I’ll start out by saying my week was full of candy corn…crafting that is. My kids wanted to do a whole lot more, but I had to put an end to all the madness.
Earrings made from REAL candy corn

Paper cone candy corn holder

Paper corn holder doubles as a party hat

This is her ‘candy tote’ for the festival this year.

Pizza is apparently the theme in October. I didn’t know that until I bought this pack at Currclick. I was looking for some pizza themed activities, since my DS2 chose that for his birthday. I have to come up with a pizza cake. So far this week we have had pizza sandwiches (no picture because we were all starving). Tonight we had pizza lasagna….

Note our three science projects that are currently underway…
1. Chicken in vinegar (since Tuesday the 7th)
2. Spider plant -regrowing roots
3. Eggplant just rotting on my counter…I assure you there is a good reason for that one. Just not sure what yet.

This is over at a friend’s house for dinner last night. YEP, that’s a squirrel on DS1’s head!

I’ve been wanting to do one of these for sometime….guess I was super bored tonight.  Here it is…

1) I’ve been married for nine years.

2) We’ve been together for 13.

3) We went to school together, but never met there.

4) I have three kids…two boys and one girl.

5) I have two brothers…one younger and one older.

6) I graduated in 1993 from high school.

7) I had my first born at 17.

I’ve been planning on doing this list for some years now.

9) I’ve been busy…life happens.

10) I live in the boon docks.

11) …on a farm type place.

12) We have goats, chickens, ducks, fish (outside and in), birds, and a dog.

13) I’m not a ‘farm girl.’

14) I’d rather be sewing or reading a book.

15) I taught myself to sew, crochet, and just about everything else.

16) I learned to crochet from the internet.

17) I’m a firm believer that you can find out ANYTHING online.

18) I’m pretty much always bored (app since I’m doing this list…I am right now)

19) I home school my kids.

20) This is our third year…and I love it.

21) I drive a GMC Suburban…and my Grandma thinks it’s HUGE! Lol

22) I don’t like motorcycles…but we have some…ugh!

23) I hate my hubby’s cars…all straight shift and…too much work!

24) I didn’t get my driver’s license until I was 18.

25) My friend, Jackie, took me to get them. (She also watched my son.)

26) She named her little girl after me…I fit the ‘J’ profile.

27) I hate air conditioners.

28) I don’t like ice in my drinks.

29) I’m not big on eating meat…I could go the rest of my life without it.

30) I LOVE salad…it’s like a dessert to me.

31) I’m big on vacations…I could use one right now.

32) I don’t ‘do’ Knoxville (TN). (I won’t go there without the hubby to protect me).

33) I have a list of states that I will NEVER go to…CA, NY, NV….

34) I will NEVER fly on an airplane…I’m a big chicken.

35) I’ll die by a tree falling on my head …long story.

36) I hate trees for that reason.

37) I love trees for that same reason…strange, I know.

38) I love pictures of trees with NO leaves.

39) Halloween is my favorite holiday.

40) We don’t do trick-or-treating…anymore.

41) We don’t do television…anymore.

42) We don’t do anything…anymore….lol.

43) I no longer have a cell phone for people to call me at every waking moments notice.

44) I have SLOW dial-up…due to living in boon docks.

45) I have to fight my kids to get online for a few moments…that’s why I’m usually online around 3am.

46) I like OLD music…Patsy Cline, Conway Twitty, etc…

47) I like newer music also..just the strange stuff.

48) I hate the radio on in the car…UGH.

49) I pretty much only listen to music while I’m in the kitchen.

50) I’m in the kitchen a lot. *usually just standing there

51) I’m not a coffee drinker.

52) I like the taste of coffee candy or ice cream.

53) My little kids LOVE coffee. YUCK

54) I love hot chocolate.

55) I don’t drink alcohol.

56) I don’t smoke..anything.

57) I don’t take pills for anything.

58) If I have a REALLY bad headache, I’ll take an orange flavored Goody powder.

59) That’s very rare that I’ll even do that.

60) I’m not big on doctors or their ‘medicine’.

61) I love the VC Andrews books.

62) I have ALL the Harry Potter books in hardback and first edition.

63) I know I’m a dork.

64) I collect school books. (at least they get used)

65) I always wanted to be a teacher..now I get to play one on tv.

66) I love pizza.

67) I make pizza lasagna and pizza sandwiches.

68) Pizza Hut is like a steak house for me.

69) I hate to cook a big meal and then no one eat.

70) I throw away leftovers to the animals.

71) I don’t like to talk on the telephone.

72) I love to do paperwork.

73) I keep the books for the family business.

74) I make lists of the stuff we have at the house.

75) I do the above, because I buy multiple copies of the same thing.

76) I enjoy reading people’s blogs about their lives.

77) I collect free ebooks…you never know when you’ll need something.

78) I shop at Goodwill for books.

79) I LOVE books….you can never have too many..can you?

80) I often forget what I was just thinking about.

81) Yet, I remember random crap….constantly.

82) I always check my myspace for messages.

83) I’m addicted to checking my email.

84) I have to write down my passwords for everything…hope no one breaks in my house!

85) I have bookmarked all kinds of crafts in my “want to make” file…that will prob never get made.

86) I have about five bins of fabric ‘scraps’.

87) I need to teach my kids to sew to use up those scraps…I need new fabric.

88) I’ve never been to a JoAnn’s fabric store….WANT TO GO.

89) I did recently purchase something from there online…and I felt like a princess.

90) I can’t think of ten more things.

91) I love the sound of a fan running at night.

92) I sneeze EVERYTIME someone sprinkles pepper.

93) I feel like I’m supposed to be right here where I live….rich in history and family history.

94) I love LOCAL history.

95) I collect books on it…and paid way too much for them.

96) I could spend all day in the mountains looking at old houses.

97) I love any old house that is abandoned…beware.

98) I’m kinda nosey…and a people watcher.

99) I’m quiet at times and won’t shut up at others…depends on who I’m with.

100) I’m finally finished….now I can say I did one of these….whew!

From the CurrClick site:

–LINK below–

All About Birds - Basic Study NotebookingPages

–LINK above

“This set of 55 notebooking pages includes pages to help record information regarding the basic study of birds. Choice of primary or regular lines and a variety of layouts are included in this set. These notebooking pages would be great for your nature journal or creation notebook.

Do you own Handbook of Nature Study by Anna Botsford Comstock? These bird study pages will definitely accomodate her introductory study on birds. You may also want to consider our North American Birds Notebooking Pages to study many of the birds discussed in her book.”

I made this for a contest….and I fell in love with it, and I don’t even like candy corn. Only problem, DD wants one now and this one took me about four hours to make. Maybe I can skimp and use felt for hers.

—side view—

It feels sooo good to be able to sew something. I’ve been working on a quilt now for about three months (or more). It seems every time I get started on one thing with it, something happens. The top looked perfect when I got it finished. After putting four (yes I said four) layers of batting behind it and a layer of flannel, it looks wonky. I broke countless needles trying to bind the stupid thing. (I only call it stupid because it was such a problem).

—pre-quilted—

This was a project for the kids great-great-grandmother. She did the embroidery years ago. The kids great-great-aunt was going thru her mother’s stuff and happened upon them. This will be a present for her. Shhh…don’t tell her, she doesn’t know yet. The reason for the four layers of batting, she is bedridden and is always complaining of freezing. This heavy thing is definitely going to keep her warm.

—close up of her embroidery—

I just have to say that I don’t usually quilt. This will be my second completed large quilt that was machine quilted. I did make the boys a quilt each that I tie-quilted. Those were made after the first sewn one. I only have a regular machine and those big rolls just don’t want to go through the middle. ….pause while I dream of a bigger machine…

Well, I’m off to make about six school buses. That’s a fleet!

As mentioned before, we are doing Flat Stanley. I cheated and got the free lapbook from Homeschoolshare.com. I did spice it up a bit by making a cool ‘lapbook’. Instead of using a typical folder, I made a large Flat Stanley and we used that to put our books on.

Here he is in all his glory…. (He is as big as a regular posterboard).

DS2 had to do a candid photo with him after I hung him on the wall…

Here he is with all his books glued on…

This is how we folded him… We flopped his arms in and then tucked his legs behind his head. ( I had prefolded him before I glued on the books.)

DD is posing with him completed now…

We are also doing some flat people of our own. I hope to have them travel the US. Currently they are on their way to VA. That will be their first stop. We are going to host their flats here in TN. (Pics to come)…

These are the completed flats with their respective children. They used fabric for clothing and yarn for hair. They are laminated to keep them safe from foul weather.

My kids, like most I’m sure, love to do crafts. They tend to make big messes also. We recently made our first Flat Stanleys. All you got to do is give the kids free range of your craft room and this is what will happen…

We are doing the Flat Stanley lapbook from HomeschoolShare.com. In one of the books you do a marshmallow experiment. All three of the kids worked on this one (super easy). Since you had to choose three objects, they all chose one each…a hand, an old bottle (full of 11 yr old grape juice..long story), and a big book.

Both the littles are studying fossils right now in the science books (I had to do some rearranging of chapters to make it match). After we got done with book work, we went wandering down the road to find stuff to make ‘fossils’ out of. Let me tell you, we came back with a handful of leaves and one pinecone. Most of the stuff they used came from the potpourri bowl and their toy dinosaurs. (I did one also, just for fun).

Here is DS2’s before the plaster…

Here it is flipped out of the bowl after the plaster dried…

Here is DD cleaning up her fossil…

(toothpicks and toothbrushes work well for this)

Here they are done…. (DS2=rectangle DD=circle MOI=square)

I think I’ve created monsters by allowing so many craft/experiments in such a short period. They want to hurry up with book work and want some more messes to make. At least they clean them up.

–Be sure to pick up this great deal on 5 Election Ebooks —-

Homeschoolers are invited to vote in their very own Presidential Election at CurrClick.com! Educate your kids about the election process and make a statement about the powerful voice that is the homeschool community!

POLLS OPEN on October 1st and will remain open until November 4th. Visit CurrClick.com on October 1st to cast your vote: Participation is completely free and will include information about each of the candidates, real time results, quotes from each of the candidates about their position on homeschooling, an “I Voted” coloring page and printable sticker and an optional exit poll. Results of the exit poll will be posted on November 4th. http://www.currclick.com

Results of the election will be sent out to news organizations across the country. Don’t miss this opportunity to make your voice heard.

Plus, dozens of instantly downloadable election unit studies, lapbooks and workbooks from top publishers ON SALE for up to 35% OFF. Sale begins October 1st.

CurrClick.com is the #1 curriculum download site for homeschoolers, featuring thousands of resources for all ages from hundreds of top homeschool and education publishers. CurrClick.com gives a way a new, free title every week. Most titles priced at 30% below retail.

CurrClick.com, Curriculum in a Click!

Don’t miss out on this great “Back to School” sale.

This price is for a limited time only!

All of our unit studies are only $8 each right now!

Regularly $12.99! Stock up for the year.

Our unit studies are based on classical literature. They are unique in several ways. We use “micro burst” teaching combined with a Charlotte Mason style of learning. As you read the story to your child, or they read independently, lessons and activities which pertain to history, science, health, language, art, and Bible are gathered from that chapter. We reference web sites and/or supplemental books (which can usually be found at your library, but are not required) on some of the activities. All web links referenced in the book are hyperlinked so all you have to do is click on them to go directly to the website. Because our unit studies are not used for an entire year but rather a break from your core curriculum, a more eclectic and varied path is taken. Worksheets have been designed for many of the activities and are included with the unit study. The “micro burst” style is shorter, random, and intriguing. This helps keep the student from getting bogged down in a book too much and havi ng it feel like work. We want your student to learn and still be ready to read more. Our activities were chosen with care and with the goal of learning life’s lessons through the story.

Fortunately For You is based on A Series of Unfortunate Events (books 1-3) by Lemony Snicket, we have given you a spiritual approach to real life issues that are presented in these books. Loving the classic feel to these books, we designed a curriculum to give you a format for science, vocabulary, and situational ethics, as well as other subjects. Pick from all the types of approaches and let your child choose which activity interests them on that day for that particular chapter. Using our Notebook, Discussion, Experience and Investigative approaches, we travel with the orphans through three books. Appendices filled with worksheets and a teaching guide are included in this unit study. Don’t be turned off by the bad rap these books have received. Children love them and there is great humor in there for the adult reading along. They are worth giving a try. Our web site offers free vocabulary tests and end of chapter tests to support this curriculum. Visit our web site for Pockets of Time supplements to these books. (Readers NOT included.)

Gatherings from the Garden is a unit study based on The Secret Garden by Francis Hodgson Burnett. This unit study uses the distinct approaches and learning style developed by Fortunately For You Books. Engaging the child’s whole mind by using the notebook, discussion, experience, and investigative approach, follow Mary Lennox through this time of learning and adjusting in her life. From a neglected, unloved, and miserable child in India, to a loving, kind, and caring friend in England, there are many lessons to be learned. Believing life’s lessons can be learned through literature, we give you a wonderful unit study with over 140 pages of worksheets. Every chapter is filled with a variety of choices for learning that day. Pick some subjects from every option available. Used with our Grammar by the Book (can be purchased separately), every subject but math will be covered. Whether using this book in a full unit study approach, or as a guide with your child in literature, your options are adaptable to meet every child’s needs on a daily basis. End of chapter questions and chapter by chapter vocabulary definitions are provided.

Wisdom From the Wardrobe- Using this unit study will give your child a magical tour through the land of Narnia. Based on the classic The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe by C. S. Lewis, we introduce the student to activities about weather, animals, cardinal directions, family responsibility, honor, and much more. We have taken the classic good versus evil story and provided you with a Biblical approach to all subjects.

Within the Web introduces your child to the amazing world inside Zuckerman’s farm and into a web of learning! Based on the classic Charlotte’s Web by E. B. White, this unit study contains fascinating activities that deal with insects, friendships, animal classification, barn photography to name just a few. Using our unique approach to activities based on the whole child’s needs, there are an amazing amount of activities to pick from to meet your child’s needs and interests.

Grab one today or grab all four and have them ready to use when your regular curriculum gets a little boring!

**As a thank you for purchasing a unit study, when you finish checking out, you will receive a link for a discount on a Pockets of Time that goes along with that study.

Hope you are having a great start to your school year!

Fortunately For You Book

This week the best homeschool estore on the web is giving away another great freebie…. (how’s that for a sentence).

Click below to download

“B is for Beatitude”

B is for Beatitudes” focuses on the Beatitudes as taught by Jesus in the Sermon on the Mount. Other skills covered include; responding to the mini-book, writing numbers, writing B, learning the sound b makes, creating patterns and recognizing and sorting shapes.

Our Early Learning Lap-book Series alternates between Old Testament stories and New Testament teachings. Each lap-book kit includes a Biblically accurate mini book with scripture reference, instructions and diagrams to aid you in the assembly of the lap-book and various activities built off the premise of the mini-book. The lap-books are designed to strengthen Bible knowledge, language skills, math skills, social studies skills, and science knowledge through hands on activities and practice. All lap-books include an art activity, sight words and a memory verse. In addition, there is a list of extension activities to strengthen the skills presented in the lap-book. Appealing to all learning styles.

———————————————–

PLUS….they are having another great deal set going on…. Must Check It Out… SALE LINK

Well, the yesterday started out with DH asking if we wanted to go to Dollywood. I had to remind him that they were closed on Thursdays (he thought it was Wednesday). So he asked where we wanted to go…and for some dumb reason…I said Laurel falls. I’m just not the hiking kind of person. I like nature, don’t get me wrong. I just don’t find it fun to walk up a hill that never seems to end. So, for anyone else out there like me, here are some pictures from our little escapade to Laurel Falls. (Side note: While we were walking we were also discussing a blog from another person that I had read. It’s about life in the 1500’s.)

DS1 lagged behind with me while the others ‘ran’ up the hill. Not sure what the big rush was..anyways..DS2 comes running back down. This time he was really running. He asked from my camera and then RAN back off. DS1 and I were wondering why would he want the camera NOW? So give me another couple of minutes and I catch back up with them and there is a bear on the trail. Here is the best pic that DH took. OOOOHHHH…excitement.

Well, after an exciting walk straight up a mountain (at least it was paved), we arrived at the falls. Several hundred pictures later, here is the only one I will post. Not that the rest weren’t any good, I just don’t feel like uploading five hundred pictures.

This one is from the littles and their daddy getting water from a spring on the way back down. (We had cups.)

This one my DD insists I put on here, since she posed and told me to put it on my blog. Here goes:

That’s all the pics from Laurel Falls. When we left there we had to stop at the Sugarlands Visitor Center for reasons we will not speak of, but while we were there we visited the museum they have inside. The kids love looking at all the goodies they have and they have lots. So, if you’ve never been and you are in the area, it is well worth the trip in because it’s FREE! (so was the above hike)

Not to mention, they have a BOOKSTORE and I love books.

After the center, we traveled into Gatlinburg. I have stopped by this one place that we went to a couple of times, but the road was closed. Not today!!! It’s the Roaring Fork Motor Nature Trail. You drive for awhile before you see a building (which is what I was after).

Here is the cabin at Jim Bale’s place. I only know that because that’s what it says in the booklet I spent $1 on at the above bookstore. This stop also has two other buildings, a barn and a corn crib.

Here is a picture of some really cool grass in the backyard. I don’t know what kind it is, but I loved it. Totally random, but better than the pic that DH wanted me to post. It’s of rocks in the yard. He says that was a sign of laziness. I say there were just too darn many to pick up!

Apparently my kids will go anywhere I tell them so I can take their picture. Here they are on a huge rock in the middle of the river. Dh went with them of course. All I had to do was mention that I would take their pic if they got on that rock there. lol

Next stop was the Ephraim Bales cabin. This one housed nine kids. I reminded the kids that they thought our little four bedroom house was small…sheesh.

In front of the fireplace there is a hole under the floor. I guess they used to keep potatoes in it (again from the booklet). My DS2 had to investigate further. (I’m sure this was breaking some sort of law, but they shouldn’t put it in a booklet that a 10 yo will be reading).

The kids were convinced that this was a chicken house. Until we read the sign that it is a hog pen. We are still trying to figure out how they would get in that small door.

This next place, the Alfred Reagan place, I’m truly jealous of. They have everything. I thought the last place was cool because they had a neat creek in the backyard. Well, this place has one in the front with a grist mill. Plus, this one is painted. It says in my little handbook that it was painted with all three colors that Sears sold. The colors would still be trendy today.

The middle door goes upstairs to an attic that has ‘two’ rooms that join in the back. You just go up the stairs and step onto either side. Neat!

Plus, look at this really nice china cabinet/pantry behind the stair well. I’ve never seen one like this in any other old house. I want one.

Here is the backside of the house. It was built on later, along with the upstairs. I guess they ran out of paint. We were commenting on how it looked like some of the older houses that are still around today.

Later on down the road, you find another waterfall. This one is on the side of the road, Place of a 1000 drips. I guess it’s better in rainy weather which hasn’t been here for sometime. There is a cave looking place in the top of it. The boys were seriously wanting to go up and take a look…NOT!

Well, this concludes my tour. We are wanting to go back and check it out again sometime. I can’t believe I’ve never been there before (that I can remember). Again, it was free all but that gloriously high gas. There is another waterfall in the midst of this trail. You have a 1.4mile hike to get to it. I guess we are going back to do that one. What have I gotten myself into?