Cutting Up the Stash

With the cooler weather coming in, I was able to pull out the “new” t-shirt scarf I made last spring.  What I made it from certainly wasn’t new. You might have caught on to the fact {from my posts OR if you know me} that I don’t let go of things very easily. I’m getting better though! So, from an old mission trip T:

I actually saw one just like it at H&M for 9.99! It really IS a simple thing to make. YOU SHOULD TRY IT! I followed the tutorial at Vermillion Rules except that I didn’t pull out the basting stitches afterwards. Mine’s not quite as ruffly as theirs, but I’m not complaining.

So… off to your machines to make free scarves for everyone! I know my stash still has lots to offer—how about yours?

Free and Really Cute Costumes

Even though we really don’t celebrate Halloween in our family {or this country}, I couldn’t miss a chance to share an amazing costume idea I saw during Portugal’s dress up time earlier this year. All the different kindergartens dress up for the Carnaval parade in our town. I guess you could call these costumes Telephone Book Mary Poppins?

They had skirts, scarves, hats, canes and umbrellas all made from telephone book pages! It was amazing! {Except for the fact that they couldn’t sit down!}

I think they made the skirts and boy jackets from rolled pages attached to another then to a skinny piece of fabric covered with paper rosettes tied around their waist or neck. The rosettes look like circles cut with pinking sheets and folded in some fashion—I’d have to play around with it {sorry I wasn’t brave enough back then to try to ask in Portuguese how they made their outfits!}.

So, another idea for book pages {in addition to the amazing book page wreaths I’ve seen in blogland—here’s a new one I just saw} or a way to use up those old phone books! I’d love to see if you try it!

PS: I saw a some great ideas for incorporating the Truth into October 31st at 1+1+1=1!

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Hedgehogs and More

Today is a holiday in Portugal. In fact, it’s the 100th anniversary of Portugal becoming a republic. You’d think it would be similar to the 4th of July, but a friend told us there have been many victories over the opposition in Portugal, that this is celebrating one of many. I have to remember that America is a relatively new country!  Anyway, the girls were home from their Portuguese kindergarten so we had extra time to do homeschool versus the 1 1/2 hours in the afternoon we have normally.

This week we started the letter H with Raising Rock Stars Preschool. This program has been a lot of fun and a good basis to focus our week around (great printables and songs to download too!). We love how it helps the girls learn God’s word. I even signed up for the members only portion so my youngest gets extra review from the PowerPoint presentations.

 

Every week I look at several websites for ideas to go along with our letter of the week or something with the theme. Our hand print hedgehog from No Time for Flashcards was quite a hit. They turned out really cute too! We looked at pictures of hedgehogs on the internet and to find out about their habitat (another H idea from No Time for Flashcards).

I was also encouraged with our continued gradual introduction to telling time. Last week’s letter was T, so I only introduced the clock. Today, we each had a clock with movable hands. I was reading the book Playtime (Tick Tock Book) as we all changed the hour hands to match hour of the girl’s activity in the book. Even my four year old was following along well!

Another fun thing we tried for the first time was going outside with a cute nature study page for the girls to draw what they see outside. {Thanks Mama Kenz Studio!}I like this one since it allows the girls to “document” things themselves, and then it helps me ask them questions afterwards. The girls LOVED going around outside with their nature study page on a clip board—big stuff!

So, thanks for reading about today’s successes. I’m really grateful for all the online “support” I have way over here (meaning readers and amazing bloggers who share their ideas)!

Catching the Grape Harvest

We’ve passed several trucks filled to nearly overflowing with grapes, and I’ve either not had my camera or was too slow! Friday, we were driving from the girls’ school, when we spotted a tractor and trailer parked on the side of a vineyard (so nice to not have a moving target!). This load was not as big as some I’ve seen going down the road, but it’s still amazing for me to see.

There were three workers in this vineyard. You can see it’s not easy to find them!

 

Ah ha!

The vineyards are really showing the first signs of fall in our area.

Not a bad view for your workplace, huh?! The Atlantic is just over that last set of hills in the distance.  We have rain and wind today, but I’m hoping for many more gorgeous autumn days like this ahead.