Making Sourdough Starter in Home Ec

Making Sourdough Starter

Originally uploaded by Pictures by Ann

I teach a class to a small group of homeschooled girls on Mondays. My daughters, along with the rest of the Home Ec class, are stirring their sourdough starter. They were so excited to be stirring the yeast, flour, sugar, and water.

On the front table is a science experiment with yeast. I had 4 quart-size baggies each filled with 1 packet of yeast.
- Bag #1, had only yeast.
- Bag #2 had yeast and 1/4 cup warm water.
- Bag #3 had yeast, 1/4 cup warm water, and 1 tablespoon of sugar.
- Bag #4 had yeast, 1/4 cup warm water, and 1 tablespoon of flour.

We let the bags sit for 30 minutes while the girls made their sourdough starter at the second table and ate their pancakes.

After the plates were cleared, the girls sat down and one by one I picked up the bags and let them touch each one so they could see how the ingredients reacted with one another.

They were fascinated that each bag was totally different. Had them write what happened in each bag on their worksheet.

The Importance of Family Traditions

The Girls on Halloween
Originally uploaded by Pictures by Ann

This year was the first year that I heard the girls articulate the importance of having family traditions.

Each year, the girls go trick-or-treating around my parents' home (their grandparents). They go with their cousins which is something they look forward to doing.

Because of having a puppy this year and having limited time away from the house, I thought perhaps modifying the Halloween tradition by simply visiting grandparents during the day and showing them the costumes would be something the girls would be okay with. Apparently not.

"I've been looking forward to having dinner with everyone and then going out trick or treating with my cousins!" Sophia said. Olivia agreed.

There was no changing this tradition.

Having traditions that children anticipate and can count on is so important. They can predict what can happen...when it will happen...and have some control over their lives. It provides comfort and assurance in a world that sometimes doesn't always offer that to children.

One thing I did have to modify this year was going out and getting new costumes for the girls. Having had a very difficult year financially because of medical issues as well as damage to the house from the storms in May, I had the girls choose costumes from ones they already had. Sophia chose to be a pioneer girl and Olivia chose to be a giraffe. Although disappointed that they didn't get a new costume, they were happy with the costumes they wore this year.

Another tradition that I do with the girls each year is to add to their "Halloween Bag." The bag Olivia is holding is a pillowcase that I dyed, put an orange ribbon around the top so she can tie it, and thraced her handprint on. In the center of the handprint is the costume she wore and the year.

Sophia also has a bag like this with her handprints, but she chose to use the pumpkin I used when I was growing up.

The girls enjoy looking at how their hands have grown through the years and what costume they wore each year.

Again...a simple activity...but one they count on and look forward to doing each year.

Getting Ready for Christmas

Red 16-Point Sharp-Pointed Star for Christmas, Valentine's Day, or Winter Holidays Originally uploaded by Pictures by Ann

It seems rather early to start thinking about Christmas, but this year I'm going to create more homemade decorations and make gifts for others.

This is one of the stars that I thought would look pretty in the window during the holiday season. I'm also selling it in my Etsy shop along with some other red, green, and white window stars.

I was inspired to start making these stars after seeing them at a local Waldorf school. They brightened the windows and seemed to make the school so cheerful and welcoming.

Since I homeschool my daughters, I want to create a similar environment for them at home - one that is nurturing, inspiring, and filled with happiness.

The window stars are things they enjoy looking at, and are excited about - especially when I try a new pattern or use different colors.

This star will have to wait a couple of months before it goes back up on the window. It will join other red, green, and white stars this year on the windows...and hopefully be one of the things that provide the girls with good memories of a beautiful Christmas.

Raising Monarchs in 2008

Raising Monarchs in 2008
Originally uploaded by Pictures by Ann

This is the second year that the girls have raised and released monarchs. Last year, there seemed to be a lot more caterpillars than this year. Read an article during the summer which said that for some reason people were noticing a decline in the number of monarchs. With fewer butterflies, they wondered what next year would be like.

That being said, the caterpillars the girls did find in the backyard were fascinating to watch. They have an indoor screened cage where they raise the caterpillars. Each day, they pick fresh milkweed leaves and put them in the cage.

They watch the caterpillars grow rather rapidly...and then make the crawl up the side of the cage.

"They're in the 'J' position!" I'll hear one day.

They watch...and wait. Take a break. Come back later...and watch....and wait.

One of the caterpillars last year they were able to see change right in front of their eyes. It's an amazingly quick process. This year, they saw the tail end of the change which was interesting for them to watch.

After about 20 days, the butterfly emerges, dries off its wings, and the girls bring in fresh flowers for the butterfly to enjoy. They keep it inside for less than a day, and then release it towards the evening.

This year, two of the butterflies stayed around for a rather long time, giving the girls the opportunity to observe them. One of the butterflies each put on a little "show" for the girls by fluttering right in front of their faces.

They can read about monarchs in a science book, but for them to actually raise, touch, and release these beautiful butterflies first-hand is invaluable. These are experiences that they will remember!

The Beauty and Simplicity of Acorns

Acorns in a Hand
Originally uploaded by Pictures by Ann

The connection that Sophia and Olivia have with nature is very strong. Part of homeschooling involves learning about and appreciating the beauty that surrounds us.

The beauty of acorns - the contrast between the smooth nut and the bumpy cap...the lovely shades of brown - is something that the girls notice and love to share with others.

These acorns were brought inside and placed on the nature table so they can be enjoyed each day.

Sophia in Apple Tree

Sophia in Apple Tree
Originally uploaded by Pictures by Ann

The girls love climbing in the apple tree in the backyard. Besides feeling like they're in a totally different world, climbing trees is a great lesson in problem solving. They have to figure out how to use the tree trunk and limbs to move higher in the tree.

That's one of the reasons why I love homeschooling them. If they need a break from what they're working on, I send them outside. Often times, they head right to the tree and climb it.

Clearly, it challenges them in different ways...and brings focus and clarity to what they are working on when they come back inside to resume their lesson.

Repairing Storm Damage

Reroofing Home
Originally uploaded by Pictures by Ann

The start of re-roofing and re-siding has begun on the home. The home was hit twice in May by hail and high winds, resulting in a total re-do of the exterior of the home - the roof and siding.

The strips of exposed wood show where insulation is being blown into the home. About every foot, a hole was drilled and insulation was blown into the walls. In some areas, there was literally NO insulation. Needless to say, it should be warmer this winter.

See that flimsy green insulation? Apparently it has an R value of 2 (I think that's what it was called).

See how it doesn't cover the entire house...how it has all those large gaps between the insulation? That's because it wasn't properly done the first time.

Now I'm beginning to understand why the propane bill has been so incredibly high for all these years.

Will be nice to have the job completed.

Feeding Goats at the Apple Orchard

Feeding Goats at the Apple Orchard
Originally uploaded by Pictures by Ann

Went to the apple orchard as we do every year. The girls love feeding the goats. Went on a nice walk on one of the trails at the orchard. Got a bunch of apples that we made into applesauce. This year I canned it all rather than freezing it.

This is one of my favorite parts of homeschooling - being able to take "field trips" like this, and have the girls see and interact with animals that we don't have at home. Their phy ed for the day was the beautiful walk on the trail.

Their hands-on math lesson was purchasing an item or two from the orchard's store. (You can see that each are carrying purses that have a little bit of money in it. They used it to purchase treats to eat. In terms of homeschooling, this is a great way for them to learn about counting, money, and math.)

At home, they helped make the applesauce (a home ec lesson).

Therapeutic Horseback Riding

Olivia at Courage Riders
Originally uploaded by Pictures by Ann

This is on the last day of Courage Riders, a therapeutic horseback riding program that Olivia has been a part of since she was 3 1/2 years old.

The person standing next to her is one of the side walkers...a volunteer who donates her time to the program. For each rider, there are 3 volunteers (two side walkers and one lead walker).

Olivia is legally blind in both eyes, has speech delays, developmental delays, and Sensory Integration Dysfunction.

Because of these challenges, she is able to take therapeutic horseback lessons through the Courage Center. The program has made a tremendous difference in her life.

When she first began riding a few years ago, she couldn't even sit up on the horse. She was slumped over and had very little muscle control in her trunk.

She also was unable to say more than one word at a time. During the program, she put two words together for the first time.

This year, I noticed that Courage Riders included more activities with speech and letter/word identification which was interesting. I continue to find it fascinating the impact that horses have on people, especially children.

Purse for Children's Dramatic Play or Treasure Collecting

Purse for Children's Dramatic Play or Treasure Collecting
Originally uploaded by Pictures by Ann

My daughters love to carry little purses to carry their "treasures" in...whether it be little rocks or a feather they find outside, or felt gnomes and needlefelted acorns.

This past week, while recovering from surgery, I had plenty of time to embroider this little clutch (or purse...whatever you prefer to call it).

Although this one is for sale in my Etsy shop (see the link to the right), the girls both asked if I could make one for them.

My thought is that as we go on our nature walks, that the girls can carry the purse (it has a cotton yarn handle that is long enough to fit over the girls' shoulders), and place their little treasures inside...a smooth acorn, a beautiful fall leaf, a magical stone.

The felt used for the purse is 100% wool, with the leaf being a plant-dyed wool felt. There is no comparison, in my opinion, between 100% all-natural wool felt and synthetic wool. Wool felt is superior in quality and provides a richer sensory input.

The purse closes with a standard snap, making it easy for children and adults alike to use it.

It is hand-embroidered with tiny blanket-stitches (about 7-8 per inch), so it is sturdy and will hold the items placed in it. It is meant to be an heirloom piece that a child can pass along to her children.

The cover design is a sage-green leaf that has a chain-stitch design on and around it. There are tiny yellow dots made with embroidery floss around the leaf on the pumpkin-color orange felt.

The size of the purse is 4 1/2" wide by 3" high.

It was a joy to embroider this purse...and now I'm ready to begin to make 2 more...one for each of the girls so we're ready for our autumn nature walks.

Interactive Art

ACEO - Panda Finger Puppet
Originally uploaded by Pictures by Ann

This is an interactive ACEO (Art Cards Editions Originals) that I made yesterday. I've been tossing around the idea of how children can interact with art more, and thought of this idea.

My daughters have enjoyed making and trading ATCs. Both have Sensory Integration Dysfunction, and have a strong need to touch and feel things so their bodies receive the input that is needed.

So...this card combines that need to touch and interact with art. I could tell that it is JUST what they needed when both came into my room and asked me to make one for them.

I let them choose their background colors (one chose 2 colors of pink - a light color for the front and a darker one for the back; and the other chose blue for the front and red for the back).

ATCs have been a wonderful, sensory learning tool for the girls, and such a great way for them to learn about art.

This new card - with the panda finger puppet that they can remove and play with - just takes the cards to a new level for the girls who love imaginary play and puppets.

Now a little about the card...the finger puppet and the card itself are all hand-embroidered. The panda is attached to the card by velcro so it can easily come off and be used...and then placed back on the card for a safe place to call "home." The bamboo leaves are sewn onto the felt card.

The card and puppet are made with 100% wool felt. Cotton floss is used to blanket-stitch the puppet as well as the card together.

If you'd like this panda ACEO, check out my Etsy shop. A link is to the right.

Update: Oh my! The panda ACEO sold already and I just listed it a couple of hours ago. It looks like I'll make another one. (It was fun to make. Now I have a good excuse to take a break from housework and do some embroidery this afternoon.)

If you would like a panda ACEO, please email me at hmcf@lycos.com or visit my Etsy shop at http://www.harvestmoonbyhand.etsy.com/ where you can send me a message as well. I have a variety of colors of wool felt so perhaps there is another color you would like for the background and backing of the card. Just let me know.

Embroidered Henny Penny Taking a Stroll

ATC Traded - Embroidered Henny Penny Taking a Stroll
Originally uploaded by Pictures by Ann

I've been enjoying making textile artist trading cards (ATCs) recently. This is the most recent one. The size of Henny Penny Taking a Stroll is 2 1/2" x 3 1/2" - so the pieces and stitching are actually quite small.

What I like about ATCs - especially these textile ones - is that it is a great way to use fabric and embroidery floss that you have right on hand. There's no need to go out and purchase anything.

With the economy in a challenging state right now...with gas and food prices so high...it is nice to be able to still create pieces without spending a lot of money.

The other aspect of ATCs that I enjoy is that as a mom who homeschools, my daughters are able to see a variety of different artistic styles from creative women throughout the world. They are able to touch these little works of art that come in the mail...something they can't do when they visit an art museum where you simply cannot touch the art.

Having daughters who both have sensory issues (sensory integration dysfunction), ATCs are a wonderful way for them to touch, feel, and get that sensory input they need - while at the same time being inspired by art created by such a diversity of artists. It's one aspect of art education that the girls truly enjoy.

Dotee Dolls

Dotee - Fairy Theme
Originally uploaded by Pictures by Ann

I had never heard of Dotee Dolls until recently. The concept is from a woman who lives in Australia. Since she started making these and posting a tutorial about how to make them, they seem to be popping up everywhere I look. So...I thought I'd try my hand at them.

This doll was made for a woman who lives in North Carolina who is participating in a Dotee Doll - Fairy Theme Swap on Swap-bot. I sent this one to her, and I will be receiving a Fairy Dotee Doll from another woman.

Swap-Bot is a great way to connect with others throughout the world. Currently, I'm hosting four swaps on Swap-Bot. See the links to the right if you'd like to be a part of the swap.

Learning the Color Wheel

Learning the Color Wheel - The Ladybug ATC Series
Originally uploaded by Pictures by Ann

I signed up for an artist trading card (ATC) swap on Swap-Bot that focused on insects. As a result, I made some extra ladybug cards in the process since the favorite insect around here is the ladybug.

Both Sophia and Olivia were adopted from China, and the ladybug has a special meaning to families who are adopting from China. (The Chinese adoption myth is that ladybugs are a sign of good luck and it is said if you see a ladybug your referral will be coming very soon.)

As I was thinking about what to do, I thought it would be fun to make ladybugs in different colors. The ATCs ended up being two-part. The cover, as shown in the picture, is of two ladybugs.

The top level of the card has a door that opens to reveal what happens if the two ladybugs collide.

The girls LOVED these cards. It was a good review of primary and secondary colors for my daughters. It's visual. And it's something that they can immediately remember when asked, "What color does red and blue make?"

More information about the ladybug series - including how they were made are on my Flickr site at http://www.flickr.com/photos/picturesbyann .

This site - at http://siblings.adoptionblogs.com/weblogs/ladybugs-part-2 - has some more information about the significance of the ladybug to those in the Chinese adoption community as well as information about how the ladybug is considered to be good luck in many other cultures.

There are many cultures that believe if you are to kill a ladybug then it will bring sadness and bad luck. There are those that believe the ladybugs give good luck when you have one land on you or if you catch one.

This site - at http://www.celticbug.com/Legends/Lore.html
- has information about legends about ladybugs around the world as well as how to say the word "ladybug" in different languages.

Artist Trading Cards

ATC Traded - Embroidered Unicorn
Originally uploaded by Pictures by Ann

I've been working on Artist Trading Cards recently which has been so much fun. This is my first embroidered card. There are two...one went to Australia for a swap for fantasy creatures (for Flickr's ATC Beginners group); and the other one went to my oldest daughter who loves unicorns.

This card is embroidered, and is the standard ATC size (2 1/2" x 3 1/2"). The unicorn pattern is a free one that I found on the internet. Thought it was a cute one.

Other cards I've done include collage and needlefelted. Visit http://www.flickr.com/photos/picturesbyann and look under "ATC Cards - Available and Traded" for what I've made so far.

If you trade cards, there are generally always some available. I've been making cards weekly so new ones are always being added.

Having two daughters who I homeschool, I'm always looking at things from an educational standpoint. ATCs are great in terms of learning about a variety of things.

The most obvious benefit is creating art and seeing art made by various artists. Both Sophia and Olivia are learning more about collage and how to combine different elements to make them work together in a eye-pleasing collage. They see such a wide range of artistic styles by looking at the cards I've received.

ATCs are an excellent way to learn about geography - U.S. and world. I've sent and received cards from many different states as well as countries (including Finland, U.K., Switzerland, Germany, and Australia).

They're a great way to connect with others who you would never connect with otherwise. I've met other women who homeschool, have children with special needs (both my daughters have special needs), have visited or live in countries I've been to, who live in the same state as I do, or enjoy the same types of crafts.

Off to make some more cards now!