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This week pa takes Laura and Mary to the abandoned Indian camp. They find beautiful beads that they bring home and string necklaces. Laura is angry that Mary said baby Carrie could have hers-so angry that she wanted to slap her! But they combined their necklaces to make one long enough for baby Carrie. Even if she couldn’t even wear it yet!
To hunt for beads, take a large plastic storage bin, fill with uncooked rice. Sprinkle in beads or jewels and stir it up. Let the kids sift through the rice to find the beads. This is a great tactile experience!
Have the kids organize the beads/jewels by categories: size, shape, color. Cut lengths of yarn or string that will fit through the beads, tie one bead to one end of the string, and string away.
You can also make Torn Calico Pockets Wikipedia tells us that in the US, calico fabric is inexpensive printed cotton fabrics with a small, allover pattern, often floral.
The kids can also make bookmarks using string and beads. Imagine your paperback with beads hanging off the top and the bottom, plain string closed within the pages of the book. Perhaps a special ribbon instead, and a special charm or two. This can be made to match seasons, holidays, book themes (like knitting books!), birthdays, etc.
This link shows some Native American beadwork examples.
This link provides links to beading history, cultural values, bead types, and examples.
links to Indian beading
Pa also helps the girls read the footprints in the dry, dusty dirt around the camp. He is able to distinguish a spot where a woman bent down, the fringe of her dress sweeping the ground. Go outside and walk in puddles, or snow. Make footprints in one direction, then the other. How can you determine which way the person walked? Look here for pictures of animal tracks. How can you determine which way the animals walked?
Walk in paint, or trace on construction paper and make footprint reindeer.
by bethanyg
Fineandfancy says.....
I also thought I would post a link to my knitting/crochet stitch counter, also made of beads. I wear this as regular jewelery as well!
Showing posts with label Read Along " The Prairie". Show all posts
Showing posts with label Read Along " The Prairie". Show all posts
Wednesday, January 6, 2010
Read Along: Week 26- Texas Longhorns
This week’s chapter gives us a glimpse into the lives of other types of people who share the prairie with pioneering families like the Ingalls.
Activities:
Learn more about the great cattle drives of the west. Pa mentions that they must be headed for Fort Dodge, so these cowboys must have been following one of the most famous of the trails, The Chisholm Trail
Explore this website and see how long a distance the cowboys had to travel, carefully driving the half-wild cattle over harsh, rocky land filled with dangers. At the end of the trail, you can read the stories of the cowboys and their adventures.
See some pictures taken around the turn of the (last) century of an actual cattle drive
Erwin E. Smith Collection
Listen to some of the music. The haunting, howling sounds of the cowboys singing to the cattle must have made a very strong impression on Laura. Many years later, as she writes this book, she seems to still remember every detail of those strange sounds carried across the prairie. Here is a link to music by the Sons of the Pioneers
When I was young, my Father had several tapes of old western music. I spent hours riding my stick pony around with a walkman playing that music, pretending to herd the cattle and head off stampeds. I’m sure I must have looked and sounded silly, but it was great fun.
I had intended to suggest some cowboy inspired embroidery for a project, but my google-fu seems to be failing me. I remember reading somewhere that many cowboys spent the long, lonely winters in the bunk-houses working on fine embroidery and braided leathers that they would sell for a bit of extra money. Unfortunately, I can’t find any reference to that or examples to show. So instead here is a list of cowboy related projects here on Ravelry:
cow
Lizzy the Cow tea cozy
Child’s cowboy hat
Texas Longhorn dishcloth
cow skull
Cow
Discussion topic:
Imagine how wonderful being able to get a nice big piece of beef was after having nothing but wild game for months. Then add in the extra bonus of a cow to milk. I can’t even think of something to relate that to in our modern lives with provisions so readily at hand. Having a source of fresh milk, butter, and possibly even cheese must have been such a huge blessing to Ma, I bet she was overcome with joy & gratitude. For me, knowing that my pantry is well stocked and that I could still provide a good, filling meal for my family even if some disaster was to strike gives me such a feeling of satisfaction & contentment. I think that is close to the feeling Ma probably had. What sort of emergency preparations does your family do? What items are most important for you to keep stocked in your pantry?
by SarahJayne
From FineandFancy
Here is an old cowboy leather working “trick” if you can get a hold of a piece of leather. (or try using fabric backed vinyl) My brother had one of these bracelets when he was a kid. He un-worked it once and we had a dickens of a time figuring out how to fix it. We didn’t have internet!)
Activities:
Learn more about the great cattle drives of the west. Pa mentions that they must be headed for Fort Dodge, so these cowboys must have been following one of the most famous of the trails, The Chisholm Trail
Explore this website and see how long a distance the cowboys had to travel, carefully driving the half-wild cattle over harsh, rocky land filled with dangers. At the end of the trail, you can read the stories of the cowboys and their adventures.
See some pictures taken around the turn of the (last) century of an actual cattle drive
Erwin E. Smith Collection
Listen to some of the music. The haunting, howling sounds of the cowboys singing to the cattle must have made a very strong impression on Laura. Many years later, as she writes this book, she seems to still remember every detail of those strange sounds carried across the prairie. Here is a link to music by the Sons of the Pioneers
When I was young, my Father had several tapes of old western music. I spent hours riding my stick pony around with a walkman playing that music, pretending to herd the cattle and head off stampeds. I’m sure I must have looked and sounded silly, but it was great fun.
I had intended to suggest some cowboy inspired embroidery for a project, but my google-fu seems to be failing me. I remember reading somewhere that many cowboys spent the long, lonely winters in the bunk-houses working on fine embroidery and braided leathers that they would sell for a bit of extra money. Unfortunately, I can’t find any reference to that or examples to show. So instead here is a list of cowboy related projects here on Ravelry:
cow
Lizzy the Cow tea cozy
Child’s cowboy hat
Texas Longhorn dishcloth
cow skull
Cow
Discussion topic:
Imagine how wonderful being able to get a nice big piece of beef was after having nothing but wild game for months. Then add in the extra bonus of a cow to milk. I can’t even think of something to relate that to in our modern lives with provisions so readily at hand. Having a source of fresh milk, butter, and possibly even cheese must have been such a huge blessing to Ma, I bet she was overcome with joy & gratitude. For me, knowing that my pantry is well stocked and that I could still provide a good, filling meal for my family even if some disaster was to strike gives me such a feeling of satisfaction & contentment. I think that is close to the feeling Ma probably had. What sort of emergency preparations does your family do? What items are most important for you to keep stocked in your pantry?
by SarahJayne
From FineandFancy
Here is an old cowboy leather working “trick” if you can get a hold of a piece of leather. (or try using fabric backed vinyl) My brother had one of these bracelets when he was a kid. He un-worked it once and we had a dickens of a time figuring out how to fix it. We didn’t have internet!)
Read Along: Week Twenty-Five - Fresh Water to Drink
Wow, I’ve been out of commission a while…thanks for everyone patience and help on the forum over the weeks.
Here is “Fresh Water To Drink”
1: Anyone who has ever been under a boiled water advisory knows the value of fresh, clean water. But digging a well was dangerous business, besides a cave in there are gasses under the earth that could kill you, Mr Scott found out the hard way. Minors have the same problem, and was a common cause of death in many of the mineral mines (in my country, anyways) Here is a popular song in Canada called chemical workers song about mining. (Ignore the video images from Lord of the rings, but it was the best sounding recording!)
If you portion some of your paycheck for charities, consider choosing a charity this month that helps provide fresh water to underprivileged communities
2:Imagine feeling “sinful” on a straw tick bed!! I don’t feel like sleeping on a straw tick, let alone making one, but lets make aromatherapy pillows. Fill them with rose petals or lavender. Or add a touch of eucalyptus to sleep on when you have a cold. Here are some free ones posted here on Rav, but you could also use the filling directions and make a pillow from terry cloth towels, flannel or cotton.
Here are some sewing patterns if you prefer a pattern
Pig
Eye Pillow
Herb Pillows with “Recipes”
and one of my favorite tutorials, making a aromatherapy bag from a felted sweater (Her daughter was under the weather when she felted the sweaters and curled up on the warm sweaters for comfort. So she made a pillow for her form it, such a sweet story :o)
3: What do you do for your neighbors? Mr Scott and Pa shared well digging to help he job go faster. Are there skills you share with “Neighbors” (includes friends in other areas of your city/county )
by FineandFancy
Here is “Fresh Water To Drink”
1: Anyone who has ever been under a boiled water advisory knows the value of fresh, clean water. But digging a well was dangerous business, besides a cave in there are gasses under the earth that could kill you, Mr Scott found out the hard way. Minors have the same problem, and was a common cause of death in many of the mineral mines (in my country, anyways) Here is a popular song in Canada called chemical workers song about mining. (Ignore the video images from Lord of the rings, but it was the best sounding recording!)
If you portion some of your paycheck for charities, consider choosing a charity this month that helps provide fresh water to underprivileged communities
2:Imagine feeling “sinful” on a straw tick bed!! I don’t feel like sleeping on a straw tick, let alone making one, but lets make aromatherapy pillows. Fill them with rose petals or lavender. Or add a touch of eucalyptus to sleep on when you have a cold. Here are some free ones posted here on Rav, but you could also use the filling directions and make a pillow from terry cloth towels, flannel or cotton.
Here are some sewing patterns if you prefer a pattern
Pig
Eye Pillow
Herb Pillows with “Recipes”
and one of my favorite tutorials, making a aromatherapy bag from a felted sweater (Her daughter was under the weather when she felted the sweaters and curled up on the warm sweaters for comfort. So she made a pillow for her form it, such a sweet story :o)
3: What do you do for your neighbors? Mr Scott and Pa shared well digging to help he job go faster. Are there skills you share with “Neighbors” (includes friends in other areas of your city/county )
by FineandFancy
Tuesday, December 1, 2009
Read Along: Week 23: A Roof and a Floor
- Family activity: If you and your kids made a log house back at the beginning of our read-a-long, they may enjoy making some furnature like a bead-stead or a table.
gathered twigs or popsicle sticks
strong string
white glue
small amount of scrap cloth
stuffing
needle & thread, scissors
Instructions:
cut the twigs or popsicle sticks to size (I used pruning shears that were handy) and use strong string to bind the uprights to the cross-pieces as in these pictures:
This may require cooperation (like neighbors helping each other): one person holding the pieces together while the other does the tying. Once the whole frame is together and can stand on it’s own, add a dab of glue to the joints to strengthen them & set it aside to dry.
When dry, glue other twigs/popsicle sticks across the frame lengthwise (on the lower cross-pieces) for the bed or the other direction ( on the upper cross-pieces) for a table.
While that is drying, make a small mattress for the bed out of scrap fabric and a little stuffing. Use another piece of scrap fabric for the blanket (or table-cloth if you’re making a table).
- Activity: Nature Journaling
http://highland.hitcho.com.au/naturejournal.htm
http://www.squidoo.com/naturejournals
http://www.connecting-with-nature.net/journal_prompts.html
http://homemade.truepath.com/nature2.htm
http://www.sierraclub.org/education/nature_journal.asp
http://naturesketchers.blogspot.com/
When I was young, my Mother took us on nature walks, pointing out flowers and birds along the way. Once we chose a small plot of ground and marked it out with some twine. We returned every few days to record what we saw in that little patch. This is another way to approach nature journaling.
By SarahJayne
Read Along: Week 21- Fire in the Hearth
This week Pa built an indoor fire place so Ma can cook away from the outside elements: We don’t often cook over an indoor fire these days but I love sitting by a fireplace. It’s so cozy!
This week activities:
1: Check out this fireplace safety site. If you have children there is also a childrens game section to this site that is a lot of fun.
2: Another great thing about a fire place (or any heating source) is that it helps dry out wet mitts and boots! But do you ever have trouble finding a place to hang them? Here is a neat string rack idea.
And here is an idea my grandmother used. When I was little, she made on for each of her childrens families.
TREE BRANCH MITTEN RACK
Materials
With your pruners, prune back each stick branch to be about 6 inches long. Using your utility knife, carefully peel the bark off of you branches and your main branch.
Varnish the entire branch to water proof it and let dry.
Make your base. Glue the 1x2x3 pieces of wood to the ends of one of the 1x2x12. Clamp to dry. (this makes feet)
Cross the two pieces or 1x2x12 in the middle to make the stand. Glue and clamp to dry.
Place the branch in the center of your base and with a hammer, nail through all the layers of the base and into the branch to hold it in place. (Alternative, use a drill and a screw.)
Set beside a heat source and place your mittens on the branches to dry!
3: What do you like to do when you relax by a fire? Read a book, curl up under a blanket, roast marshmallows?
by FineandFancy
This week activities:
1: Check out this fireplace safety site. If you have children there is also a childrens game section to this site that is a lot of fun.
2: Another great thing about a fire place (or any heating source) is that it helps dry out wet mitts and boots! But do you ever have trouble finding a place to hang them? Here is a neat string rack idea.
And here is an idea my grandmother used. When I was little, she made on for each of her childrens families.
TREE BRANCH MITTEN RACK
Materials
- One 3 foot tree branch with multiple branches hanging off of it and at least 1 inch diameter at it’s base.
- Utility knife
- Pruners
- Wood glue
- Clear varnish
- finishing nails
- 2 pieces of 1 inch thick(ply)wood 2 inches wide and 12 inches long
- 2 pieces of 1 inch thick (ply)wood 2 inches wide and 3 inches long
With your pruners, prune back each stick branch to be about 6 inches long. Using your utility knife, carefully peel the bark off of you branches and your main branch.
Varnish the entire branch to water proof it and let dry.
Make your base. Glue the 1x2x3 pieces of wood to the ends of one of the 1x2x12. Clamp to dry. (this makes feet)
Cross the two pieces or 1x2x12 in the middle to make the stand. Glue and clamp to dry.
Place the branch in the center of your base and with a hammer, nail through all the layers of the base and into the branch to hold it in place. (Alternative, use a drill and a screw.)
Set beside a heat source and place your mittens on the branches to dry!
3: What do you like to do when you relax by a fire? Read a book, curl up under a blanket, roast marshmallows?
by FineandFancy
Read Along: Week 21- Two Stout Doors
After last weeks episode with the wolves, I would be kind of partial to a wooden door over a quilt as well!
This weeks activities:
Hand craftsmanship is now considered an art form. Shaker furniture is popular for being made without nails, just as Pa made his door. When possible they would opt to use a lot of traditional joints in furniture and other pieces and would use mortise & tenon and dovetail/finger joints.
Here is a link for making your own foot stool shaker style.
Most of us don’t have access to materials or time to build a door or furniture, but we sure can admire it!
2: Create a seasonal wreath to decorate you own door.
Ravelry has a list of free knitted and crochet patterns
And my favorite crafting blog One Pretty Thing has an entire list of beautiful wreaths with tutorials.
3: What kind of safety so you use on your own house doors. Do you like doors with windows or prefer a solid door for privacy? Do you use dead bolts or slide bolts for added home protection? Do you like the idea of security alarms?
by FineandFancy
This weeks activities:
Hand craftsmanship is now considered an art form. Shaker furniture is popular for being made without nails, just as Pa made his door. When possible they would opt to use a lot of traditional joints in furniture and other pieces and would use mortise & tenon and dovetail/finger joints.
Here is a link for making your own foot stool shaker style.
Most of us don’t have access to materials or time to build a door or furniture, but we sure can admire it!
2: Create a seasonal wreath to decorate you own door.
Ravelry has a list of free knitted and crochet patterns
And my favorite crafting blog One Pretty Thing has an entire list of beautiful wreaths with tutorials.
3: What kind of safety so you use on your own house doors. Do you like doors with windows or prefer a solid door for privacy? Do you use dead bolts or slide bolts for added home protection? Do you like the idea of security alarms?
by FineandFancy
Wednesday, November 4, 2009
Read Along: Week 20- The Wolf Pack
When I was in first year college we had required course during reading week called intersessions, where we each chose from 5 destinations to do hands on volunteer work.
I went to a small first nations village in the extreme North of Alberta with 20 others where we shared two hunting cabins with no electricity, cell phone service or plumbing. We had a hunting guide and access to 2 rifles for protection and kept warm by pot bellied stoves.
It was the middle of February and all our ruckus pretty much scared away the local wildlife. But one night we heard a commotion outside our cabin. We figured it was the boys staying in the other cabin playing pranks on us, we had heard them howling from their cabin and then we heard them digging around and running around our cabin. The guide was staying in our cabin, and looking back, I think the idea that this was a prank was his suggestion, to keep all us women calm.
When we went out the next morning we saw wolf prints all around our cabin. The leader of the 3 wolves had a paw print as big as our guides hand. No one ever had the urge to use the outhouse through the night after that!! We also found out that the guys in the other cabin had figured out there were wolves out side and were “concerned” through out the night (my guess is “FrEaKiNg OuT!”)
This weeks activities:
Research your local wildlife. Even if you’re in the city wolves coyotes and foxes probably inhabit the country side of your County. bethanyg has found a great link for wolf watching
When you are camping, or even hiking or picnicking carnivore animals are the reason you must store your food and garbage properly. Read here about choosing and packing and storing food for eating in the wilderness.
sewing, advanced
paper
crochet
knitted
knitted puppet
And speaking of wolves, I always think of Little Red Riding Hood! You could design a red cloak for your rag doll and with your new wolf project, tell the story of Little Red Riding Hood!
Here is a link to a really cool paper project as well for story telling
Little Red Riding Hood
by HatsFineandFancy with research assistance from bethanyg
I went to a small first nations village in the extreme North of Alberta with 20 others where we shared two hunting cabins with no electricity, cell phone service or plumbing. We had a hunting guide and access to 2 rifles for protection and kept warm by pot bellied stoves.
It was the middle of February and all our ruckus pretty much scared away the local wildlife. But one night we heard a commotion outside our cabin. We figured it was the boys staying in the other cabin playing pranks on us, we had heard them howling from their cabin and then we heard them digging around and running around our cabin. The guide was staying in our cabin, and looking back, I think the idea that this was a prank was his suggestion, to keep all us women calm.
When we went out the next morning we saw wolf prints all around our cabin. The leader of the 3 wolves had a paw print as big as our guides hand. No one ever had the urge to use the outhouse through the night after that!! We also found out that the guys in the other cabin had figured out there were wolves out side and were “concerned” through out the night (my guess is “FrEaKiNg OuT!”)
This weeks activities:
- Take a listen to these wolves howling….
Research your local wildlife. Even if you’re in the city wolves coyotes and foxes probably inhabit the country side of your County. bethanyg has found a great link for wolf watching
When you are camping, or even hiking or picnicking carnivore animals are the reason you must store your food and garbage properly. Read here about choosing and packing and storing food for eating in the wilderness.
- make a crafted wolf to go with your cabin and wagon and dolls. Here are some different versions
sewing, advanced
paper
crochet
knitted
knitted puppet
And speaking of wolves, I always think of Little Red Riding Hood! You could design a red cloak for your rag doll and with your new wolf project, tell the story of Little Red Riding Hood!
Here is a link to a really cool paper project as well for story telling
Little Red Riding Hood
- mmm…..tastes like chicken!
by HatsFineandFancy with research assistance from bethanyg
Saturday, October 31, 2009
Read Along: Week 19- Moving In
- This chapter reminds me of a poem by Eugine Field, Wynkin Blynkin and Nod. I wonder if He saw the same sky Laura did with the big moon. Covered wagons were often called Prairie Schooners because of the large canvas tops, like the one that nearly blew Pa away as he was attempting to strap it down as a roof for the house. (I imagine Laura would have thought that sailing away with a canvas to the sky would be a grand adventure!)
What other poems remind you of nature or traveling?
- Laura often talks about helping her sisters dress and undress their buttons. Read this blog entry about button strings that girls use to collect, very interesting reading.
Here are some links:
Here are some button fairies strings. Here are some instructions, but it’s all up to your imagination!
A choker, where you could add a button to the center flower.
A wire and button brooch
A fabric based pin
A felt heart brooch covered in buttons
Here is a crochet coffee cup cozy
and a Knitted button band
You could also string them for bracelets or necklaces as well
- Enjoy sifting through your button jar if you have one. Enjoy the different shapes and sizes and textures. Pick one or two out for the younger members of the family and make a dancing button yoyo to play with
We had other button craft ideas come in after this posted on Rav. All great ideas, so I will share them with you as well .....
bethanyg -Thought I’d add a couple that we do/will do.
Bookmarks on strings with beads or buttons–length of string cut longer than the length of a book. Knot a little way down, string with beads or buttons, tie top knot. Can do the same to the bottom length of the string. The empty part of the string lays in the book while the beads or buttons hang from the top/bottom.
Felted cuffs from sweater, embellished with buttons.
Felted sweaters, cut into flower shapes and embellished with buttons.
HatsFineandFancy -I found another neat button idea, another book mark :o)
Tuesday, October 27, 2009
Read Along: Week 18 - The House on the Prairie
A big thanks to SarahJayne for writing this weeks read along!
This week’s chapter contains yet another frightening experience for the Ingalls family. The pioneer life is filled with dangers, and so far we have seen how Pa and Ma try to keep things light to shield the girls from their fears. Here we see what really frightens Pa, seeing his dear wife injured. It must have been terrifying to be so far from help with only home remedies to treat any sicknesses or injuries.
-4 to 6 rubber bands of the same length, the thinner ones will give a higher pitched sound
-a small box that your rubber bands can stretch around
-two pencils
-an exacto knife (parental use here, obviously)
-anything you might want to decorate your instrument with
To make a bow for your fiddle
-a wire coat hanger
-another rubber band
-wire cutters & pliers
Instructions:
1 cut a hole in the box with the exacto knife to create a soundbox
2 stretch 4 or 6 rubber bands across the hole
3 slide the pencils under the rubber bands to keep them from touching the box
4 have fun plucking the strings as a guitar
If you want to play this as a fiddle, you’ll need a bow
1 using the wire cutters, cut the wire hanger as shown:
2 using the pliers, bend the ends around to make a handle and holders for a rubber band:
3 add the rubber band and play! Note: mine didn’t make much sound just sliding it across the strings; I found that it worked better when striking them diagonally and bouncing the bow.
Finished project:
By SarahJayne
This week’s chapter contains yet another frightening experience for the Ingalls family. The pioneer life is filled with dangers, and so far we have seen how Pa and Ma try to keep things light to shield the girls from their fears. Here we see what really frightens Pa, seeing his dear wife injured. It must have been terrifying to be so far from help with only home remedies to treat any sicknesses or injuries.
- For those sharing this little house adventure with their children, this may be a good time to discuss first aid and how to tell the difference between a break and a sprain. Here is a website with simple directions. It may be interesting to talk about the kinds of medicines and remedies available to the pioneers and how medicines have changed since that time. You can find some info on that here, here, and here.
- Our craft this week is also more geared towards the young’uns; however I have to admit I had a lot of fun with it too. We will be making a homemade guitar or fiddle.
-4 to 6 rubber bands of the same length, the thinner ones will give a higher pitched sound
-a small box that your rubber bands can stretch around
-two pencils
-an exacto knife (parental use here, obviously)
-anything you might want to decorate your instrument with
To make a bow for your fiddle
-a wire coat hanger
-another rubber band
-wire cutters & pliers
Instructions:
1 cut a hole in the box with the exacto knife to create a soundbox
2 stretch 4 or 6 rubber bands across the hole
3 slide the pencils under the rubber bands to keep them from touching the box
4 have fun plucking the strings as a guitar
If you want to play this as a fiddle, you’ll need a bow
1 using the wire cutters, cut the wire hanger as shown:
2 using the pliers, bend the ends around to make a handle and holders for a rubber band:
3 add the rubber band and play! Note: mine didn’t make much sound just sliding it across the strings; I found that it worked better when striking them diagonally and bouncing the bow.
Finished project:
- To hear some fabulous fiddle music head on over to the
- Discussion topic:
By SarahJayne
Monday, October 19, 2009
Read Along: Week Seventeen - Prairie Days
Here are this weeks activities….
1: Go birding! Laura talks a lot about the birds she saw on the prairie. Using online or books from the library look up some of the birds she mentions, as well as some from your own area. Watch the bird feeder you made or sit still outside in your yard or at a park and see what birds (and other wildlife) live around you. Write a description of them, even if you don’t know their names and then research to name them.
Here are three links to help you get started on your bird identification and sounds
Audubon Society
Birds by Description
Birds Audio
2: Make a bird mobile. Whether you hang a few from your window or gather sticks or dowel to hang them from a child’s bedroom ceiling. You might even make a few to hang on a Christmas tree! Here are some versions to choose from……
Knitted
Crochet
Paper
Fabric
Felt ornaments
3: Life and chores went on no matter where they were. Can you imagine how awkward laundry would have been for ma? How do you think you would do washing sheets outside in a tub? What other daily chores do you do that would be made more difficult done outdoors without modern conveniences? Feel free to leave a comment!
by HatsFineandFancy
1: Go birding! Laura talks a lot about the birds she saw on the prairie. Using online or books from the library look up some of the birds she mentions, as well as some from your own area. Watch the bird feeder you made or sit still outside in your yard or at a park and see what birds (and other wildlife) live around you. Write a description of them, even if you don’t know their names and then research to name them.
Here are three links to help you get started on your bird identification and sounds
Audubon Society
Birds by Description
Birds Audio
2: Make a bird mobile. Whether you hang a few from your window or gather sticks or dowel to hang them from a child’s bedroom ceiling. You might even make a few to hang on a Christmas tree! Here are some versions to choose from……
Knitted
Crochet
Paper
Fabric
Felt ornaments
3: Life and chores went on no matter where they were. Can you imagine how awkward laundry would have been for ma? How do you think you would do washing sheets outside in a tub? What other daily chores do you do that would be made more difficult done outdoors without modern conveniences? Feel free to leave a comment!
by HatsFineandFancy
Monday, October 12, 2009
Read Along: Week Sixteen - Camping on the High Prairie
I love camping. I’ve roughed it, tented it, trailer’ed it and enjoyed rustic cabins. I just like being away from the hustle of cities and I love looking out a window and seeing nature right outside. But after two weeks I am more than ready to go home to real bath tubs running water and electricity!
I am writing this post on a damp and cold autumn day in October in mid-west Ontario. I know within a month we will probably see snow. But the trees are changing colors and I am sure we will still have a few more sunny days to enjoy outside. And of course, we will soon have piles of leaves to clear from the yard. So here is what I have planned for the our family, and I hope everyone else will enjoy participating as well.
Home-style Baked Beans
4 cans of Beans in Tomato sauce (Pork and beans)
1/3 cup molasses
1 1/2 tsp dried mustard
1 onion chopped fine
1 pkg of sausage
Cook the sausage and onion together and cut the sausage into 1 inch pieces.
Add all the ingredients to the crock pot and stir. Cook on low for 4 hours.
Serve with Corn/Johnny cakes
It would be great to see your bean or chili recipes as well, feel free to post!
Here is a beautiful paper star and Sewing versions are also available.
But here is the project I encourage the most. Tin can luminaries! They are perfect for the next two seasons. Put them up as fall decorations and use them right through to Christmas. They would look perfect as accents around a jack’o’lantern or as lights for caroling in December.
Materials
1 large can, washed and label peeled. You can leave it silver, or spray paint with a paint meant for metal.
Nail
Hammer
Tea light candle, burnable or LED battery powered (From dollar stores in Christmas section)
coat hanger (or strong wire)and pliers with wire cutters (optional for hanging luminary)
1/2 inch doweling 1 1/2 feet long (optional)
small screw in hook. (goes with doweling)
Directions
Fill the can to the top with water and freeze until solid in the freezer (this keeps the can from crushing when you hammer)
Mark out a star shape and any other desired design with dots using a marker.
Place the nail on a dot and hammer through the can into the ice. Repeat for all your dots. Hammer two holes near the top rim across from each other for the wire handle if desired. Melt the ice and dump it out. Dry the inside and place candle inside.
To hang from a hook or tree….
Cut the coat hanger and thread through the two top holes. Bend into a handle shape and bend ends of wire up to keep from coming off.
To carry while burning….
Screw the hook into one end of the doweling and hook the handle of the luminary over it.
Hint: use a piece of dried spaghetti as a lighter if you don’t have a BBQ match or fire lighter.
by HatsFineandFancy
p.s Don't forget the marshmallows!
I am writing this post on a damp and cold autumn day in October in mid-west Ontario. I know within a month we will probably see snow. But the trees are changing colors and I am sure we will still have a few more sunny days to enjoy outside. And of course, we will soon have piles of leaves to clear from the yard. So here is what I have planned for the our family, and I hope everyone else will enjoy participating as well.
- 1: Lets make beans! Soaked beans are a food Ma could have carried with them, but they would take too much time to make.
Home-style Baked Beans
4 cans of Beans in Tomato sauce (Pork and beans)
1/3 cup molasses
1 1/2 tsp dried mustard
1 onion chopped fine
1 pkg of sausage
Cook the sausage and onion together and cut the sausage into 1 inch pieces.
Add all the ingredients to the crock pot and stir. Cook on low for 4 hours.
Serve with Corn/Johnny cakes
It would be great to see your bean or chili recipes as well, feel free to post!
- 2: Twinkle little star! Lets make some stars…
Here is a beautiful paper star and Sewing versions are also available.
But here is the project I encourage the most. Tin can luminaries! They are perfect for the next two seasons. Put them up as fall decorations and use them right through to Christmas. They would look perfect as accents around a jack’o’lantern or as lights for caroling in December.
Materials
1 large can, washed and label peeled. You can leave it silver, or spray paint with a paint meant for metal.
Nail
Hammer
Tea light candle, burnable or LED battery powered (From dollar stores in Christmas section)
coat hanger (or strong wire)and pliers with wire cutters (optional for hanging luminary)
1/2 inch doweling 1 1/2 feet long (optional)
small screw in hook. (goes with doweling)
Directions
Fill the can to the top with water and freeze until solid in the freezer (this keeps the can from crushing when you hammer)
Mark out a star shape and any other desired design with dots using a marker.
Place the nail on a dot and hammer through the can into the ice. Repeat for all your dots. Hammer two holes near the top rim across from each other for the wire handle if desired. Melt the ice and dump it out. Dry the inside and place candle inside.
To hang from a hook or tree….
Cut the coat hanger and thread through the two top holes. Bend into a handle shape and bend ends of wire up to keep from coming off.
To carry while burning….
Screw the hook into one end of the doweling and hook the handle of the luminary over it.
Hint: use a piece of dried spaghetti as a lighter if you don’t have a BBQ match or fire lighter.
- 3: As a family, plan a fall yard work day.(It doesn’t matter what climate you’re living in, there is always seasonal clean up to do.)
by HatsFineandFancy
p.s Don't forget the marshmallows!
Monday, October 5, 2009
Read Along: Week Fifteen - Crossing the Creek
What a scary memory for a young child like Laura to remember. But this chapter does remind us that Pioneering was not the romantic image we give it sometimes. Life was dangerous and hard.
Activities for this week:
Or….Paint a Picture of a sunset. Here’s a Little House Group original tutorial!
(this is my cheaters version done on adobe illustrator)
Materials:
Take a look at sunset pictures (google images is a great place to start) and note the colors, where they lay in the sky as the sun goes down. Use your picture as a guide to place your paint on the paper.
Spray your white paper with a thin mist of water. Make sure the entire sheet is damp. If your paper is shiny, it is too wet. Use a sponge to wipe off any extra water. (This is called a wet in wet technique. If you need pictures, here is a tutorial)
Start adding paint to the paper with a wet brush using your picture as a guide. The colors should start to bleed and blend together. Clean out your brush as you change colors. Spray the paper lightly again if the paper begins to dry.
Let your paper dry or try a alcohol or salt technique to make your sky paper extra interesting.
Take your black paper and fold it in half. With a pencil draw a frame and then 1/2 of a tree, attached to the bottom of the frame. Make it as basic or as intricate as you wish. Cut out the frame (with tree attached) and lay it over top of your dry water color sky. Attach with glue or tape or your favorite scrap booking method from the back
.
If you make 4 small sky papers, you could do 1 for each season. Sunsets tend to look different at different times of the year
Activities for this week:
- Sit down with the family and review swimming rules. Talk about the differences of swimming in a river or lake vrs a pool. Here is a wonderful link to the Red Cross to refresh you on swimming survival.
- Despite the very bad day Laura’s family had, she still reflects on the beauty of a sun set. The activity for this week is to create something using the colors of a sunset. Here is a wonderful scarf pattern and a childs pullover.
Or….Paint a Picture of a sunset. Here’s a Little House Group original tutorial!
(this is my cheaters version done on adobe illustrator)
Materials:
- 1 piece of white sketch pad paper or water color paper (heavier bond paper a little lighter than card stock)
- childs box of water colors with “sunset colors”
- 1/2 or 1 inch wide paint brush (a childs brush will be fine as well)
- spray bottle of water
- clean sponge or soft rag
- 1 piece of black construction paper same size as drawing paper
Take a look at sunset pictures (google images is a great place to start) and note the colors, where they lay in the sky as the sun goes down. Use your picture as a guide to place your paint on the paper.
Spray your white paper with a thin mist of water. Make sure the entire sheet is damp. If your paper is shiny, it is too wet. Use a sponge to wipe off any extra water. (This is called a wet in wet technique. If you need pictures, here is a tutorial)
Start adding paint to the paper with a wet brush using your picture as a guide. The colors should start to bleed and blend together. Clean out your brush as you change colors. Spray the paper lightly again if the paper begins to dry.
Let your paper dry or try a alcohol or salt technique to make your sky paper extra interesting.
Take your black paper and fold it in half. With a pencil draw a frame and then 1/2 of a tree, attached to the bottom of the frame. Make it as basic or as intricate as you wish. Cut out the frame (with tree attached) and lay it over top of your dry water color sky. Attach with glue or tape or your favorite scrap booking method from the back
.
If you make 4 small sky papers, you could do 1 for each season. Sunsets tend to look different at different times of the year
- Share a comment here about a special memory about pets in your life. They really are mans best friend!
Thursday, October 1, 2009
Read Along: Week Fourteen - Going West
Onto our next book! Here are this weeks activities.....
- In a journal or as a family, plan an imaginary trip/move. If you could choose to move some where else where would it be? Use a map and plan a route. Discuss what things you would take with you if you could only take with you what fit in your family vehicle. Would you choose items to put in the car differently if you were making a permanent move rather than for a vacation?
- Make a covered wagon There is an inexpensive kit if you're not craft savvy or a few free designs on the web such as this shoe box one, or a milk carton, and another from Popsicle sticks. This would look great sitting beside your log cabin!
OR
If you're not up to making a wagon, how about knitting a few pairs of red mittens for the family? If you don't live in a cold climate, you could still use them at Christmas time. Use them as a place setting. Make a few medium sized childrens mitten. Roll a napkin and a trinket or dessert mint together and place into the mitten. Decorate the cuffs with ribbons and a name tag.
- Can you imagine how rough their ride must have been? Rides can sometimes still be hard on children in our lives. They get bored and tired of sitting just like Laura did. Mary and Laura only had their one doll to keep them company on their travels. Lets make a travel bag for the car. I love crayon totes, and how about coupons for planned stops! There are travel pillows and mini stuffies (or knitted/crochet). A travel bag is also a great idea for Christmas gifts for your children or nieces and nephews. Or if you do Samaritans Purse shoe boxes (or other charity gift boxes).
What kind of things would you pack in a bag for children on a long trip? We would love your comments!
Travel Stuffies: Beanbag dolls by HatsFineandFancy
Wednesday, September 23, 2009
Little House on The Prairie
SO... we're onto book two real soon. The most popular name used to referance Laura's travels Little House on the Prairie. So pick up your copy and dive in! If you have trouble locating a copy, here is a link for a download PDF version BUT sometimes the site "Megaupload" has border on offensive advertising on their download page, (so don't open the link in front of children!) The PDF's are clear and include the pictures from the books and are family looking friendly.
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