so much for that

I have the coolest coolest project to share.  Two good ones, really... but I'll try to work on those post today. 

Here's proof of the masked bandits visit to our garden.  They got the first 5 stalks earlier in the summer and now they came back for these five.  I know, 10 stalks of corn won't feed us more than a corn snack, but we ran out of garden room and just wanted to try it this year.  I had thought we'd do a little three sisters area, but the floods came down and the slime went up....  maybe next year.

Luckily, other gardenrs are doing better than me.  I was able to get corn at the farmers market from this guy down the road for a nice price.

I've canned 4 dozen ears so far, give or take what we ate for dinner.   I love canned corn or it wouldn't probably be worth it.  Hubby has pointed out that they do in fact sell corn at the grocery store. 

clipboard save

Bee needed a clipboard for school.  A few weeks before school started, she found this gem at the recycle center.  Clearly it needed some loven.  That recycle center.... it's a treasure trove!

Bee chose some scrapbook paper from my stash and we traced the clipboard shape on the paper.

After cutting it out (and a quick trim to fit better) we marked the spot for the top hardware. 

We cut and checked and trimmed and checked again until we got it just how we wanted it.

Our 12x12 paper was just a touch too short so we added a few inches of corresponding paper. 

Then we modge podged the heck out of it.  A layer of modge podge went down, then the paper placed on top.  A little bit of smoothing down was needed, then another layer of modge podge was added.  Working around the hardware was a little tricky, so we propped it open with a pencil while that part dried. 

Bee wanted a little more fancy, so we added some 3-D flowers.  They will be fine for Bee for this year, she's very careful with things. Usually. I have a similar one that was a gift from a sweet student.  It has a cute ric rac glued on the area where the two papers are joined.  It's cute, but not practical for a writing surface. 

Lou has asked if we can keep our eyes out at the recycle center for another clipboard.  I do have a whole class set stored away in a box... somewhere... in one of my dozens of unmarked boxes.  The recycle center might be just as easy.

garden love and an appology

I had no idea that this year's back to school time would be any different than last year, but I was wrong.  Full day school for Bee and an extra work day for me seem to make us exponentially busier.  I can't even spell exponentially, it's not in my 3rds grade vocab folder.   I don't know how moms who work full time get it all done.  I have just had a few work days at school this week, albeit not even long days and I feel like things are slowly melting at home.  Tuesday, we were up early, I ran, got ready, got the kids up and ready and we were off to school at 7:30.  The homework was already done, the backpacks were ready, clothes were laid out, snacks and waters packed, lunches ready, my school things were out and by the door,  no problem... we've got this thing down. But then we got home and everything had to be done again, plus dinner made and my work to get ready for the next teacher day and an email sent to the teacher and it was almost 4pm.  Then I realized that laundry was backed up and Bee didn't have what she wanted to wear and Lou was out of undies and the dishes had somehow it seemed continued to pile while no one was home (those cats!). Thankfully, Hubby was home early (a rare treat indeed) and we tag teamed everything until the kids were in bed and the laundry was folded and lunches were ready and we collapsed on the couch after 10pm.  In a few weeks we'll be adding dance class and t-ball and 4-H.  Pretty sure that's going to go smoothly.

Anyway, I got up early again and hopped on the treadmill just so I would have a chance to post something. I type and run, which I hope explains my spelling errors.  Here's something from the end of last week.  I also have pictures of our crashed over corn to show....but they are upstairs on the camera.   Some fellows came in the night wearing masks and helped themselves.  Note to self: consider hound dogs.

Something from last week that never got posted:

I feel like our little garden is at it's peak.  It's wonderful and happy and almost makes me forget the headaches she's provided. And my threats to use lots of poison.  

 

Here's one day last week and then two days later.  I've already canned the first two batches of tomatoes.  Ketchup is soon to come!

And then some more of this 

 and some of this.

and more canned tomatoes.

If my posts aren't daily anymore, I'm either stuck in a pile of laundry or at the kitchen table assisting with homework. 

I can't explain this ruin. How to ruin dinner method #88

I can't really explain this ruin.  Hubby brought me home this okra from a customers house. Seemed like a good excuse to fry up some okra.

I followed Paula Deen's recipe for fried Okra. They get sliced, dipped in buttermilk, then dipped in a flour, cornmeal mix.  Then fried until golden.

They looked good, they smell good,  they even tasted pretty good.  The trouble was that they were chewy and stringy.  It was impossible to eat them.  It was like you were left with a mouth full of fur after chewing.  They were gross and I tossed them all. 

Any idea where I went wrong? My first guess is that the okra wasn't ready to be picked?

who is crazy now?

You know you've seen those old ladies who garden with metal pie pans tied to the garden posts. Yeah, who is crazy now...

Old Cd's, pie pans... Yep, Im there.  But, I'm not crazy.  It's totally keeping the birds out.

I wonder if the raccoons will like it though... don't they like shiny things?  I think that's how Billy caught the first raccoon in Where the Red Fern Grows; the skin he used to train old Dan and little Ann.

The corn is so close, I don't wan to loose it to the raccoons again!

And the caged watermelons. I want the raccoons to leave them alone.

No critters seem to care for the potatoes.  At least we'll have sweet potatoes.  I don't think I even like sweet potatoes.

We needed a little break from yellow squash, but there are more coming.

Speaking of crazy,  check out this maze of fabric strips holding the cages up.

Those tiny little plants have grown right over the tops of their cages and are weighing them down and toppling over without being supported.  Next year, I'll use big tall yard stakes.

There are starting to be some pumpkins.

Some of the vines grew up the fence though and the little pumpkins are falling off the vines. 

Here's something that's not crazy.  It's the best thing I've ever done (other than marry my sweet hubby and have some babies).   All through the garden, we placed sheets of newspaper at least three sheets thick and then topped it with cut grass from mowing.  It was extra work with each mow, but has cut down the weeds to almost none.  Nice clean places to walk and crawl (some tomatoes plants have grown so big I literally have to crawl under the branches to get to the other plants).   Next year I'll give them more space.  When they are little, they seem to have tons of free space, it almost seemed goofy.  Now I see that they need more!  That pumpkin picture above shows an area where I didn't get any paper and grass laid down.  Weedy, grassy mess. Those vines are so prickly, there is not a lot of weeding going on over there!

review games

I had post ready to go the last few days, but they didn't go. We've been away from home and I didn't even notice.  Here's one of them.

I just made my sister up a set of my favorite review games from my bigger kid classroom days.  Then I gave it to Bee's teacher as a first day of school treat.  I made my sister up a new set.  I used to use these for review for all kind of things; mostly spelling and math.  I started with football and baseball and ended up adding other sports over the years. You could customize it to any sport really.  These games are so versatile.  I used them in 2nd, 3rd and in 6th.

The game pieces are just clipart I found online and brought into Word.  I printed them out on cute colored paper (some of it glitter), laminated them, and added magnets on the back.  They are used on the board in the classroom. 

I typed up directions for all the games and added that to the front.  I ordered a set of blank spinners (since I didn't want to give away my only one!) and included those as well. 

Here are the directions from the front. Someday when I figure out how to do file share things, then I guess I can have all of the pieces and the directions in an easy format to share.  Someday.  Until then:

Math football:   (play similar for soccer) 

Draw field on board.  Divide kids into 2 teams, place football on 50 yard line.  Give a question for all to solve/work out.  Call on someone from first team.  If they get it right, have them spin spinner.  Move football away from their goal that many yards (1 = 10 yards, 2  =20 yards, etc).  If they miss, call on someone from the other team. Let them spin if correct.  Then return to the other team.  When a team reaches the other teams goal, give them a tally mark and return ball to 50 yard line.  (Use spinner divided into 4 sections)

Math Basketball: 

Draw two goals on board.  Divide kids into 2 teams, place basketball in the center.  Give a question for all to solve/work out.  Call on someone from first team.  If they get it right, have them spin spinner. Slide the ball towards their basket.  Award team 1-3 points.  Tally under their goal.  (use blank spinner programmed with 3 sections) 

Math Baseball:

Draw diamond on board.  Divide kids into 2 teams.  Give a question for all to solve/work out.  Call on someone from first team.  If they get it right, have them spin spinner.  Move a cutout player to that base (1 = 1^st base 2 = 2^nd  base, etc).  If they miss, call on someone from the other team. Let them spin if correct.  Both teams may/will be on bases at the same time.  When the 2^nd player goes for a team, they add their bases to the one already on base.  Example:  the red team has a player on 2^nd.  On their next turn, they spin a 3.  The player piece will travel home scoring a run and then go to 1^st base (for a total of 3 bases).  (Use spinner divided into 4 sections)

Tip: Have two players sitting near the front be ‘spin captains’ for the teams; all the kids don’t have to walk up & spin, the captain will do it all. 

Tip:  Award additional or deduct points for good/bad sportsmanship.

Tip:  Have a class list on hand with the two teams indicated.  Mark the names as you call on that student.  Mark differently if they are called on but miss.  Come back to them.

Tip:  Cater your questions to different levels of learners.  Call on the appropriate level of learner of harder or easier 

hello first grade

There was a little bit of crying this morning, but Bee survived.  

 

When we dropped her off at school, the kids were are waiting in their class groups in the lobby (there are only 4 classes at her school) so it wasn't a crazy situation.  Bee realized that all the other girls in her class knew each other except her  (She was the only girl from her class to go on to first grade at this building).  She was very upset.  I didn't  think hubby was going to let her walk down the hall but I assured him that by the end of the day, she'd have made friends.

When we picked her up, she couldn't stop talking about her two new bestest friends, one of whom she couldn't remember her name.  She's going to be fine.

Lou struggled more that anyone I think.  He was excited about this extra time with me at home, but he quickly realized that he missed her.  He sucked his thumb all day (which he isn't supposed to do since his birthday- but I looked the other way)  and talked about what they'd do when she got home.

He didn't want to let her go to school without a hug!  Also, our morning charts helped tremendously this morning.  I didn't have to remind her to do anything!  Rock on!

I asked 1000 questions when she got home, but the best part of the day for her was that she got to buy a milk even though she packed a lunch.  It was chocolate.  She said, "Did you know that milk came in those little cartons in chocolate?"  I didn't tell her that we used to get strawberry!

we're ready

We're all set for Bee's first day of first grade. Some of us more than others.  The lunch is packed, the backpack is stuffed with school supplies, all labeled as directed.  She was certain that she was going to wear her 'Cinco de' Mayo' outfit for the first day (which you may remember involved an undershirt worn as the top).  Unfortunately it doesn't meet dress code, so that was a no go.  We compromised on another dress, slightly less festive.

After back-to-school night, I started feeling like there was just so much to take care of.  Lunch, snack, gym shoes, Ar books, an agenda and somthing about green folders and red folders and a purple notebook for something else  (I had not idea that we teachers stressed parents out so much).  

We made up a few things that will hopefully help with the mornings.  Bee has a special related curriculum each day along with Spanish, library and a spelling test, etc.  Hopefully this little guy will help us make sure we have all the needed items for that days activity.  The colorful clothespin will get moved to mark each day.  Tuesday will be a busy day, plus we have mini 4H in the evening this year on the same day.  She'll be all kinds of well rounded. 

Her teacher told us at back to school night that a major theme for first semester is independence.   Hopefully this chart will help Bee be more independent in the mornings.  This morning, I took pictures of her getting ready for the day.  We listed them all out and have this posted hanging by the other one on the fridge.  I'm hoping to have to be less nagging. 

Her schultuete is ready.  Not that she's asked me about it.  500 times.

Our chalkboard countdown has reached the end. We are ready for school.  Lou promises me we can play monster trucks all day with Bee gone.  (And look at those gumball machines.  They are almost full and we have planned our special trip to the amusement park.)

I am linking up to some of these fine kiddo related parties:

Wednesday's A story + art = A Great stART  @ A Mommy's adventures,   Made by Little Hands Mondays @ delicate CONSTRUCTION Wednesday's Kids Get Crafty @ Red Teg Art's Blog, Tuesday's Show and Tell blog hop ad ABC and 123,  Tot Tuesdays at Delicious Ambiguity,  For the Kids Fridays @ Sun Scholars