Cake Pops

We made CAKE POPS for Grandma's birthday. Happy Birthday MOM! Julia and James had fun making the pops, but most of the fun was the sampling I think:) A recipe can be found here.

Thursday Nature Study

A rainbow of color was spotted in the sky at Peter's Canyon in Orange.

Thank you to Naomi for researching this unusual sky color called a SUNDOG.

Our friend Jennifer, a fellow CM homeschooling mom from Thursday nature study group, was so gracious to give us an art lesson. Jen's nature journal is just beautiful as are the journals of her little men! What a blessing she is to offer her gift in drawing to our group.

Jen first had the children sketch a Western Bluebird. Next, she had the children mix 3 shades of blue watercolor and show those on the three circles drawn on the nature journal. Last, the children dry brushed their sketched bird while noting the detail and correct location of the blue shades from their field guides. Thank you Jen!

JAMES 4 1/2 Mama helped with bird sketch

James did the rest:)

JULIA 8


THISTLE



FRIENDS



TREE SWALLOW family





While we were enjoying nature study,
my man was finishing up our book shelf.




THANK YOU MY LOVE!

"A home without books is like a room without windows. A little library, growing every year, is an honorable part of a man's history. It is a man's duty to have books. A library is not a luxury, but one of the necessities of life."

Henry Ward Beecher

Handicraft

The idea to make our 'Art and Hooks Rack'...

...came from the pages of Handmade Home.

We started with this panel of pine.

The children helped to prime the wood.

Our colors were painted on after carefully

measuring, drilling holes, and taping off.

We made four Art and Hooks Racks at the same time...

So I chose the art work from Julia and James' nature

journals and had them color copied to make four sets.

Julia drew the birds last year. James drew the pepper

tree and pine cone recently.

Mod Podge was brushed under and over

the drawings. Ribbon was then glued on

across. Lastly, the glass hooks or knobs

were screwed in place.

We now have a place to hang our jackets, hats, and

scarves. What I love most about this rack is the art

it displays!

Owls

When my friend Katie shared with me the owl ornaments in the C&B magazine, I thought they were just adorable and had to make my very own! It was enjoyable planning the colors and finding the right fabric prints to suit these critters. These little owls were made for each of the families we adore in our nature study group. Merry Christmas! Hopefully we will get see a real owl together:)

Knitting

I'm new to the art of knitting. After practicing some, last night I decided it was time to really make something that can be useful to warm a special person. My first Christmas gift started! This Christmas will be one of giving handmade gifts.

Julia and James love to make gifts. Last weekend when I sick in bed they made me several bookmarks, so thoughtful, as they see that I have a stack of books at my bedside just wanting to be read! They made their daddy mazes on his birthday cards last week. Every morning before the sun shines they are ready to create. I love the warm thoughts they have for us and others in their readiness to make something to give!

This morning Julia woke and noticed my knitting had begun...


She wanted her little scarf to look longer like mine, so early in the morning she made her scarf grow!

I know it will bring such joy and pleasure for the children to make handmade gifts for Christmas along with me. We will each be blessed with being together, laughing, loving, talking, and singing the hours away as we create with our hands for that special loved one, making warm memories. We want to give as our Father in heaven has given us His own Son.

There is a prayer I like from Christmas Carols for a Kid's Heart...

Lord Jesus, help me to learn this Christmas what it means to be humble. If You could be born in a little manger among barn animals, then I can be content with simple things too. Help me not to want a lot of "stuff" this Christmas; instead, I want to be happy with my family and friends and whatever You choose to give. Thank you, Jesus! Amen.

For the LORD takes pleasure in his people; he adorns the humble with salvation. Let the godly exult in glory; let them sing for joy on their beds. Psalm 149:4-5

And look what my little man can do!

Wrap the left side of yarn around the front of your thumb and put the needle through...

Julia taught James how to "cast on" this evening! He will be knitting very soon with his sweet little fingers.

The yarn on the right wraps behind the needle and then around the front...

Now, hold on to everything so the yarn doesn't slip off. OK, flip the yarn that is on your thumb up and over the needle. Now pull the yarn on the left side. You did it!!! My amazing little man that just turned four:)

The heavens declare the glory of God, and the sky above proclaims his handiwork. Day to day pours out speech, and night to night reveals knowledge. Psalm 19:1-2

Sweet Little Magpie SKIRT

Handcrafted

Inspired by a sewing mama found on the Soule Mama blog, I made this skirt using my dear sewing machine. I relish in the memories this little Kenmore has brought home...a table cloth, sofa pillows, a duvet cover, the curtains for our little ocean apartment when newly married. After having little ones, there seemed no time to take on a project. Last year I did attempt and successfully made a beautiful colonial dress with apron for Julia. Though, with the hours and frustration involved with following a pattern and the children wanting to play outside, the dear little sewing machine found its way in a kept spot. Now Julia and James are a little older and they have a shared desire to learn how this machine works. James is really interested in the "gas peddle" and wants to know how fast it will go! So we take on this new venture and we will create with our hands and see where it will take us. The skirt is so simple to create without a pattern, which suits me well. I have a stack of beautiful material just wanting to be put together, oh I just love fine printed fabric! This inspiration for making skirts and the desire to journal our family life was the beginning of the Sweet Little Magpie blog, the name and water color drawing distinguishing our sewing projects.

Bracelets

Julia made these precious bracelets for her dear friends in our nature study group.

She ....worketh willingly with her hands. Proverbs 31:13