I hope everyone had a better summer than I did.

Thank you all of you for your wonderful prayers and emails. I really appreciate them.  I also appreciate the meals people brought us to keep my family fed.  We had someone bring us a bucket of chicken from a fast food place. They apologized explaining that since VBS was going on, no one had time to do a home cooked meal and so everyone in the Sunday School class took up money to get us a meal.  I explained that we have home cooked meals all of the time (we even make our own butter) and a fast food restaurant meal was a real treat for our family. 

I have a lot of stuff to post in the coming weeks to gear up for the new school year. Of course, many of you are already in the full swing of things. I WAS ordered to sit on the couch and do nothing. I will be back to posting on a regular basis in August.  I am trying to relax and take it easy for the next two weeks.  I am having to clean out the old school stuff to get ready for the new school stuff a little at a time.     Anyway, I am glad to be back! 

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The drama  continues.  If you are not up to date here is part 1 & part 2

The good news: Mrs. Dani's foot seems to be healed. The MRI confirmed this was possibly just an infection from the bowl that broke and cut her foot.  She is off of crutches.

The bad news:  

We have found out the hard way that she is allergic to sulfa drugs.  She had an allergic reaction to the antibiotics and  developed a nice rash on her thighs and back, have been shaking and had her heart racing quite a bit which was due to an elevated blood pressure of 126/106 which is actually worse than it sounds for her because 80, which is a generally good bottom number for most people is actually high for her under normal circumstances.  she was also sporting a really pounding headache due, we believe, to the blood pressure.  She was also nauseated beyond belief and searing heartburn and a small fever to boot.  Yesterday morning she made it to the living room and laid down on the floor with the kids with her head tilted into a bucket dry heaving  she  was not able to move for about an hour and a half. Her 8 year old called her parents who raced over to get her to the ER.  

They gave her a shot of steroids to help speed up the body’s healing against the sulfa antibiotic and shot of something else to help with the nausea. So now she is on two separate drugs to help counteract the one drug which was actually a replacement for another one that was decided was unnecessary plus something else no one seems to know what it was for.   

But the worse is yet to come.  She can have NO caffeinated drinks.   NO COFFEE!!! Doctors are sadistic.  Apparently the caffeine will aid in her dehydration.  Oh, I forgot to mention that.  She was also dehydrated. 

She is in good spirits and seeming to feel better this morn. So that is good news. She hopes to be back posting in a week or so. 

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If are not up to date as to what has been going on, click here Wed. night, Mrs. Dani had to be rushed to the hospital. Her foot swelled up to twice its size and was very hot to the touch, plus she had a fever. Her Hubby made her go. ( for those of you who do not know, Mrs. Dani hates hospitals)  They must have thought it was quite serious because even though they had a sign that said the wait was 2 hours, they had her with a doctor in about 15 min.  ahead of a lot of other people.

We are awaiting the results of the MRI & bloodwork. The doctors are at a complete loss at to what this is. They put her on antibiotics (800 mg pills four times a day) in the hope that if it is an infection, this will cure it up. 

She is still in a lot of pain but doing much better.  She is, however, a lousy patient.  She can't stand having people wait on her or having the house a mess.  We are getting ready to superglue her rear to the couch or bed. 

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I have not posted in a while so I thought I should let everyone know what is going up.

Hello everyone. I thought I should give everyone an update while the medicine has worn off and I can think a little straighter. The darveset has muddled my thinking so if this email sounds weird, it is just doped up Mrs. Dani.

For those of you who do not know.  I am in pain. Sunday after decorating at the church for VBS, I went to visit my dad, on the way home my right foot started hurting. I thought it was just because I was on my feet since 6 am that morning. While doing the dishes and laundry it started hurting bad as a cramp. It felt ok by bedtime. At 1 am I woke up crying out in pain. I have never had pain like this in my life. I have given birth without epidurals or pain medication, had teeth pulled without drugs and I swear this hurts worse.  No matter how I put my foot I am in extreme pain.

Hubby took me to see my Doc who happened to not be in. the stand in had not idea so she decided to do a ridiculous blood test and give me dope.  Tues we went to anther doctor that the hubby knows. He got us in during his lunch break.  He said he was totally confused about this.  The foot is not swollen, not discolored, I have no fever and the x-ray shows no break or anything, plus I have had no injury to the foot.  They have scheduled and MRI for Thur. Until then, the hubby is forcing me to take the pain medication.  I hate that stuff.  it makes me loopy. Just what the world needs, a doped up Mrs. Dani. 

Anyway, I have alerted Brenda that I do not think I will be able to do VBS. If anyone can help Pam, I would appreciate it.  I also need someone to pick up the VBS stuff. I have downloaded and printed and cut out everything you will need. And the room is half decorated. 

I am also having to cancel going to the SC  Homeschool convention this weekend. Missing both is breaking my heat. I was so looking forward to both.  If anyone going to the convention that lives near me, could you please come by and pick up the donations for the abused children’s’ packets that the teens are putting together (my mother and several ladies of my church gathered these) and several boxes of educational material for the single mothers’ fund that my sister-in-law and I gathered from other homeschooling mothers. I would appreciate it. I really want these to get to get to the convention. 

Thank you all and please be in prayer for me. I am not accustomed to lying around and doing nothing. I can not even get myself a cup of coffee.  The pain is never ending. It is constant and spikes every few minuets.  I can not walk on my foot at all the pain is excruciating. I am miserable to say the least. 

I love all of you and will be thinking about you during the convention and VBS. 

Since this posting: several people have thankfully stepped up and have taken over the VBS teaching & someone has soo graciously said she would take the donations to the SC Homeschool convention.  Thank you to all.

As for me, I am still in pain & now the foot is swelling.

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Oh NO!!!!! Summer is here and we have not finished our book lessons! What are we going to do?

So What?

SO WHAT?!!! What do you mean so what?  We haven't learned everything we are suppose to!  We did not finish all the lessons!!!

Wasn't it your kids who freaked out their aunts and uncles at Thanksgiving dinner because your 7 & 5 year olds proceeded to explain the digestive system from mouth to anus, and how the kidneys produced pee?  And didn't your kids make a model kid with bones using Q-tips to explain how bones work, not to mention describe in some detail the workings of the heart to the amazement of your doctor?

Big Deal!!!! So what if their Aunt turned an interesting shade of green and there were a lot more leftovers than normal, we have not finished all of our worksheets.  Oh the worksheets!!!! I have a few dozen left!!!  They are not even filled out!!!!!

So?

SO!!???!!!!??!  We paid money for them.  They show how much my kids have learned!

Did you get the idea for frog day from them?  You remember.  That was the day you found tadpoles in a pond.  So you went out and researched how  to care for them.  You got an aquarium and spent  a day studing how they would become frogs and didn't you come up with tadpole math?  Isnt that how your youngest finally got the concept of subtraction?

WEREN'T YOU LISTENING?  We did not finish all the lessons in the book!

Yes, but didnt you go to homeschool classes once a month at your local zoo?  Wasn't it your kids who while watching Curious George with some other kids began to explain how George was drawn incorrectly because he doesn't have a tail and monkeys have tails where apes do not.  And isn't your kids who can tell all about birds.  And isn't your oldest who when they asked for a child to come up on stage at an outdoorman's show to hold a snake RAN up to the stage and told the "expert" all about snakes?

What does that have to do with anything?   What if someone demands to see my lesson book?  I have only 150 out of 170 lessons done!!! What willl they think?  We will not reach the legal requirement for 180 days of instructions!

Now wait, did you count all the days at the zoo classes? and what about the days you devoted to unit studies?  Remember, you devoted three whole days to doing nothing but studing about magnets. And what about the days you devoted to learning about a single animal that the kids showed interest in?  And what about the days you spent cooking to teach the kids about fractions? And really, what other 1st grader knows all about the Bill of Rights because you spent  a day or two on American history, which all brings up how many other kids looked at a picture of the pilgrims and proceeded to explain how almost everything in a traditional picture of the pilgrims from the clothing to the food served is incorrect? And what about those horrid ladybug and butterfly houses you ordered and has to cancel the exterminator because it would kill all the experiments.  And what about all those plant experiments you did?  The kids did not understand how a plant transports water and food up its stem from a book, they learned it by putting white carnations in colored water.  And wasn't your sister, the public school fourth grade teacher, lamenting that her students couldn't write as well in cursive as your 1st grader, as a matter of fact her students could barely READ cursive writing?  And what about the mornings before dental appointments that you read all about teeth, what they were made of and how they worked and downloaded that model of teeth that the kids made and took to the dentist so he could show them where they needed to brush better?

BUT WE DIDNT FINISH THE BOOKS OR THE WORKSHEETS!!! OH WHAT ARE WE TO DO?

But don't your kids have a great love of learning and didnt they learn a lot? and enjoy it?

THAT IS NOT THE POINT. We ... didnt finish .......... err ............... hhmmmm...... wait................ that is the point ......mmmmmmmmmmmm.   Yeah! Summer is here!  We had a great year and learned alot. 

Next year, I  need to remember to not get so caught up in making sure the lessons are done that it interferes with learning.  Homeschoolers tend to do that every so often.    We do not want to end up more concerned with lessons and worksheets or we will be just schooling at home. Let's not loose sight of what homeschooling is and why we are doing it... and enjoy our summer break.

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I do not know about you but I am looking forward for some time off this weekend.......too bad I am not getting it.  We will be going to see some friends, I will be sewing costumes for a ballet recital, getting things ready for VBS, not to mention getting ready for our end of the year AWANA awards banquet,  and something else.  Whew!

I will be taking a break from blogging until about Tues.  I hope also to have a Sourdough bread recipe for the bread machine to share with you by then.  Anyway, everyone have a wonderful Memorial Day weekend and remember to stop at least once on Monday and remember the brave souls who gave their lives so that we are free to do what we are doing now. 

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The people who survived raising my siblings and myself are celebrating 60 years of marriage together today.  These two incredible examples to us all have weathered the Great Depression, WWII, traveling the country, watching their children be born and eventually called home by the Lord, they have rejoiced at Weddings and births, and mourned at funerals, gained a great deal of gray hair raising their Grandchildren and wept with untold joy at the birth of their Great-Grandchildren.

I thought I would share each of their secrets for a long and happy marriage.  

First, from my Grandmother: Never criticize your husband in public, not even around good friends; wait until you get in private to tell him he sounds like the biggest horse’s butt on the planet.

Next, from my Grandfather who took my husband aside and told him this before I walked down the isle.  No matter what, any time she asks you whether you like a new paint color, dress, curtains, I do not care what it is you answer, “If it makes you happy dear, it tickles the crap out of me.”

 If I can make it just half the time they did, I will truly be a blessed woman.  

Happy 60th Anniversary

Granmother & Gran  !!!!

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I have a way to help organize your purse.  What has worked for me is getting those zippered pencil cases (you can find these for a $1) and I divide my stuff into categories.  I have a first aid kit (more about that here)  one for makeup (brush, lip gloss, lotion, tissues, etc.) , one for the financial stuff (checkbook, check card, library cards, change book and receipts) and then one for busy items; I carry little sticker books for the kids to work on.  I also carry a hardware one: extra keys, pocket knife, mini keyring flashlight, small screwdriver for eye glasses, toilet seat covers etc. 

Just remember to use a different bag for each category.  You can place them in your bag like carrying file folders.  When you look in you can easily find what you are looking for. 

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 More Wisdom from my Grandmother on why doing what is right can be hard. 

If doing the right thing was so easy all the time, everyone would do it.

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I have some really great Prince Caspian links for all of you fans out there.

The first, even if you are not a fan of the movie, is an incredibly breathtaking 3-D interactive map of Narnia.  This thing is just really cool. You can click on certain spots and you fly there across the terrain of Narnia.  The link is here.  Hint: the weird looking circle on the bottom of the map to the right of the middle is a magnifying glass. Just click on it with your mouse and move across the map.

The next is two different games: Gryphon Attack and Castle Escape from Miraz's castle.

Now the last link I have for you is just really neat.  You can upload a picture of your self and see what you would look like as a Narnian Creature: Giant, Faun, Dwarf or Centaur.  I would like to see myself as a size 2, but I digress.  The link is here.

And of course there is the official website at the Offical Chronicles of Narnia Prince Caspian Movie Site.

I have not had a chance, or the money, to see the movie but I heard it is incredible.  My question for those of you who have seen it, does it follow the book?

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Homeschool Convention season is coming up!  YEAH!!!!!!!!!!!  I love conventions.

I love seeing new and old products, talking, talking, and ...oh yeah, talking to other mothers and venders.  I also love getting on mailing lists.  This always seems to be a hassle.  You are talking to someone and feel like you are being rude trying to fill out those mailing lists or you are standing in a crowded aisle with your rear end sticking out(in my case, way out) trying to write down your information.

Here is a quick tip.  I get A LOT of free address labels from various companies as samples trying to get me to buy their products or donate to their cause (please note: I have never requested any of them so I do not feel bad using them without paying for them).  Carry a sheet with you and stick it on the mailing lists.  It is quick, easy and you do not have to wonder later on if you wrote the address correctly because you were busy talking.  If you do not have any, just run some off your computer.   If you do not have the label sheets, run off the info and carry a roll of tape with you.  All you have to do is tape on the slip of paper. 

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You can browse the online course (this requires a free download of Flash Player) or you can sign up for a 12 week lesson delivered via email.  There are games, worksheets, tips, guides to slang.  I can not even list it all.  This is totally free from the BBC.  There are MP3 downloads but I am not totally sure those are free; I think they are but again I am not sure.

You can access the link at  http://www.bbc.co.uk/languages/

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Someone sent me this but I also saw it once on another site.  If it was yours, please leave a link back to your site in the comments sections. Thanks

An old, tired-looking dog wandered into the yard.  I could tell from his collar and well-fed belly that he had a home.
He followed me into the house, down the hall, and fell asleep in a corner.

An hour later, he went to the door, and I let him out.
The next day he was back, resumed his position in the hall, and slept for an hour.

This continued for several weeks.
Curious, I pinned a note to his collar: 'Every afternoon your dog comes to my house for a nap.'
The next day he arrived with a different note pinned to his collar:
'He lives in a home with ten children
-- he's trying to catch up on his sleep.
Can I come with him tomorrow?'

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 If a light was left on, or hot water left running, or something was wasted like food or bubble bath, they would have to do one of the following:

1) Cut out enough coupons (but only for the items the household actually uses) to equal the amount of money wasted

2) Work in the yard or some other job that is not part of their regular chores the same amount of time it takes their father to earn the amount of money wasted. 

3) Pay for it out of their piggy bank.  She doesn’t like to use this one because she feels that letting them pay it off is too easy.  A sense of work seems to do better to impart how much work it takes to make money.  I agree.

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If you haven’t already subscribed to the regular magazine, I highly suggest it. You can read about my review here or click here to request a free subscription.

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They have well over 1300 works by Bach, Beethoven, Chopin, Handel, Mozart, and many others.  These are not just for pianos.  They carriy pieces for a wide array of instraments from accordions to violins , cello to harp, clarinets to harpsichords, Guitars to recorders, and even voice.  I think I saw every conceivable instrument known to mankind.

You can look up pieces by composer, instrument, or style.  You are free to pint out, perform, share with others, or record.

This is a great find for any music lover ; homeschool or otherwise! you can access the site at  http://www.mutopiaproject.org/

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But that got me thinking about the Proverbs 31 woman who “is not afraid of the snow for her household: for all of her household are clothed in scarlet”.  Why does the Proverbs 31 woman not fear what is to come; because she is prepared.  There is a lot of talk lately about the on going war, food shortages, fuel shortages and such.  With all of our daily routine and trying to cut our weekly grocery bills we sometimes do not plan for what might to come.  I wanted to give and ask for some practical advice on storing up food.

Now do not think I am suggesting what so many did during the Y2K debacle.  I actually had a relative order 20 cases of MRE’s (each case had 10 MRE’s in them)  For those of you who do not know what these are; they are Military Ready to Eat meals.  They are sealed in a waterproof case with matches, snacks, toilet paper ( prior to the Gulf War they had a pack of cigarettes in them.)   They are terribly expensive (over $60 a case)  and not very tasty.  Of course, if you can get a good deal on military surplus and are starving, they come in very handy.  The upside is you can eat them straight out of the package without water or heating them.  However, the relative’s over $500 investment ended up in the landfill because they do not keep forever.   (We were able to scoop up a couple of the cases for us and friends)

Freeze dried foods, like the kind for hikers are generally great tasting and have an indefinite shelf life; however, you have to have clean water to make them and are terribly expensive.  If you come across a good deal, it never hurts to have a couple. 

Freezing food is great but if you ever loose power you are in a pickle.  Been there, done that.  I live in a house now where I have no room for one.

Canning is great...if you know how to do it and have the equipment. My sister-in-law and I are working on learning together.

A more practical solution for some of us may be the following. 

1)   Canned Food - every week I go shopping I pick up one or two extra cans of food. Now I have been getting vegetables and soups.  Now while I usually make my own soups, canned ones are good to have on hand because of their shelf life and I can not make something from scratch if there is nothing to buy at the store.  I will store the most recent purchase way in the back of the cabinet.  That way as I am nearing an expiration date, I can use the soup up.

2)       Box of dry milk.  This is great because it requires no refrigeration until made up..(I also use this a lot in baking.)

3)       Jars of peanut butter. These have a lot of protein; the military supplies this in the MRE’s I told you about.

4)       Rice  we do not eat this anyway so I do not bother with it.

5)       Flour  I usually have 4 bags of bread flour and 2 of all-purpose in my cabinet at all times. I only keep this 2 month supply because I have to go out of my way to a store that carries the bread flour.   The problem with storing flour is it can go rancid after a year if in a high heat and humid environment; do not keep more than a 6 month supply on hand.  I also keep at least 1-2 jars of yeast. 

6)       Bottled water. This is something we do not have to worry about because fortunately we are on a well and we have a portable generator for the business.  We also have a clear water spring near us.

All of these can be kept in a regular kitchen cabinet without special or expensive equipment.  By purchasing one or two items a shopping trip and replacing items as you use them, this will not create a huge financial drain.  A few items are a good idea.  Enough for 5 years may be a bit much.   You can prepare without going overboard and a smart woman or man will think of the future for their household.

 If anyone has any other practical advice PLEASE share it.

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The new converter boxes are out and range in price from $40 and up. However, our benevolent government has a phone number you can call to get a $40 coupon.  Now I will not spend $40 for the box but I might be willing to spend under $10.  Right now they are $49 at Wal-mart but I bet there is a cheaper place to find them. 

Three quick heads up:

1)       there are only a limited number of coupons so you need to request one now

2)       they will only allow two per household (I only have 1 TV anyway)

3)       they expire 90 days from mailing

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We usually take bottles of water with us.  The night before, I will fill them up half way and put them in the freezer without the cap on.  The next day, I fill it up and water and off we go.  This not only provides the water we drink but it will act as a cold pack without taking up much needed space and  will not add any more weight to your bag.  As the ice melts, the water will stay very cold.  I usually put them in an insulated lunch bag that came with my diaper bag for baby bottles and there will still be ice in them over 5 hours later.

Now if you will excuse me, we are on our way to the zoo and I need to get the bottles out of the freezer and full of water.

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 No one can do two jobs well. You can pretend and argue and fool your self and others, but you can not change the truth.  A woman can not do the job of motherhood well and have a career (notice please the difference between a needed job and a career). One will suffer.  You will not let it be the job because a boss could care less if a child is sick or needs extra help with homework.  The “job” of motherhood will always come in second place because there is no pay check or  accountability. ...in this life.

There is nothing wrong with wanting a career.  But do not punish children because you want it.  Do not have any. 

 

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Hello everyone!!!! If you are a fan of the Chronicles of Narnia, I have a great event for you this Sat. starting at 9 am.  I have told you in the past about the free Veggie-Tales Party that Family Christian Stores has to premiere a  new release.  You can read about that here.  We have won well in excess of $50 worth of DVD’s & music cds.  Well, this Sat. they are having a Prince Caspian Premiere party to celebrate the release of the new movie.  These parties are about an hour long in the mornings. They are a great time to get together with other fans, or maybe become one yourself. 

At the party:

• Get a sneak peak at the Prince Caspian movie trailer plus hear from the people who created the film
• Learn about the virtues of Faith, Hope, and Love featured in Prince Caspian
• Register to win prizes
• Geared for ALL ages (a plus for homeschoolers)

Get a group together, dress up and just go have fun.  You can access the info for the store in your area and RSVP at this link.  But I would also call your local store. I have found that when it comes to the Veggie tales parties the website on rare occasion will not have the correct times listed. 

Remember this is totally free!!!! All of you know where I will be this Saturday morn at 9 am with my cup of coffee. 

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Words cannot describe the horror I felt as I read this.  This child was only 5 years old!  I cannot imagine leaving a child this young alone.

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1. You spend the first two years of their life
teaching them to walk and talk. Then you spend
the next sixteen telling them to sit down and shut up

2. Grandchildren are God's reward
for not killing your own children.

3. Mothers of teens now know why
some animals eat their young.

4. Children seldom misquote you.
In fact, they usually repeat word for word
what you shouldn't have said

5. The main purpose of holding children's parties
is to remind yourself that there are children
more awful than your own

6. We childproofed our homes,
but they are still getting in

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Anyway, the link is here.  If you click the manic mode box at the bottom, they will pop as you move your mouse over them.  Have fun! 

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I created a table in Microsoft Word.  It has 3 columns in it. One for the website name, one for sign in name and then one for the password.  I also have it divided into categories.  One for bills & banking, one for shopping, one for homeschooling websites, one for forums, one for educational stuff like our library card numbers, one for whatever.

I created a shortcut on the desk top for it so I can reduce the window and bring it up when I am on the internet. I can look up a password or add one quickly.   I use to print this out but it got to the point where people were coming over so much and I had to take it down so I just didn’t bother anymore. 

 A word of warning from personal experience, BACK THIS INFO UP ON A FLASHDRIVE OR DISK.  Or at the very least keep it printed up in a safe place. 

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1)       First, reusable ones are not very sanitary in my opinion.  If you are carrying meat or vegetables in them they can get “polluted” and then get germs on the next thing carried in them like baby cereal.  Yeah, you can try to keep certain ones for only the meat but if the juice leaks out or some food is left in them to rot…..sorry does not sound healthy to me.

2)       Second, I do reuse the plastic bags so they do not go to waste.  I use those plastic bags for all sorts of things.  They are the perfect size for small garbage cans (hence, I do not have to spend money to buy bags), I use them for quick gloves, to line all sorts of things, you name it.  It is rare that I throw one away without being used unless it is the cheapo kind with holes in it.

So sorry to all the tree huggers, I have no intention of using those reusable bags unless someone can show me how to keep the cloth bags clean.  (and do not suggest I throw it in the washing machine because that creates more usage of water, energy and detergent that goes back into the environment not to mention I am taxed enough with the shopping itself and worrying about the kids having clean underwear to really worry about whether my shopping bags are clean so you are only trading in one pollution and aggravation in for another)

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Quick Avocado tips:

1)       a ripe avocado will be a bit soft when you press on the skin.  To ripen one, place on the counter for a day or two.

2)       To cut one is really simple. In the middle of the big portion is a large pit.  Slowly slice into an avocado as you would any fruit.  When the knife hits the pit, start cutting the avocado around the pit. The avocado will be sliced in half with the exception of the pit. Now, grip the halves in separate hands and turn in different directions.  They should pop apart with the pit being present in only one half.  You should be able to pop this by putting a knife in underneath and popping or digging it out. 

3)       Scooping out the inside is easiest with a melon baller, but a teaspoon will also work.  Hold the skin and scoop out the meat. 

Guacamole

2 ripe avocadoes, insides scooped out

juice of 1 lime

1 clove of crushed garlic

¼ t. cayenne pepper

1 T. of horseradish sauce(more or less depending upon taste)  (found in the mayonnaise aisle)

1 T. mayonnaise

dash of salt

Mix all together in a food processor.  The longer you process it the creamer it will become. I prefer chunky while the hubby likes creamy. 

He also likes to mix it will a bit of salsa.

Some people like to add chopped tomatoes.  No one in our family likes tomatoes so again, let your tastes be your guide.

Serve with tortia chips. 

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 I know I am not the only homeschooling mother that has had this problem.  You are out on an educational adventure ....aka grocery shopping or on a hike at the park and one of your little darlings gets a splinter or a cut or a bug bite.  I carry a first aid kit in my purse in one of those zippered pencil cases (a makeup case will also work).  Creating a kit like this will help it fit perfectly into whatever kind of purse or backpack you use.

I keep the following in it:

1)       splinter tweezers (I found these at the pharmacy and while they do cost a little more it is well worth it because they are sharper than normal ones and come in a case)

2)       A business card holder full of band aids of all sizes

3)       A small tube of Neosporin

4)       A tinny Tupperware thing(0.5 oz) with Vitamin E soft gels in it.  This is great for bug bites and scratches.  Just bite off the tip and squeeze the gel onto it. 

5)       Aspirin & in my case medicine for migraines. 

6)       Extra diabetes medicine for a family member

7)       Imodium -  eeewwww all you want but we all know how badly we need this.

8)       Cough drops and sore throat strips

9)       Travel sewing kit (don’t ask)

10)    Lip balm

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The recipes I am going to share both have advantages and disadvantages to them.  The first is a more traditional recipe.  It is cheap and pretty easy to make plus it creates that hard finish that we are use to.  The only real problem is that this will not keep long even in a refrigerator.  You need to only make what you need and pretty much throw away the extra...IF there is any left over. 

The second is a lot easier to make and will keep for several days covered in plastic wrap on the counter.  The disadvantages are it is not as cheap and it will not create that hard finish.  This one is best to add on details or if you have a project that will take several days or even weeks to accomplish.

This week we were doing an overview of Egypt and we made mummified cats.  Ok, an empty paper roll with a paper ball head covered in the traditional paper mache. (We would have made a mummified man but I was afraid that would freak out the relatives that are still having a problem understanding this “homeschooling thing” ) We then used the second recipe to paint on colored tissue paper. 

If you happen to have a recipe that you think is better, PLEASE share it in the comments section. 

Traditional Paper Mache

Combine 1/2 c. all-purpose flour with 2 cups cold water.

Add to 2 cups boiling water.

Bring to a boil again.

Remove from heat and add 3 Tablespoons sugar.

As it cools will thicken and be ready to use.

Modern Paper Mache

2 parts white elmer’s glue

1 part water

Mix

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They make butterfly feeders like this one here ( I actually own this). And while $8 isn’t too bad a price, I have a way to make one for free with stuff you already have on hand. 

First the feeder: You can either use fresh flowers in your garden or if you are trying to lure them onto a porch you can use a pot of flowers, Carnations seem to work best because they seem to hold the nectar the longest.

Second the nectar.  This is an easy recipe.  Once made you can sprinkle it onto the flowers with a water dropper every other day or when you see that the nectar has evaporated.  The extra can be kept covered in the refrigerator for up to two weeks.

Butterfly Nectar

3 level teaspoons of sugar

8 oz. water

drop or two of red food coloring  

stir until dissolved

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