A Little Woman

Joshua and Levi came over the other night. Spencer and Joshua built towers and destroyed them. Then they played Jericho.

I made the jar toppers with 7 inch circles of fabric edged with lace.

We got to babysit Levi on December 8th.

I have been learning how to spin. I'm not very good at it yet but I'm practicing. Dad made my spindle using a piece of wood and a dowel. It cost $1.00 to make.

We dissected owl pellets on Tuesday, November 25. We did this as part of our study of rodents. The owl pellets (we ordered them on line) were wrapped in foil. We unwrapped them and soaked them in water for a few minutes (they smelled awful). Then we began to pick them appart with tooth picks. We decided that they all had rodents in them. One thing that suprised me was that many of them had more than one animal in one pellet. I had four skulls in mine.

Fiber arts are basically the act of taking fibers and making a cloth. Some of these arts are only a way of making lace (tatting), while some are for making embellishments on fabrics (embroidery), and some can only make cloth (weaving). Knitting and crocheting can create anything from lace to appliqués to heavy sweaters and hammocks. Spinning is the art of making thread or yarn, usually out of wool. Most fiber arts were originally done with natural fibers such as wool, cotton, linen, and silk. Today there are many different kinds of yarn . Many are made from man-made fibers. Many fiber arts can be traced back as far as the Middle Ages or farther. Most poor people practiced fiber arts out of necessity. In the Victorian period, young ladies were expected to learn the more delicate arts such as embroidery. Today, there are machines that can do most fiber arts, but it is still fun and rewarding to do them by hand.

Spinning is the act of twisting fibers into thread or yarn. Before spinning, wool must be sheared. After shearing the wool is washed (this can be done in a washing machine if you are careful not to agitate it). Many spinners prefer wool that has not been washed. Then it is carded. This means you need carding brushes which can be very expensive. However, you can buy wool that has been washed and carded but is not spun. This is called roving and can usually be found at small yarn shops. You can spin with any fiber and you can even buy blends of fibers at yarn shops. However, wool, being the easiest fiber to spin, is best for beginners. You will also need a drop spindle. These can be purchased or made with a dowel and a piece of wood. A spindle can be any size or weight. The more your spindle weighs, the thicker your yarn will be. A good beginners spindle would be a circle with a diameter of about 2 ½ inches and about ¾ inch thick. You can drill a hole in the middle and put in a dowel. You will need to cut a hook in the dowel. This is called a drop spindle and is a more primitive version of the spinning wheel. Drop spindles are the easiest way to learn spinning because a spinning wheel will suck the wool that has not been spun away from you if you are not fast enough. To spin you simply tie a piece of yarn to the spindle loop it around the bottom and make a half hitch in the hook. Then spin the spindle and begin to let the wool through your fingers. When the spindle hits the floor, undo your half hitch and wind the yarn on the spindle and repeat. When learning to spin, it helps to find someone who can spin to answer your questions and demonstrate. If you want to dye your wool you will need a book with instructions and materials. You can dye the wool before or after spinning, and you can even dye it after you make something with it for more uniform color.

Weaving is one of the oldest crafts. There is a depiction of a loom on a pottery dish dated c. 4400 B. C. found in a tomb. The first looms were vertical, but many looms today are horizontal. On a loom, the threads running up and down are called warp. The threads running side to side are called woof or weft. Different combinations of fibers make cloth such as linsey-woolsey (linen warp and woolen weft). Weaving is generally more complicated and expensive than any of the other fiber arts since it requires a large loom. However, there are some weaving projects that that are less complicated and expensive such as weaving pot holders on plastic or metal looms (metal is better and much sturdier, but more expensive and harder to find). You can make a loom of your own by cutting notches in a piece of card board (as big as you want your finished cloth to be) and stringing yarn across and then weaving through it with a different piece of yarn (on a card board shuttle).

Tatting is older than knitting or crocheting. Tatting is sometimes called “poor man’s lace” because it requires no tool but the fingers since the shuttle or needle is only a convenient way to hold the thread. Tatting is made up of knots rather than stitches (it uses the double knot). Tatting is very similar to macramé. A good way to learn tatting is to buy a kit. If you do not buy a kit you will need a shuttle or needle , some thread and a book on tatting. You can buy either a plastic or a metal shuttle. Also tatting requires highly mercerized thread. You may make a piece of trim for a first project.

Embroidery is similar to painting with threads. It has been around for thousands of years. Samplers have been recovered from Egyptian burial grounds and beads were used in medieval embroidery. Embroidery appears in many paintings both with people doing embroidery and with people wearing embroidered clothing. Embroidery was popular during the Victorian period. For embroidery, you will need a needle (with a large eye), some embroidery floss, and something to embroider on (canvas works well). A good first project would be a scent pillow. To make one, you will need felt, stuffing, and something to scent you pillow, lavender or dried orange peel would be good (besides the usual supplies). First cut out two pieces of felt the size you want your pillow to be. Then you sew a pretty design on one piece of the felt. Then sew them together using blanket stitch (leaving one side open for stuffing). Add stuffing and a little of your scent and sew up the side.

Knitting creates a stretchy cloth which is warmer than woven cloth. The word knit is thought to have come from the word cnyttan which means to tie a knot. The Egyptians knit socks from 1200-1500 A.D. Today’s knitting is thought to have developed around the late 14th century. During the Elizabethan reign, knitting schools were started and knitting was thought to keep people out of trouble. In 1670 knitting socks brought extra income to farmers. Knitting was brought to the new world by colonists and later carried west by pioneers. Some schools began to teach knitting in the 1800’s. The first knitting books were published between 1835 and 1840. Women knit stockings for solders during the civil war. World War I stimulated knitting in Brittan. A good first knitting project would be a scarf using size 17 straight (bamboo) knitting needles and Jiffy Thick and Quick or Wool Ease Thick and Quick yarn. This is a good first project because it is fast and easy.

Crochet uses one hook to make fabric by pulling one loop through another loop. Crocheting is considered easier than knitting. The word crochet means hook in French. Crocheting is one of the youngest crafts being about 400 years old. French nuns made lace using a hooked needle. Victorian ladies used a crochet hook and a hair pin to create hair pin lace. To crochet, you need a hook. These come in plastic or metal and are sized using letters. A is smallest and Q is largest. Steel hooks are numbered with 1 being the largest and are used to make doilies. A good first project would be a wash cloth or a baby blanket because these projects are quick and easy.

As you can see there are many kinds of fiber arts. I enjoy all of them and they are not very difficult to learn. For help, check the library, craft store, or book store for books or find someone to help you learn. You could also look on the internet for information.

BIBLIOGRAPHY

Knitting

Blanchette, Peg. Kids Easy Knitting Projects. Charlette: Williamsons
Publishing, 2001.

Bradberry, Sarah. Kids Knit!. New York: Sterling Publishing Co., Inc,
2001.

Fryer, Jane Eayre. The Mary Frances Knitting and Crocheting Book.
Grantsville: Hobby House Press, Inc, 2003.

Gardener, Kay, Anne Shayne. Mason Dixon Knitting. New York: Random
House, Inc, 2006.

Macdonold, Anne L. No Idle Hands The Social History of American
Knitting. New York: Ballanitine Books, 1936.

Meyer, Carolyn. Yarn the Things it Makes and How to Make Them. New
York: Harcourt Brace, 1972.

Rutt, Richard. A History of Hand Knitting. Loveland: Interweave Press,
1987.

Sadler, Judy Anne, Gwen Blackley Kinsler, Jackie Young, Biz Storms. The
Jumbo Book of Needlecrafts. Tonawanda: Kids Can Press, 2005.

Virrill, Melissa. Knitting and Crocheting Stitches. Pleasantville: Readers
Digest, 2003.

Crocheting

Benbenek, Mary Beth. Crocheting School. New York: Sterling
Publishing, 2004.

Fryer, Jane Eayre. The Mary Frances Knitting and Crocheting Book.
Grantsville: Hobby House Press, Inc, 2003.

Harding, Sally. Quick Crochet Huge Hooks. Singapore: Octopus
Publishing group Ltd, 2005.

Jensen, Candi. Crochet Hats. Hong Kong: Storey Publishing, 2006.

Johnson, Anne Akers. Crochet. Australia: Klutz, 2006.

Meyer, Carolyn. Yarn the Things It Makes and How to Make Them. New
York: Harcourt Brace, 1972.

Obaachan, Annie. Amigurumi Animals. London: St Martins Press, 2006.

Ronci, Kelly. Kids Crochet. New York: STC craft, 2005.

Sadler, Judy Anne, Gwen Blackley Kinsler, Jackie Young, Biz Storms. The
Jumbo Book of Needlecrafts. Tonawanda: Kids Can Press, 2005.

Snow, Tamie. Tiny Yarn Animals. New York: Penguin Group, 2008.

Thompson, Pamela. Hair Pin Crochet. London: The Anchor Press, 1990.

Virrill, Melissa. Knitting and Crocheting Stitches. Pleasantville: Readers
Digest, 2003.

Other Fiber Arts

Bayrard, Marie-Noelle. Embroidery Techniques and Patterns. New York:
Sterling Publishing co. Inc., 2003.

Beck, Tomasina. The Embroiderers Story. Italy: David & Charles, 1995.
Burnett, Sarah. A Passion for Color. New York: Macmillan Publishing
Company, 1990.

Gibson, Ray. Starting Needle crafts. London: Usborne Publishing Ltd., 1994.
Hoare, Ratharin. The Art of Tatting. Berkley: Lacis Publications, 1910.

Nicholls, Elgiva. Tatting. New York: Dover Publications, Inc., 1962.

Nicholls, Elgiva. Tatting Techniques. New York: Charles Scribner’s Sons,
1975.

Readers Digest, Back To Basics. Pleasantville: The Readers Digest
Association, Inc., 1981.

Readers Digest. Crafts and Hobbies. Pleasantville: The Readers Digest
Association, Inc., 1962.

Readers Digest. Embroidery Stitches. Pleasantville: The Readers Digest
Association Inc., 2004.

Roessel, Monty. Songs From the Loom. Minneapolis: Learner Publications Company, 1995.
Sarah, Don. Traditional Samplers. New York: Viking Penguin Inc., 1986.

Thompson, Angela. Embroidery with Beads. Berkeley: Lacis, 1987.

We fianally decorated our Christmas Tree.

We made jelly with Bettises on Friday December 5th. We made apple and grape.

Oh! And this is what Spencer and Eliott did while we made snowmen.

We started snowmen at craft club. We will take them to Waterford nursing home in January. We will knit/crochet them little scarves and hats.

We made cranberry relish for Thanksgiving.

"Life is a stocking" grandma says,
"And yours has just begun;
"But I am knitting the toe of mine,
"And my work is almost done"

We had our shoebox party on Friday, November 21st. Lots of people came. They brought things for the dissplay table....

....and lots of food from different countries.
Afterwards, we went with Meyers to Benson Baptist church to drop off our 35 shoeboxes and help them pack shoeboxes. They put them in cartons and shipped to Colorado (this year) where they are checked. This year, we found out that all our shoeboxes are going to Mexico.

We helped to move most of the boxes over to a different wall. They were heavy.

Primates (monkeys) are different from people in many ways, while they share many similarities with other animals. For instance, many people think that monkeys have mouths that are similar in shape to those of people. However, primates teeth are much more like those of a lion. Also, primates "grin" when they are afraid baring there teeth just like any other mammal. Primates can also stand on their hind legs and even walk short distances. Bears can also walk for short periods of time. But both bears and primates are incapable of walking for nearly as long as people and lack the arch that people have in their feet making it painful for them to walk very far. Primates are also similar to people in the case of their hands. However, their hands and feet are the same and are very similar to raccoon hands. While primates are similar to people they also share many similarities with other animals. The similarities which primates (and people) share with other creatures are a result of being created by the same God.

We dressed up like colonists for history. We used the ideas in Colonial Kids by Laurie Carlson.

Hanna was playing "fairy" and she needed aphids (that's what fairies use for cows) and a lady bug ( they make good fairy pets). Mom used the glue gun to glue together pom-poms and pipe cleaners. The lady bug has paper punch spots.

Hanna decited to dress-up like a bunny wearing clothes. Soo cute!

Spencer got out his brio trains recently.

I made this cute sock dog with a pattern I got from an old issuse of Martha Stewart kids. Spencer and Hanna even got interested and made some too.

This dainty baby hat is made with Patton's Grace yarn, a delicate high quality yarn. It is available in a variety of colors with a scalloped or rolled edge for $7.
Sizing Information:
small: approximately 14"
medium: approximately 19"
large: approximately 20-21"

This sweet baby hat is even warmer than the other basic baby hats. It is also available in a variety of colors, with or without ruffle for $5. Available with booties in matching or contrasting colors $10.00 for a three piece set.
sizing information:
small: approximately 20"

Hanna made a number line for school.

We made pumpkin seeds on friday after carving our pumpkins.

We soaked the seeds for half an hour. The pulp sunk and the seeds floated.

Then we removed the seeds and let them dry during room time (1 hour).

Then we tossed them with 1/2 Tablespoon olive oil per cup and lots of salt. We baked them for one hour at 300 degrees, stiring occasionally. Yummm!

We carved Pumpkins on Friday October 31. They were so hard we had to use the saws-all and drill.

We made these for our party Friday. They are toilet paper rolls wrapped in yellow construction paper. We filled them with small plastic animals, stickers, and candies. The suckers did poke though the tissue paper though.

We had some friends over on Friday the 31. We had soup for dinner. Dad made an obstacle course in the back yard and made tunnels with boxes in the basement. We played pictionary after dinner and the boys did the obstacle course in the dark. The girls played playmobil in Hanna's room.

The House on Stink Alley was written by Robert Quakenbush. Its copyright date is 1977.

The main character is Love-of-God Brewster (Love for short). He is 8 years old and is living in Holland with his family. The story is set in 1620.

They are living in Holland and hiding from King James. Love's father William Brewster, prints books in his basment with Mr. Thomas Brewer. One of the books he prints makes King James very angry. The Dutch need King James' help fighting the Spanish. So the Dutch cannot protect them, and Love's father must flee and Mr. Brewer is thrown in prison. Will the Dutch hand him over to King James? What about Love's father? Will he be able to join them on the Mayflower?

This is a very good book about the Pilgrims when they lived in Holland.

Note: There is a description of torture at the end of chapter 2 that may be inappropriate for young children.

I adapted this recipe from an apple sauce recipe in Seasons at Home magazine. It is good with white bread in tea rings. The spices can be lessened or left out according to tastes.

10 large green cooking apples chopped into small pieces
3 cups water
zest of one lemon
2 cups sugar
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1 teaspoon ground nutmeg
1 teaspoon cloves

Combine in a large pot and stir till sugar has dissolved. Heat over medium low heat until apples are completely soft. This takes about 2 hours. Apples should start to look transparent. When the apples are soft, mash them with a potato masher. Apple sauce can be run thru a blender for a smoother consistency.

We made baskets with Vogltanz's on Thursday.

We went to the pumpkin patch on the 17th. Each kid got a pumpkin. They're on the fire place with some others from papa.

This mini amigurumi* teddy bear is three to four inches tall when seated. Available in a variety of different colors for $10.00.

* "What is amigurumi? Tell your friends you have a book on amigurumi and you'll find it is a lovely word to say. You can use you whole mouth to form the word in a variety of different voices...Aa-mii-gaa-ruu-mii." Amigurumi Animals by Annie Obaachan.

2 cups water
1 teaspoon salt
1 tablespoon butter
1 teaspoon baking powder
water

Cut ingredients together then add enough water to make a barely sticky dough.
Use flour and roll dough very flat. cook on a hot skillet until light brown spots apear then flip and repeat.
Note: Over handling the dough will cause it to become tough.

Two Mighty Rivers is written by Mari Hanes. Its copyright date is 1995.

The main character is Thomas Pepsicanough Rolfe. Thomas is Pocahontas' son. His father is in Jamestown and he is living with his grandparents in Scotland.

There is trouble in Jamestown, and his father is killed. Later, he will jounery to Jamestown to inherit his land. Will he arrive safely? Can he keep the Indians from going to war?

This is a true story about the son of John Rolfe and Pocahontas. This book tells what it was like for both Indians and white men living in America in the 1600's.

I harvested my carrots yesterday. I then shredded them and froze them.

Butterflies are different from moths in many ways. Butterflies usually have brightly colored wings which they fold behind them when resting. Moths however generally have more dull colors like brown and black on their wings which they lay open when they rest. Butterflies fly during the day. While moths often fly at night. If you catch a butterfly, you can see it has little balls on the ends of its antennae, while moths have shorter feathery antennae.

This Dear Bought Land was written by Jean Lee Latham in 1957. It can be checked out from any Omaha Public Library.

The main character is David Waren. He is fifteen. David's father is going to leave him in England and go to Jamestown. The story is set in the 1600's.

When his father dies, David must go to Jamestown in his place. He faces a long hard voyage and much hardship. Will he arive safely in Jamestown? Can they keep from war with the Indians?

I really enjoyed reading this book. I think it is a good book because it helps one to understand what life was like in the 1600's for an adventurous young boy.

I made this baby hat and matching booties from 100% cotton yarn.

We made cookies out of scraps of pie crust left over from our apple pie. First we cut them out with cookie cutters. Then we sprinkled them with cinnamon and sugar. Then we baked them in a four hundered degree oven for about ten minutes. They are very good.

"A Lion To Guard Us" was written by Clyde Robert Bulla in 1981. This book can be found the Omaha Public Library.

The main characters are Amanda, Jemmy (8), Meg (5), and Dr. Crider. They start in England in the 1600's where Amanda works for Mistress Trippet. When their mother dies, they must sail to America to be with their father in Jamestown.

The children travel with Dr. Crider. When he dies they must continue alone. Then they are ship wrecked in Bermuda. How will they get to Jamestown now? Will their father be there? What if he isn't?

I really enjoyed reading this book. I think it is a good book because it tells what it was like in England. It also shows what it was like to sail to America for orphaned children in the 1600's.

Mom finished her afghan this fall!

While she was working on it the dye lot must have changed. To save yarn she did this pretty stitch. It was worked like a backwards single crochet.

.

I got the pattern for this cute little bear from "Amigurumi Animals" by Annie Obaachan. It is a fairly simple pattern and turns out sooo cute. I am also working on some owls and another bear from a different pattern in the book.
The book called for really small hooks like size C. I used size G and mine were as good, just larger. The animals were 4 inches at the tallest and several were only 2 inches. The bear in the book was 3 1/2 inches. My bear is 5 inches

Spencer made white bread and shaped it like a turtle before baking.

Hanna made some little cakes and we had them one night after dinner.

Papa Jim found this pandora sphynx moth at work.

When it died we put it in our mueseum

Grandma Kathie brought over a bunch of apples on Monday. Yesterday we made an apple pie and two apple crisps. We used the same recipe as the mullberrys but added 1/2 cup water for the crisps whitch we froze to bake later. We baked the pie and had some for dessert after dinner. It was very good!

We were reading for history when Spencer noticed this great horned owl sitting in the neighbors tree.

We went hiking on stolly praire last night. We brought home some milkweed and goldenrod to plant in our yard. I picked this boquet of grass heads.

We went to the zoo on Friday. We got to see the new butterfly pavillion and walked all around.

Next craft club we will finish our baskets.

We gathered Walnuts at Walnut Grove Park on Sunday, September 14 with McHughs and Bettises. First, we gathered the walnuts, you want the ones still in the husks and at least partly green.

Second, we stomped on the husks to break them and removed the walnut inside (wearing gloves is a good idea because they will stain your hands black).

Then, we stopped to play at the park. When we got home, we hosed them off (they fianaly look like walnuts). We left them in the garage for a few days with a fan to dry them. Now we will store them for a week or two in a cool dry place. When we get them out we will crack them open.

We made baskets at craft club on Thursday September 4th.

We found this White Lined Sphynx in a bush by our front door.

HISTORY:
The 4th of July story by Alice Danlgliesh
Wee Gillis by Mundro Leaf
Marguerite makes a Book by Bruce Robertson
Calico the Wonder Horse by Virginia Lee Burton
Seaman's Jounal- On the Trail with Lewis and Clark by Patricia Eubank
C is for Cornhusker by Rajean Luebs Sheperd
D is for Old Dominion by Pamela Duncan Edwards

COOKING/CRAFTS:
Mom and Me Cook Book by Annabel Karmel

SCIENCE:
There's No Place Like Space! by Tish Rabe
The Tiny Seed by Eric Carle
Fun with Nature Take-Along Guide by Mel Boring
Wings of Magic by Sandy McCartney Ehlers

BIOGRAPHIES:

SHORT STORIES:
The Milly-Molly-Mandy Story Book by Joyce Lankester Brisley
More Milly-Molly-Mandy by Joyce Lankester Brisley

ANIMAL STORIES:
Little Whistle by Cynthia Rylant

OTHER GOOD BOOKS:
Z Goes Home by Jon Agee
The Complete Adventures of Curious George by Margret & H. A. Rey
The Complete Tales & Poems of Winnie-The-Pooh by A. A. Milne
Richard Scarry's Best Storybook Ever
Daisy Comes Home by Jan Brett
Twilight Verses, Moonlight Rhymes compiled by Mary Joslin
Children Just Like Me by Barnabas and Anabel Kindersly
Toot & Puddle by Holly Hobbie
There's a Map on My Lap! by Tish Rabe
Go, Dog. Go! by P. D. Eastman
Snipp, Snapp, Snurr and The Yellow Sled by Maj Lindman
Flicka, Ricka, Dicka Bake a Cake by Maj Lindman
Ten Apples Up On Top! by Dr. Seuss
Horton hears a Who! by Dr. Seuss
Hop on Pop by Dr. Seus
April's Kittens by Clare Turlay Newberry
Mouse Tails by Arnold Lobel
Days with Frog and Toad by Arnold Lobel
Frog and Toad Together by Arnold Lobel
Paddington Bear by Michel Bond
A Mouse in The House by Henrietta
I'll teach my dog 100 words by Micheal Frith
Town Mouse Country Mouse by Jann Brett
Apron Annie's Pies by Michelle Wagner Nechaev

This sweet baby blanket is availble in many color combinations. It is availble with a variety of borders* (pictured here is the fancy border).
It can be ordered in the following sizes:
small-doll blanket about 14x18 inches-$10.00
medium-baby blanket about 31x23 inches (oblong-12 squares) or about 31x31 inches (square-16 squares)-$20.00
large-baby blanket about 31x38 inches (oblong-20 squares)-$25.00

*other borders:
SCALLOPED

PLAIN

FRILLY

STRIPED

This lovely baby blanket is approximately 30 by 36 inches and is availble with or with out fringe. It can be ordered in a variety of colors, for $25.00.

We went canoeing on Monday.
There were 35 people!
It was fun.
We found some turtle eggs in the sand.

We went to the state fair on Friday.
Spencers rocket got a blue ribbon.

We started school yesterday.

This cute hat is available in baby blue, light green, pale yellow, pink, white, and many other colors for $5.00. Hat also available with matching or coordinating booties, $10.00 for a three piece set.

This cozy hat and matching booties are made with soft fuzzy yarn. Available to order in pink, green, blue, or yellow for $10.00. Hat and booties are also available separately for $5.00 each.
Sizing Information:
small: hat approximately 20"-booties are approximately 4" heel to toe
large hat approximately 22"

This adorable baby hat features diagonal stripes and a scalloped edge. It is available to order in many different colors for $5.00. Hat available with booties in matching or contrasting yarn, $10.00 for a three piece set.
sizing information:
small: approximately 16"
medium: approximately 17"

We had a bunch of carrots from Papa Clyde. Then we forgot and bought a big bag at Costco, so we grated them with our Salad Shooter and froze them.

Spencer (the Mad Scientist) and Hannah (his daughter) mixing up "alien cement" (that's what UFOs are made of) otherwise know as smoothies.

Recipe:
3/4 cup yogurt
1/2 cup apple juice
2 bananas
12 strawberries
1/4 cup blueberries
2 packets "Emergen-C"

We went to Grandma Cindy and papa Clydes house on Saturday. We dug potatoes and brought home a bunch of vegtables. We also brought home a large bucket of grapes to make jelly. We picked them off the stem and froze them that night.

We cleaned my room on Friday. It looks great.

Hanna got a hamster today. His name is muffin. She is really exited because she has wanted one since Jerry died.

We went back to the fair on wednesday night. I entered my big afghan and a granny square baby blanket with two hats. I also entered a hat, a scarf, a bath bag, and an envelope purse. I got purple ribbons (that's the best) for every thing but the scarf, it got blue. I also entered a plate of oatmeal cookies which got a purple ribbon. Spencer's rocket went to state. He also got a purple for those.
We went back again on Saturday.

Our fist monarch hatched friday. We tagged it for practice (tagging dosn't start till late August here). Hanna got to tag it then she held it on her hand. It walked up her arm onto her head.

When she started to jump up and down and wave her arms it flew away. Mom said she taught it to fly!

Hanna set up a playmobil game on the kitchen table so we ate in the dining room the last few nights.

The ocean...

...the beach...

...and fun in the sand.

I made peach freezer jam last night. We had it on waffles for breakfast this morning. It is realy good.

My zinnias are blooming. I have picked one pea pod but I think my peas are dying now. My lentils are vining and blooming. They have tiny white flowers that look a little like baby's breathe. My carrots are growing nicely. The swallowtail catterpillars eat them, but I put them over by the dill. Those litte yellow betles that look kind of like lady bugs ate lacey holes in my bean plants. There are none there now so maybe they will be O. K.

Our first and second swallowtail butterfly and our second Monach hatched today.

We have been picking mulberries this summer. They grow in the trees on the trail by our house. Dad wanted to pick the mulberries faster so we brought a sheet and held it under the tree then dad hit the tree with a pole. It works very well.
When we get the mulberries home we make cobler and crisp. The crisp recipe was Grandma K's recipe for Rhubarb Crisp. We adapted it a little and its really quite good.

Crisp

Filling:
5 cups mulberries (washed with stems removed)
1 1/4 cup sugar
1/3 cup flour
1/2 teaspoon cinnamon (optional)

Topping:
1 cup flour
1/2 cup oatmeal
1 cup brown sugar
1/2 cup butter

Bake at 375 40-45 min.

Entry day for the county fair is this coming Tuesday. I plan to enter a granny square baby blanket with two matching hats, an adult size hat, a bath bag, wash cloth and a (maybe) coin purse. I also made a big tan afghan. It has cables, popcorns, and diamonds. It took me all school year to complete. Last year, I made a baby blanket that was mile-a-minute and it went to state fair. Your project has to be chosen to go to state fair. State fair is a lot of fun, but so is the couny fair. The county fair has an animal scramble. People donate animals (chickens, rabits, sheep, goats) and they let some go in the arena and each age group (girls and boys separate) tries to catch them. It is for children up to 12. If you catch an animal, you can keep it or sell it to the peting zoo for a dollar. Last year, I caught a rabbit. Spencer caught a chicken. Hanna didn't catch anything (it was her first year). This year, Spencer is entering a rocket and some cookies. Hanna is a clover kid, which means she gets a rainbow ribon for every thing (she is rather insulted about it). The fair is always a summer highlight for us.

We left for Colorado on Thursday the 17th at 5:30. We drove to North Platte and spent the night. The next day, we drove around North Platte. Then we left for Manitou Springs for a family reunion. We rode the cog rail to the top of Pikes Peak. www.cograilway.com We spent the next morning at Garden of the Gods. We then left and went to Denver. We stayed at Mom's uncle's house and spent Monday with mom's aunt Rosie. Then we left on Tuesday the 22nd. That day, we drove through Rocky Mountain National Park to dad's uncle's house. We went back to Rocky Mountain National Park the next day. We kids participated in the junior ranger program. We found a small yarn shop to go to. It was called The Stichin' Den. www.thestitchinden.com I bought some yarn to make hats and some as a thank you for Hunter (she took care of Cookie while we were gone). We drove home on the 24th. We watched The Sword in The Stone and Chitty Chitty Bang Bang on the way.

We harvested my first purple beans lately.

I made herbed butter on Sunday. I made two sticks. One oregano and one with chives. First, I chopped up the herbs. Then I mixed them in to the (softened) butter. Then mom helped me shape it into a cylinder in wax paper. We put it in the freezer to use this winter.

On Saturday, I made myself a skirt. It was very easy. We got the pattern from:

http://pleasantviewschoolhouse.blogspot.com/2007/10/how-to-sew-simple-girly-skirt.html

It makes a lovely skirt. I already had two skirts like it, but this was the first one I made. The boys got back from their motorcyle trip last night.

I made freezer jam this evening after dinner. I got the recipe from: http://thesparrowsnest.typepad.com/the_sparrows_nest/2007/05/freezer_jam_101.html but it is in the SURE JELL box as well. I made strawberry-blueberry today but the SURE JELL package had recipes for apricot, blueberry, cherry, peach, mango, red rasberry or blackberry, rasberry-peach, strawberry, and strawberry-blueberry. I have tried only strawberry and strawberry-blueberry so far. Dad and Spencer left at 4:30. They are going to ride motorcycles in Kansas. They will be back on Sunday.

On the 4th of July we made blueberry-corn meal muffins. They are Great.

EASY CORN BREAD
1-1/4 cups all-purpose flour
3/4 cup Enriched corn meal
1/4 cup sugar
2 teaspoons baking powder
1/2 teaspoon salt (optional)
1 cup milk
1/4 cup vegetable oil
2 egg whites or 1 egg, beaten
a sprinckle of blue berries

Heat oven to 400 F. Grease 8 or 9 inch pan. Combine
dry ingredients. Stir in milk, oil and egg, mixing
just until dry ingredients are moistened. Fold in blue berries. Pour in
muffin papers.
Bake 20 to 25 minutes or until
light golden brown and wooden pick inserted in center
comes out clean. Serve warm.
9 SERVINGS

Last weekend at Mahoney we found a monach caterpiller. We brought it home and it made a chrysalis on the lid of the cage. We moved it into our Butterfly Pavillion.
Last year was the first year we kept monachs. Milk weed is the only thing the caterpillars eat. We found a milk weed plant with an egg on it in our yard. We also brought home several more caterpillars on milk weed for the first one. For details see Raising Monachs.
Before we raised any monachs we raised black swallowtails. They eat parsley and dill (which we plant just for them).
Parsley is a bi-annual which means it lives 2 years. The second year it blooms and seeds down.
We found our first black swallowtail last night.
When they make chrysalises we put them in our Butterfly Pavillion. We got it for Chirstmas from grandma Kathie. It was one of those kits were you mail in for caterpillars. We mailed in and got our painted lady caterpillars. We have used the pavillion ever since.

I love the smell of lavender. It makes great scent pillows too.
Last year mom and I bought a lavender plant. It did not bloom last year. This summer it has bloomed though only once so far.
To harvest it, I cut the stems off as far down as possible. And I tied it in a bunddle with twine. It is drying downstairs with my chamomile.

I found two patterns for crocheted baskets in one of those craft magizes I got on a garage sale. I adapted the second one a little.

TINY BASKET
Use any scraps of worsted
weight 4 ply yarn. Size G crochet
hook (I used H) reccomended. I also
used a stitch marker to mark the rows.

BASKET: Rnd 1: Ch 2, 6 sc in 2nd ch
from hook.
Rnd 2: 2 Sc in each sc. Do not join but
continue around.
Rnd 3: (2 sc in first sc, 1 in next sc) repeat
around-18 sc.
Rnd 4: (2 sc in first sc, 1 sc in each of
next 2 sc), repeat around-24 sc.
Rnd 5: in back loop only sc
in each sc around.
Rnds 6 through 9: In both loops, sc in each sc around.
(you may add an extra row)
Rnd 10: work 2 sc in each sc around.
HANDLE: ch 12 (I ch more),sl st in each
ch st. Sew to basket.
FLOWERS: (ch 5, sl st in 3rd ch from hook)
repeat as many times as desired to fill basket.

CROCHET BASKET:
With size K crochet hook (I used J) and worsted weight yarn,
ch 4, join with sl st to form ring. Work 10 hdc in ring,
do not join. Work 2 hdc in each st. (2 hdc in first st 1 hdc
in next hdc) repeat around. (2 hdc in first st 1 in next 2)
repeat around. 1 hdc in each hdc around. Join.
HANDLE: work 6 sc. Ch 12 (or more) hdc in 2nd loop from hook
and in each hdc across, fasten off. Stitch handle to basket.

My garden is doing well. I have 1 pea plant, but it is growing. My beans are growing quickly. The carrots have sprouted, but I think the lentils are dying. The zinnias are growing well and I have thinned them out.

I started making washclothes with some 100% cotton I got at a garage sale. I both knit and crochet them. Crocheting them takes less time and usually less yarn, but knitting is good practice and they are quite lovely.
To crochet them is easy. You chain until it is the width you want. Then crochet until large enough. Then end and weave threads in. I usually use double crochets (when in a hurry or almost out of yarn) or half double crochets. Half double crochets make prettier wash clothes, but take more time and yarn than double crochets.
To knit, cast on 34 stiches (or 30 for less yarn). Knit for 68 rows, or until square. You can also border them with single crochets.

Last weekend was garage sale weekend in our nieghborhood. On Thursday, we went to some of them. I got a little basket and a book call "Hints for Upstairs, Downstairs, and all Around the House" for $0.25 each. At another garage sale, I got three skeens RED HEART 100% cotton yarn and two bunches of crochet hooks worth $1.00 each for $4.00 total. Later, we went back with Grandma Mary. They were packing up to take everything to the Goodwill. They said we could take whatever we wanted for free. I got a whole bunch of patterns, some more yarn, and some knitting needles. I also got some old craft magazines.

I started picking chamomile yesterday. I pick chamomile which I dry and put in little bags to make tub tea. Tub tea is a little bag of chamomile that you put in your bath.
To make some tub tea, you first plant some chamomile(we planted ours from seed). It is an annual, but will seed down if you don't pick it every day. When it is blooming, you should begin picking. The flowers are ready to pick when there petals are folded back under the middle of the flower. When you pick, you should pinch off all the stem and place the flower in a container. When you are done picking, pour the flowers onto a screen stretched over a picture frame to dry. Dry over the summer. Then put in cute bags or in a jar.

I started a fun project yesterday. When we were in Colonial Williamsburg grandma Mary and grandpa Richard bought Hanna and I basket weaving kits. We started working on them yesterday. It is lots of fun. The kit has easy and encouraging instructions. To order your own kit go to www.basketweaving101.net.

I have been making coin purses lately. It is fun, athough it can take a long time.
I use Homespun lion brand yarn with size one needles or red heart yarn and PICK UP STICKS. The first is harder to do and takes longer. The second is (if you have a set of PICK UP STICKS) easier and faster.
To start either one, I cast on until it looks about the right size for the width and then knit until it is the right size (I measure by it folding it in half and that is the size the finished product will be). Then I begin to decrease. To decrease you knit two stiches together. When there is one stitch on the needle, cast off.
Then sew up the sides and attach a cute button.

I made banana bread yesterday it is great.

3 ripe bananas
1/3 cup butter
2/3 cup sugar
1 egg

1 1/4 cup white flour
1/2 cup whole wheat flour
2 tsp. baking powder
1/4 tsp. baking soda
1/2 tsp. salt
add a sprinkle of cinnamon
and
a
sprinkle of ground
flax seed

350 F 1 hour = bread
20 min. = 1 doz. muffins

Recently my aunt loaned me a DVD about Continental Knitting. Continental knitting means that you hold your yarn in your left hand like you would if you where crocheting. It is fairly easy and faster than the American style of knitting. I was afraid it would difficult to learn from a DVD but it was easy.

Today I baked corn bread to go with dinner. It takes about 35 minutes and tastes great.

EASY CORN BREAD
1-1/4 cups all-purpose flour
3/4 cup Enriched corn meal
1/4 cup sugar
2 teaspoons baking powder
1/2 teaspoon salt (optional)
1 cup milk
1/4 cup vegetable oil
2 egg whites or 1 egg, beaten

Heat oven to 400 F. Grease 8 or 9 inch pan. Combine
dry ingredients. Stir in milk, oil and egg, mixing
just until dry ingredients are moistened. Pour batter
into prepared pan. Bake 20 to 25 minutes or until
light golden brown and wooden pick inserted in center
comes out clean. Serve warm.
9 SERVINGS

I like mine with honey or honeybutter.
YUM!!!

I cleaned my hamster Cookie's cage today. Cookie is 1 year and 6 months old. To clean his cage, I first put him in a large storage bin. Then, I dump the aquarium in a trash can outside (or in the garage in cold weather). Next, I hose out the tank and dry it with an old bath towel. In cold weather, I wipe it out with damp paper towel and dry it. Then, I fill it with bedding. I use Pine. Then, I may add some alfalfa to snack on. Next, I take it inside and add the food dish and water bottle after rinsing them off. I feed him whatever the store we go to has, and he is not picky. For treats, I give him Yogurt drops or Milk and Honey drops and whatever baking we do such as a piece of pancake. I also give him fresh foods like carrots and spinach. I clean his cage once a week.

My garden is doing very well. The zinnias have sprouted the lentils are about three inches tall. Three pea plants have come up and one is about two inches tall. Two beans have also sprouted. I planted the carots but they have not come up yet.

My flower garden is shaded, so some things won't grow well in it. I planted hastas around the tree and I mostly grow columbine and lillies of the valley. I also grow purple cone flowers, daisies, and black eyed susans. There are also a coral bell plant, and some small bushes. In spring I have Tulips (the bunnys usualy eat them so they rarely bloom) and dafodills (bunnys don't eat them).

We also have an herb garden. In it, we grow chives (good on mashed potatoes), oragano, thyme, and bee balm. Other plants (which must be planted yearly) include basil, dill, and gourds. We also planted sunflowers, but some thing is eating them. It can't be bunnies, beacause they are fenced in so we aren't sure.

This year, 2008, we went on a trip to Colonial Williamsburg (in Virginia) and then to Washington D.C. We were gone April 30th thru may 5th. On April 30th, we left early in the morning and flew to Detroit, MI where we switched planes in a hurry and then flew to Norfolk, VA. In Norfolk, we stopped to play on the beach. Then we drove to Williamsburg and spent the night at a hotel.

The next day, we walked around Colonial Williamsburg. We saw (among other things) basket weaving, the wheel right, the Wythe house (with George Washington’s bed room), and the book bindery. Dad and mom bought mob caps for Hanna and I and a three pointed hat for Spencer.

Friday we walked around Colonial Williamsburg some more. We went to the maze and went through it. We also saw the wig maker and watched the Revolutionary city (they act out things that happened during the revolution).

The next day, we drove to Washington D.C. and walked around the mall. We also played ball there. We could see the Washington Monument, the Jefferson Memorial, the Lincoln Memorial, and the White House from different places on the mall.

On Sunday, we rode the Metro to the zoo and saw the Pandas. One rolled down by our feet! There are three pandas and they are on loan from China for ten years. We also walked up to the Washington Monument. It’s really big!! We saw the World War II Memorial and the changing of the guard at Arlington National Cemetery.

The next day was our last day in D.C. We saw the Lincoln Memorial and the Jefferson Memorial. We had lunch at the American Indian Museum and then we girls went to the Natural History Museum. At the Natural History Museum, we looked at the bugs first. There were tiny crabs and giant millipedes. Then we went to the gems and saw the Hope Diamond. We also went to the Western Cultures and saw a human mummy. We flew home Tuesday and arrived at about 3:00. It was lots of fun.

HISTORY:
A Light Kindled The Story of Priscilla Mullils by Tracy M. Leininger
The Land Beyond the Setting Sun The Story of Sacagwa by Tracy M. Leininger
Unfading Beuty The Story of Dolly Madison by Tracy M. Leininger
Nothing can Separate us The Story of Nan Harper by Tracy M. Leininger
Eggermeier's BIBLE Story Book
In Grandma's Attic by Arleta Richardson
More Storys From Grandma,s Attic by Arleta Richardson
Still More Stories From Grandma's Attic by Arleta Richardson
Treasures From Grandma by Arleta Richardson
The Little Medicine Carrier
Theobold the Iron-Hearted
The House With Two Grandmothers by Rebecca Martin
Noah Webster's Advice to the Young and Moral Catechism from Wallbuilder Press
By Wagon and Flatboat by Enid Le Monte Meadowcraft (*)
Teddy's Button by Amy Le Feuvre
The Railway Children by E. Nesbit
Midnight and Jeremiah by Sterling North
Ink on His Fingers by Louise A. Vernon
Number The Stars by Lois Lowry (10 and up)
Adam of the Road by Elizabeth Janet Gray
Johnny Tremain by Ester Forbes
Elin's Amerika by Marguerite De Angeli
Gopher Tails for Papa by Erling Nicolai Rolfsrud
The Treasure in the Little Trunk by Helen Fuller Orton
By Wagon and Flatboat by Enid La Monte Meadowcroft
Susannah the Pioneer Cow by Miriam E. Manson
Marguerite makes a Book by Bruce Robertson
The Bounces of Cynthiann by Evelyn Sibley Lampman
Beautiful Stories From Shakespeare for Children edited by E. Nesbitt
Paddle-to-the-Sea by Holling Clancy Holling
Minn of the Mississippi by Holling Clancy Holling
Columbus by Ingri & Edgar Parin D'Aulaire
Leif the Lucky by Ingri & Edgar Parin D'Aulaire
The Language of Flowers by Sheila Pickles
A Lion To Guard Us by Clyde Robert Bulla*
This Dear Bought Land by Jean Lee Latham

YWAM MISSIONARY BIOGRAPHIES
(to be read together with parents for children under 13):
William Carey, Obliged to Go by Janet & Geoff Benge
George Muller, The Guardian of Bristol's Orphans by Janet & Geoff Benge
Cameron Townsend, Good News in Every Language by Janet & Geoff Benge

SCIENCE:
Christian Liberty Nature Readers K-5
God's Marvels in Washington
Why do Birds Build Nests? by Susan Horner
Why do Plants Grow? by Susan Horner
Fun With Nature Take-Along Guide
Wild Animals of North America
Birds at Home by Marguerite Henry

CLASSICS:
A Chistmas Carol by Dickens
Pollyanna by Eleanor H. Porter
Hans Brinker by Mary Mapes Dodge
Heidi by Johanna Spyri
The Secret Garden by Frances Hodgson Burnett
A Little Princess by Frances Hodgson Burnett
A Child's Garden of Verses by Robert L. Stevenson
The Complete Adventures of Curious George by Margret & H. A. Rey
The Complete Tales & Poems of Winnie-The-Pooh by A. A. Milne
Richard Scarry's Best Storybook Ever
Little Women by Louisa May Alcott*
Jo's Boys by Louisa May Alcott
Little Men by Louisa May Alcott
Eight Cousins by Louisa May Alcott
Rose in Bloom by Louisa May Alcott
Anne of Green Gables by L. M. Montgomery
Anne of Avonlea by L. M. Montgomery
Rebecca of Sunnybrook Farm by Kate Douglas Wiggin

PICTURE BOOKS:
The Complete Adventures of Curious George by Margret & H. A. Rey
The Complete Tales & Poems of Winnie-The-Pooh by A. A. Milne
Richard Scarry's Best Storybook Ever
Daisy Comes Home by Jan Brett
Children Just Like Me by Barnabas and Anabel Kindersly
Toot & Puddle by Holly Hobbie
Go, Dog. Go! by P. D. Eastman
The 4th of July story by Alice Danlgliesh
Horton hears a Who! by Dr. Seuss
Hop on Pop by Dr. Seuss
Wee Gillis by Mundro Leaf
The Tiny Seed by Eric Carle
April's Kittens by Clare Turlay Newberry
Mouse Tails by Arnold Lobel
Days with Frog and Toad by Arnold Lobel
Frog and Toad Together by Arnold Lobel
Calico the Wonder Horse by Virginia Lee Burton
Seaman's Jounal- On the Trail with Lewis and Clark by Patricia Eubank
Fun with Nature Take-Along Guide by Mel Boring

BOOKS FOR YOUNG LADIES:
Beautifl Girlhood by Mabel Hale
The Inside-out Beauty Book by Sanda Byrd
Beautfully Made Approaching Womanhood edited by Julie Hiramine
Beautfully Made Celebrating Womanhood edited by Julie Hiramine
The Official Christian Babysitting Guide by Rebecca Park Totilo
The Christian Girls Guide to Being Your Best by Katrina Cassel
The Princess and the Kiss, a Story of God's Gift of Purity by Jennie Bishop

EXPRESSLY CHRISTIAN BOOKS:
A Light Kindled The Story of Priscilla Mullils by Tracy M. Leininger
The Land Beyond the Setting Sun The Story of Sacagwa by Tracy M. Leininger
Unfading Beuty The Story of Dolly Madison by Tracy M. Leininger
Nothing can Separate us The Story of Nan Harper by Tracy M. Leininger
Eerrmeiers BIBLE Story Book
In Grandma's Attic by Arleta Richardson
More Storys From Grandma,s Attic by Arleta Richardson
Still More Stories From Grandma's Attic by Arleta Richardson
Treasures From Grandma by Arleta Richardson
The Little Medicine Carrier
Theobold the Iron-Hearted
The House With Two Grandmothers by Rebecca Martin
Noah Webster's Advice to the Young and Moral Catechism from Wallbuilder Press
Christian Liberty Nature Readers K-5
God's Marvels in Washington
The Fisherman's Daughter by Mary Zook
Her Mother's Bible and Hedge Fence by Isabella Alden
Rosa by Elaine Cunningham (includes some Spanish)
The Lighted Way by Cousin Bessie
The Little Girls Treasury compiled by Annie Brooks
Roses and Thorns from Grace and Truth Books
Teddy's Button by Amy Le Feuvre
Ten Girls Who Made a Difference by Irene Howat
Ten Boys Who Made a Difference by Irene Howat
Great Pets by Sara Stein

CHAPTER BOOKS:
The Fisherman's Daughter by Mary Zook
Rosa by Elaine Cunningham (includes some Spanish)
Midnight and Jeremiah by Sterling North
The Wind in The Willows by Kenneth Grahame
Justin Morgan Had a Horse by Marguerite Henry
Dear Readers and Riders, by Marguerite Henry
Misty of Chincoteague by Marguerite Henry
Stormy Misty's Foal by Marguerite Henry
Sea Star Orphan of Chincoteague by Marguerite Henry
Misty's Twilight by Marguerite Henry
A Pictorial Life Story of Misty by Marguerite Henry
Ballet Shoes by Noel Streatfeild
Theater Shoes by Noel Streatfeild
Besty-Tacy by Maud Hart Lovelace
Besty-Tacy and Tib by Maud Hart Lovelace
Besty and Tacy Go Over the Big Hill by Maud Hart Lovelace
Besty and Tacy Go Downtown by Maud Hart Lovelace
Blue Willow by Doris Gates
Mary Ellis, student nurse by Hope Newell
Understood Besty by Dorothy Canfield Fisher

MYSTERIES:
Incognito Mosquito Makes History by E.A. Hass
Encyclopedia Brown, Boy Detective by Donald J. Sobol
Encyclopedia Brown and the Case of the Secret Pitch by Donald J. Sobol
Encyclopedia Brown and the Case of the Disgusting Sneakers by Donald J. Sobol
Encyclopedia Brown Finds the Clues by Donald J. Sobol
Encyclopedia Brown Saves the Day by Donald J. Sobol
Encyclodedia Brown and the Case of the Treasure Hunt by Donald J Sobol
The Boxcar Children #1-#19 by Gertrude Chandler Warner

GOOD READ-ALOUDS:
Her Mother's Bible and Hedge Fence by Isabella Alden
In Grandma's Attic by Arleta Richardson
More Storys From Grandma,s Attic by Arleta Richardson
Still More Stories From Grandma's Attic by Arleta Richardson
Treasures From Grandma by Arleta Richardson

BIOGRAPHIES:
A Light Kindled The Story of Priscilla Mullils by Tracy M. Leininger
The Land Beyond the Setting Sun The Story of Sacagwa by Tracy M. Leininger
Unfading Beuty The Story of Dolly Madison by Tracy M. Leininger
Nothing can Separate us The Story of Nan Harper by Tracy M. Leininger
William Penn, friendly boy by Miriam E. Mason**
Marie Mitchell, girl Aastonomer by Grace Hathaway Melin**
Molly Pitcher, girl patriot by Augusta Stevenson**
Juliette Low, girl scout by Helen Boyd Higgins**
Rachel Jackson, Tennessee girl by Christine Noble Goven**
Dorthea Dix, girl reformer by Grace Hathaway Melin**
Abigail Adams, girl of colonial days by Jean Brown Wagoner**
Betsy Ross,designer of our flag by Ann Weil**
Eleanor Roosevelt, fighter for social justice by Ann Weil**
Amelia Earhart, young aviator by Beatrice Gormley**
Clara Barton, founder of the American Red Cross by Augusta Stevenson**
Susan B. Anthony, champion fo women's rights by Helen Albee Monsell**
Sacagawea, american pathfinder by Flora Warren Seymour**
Louisa May Alcott, young novelist by Beatrice Gormley**
Mary Todd Lincoln, girl of the blue grass by Katharine E. Wilkie**
Mr. Rogers, young friend and neighbor by George E. Stanley**
Mother Teresa, friend to the poor by Kathleen Kudlinski***
Helen Keller's Teacher by Mickie Davidson

SHORT STORIES:
The Little Girls Treasury compiled by Annie Brooks
Roses and Thorns from Grace and Truth Books
In Grandma's Attic by Arleta Richardson
More Storys From Grandma,s Attic by Arleta Richardson
Still More Stories From Grandma's Attic by Arleta Richardson
Treasures From Grandma by Arleta Richardson
Homer Price by Robert McCloskey
Centerburg Tales by Robert McCloskey

CRAFTS:
Crochet: learn to crochet six great projects by Anne Akers Johnson (Klutz)

OTHER GOOD BOOKS:
Muley-ears Nobodys Dog by Marguerite Henry
The Little Fellow by Marguerite Henry
The Brave Little Seamstress by Mary Pope Osborne
The Three Golden Ornges by Alma Flor Ada

(*) = look for my post reviewing this book!
(**) = from the "Childhood of Famouse Americans" series
(***) = from the "Childhood of World Figures" series

I planted my garden this week. First we tilled the soil and removed all grass with a hoe and trowel. And we set up a compost pile in a small plastic basket with the bottom removed. In our compost we put coffee grounds, and some fruit peels (not very many because we don't want bees)-one inch organic material then one inch dirt. When it is filled we will stir it daily until it is the texture of oatmeal and then we will use it for fertilizer. Then we set up a tepee to grow peas on and transplanted a chives plant(beacause carrots grow well next to chives and I will plant some later). Next we planted a row of Green beans and Purple beans with a row of zinnias behind (just for looks). We planted my peas and some lentils (just to see what would happen). Before planting the lentils I sprouted mine. It is very easy to do! First you will need a glass jar, a piece of screeen, some lentils, and a rubber band. Fill the jar about half full of lentils and atach the screen with the rubber band. Then fill with water and dump in the sink repeat three more times. Do three times daily (once at every meal) until sprouts are the size you like then enjoy or plant them in your garden and see what happens. This can also be done with alfalfa, or beans. I will plant carrots later. I still have to buy them.

We raised monarchs this last summer. We found a milkweed plant with eggs on it in our yard. Then we found some caterpillars at my aunt's house. We fed them milkweed and watched them grow. We gathered milkweed from the trail near our house. One day, when we brought it home, we found two more caterpillars on it. We put them in with the others. One died, but the other four made chrysalises. All four of them hatched and we let them go in our yard.

We also participated in a Monarch Tagging program near our home. We caught them with butterfly nets and put a sticker on their wing and then released them. It was great!

Little Women was written by Louisa May Alcott. It was first printed in 1868. We have our own copy, but it can be found at any library or bookstore.

This is a story about four sisters and their mother in the North during the Civil War. Their father is a doctor to wounded soldiers. Meg is the oldest. Jo is next and wishes she were a boy. Beth is shy. Amy is the youngest.

We find out what it was like to live during the Civil War. Each of the girls has a different challenge. Beth is shy. Jo has a bad temper. Meg is vain. Amy is selfish. How did they overcome their troubles? Read the book and find out!

It was a good book. I really liked it. Every girl should read this book because it is a really great book about poor girls who have to overcome their troubles.

By Wagon and Flatboat is by Enid Lee Monte Meadowcraft. Its copyright is 1938. You can check it out from Omaha Public Library or buy it from www. Amazon.com. We have it on our book shelf at home.

The main characters are the Burds (Mr. and Mrs. Burd, Jon, Andy, and Sally), the Mathews (Mr. and Mrs. Mathews, Anna, and Richard), and uncle Nat. The story happens in 1789 when George Washington was President and is historical fiction. The families must move from Pennsylvania to Ohio. They want to start a new life in the West.

The part I like best is when the Indians attacked their flatboat. They must keep very still so the Indians won’t know they are there. The Indians shot at them. Did anyone get hurt? How did Jon obey orders? Read the story to find out.
Becca Rothfuss

Hamsters are cute and fuzzy rodents that make good pets. Wild hamsters are tobacco colored. They have lighter markings on their shoulders and are pale grayish-white underneath. However, at the pet store, they come in many colors including albino, spotted, apricot, silver –gray, etc… All pet hamsters are descended from 1 male and 3 females who had 150 babies in one year.
A good cage for your hamster is important and should be escape proof. A good cage is a 5 ½1/2 gallon fish tank (I use a 10 gallon) or a bird cage. You can buy your hamster an exercise wheel. Some hamsters run 1-2 miles every night on exercise wheels. You can also give your hamster old socks to nest in.
A healthy hamster should be well fed. In fact, the name hamster comes from the German word for hoarder because it is their instinct to hoard food. Their pouches can hold their own weight in food. You can feed your hamster dry pet store food which contains mostly seeds and dried fruit. A healthy hamster should also have some fresh fruits and vegetables. Some of these are lettuce, broccoli, peas, carrots, turnips, parsley, alfalfa, cucumber, and apple. Hold off for a few days if your hamster gets diarrhea. You can also gather some leaves outside for your hamster. Some of these are dandy lion, clover, raspberry leaves, and grass. Never gather these by a highway. They may be poisoned by the exhaust. Take good care of your hamster and it will live 2-3 years.