LESS IS MORE.

• “Earthly possessions dazzle our eyes and delude us into thinking that they can provide security and freedom from anxiety. Yet all the time they are the very source of anxiety.” Dietrich Bonhoeffer
• “The Word of God is like a lion. You don’t have to defend a lion. All you have to do is let the lion loose, and the lion will defend itself.”– Charles Spurgeon
• “Keep calm, and carry on.” ~Queen Elizabeth
• “Opportunity is missed by most people because it comes dressed in overalls and looks like work.” ~Thomas Edison
• “It is perhaps a more fortunate destiny to have a taste for collecting shells than to be born a millionaire.” ~Robert Louis Stevenson
• A gun in the hand beats a cop on the phone.
• The bitterness of poor quality remains long after the sweetness of low price is forgotten. – Benjamin Franklin
• I do not want people to be agreeable as it saves me the trouble of liking them. – Jane Austen

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Overwhelming?  Just a tad.

I had to sleep on it.

I came up with a S.T.E.L.L.A.R. plan.

Shop right here on my book shelves, choose several books to find unit studies for.

Lemme ‘splain it to ya, Lucy.  I’m talking about lessons for my littles who are 13, 11, and 8.  I need a combo of unit study/lapbook/notebook type stuff.

These are the books I chose off my very own shelves, and each is followed by resource links I think might be useful.

Mountain Born by Elizabeth Yates

• eThemes – Plenty of info, not much for smaller kids.
• Loyal Books Blog – A review of Mountain Born, but no links or lessons.  Interesting blog.
• A New Coat for Anna -A book about wool, from sheep to clothing.
• Pele’s New Suit – Another book about wool, from sheep to clothing.  Alas, this one is a bit too young for my crew.

The Sign of the Beaver – by Elizabeth George Speare

• Homeschool Share has an entire unit study on this book just waiting to be printed off.  It has a fairly loose feel to it.  It’s arranged by chapter instead of day-by-day.  Might just use it all.
• Squidoo has several beaver coloring pages.

By the Great Horn Spoon! – by Sid Fleischman

• This book has it’s own web site. Pretty thorough.  Quizzes, History, Miner info.  Neat stuff.
• My Learning Center has a goldmine (ahem) of info and lessons.  How ’bout some writing advice from Sid Fleischman himself?  It’s here.

The Cricket in Times Square

• Homeschool Share is on the ball again.  And again, it’s all laid out by chapter.  Lots of useful, fun stuff here.  Vocabulary Bingo! I can’t wait!  Seriously folks, click the bingo link.  You can do this, make it yourself or use this grid, and make a list from whatever you are reading to  your kids.  It’s that easy.
• This one is deep, lots of language arts pages here.  I was just wanting a page like this one to re-enforce my recent teaching of contractions.
• Lesson Pathways has a few neat resources linked here.

Sarah, Plain and Tall – by Patricia MacLachlan

• Homeschool Share – my new best friend.  :D
• Vocabulary, questions, activities.
• Easy Fun School has a mini-unit study.  Just right for this tiny book.

Some of these books don’t have much available to use with them online so I’ll be:

• making my own vocabulary lists and playing Vocabulary Bingo.
• creating my own “Unscramble the Words” pages.
• copying some of the artwork right out of the book to use as coloring pages for Rachel.
• using the illustrations in the books as inspiration for art lessons.
• flying by the seat of my pants, as it were.

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So we decided to try it at our house.  Started last Sunday night.  Set up this hovabator that John used to hatch all manner of reptiles way back when he owned a pet shop.

Since Kim had so much trouble keeping the humidity high enough we decided to reduce the interior size by filling it with planks of styrofoam.

I watched a video on YouTube about how to hatch chicken eggs and gleaned some set-up ideas.  On top of the styrofoam planks we put a tray half-filled with water, then put hardware cloth over that, and the eggs lay on the hardware cloth right above the water.  That set-up helps with the humidity and helps keep the eggs from rolling around.  I’d say we’re “killing two birds with one stone” but that just seems wrong.

I’m using the schedule function on my cell phone to remind us to turn the eggs at 6 a.m., 2 p.m. and 10 p.m.

NOW we’re chicken farmers.

The incubator is old and cruddy, but works fine.

35 assorted chicken eggs.

A couple of black t-shirts keep the daylight out.

We’ll candle the eggs tomorrow to see what’s what.

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• put the dogs in their crates
• put all the chicken feeders into the garage so they don’t get fouled by the rain
• rounded up supplies (water, granola bars, blankets, a chair for me) and put all that in the only window-less room of the house
• prayed
• made an effort to  look relaxed and cheery for the kids

The storm passed without incident.  We are all safe and sound.  The house is in one piece.

I’m so grateful for it all.  For the rain, for the safety, for the provisions, for level headed kids who can help.

This post is linked to DOWN-TO-EARTH.

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We’re down to canned goods and a few odd-ball items.  I should make a grocery list, huh?

I remembered seeing a recipe for homemade tomato soup in one of the Tightwad Gazette books.  Turns out it’s in the second one.  And I had most of the ingredients to make it.  No milk, but I still had almost a quart of half and half.  Turns out it’s very delicious made with the light cream.

I also tweaked the seasonings a bit.  Made a better tomato soup than I have ever had!  And who knew it could be so easy!  It even looks like Campb*ll’s!

The Tightwad Gazette II: Promoting Thrift as a Viable Alternative Lifestyle

‘Mater Soup

You’ll need:

• 1 (6 oz) can tomato paste
• 24 oz milk, ½ & ½, or heavy cream (use the tomato paste can and fill it 4x)
• 1 tsp salt
• ½ tsp celery salt
• ¼ tsp (or so) garlic powder

Just mix it all together in a medium sized sauce pan, and cook over medium heat just till it begins to bubble.   Maybe a bit sooner if you are using the heavy cream.

This makes enough for a lunch size serving for 4 or 5 kids.  We had this for lunch today, along with some crackers and canned chicken salad.

I gotta run!  Time to make that grocery list!

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I am shocked!  Shocked, I say, at the lack of response to this lovely weekly linky of mine!  I have to tell you, you don’t know what you’re missing out on if you aren’t teaching a child to cook!  Sally Mae and I have the best times in the kitchen!  Even after only three weeks we’re so much closer than before!  She thinks I hung the moon and wants to be just like me!

You want some of that  from your child?  Take them into the kitchen and help ‘em learn the ropes!  Make it fun.  Let ‘em taste stuff and make messes.  Choose easy, delicious (& forgiving) recipes and you can hardly miss!

Ask Becky! She knows what I’m talkin’ about!

This week I actually had a hard time figuring out what we would cook.  I have been too busy to go to the grocery on my regular day (or any other day), so we had to make do with what was on hand.  It’s a good thing that nuts and chocolate chips are standard pantry items here at the ranch!

Learning about the mixer.

Her first shot at crackin’ eggs.  The first one got all over her hands and the counter.  She did great on the second one!

Funny girl!

The boring part.

The boring part took a little doing.

The pay off!

I’m calling this week’s recipe -

Trail Mix Cookie Bars

You’ll need:

• 1 cup butter
• 1 cup sugar
• 2 eggs
• 1 tsp vanilla
• 1¼ cup flour (all purpose or unbleached)
• 1½ cups oats (we used old fashioned)
• 1 tsp baking soda
• 2 cups chocolate chips (or so, depending on how many “disappear” while being measured)
• ½ – 1 cup of chopped nuts (we used honey roasted mixed nuts and ran ‘em through the handy chopper)
• You could add some cinnamon or nutmeg or ginger if ya want.  We didn’t.

Preheat your oven to 375° and spray some oil into your 9×13.

Cream the butter and sugar.  Add the eggs, beat some more.  Add the vanilla, beat some more.

Add the remaining ingredients and stir by hand.  Keep it simple.  Mix it all in just one bowl.

Spread the dough into the 9×13.  Smooth it out all the way to the edges and corners.  Take your time.  It’s fairly forgiving, just don’t try to press hard or it’ll just stick to the spoon!

Bake at 375° for 25 minutes.  Let it cool a bit before cutting into bars.  We like to use our pizza cutter for this kind of job.

Now it’s your turn!

I’d love for you to participate in my linky!  Once you’ve written your post about teaching your child to cook include a link to this post and then come back here and sign up on the MckLinky.

If you like, you may put my banner in your post.

Although it’s not required, I’d sure be tickled to see my button in your sidebar when I visit your blog.

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And besides, my redneck heating pad is down-right frugal!  And I bet you have all the materials already on hand!

You’ll need:

• 1 bandanna
• 1 pony tail holder
• 2 cups of either wheat berries or rice (still dry and uncooked)

Lay out the bandanna, maybe drape it over a cereal bowl.

Pour the wheat berries or rice into the center of the bandanna.  Wrap the sides of the bandanna up to form the pony-tail around which you will wind the pony tail holder firmly, but about 2 inches away from the wheat.

That way the wheat can sit inside the bandanna in a relaxed and sorta floppy state, instead of being uptight and hard.

OK, that’s all there is to it.  Yer done with the construction phase.

For the application phase you need to pop that bad boy into the m’wave for about 1½ minutes.  Test the warmth of your redneck heating pad before giving it to a small child or placing it on your sensitive parts.

I hear a question forming in your mind, don’t I?  You’re wondering ~

“Hey!  Mother Hen, why do you need to make a Redneck Heating Pad today?  What in tarnation has befallen you, Mother Hen?”

Well, I’m glad you asked.  It’s my wrist.  Hurts like the dickens!  And if ya promise not to spread the heinously bad news around I’ll tell what I think is goin’ on.  When I sit at the computer  I rest my wrists on the top of my desk while I type (gasp!  I know, I’m terrified!)

I guess this desk is too high for proper typing posture.  I think I can see some furniture rearranging in the near future for some of my taller, stronger Cowboys.

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Do any of y’all have that problem too?

Grrr!  I have started to abhor Math on Mondays!

Especially with Slim.  I think he knows I’m a sucker for a cute Cowboy with a super smile.  The boy plays me with the math.  He really plays me on Mondays with the math.  That boy.  I am a sucker!

I think I told you about the feigning of a tummy ache to get out of the math.  That was on a Monday.

Well, folks, there have just been too many Mondays!

Cute smile be hanged!  That Cowboy needs to do his math.  Even on Mondays!

Today I wrote out his assignment and had one of those Alka-Seltzer moments just before handing him the page.

So I didn’t.

Not right away.

First I made some little note cards for the boy.  Four of ‘em.  One to be read after completing each row of problems.  I explained that the first note was boring and the notes got progressively more fun and note #4 was grand! But he was not to look at any note until the right time.  That’s when he started grinning!

After completing row #1 he read note #1.  Note #1 said, “Go use the bathroom, don’t forget to wash your hands!  Then get a drink in the kitchen.  Hurry!  You have 3 minutes!

See? kinda boring.  But his curiosity was piqued.  What would the other notes say?  Hmm?  Well, only one way to find out!  DO THE MATH!

{he he he}

Note #2 said, “Go stand in the middle of your bedroom and shout these words – I’M HALF WAY DONE WITH MY MATH!”

Yes, the grinning was rampant!

Note #3 said, “Go out front and hop up and down on the sidewalk 9 times.  Do not laugh.  Do smile!”

Ooops!  Cowboy got carried away, jumped 11 times!

Note #4 said, “Go to the refrigerator.  Open the door.  Find the chocolate chips.  Get 9 chocolate chips out of the bag (yes, he’s 9 years old).  Seal the bag carefully.  Close the door.  Eat the chocolate.  Wash your hands!  Kiss your Mom!  You’re done with MATH for the day and it didn’t hurt a bit!”

If grinning were a Rodeo event, Slim would be wearing a belt buckle bigger than his head!

Fastest, most pain-free Monday Math he and I have had in, um,  forever!

Linked to:

• Works for me Wednesday

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New plan needed.

And what with all the green, hairy STRESS from Rowdy gettin’ all hurt I really had a hard time processing the fact that I had some ham in the fridge and some potatoes in the pantry and I possess the ability to make a white sauce.

See what I mean?

Makes perfect sense on a normal day.  But Wednesday was not the typical day and I even consumed some sugar because it was in the chocolate bar I ate.  And everybody knows that when you have stress you need chocolate.

I really don’t know how to get around the sugar in the chocolate thing.  I’m not gonna eat artificially sweetened chocolate.  Even typing that phrase made me make a face.

Back to the point, or rather how ’bout I begin to form a point?

Ham and Potato Casserole for a Stressful Day Dinner

You’ll need:

• 2 cups diced ham
• 8 (or so) potatoes, peeled and sliced
• ½ bag frozen peas

and for the white sauce:

• 3 tablespoons butter
• 3 tablespoons flour
• 3 or 4 cups milk
• 1 teaspoon salt
• ½ teaspoon garlic powder
• 2 boullion cubes (I really don’t know how to spell that, is it right?)

Preheat the oven to 375°, spray the casserole dish with oil.  I used my dutch oven, which is just a covered roasting pan, but it’s round so I call it a dutch oven.  (Don’t know if that’s right either.)

In a 2 qt. saucepan melt the butter over medium heat.  Then add the flour and stir it into the butter.  Let that cook for about a minute and then add the milk, salt, garlic powder, and b. cubes. Stir it pretty good until the lumps are minimal and then stir it every couple of minutes so new lumps don’t form.

While the sauce is thickening put a layer of potatoes into the casserole dish, next add a layer of ham, and a layer of peas.  Do that again until you run out of stuff.  You could even add some diced onion at this point.  (I was gonna, but I set the onion behind my tea cup and forgot about it until I was cleaning up and the casserole was already in the oven.  Oops!)

Now stir that sauce one more time and pour it over all the potatoes and stuff, pop the lid on, and shove it into the oven for an hour or until the potatoes are tender.

This was delicious!  I might make it again tonight!

Trixie-the-Wonder-Dog was on high alert for incoming, airborn bits of ham fat.  For really fabulous treats that are even remotely meat related she goes all out and catches the bits in mid air.  Very gymnastic!  It’s quite impressive!  And no, she is not a chupacabra, she just gets a really bad case of red-eye in most photos and sometimes it looks wicked-cool so I didn’t edit.  You’re welcome!

Here’s your link back to Food on Fridays.

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Well, I did it.  I made some triangular math flash cards.  I thought about buying them, but, couldn’t make myself spend money on something I knew I could easily make with stuff I already had on hand.

But before I got out the poster board and scissors I looked at some pictures of ‘em to make sure I had the right idea.

I looked at Donna Young’s site and wished real hard that I had a working printer.  Then made a list of the facts that her cards showed.  Now if you have a working printer you might just wanna go on over there to Donna Young’s wonderful, free print-ables site and print off some of these do-dads.  But I don’t so I had to draw triangles on the backs of old posters and cut ‘em out and write my own numbers and +’s and -’s all on my own.  Not terribly challenging I admit, but I already taught math to several children today so I’m counting this as above and beyond!

Actually it was quite easy once Tex reminded me that what I wanted to make was called an equilateral triangle, and Hubs reminded me that each of those angles should have 60°s, then I was off and running.  They’re starting to get the hang of dealing with my “menopause brain” even if I’m not.  (Trust me, girls, “menopause brain” is even worse than “lactating brain”.  Sorry to be the one to break it to ya.  You may wanna warn your hubby.)

Anyway, I had to send Tex across the street to borrow a protractor, which, by the way, are like policemen, never around when you need one, but just roll through a stop sign one time…

This was so easy I should have done it years ago.  I’m tickled pink to have my cool, new set of homemade, triangular, addition/subtraction flashcards.  Nifty-thrifty, huh?

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