Christmas Trees From Old Book Pages

I love the little trees I made from old book pages! 

I've seen the idea a couple of places.

Kayla Aimee She shows how to fold & Creative "Try" als

The metal candle holders I already owned, 

and Dollar Store ornament toppers made them just right! 

These are decorations that didn't cost much at all. 

You'll need: 

• Old Paperbacks. I found a so-called "classic" that I hated. I recently tried to read it and I made myself finish it, but it was absolutely awful! Rambling writing, partially inside the head of a mentally ill person, and there was no real plot. So it became a couple of nice little trees. Yea! That makes me happy.
•  Hot Glue Gun & Glue Sticks
• Ornament or Topper
• Candle holders Or something to stand trees on.
• Glue & Glitter Optional for the page edges. I didn't use any.

Take the cover off carefully, taking only the paper cover, and leaving as much original glue on the spine as you can. 

Count out 2 sets of 30 pages. If you go by page numbers just remember if you cut out at page 30 you will only have 15 pages! I couldn't figure out why my first tree had to be filled in so much. It was because I'm silly and only had 30 pages total! So go to page 60 and cut the first section out. Then to page 120 or so. I added a few more on each side after that first sparse tree.

Fold each set of 30 pages as follows:

With the spine edge of the first 30 pages to your left grasp the top right corner and fold down to the edge as shown above.

Then fold the same page down again sort of like a paper airplane. I used a pencil or Popsicle stick to smooth down and make a sharp edge.

Repeat with all thirty pages. 

Sometimes curling a little as you go gets the page down in there where it needs to go.

REPEAT with the other 30 pages only start them out with the spine to the right.

I cut off the extra tabs that hung down. You can fold them up. I didn't like that. 
You can also trim the height once you get each half done. 
Trimming off the same amount from the bottom of each side. 

 This is what the bottom of one half should look like after folding. At the top middle you can still see some of the original spine. You will need 2 halves like this before you heat up the glue gun.

Put a bead of hot glue all the way down that original spine area and 
quickly press both halves together.

Touch up with a little more glue if needed. 

Here's where you can glue glitter to the page edges if you like.

Then glue on the topper.

Marinara Sauce

Marinara Sauce is meant to be a basic red sauce that you can add whatever else you like to it. Eggplant, ground beef, mushrooms...
This stuff is so fragrant and yummy that when I let the son smell from the cold, leftovers pan out of the fridge he wanted some right away even though red sauces 
sometimes bother his stomach.

Save money if you have a ton of tomatoes in your garden, or can get some cheaply. 
Oh, forget cheap! This is GOOD, and no corn syrup added!

So here is a basic sauce.

• About 6 quarts of fresh, seeded, pureed tomatoes (peel them if you like, I didn't)
• 2 lg. chopped onions
• A whole large bulb of garlic, or 10+ cloves 
• Fresh herbs. Such as: thyme, oregano, basil, rosemary, to taste
• 4 Tab. Olive oil (not extra virgin, unless your goal is to smoke up the kitchen)
• 1/4-1/2 c. red or Marsala wine, or a splash of red wine vinegar (this is optional, but the alcohol cooks out, leaving a nice flavor)
• salt, to taste

Puree all of the tomatoes and place sauce in at least an 8 qt. pan. 

Chop onions, garlic and herbs in a food processor. I picked out the woody stems from the herbs, but left any softer ones. Food processor chops them up nicely. 

Heat oil in a large skillet on medium high heat and add the onion/herb/garlic mixture, cooking until onions are starting to caramelize (getting brownish tells you this). 
Add this to the pot of tomatoes and pour in the wine or vinegar, if using.

Cook the sauce on medium to low for 2 hours. It may still be a little juicy, 

but oh so fragrant and tasty! Add salt to taste.

Add meat or whatever else you like and serve over your favorite pasta with a sprinkle of cheese. I used a Parmesan, Asiago, Mozzarella, Provolone, Romano blend, and meat that I had already seasoned for breakfast burritos, but didn't use all of. Delizioso!!

I think I may can some of this next year. I've canned all of my tomatoes in salsa this year. Here's my Tar Tar's Salsa recipe.

Recent Questions About Homeschooling (updated)

We started homeschooling after our son had been in public school for a few years, so I often get questions from those thinking about starting later. We did not homeschool all of our children and we are glad there are wonderful public and private teachers out there.  I want to say that from the beginning. I don't believe homeschooling is for everyone. (Collective gasp from some) :)

Some are afraid of the cost of homeschooling, their ability to guide learning, socialization with other children (if there aren't siblings), and a support system for themselves. Others worry that they can't stand their kids attitudes now so how could they deal with them all day at home? I may not answer all of your questions adequately here, but keep asking other homeschooling families. Your children may learn differently than mine, you may discover you like only textbooks (eek) or that you have enough siblings who can entertain each other at playtime, so you won't have to seek out groups and friends as much as other homeschoolers do. Every family is different, yours is unique too.

"Why did you start homeschooling?" And "I can't homeschool because....."
These can be somewhat answered in my posts: Me? Homeschool ?!! and Homeschooling? YES, you can do it!
You can also find a Homeschool Highschool post.  

I do want to add that if your child/children have an attitude problem they may not be the only ones who need an attitude adjustment. Yes, I'm talking about you- mom and dad. There should be parental love and authority in the home. Your kids will respect and love you back if you take the lead in this area. Whatever discipline you choose for bad behavior should be consistent and THEN there should be quick forgiveness when the offender has repented. On the same hand, if YOU have been hateful, unjustly angry or harsh, YOU should apologize and ask your child's forgiveness and start again. Hopefully they have seen your willingness to forgive them in the past. My son once said, "It's hard for me to believe that God can forgive me sometimes.....but I know that He does because you and dad always do." .....Wow, what a profound thing that was for me to hear. Even if I haven't done everything right, and I haven't...No parent is perfect. We all think we will be better parents than our parents. Get a wake up call now, instead of later. We ALL, including our parents probably felt/feel that we are doing a better job than the ones who came before. Snicker, snicker, our parents and grandparents are thinking. Humble yourselves and parent with grace. God gives you grace, a clean slate every day, right?

Here's the part of Ephesians 4 right after we are admonished to "put off" the old nature and "put on " the good stuff:Therefore, putting away lying, “ Let each one of you speak truth with his neighbor,” for we are members of one another. “Be angry, and do not sin”: do not let the sun go down on your wrath, nor give place to the devil. Let him who stole steal no longer, but rather let him labor, working with his hands what is good, that he may have something to give him who has need. Let no corrupt word proceed out of your mouth, but what is good for necessary edification, that it may impart grace to the hearers. And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, by whom you were sealed for the day of redemption. Let all bitterness, wrath, anger, clamor, and evil speaking be put away from you, with all malice. And be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God in Christ forgave you." -Ephesians 4:25-32

What have you used to homeschool and where did you get it?
Most of what we've found useful is on the right hand side of this blog under the title: "Curriculum and Websites We've Liked" You can also look over my posts under "Homeschooling" tags.

I bought used books online from Vegsource (even if you're a meat eater like me), The Swap, The Homeschool Classifieds, and Amazon, new books from Pennywise Learning, A Beka, Christian Book Distributors and many more. I borrowed from the public library, and the homeschool section of our church's library. We also used free online sites as much as possible when we started out. Great sources are homeschool conventions held in larger cities. There you can put your hands on the materials first hand and see if you think they would work for your family or not.

I found worksheet generators that were a lot of help. Though the original site I used can't be found there are plenty around now. Just a Google search away here. If you are determined, have a closely-supervised internet account, and own a library card, you CAN homeschool for practically nothing, especially in the early years. If you have younger ones who will use the same curriculum soon, look for materials that can be reused instead of consumables. Consumables are those subjects that are workbook heavy, which are used up and thrown away. A money saving tip here for some consumable workbooks is to have the child write on a separate sheet of paper so that those using it in coming years may still use the same book.

We like reading real books as much as possible for history, and I will often check out just the textbook from the church library for American History, for example, and not require answering tons of questions, but discuss what he's learned through reading it. AND have him read a few books... at least one or two of them being biographies from the same time period as the text. I think this approach has fostered a love of reading and history. I'm eclectic in my choices for texts and will use whatever is available to get it done. (AS long as they are historically accurate texts) A word here about "The Classics". Just because a book has achieved the honored title of "classic" doesn't always imply that it is literature fit for children, or adults, for that matter. Use discernment.

What will they be doing with their free time? What about kids their own age to play with?
If you'll be homeschooling your other kids they will have playmates. Incorporate fun learning along with the sit down bookwork. I never let my son spend all day watching tv or playing video games. I used to babysit three younger children and he learned to play with them. There were board games and leaning games. Giant bubbles in the swimming pool outside was a science lesson and tons of fun. Hand microscopes and magnifying glasses made the world a wonder for days on end. He used the couch cushions and blankets to build forts when he'd read about castles, allowing even the baby to crawl through the maze. A huge spiderweb was made in our whole living room with a ball of old yarn. Kids scissors were used to cut it all away and clean up before dad got home. It builds compassion and responsibility when kids are encouraged to play with kids of varying ages. Don't forget the many adults your family can learn social skills from and lend a helping hand to. The elderly neighbor, the art teacher, grandparents, people at church... There are church groups for Bible memorization and fun games such as AWANA . Christian based sports groups such as Upward Sports. Look around for a homeschool group in your area and/or another homeschooling family with kids the same age.More questions to come....

Banana Nut Ice Cream

Banana Nut Ice Cream

We always say if you're gonna make it vanilla, don't bother. This homemade pecan-banana ice cream is THAT good! Momma made it for so many years I don't even know where the original idea came from. We also have a chocolate recipe that our Randy came up with. That's for another day. We mostly have electric machines now, but in my childhood the little kids took turns sitting atop the machine on a towel to hold the freezer still while a bigger kid or adult cranked.
SO ingredients and supplies you'll need.
For the freezing of the ice cream:

• 4 quart or larger ice cream freezer (My fill line is to about 3 quarts, but once it's frozen it expands)
• 1 1/2 bags ice
• ice cream salt

 For the ice cream itself:

• 2 c. sugar (a little more sugar for bigger freezer)
• 2 envelopes of unflavored Knox gelatin
• 4 eggs (use 2 more eggs for bigger freezer)
• 2 c. whole milk brought to scalding
• 2-3 c. half & half, heavy whipping cream, or canned milk
• whole milk (enough to finish filling the can, instructions to come)
• 1 tsp. real vanilla extract
•  1/2 c. chopped pecans (or more)
• 4 large, ripe bananas, smashed with a fork

You'll usually know the ice cream is frozen because the motor stops on an electric machine, or your arm can't crank any longer without throwin' a child slap off their seat of the hand-crank machine.
Once it's done you should drain off the water. Wipe off around the lid of the can containing the ice cream and take out the stirring paddle. Close it all up again, placing foil over the hole of the lid so no salt gets in. Pile more ice and salt on top and wrap up in a blanket or some towels so the ice cream will harden more.

T-Shirt Rag Rug

  Remember the old loop potholders we all made as kids? If you ever tried to use one of those potholders you'd burn your fingers. Well this project is MUCH more fun, actually looks nice, and is functional! 
Unless you tell, no one would know it was old t-shirts.
  It's a rug made on a hula hoop! The idea came from Pinterest, where someone pinned the idea from 
Family Fun Magazine online.


  You'll need around 12 old t-shirts, scissors (or a cutting mat and rotary cutter), and a hula hoop or other large hoop. After you make one you'll be thinking about what else you could use for a loom. Such as an large, old frame, or begging your honey to make you something. I can see a rectangular rug in my future. :)


11 Loops go on the frame like spokes on a wheel. These are the warp. The material you weave with is the weft. So you start with 22 warp. You need an uneven number for the weave to come out right, so you push 2 of the spokes together and treat them as one. For now you treat both of the double strings of each loop as one.

8 inches of weaving is where you will begin treating 
each warp spoke as two individual strips instead of a single unit.

Soooo much easier than crocheting!

Just about finished!

Now I'm scouring closets for more old t-shirts, and seeing loom possibilities everywhere. Here's my Pinterest site For full directions go to 
Family Fun here. 

                                                                             
                                                                          The tie off 

This rug is not yours, Miss Patty Dog.

Maybe we can share.

I like this recycled old bed sheet rug.
And this braided rug, no-sew!

Fruity Spinach Salad

I'm all about saving money by figuring out how I can make something at home for less. This recipe was inspired from three different sources: TV guy I saw make something similar, Panera Bread and the Wednesday night church salad bar. I can eat a whole huge bowl of this stuff! Eat it with one of my Sandwiches - not Just For Kids, or add some chicken to the salad for a meal. It's like having dinner and dessert at the same time! Feel free to add mandarin oranges or fresh pineapple, or to subtract other fruit. 

Fruity Spinach Salad

• Fresh or bagged Spinach (whole bag if for a crowd)
• Blueberries (or blackberries, raspberries...)
• Strawberries
• Walnuts (or pecans)
• Purple Onion
• Feta Cheese crumbles

Wash spinach in a colander and take the stems off the larger leaves while it drains. Wash fruit. Cap and quarter strawberries. Very thinly slice a small portion of the purple onion and cut into pieces. 

Place spinach in the bowl first then top with the rest of the beautiful ingredients. Drizzle the strawberry dressing over salad right before serving, or serve it on the side for guests to drizzle desired amount. 

Strawberry Dressing

• 1/4 c. Virgin Olive Oil
• 1/4 c. Honey (could cut this down a little)
• 1/4 c. Apple Cider Vinegar
• 4 large Strawberries

  Throw all together into a blender or food processor and blend until berries are fairly smooth.

Summer Blender Drinks - Pina Colada - Family Version

Drinks bought at coffee shops and restaurants can rack up the $$ for families trying to stay on a budget. There are probably plenty of recipes online for those willing to dig around and who really want to save money.
I will stick to what I know and love to make on my own. Feel free to add a link to your favorite recipes if you like. All of my drinks are family friendly, so there are no "adult" beverages here. :)
Making your own drinks can be quick and easy if you keep some things on hand, like fruit juices, fruit and yogurt. 
 

Pina Coladas for 2

• 1 cup Pineapple juice
• 4 Tab. Cream of Coconut (Not fresh juice. The stuff in a can has added sugar)
• 2 cups ice cubes
 

Put everything in the blender and blend, turning the blender off and on as needed to let things settle and blend into a frosty wonderfulness! That's all there is to it!  Can you believe it? Couldn't be more simple. Figure out how many of these you can make for the cost of juice and a can of cream coconut and you'll think twice about going to Sonic or anywhere else even at happy hour.If there are ice cube chunks in the bottom of your glass that means you either didn't blend long enough, or your blender is having trouble withe the cubes. I have a blender that was mom's, made in the 1970s and it is a powerhouse!

Now go make some other fruity drinks and smoothies. You can do it!

Dave Ramsey

One of the books our senior son will be re-reading. He went with us to Dave's Financial Peace University at our church. I highly recommend this method of group attendance because you have the moral support of others.

After attending with us and watching Dave speak about the dangers of credit and seeing him cut up credit cards, our son said he'd NEVER own a credit card! YES! That's my boy!

Dave Ramsey knows what it's like to be broke and knows how to dig out of debt. He uses biblical standards for finances in his material.

Whatever Happened to Breakfast? Oatmeal Pancakes

Whatever happened to real breakfasts?
What happened to oatmeal, Malt-O-Meal, eggs and biscuits?


Growing up I remember my mom worked and we ate lots of cold cereal on weekdays. By 9 AM I was soooo hungry. Lunch in the lunchroom at school, which I usually scarfed down, only held me over until after school when I would be ravenous again. Sometimes there was a small snack, sometimes not, and a wait until dinner at 7PM or later. Let's feed our kids a good breakfast. Let's teach them how to cook some good things. It's cheaper and more healthy in the long run.

I like to sleep until 7:00, and my husband leaves the house before 6:00. So I cook the lazy way. I declared today was oat day. I made oatmeal pancakes AND my BIG Batch Granola (recipe here.) The morning, and two large boxes of oatmeal are gone, but I have a lot of yummy stuff to show for it.

Updated 8/4/13

Oatmeal Pancakes - double batch (makes 22)

• 2 cups milk
• 2 cups water
• 1/3 cup olive oil or coconut oil
• 4 eggs separated
• 4 cups quick oats
• (you may use long-cooking oats, like McCann's, just adjust the liquid and cook as directed)
• 2 tsp. salt
• 5 tsp. baking powder
• 2/3 cup flour
• 1 tsp. cinnamon
• 1 cup chopped nuts (optional)

Heat the milk, water, and oil in a large pan. Stir in the oats and turn off the burner. Let it sit and become relatively cool.

While oats cool: beat the egg whites until stiff peaks form. 

Stir the dry ingredients together. You may add a splash more of milk, but remember the batter needs to be super thick and the egg whites will add moisture too.  (You can also start measuring out the ingredients for the granola if you're making it at the same time.) 

Stir the egg yolks and dry mixture into the oats 

 Fold in the egg whites.

I cook these on a non-stick griddle, four at a time. Oil the griddle.
Cook on medium high heat until getting sort of dry on top. They take longer to brown than a normal pancake, so take your time.

YUMMY!

Cool and place in the fridge, or freezer, if your family doesn't eat them all.
Scrumptiously moist, you can eat them plain.
If you must, you can have a little honey or syrup.

Evidently, real cinnamon hasn't been seen in this country for awhile. You may not know that we've been cooking with Cinnamomum cassia, which is not true cinnamon. Once you have the real thing, you won't like the other as well. I got mine in Germany, and I'm very stingy with it.

Breakfast Burritos

Breakfast burritos are great to have in the fridge or freezer.
Here are the ones I made this morning:



Breakfast Burritos

10 large, flour tortillas (save bag)
1 package of turkey bacon or sausage
1 dozen eggs
Cheese is optional. I use a little Parmesan or cheddar.
Seasoning salt or Cajun seasoning
Red Pepper flakes (if you want plenty of heat)
Black pepper
Butter or olive oil
Salsa (can be added after heating to eat)
Waxed paper

Cook the turkey bacon and crumble.

Scramble the eggs in a little olive oil, seasonings and pepper.

Heat the tortillas on a griddle. I stack them all on there at once, and flip them around to expose the stack to the heat.

Mix a little cheese with eggs if you want.

Mix eggs in with the bacon.

Place mixture on tortilla
Fold ends over

Roll snugly from the bottom

Roll up in the waxed paper in the same fashion

Place the finished burritos in the bag the tortillas came in!