Homeschooling

No Time to Blog: Sledding 2012

December 28, 2012 By Thaleia 1 Comment

No Time to Blog: Sledding 2012

Well, we were busy sledding today so no long blog post. No super wonderful recipe or craft idea. No well wishes for 2013. No goals reveal. No new giveaway. YES, those all will be coming soon I promise. Some really great things are in the works, but for today just enjoy this collage of us sledding.

Lil’ Red rode the sled all by himself. I should have had someone ride down ahead of him to get a picture of his face. He enjoyed it even though he tipped over at the end. Eldest ran down the hill after him to be sure he was safe!

Lots of single sledding and double sledding. We dug out our old-fashioned wooden sled and realized we really need a 3rd sled so we can enjoy more sledding and less waiting! Maybe we will borrow another wooden sled from my parents when we go over there to visit our cousins from Texas!

{Spice Up Your Homeschool} PE: Pellet Guns

December 22, 2012 By Thaleia Leave a Comment

{Spice Up Your Homeschool} Series

Got the homeschool blues? Need to spice things up a bit?
Have you been homeschooling for awhile and want to try something new?
Maybe you are new to homeschooling and still trying to figure things out.
If you need a break from your “typical” day or routine then check out
{Spice Up Your Homeschool} for valuable tips and ideas!

{Spice Up Your Homeschool} PE: Pellet Guns

This post has been scheduled for over 2 months, just so you know. We also feel that proper gun safety and usage is a key component to raising responsible adults. Guns and weapons on are the cusp of controversy among many families not just the homeschool community. I realize this may be a sensitive issue, but please remember there are many people who use guns and arrows as a source for food.

I know adults who flinch at the site of any weapon even a water pistol nevertheless a pellet gun. My husband took point on this activity with regards to setting up a safe area to shoot in our backyard. We went over safety precautions, rules, and what equipment is REQUIRED to be worn each and EVERY time the pellet gun is in use.

Do not think pellet guns are just for boys. Princess enjoys shooting just as much as Eldest. Lil’ Red will have to wait until ODNR Skills Day next September to have a chance to shoot again. (This event was sponsored by trained and certified professionals in a controlled environment for learning and safety exploration.)

What are the benefits of owning or using a pellet gun?

Well, a huge list of great skills but here’s just a few of them. First and foremost SAFETY and responsibility. Teaching proper use of any tool or equipment foster a great sense of pride and allows the child to take responsibility for his/her actions. Second, hand/eye coordination which is important for writing and doing well in school and life.

Does your local Natural Resource office offer classes for hunter safety that your child might like? What about learning shooting skills for a 4-H project? Do you know of people who hunt for food? What great opportunities to talk with your children about proper gun care and use.

Check out all the posts in this series:

{Spice Up Your Homeschool} Science: Nature Journals

December 15, 2012 By Thaleia Leave a Comment

{Spice Up Your Homeschool} Series

{Spice Up Your Homeschool} Nature Journals

Add some pizzazz to your science with nature study journals. Grab some paper and colored pencils. Then head outside to see what you can find. You might be surprised what your child finds interesting enough to draw. Talk about what you hear and then what you see or smell.

Wanna be a little more adventurous? Then go on a nature scavenger hunt and check out Bits & Pieces links to a variety of Scavenger Hunt ideas.

Wanna be more creative? Create your own nature journals. Lots of tutorials for nature journals on pinterest. Use recycled materials and you are going green!

More Resources for Nature Journals:

Handbook of Nature Study– free download of 1911 version for pdf, epub, kindle
How to start a Nature Study– from Practical Pages
How to use Handbook of Nature study– from Charlotte Mason Help
One hour Nature Challenge
Notebooking Flickr Group
Handbook of Nature Study Newsletter
Collect leaves- press in large phone book and laminate with contact paper
Leaf or bark rubbing- use old crayons with paper removed
Bird Notebooking Pages from DIY homschoolers
TONS of Science forms
Nature Noteboking Pages on pinterest via Our Westward Journey
Bees/Butterflies/Wasp Notebooking Pages

Check out all the posts in this series:

{Spice Up Your Homeschool} PE: Try Tennis

{Spice Up Your Homeschool} History: Penny Collecting

{Spice Up Your Homeschool} Geography: State Quarters

Disclaimer: The links within this post may be affiliate links which would provide Something 2 Offer a small percentage of sales should you click on a link and make a purchase at no additional cost to you. Thank you for your support.

Like Mother, Like Daughter: Fashion Designer

December 14, 2012 By Thaleia 5 Comments

Like Mother, Like Daughter:

Fashion Designer

I decided a week or so ago that I need to create a series title that can be reoccurring and be about Princess and I. We are both a lot alike and she amazes me so much. She is as smart as a whip and very creative. I would love to take all the credit and say that I have spent countless hours teaching her all sorts of skills, but that just isn’t true.

Her dad often calls her, “Little Thaleia”. Which drives us both a little crazy, but it is so true! I came up with Like Mother, Like Daughter because it will leave plenty of options to talk about the things we both do and enjoy. So on to our first installment of Like Mother, Like Daughter: Fashion Designer!

The title does not do what happened justice! Princess has lots of clothes for her 18″ dolls store-bought and lots homemade, but she has a doll that didn’t have many clothes. She was determined to make clothes for this doll. Now mind you I told her I would help her but not this week because of blog work and finals for college coming up. So what does a determined, creative girl do? CREATE HER OWN PATTERN!

Yes, you read that right! My 8 yr. old daughter took her doll (one of the super baby twins from Dora) that she calls Amelia and laid it on a piece of paper. She roughly traced around it and THEN she got out a tape measure and took the doll’s measurements. She marked those down on the piece of paper. She showed me what she did and I knew she was determined to create a pattern for this doll TONIGHT!

I asked if she had a dress that fit the doll. She said yes, the plain dress that the Springfield Dolls come in. So I suggest to her to lay that dress on a piece of paper and trace around it for a pattern. She did this very quickly, but didn’t want to make a nightgown for her doll. She wanted to make a one-piece pajama outfit that had legs!

Oh, boy she was driving me crazy and WAS NOT going to give up on this. So I helped add the seam allowance to the pattern pieces and showed her how to created a pattern that would be placed on the fold. I had to drop everything that I was doing to wade through Eldest room to dig out the fabric box so Princess could pick out her fabric. I chose a few pieces that would be easy to sew. She picked the pink flannel that we had JUST ENOUGH OF!

I told her we would have to put it away for a few days until I got more schoolwork completed. She was sad but knew I had to get my assignments done. Well, a few days later she asked about sewing the outfit. I had brought out the sewing machine to make a quick keychain and so off we were to sew!

She insisted that she help as much as possible, but only enough to not mess it up! We fitted the outfit on Amelia a few times and realized we did not have enough fabric in the legs! So I told her not a problem and pieced a strip in the crotch so it would work out!

I must tell you I’m going to have to watch out for this girl. 80% of the pattern she created herself! Do you know that while we were creating this project (an outfit for a doll) and she found out I own a sewing machine built into a table that she requested it to be brought to our house instead of grandpa’s garage! Looks like we have a lot more cleaning and organizing than I thought we would be doing over college break!

Becca Grace Design Studio Etsy Shop

December 6, 2012 By Thaleia Leave a Comment

Becca Grace Design Studio Etsy Shop

Rebecca Anderson

My name is Rebecca Grace Anderson. I’m the owner and artist of BeccaGraceStudio. For as long as I can remember, I’ve had a passion for the arts and have tried many different mediums. The one that is my ultimate love, and of course the one I spend the most time working with is glass. I grew up in the Pacific Northwest, spent the last 15 years living in Alaska and recently I returned back to the Northwest. During my time in Alaska, a great friend and ship captain taught me how to make lampwork beads. (Thanks Jim!) That started my lampworking career! I have been making jewelry and accessories since 2000, and making my own lampwork beads since the fall of 2003. While in Alaska I only sold at local venues. I am now branching out to share the joys of my passion with many others through internet sales, and a few fairs. I hope you enjoy my work, as much as I enjoy making it! Thank you for taking the time to see the world through my eyes, if just for a minute!

I have worked in many mediums over the years including; lampworking, beadwork, jewelry, painting, fusing, metal work, wire work, electroforming, wood working, digital morphing, knitting, photography, soap making, clay work, interior design, sewing, mosaics, just to name a few. I have never met a medium I didn’t like! I see creative value in almost everything. I also have great people skills, from my many years of work in the service industry.

Art and expression is very important in my life. I would likely be considered eccentric by those who know me personally, and maybe even a bit quirky. I like travel because it inspires new creativity and insight into other cultures. I enjoy learning something new…as it helps me grow as an artist and a person. I see life as art in motion. I love to laugh, even laughing at myself sometimes. A smile costs nothing to share but has a priceless impact on those it is shared with. I am a bit of a free spirit. I love being by the ocean, the smell of salt air, and the change of the seasons. I find myself inspired by many different things, it could be a color combination, a print, a feeling, nature, history…pretty much anything might strike my fancy. My style often reflects that, but if I had to sum up my style in 2 words, I would say it is eclectic global. I love trying new things. I try to go into life with an open mind and an open heart, so my life can be full and diverse. I strive to send out positive thought, feeling, and intention into the world.

Facebook – Twitter – Etsy

Can you do me a favor and vote for my bead shop? I would really appreciate it!

Please be sure to join us December 10-17 during the Fashion Week Giveaway in order to win a prize from Becca Grace Studio along with over 25 more designers!

Homeschooling

No Time to Blog: Sledding 2012

{Spice Up Your Homeschool} Series

{Spice Up Your Homeschool} PE: Pellet Guns

What are the benefits of owning or using a pellet gun?

{Spice Up Your Homeschool} Series

{Spice Up Your Homeschool} Nature Journals

More Resources for Nature Journals:

Check out all the posts in this series:

Like Mother, Like Daughter:

Fashion Designer

Becca Grace Design Studio Etsy Shop

Rebecca Anderson

Facebook – Twitter – Etsy

Please be sure to join us December 10-17 during the Fashion Week Giveaway in order to win a prize from Becca Grace Studio along with over 25 more designers!

Footer