Kit Kittredge

Here is Kit holding the next piece to our Kit Lapbook.  Don't worry if you think you may have lost any of the pieces.  We can always download them and reprint them.

I want to stop here and say a Thankyou to Homeschool Share and Lapbook Lessons for helping all of us who enjoy crafting good lapbooks!

Those two sites mentioned above freely share lapbook printables.

There are big changes in Kit's life.  We are going to jot some down on this piece to our lapbook, after we glue it and it is dried.

Also, there are sacrifices that many if not all families made during The Great Depression.  If you read the books then you know it was not much fun.  But having a cheerful attitude certainly could help!

This is a book written about our 50 states by Barbara Cheney.  We have really enjoyed studying the 50 states with a special friend!  Thank you Friend!

I am showing you a page out the book because we used it to look up Ohio.  Which is where Kit is from.

9:42 AM - Nov. 3, 2009 - comments {1} - post comment

Kit Kittredge Lapbook

Just who is Kit Kittredge?

9:35 AM - Nov. 3, 2009 - comments {0} - post comment

Homemade Granola Bars

Homemade Granola!  Yay!  I only wish I had known how to do this years ago!

Here are most of the ingredients that you will need.

2-3 cups of rolled oats(old fashioned)

1/2 cup pumpkin seeds

1/2 cup sunflower seeds (unsalted)

1/4 cup wheat germ

1/2 cup coconut

1 tsp salt

1 tsp vanilla extract

1/3 cup turbinado sugar or brown sugar

1/3 cup of honey

3 tbs butter ( I use salted butter)

raisins( optional)

chocolate chips ( optional)

Here is some items you will be using to make the granola. Go ahead and preheat your oven to 350 degrees.

large pan

medium pot

Put the oats, seeds, coconut, and wheat germ in your pan.  You are going to put this in the oven to roast a bit.  Stir occasionally for 10 minutes.

If I forgot to list some of these items, here they are!  (I am so easily sidetracked sometimes!)

Sugar

Honey

butter

vanilla extract

cinnamon

When your oat mixture is roasting for about 10 minutes, you need to start melting your butter and sugar and honey in the simmering pot for about 5 minutes.  Put in your salt and cinnamon when all else is melted.  Take it off the burner, and add the vanilla.  Don't be alarmed at the bubbling sizzle like I was! 

Take out the oat mixture from the oven.  Ooh it's roasty!

Pour it into a large bowl.  Now pour the hot melty sugar and butter mixture over the oats and etc.  And stir with a spoon until all is covered with your sugary glue!

Here is the point when you will want to add your raisins or other dried fruit, and or also chocolate chips.  About 1/2 cup for each should be good.

I have also roasted almonds and walnuts for my husband and I in a separate batch of granola.  I don't really like using nuts at all in my home because of the severe peanut allergy that some of my children have.  So I am very extra careful at keeping nuts put way up like a medicine!

After you have mixed all ingredients you can scrape it into a gently oiled 9 by 13 glass pan and press with an oiled spatula.  And hopefully you didn't turn off the oven because you need to bake this for another 10 to 15 minutes!

When it is almost completely cooled I cut the granola bars either with a knife or the spatula seen in the picture above.

Here is mine fresh out of the oven!  Oh the cinnamon makes it taste so good!  And for the same amount that I pay for 6 bars, I can now make 16-20 bars!  Wow!

Here they are all stacked and ready to consume.

I keep them in an air tight jar.  They have stayed crunchy.  My husband actually takes one or two of them and crushes them in a cereal bowl and pours milk on them and eats that for breakfast some days.

I hope you all enjoy trying to make this granola recipe.  I just put together 3 or 4 different recipes I found.  Some say leave out the butter, some say leave out the sugar, some say cook shorter, some say cook longer.  This is just what worked for me.  Ya'll be blessed today!

9:50 AM - Sep. 16, 2009 - comments {4} - post comment

Coffee Tales

I just had to write to you all today!  Something happened last night after Waccasassa Wednesday Night.

My husband and I stopped at the local grocery store on the way home.

While inside, he asked if we needed coffee.  Of course we do.  We are running low.  But when I went to get it off the shelf the price was $11.98!  Whoa!  Way too much!  So, I went back to the counter muttering something about how I wasn't willing to pay that much, and that it is like cutting my finger off...and paying for it.  But as I got to where the cashier and husband were I realized that I was complaining and whining.  So, I straightened up and smiled, then I said, "The Lord will provide coffee for me for Free!"  That's a pretty bold statement coming from me!  I better watch out!  We checked out and headed out to the car where the kiddos were.  There was a man outside the store that we have been praying for off and on for about a year.  He asked if my husband would pray for him.  While hubby was praying over Mr. Lennon, a lady knocked on my window.  She said "I overheard you say that about the coffee, I have loads of coffee!  My church was donated Peet's Coffee to give out and reach out to the community."  Wow!  She asked if we would follow her to her home a block away.  I told her to ask my husband when he was done praying with Mr. Lennon.  She said I will be right back, I have left the cashier with all my groceries.  When she came back she asked my husband and he said Yes!

As we followed her to her home, I told Rob I just can't believe we are following someone we don't know to their house to get free coffee!  Seems extreme doesn't it?  We were able to meet her and her husband and 1 year old son.  They attend a church in the town near our church.  Very sweet!  She also said that her church has been praying for revival in Waccasasssa.  What a blessing!  A church we didn't know was praying for our mission work in the neighborhood.

Amazing!  The Lord really did provide coffee for free!

I just had to post it!  Now Eva, I know what your thinking!  As we were leaving, Rob said, "I can't wait to see you enjoy and be thankful for Peet's Coffee, and not Folgers." 

 Hey the Lord knows.  And I am thankful.(smile)

It is so funny and wonderful.  Little blessings.  Little testimonies.  A little love from a christian sister whom I have never met.  God is good!  Thank you Lord!

What a blessing!

Oh I also took some pictures of my living room.

Not a big deal.  Just rearrangement for the Fall Season.

Here is the Living Room.

Here is the Parlor.  The front door is on the left.

I took these pictures for my friend Eva.  I love you sister!

8:38 AM - Sep. 10, 2009 - comments {1} - post comment

Start Of A New School Year

How exciting it was to start the new school year!  We decided to make mini offices.

 With 4 of my oldest children at the table doing homeschool, it can get loud and distracting.  So this year I found a neat homeschool idea.  Mini Offices!

The children really enjoyed creating them.

I also hope these mini offices are going to help some of the children to remember certain facts.

Some can't keep a straight face!

I need better lighting in our school/dining room.

The 13 year old looks real enthused.  He got over it.  Instead of using file folders, I opted to buy the large cardboard science project 3-way from walmart.  We bought 3 large and 1 small.  I measured them and cut them all in half.  Then I down loaded as many mini office items for free that I could.  Lapbook Lessons had most the the free links if anyone is interested.  It worked out great.

It works really well!  The quitest homeschooling morning ever!

This is where I homeschool our twin girls.  The picnic basket holds their books.  So, Eva, can you guess where this table is?  Yep, the kitchen.  Between the beautiful bench you blessed me with and the middle counter!  This works out so well!

These two cabinets hold their other homeschool needs.

They made mini offices too!  I just forgot to take a picture of them.  Maybe next time.

Our first week back to school was great.  Keeping up with everything is going fairly well.  I am praying for wisdom and understanding in the planning phases that come and go.  I want to be a mom who is prepared.

On a side note.  I made homemade granola bars last night.  So easy!  We paid almost $4 for Kashi a couple of weeks ago.  6 Bars!

Last night, I made 15 bars for a little less that $3.

Can you tell I'm excited about this?

Praise the Lord for He is Good! 

5:03 PM - Aug. 29, 2009 - comments {5} - post comment

Baptisms

I was not able to attend, but someone from our little mission church took some pics and e-mailed them to me.

This is a picture of basically everyone that attends our Mission Church.

Several  people were baptized this past Sunday.

10 to be exact.  Praise the Lord for what He is doing in Waccasassa!

This is my oldest son.  Here he is sharing his testimony of how God saved him from being counted with the transgressors.  That is part of the scripture the Lord showed him that day.  I love that he has a scripture that brought him to the Lord, and he is not afraid to share what happened that day.

Here is my youngest son.  He becomes very serious when it comes to the Lord.  But mostly he is my "Tigger", running, jumping, and being silly.  I am just so thankful that the Lord has blessed him with soberness of mind when it comes the Lord.  Praise Jesus!  Holy Son of God!

I am blessed.  I don't deserve it.  I'm just thankful.

The Lord Bless You All!

9:09 AM - Aug. 25, 2009 - comments {1} - post comment

Today's Treasures

Don't envy evil people,

Don't try to be friends with them.

In their minds they plan cruel things.

And they always talk about making trouble.

It takes wisdom to have a good family.

It takes understanding to make it strong.

It takes knowledge to fill a home

with rare and beautiful treasures.  The International Children's Bible  Proverbs 24:1-4

I came to this scripture today with my little twin girls as we did our Bible reading.  It really blessed me.  The rare and beautiful treasures in our home are the children's hearts turned to Jesus!

Yesterday My oldest son and my youngest son were baptized into the family of God!

Sadly I was not able to attend due to sever dizziness and nausea.  But I am still blessed by knowing my absence did not keep them from following in the footsteps of the Lord Jesus!

I am blessed beyond measure!  Still praying for contenment in my home.  Still trying to serve the Lord with gladness.  It may sound like an easy feat to some, but some days are so heavy and weary.

These four verses today have been a blessing. 

1:53 PM - Aug. 24, 2009 - comments {0} - post comment

Back To School

The fruit of our summer has been busy and now that school has begun maybe we can catch our breath.

I am using Rod & Staff Math and English for our little big family.

Also the twin girls are using Rod & Staff Phinics and Math.

My 13 year old will Be using Rod & Staff Math, and S. O. S.

My husband is back to work for the Public School System and I am back to work. ( Homeschooling)

I tried to read Charlotte Mason's Home Education volume 1 over the summer.  Boy, is that hard.  I want to implement so many things.  I think I will start with baby steps. 

First baby step will be 15 minutes a day outside.

Baby step number 2 will be sketch something.  Anything.  A blade of grass, a butterfly, a beetle.

Now keep in mind, I will be learning right alongside of the children.  They all already draw.  I uesed to.  So, here is an oppurtunity for me to use my artist ability for my children. 

And you know what I have noticed?  There doesn't seem to be any nature journals made by christians.

If you know of one please let me know, I would be so happy to go right out and get it! 

God's Creation is so enormously beautiful, how could there not be any christian nature journals?!

I just love the newness of every season!

These are two little baby birds that were found over the summer with no mama.  It is very hard to try to help motherless chicks.  They need their mama! 

We did everything we could to help them, and things looked good!  They were eating, drinking, and cheeping. 

 But they died.  They needed their mama!

Let us fight the good fight!  Let us guide, direct, and nurture our baby chicks.    They need us mamas!

May the Lord Bless and Keep you all this new school year.

8:53 AM - Aug. 21, 2009 - comments {3} - post comment

Homeschoolin'

Oh how I wish I were schoolin' right now.  I really miss it.  I want to schedule and read and plan.  That is part of the fun.  Ordering new materials, curriculum, and art supplies!  I have 3 to 4 more weeks before we can really start.  Camp starts this Sunday.  We are all looking forward to it!

9:06 AM - Jul. 15, 2009 - comments {1} - post comment

Funny Thing

Funny thing...Life.

I did not reach my weight loss goal for the end of June.  I have a lot of good reasons.

1.  Umbilical hernia

2.  Gall bladder

3.  I love food!

4.  Vacation

Is any one hearing me on this?

So, here comes another summer of weight-loss wishing.

I think I will live, though.

Hopefully I will do better this time.  I think I need to pray more. 

Our Evaluations are on Thursday.  If you are reading this, please pray for us.  We want it to go smoothly.  This year was the first time I tried homeschooling all six.  And that is a feat!

Well, I will be going for now.  God Bless!

11:03 AM - Jul. 8, 2009 - comments {2} - post comment

Back to Basics

I love the basics!  Just give me a cast iron skillet or dutch oven and some yummy foods to slap in them and we are on our way!

Don't mind the mess.  I am a very messy cook.  Maybe that is why I don't like to clean the kitchen after supper.  Hmmmm.

I love making bread too!  And yummy spinach/artichoke dip to go with.

I am currently trying to figure out how to incorporate these things into my homeschooling.

Can you smell it?  Yum!  My father in law bought me something very important just before Christmas.  It is to help me be a better homemaker and bread maker!  I just can't believe it sometimes when I look into my kitchen and see Ms. Rose in the baking nook!

Isn't she lovely?  We named her Ms. Rose after my adopted mom Ms. Rose.  We all love the real Ms. Rose.  And she is a fantastic cook, loving christian woman.  We know the Lord may be calling her to move soon to a beautiful place in Virginia.  So, it just seems to fit, to name this cinnamon red appliance after her.  I know it may sound corny to those reading this and silly too!  We just love Ms. Rose!

I have been grinding my own wheat to make bread with.  It is very satisfying and healthy.

But the cakes that I now make...not so healthy!

So much fun!

Well, I am going to go for now.  There are a few more things in my Etsy shop.  Check out the icon on the right side of my blog.  Ya'll have a nice day.

9:12 AM - Feb. 5, 2009 - comments {2} - post comment

Schooling and Tooling

We are trying so hard to get back on our "schedule" of schooling.  Boy, is it tough after all these vacation days, weddings, and sicknesses!

I am praying so hard for the Lord to give me wisdom and grace to teach these children.

We are working on Colonial Times in Konos book 2 and I am also using Colonial Life by Time Travelers (HomeschoolintheWoods).  I love how in depth this sweet lady is in teaching hands on crafts of the first colonies.

My oldest son, is also doing SOS science on the computer. 

I pray all is well with you all in Homeschooling!  It is a tough and rewarding job!  May the Lord be pleased with the training of our children.

8:02 AM - Jan. 28, 2009 - comments {0} - post comment

Care Rooms Away!

Today is Home Blessing Hour!  We are doing 10 minutes of work...

Not an hour you say?

Well, with 5 of us, one on vacuum, one on dusting, one on trash, one on clutter pick up, and one on sweeping all hard floors, it gets done  in 10 minutes!  I kid you not!

But of course, we have to do it again before Daddy comes home.

Here is my Grandma's Chiffarobe.  I use it for school cabinet.

This is a little reading nook for the girls.  It can get pretty messy sometimes.

I hope everyone is having a blessed day in the Lord Jesus!

1:29 PM - Nov. 17, 2008 - comments {1} - post comment

Sew, sew, sew...

I am also showing these pictures for Vintage Girl's Homemade Christmas on Thursdays.  If you haven't had a chance check her out on my friends list on the right.  There are some really sweet homemade Christmas items shared by her and her family and her friends.

Well, I want to share a few more pics of the "sewing room". 

I have turned my parlor into a sewing room!

My husband is sew(so) sweet, he keeps walking through the room and saying "It's her sewing time of year!"  It was his idea to use the parlor.  I was going to use a little corner in the school room, but his idea is better and has a lot more elbow room for Hannah and I.

Here is my latest project.  I have made a sewing pad/pocket organizer.  This is hopefully, going to be a pattern for some Christmas gifts for my other sewing friends.  The pockets hold a rotary cutter on the left, middle pocket is for my instruction booklet and current pattern I am working on, and the far right pocket is for my scissors.

This is the ironing pad.  I want to use it for small projects like the little bags and stockings that I make. 

I have saved this fabric for about 9-10 years.  I wanted to be sure to use it for something special.  And now I finally found just the right project for it.  I have just enough of it to use to make my sweet daughter one!

I wish my camera would cooperate with me!  It is blurry, but can you see all the fabric folded?  This is part of my parlor(sort of),  It is actually the pass through bar to my kitchen.  All this fabric was given to me by a sweet christian sister who lives 4 or 5 hours away.  She said she felt led of the Lord to give it and that she just knew that women were going to be over here and having fellowship in the Lord and learning how to sew.  And right after that another lady says she wants to give 3 sewing machines with cabinets!  Does the Lord want me to teach some ladies and girls to sew?  Whoa!  Just to let all of you who are reading this know, I am but a novice when it comes to sewing!  But to use my gifts for the Lord is such a wonderful thing!  I am His servant!

This is a 1774 dress that I am finishing for a friend.  It was suppose to be a birthday present, but now it is almost Christmas.  I love ya Carlie!

Sorry about how blurry the camera is!  Maybe I will take better pictures later.  Bye for now.

10:09 AM - Nov. 13, 2008 - comments {4} - post comment

Chore Charts and Care Rooms

I am going to show a few more pics...

And share a story...

I am not sure if you can really see the little family members, but there they are on the left.

I have been a very overwhelmed mommy for a long while.  Last year sometime I found a site called Flylady.net.    Anyway, I don't like to admit it but...

When I was young and married and only had two children, I actually called my mom and asked her to come over to sit on my couch and tell me what to do!  I would start my day off with, standing in the middle of my living room and not know where to start.  Really.  And that is why I called her.

Well, that didn't last long.  Then I was to have a set of twin boys.  Now what was I to do?  Four children!  I was completely overwhelmed and my husband sold our home and we had to move in with my parents and then in with his all before the boys were 6 months old! Yikes!  It was crazy!  I couldn't see which end was up much less keep anything clean or organized!  When the boys turned four, I was pregnant with our last set of twins.  Now what?  I can only say that contentment is such a gift from the Lord!  Because that is what got me through...Now the girls are 5 and about a year and a half ago, I sat down in a creative mood and ended up with the chore chart pictured above.  I assigned everyone a "care room" except Daddy.  He helps out where ever.  But the children and I have a care room a week.  I change theirs every Monday.  The care rooms are:  The Living Room, the School Room, the Circle Table Room(parlor), the Guest Bathroom/Wash Room, and the Kitchen.

I get the Kitchen every week and am currently teaching the children how to clean it.

Every morning after the morning routing(wash,comb, brush teeth, eat breakfast) I tell the children to do their care rooms.  It usually only takes 5 minutes to go look and straighten pillows, throw trash away, put away stray  toys, sweep, or vacuum, depending on what room is given.  And then every afternoon before Daddy comes home they do the care rooms again.

Now, you may have noticed the Shared Chores on the top right of the picture.  That has to do with after dinner chores.  It is called Shared Chores because they "share" in doing them.  They do complain about it from time to time.  But Daddy is on the lookout for that.  While they put away leftovers, clear the plates, cups, forks, and glasses, and also load the dishwasher, Daddy and I have our little date time in the corner of our living room.   

Here is our dining room/school room!  We make this mess twice a day.

Above is my white board to help me stay on track.

See, the mess on my bookshelf!  Well, we were in the middle of school.  And that is what happens.

Ah, much better!

I hope this was somewhat helpful.  I wish I could go back about 10 years and tell me to take a deep breath and exhale, and then one room at a time, little at a time.  And to enjoy the family God was giving me.  I am so glad now for all He has done through His son Jesus Christ in mine and my family's lives!  All I can do is Thank Him!

2:16 PM - Nov. 12, 2008 - comments {2} - post comment

IT IS MY SEWING TIME OF YEAR

It is my sewing time of year!  Sew, so, I am currently working with my oldest daughter on some items to maybe even sell.  We are thinking with my sister in law and her daughter, to have a booth at the local parade near where we live.

I would like to share some pictures with you.

Here is how it looked after I turned my parlor into a sewing room...  I have spruced it up a bit since then.

Hannah and I are learning to sew together.  And that can be a lot of fun when her sewing machine runs like a trooper!  It runs and stomps!  Chunk, chunk, plop, plop, ch-chunk.  It makes us laugh.

Here is something I have been working on...  it is a sewing pad with pockets and a mini ironing surface.

I hope I can get a mini iron for the little details that need to be ironed out.

And here are some Christmas stockings that I made in previous years.  I especially like the nativity one.

I will be posting more pics as I work along.  And Hannah will too!  Have a blessed day.

10:46 AM - Nov. 12, 2008 - comments {1} - post comment

35 and Loving It!

Well, I am 35 and loving it!  I guess I am anyway?  We went skating and to Pizza Hut for mine and my oldest daughter's birthdays.

I love BBQ Pizza!  I wish I had a slice right now!

Well,  Skating is not like it used to be.  I did not know you were suppose to step down to the rink floor.  I didn't even notice the step down, I think my eyes were playing tricks on me!  I fell flat on my chest to the rink floor!  OUCH!  I took about 45 minutes to regain my composure.  My husband was so worried.  He wanted to take me to the ER.  YIKES!  I certainly did not want to go there!

All in all it was a good celebration.  After the skating rink we went to Wendys for a frosty and french fries.  I had to get all the fun in I could ya know!

Changing thoughts here:  Today is the first day of my official "diet".  I need to be more healthy minded now that I am 35.  By the by, I love Leslie Sansone workouts!  30 minutes of walking fun!

Here is a picture of our family on Birthday Celebration day:

It is a little blurry.  But will have to do for now.

The Birthday Girls.

Well, that is all for now.  Be blessed!

10:55 AM - Oct. 13, 2008 - comments {4} - post comment

Back to Basics

My husband and I have decided to change our children's math and spelling curriculum.  We are very excited and happy that it will be a good change in our homeschool.

We are going to be using Rod & Staff math and spelling.  I love how they have used the Bible in many of the lessons.  I love the word problems in the math books!

I can not hardly wait until those books arrive!

Our youngest will begin the program at the beginning of next year or so.

We are still using Konos for our unit studies and are very pleased with it still.

We use Daily Grams for extra grammar help and are continuing with Simply Grammar a Charlotte Mason book.  I like this a lot!

I will be starting Nature Journals with the children soon and hope to post those pictures to share with you!

This is a picture from our trip to St. Joseph's Island last spring.  I would have loved nature journaling then, but did not think about taking our journals along with. 

Well I hope to get back with more homeschool updates soon!

Much love in Christ Jesus!

4:37 PM - Oct. 6, 2008 - comments {0} - post comment

1:35 PM - Sep. 29, 2008 - comments {0} - post comment

Thankful Givings

Last night my husband and I went to see the movie Fireproof.  Someone called Saturday evening to say that a church near us bought out the tickets and was inviting our next door neighbor church to go.  Oh what a blessing!  She also offered to watch our six children so that we could go.  I am so thankful to her and to the Lord and to my husband that we were able to go! 

Here where we live it is lovebug season again, and my dh and I both feel that lovebugs are a testimony to marriage!  "Till death do they part".

And this movie was a great testimony to marriage.  I just love it!  I love how it shows salvation and perserverence!  If you haven't been able to go, you need to.  It is a "Thankful Giving" from the church that made the movie and the Lord for giving them the vision for it!  Bless them Lord!  Thank you for blessing us Lord!  BLess all those who are struggling in marriages, open eyes, ears, and hearts.  Thank you in Jesus' Name.  Amen

1:20 PM - Sep. 29, 2008 - comments {0} - post comment