Wednesday, March 6, 2013
Sunday, March 3, 2013
Renaissance Faires 2009-2012
Every year we attend at least one Renaissance festival. It started when my husband took me to one that he and his friends had attended before. The first year I bought an outfit. That faire closed but a few years later a friend of mine was interested in going to one so we searched around and found a handful within a 2 hour drive. I had one nice outfit but I wanted to make my own....so began the sewing adventures!!!!
We decided to make our own outfits to wear. Hubby's was simple as it was a jerkin that his mom helped me make along with a shirt, pants, boot and belt that we bought. For my daughter I drafted a pattern from her own clothes and made her a open front kirtle (not that I knew what it was called at that time!) For myself I made a "vest bodice" and a quick skirt to wear on top of a beautiful chemise that I already owned.
Here are posts about some of the sewing I did in the past:
(I will be updating soon about this years outfit soon!)
I have made a few other outfits over these few years. Some I have loved and other... not so much!
2009
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| Family picture |
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| Bella petting a dog |
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| Family and Friend who attends the faires with us |
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| Hubby and me pushing the stroller |
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| Bella in her kirtle |
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| Bella and me playing |
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| Bella nd Me |
2010
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| Family including my friend who attends the faires with us | . |
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| Family taking in the sites - I made Bella's dress! |
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| I love this pic! Even if I did not make the dress! |
2011
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| Family Picture |
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| Cloak and butterfly corset - one of my favorites |
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| Bella the pirate princess |
2012
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| My least favorite for me but my most favorite for Bella |
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| Bella talking to a knight |
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| Family with Bear complaining |
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| Bear and me... LOVE this one! |
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| Bella and me watching the knights! |
Wednesday, February 27, 2013
Tuesday, February 26, 2013
Math: Life of Fred
Life of Fred (LOF) is a math program for elementary through college level mathematics. Bella started working in it a few weeks ago and I am more and more amazed with every lesson that we read together.
Let me start by saying that even if you don't homeschool you should get these books for you kids or even grandkids! They are fun and easy use.
LOF is written in the form of a novel or a very simple picture book. Each lesson starts with a story about Fred, a 5 year old professor of mathematics at KITTENS University. Through Fred's adventures mathematical concepts are presented. The books are non-consumable so you can use them with mulitple children or even use them again for review (as the other suggests.)
Let me show you what a lesson is like. In the first lesson of Apples Fred wakes up early and there is a picture of a clock. Fred talks about time and addition of numbers. More advance math topics are also introduced such as 4y+3y=7y (by starting with 4 trees plus 3 trees is 7 trees!) At the end of each lesson is a section called "Your turn to play" aka exercises. There are only a few problems mostly ranging from 3-5 problems. On the next page are the answers as well as more information. In the following lessons other subjects and topics are discussed too: science, number theory, days of the week, months of the year, weather, morals, organization, friendship, and more!
There are10 books are the Elementary series, 3 books in the Intermidiate series, 5 books in the Pre-Algebra series, 4 books in the High School series (as well as answer keys and extra practice books), and 3 books in the College and University series (answer keys additional.)
The only thing that might be a problem with this series is the lack of drill for students that need it. The author states that practicing of facts can be done through games and flashcards. Some students need more practice then that but you can find simple books even at the dollar store to cover drill.
At first I was worried that Bella would not understand the material or be bored or that everything would go right over her head. I am amazed every day how much she retains from the story we last read even if it had been a week since we did a lesson! It is almost always the lesson she wants to do first when we start school!
Links:
*I was not paid for this review nor did I recieve my book as a gift. I purchased the books for Bella's math curriculum and had to share how much we love them!
Let me start by saying that even if you don't homeschool you should get these books for you kids or even grandkids! They are fun and easy use.
LOF is written in the form of a novel or a very simple picture book. Each lesson starts with a story about Fred, a 5 year old professor of mathematics at KITTENS University. Through Fred's adventures mathematical concepts are presented. The books are non-consumable so you can use them with mulitple children or even use them again for review (as the other suggests.)
Let me show you what a lesson is like. In the first lesson of Apples Fred wakes up early and there is a picture of a clock. Fred talks about time and addition of numbers. More advance math topics are also introduced such as 4y+3y=7y (by starting with 4 trees plus 3 trees is 7 trees!) At the end of each lesson is a section called "Your turn to play" aka exercises. There are only a few problems mostly ranging from 3-5 problems. On the next page are the answers as well as more information. In the following lessons other subjects and topics are discussed too: science, number theory, days of the week, months of the year, weather, morals, organization, friendship, and more!
There are10 books are the Elementary series, 3 books in the Intermidiate series, 5 books in the Pre-Algebra series, 4 books in the High School series (as well as answer keys and extra practice books), and 3 books in the College and University series (answer keys additional.)
The only thing that might be a problem with this series is the lack of drill for students that need it. The author states that practicing of facts can be done through games and flashcards. Some students need more practice then that but you can find simple books even at the dollar store to cover drill.
At first I was worried that Bella would not understand the material or be bored or that everything would go right over her head. I am amazed every day how much she retains from the story we last read even if it had been a week since we did a lesson! It is almost always the lesson she wants to do first when we start school!
Links:
*I was not paid for this review nor did I recieve my book as a gift. I purchased the books for Bella's math curriculum and had to share how much we love them!
Sunday, February 24, 2013
Chicken Divan
Gram's Chicken Divan - slightly altered
My Gram made her Chicken Divan for a banquet the other day and it was so good that I asked her for the recipe! It turned out that she had already given it to me at Christmas time in a recipe box that she gave everyone! I had to alter it a little as Bear can't eat soy. Here it is!
Ingredients:
To make this dish soy free we used white sauce, canola based mayonnaise, and matzo bread crumbs.
Bear really liked it! He kept saying I like broccoli!!!! Bella only had a bite but she was not hungry.
My Gram made her Chicken Divan for a banquet the other day and it was so good that I asked her for the recipe! It turned out that she had already given it to me at Christmas time in a recipe box that she gave everyone! I had to alter it a little as Bear can't eat soy. Here it is!
Ingredients:
- White sauce or 2 10.5 oz cans of cream of chicken
- 2 cups of cooked chicken or turkey
- 20 oz of cooked broccoli
- 1 cup of American cheese
- 3/4 cup of mayonnaise or salad dressing
- 1 teaspoon lemon juice
- Salt (to taste esp. if using white sauce)
- 1 tablespoon of melted butter
- 1 cup bread crumbs
To make this dish soy free we used white sauce, canola based mayonnaise, and matzo bread crumbs.
Bear really liked it! He kept saying I like broccoli!!!! Bella only had a bite but she was not hungry.
Saturday, February 23, 2013
Science: Clouds
This week in science we studied clouds. We read from Bella's science book, World God Created, about clouds. We also had two library books that were about clouds. They were a little long and wordy but she enjoyed them.
We made a craft of clouds with cotton balls. Bella and I made different clouds by pulling the cotton balls apart and glued them on. Then I wrote the names of each cloud and she traced them.
I went searching for a science experiment having to do with clouds. Here is what I found on Ehow:
We made a craft of clouds with cotton balls. Bella and I made different clouds by pulling the cotton balls apart and glued them on. Then I wrote the names of each cloud and she traced them.
I went searching for a science experiment having to do with clouds. Here is what I found on Ehow:
Supplies
Take the metal tray and and put the ice cubes on it to make the tray cold. Put the hot water in a glass. Give the water a swirl while putting the tray on top of the glass. You may even have to swirl the glass with the tray on to improve the effect. If you look close you can see that the steam from the water has started to form a cloud! When you take off the tray you can see it rise! Here is a video of us doing the experiment!!! (Excuse the messy table in the background!)
- Clear glass
- Metal tray
- Ice cubes
- Hot water (I think boiling works best)
Wednesday, February 20, 2013
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