Free On-line Resources for Geography

While attending a middle school orientation, the social studies teacher mentioned that the first topic to be discussed will be geography. She also mentioned that the kids may find it "boring". I went on-line to find fun sites to help at home, while she is learning at school and found these:

Free Geography Publications

Geography Quiz Bowl Questions

Free Printable Geography Worksheets

Scholastic Free Printables (register to print)

National Geographic for Kids

Free and Inexpensive Geography Materials

Fact Monster - Geography Guide

Knowledge House - Study Resources: Geography

Free Federal Resources - Geography

Printable Outline Maps

Geography Study Resources

Fifth Grade SS Geography and Map Skills - On-line Flash Cards

Certificate of Completion: Perserving Food at Home

I've passed the canning course and now have my own certificate. I can't wait to purchase all the supplies and start canning. It will be new for the kids too.

To learn how to take this course read an article I have written on how to register for it (on-line).

Christmas Handmade 2009 Update

Crocheted lip balm holders for each of the girls. I'm using leftover slipper yarn, so each girl will have matching slippers and lip balm holder. I'll be attaching a lanyard clip and ring to each one before I wrap them. These will be stocking stuffers.



Here are 3 pairs of slippers completed. I found buttons from $2.00-3.50 (2 per package), on clearance from $.50 to $.97! What a deal! The camo slippers have deer crossing buttons I found in clearance for $.50! I'm working on the 4th and 5th pair. They know they are getting them. They picked their color of yarn and they picked out their buttons. I had to size them as I crocheted them, so I needed their feet anyway. Believe it or not, but they are trying to make me give them the slippers now. Ha, ha, ha!

Now the challenge remains on what to make my 17 year old son. I'm looking for more bootie type slipper patterns for him.

Sun fried Momma

Whew! Talk about hot weather! I told the kids to come water me down every five minutes. Luckily the garden is doing okay. It could be better, but it's still producing. The herb garden is looking wonderful and I have already dried more rosemary for bus driver and teacher gifts. The flower beds are needing a good weeding and the rose bushes. We really need rain.

School starts tomorrow for one daughter and for myself.

Jasper has been at it again. So has Tiger. They have chewed on books, tried to eat a plastic fly swatter, and more. Argh!

Yesterday we attended another fair and our youngest brought home a gold fish. Adding more animal in the house. At least it doesn't need brushed and doesn't need a litter box.

Christmas Teacher Gift Ideas - Handmade/Homemade

This year I am contemplating teacher gifts early. One gift may be dried herbs in a cute glass spice jar or recycled jar. I'm drying rosemary for these cute jars I found in clearance. I grow rosemary in my herb garden without chemicals. What's better than home grown?

What do stay-at-home Moms do all day?

If you are a curious reader, and have been wondering what stay-at-home mothers do all day, then you've come to the right place. You can put the stereotype that we are all couch potatoes, watch soap operas and eat bon bon's all day, into the toilet. We are all different. We all have a different size of family and the demands and responsibilities are all different. I can't even say there is a "typical" day for us either. To give you a sneak peek into my day, this is what today amounted to. We've had zucchini for breakfast, lunch, dinner and snacks. Now it's time for Braised turnips over brown rice or barley. See how the day went:

1. got up showered, dressed, ate breakfast
2. made bed
3. wrote for 2 hours (my time)
4. put laundry on the line outside
5. vacuumed
6. watered outside plants
7. did dishes
8. called financial aid office regarding application
9. cleaned up bathroom floor
10. went through yesterday's mail, sorted and shredded etc.
11. put cushions out on the back patio
12. cleaned off kitchen table
13. put more laundry in the washer
14. cleaned up utility room floor
15. cleaned off kitchen counters
16. checked library on-line for items due and items in
17. swept off front porch
18. ran vacuum in bedroom
19. picked up kids flip flops laying in hallway floor
20. ran dishwasher
21. sent e-mails to sister, mom, brother, and friends
22. make chicken and cheese Quesadilla for lunch
23. put corn pudding in the crock pot for dinner's side dish
24. checked garden for any veggies - pulled turnips for dinner, beets, and zucchini
25. put away dried herbs that were drying on the herb rack, cut more to dry
26. read Bible
27. swept kitchen
28. worked on handmade Christmas gifts (keeping the it frugal and budget friendly this year)
29. put more laundry on the line
30. put more laundry in the washer
31. got the mail
32. delivered a healthy meal and fresh zucchini to Mom
33. took one daughter to a doctor appointment
34. picked up needed items and attempted to get prescriptions (that's a whole story in itself)
35. drove home and wrote another article while eating my dinner
36. drove to the gas station to fill up the van
37. took towels off the line
38. washed my face and got ready to go to bed
CRASHED!

Update on Finding the Crocheted Slipper Pattern

Regarding the crocheted slippers with the button closure:

I could not find the pattern on-line. Here is the link to other free patterns that are in the same issue of "Makin' Hay" and other issues - Mary Jane Butters Patterns and Instructions.

If you have access to a fram supply store such as a TSC store (Tractor Supply), you might find the Aug-Sept 2009 "Makin' Hay" Issue of this magazine. In it, you find patterns for knitting and for crocheting the slippers.