Country Road ~ Carolina Soul: October 2013

Saturday, October 26, 2013

Enchanted Childhood Preschool ~ Halloween Projects

There are very few moments in our preschool mornings that there's not some kind of learning going on... learning about the "center of gravity" when stacking blocks, learning how to share toys, learning good manners at the table... This day, we planned to paint jack-o-lanterns and I took the opportunity to remind them that "red and yellow make orange" by letting them each mix their own paint.

Happy little clementines!

This week, the children learned how to peel their own!

We reviewed shapes and made a collage!

And made paper plate bats!

Lots and lots of learning went on in the "clasroom" this week. I put out several new trays and refreshed some stale ones. I put out the new dressing frames and presented the zipper ad large button frames.

It makes me smile when a older child stops their own work to help a younger child with their work.

The Large Button Dressing Frame

The duster was a huge hit!

The youngers like watching an older do hard work!

They thought they were helping by saying "that's a seven" for EVERY number!

Lots of learning this week, for sure!

Each week I join several linky parties! What a fun way to share and learn!

Natural Living Monday, Montessori Monday, Made by Little Hands, Homemade Mondays, Mama Moments Monday {Link Up}, The Gathering Spot, Little Wonders' Days, Mom's Monday Mingle, Mommy Moments, Frugal, Crafty Home, Hip Homeschool Hop, Mom's Library, Tuesday Tots, (tot school tuesday), The Tuesday Baby Link-Up,Keep Calm Craft On {crafting on}, Tuned in Tuesday, Teach Me Tuesday, TOO Cute Tuesday, Open Call Tuesday, Backyard Farming Connection Hop, Tuned in Tuesday, It's Playtime, We Made That Linky, What I Learned Wednesday, Super Link Party, Kids Co-Op, Artsy Play Wednesday, Healthy 2Day Wednesday, Wildcrafting Wednesday, Adorned From Above, Frugal Days, Sustainable Ways, Kids Crafts, Link and Learn, Thrifty Thursday, Hearts for Home, needle and thREAD,Made U Look, Tender Moments with Toddlers and Preschoolers, Natural Living Link-Up, Small Footprint Friday, Our Days Homeschool Link-Up, For the Kids Friday, FarmGirl Friday Blog Hop, Kitchen Fun and Crafty Friday, Creative Learing on Friday, Preschool and Kindergarten Corner, sharing creative, ideas {all weekend}, The Friday Baby Shower, TGIF Linky Party, Family Fun Friday, Creative Friday, Friday Flair Link Party, Shine on Fridays, Friday Favs, Outdoor Play Party, Do Something Crafty, Weekend Whatever, Saturday Show and Tell, Sharing Saturday, Share It Saturday, Country Kids, Link and Learn, Show and Share Saturday, The Sunday Showcase, The Sunday Parenting Party, Making Boys Men, Raising Memories

Friday, October 25, 2013

{this moment}

{this moment} - A Friday ritual, inspired by SouleMama, capturing a moment from the week.

A simple, special, extraordinary moment. A moment I want to pause, savor and remember.

If you're inspired to do the same, leave a link to your 'moment' in the comments for all to find and see.

Monday, October 21, 2013

A Care Package for Papa

I don't always pack Papa's lunches for work,

but when I do I try to add a little extra something special.

Today I made his favorite peanut butter cookies, and was trying to come up with a containers in which to pack them. I also wanted to send him some milk. Just enough for the cookies.

I found canning jars to be a perfect fit!

I made up a few jars ahead of time so he will have them for the next few days.

I wonder what other cool combos I can pack with this cunning canning jar contraption.

Thinking fruit or veggies and dip, mini pancakes and syrup, maybe even salad and soup...

The possibilities are endless!

Recipe: one cup organic 100% peanut butter, 1 cup sucanat, one egg

Each week I join several linky parties! What a fun way to share and learn!

Friday, October 18, 2013

Enchanted Childhood Preschool ~ Fall Finale! Finally!

I love fall art projects. And nature outings. And books. So we took 4 weeks to have some serious fall fun. This week we did a few cute projects!

We painted with Indian corn (from Poppaw John's garden).

We made gorgeous "fall leaves" with coffee filters and watercolors.

(lines made ahead of time with a glue gun)

Lots of busy work in the classroom!

The older children loved matching art cards from Free Spirit Kids!

She made this custom set for us and we LOVE it!

Thursdays are cleaning days in the classroom!

Everyone pitches in and is proud to help keep their classroom neat and clean!

And, as always, we spent several hours outside!

Each week I join several linky parties! What a fun way to share and learn!

Natural Living Monday, Montessori Monday, Made by Little Hands, Homemade Mondays, Mama Moments Monday {Link Up}, The Gathering Spot, Little Wonders' Days, Mom's Monday Mingle, Mommy Moments, Frugal, Crafty Home, Hip Homeschool Hop, Discover and Explore, Mom's Library, Tuesday Tots, (tot school tuesday), The Tuesday Baby Link-Up,Keep Calm Craft On {crafting on}, Tuned in Tuesday, Teach Me Tuesday, TOO Cute Tuesday, Open Call Tuesday, Backyard Farming Connection Hop, Tuned in Tuesday, It's Playtime, We Made That Linky, What I Learned Wednesday, Super Link Party, Kids Co-Op, Artsy Play Wednesday, Healthy 2Day Wednesday, Wildcrafting Wednesday, Adorned From Above, Frugal Days, Sustainable Ways, Kids Crafts, Link and Learn, Thrifty Thursday, Hearts for Home, needle and thREAD,Made U Look, Tender Moments with Toddlers and Preschoolers, Natural Living Link-Up, Small Footprint Friday, Our Days Homeschool Link-Up, For the Kids Friday, FarmGirl Friday Blog Hop, Kitchen Fun and Crafty Friday, Creative Learing on Friday, Preschool and Kindergarten Corner, sharing creative, ideas {all weekend}, The Friday Baby Shower, TGIF Linky Party, Family Fun Friday, Creative Friday, Friday Flair Link Party, Shine on Fridays, Friday Favs, Outdoor Play Party, Do Something Crafty, Weekend Whatever, Saturday Show and Tell, Sharing Saturday, Share It Saturday, Country Kids, Link and Learn, Show and Share Saturday, The Sunday Showcase, The Sunday Parenting Party, Making Boys Men, Raising Memories

{this moment}

{this moment} - A Friday ritual, inspired by SouleMama, capturing a moment from the week.

A simple, special, extraordinary moment. A moment I want to pause, savor and remember.

If you're inspired to do the same, leave a link to your 'moment' in the comments for all to find and see.

Wednesday, October 16, 2013

Wonderfull (Full of Wonder) Wednesday

It is a wonder-full thing to have your big boycousin as your very best friend!

Monday, October 14, 2013

Decluttering (I had a long title with a lot of words, but I decluttered it too)

I have written before about de-cluttering as well as wanting and living with less. This has been a process that has been an on again, off again (but always in the back of my mind) effort for pretty much all of my life...

We have been "on again" since January. Decluttering and purging and on and on. I have learned a few things in the process:

We had WAY more stuff that I thought. It has been very humbling to realize the vast amount of things we have that we NEVER use... Half my closet, GONE. Half our toys, GONE. Half our lives? Definitely still living... As if we gave up nothing. And the truth is that we haven't.We STILL have SOOO much. It is sickening.
It never ends. REALLY. Unless I somehow manage to never buy anything ever again, this is going to be a lifelong process. Make decluttering a habit. Perhaps part of your weekly chores. Perhaps one room (or two f you a lot of rooms) a month all year long.
If we are not sure about a particular thing, I HIDE IT. If we can go a week or a month or however long we deem long enough, we don't need it.
Buying used can be way cheaper and lower your level of consumerism, but it does not eliminate the growth of clutter. If you don't need it, you don't need it. No matter how cheap it is. Good deals can be tempting. Be ready to walk away if it is something that will only add to your clutter.
Just because (insert reason here), doesn't mean you have to keep it. If you are like me, you might have a need to create things. I sew and craft, and have a bad habit of wanting to keep everything I make. I mean, if you feel like these things are like your children, that is when you should probably realize you are WAY too attached to THINGS (they ARE just things) and need to break that unhealthy attachment. But since you put some of your heart in it, maybe find someone who would appreciate it and give it as a gift. Gifts are another one of the things people feel like they have to keep. Let me tell you, I am 99% sure that whoever gave you this thing thought you would like it or it would be helpful to you. If it isn't, they probably won't mind if you purge it.

It is said that a picture is worth a thousand words. I want my life to be like this picture.

The longer I live, the greater my desire to live simply.

Saturday, October 12, 2013

Enchanted Childhood Preschool ~ More Fall Fun

The Fall Fun continues at our little preschool. There are so many fall activities we want to squeeze in!

Monday, we made sweet little leaf rubbing books!

Tuesday, the children started off making nature prints, using leaves, nuts, acorns, and pinecones to print and paint with... but it quickly became a child-led project with some children experimenting with mixing colors and others finger painting...