Today we are studying the vibrant Celtic Warrior Queen Boadicea! We also started exploring the complexity of Celtic knots, which I find a fascinating form of design. I think they are especially beautiful when worked into knitting. The boys are experimenting with drawing some. We found a great web site that had helpful printable grids and directions for drawing Celtic knots. Check it out.
http://mysite.verizon.net/mihaloew/celtic/class_basic.shtml#sample
Monday, February 27, 2012
Wednesday, February 22, 2012
Garden Days Again
It is only February, and around here usually that means screaming wind and icy snow. But this winter has been rather mild, and we are predicted to have an early last frost; So when The sun was shining and the snow was melting yesterday, I looked out the window at my kids and decided to join them. I ended up where I always do, poking through my garden. First I scraped aside some mulch and peered down at the slumbering garden patch. Instead of frozen tundra, I saw brown, moist, gooey dirt. Much like a perfect pan of brownies. I could hold myself back no longer! I grabbed my shovel and started turning it over.
Before long, I had the spinach patch done. The boys soon joined in, collecting handfuls of worms and watching them work their way back into the ground. It was what I would call, a perfect afternoon. It may freeze up soon for another month or two, but we got our little garden fix and we're happy.
Wednesday, February 15, 2012
Valentine's Day Fun
I remember valentine's day being one of my favorite holidays as a kid. I always looked forward to sticky sweet pink cup cakes and the Valentine exchange at school. We make our own Valentine parties at our home school now days and we all really have a lot of fun with it. I do very little planning which usually consists of picking up small valentine themed items while I'm getting groceries and hiding them in a drawer for the big day. Then I pull them out one by one and slip them into little moments throughout the day. Here is what we did this year.
We started with pink heart pancakes for breakfast. A drop of almond extract really adds the finishing touch to make these pancakes extra special. It makes them taste just a little like sugar cookies. We used red food coloring to make them pink.
Later, I ran out to the play house and slipped a few cheapo valentine cards into the boy's little mail box. Kids love to get mail and my boys found a small mail box at the thrift store a while back and placed it right outside their play house. They love to go outside to play and check to see if there are some cookies or little notes in there. I frequently try to place things in there to surprise them.
At lunch time, We sucked on conversation hearts, and traded them with each other.
The boys had some of their own plans as well. I made sure I bought the supplies they needed on grocery day and let them loose in the kitchen this afternoon. They made a big chocolate chip heart cookie for their Dad and a special pink love potion for me. I incorperated it into our special valentine's dinner. I made meatball sandwiches with tomato sauce. Everyone likes that and it's red. We handed out our valentine cards to each other and ate the treats the boys had made. Instead of buying cards for the boys, I went with the mouse theme we've been working on for Etsy and sewed them small felt mice that fit inside red felt hearts.
After the kids were in bed I brought out the Wild Man mud Bath Salts and Muscle Rub form Wild Rose Herbs; one of my favorite Etsy shops.We made a relaxing spa night at home.
No diamond rings, or giant boxes of chocolate and yet a surprisingly satisfying Valentine's day. Although my husband does get credit for bringing me some lovely flowers.
Bible verse of the day: 1 Corinthians 13:4-7
Love is patient; love is kind; love is not envious or boastful or arrogant or rude. It does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful; it does not rejoice in wrongdoing but rejoices in the truth. It bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.
We started with pink heart pancakes for breakfast. A drop of almond extract really adds the finishing touch to make these pancakes extra special. It makes them taste just a little like sugar cookies. We used red food coloring to make them pink.
Later, I ran out to the play house and slipped a few cheapo valentine cards into the boy's little mail box. Kids love to get mail and my boys found a small mail box at the thrift store a while back and placed it right outside their play house. They love to go outside to play and check to see if there are some cookies or little notes in there. I frequently try to place things in there to surprise them.
At lunch time, We sucked on conversation hearts, and traded them with each other.
The boys had some of their own plans as well. I made sure I bought the supplies they needed on grocery day and let them loose in the kitchen this afternoon. They made a big chocolate chip heart cookie for their Dad and a special pink love potion for me. I incorperated it into our special valentine's dinner. I made meatball sandwiches with tomato sauce. Everyone likes that and it's red. We handed out our valentine cards to each other and ate the treats the boys had made. Instead of buying cards for the boys, I went with the mouse theme we've been working on for Etsy and sewed them small felt mice that fit inside red felt hearts.
After the kids were in bed I brought out the Wild Man mud Bath Salts and Muscle Rub form Wild Rose Herbs; one of my favorite Etsy shops.We made a relaxing spa night at home.
No diamond rings, or giant boxes of chocolate and yet a surprisingly satisfying Valentine's day. Although my husband does get credit for bringing me some lovely flowers.
Bible verse of the day: 1 Corinthians 13:4-7
Love is patient; love is kind; love is not envious or boastful or arrogant or rude. It does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful; it does not rejoice in wrongdoing but rejoices in the truth. It bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.
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