Month: September 2021

Paletot Number Three

The third times a charm right? Well, maybe? This is the third coat I have made, and I am keeping this one!!! Because, I’m not making another one lol. But, boy did I make the neckline too low. Why am I sooo good at messing up necklines? It is my special talent!

I really do like this jacket though. I combined both of trim ideas from my two previous coats, and I think it looks way better that way. The bow on the back is just so cute! 

The trims did take a long time. They are rayon stoutche braid, rayon velvet, and many many tiny french knots from silk yarn. And the bow took about a day to make. I had to hand sew the velvet to both sides of the tail, just so it can flip in the breeze and still look good.

The original braid work came from a Godey’s 1863 fashion plate. You can see a post on the first jacket I made with this trim here.

And I did add pockets to this jacket! They are hidden in the first side seams. 

I am really looking forward to finishing the look of this coat with some hand knitted accessories and taking some winter pictures.  I want to make the Opera hood in a soft gray with some white down feathers, a pair of matching long gloves. I feel that would soften and not clash with the boldness of the blue jacket.

I also have a super exciting trim idea for my burgundy wool dress. More to hopefully come on that in the future!

 

Music Appreciation – Country

Dear Sis,

This is the second 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. 

Country Music

Week Seven

Approximately 20 minutes

Read playful narration “Country 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 our “Appalachian folk” aka. Birth of Country Music Playlist (1920s):

Week Eight

Approximately 30 minutes

Read about “COUNTRY” music text.

Watch the videos in our Instruments in Country Music Playlist:

Listen to Sample One: “Lovesick Blues” by Hank Williams

Listen to Sample Two: “I Walk the Line” by Johnny Cash




Week Nine

Approximately 20 minutes

Listen to Sample Three: “All I Have to Offer You Is Me” by Charlie Pride

Listen to our African Americans in Country Music Playlist: 

Week Ten

Approximately 25 minutes

Listen to our Women in Country Music Playlist:

Listen to Sample Five: “Mammas Don’t Let Your Babies Grow Up to Be Cowboys” by Waylon Jennings and Willie Nelson

Listen to Sample Six: “Big Ol’ Truck” by Toby Keith

Please tell us about your experience in the comment section. Stay tuned for the third installment: Electronica (Weeks 11-13).

Happy Homeschooling!

Love,

b




Caesar’s Creek Pioneer Village 2021

Dear Sis,

It’s been a while since we have been to the pioneer village at Caesar’s Creek State Park. There was a lot of change in the few years we’ve been away! Although, we didn’t get many pictures of the children, we finally got some really nice pictures of our dresses. We even saw our long lost friend Dana, in her “one good dress!”

Photo compliments of Jenn’s husband, Brandon.

I love this photo you took of me cuddling Charlotte!

The dying of your dress to amend the bleeding hem tape turned out perfectly! It’s like it never happened… except for the trauma:) Photo compliments of Jenn.

Jenn and I finally have a photo together as well. We were photo bombed by Charlotte and daddy’s don’t always get the full dress, but it’s still a nice picture:)

This picture of Charlotte giving Cooper stink face is priceless! Had to include it too!!!

Love,

b

 

Barnyard Birthday Party

Dear Sis,

I’m so glad you were able to join us for Charlotte’s 2nd Birthday Party! It was small, simple, and sweet:)

Decor

The banner, metal pig cut out, and farm animal center piece were all found at Hobby Lobby. The ceramic blue truck and fancy party hats were found at Dollar Tree. We already had the Little Blue Truck book:) It is one of Charlotte’s very favorite books we were lucky enough to snag at a yard sale some summers ago. Naturally, the party began with a lunch of all Charlotte’s favorite things! Don’t all toddler’s eat lunch at 11AM?!

Menu

Chicken Tenders

Macaroni and Cheese

Cracker Barrel Style Carrots

Corn on the Cob

Chick ‘oil a Half Cut Tea & Whole Milk

Cupcakes

Our piggy crazed girl with so excited about her cupcakes!

The cupcakes were made with the following recipes:

Beat-the-Box-Mix Funfetti Cupcakes

Swiss Buttercream Frosting

Homemade Fondant

Homemade Fondant

Simple, messy, and money saving!
Print Recipe
Course Dessert

Ingredients
  

  • 1 (10 oz) bag mini marshmallows
  • 2 T water
  • 1 (2 lb) bag powdered sugar

Instructions
 

  • Pour marshmallows into a microwave safe bowl. Drizzle with water. Microwave in 30 second intervals, stirring, until marshmellows are melted.
  • Stir in powdered sugar a cup at a time. When it is too thick to stir kneed it in powdered sugar until smooth.
  • Wrap in plastic and store in an airtight container.
  • If too hard to work with. Microwave a few seconds on a plate before working.

Notes

If you need a single color of fondant. It is easier to stir color in before adding powdered sugar.
Keyword homemade fondant

I prepared the frosting and fondant earlier in the week, but baked the cupcakes the day before so they will be nice and fresh. Having only worked with fondant minimally in the past, I wasn’t sure how much time to set aside for decorating. It took me about three hours to make fifteen cupcakes, three of five different animals. Much of the time was spent kneading color into the fondant. I was inspired by a half dozen posts of Pinterest. I found the blog Rose Bakes and You Can Too! helpful in sourcing cutters and practical advice.

Play Dough Table

I made homemade Chocolate Play Dough. A single batch is plenty for a half dozen kids to play with at once! We also used our Melissa & Doug Wooden Farm and Tractor Play Set and some of the trees from our train set.

Opening and Playing with Gifts

We got Charlotte her very own yoga mat so she will no longer be underfoot when William and I try to do yoga:) I found this pink kitty toddler sized yoga mat in the dollar spot at Target.

William gave baby sister her own backpack, so she will quit trying to fun off with his on school days. It was filled with goodies he picked for her at Dollar Tree and the Charlotte’s Web 1973 DVD. The Great Aunts got her serval wonderful gifts, but in this picture they are figuring out how to open the Buzz ‘n Cut Play-Doh Barber Shop.

Mama Jenn found a crochet pig! Charlotte was instantly taken with “Baby Pig.”

Craft

I found these wooden piggy banks in the dollar bins at Michaels months before the party. We used pink, brown, and ivory acrylic paints and sponge brushes to paint them. 

Thanks to all our friends and family for a truly wonderful birthday gathering!

Love,

b

 

 

Summer’s End Photo Shoot

Dear Sis,

Today we did Charlotte’s two-year-old photo shoot! William also wanted a Halloween and five-year-old photo even though that is still eight weeks away:)

Now all we need is a family photo:)

Love,

b

Our 1860s Family Impression

Dear Sis,

Today we spent the morning at Heritage Village. We were extras in a silent film production for their Halloween event. Apparently, it can be tricky to find a family with a period wardrobe ready to go on a two weeks notice:)

Thank You Sis!!! Without all your lovely work on my summer shear, it wouldn’t have been possible!

This picture is compliments of Sandi from our Civil War ladies group.

Love,

b

Preschool Co-op – Water Cycle

Dear Sis,

Today was our first day of Co-op for the 2021-2022 school year! One of the moms made a cute sign for pictures:)

Our Theme: Rain and the Water Cycle

We started with a welcome song, calendar time, and a read-aloud story that related to our topic. Then, we moved right into themed activities.

Snack

 Rainbow Fruit Kabobs

Letter Lesson

 “Rr” is for Rainbow

The early activities were prepared by the other moms in the group, so I don’t have source material to share:)

Number Lesson

Raindrop Counting Finger Painting Printable by Tag Sis, You’re it!

Science

Water Cycle Experiments

I started by reading Rain by Grace Hansen. Although it is a simple book, our group was getting fidgety, so I paraphrased and let the pictures do most of the talking:) 

Next, the kids worked together to build this simple water cycle puzzle: Water Cycle Puzzle by A Teaching Mommy

Then, we did a group experiment to help the kids understand how clouds create falling rain. Here are my notes:

Lastly, we did an experiment to take home. A water cycle in a bag that can be taped in the window to observe. Both experiments, plus several other can be found here: Lessons for Little Ones by Tina O’Block.

Name Practice

Raincloud Name Craft Printable by Tag Sis, You’re It!

After hour of activity the kids were ready to play, so I gave the craft to the moms to do at home. 

Song

Mister Golden Sun Lyrics to print by Tag Sis, You’re it!

Game

 Weather Board Game Printable by Playdough to Plato

Happy Homeschooling!

Love,

b

Baked Perfection

Dear Sis,

Baking for your brother and new-sister in-law was quite an adventure! I knew it was going to be a big project, but I didn’t realize exactly how BIG! The bride and groom were happy… mission accomplished. You know I aim to please!!!

Before the big reveal, here are the inspiration photos the bride send me during the planning phase:

After a week in the kitchen, it was amazing to see it all complete. It wasn’t ready a moment too soon! I literally took these pictures at 4:30 PM just before folks started flowing into the reception hall!!! 

Recipes

Chocolate Fudge Cupcakes

Funfetti Cupcakes

Spice Cupcakes

Swiss Buttercream Frosting

Swiss Meringue Cream Cheese Frosting

Vanilla Bean Cupcakes and Cutting Cake

Baking Schedule and Notes

Day 1: Swiss Buttercream Frosting

A single batch frosts approximately, two dozen cupcakes, or one cake. I made three double batches: two batches for the fifty funfetti cupcakes, two batches for the fifty and vanilla bean cupcakes, and two batches for two cakes. Cake one was a double layer six inch round cake, flash frozen and wrapped to store as an anniversary cake. Cake two was a triple layer eight inch round cake, pictured above… the cutting cake.

Day 2: Swiss Meringue Cream Cheese Frosting and Chocolate Fudge Cupcakes

A single batch frosts approximately, three dozen cupcakes, or two small cakes, or one larger cake. I made three batches to frosting fifty chocolate and fifty spice cupcakes. 

The chocolate cupcakes need to be hand mixed one batch at a time, so that the leavening works properly. I made two batches.

Day 3: Spice Cupcakes and Shaved Chocolate

The spice cupcakes can be prepared in a stand mixer. Although I made two batches, I made them separately so that the leavening didn’t sit too long before baking.

Day 4: Vanilla Cupcakes and Cakes

Eight hand mixed batches made fifty cupcakes, two six-inch round cakes, and three eight-inch cakes. I used vanilla bean paste instead of vanilla for a deeper vanilla taste, smell, and visual effect.

For perfect cakes, I line the bottom of the cake tins with parchment, cut to shape and size of the pan, and greased the sides. Then, I place a wet bake-even cake strips around the pan to assure that the cake bakes evenly without dry edges!  The cakes baked 25-28 minutes varying by size.

Day 5: Funfetti Cake

I prepared two hand mixed batches the morning of the wedding because this recipe is not particularly shelf stable and begins to dry out quickly!

We arrived on site at noon. It took the better part of half an hour to locate the reception hall and haul everything inside. It was my goal to begin decorating at 1:00 PM, and I did, but my childcare was delayed a bit, so the first hour was slow going.

Additionally, the large containers of frosting, although left out of the fridge overnight to soften, were so large that the frosting was still effectively chilled! I had to warm each batch in the frosting bag, deal with soft and hard spots and squeeze much harder than usual. I only had two tips, one for each flavor, and not hot soapy water, so my bags got progressively more slippery with each filling. It was adventure!!! Rookie mistakes! I know for next time, if there is a next time… lol.

The manager had a cupcake and then requested business cards:) Apparently, many clients need a baker. I declined. I’m still just backing for family and friends at the moment!

Love,

b