Green Jello

Happy Placemats

 

  

I won these placemats from WhatKnot's giveaway and I love them. She sells the placemats with a blank canvas, so your child can create their own masterpiece using fabric markers. The kids love eating off their own personalized placemat and mom hopes they don't stain them so I can save them forever. Stop by her new Etsy shop WhatKnot - she has a hand embroidered baby quilt that I would buy if I knew someone who was having a baby, aprons for children, and a child's activity tote. Thank you Melissa! Sorry I didn't iron these before I took the picture, I'm lazy.

Let's Take a Walk

 

and crunch the leaves that seem to gather at curbs...

  

and look at trees that are starting to turn color...

  

"alien pods" are ready to be released...

  

  

the grasshoppers are lazy and easy to catch...

 

and there are plenty of places to rest.

Thank you for the comments on my last post; I want to respond to each comment by the end of the week. So many wise people out there... 

ea, ey, ai

 

My husband and I thought we would use our son's extra year home to introduce reading to him at a slow, fun pace. The problem is, we have no idea how. I've tried to keep "learning" at home low key and hidden by using games. They seem annoyed if we pull out flash cards or other tools that are too school like. We read books and occasionally point out words, but is that enough? Do we need a program with a reading frog or funky phonics? A friend recommended the books; Alphaphonics or Teach Your Child to Read in 100 Easy Lessons and I've heard that the BOB books are good, so I'm going to check those out. I'm interested to hear (especially if you home-school) what worked for you? What did your child find frustrating learning at home or school? Why does there seem to be disagreement over which method is best - whole language vs. phonics? What's the best way to learn sight words? I've read that some children are visual learners - how do you know if this is how your child processes information?

I'm amazed how many products there are on the market, but most seem so complicated it would take me a year to figure out where to begin. I don't remember how I was taught to read - probably a combination of memorization, phonics, fear, and public humiliation. I've always loved to read and I hope my sons feel the same way, so I hesitate to start too early or carry flash cards in my purse. I know they will read one day, but I wanted to do something at home before our public school starts drowning them in worksheets and deadlines.

Taking a Deep Breath

 

I watched too much news last week and it made me feel weary, so we shut off the TV and enjoyed the weather. I feel so much better. We searched for leaves turning colors and enjoyed a hayride with our favorite cowboy. Hmm...it seems he is wearing the same outfit this year...no, his hat was black last year.

 

Here he is doing manly work by helping unlock someone's car:

 

  

I brought out my new fancy Target Halloween socks:

 

 

So, turn off the TV this week and eat a handful of candy corn and all will be good. Or pretend you are stranded and a friendly cowboy helps you unlock your car...

Good Friday

Starting to decorate for Halloween; bats I cut out of card stock.

  

Spooky spiders coming home from preschool.

 

Apples cut and drying so they can turn into shrunken heads.

Halloween blog party!

The Economy, Politics, and Sarah Palin's Shoes

There are days when I think about what I am going to write here, but this is not one of them. Did you watch the debate? I'm not watching the next one. I've heard it all, and viewing them sit and stand and wander around the stage was weird and distracting. Is the end near? From the news reports you would think it was, but then I found out that Sarah Palin was wearing Naughty Monkey shoes when she accepted the nomination; now I can sleep at night. The stock market falling, companies who received bailout funds going on spa trips, collapsing credit market, foreclosures, and a President standing at the door with his bags packed; good times. I think all we can do at this point is hope the ones in charge can stabilize this mess and not panic. So, here are some random nice things to keep you free from panic;

 
 a calming photo.

Finslippy's DonorsChoose Blogger's Challenge; a great cause and she will reenact Pat Benatar's "Love is a Battlefield" video if she wins.

Blue Yonder's Bean Counter Post made me feel that all is right in the world.

Brit collecting funds for Lee's heart; a touching story.

Solyndra developing new solar panels before the politicians decide it's time to do something about energy.

A new book, Picture Yourself Cooking with Your Kids.

Find the truth at Fact Check.

Any nice distractions you would like to add to the list?

Giveaway Winner

 

Thank you for entering the giveaway; I wish you could all win. I'm impressed with how creative your costumes were - if you are stumped with a costume idea this year, read some of the comments. 

The winner is Crystal of Elsewhere Living! Congratulations! Send me your address and I will get the package in the mail. 

If you are feeling down, Elizabeth has 5 giveaways this week.

Kathleen hosts bi-weekly giveaways.

You can download my Halloween embroidery designs here. I will put this on my sidebar when I figure out how to do it. I am also planning a holiday/Christmas giveaway unless the economy collapses, so check back in early December.

One of my favorite Halloween costumes, which is also one of three pictures that survived, so that may be why it is a favorite:

 

I love the little papoose...the clown is my brother, holding a naked Barbie doll.

Maverick Crafting

 

Remember when I started this scarf last year? Um, still not done. My problem is I want to knit, but I also want to sew, embroider, paint, draw, crochet, and hand chisel wood clogs for my family. When I opened a kit of Shrinky Dinks this weekend, I knew that I reached craft overload. I don't know if my problem is lack of time, an inability to finish, or if I haven't found my true craft calling. Whatever it is, the pile on my kitchen counter is obnoxious and embarrassing. Do you have this problem? How do I take control of this? Where can I buy wooden blocks to chisel?

 

Next example; felted wool wreaths from Bella Dia. I now have an entire bag of felted sweaters and one small wreath, missing the ribbon for hanging. My intent was to attach these to Christmas presents, but I'm guessing this will be the only one I finish.

I drew some Halloween embroidery designs, but now I can't figure out how to convert a JPEG file to PDF. I know you can convert these files on-line, but for some reason it won't work. Any suggestions?

Download halloween_embriodery.pdf

Please let me know if you have trouble opening or printing this file. It's a free download of simple Halloween pictures I made. This is not fine art here; I like to embroider small and simple, so if you are used to elaborate and fancy, sorry. I'm going to try converting the file tomorrow and fix this. You can use tracing paper and a transfer pen and iron the designs onto fabric, or you can use transfer paper.

Don't forget to enter the giveaway - it ends Monday night!

Halloween Giveaway

 

After September, we need some cheering up, so I put together a small giveaway:

Some Martha Stewart goodies, candy, hand-made coasters (yes, I only make coasters), and the vintage apron I found at a yard sale this summer.  To enter leave a comment about your most memorable Halloween costume by Monday, October 6th, 7 p.m. central time. I will draw a name and announce the winneron Tuesday. I will enter your name twice if you post a picture of this costume on your blog or Flikr - leave a comment with a link so we can all enjoy.

The coasters are embroidered on linen with Japanese fabric on the back:

 

  

The apron:

  

Good luck!