week with school projects that I will share soon. We have a packed weekend up ahead, so you may not hear from me until Monday, unless I get a few moments. Have a wonderful day and weekend yourself!

Blessings,
Nancy

Just a Few Evening Notes. . .

This day is winding down to eveningtime. My chicken is cooked and waiting in the crockpot for me to mix up the sauce and “smother” it. A salad is chilling in the refrigerator, as is a large bowl of orange Jell-O. This was supposed to have been the meal for yesterday, but a few unexpected errands turned dinner into tacos instead, so the chicken was moved to tonight. I love using my crockpot, because I feel so ahead of the game all day – it’s nice to smell dinner cooking while I go about the rest of the day.

Today we finally got around to one of our long overdue school projects. We have been reading “A New Coat for Anna” for going on the third week now, and have not had time to get to the projects that I had planned. Normally I might have just decided to move on, but I’ve been so looking forward to doing these activities, that I just kept moving them back a week. Today’s project was weaving placemats from construction paper, while discussing the weaving of fabric on a loom. Here we are at it -

And our results -

We discussed loving our enemies in our Bible lesson today, and agreed that it was something that we all need to be reminded of often -

” ‘You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ But I say to you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, so that you may be sons of your Father who is in heaven; for He causes His sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous.

For if you love those who love you, what reward do you have? Do not even the tax collectors do the same? If you greet only your brothers, what more are you doing than others? Do not even the Gentiles do the same?’ “

Matthew 5: 43-48

I hung a new bird feeder right outside (on!) the kitchen window – it will give us a good, up-close look at our feathered visitors. I then proceeded to fill all of the feeders except the new one! One bag of seed is just the right size to fill the existing three feeders, so I don’t have any left over. I guess we will have to wait until I get to the store to pick up some more to enjoy the new one!

The children did their chores early so that they could watch the new High School Musical dvd, which is what they are doing right now ( and yes, I even took a picture of the screen) -

They will be heading out to basketball practice (the last one) right after dinner. And speaking of dinner, I better head to the kitchen and get that sauce made, so we can eat before they have to leave.

I hope to be back soon with those pictures from our antique shopping this weekend, including the new hutch.

Have a wonderful, warm and relaxing evening!

Blessings,
Nancy

The Simple Woman’s Daybook ~ February 16

Good Morning! Here is my Daybook entry for today ~

Outside my window. . .cloudy skies with a cool breeze.
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I am thinking. . .of all of the housework I need to accomplish today.
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From the learning room. . .we’re taking a day off today from formal lessons. The rest of the week will be spent in finally (hopefully!) getting those projects done that we have been trying to do for two weeks, but somehow have managed to not be able to do.
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I am thankful for. . .a lovely Valentine’s outing with Jeff on Saturday, complete with antique shopping in the old downtown and an Italian dinner at the Olive Garden.
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From the kitchen. . .Smothered Chicken in the Crockpot, Orange Jell-O and Caesar Salad.
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I am wearing. . .a new pink t-shirt and jeans.
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I am creating. . .just working slowly on my two quilts at the moment.
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I am going. . .to run to the post office today and mail our belated Valentines to our son Robert.
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I am reading. . .the new spring Country Sampler and a Taste of Home casserole magazine that I picked up over the weekend.
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I am hoping. . .to get the house ship-shape today.
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I am hearing. . .relative quiet now after a sibling storm a few minutes back (helped by the fact that one of the parties is now cooling off in their room), birdsong outside (a lovely sound), David chattering with Anna.
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Around the house. . .a wonderful new (but very old) barn red primitive hutch in the kitchen – a present from Jeff – already filling up with various of my primitive collections and inherited treasures. (I will do a post on it soon!), many Valentines scattered around after our evening exchanging them on Saturday, a few sniffly noses have started up over the weekend.
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One of my favorite things. . .old Pioneer kitchen related collectibles.
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A few plans for the rest of the week. . .cleaning house, Ladies Bible Study, our final basketball games, schoolwork, cook and deliver a meal to a friend (I had my date wrong last week, and found out just in time that I was supposed to be this week!), and a family birthday party for Matthew (although his birthday was last month -it took us awhile to get a date that worked for everyone!). Oh, and a visit to the quilt store to pick up this month’s block of the month – always a refreshing experience.
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Here is a picture thought I am sharing. . .

An old strawberry picking basket from the antique store – I found the wooden strawberries in another store – they complement it perfectly!

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To read more Daybook entries please visit Peggy at The Simple Woman’s Daybook, and have a lovely day!

Blessings,
Nancy

Back and Busy. . .

Oh, the joy of a speedy internet! After spending the last few days in turtleland, it’s so nice to be back up to rabbit speed. Now I just need to find the time to write!

The next few days are going to be busy indeed. We will be working on school projects, making Valentines, baking cookies, shopping, playing basketball, delivering Valentine baskets to the hospital, as well as a meal to our friends with the new baby. And that just gets me through Saturday!

Here is a sample of one thing that I hope to do with the children this afternoon, in the form of this poem by Leland B. Jacobs -

A Special Valentine

“It’s time to make my valentines,”
To Mother I had said.
“I must have ribbons and I’ll need
Some slices of your bread.”

“What will you make?” my mother asked;
I did not tell her, though.
“You’ll be surprised,” was my reply,
“But you’ll be pleased, I know.”

Out to the kitchen then I ran,
And soon I’d finished there
My strange new kind of valentine
That, none the less, was fair.

I hung my valentines outdoors
All tied with ribbons red,
And snowflakes made a dainty lace
For each white heart of bread.

When Mother saw what I had made,
She smiled and said, “How fine!
Now all the hungry little birds
Will have a valentine!”

I’ll be back later when I get a moment. Have a wonderful day!

Blessings,
Nancy

Crawling along. . .

(Pretend that you see a cute picture of a turtle here)

So sorry to be missing, but our Internet has been running suuuuupppppeeerrrrr sssslloooooooowww the last two days. I couldn’t get to the writing page at all yesterday. Today I got here, but it took awhile and I couldn’t upload any pictures. (Did you picture a cute turtle – with a smile on his face?) Needless to say, this makes posting a bit difficult, so I suppose I’ll be getting an early start on my chores this morning!

I’ll be back as soon as things are up and running smoothly again!

(Picture a speedy rabbit here)

Blessings,
Nancy

The Simple Woman’s Daybook ~ February 9

Here is my Daybook entry for today ~

Outside my window. . .A gray, rainy morning has turned into a clearing one with the sun just starting to peek out. A high in the 70′s today promises a beautiful afternoon.
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I am thinking. . .about gift ideas for my sweet Valentines.
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From the learning room. . .we will be revisiting “A New Coat for Anna” this week, as we ended up just working the basics last week. Our Bible lesson will be on 1 Corinthians 13:8 “Love never fails”, and I will probably be adding in a few simple Valentine crafts along the way.
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I am thankful for. . .a fun and relaxing Sunday yesterday.
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From the kitchen. . .Catalina Chicken for dinner tonight with rice and green beans. Dessert? – hmmm. . . maybe some of those yummy Snickerdoodles.
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I am wearing. . .a white t-shirt and navy sweats.
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I am creating. . .new chore charts for all of us to start today.
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I am going. . .to have to get off the computer if I want to get anything done today!
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I am reading. . .“Morning and Evening” by Charles Spurgeon.
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I am hoping. . .that I can follow my new homecleaning schedule this week.
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I am hearing. . .David singing the “Blue’s Clues” theme song in his own special way, “Veggietales” dvd playing on the tv, Tommy and Sarah discussing math problems.
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Around the house. . .David has dumped several board games all over the floor in the dining room, there are an innumerable number of little toys on the floor in the living room, laundry is high and calling, and I don’t even want to mention the dishes in the kitchen – just a normal day around our house!
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One of my favorite things. . .the peace of God that passes all understanding.
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A few plans for the rest of the week. . .basketball, making Valentine surprises, cook and deliver a meal to friends with a new baby, Stamp Club, deliver Valentine baskets to children in the hospital with the girls and our Keepers Club, dinner out with Jeff.
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Here is a picture thought I am sharing. . .

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To read more Daybook entries, please visit Peggy at The Simple Woman’s Daybook, and have a lovely day!

Blessings,
Nancy