Some Reading I'm Trying to get Done

There will never be enough time to read all  the books that I want.
I just have to face that fact.
In the mean time I will power through these stacks as best I can.

Although I'm sure the pile will just keep growing, and I'm thankful it does.

K Is a True Chef

I get up on Friday morning to my eldest angel cooking breakfast.
Inspired by the food network she watched the night before, she kicked the youngest out of the kitchen and set herself loose.
Pancakes and hash-browns.
YUP!! Even hash-browns.
Right from scratch, her pancakes I have to admit are better than mine.
She made a strawberry and rhubarb sauce from our frozen fruit that we gathered this summer.
She even added sugar coated fennel greens as a garnish.
I love that she is 8 years old and so competent in the kitchen I can sleep in, trust that she and the house are safe and the kitchen will be cleaned afterwards.
Now just to get her to deliver it up to me in bed!!

This About Sums Her Up

E is always our constant source of humour, energy and tenacity.
She is full tilt from sun up to sun down.
I would never want her any other way.
She is a true delight.
Thank you Miss E for all that you have brought to our family and hearts.
Love you!!

Recycled Music

A thrifty recycled craft session and we had our own little band.
Tin can lid castanets and wooden dowel rhythm sticks.
Decorate and play.
Easy enough and a winner with the kids.

Kind Hearted Little Ladies

Yesterday the girls spent the morning cutting, sewing and stuffing little fabric bags with catnip.
They had the idea of making toys for all the cats at the SPCA and donating them.
The idea of this made my heart swell.
The fact that they actually followed through and created 19 of these little sachets of love all by themselves,  well words cannot describe how proud I am.

I had often considered doing twoonie parties for the girls birthday's, thats when invited kids bring 2 twoonie, one for the birthday kid and one for the donation box for  the SPCA, but I never wanted to force them to donate, I didn't think it was an appropriate time.
Now I am certain that it is Ok as they have proven that they are charitable on their own accord.

Today we delivered our package and a note telling the SPCA about why they chose to make these gifts.
The note stated that they felt it was important to keep the cats happy, so when kids get them the cats would be playful and kid friendly.
2 of our cats are form the SPCA, so the girls are familiar with the idea of adoption.

Ironically the building in this picture, that is named The Anderson Centre, is something close to us.
The money was donated by Bob Anderson as bequeathed in his will.
We bought the house that Bob had built and lived and died in.
This is our home and the girls are even more close to the SPCA than they knew.

K the Story Teller

 I think it is important for my girls to learn  their way around and computer and the internet.
In this exercise I had K write a story.
She then needed to type it out and find pictures to go with her story.

 She was excited as it was sort of a neat adventure that she had full control of.
I love the finished product.
I laminated the pages and she tied it with ribbon.
Her first published book!
She is quite proud of herself and has now started a book of poems that she wants to publish and share with her friends.

Molecular Chemistry

I found this really neat molecule structure set at a thrift store and it has held the girls attentions for days.
I printed out the  periodic table and they have been quizzing each other and me endlessly on the elements.
I find it really neat that they are so interested in this.
It was one of those tangents that just sprung up one day and I hit a home run with it.
I love seeing them get excited to learn and eager for more.
Every homeschooling parents dream.

Structures and Mechanisms

K has been learning (u-hem) about structure and the function of mechanisms.
It's rather dry for her (I completely agree) but it is part of the curriculum, so she challenged it and thought outside the box.
She created each of the fundamental vocabulary words and structures she needed to recreate with a glue-gun and popsicle sticks.
Labelling each piece and describing to me, in detail, how they each work, made me realize that this was indeed a tedious task for her.
But she humoured me with it and it the process was able to teach her sister all about the subject.
She really didn't need to do this part of the school year, but she owned it. and now it's done.
Another reason why I need to trust that I know her better and should just forget about the books and let her learn at her pace.

Amazing Foods

We have been living out of these two cookbooks lately.
If you haven't seen or tried them I highly recommend them.
I feel like a kitchen superstar serving up these recipes.
They are now dog-earred and loved.
Sighs of love in my house.

Steam Treatment

Both girls are recovering from colds, and now one has a sinus infection and the other an ear infection.
We have lavender, eucalyptus, tea tree and all our aromatherapy floating through the air from our atomizer.
But the girls find that a steaming pot of hot water works the best by far.
Wait till I introduce them to the netipot!!

Weaving

This is a handy idea for teaching weaving.
Using embroidery hoops as looms.
Its easy to set up and wonderful to work with and the hoops make it easy for transport, like in the van.
For the past 3 days my girls have been weaving up a storm.
I kinda think I'd like to take all the patches and sew them into a cushion on my bed for memories sakes.

Mama's Got a Brand New Stove!!

I'm not shy to say that I am in love with my new stove.

We got a new fridge too, and it's cool.

But the stove!!.....

I tell ya!!!

How did I love without this baby.

And to make it even cooler, as if it needed any reason, it came with a griddle.

YES!! 

That cool!!

This morning we made pancake dough and put it in some squeezy bottles and away the ladies went.

For some reason they even tasted better too.
Boy I wish my parents did cool stuff like this when I was a kid.

Girl Power

Pinterest has so many great ideas for homeschooling as well.

This quick and powerful assignment was just what we needed today.

Each of them had to write down all the adjectives, words, thoughts they could think of about themselves

 I loves how they thought so highly of themselves and even helped each other think of ones.
I recommend this even for  myself, on those days when I really need to be kinder to me.

Smokin' Pillows

 I love Smoking Lily, it's no secret.
But I also love a good deal.
So when I found this fabric in the form of a very expensive ottoman cover I first scoffed at it.
That is till I saw the reduced price tag.
Originally $240 marked down to $35.
Yup It was meant to be mine.

And with less than 2 hours of stitch ripping and resewing I am now the proud new owner of these Smokin' Smoking Lily pillows.
Swoon!!
I can't wait to see them in my new room.

Going to the Birds

 We got another bird.
This one is a 4 month old who now goes by the name of Bart.

 He is a perfect fit with the kids and is very much in love with everybody.

He puts up with a lot of man handling but doesn't seem to mind really.

Tea Grannies

While at home we shop faithfully at The Tea Centre to get our teas and supplies.

I have 3 tea pot all of different sizes and applications of course.

The girls and I drink pots full daily but only the herbal kinds as me and caffeine have a mutual understanding that I should just stay away from it.

I love the warmth of a good cuppa in my hands and the soothing heat as I drink, especially in this freezing weather that has snapped upon us.
I love getting to sneak in some crafting as well by making tea cozies, this one from an old kids sweater that had a laundry mis-hap.

I have a basket stuffed full of teas.



Every flavour imaginable.
Have you ever tried tarimsu tea?
My girls are real grannies as well.
They know the seeping rules, the ones that need honey or lemon or milk.
They have even become refined enough to taste the differences between certain kinds and certain brands.



I have to admit though, that an all time favorite is from  Silk Road.

And while in Victoria I always stop at this tea shop.

Their Philosophers  Brew and Angel Water are perfection in a cup.

I think the world could solve all it's problems by sitting down to a good cup of tea.

Have you tried Evernote Yet?

Now that I am working with an iPad, iPhone and a Mac, I needed a way to sync all my info and keep all devices updated.
iCloud works wonders but Evernote helps in a whole new way.

Being able to use my phone to update files and notes when running around throughout my days.
I feel like Im a superstar now!!!
Many thanks to a savy friend who got me onto this!!!

Funny Stuff!!

Shit yogi's say!!

Somebody I Used to Know

My Favorite song at the moment.

or redone here which I think I may like even more.

Enjoy

PLEASE!!!

 Oh I so want these!!

 Or these..PLEASE!!!

Renovation Update

Walls are painted.
Electrical done.
Flooring going in as I type.
Forms built for the concrete pad for the deck, just need it be a bit warmer, (wrong time of year maybe though).
Half log siding wood lift ordered and to be milled shortly there after.
WOW!!
I can see the end in sight!
I am so excited and still can't believe it really.

Miniature World

 Taking the weekend off we headed to Victoria for a little family get away.
It was just what the doctor ordered.
We hit up the usual suspects but this time we added miniature world and it was a huge hit with the ladies.
J had my camera and I wasn't too sure what he was doing but after downloading the memory card I found these and many other great shots.

 I was honestly taken aback.
I never knew he was such a great photographer.
Even after 14 years he still surprises me.
There are a lot, sorry, but i just couldn't choose.