Stay off of Facebook.
Home made cleaners.
I tend to use less or non-toxic cleaners for around the house. I get migraines when I use commercial stuff with lots of fragrances so I try to make as much as I can.
One of my favourites is a something similar to softscrub. Its great for cleaning the oven or glass stove tops.
Mix 2 parts baking soda to 1 part dish liquid or Dr. Bronners soap then add a little bit of water. Mix well and let sit for a couple of minutes.
Window cleaner/household cleaner
Mix this in a large spray bottle.
Add white vinegar to fill 1/3 of the bottle, add a squirt of dish liquid, add about 1/4 cup rubbing alcohol then fill with water.
Maybe I will come up with some others later...
Wednesday, March 31, 2010
So here we are at the beginning of April. Even though I started several blogs in March, they never got published. Hmmm, I wonder why?
Anyhow.
New month new projects.
Out of the 52 project challenge I completed several.
Cleaned 4 fleeces, I have 3 left to do.
Finished a pair of knitted slippers.
Have 5 skeins of handspun yarn for my stash or sale.
Washed almost all the fabric I had sitting in a tote so I can start using it to make cloth books and other things.
I am at 40/52...12 completed projects.
Its slow going.
At the moment I am also looking for a job outside of the home. The first in eight years. I usually worked from home part time as a massage therapist and herbalist. But now I need to earn money to move the boys and me back home to Colorado. Another reason my projects have been going slow.
Life gets too complicated...
Anyhow.
New month new projects.
Out of the 52 project challenge I completed several.
Cleaned 4 fleeces, I have 3 left to do.
Finished a pair of knitted slippers.
Have 5 skeins of handspun yarn for my stash or sale.
Washed almost all the fabric I had sitting in a tote so I can start using it to make cloth books and other things.
I am at 40/52...12 completed projects.
Its slow going.
At the moment I am also looking for a job outside of the home. The first in eight years. I usually worked from home part time as a massage therapist and herbalist. But now I need to earn money to move the boys and me back home to Colorado. Another reason my projects have been going slow.
Life gets too complicated...
Monday, February 1, 2010
Ack! Its the beginning of February!
Where does the time go?
So, this is what we've been up to...
Dusty received a microscope from my best friend Thea. We've been friends since like the eighth grade. It is an awesome scope! So on to biology. Dusty is really interested in forensics so we thought this would be a good place for him to start. After he gets the basics of biology done he will have a biology pack from Labpaq as well as a forensic class from the same place. Thank goodness for Vet Med class, my EMT and detective friends in San Diego area or I'd never be able to keep up.
Of course with advanced Science you have to have the math that goes along with it. So we have been hitting the books.
Rhett is working on his reading skills...well after I have to pry him away from the video games. Thanks dad for buying him Pikmin 2 the obsession.
He loves math, science, and art. Not so much in the writing the department.
I've completed three projects out of the 52 and working on two more. They seem to keep piling up. When I complete one then something happens and I end up with more. Oh well, at least I haven't bought anything except for some knitting needles so I can do more than one project at a time...
My next project is finishing the socks I started, finish spinning the llama fiber for a pair of socks (then knitting those socks), making a pair of mittens for Rhett, then sorting out my fabric stash to make some easy crafts for Rhett. All those for the month of February.
I am still working on my Japanese so I can take the proficiency test. If only my brain would get in gear. Depression really sucks. I know I can't do anything to change the past, but moving ahead seems so hard too. It seems all my brain function is used to just get through the day.
Well today seems to be sunny. Its still cold here, just above freezing. I can't wait til I can put in a garden and get outside.
Off to do some knitting and cleaning.
So, this is what we've been up to...
Dusty received a microscope from my best friend Thea. We've been friends since like the eighth grade. It is an awesome scope! So on to biology. Dusty is really interested in forensics so we thought this would be a good place for him to start. After he gets the basics of biology done he will have a biology pack from Labpaq as well as a forensic class from the same place. Thank goodness for Vet Med class, my EMT and detective friends in San Diego area or I'd never be able to keep up.
Of course with advanced Science you have to have the math that goes along with it. So we have been hitting the books.
Rhett is working on his reading skills...well after I have to pry him away from the video games. Thanks dad for buying him Pikmin 2 the obsession.
He loves math, science, and art. Not so much in the writing the department.
I've completed three projects out of the 52 and working on two more. They seem to keep piling up. When I complete one then something happens and I end up with more. Oh well, at least I haven't bought anything except for some knitting needles so I can do more than one project at a time...
My next project is finishing the socks I started, finish spinning the llama fiber for a pair of socks (then knitting those socks), making a pair of mittens for Rhett, then sorting out my fabric stash to make some easy crafts for Rhett. All those for the month of February.
I am still working on my Japanese so I can take the proficiency test. If only my brain would get in gear. Depression really sucks. I know I can't do anything to change the past, but moving ahead seems so hard too. It seems all my brain function is used to just get through the day.
Well today seems to be sunny. Its still cold here, just above freezing. I can't wait til I can put in a garden and get outside.
Off to do some knitting and cleaning.
Monday, January 4, 2010
The boys school work
Today Rhett had a formal lesson in reading. He usually just goes around asking us to spell things for him and many times he will use the magnetic letters on the fridge to spell it back. I read to him quite a bit and he has gotten into the Dirk Bones series by Doug Cushman. He also loves Beatrix Potter.
After that he painted with watercolours. I am going to bind them into a book for him.
Dusty read about Queen Hatsheput. Did you know that she reined during the time Moses and the Isrealites wandered in the wilderness?
He's been reading books by Erin Hunter as well and welding. I wonder if he can learn to weld without blowing up the place??? Ha! I know he is reading this.
I wonder what tomorrow will bring.
After that he painted with watercolours. I am going to bind them into a book for him.
Dusty read about Queen Hatsheput. Did you know that she reined during the time Moses and the Isrealites wandered in the wilderness?
He's been reading books by Erin Hunter as well and welding. I wonder if he can learn to weld without blowing up the place??? Ha! I know he is reading this.
I wonder what tomorrow will bring.
52 Weeks-52 Projects
One of the sites that I frequent has a challenge going on. Its finish a project a week for a year. Its supposed to help motivate some of us to get creative and finish some of the things we've got going on. Some wondered if they had enough stuff to do 52 projects and I'm thinking I need to do more than one a week to finish all of my projects especially since I want to open up a shop here in the spring at the local farmer's market.
So I am set to finish the projects that I actually promised a couple of friends that I would send them a few things. Then finish what I promised Dusty. I told Rhett I'd make him a pair of mittens. Then all open projects. I think I have enough to keep me busy for awhile. ; )
I am hoping that there will be someone giving away fleece again come spring/summer when all the critters are shorn. I don't mind buying, but until I get the shop up and running and start turning a profit...free is good.
So I am set to finish the projects that I actually promised a couple of friends that I would send them a few things. Then finish what I promised Dusty. I told Rhett I'd make him a pair of mittens. Then all open projects. I think I have enough to keep me busy for awhile. ; )
I am hoping that there will be someone giving away fleece again come spring/summer when all the critters are shorn. I don't mind buying, but until I get the shop up and running and start turning a profit...free is good.
Wednesday, November 25, 2009
Its finally done
Rhett was invited to a costume party and of course me being me would not go out and buy him one. Why should I? So I decided to torture myself and make him one. I wanted to make him a Japanese outfit. It has Hakama pants, kosode and jacket.
Now, I really can't sew. I like to think I can, but I really do detest it. I am not that methodical. I do not like to do things in order and sewing makes me do things in order.
I don't think it came out all that bad. My sewing machine hates me and made sure the thread broke about every 30 seconds or so. It took me such a long time to get the jacket done whereas I had no problem with the pants.
I would have made Rhett dress up, but he fell asleep on me. I was even tempted to wake him up and make him try it on. Oh well. I shall get pictures of him tomorrow at the party.
Unschooling method (yes, its a rant)
This is in response to those who tell me: "I know some unschoolers and they just let their children play video games all day, every day. They do absolutely nothing with their kids..."
I love unschooling and I realize that it is not for everyone. It does take a leap of faith to believe that your children will learn while letting them follow their own interests.
It may look like, to others especially critical ones, that my children do nothing all day. It may look like they play games all day or are on the computer all day. However, they are not with us all day. My four year old does play quite a bit of games but he also tells the most amazing stories from imagination, is learning to read, can recite songs as well as make some up on his own, is learning about different types of bugs, learning to sew, knows how to needle felt as well as wet felt and is learning to crochet. He is learning to read in Japanese, loves to help me cook, plays with the dogs, gardens and collect pieces of wood that he calls swords. This is pretty much on his own without my coaxing, coaching or making him sit at a table for hours on end.
My older son has a wealth of interests although you wouldn't think that with the amount of time he spends on Facebook or texting his friends. He wants to write a book, he is interested in atvs, motorbikes, horses, taking things apart, and music. He does awesome in public speaking and goes out of his way to help people.
Most unschoolers are not doing nothing all day. It may seem like it but there is usually a lot more learning going on than they let on and unless you spend 24/7 with one, you will not know it.
So before a person says: "I know an unschooler and they do absolutely nothing..." Make sure you have your facts straight and hard evidence before you start ranting about how the parents are ruining their children by this method and they are neglectful. It just might stop some animosity from growing.
Oh~I'm sure there are some homeschooling parents out there that do neglect their children and they are the ones that get the most publicity because they are the ones who get in the news. However, they are really few and far between.
I love unschooling and I realize that it is not for everyone. It does take a leap of faith to believe that your children will learn while letting them follow their own interests.
It may look like, to others especially critical ones, that my children do nothing all day. It may look like they play games all day or are on the computer all day. However, they are not with us all day. My four year old does play quite a bit of games but he also tells the most amazing stories from imagination, is learning to read, can recite songs as well as make some up on his own, is learning about different types of bugs, learning to sew, knows how to needle felt as well as wet felt and is learning to crochet. He is learning to read in Japanese, loves to help me cook, plays with the dogs, gardens and collect pieces of wood that he calls swords. This is pretty much on his own without my coaxing, coaching or making him sit at a table for hours on end.
My older son has a wealth of interests although you wouldn't think that with the amount of time he spends on Facebook or texting his friends. He wants to write a book, he is interested in atvs, motorbikes, horses, taking things apart, and music. He does awesome in public speaking and goes out of his way to help people.
Most unschoolers are not doing nothing all day. It may seem like it but there is usually a lot more learning going on than they let on and unless you spend 24/7 with one, you will not know it.
So before a person says: "I know an unschooler and they do absolutely nothing..." Make sure you have your facts straight and hard evidence before you start ranting about how the parents are ruining their children by this method and they are neglectful. It just might stop some animosity from growing.
Oh~I'm sure there are some homeschooling parents out there that do neglect their children and they are the ones that get the most publicity because they are the ones who get in the news. However, they are really few and far between.
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