quote for the day

Go Forward With Courage

When you are in doubt, be still, and wait;
when doubt no longer exists for you, then go forward with courage.
So long as mists envelop you, be still;
be still until the sunlight pours through and dispels the mists
-- as it surely will.
Then act with courage.

Ponca Chief White Eagle (1800's to 1914)

books I bought at the Garage Sales

My Father's Dragon By Ruth Stiles Gannett (0.10)
The Good Little Bad Little Pig by Dan Yaccarino (0.25)
The Life of the Forest (0.25)
Old, New, Red, Blue level 1 step into Reading Book
The Magic School Bus and the butterfly Bunch
My Truck is Stuck by Kevin Lewis and Daaniel Kirk
Mummy: The Inside Story by John H. Taylor (0.50)
Aesop's Fables retold by Ann McGovern (0.10)
Pigs will be Pigs by Amy Axelrod
Reeces Pieces count by fives by Jerry Pallotta
The M&Ms counting book(hard cover)
More M&Ms math by Barbara B McGrath
Poetry for Young People Samuel Taylor Coleridge Edited by James Engell
Beauty and the Beast Ill by Jan Brett (0.25)
Weather  by Seymour Simon (0.10)
Big Cats by Seymour Simon (0.50)
Noah & The ark& The Animals by Andrew Clements (0.25)
The Tale of Peter Rabbit by Beatrix Potte r(Tiny Board book that will fit tin the tin I bought)
Snail by Jens Olsen
Let's Count It Out, Jesse Bear by Nancy White Carlstrom
Usborne Big Machines Diggers and Cranes
Two Tiny Mice by Alan Baker
This Year's Garden by Cynthia Rylant
Mailing May by Michael O. Tunnell (FIAR book we may have a copy but for 0.10 who could resist)
150 Great Science Experiments Editor Chris Oxlade (1.00)
Who is Coming to Our House by Joseph Slate
Baby Island by Carol Ryrie Brink (I read this in elementary school)
Wonders of Rivers by Rae Bains
Skeletons! Skeletons! by Katy Hall
The Little Red Caboose
Can't you Sleep, little Bear? by Martin Waddell
Little Bear's Visit by Else Minarik
A Kiss for Little Bear by Else Minarik
The Storm Book by Charlotte Zolotow
A House for Hermit Crab by Eric Carle
When I was Young in the Mountains by Cynthia Rylant (FIAR)
Going to Sleep on Farm by Wendy Cheyette Lewison

Super Garage Sale finds

So many good books at $0.10 to $1.00 each so many I can't count. Baby clothes for Alijah. and little toys to send him too.A shape matching set for 1 to 1 correspondence for Little-man was just $1.00.  Two tins one Peter Rabbit and One birds nests for storing  unit studies $0.25 each. One wooden box with four spaces divided out for sorting $0.25.One large beanie bear $1.00. Peg puzzles several in a bag $1.00. Old wooden heart shaped step stool $0.50. Electric blanket that plugs into the car $5.00. 1940's Charm bracelet $3.00. ( on ebay one of the charms sold for $26.00 today) Stainless steel restaurant cooking spoons and utensils $5.00 for a large handful. The kids had fun picking out their purchases and making change. (Don't tell them that is math and life skills Yes we did do homeschooling today after all They thought they got  a day off! ) We had lunch at McDonald's and they got to play with Peggy's girls as we all Garage "Sailed" together. (So much for socialization, the kids were all very well behaved).

Dandelion Jelly

Dandelion Jelly         makes about 5-8 oz. jars

4 c. dandelion flower petals, green bits removed
4 c. water

1. Place the dandelion flower petals in a pot and add the water, bring to a boil and reduce to a simmer. Simmer 10 minutes, then turn off heat and allow the pot to cool.
2. Use a jelly bag or coffee filter to strain the flowers out of the water, you need 3 c. of dandelion infusion, but may have some extra.

3c. dandelion infusion
1 T lemon juice
1 box Sure-Jell powdered pectin
4 1/2 c. sugar

3. Place dandelion infusion, lemon juice, and pectin powder in a large pot. Whisk together and bring this mixture to a rolling boil.
4. Add all of the sugar at once, stirring constantly, and return the mixture to a rolling boil. Boil 1 minute.
5. Remove the jelly from the heat, skim the foam from the top and ladle into sterilised hot jars. Cover, and process in a water bath for 10 minutes.

I loved picking flowers when I was young. I also loved Dandelion Wine by Ray Bradbury. So I had to save this recipe from The 3 Foragers.

Emergency preparedness

With spring storms always comes the thoughts about emergency preparedness. We are checking our stock and stocking up more as our family grows. Here is a good list to always have on hand.

Here are the items that should be in your kit, this list comes directly from FEMA.

• Three-day supply of non-perishable food.
• Three-day supply of water – one gallon of water per person, per day.
• Portable, battery-powered radio or television and extra batteries.
• Flashlight and extra batteries.
• First aid kit and manual.
• Sanitation and hygiene items (moist towelettes and toilet paper).
• Matches and waterproof container.
• Whistle.
• Extra clothing.
• Kitchen accessories and cooking utensils, including a can opener.
• Photocopies of credit and identification cards.
• Cash and coins.
• Special needs items, such as prescription medications, eye glasses, contact lens solutions, and hearing aid batteries.
• Items for infants, such as formula, diapers, bottles, and pacifiers.
• Other items to meet your unique family needs.

frugal grape juice

I got this recipe from lehman's catalog and it is like the one my mother made. I got grapes from the fruit market a dollar for a large bag. So I thought I would try it.
Grape Juice (Quarts)
Ingredients per quart jar:
1/3 c. sugar
1 1/3 c. grapes
boiling water
Wash the grapes well. Using a funnel and ladle, pour sugar and whole grapes into hot jars. Fill jars with boiling water to 1/2 in. head space, then cover with lids and rings. Pressure can jars for 10 min. at 5 lbs. Allow to cool overnight before testing the seals on the lids. If any didn’t seal, refrigerate immediately.
The pressure from the canner causes the juice to squeeze out of the grapes and fill the jar. Most of the grape skins will fall to the bottom of the jar eventually, although it’s okay if some still float, they are easily strained out. A layer of sugar may harden at the bottom of each of the jars, but this will dissolve over time.

I found the body of this post at miss information. I plan to try this for tippy-toe because we have to do something!

 5 Vitamins and Supplements That Combat ADHD

	1. Fish Oil Studies show that omega-3 essential fatty acids (EFAs) may stimulate brain and nerve function, improving ADHD symptoms such as focus and hyperactivity in some patients. Outside of sardines, tuna, and salmon, the best source of EFAs is a fish-oil supplement with roughly a 4:1 ratio of EFAs to omega-6 fatty acids (DHAs). > Recommended fish-oil supplements for ADD adults and ADHD children.
	2. Vitamins C and B6 Vitamin C is required by the brain to make neurotransmitters like dopamine, which increases alertness and attention. Likewise, a deficiency of Vitamin B6 can result in irritability and fatigue.
	3. Iron Iron, which also plays a key role in affecting the production of dopamine, is often found in significantly lower levels in children with ADHD than it is in the rest of population. Diet, not supplements, is the safest way to increase your child’s iron levels.
	4. Magnesium Magnesium is also used to make neurotransmitters involved in attention and concentration, and it has a calming effect on the brain.
	5. Zinc Zinc regulates the neurotransmitter dopamine, and it may make methylphenidate more effective by improving the brain’s reaction to dopamine.

Spring Break is over

Our little spring break is over. Back to the 3-ring binders that I put together for the kids.Tippy-toe can now count past 100 using the hundreds board. He still messes up sometimes when not looking at the board. We also introduced hundreds place value and then started counting to 1000. All three kids enjoy the wipe off pages and dry erase markers. The best part is by using page protecters and workbook pages they can all use the workbook page over and over again--no photocopying and wasted paper. Little man loves his book too and I am working on a little more structured "color" time with him.

Quote for the day

THE VILLAGE BLACKSMITH
by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow
   
UNDER a spreading chestnut-tree

The village smithy stands;

The smith, a mighty man is he,

With large and sinewy hands;

And the muscles of his brawny arms

Are strong as iron bands. 

His hair is crisp, and black, and long,

His face is like the tan;

His brow is wet with honest sweat,

He earns whate’er he can,

And looks the whole world in the face,

For he owes not any man. 

Week in, week out, from morn till night,

You can hear his bellows blow;

You can hear him swing his heavy sledge,

With measured beat and slow,

Like a sexton ringing the village bell,

When the evening sun is low. 

And children coming home from school

Look in at the open door;

They love to see the flaming forge,

And hear the bellows roar,

And catch the burning sparks that fly

Like chaff from a threshing-floor. 

He goes on Sunday to the church,

And sits among his boys;

He hears the parson pray and preach,

He hears his daughter’s voice,

Singing in the village choir,

And it makes his heart rejoice. 

It sounds to him like her mother’s voice,

Singing in Paradise!

He needs must think of her once more,

How in the grave she lies;

And with his hard, rough hand he wipes

A tear out of his eyes. 

Toiling,—rejoicing,—sorrowing,

Onward through life he goes;

Each morning sees some task begin,

Each evening sees it close;

Something attempted, something done,

Has earned a night’s repose. 

Thanks, thanks to thee, my worthy friend,

For the lesson thou hast taught!

Thus at the flaming forge of life

Our fortunes must be wrought;

Thus on its sounding anvil shaped

Each burning deed and thought.

 

 

 

My grandfather on both sides were blacksmiths. I remember being told to leave the forge alone in the barn as a child. It stood cold and abandoned in my uncle's barn and it fascinated me. I love to go to places of living history and watch the blacksmith work. I wish I would have seen one of my grandfathers work.

Quote for the day

"I am not a nag, I am a motivational speaker."

Quote for the day

A quote from Maria:

“The Child who has felt a strong love for his surroundings and for all living creatures, who has discovered joy and enthusiasm in work, gives us reason to hope...hope for peace in the future.”

Dr. Maria Montessori