Homeschooling |

This Week’s Happenings… plus Blog Hops, Giveaways & Quilt-Alongs

By sewwhatscooking | March 25, 2013 - 9:48 am | giveaway, homeschooling, knit & crochet, quilts & quilting, tutorials

It is a cold day here and snow is everywhere! This is definitely the most snow we have had since we moved here – and the most my kids have ever seen! The roads were plowed yesterday, though, and Tom said they weren’t too bad on his way into work, thankfully!

This week should be pretty laid back. I have things to get done but besides music lessons and a trip to the library, our schedule is pretty clear.

Today I have to work on my block for tomorrow’s Modern Japanese Block of the Month. Here’s a coloring/design page for you.

I have lots to do for school this week. We are working on the 1450-1750 A.D. period using the Barron’s AP World History as our guide and adding Geography, map work, videos, art & music history and supplemental fun materials, Chemistry + experiments from Janice Van Cleve’s A+ Projects in Chemistry. Andrew is working on Pre-Algebra and Sammy has been really enjoying Geometry. And of course, spelling, grammar, and writing. We have also been doing Spanish using Rosetta Stone. We will be starting pencil drawing for art later this week, too, which I am really looking forward to!

Tonight I’m making Chicken Fried Steak and Mashed Potatoes. It’s been a long while since we have had that since it’s not the healthiest meal in the world – but it sounds so good. I’ll post a recipe later this week!

I’m also working on my second and better Dr. Who Tardis block from the tutorial by Jennifer Ofenstein over at Fandominstitches.

I also need to stalk my partner for the Modern She Made Swap. I have to make something with at least one star in it! I have some ideas but not sure yet.

This weekend I’m going to STLMQG Sew In Saturday. I need to figure out what I’m going to work on.

Finally, I’ve been practicing knitting at night. I found a knit block of the month and thought it would be a great way to practice different stitches and end up with an afghan. Unfortunately, the one I started with – looks like they didn’t ever finish it. So, I’ll be looking around to find other blocks or just making up my own! Here’s what I have done so far.

This block is The Honeycomb Cable Afghan Square by Fiona Robertson-Clarke. It was a fun block to do.

Here’s a close up of the detail:

Now I’m working on Big Twisted Cable Afghan Square by Lacie Lynnae.

Well, I’d better get busy! Check out these fun goings-on around blogland:

Blog Hop’s:

There is a great “Charm Friendly” Blog Hop with Tutorials & Giveaways hosted by Sew Lux Fabrics.

Tuesday 3/19 – Jennie at Clover & Violet

Wednesday, 3/20 – Jess at Sew Crafty Jess

Thursday, 3/21 – Rhonda at Quilter in the Gap

Friday, 3/22 – Jenelle at Echinops &Aster

Sunday, 3/24 – Week 1 Giveaway Post

Tuesday, 3/26 – Lori at Lori H Designs

Wednesday, 3/27 – Kelsey at Kelsey Sews

Thursday, 3/28 – Lindsay at CraftBuds/LindsaySews

Friday – 3/29 – Jennifer at That Girl, ThatQuilt

Saturday, 3/30 – Stacey at The Tilted Quilt

Sunday, 3/31 - Leona at Leona’s Quilting Adventure & Week 2 Giveaway Post

Monday, 4/1 – Alyce at Blossom Heart Quilts

Tuesday, 4/2 – Wendi at prsd4tim2

Wednesday, 4/3 – Elizabeth at Don’t Call Me Betsy

Thursday, 4/4 – Ginny at Fish Creek Studio

Saturday, 4/6 – Last day to enter projects on the Linky Post
Sunday, 4/7 – Week 3 Giveaway Post

Threadbias has a Quilt Design Tool Blog Hop. Looks like a pretty cool design tool and an alternative to EQ. Here is the line-up:

Monday, March 25 - Freshly Pieced

Tuesday, March 26 - Don’t Call Me Betsy

Wednesday, March 27 - Generation Q Magazine

Thursday, March 28 - The Sometimes Crafter

Friday, March 29 - Diary of a Quilter

Monday, April 1 - Swim, Bike, Quilt

Tuesday, April 2 - Fresh Lemons

Wednesday, April 3 - West Coast Crafty

Thursday, April 4 - Sew, Mama, Sew!

Friday, April 5 - Alison Glass

Saturday, April 6 - Pink Castle Fabrics

Sunday, April 7 - Ellison Lane Quilts

Giveaways:

Studio Dragonfly has an Aurifil and Fat Quarter Giveaway – Ends Friday

Sew Can She has a giveaway for 2 yards of Robotic Fabric Ends 3/27

Don’t forget to check Pile O Fabric and Maureen Cracknell on Friday for their great giveaways!

Kristy Daum from St. Louis Folk Victorian has a giveaway as well as a fun new tutorial for Tipsy Triangles.

Cherished Bliss has a Southern Fabric Giveaway ending 3/28.

Sew Mama Sew Spring Giveaway Day has been announced as May 6th so mark your calendars!

Tutorials:

Cinta @ My Poppet has a great Triangle Quilt Tutorial

Missing the flowers? Craft Buds & Craft Foxes have some great fabric flowers you can make!

Lee at Freshly Pieced has a great spring Quilt-Along coming up. I love her approach:

“It’s important to note that this will be a very laid-back, do-it-whenever-you-want kind of quilt-along. Because if the weather does improve, we might all want to go outside, after all. : ) So follow along at your own pace—the posts will be available indefinitely. I hope you’ll all join in!”

There is a new Modern Block of the Month Series on Sew Mama Sew by Alissa Lichner of Pile o Fabric. Looks fun!

The first Modern Block of the Month Series by Alissa Haight Carlton from Handmade by Alissa looks pretty fun, too!

Remembering…….

By sewwhatscooking | November 3, 2012 - 1:27 am | family, homeschooling, life

1 Comment

Today we went on a field trip to a really neat museum. It is called the Soldier’s Memorial Military Museum and it’s located on Chestnut in downtown St. Louis. It is not a large museum, but I thought it was really incredible – and a beautiful labor of love to honor the men and women of St. Louis who gave their life in service to their country.

Soldier’s Memorial Military Museum

The idea was born to create a memorial for the sons and daughters who had “made the supreme sacrifice in the World War” in 1923 and over the next 12 years the city and the citizens of St. Louis raised funds for the project. The project began in 1935 and completed in 1938 with a beautiful building, memorial plaza, and surrounding parks. In 1936, Franklin Delano Roosevelt came to St. Louis to dedicate the building with these words:

“…Here will rise a fitting structure—a symbol of devoted patriotism and unselfish service. We in America do not build monuments to war: we do not build monuments to conquests; we build monuments to commemorate the spirit of sacrifice in war—reminders of our desire for peace. The memory of those, whom the war called to the Beyond, urges us to consecrate the best that is in us to the service of country in times of peace. We best honor the memory of those dead by striving for Peace, that the terror of the days of war will be with us no more. May the beauty of this monument, which will rise on this site, cast a beneficent light on the memories of our comrades, may a substantial structure typify the strength of their purpose, and may it inspire future generations with a desire to be of service to their fellows and their country.”

The museum opened on Memorial Day in 1938.

“This magnificent edifice, erected as a perpetual reminder of the valor and sacrifice that has enabled America to live, will spur us on as a people to make America greater. We, who live, because others have died, should make of this shrine a place of love and a monument of peace.”

- Mayor Bernard F. Dickmann, May 30, 1938

There are two museum rooms and they are filled with photographs and memorabilia telling the stories of those who served and gave their lives for the cause of freedom and democracy. My kids (11 and almost 13) took a quick look at all the stuff and then sat around being bored, ready to go. I admit when we first got there I thought – is this it? But when I stopped to really take a look and read the stories, I saw a treasure – a labor of love and gratitude for the loved ones who were lost in battle – and the desire to honor their memory and not let them be forgotten. They were not the only ones to make the supreme sacrifice – but their families as well – from the Civil War through the current conflicts.

A few things I learned:

St. Louis lost 1075 men and women in World War I and 2735 in World War II.

The museum is home to three Medals of Honor.

I had never heard of the American Gold Star Mothers. These are mother’s who have lost a son or daughter in service to country. The first flag raised at the Soldier’s Memorial Military Museum was given by FDR and raised by the president of the Gold Star Mothers. The have a really lovely display dedicated to these women. My heart goes out to every one of them. I didn’t lose a child in combat or in service to country – but I do know what it is like to lose a child. When Tom and I married, he had two daughters from a previous marriage. Emily and Angela were 3 and 2 and though they lived with their mom, we spent as much time as we could with them while they were growing up and talked to them every week. I love the both so very much – like my own kids. Emily died three years ago October 23rd and would have been 21 on November 5th.

Emily, Tom, Me, and Angela on April 6, 1996

Emily

Emily & Angela

Veteran’s Day is Monday, November 12th and there is a Veteran’s Day parade at noon on Saturday, November 10th downtown St. Louis. For more information, you can visit the Soldiers’ Memorial Military Museum website.

Emily’s Birthday is Monday, November 5th. We all love and miss you, Emily!

After the museum, my mother-in-law, Barbara, took us to McGurk’s Irish Pub for lunch. The really neat thing, and on topic with my title, is that there is a little house right next to and owned by the Pub. This is where Barbara lived when she was a little girl. She rode her bike up and down the street and in the alley, went to school for a while at the Catholic school across the street, etc. It was really neat to see! Now I guess musicians stay here when they play McGurks.

We had a really yummy lunch and then took a walk over at Soulard Market. It was a really nice day out!

Anyway… That’s all I have for now. It is late and we are going out tomorrow so I’d better get some sleep!

Have a nice weekend!

Krista

Halloween, the Crusades, & Super Quick Cinnamon Rolls

By sewwhatscooking | November 1, 2012 - 11:02 am | food, homeschooling

Quick Cinnamon Rolls

Print recipe

Serves	12
Prep time	45 minutes
Cook time	25 minutes
Total time	1 hours, 10 minutes
Allergy	Milk, Wheat
Meal type	Breakfast, Dessert
Misc	Child Friendly
From magazine	Fine Cooking

Adapted from Fine Cooking magazine recipe

Ingredients

3/4 cups cottage cheese
1/3 cup buttermilk (I substituted 1/3 cup milk with 1 tbsp white vinegar)
1/4 cup sugar
4 tablespoons butter (melted)
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
2 cups all-purpose flour (more for rolling)
1 tablespoon baking powder
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon baking soda
1 1/2 tablespoon butter (melted)
2/3 cups brown sugar (packed)
2 teaspoons cinnamon
2/3 cups powdered sugar
2-3 tablespoons milk
1 teaspoon vanilla extract

Note

Twist: reduce cinnamon to 1 1/2 tsp. Add 1/2 tsp. ground allspice and 1/4 tsp. ground cloves plus 1 cup chopped pecans.

Directions

Step 1
Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Grease the sides and bottom of a spring form pan.
Step 2
In food processor, combine cottage cheese, buttermilk or milk/vinegar, sugar, melted butter, and vanilla. Process until smooth, about 10 seconds. Add flour, baking powder, salt, and baking soda. Pulse in short bursts until dough just clumps together. Dough will be soft and moist.
Step 3
Scrape dough out onto lightly floured surface and knead a minute until smooth. Roll out into 12 x 15 rectangle.
Step 4
Brush butter onto dough. Combine brown sugar and cinnamon. Spread sugar mixture all over. Beginning on long edge, roll up the dough.
Step 5
With a serrated knife, cut into 12 sections and place in greased pan, cut side up.
Step 6
Bake until golden brown, about 20 to 25 minutes. Set pan on a wire rack to cool about 5 minutes. Run knife around edge and remove spring form ring. Move to serving plate.
Step 7
Mix powdered sugar, milk, and vanilla. Drizzle glaze over rolls and let sit 15 minutes before serving.

Homeschooling & Fluffy Pancakes

By sewwhatscooking | September 1, 2012 - 5:00 am | food, homeschooling

Fluffiest Pancakes Ever!

Print recipe

Serves	6-8
Prep time	30 minutes
Allergy	Egg, Milk, Wheat
Meal type	Breakfast
Misc	Child Friendly, Freezable, Serve Hot
By author	Krista Robbins

Ingredients

1 1/2 cup milk (note: skim is fine also)
3 tablespoons white vinegar
2 cups all-purpose flour
2 tablespoons sugar
w teaspoon baking powder
1 teaspoon baking soda
1 teaspoon salt
2 large eggs
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
3 tablespoons butter (melted)

Directions

Step 1
Combine milk with vinegar and set aside to begin to curdle.
Step 2
Combine flour, sugar, baking powder, baking soda, and salt in a large mixing bowl.
Step 3
Whisk melted butter into milk and then the eggs and vanilla. Pour wet mixture into the dry mixture and whisk until combined and no lumps remain. Set aside and let stand for 15-20 minutes without stirring. Batter will become aerated and thick.
Step 4
Heat griddle to medium heat. Add batter by 1/4 cup full. Cook until bubbles appear on surface. Turn and cook until browned on second side.
Step 5
Serve with butter and heated syrup.