Month: May 2022

Preschool Graduation

Dear Sis,

This evening William graduated from the preschool playgroup he has been attending at the local YMCA, since the age of three. This was a lovely supplement to our homeschooling adventures and a much appreciated change of pace for mom for 2.5 hours two mornings a week. 

We have a few things to finish up to complete our homeschool Pre-K school year, but William is excited to start Kindergarten in the fall. Instead of YMCA playgroup, we will be moving on to Monday co-op days where each of the kids will have 4 hours in a preschool and kindergarten classroom respectively, while mom gets to keep her mind sharp teaching American History to middle schoolers:)

No surprise, William wants to be a pilot like daddy.

Celebrate the small things!

Love,

b

1860s Memorial Day Picnic at Spring Grove Cemetery (2022)

Dear Sis,

Most of the photos featured in todays post are from other living historians who participated in this event and shared their photos on The Amaranth Society page on Facebook. 

After just two years, this event feels like a longstanding tradition:) 

All these lovely shots of the kids were taken by Mekaela Carter.

Photo by Dana Gagnon:

Charlotte and William had a lovely time playing with Carla.

William enjoying some pumpkin pie and Charlotte enjoying a timeless classic common from 1860s-today… macaroni and cheese!

Photo by Mekaela Carter:

William climbing Cyrus knees under the watchful eye of Dana Gagnon.

Happy Memorial Day!

Love,

b

1860s Memorial Day Picnic at Spring Grove Cemetery (2021)

Music Appreciation – Rock ‘n’ Roll

Dear Sis,

This is the tenth and final part in our Music Appreciation lesson plan series. If you are just finding us now, the text that corresponds with these lessons is Music is… by Stephen T. Johnson. 

Rock & Roll

Week Thirty-Three

Approximately 20 minutes

Read playful narration “Rock ‘n’ Roll is…” text.

  • Encourage your pre-reader to try to repeat the song and sing along. Being silly with your kids is a great way to catch their interest.
  • If you have multiple learners you can make a game of it and see who can give the best performance by family vote

Listen to Sample One: “Strange Things Happening Everyday” by Sister Rosetta Tharpe (gospel/early rock ‘n’ roll)

Listen to Sample Two: “Hound Dog” by Elvis Presley (rockability/rock ‘n’ roll)

Watch the Biography of Elvis Presley video.

Week Thirty-Four

Approximately 15 minutes

Read “ROCK ‘N’ ROLL” history text.

Watch the History of Rock ‘n’ Roll video. 

Week Thirty-Five

Approximately 10 minutes

Listen to Sample Three: “Roll Over Beethoven” by Chuck Berry (rock ‘n’ roll)

Listen to Sample Four: “Paperback Writer” by The Beatles (pop rock)

Week Thirty-Six

Approximately 15 minutes

Listen to Sample Five: “Little Wing” by Jimi Hendrix (classic/psychedelic rock)

Listen to Sample Six: “We Will Rock You/We Are the Champions” by Queen (classic/arena rock)

Read “Music is YOU!”. 

Please tell us about your experience in the comment section.

Happy Homeschooling!

Love,

b




Godey’s 1861 Fancy Belt Pattern

Hi Sis,

You gave me your old belt, the one I made you a few years back. Then, I got an idea! I was gonna have some fun!

Enter fancy belt, from Godey’s 1861.

Here is how it turned out! 

I planned to sell it, but now I’m not sure. 😂 It doesn’t look bad with my crazy bold kelly green silk dress. So, I may just keep it. 

Materials

Silk Taffeta
Interfacing
1 Inch velvet
Soutache braid 3 mm wide 
Buckle – You can find buckles from Ensembles from the Past and Button Barron

Step 1: Measure waist. Add 1 inch seam allowance, and 1 -2 inches for overlapping the back. Take this measurement and drawl it onto your silk tafffeta. If you want a two inch belt, cut it five inches wide.

Step 2: I interfaced my belt for extra stability, but this is optional.

Step 3: Sew one side of the belt (1/2 seam allowance), and down the main length. Do not sew other end. 

Step 4: Trim corners at end for a good fold/tip. 

Step 5: Invert. Iron, and use a butter knife to help give you a nice crisp edge along the seam.

Step 6: Fold in other end, and sew.

Step 7: Take one inch velvet, and sew it on 1/2 of an inch from bottom.

Step 8: Find center of belt, and put on buckle. Chalk the lines of your buckle, so that you know where to not have the braid loops getting in the way. Many period belts closed on the side.

Step 9: Mark where your braid loops will take pace, with a simple chalk line. You do not need to trace anything. Just mark the distance apart that you desire your loops, and stagger the top and bottom.

Step 10: Sew on braid.

Step 11: You can add a closure, such as a hook and eye. Or you can use a silk pin or two. I pin my belts on, and yes that is a period, and always a great fit!

Enjoy your belt!

 

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Fish Sleep Sack

Dear Sis,

All your recent visit have spurred a desire for me to make animal sleep sacks for Eve, Charlotte, and Grant like I did for William long ago (Owl Sleep Sack). Eve has been the floor sleeping kid, so I made her’s first:)

Materials

  • 2 yards fleece (outer fabric)
  • 5 1/2 yards broadcloth (lining and pillow sham)
  • 1 1/2 yards quilting cotton (tail, fins, and eye)
  • double sided fusible interfacing, such as WonderUnder
  • 2 (24 inch) metal zippers (closure)
  • tissue paper and clear tape (pattern making)

Assembly

  • Draft your tail, fins, and eye patterns onto tissue or pattern paper. The pattern photos below are on a 1 inch grid to help you scale the pattern.

  • Fold 1 1/2 yards printed quilting cotton in half and arrange tail (cut 2 on fold) and fins for cutting. Remember to add 1/2 inch seam allowance around curved portions of tail and fins. 
  • Place tail panels right sides together and sew curved areas with a 1/2 inch seam allowance, leaving straight section at the base of the tail open. Clip curves as needed, turn and press. Repeat with fins.
  • Cut 4 x 4 inch square from remnant printed quilting cotton and double sided fusible interfacing. Press with a hot iron to fuse both squares together. Trace eye pattern onto interfacing side and cut along the tracing line, no additional seam allowance is needed. 

  • Trim bulky salvage edge from fleece. Fold lengthwise and cut on the fold to create a front and back panels. 
  • Shaping top and bottom edges of fleece panels by centering tail at the bottom edge of the fleece panels. Chalk mark the flat space that is required at the bottom to attach the tail. Add curve to the top and bottom edge as desired with chalk and cut when pleased with the shape. Fold contoured bottom edge up until it meets the top edge of the fleece panels. Cut to match bottom shaping. Unfold. Working with just the top edge, chalk the opened mouth into the straight uncut area between the top and bottom curves. When pleased with the shape, cut the mouth opening.
  • Remove the bolt fold from the broadcloth and fold in the other direction so that fabric is open to its full width. Lay fleece panels at the bottom from the folded edge upward and a standard pillowcase above it. Cut lining to match the fleece panels. Cut pillowcase panels with a 1/2 inch seam allowance around the three seamed edges and an additional 2 1/2 inches at open edge for a rolled hem.

  • Lay a single layer of fleece out flat. Arrange and pin tail, fins, and eye in place. Sew on tail and fins using a 1/2 inch seam allowance. Note: the front pectoral fin is not along the edge, so it will need to folded downward and topstitched to finish the raw edge. 
  • Fuse the eye in place with a hot iron. Using a dense zigzag stitch or the satin stitch, sew around the eye to finish the raw edge.
  • Pin tail and fins away from the edges of the fleece folding as needed. Place second fleece panel right side down over the first panel. Leaving the first 24 inches open on both side seams, stitch around using a 1/2 inch seam allowance. Repeat with lining.
  • With fleece layer right side out and lining inside out. Place fleece inside lining and sew around unfinished edges with a 1/2 inch seam allowance leaving an 8 inch opening for turning. Turn and get lining situation inside fleece layer. Top stitch around opening on the front and back as close to the edge as possible turning the open 8 inches inward and stitching it closed as well. 

  • Switch to a zipper foot and install a zipper along the top and bottom curved edges.
  • For pillowcase, place panels right sides together and stitch along three edges using a 1/2 inch seam allowance. Clip corners and turn right side out.
  • On open side, fold raw edge under 1/2 inch and make a 2 inch rolled hem and secure with machine sewing.

Enjoy your creation!

Love,

b

P.S. Two more designs are in my sewing queue… a yellow cat for Charlotte and a pink pig for Grant.

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Thank you for your support!




Instant Pot Freezer Meals: Chicken Paprikas

Dear Sis,

I’m so glad I had this in the freezer during your visit. It can be an extra challenge to get dinner on the table in time when I have company. Its always nice to have a few freezer meals set aside for these hectic times:)

Chicken Paprikas

Serves 4-6

Prep Ingredients:

2 lb. chicken thighs cubed

1 onion, chopped

2 T paprika

2 T tomato paste

1 gal freezer bag

Serving Day Ingredients:

1 c chicken stock

1/2 c sour cream

8-12 oz egg noodles (prepared and buttered)

Prep Instructions:

  1. Date, label, and copy serving day instructions onto freezer bag with a permanent marker.
  2. Combine all ingredients in prepared freezer bag. Freeze for later use.

Serving Day Instructions:

  1. Add stock and freezer meal to instant pot.
  2. Pressure cook 8 minutes. Natural release 10 minutes. Quick release remaining pressure.
  3. Simmer to reduce sauce to desired thickness. Stir in sour cream.
  4. Serve over buttered noodles. 

Pairing Ideas: simple side salads and possibly fresh dinner rolls.

Back to the Instant Pot Freezer Meal Directory

Dinner is served!

Love,

b

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A Short Visit

Dear Sis,

We decided to come, for a short, but very enjoyable four day visit.

We went to Red Oak Town for the very first time. We had the pleasure of meeting a few awesome fellow historical crafters, but didn’t actually spend much time chatting. It was crazy hot and rainy, we never really settled in, and my kids had an epic meltdown with every cannon “Boom.” But, the town was really neat! I wish I had gotten more pictures. But, my hands were always full of a bag, snacks, and water, or a screaming kid. 

Grant – not hiding how he felt. Look at the dry ground, can you believe it rained multiple times that day?

It was so hot, that we ended up stripping the kids socks and shoes off and letting them run in bare feet. Poor little Grant had a mild heat rash on his chest when we left. I definitely, need to make him a sheer dress! We decided to stop for some much needed ice cream.

The kids had a blast going to play grounds, playing with each other and the neighborhood kiddos. They didn’t have as much fun when we dragged them around shopping, but I now have a long dress (that isn’t historical lol) to wear to this summer’s weddings.

We didn’t have much time for crafting. But, you got got close to finishing William’s Civil War outfit, and I worked on your linen traveling bag. Hopefully, I will finish that soon!

We also did a stinking cute cousin photo shoot for the grandparents.

Love,

Jamiegoof

Music Appreciation – Rhythm & Blues

Dear Sis, 

This is the ninth of ten parts in our Music Appreciation lesson plan series. If you are just finding us now, the text that corresponds with these lessons is Music is… by Stephen T. Johnson. 

Rhythm & Blues

Week Thirty-One

Approximately 20 minutes

Read playful narration “Rhythm & Blues is…” text.

  • Encourage your pre-reader to try to repeat the song and sing along. Being silly with your kids is a great way to catch their interest.
  • If you have multiple learners you can make a game of it and see who can give the best performance by family vote

Listen to Sample One: “Monday Morning Blues” by Mississippi John Hurt (Delta Blues)

Listen to Sample Two: “I Got You (I Feel Good)” by James Brown (R&B/Funk/Soul)

Listen to Sample Three: “Respect” by Aretha Franklin (R&B/Soul)

Week Thirty-Two

Approximately 20 minutes

Read “RHYTHM & BLUES” history text.

Listen to Sample Four: “Signed, Sealed, Delivered I’m Yours” by Stevie Wonder (R&B/Soul)

Listen to Sample Five: “Escapade” by Janet Jackson (R&B/Pop)

Listen to Sample Six: “Halo” by Beyonce (R&B/Pop)

Please tell us about your experience in the comment section. Stay tuned for the tenth installment: Rock (Weeks 33-36).

Happy Homeschooling!

Love,

b