Family Ramblings

A Quick Visit – Summer 2022

Dear Sis,

I didn’t take enough pictures during my visit. Maybe you can fill in the gaps.

June 23rd

Your bathroom with a blue sink, toilet, and tub, and pink wall paper has made me bonkers since I first stepped foot in your home. As usual, I forgot to take before photos, but here are the after shots:

Scraping the wallpaper boarder at the top of the wall and in the middle of the wall went better than I expected. No damage to the paint underneath! The stencil boarder I replaced it with matches the fixtures perfectly. So do the towels, shower curtain, cup, and soap dispenser. I love that we were able to use one of great grandma’s oil paintings! The custom wreath I made to go over the toilet fills the wall space nicely without looking too busy. The new mirror adds shape and style. We were not able to swap out the light fixture, but turning it to point upward instead of down made the space feel more open! The tiny touches of replacing the rusty floor vent and the ill matching cabinet handles really pulled everything together for a polished fresh feel. I love this makeover on a budget! It’s one of my favorites so far:)

June 24th

I spent most of the making a five tiered sprinkle filled candy cake, but we squeezed in a family photo session before bedtime:)

The photo has a totally different vibe than the rest, but it is good too:)

June 25th

Eve’s Fourth Birthday Party

I’ve made many cakes, but this is arguably the most challenging one despite it’s simplistic exterior. This is a five layer chocolate cake. The center portion of the four bottom layers were removed and made into the two little cakes. The center was thin lined with a coating of candy melt so that the sprinkle filled center wouldn’t clump after exposure to the moist cake. It took several hours of melting, pouring, and setting to form the perfect well for our sprinkle and Sixlet filled cake. The fifth layer of cake was placed above the welled layers and frosted over to hide the surprise contents.

We made a mess in the dining room, but the kids absolutely went nuts for the cake that drops candy everywhere when cut:)

The girls matching dresses were so stinking cute!

I don’t have any photos from the piñata. Maybe you can add some. I would also love to see some pictures of the completed dining room and sewing room that I helped decorate during the visit.

 

Thanks for a wonderful visit!

Love,

b

Pennsylvania Visit – Summer 2022

Dear Sis,

We’ve been on vacation for about three weeks, so I’ve backdated the segments of our adventures to their respective places in our recent timeline. I hope you enjoy this photo journal:)

June 17th

We arrived at Great and Pop’s in the late afternoon. We visited their neighbors who have a train display right in their yard! 

Afterward, we met Gran and Dave at a local outdoor diner for supper.

June 18th

Grandma put us to work! We installed lighting under her microwave so her stovetop is nice and bright.

For anyone with a dark kitchen area, these LED strips are super easy to install and plug directly into a wall outlet!

I was then tasked with fitting a curtain to the narrow window by the front door.  We ordered some magnetic curtain rods on Amazon. I did have to take the old sheer that was hanging home to refashion it into a proper window treatment. But the completed curtain image fits in the timeline best here:)

The last Grandma project is also out of sequence because I made it at your house and gave it to her at Eve’s birthday party, but again, it makes the most sense here. Grandma saw a sign with this quote in a Dairy Queen bathroom two years ago and has been asking me where she can find one to buy every time I visit. This time she had a photo and everything, so I decided to just make one:)

Photos from Cousin April’s Wedding

Papa Jeff brought bubbles!

Cousin Laura’s daughter Aubry is only a few months younger than William. All the little cousins got along so well! William feels like he made a new friends:)

Trey, Aubry, Chase, and William

July 19th & 20th

William has been asking to go camping for over a year. It’s wonderful that we finally went, even if it was just for one night. It was fun to be back at our old stomping ground… Raccoon Creek State Park. Next year I think the kids will be old enough for a whole weekend!

Our hike to Frankfort Mineral Springs was also a success!

Our Pennsylvania was short, sweet, and action packed!

Love,

b

 

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!

 

 Clicking on an advertisement helps cover the expense of hosting our blog. Thank you for your support!




 

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