OurLittleHomestead

Oct. 22, 2009

Great tool for helping our little ones learn!

Homeschooling is such a blessing! Having a few 'tools' in your skirt pocket when homeschooling multiple children is a BIG blessing--;)

Young Minds is a great DVD aka 'tool' for assisting in the teaching of numbers & counting for little ones--in an engaging manner! My son loves all the pictures and images of 'frogs', 'trucks' etc--and counts along with the DVD and identifies the numbers/objects/images. I like that this DVD uses real images and real music in the backround, rather than cartoon characters, loud noise, and gibberish in images that go 1000 mph! If they are going to watch something on 'the screen' make it something of worthwhile substance that teaches them something good! Young Minds is a winner in our homeschool family, we've really enjoyed it and see results!! Math Tutor DVD has another wonderful tool for homeschool families!

Happy Homeschoolin'

Lisa

www.HomesteadOriginals.com

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Oct. 16, 2009

"Projects To Go" by Tandy Leather---PERFECT for Homeschoolers/Groups!

“Leathercraft Projects To-Go” from Tandy Leather

Have you seen these NEAT ‘projects to go’ from Tandy Leather ? SUCH a neat idea and such fun projects for the children!

Tandy has created these ‘projects to go ‘ in a sturdy plastic bucket (reusable!) based on themes (we used the Native American one) such as “Sports”, “New Frontier”, “Camp”, “Ranch-Farm”, “Patriotic”, etc….they include short lessons/information on the theme, along with HIGH QUALITY supplies to make up to 12 of EACH of 3 projects–that’s 36 projects folks!

These are so perfect for Homeschool CoOps, Homeschool Group gatherings, or as just plain old FUN–my children absolutley LOVED the projects and could easily pick up the directions and figure out how to make everything on their own, too.

Tandy makes REAL projects (I’ve seem so many ‘projects’ for children out there that are just cheesy garbage ‘crafts’….aka busywork!) with really nice high quality, REAL leather, real sharpie markers, eco friendly paints, beads, etc. VERY nice! The children can create their own designs, get ‘hands on’, creative and artistic and be learning all at the same time

Here is some more info direct from the Tandy Leather website:

Everything needed to create 36 leathercraft theme projects in a handy bucket!

Students will learn about the theme while creating a useful and decorative leather project.
Lesson includes history and new vocabulary words. Creativity, math and dexterity skills
will be exercised to design, personalize, color and then assemble the project.

The Native American Theme Bucket contains:
• Complete Lesson Plans & Instructions
• 3 Projects: Hide Pouch, Koozie or Pouch & Arrowhead Fob:
      — 12 Pre-Punched Leather Hide Pouch Parts
      — 12 Pre-Punched Leather Koozie or Pouch Parts
      — 12 Pre-Punched Arrowhead Fobs
• A Look Back Into Historic “Native American Symbolism”
• A Look Back Into Historic “Weapons Of The Frontier”
• A Look Back Into Historic “Native American Dwellings”
• Eco-Flo™ Cova Colors® Acrylic Paints
• Stencils • Sharpie Markers • Cord
• Hook & Loop Fasteners • Brushes
• Design & Coloring Ideas • Beads

Lots of fun, (I even made a few things myself!) the children loved them (this was perfect, as they love to study early american history (aka pioneers n indians!) and I like the fact that they are making something of use/value out of nice high quality materials and learning something along way–for the children, they don’t realize they are being taught and learning–these projects are just plain ol’ FUN.

Tandy has tons of fun, high quality projects and ideas on their website–check them out! I would highly recommend their new “Projects To Go”–great idea…and lots of smiles (from parents and children alike!)

Happy Homeschoolin’

Lisa

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May. 6, 2009

Sell, Barter and Give…oh my!

Odd, how a twist in the economic ’style’ of this country has brought back some age old thought and wisdom. When it comes to ’stuff’ and ‘things’ we really evaluate what we ‘need’ vs the, ‘eh, I could do without’, when times get a bit ‘uncomfortable’.

As we prepare to make our big move, we are finding that there are things we have here at this location, that we have no use for in our soon to be location.

As we ‘look around’ and see things we have, but truly do not need, or want to move— because hey, let’s be honest, it’s nice to have things that make life easier! It’s nice to have ’the latest model’. Question IS…Will we ‘need’ these things in our new homestead? We see opportunity, to barter or sell those things, to get the things we will really need and use at our new place. Or do we know someone who could really use something we have, but really never use? BLESS THEM!!! Give it away!

Anyhow, that leads me to my point of this post (really!) I have found lately that folks are A LOT more apt to sell for cheap (or somewhat reasonable), barter (whatever happened to this GREAT idea!?), or even GIVE things away! I have also found that there are a variety of places to find what we do need on the cheap or even FREE.

Let me give you an example. A few months back as we were planning for this big change in our lives, we knew we’d better start shopping around for a few things. We also knew we’d better start planning on getting rid of a few things. So, to Craigslist I go. I start checking daily on a few key items we are hunting for. Sure enough, within a few days I find the fuel tanks that my husband is looking for! Best part? The seller is open to bartering! (I find this a LOT these days on Craigslist) Anyhew…for a truckload of wood (that we wouldn’t be able to take with us anyway) and an air conditioner, (that we would not want to be running and sucking up our off grid power!) we got the 2 huge fuel tanks we needed. Voila!

Just yesterday I stopped by the Salvation Army and gave away a bunch of very nice clothing. Many nice things the children have outgrown, never worn or had been given that they just didn’t care for–we had a bunch of baby clothes that our son never even wore (folks give babies FAR too many clothes! lol), some clothing that I had, that was very nice, from when I worked outside the home… many moons ago, that hadn’t been worn since the day I left the cubicle behind! I am sure all these items could bless someone else though, and help empty my closet, clutter and moving load!

Searching Craigslist is a great blessing! We’ve sold goats, refrigerators, given away a piano to another homeschool family….bartered for equipment, bought some spendy tire chains for the truck that were less than 1/3rd the price new, bought some “impossible to come by–sold out game” — baseball tickets, for a special outing for one of the children and daddy’s ‘day out’….we even acquired one of our Livestock Guardian Dogs through Craigslist!!! Check out their “FREE” section too!

Now my REAL find. We homeschool, we love books…. and I have a myriad of options and know of TONS of places and vendors to buy from , when it comes to buying books and materials. TONS. I found this place (via Craigslist too!) that is a couple hours from me, geographically, and I’d heard of it before–just never drove the distance to go check it out. Well, come to find out, (this is SUCH A HUGE BLESSING!!) this is a GOLDMINE of a gently used local homeschool bookstore/curriculum shop!

The best part? I email them with my list of book titles, or curriculum wants–they shop for me, pull my choices right from my list–and UPS it to me! This is homeschool heaven, folks!!!!! I will share–because you can email Jessica your list and since they ship UPS, you can have your order shipped direct to you too! They are professional, carry a HUGE variety, have NICE stuff, and make finding titles EASY. I love em! The shop, for any Northwest Washington locals, is “Homeschool Potpourri” in Kirkland.

Next idea for maybe getting rid of things that you’ve got that you just don’t truly need and are cluttering your home and life, is FreeCycle! You can not only get rid of things you don’t need any longer and that will bless someone else–but you can find things you do need, for FREE! FreeCycle is a non-profit, staffed by volunteers, and is a great way to ‘recycle’ and GIVE to others who may need something, that you no longer have need for-it’s a win-win! Check out their site for specifics at www.FreeCycle.org

When we buy, sell, barter and giveaway with one another–we are helping out neighbors, and ourselves…saving time, money, reusing, recycling…sounds like a winning combination to me!

Lisa

Lisa is blessed to be a Wife to Marc, a Mama to 4 blessings, and a Keeper at Home! They live a God centered, family centered, homesteading lifestyle of learning in the mountains of the Northwest. They operate their family run business Homestead Originals where they specialize in handcrafted candles, soap, and gifts for the Homestead. She is also the author of the Homestead Simplicity E-book series that focuses on Encouragement for the Homekeeper, Simple Family Living, Natural Cleaners, and Making Everything from Scratch! Come on by and visit Lisa’s Blog for great ideas, tips, freebies and contests too! To contact Lisa, email Lisa@HomesteadOriginals.com

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Apr. 6, 2009

Homemade Buttermilk

I love to make anything and everything homemade if I can! So when it comes to the kitchen, homemade is definitely a priority! I just love to ‘create’ my own buttermilk! This makes SUPERB pancakes, salad dressings, biscuits and so much more! This is so easily done.

I grab a quart of organic, raw buttermilk from my local Natural Foods Co-Op (you can use regular store buttermilk too!) I take 2 cups, I then pour this in one of my (very clean) half gallon glass milk jugs and fill the rest of the way up with raw goats milk (You can use store bought milk here too if you wish). I set this out on the kitchen counter for 12 hours. I give it a little shake, and put in the fridge. Voila!

Use clean containers, and fresh buttermilk and milk to start. It should smell ‘buttermilk-ish’ not ‘bad’. I’ve yet to have a bad batch. I use a good amount of buttermilk and if you always keep it FRESH, and keep 2 cups to make a new batch…you’ve got your own homemade buttermilk! (This is akin to a ‘starter’) If you don’t use so much buttermilk, just cut this recipe in half!

Enjoy~

Lisa

www.HomesteadOriginals.com

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Mar. 27, 2009

If you give a Mom a Muffin...

IF YOU GIVE A MOM A MUFFIN...

If you give a mom a muffin,
She'll want a cup of coffee to go with it.
She'll pour herself some.
Her three-year-old will spill the coffee.
She'll wipe it up.
Wiping the floor, she'll find dirty socks.
She'll remember she has to do laundry.
When she puts the laundry in the washer,
She'll trip over boots and bump into the freezer.
Bumping into the freezer will remind her she has to plan for supper.
She will get out a pound of hamburger.
She'll look for her cookbook ("101 Things To Do With a Pound of Hamburger").
The cookbook is sitting under a pile of mail.
She will see the phone bill, which is due tomorrow.
She will look for her checkbook.
The check book is in her purse that is being dumped out by her two-year-old.
She'll smell something funny.
She'll change the two year old's diaper.
While she is changing the diaper, the phone will ring.
Her five-year-old will answer and hang up.
She'll remember she wants to phone a friend for coffee.
Thinking of coffee will remind her that she was going to have a cup.
And chances are...
If she has a cup of coffee,
Her kids will have eaten the muffin that went with it.

by Kathy Fictorie

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Homeschooling in the news

“Leathercraft Projects To-Go” from Tandy Leather

Sell, Barter and Give…oh my!