As part of the curriculum in learning at my day care, I like to come up with themes. Some of them are daily themes and some are weekly. Some if not all of them will include a special outing to coincide with our themes at some point during the week.
For instance, today's theme was Butterflies. It included a books about butterflies and two butterfly crafts. This theme could be a part of a weekly theme on insects or things with wings or even colors and numbers themes.
I began by visiting my library online and choosing books to be put on hold. I was so excited when the day came to pick them up. I chose three books from the children's section of the library. Depending on age, you could get pretty detailed with this part... or not.
We also had coloring pages on butterflies. I found a couple of them here. I printed them and made copies and we colored them at table time.
The crafts were simple. One, we made butterflies using craft paper and pipe cleaners. Pretty easy for most. The other was inspired by another blog that I follow. It involved an outing on the farm to search out flowers and collect their pedals. Then glue them to card stock in the shape of butterflies. Genius! Thanks Jek!
The books were read a couple of times during the day. One craft was morning fun and the other was afternoon fun.
It is amazing how one word can inspire minds!
Wednesday, May 9, 2012
Monday, May 7, 2012
While Transplanting Seedlings Today
I realized that I have way too many! Being the crazy plant lady that hates to kill anything, I am now stuck with 28 Black Cherry Tomato plants! So, if you are local and would like to have a four pack of plants, I have four of them available for free. They are very tasty! I am one who likes to snack on them while picking the other vegetables in the garden. That habit stems from way back! When I was caught in my Grandmother's garden, eating cherry tomatoes, around the age of three. These can be grown in your own garden or if you wish they can be grown in large pots. However, the pot would need to be big enough to stake the plant or insert a tomato cage. The effort would be well worth it! Here is a picture of what they look like.
The plants are not yet ready to go in the ground. So if you live close to me and would like some, I will make sure you get them within the next week or two.
On a different note... Saturday, we moved the chicken coop. The TVA came over the winter and cut down all of the shade in the fence row behind the old chicken coop leaving our hens with no shade except for their roof. We didn't want our chickens getting too hot for their britches this summer. So Saturday was moving day. We let them out to "play" with the rooster all day and luckily he left me alone. We worked all morning on the relocation of our birds. It actually went easier than I thought. We waited until late evening when the chickens found places to roost to catch them up and take the to their new home in front of the shop. We were still catching hens at 8:30. But we got them all in safe and sound.... except for the rooster. Unluckily we had to make the decision on keeping him. Mean as he was to me, flogging me, chasing me, stomping his feet at me, bruising my legs, it didn't make sense to keep him around anymore. I do miss his crowing but I do not miss the fear I had every time I went to feed the chickens and even though I carried a tobacco stick with me I knew he would do it again just any day. I witnessed his quick death and for some sick reason felt a little sorry for him. That is part of life on a farm I guess. I will say that feeding the chickens is stress free now and somehow... they seem happier too.
Not only are they in a much cooler spot, we are going to start letting them out to roam during the day since they are where we can watch them better. Who needs dinner and a movie?? Chicken watching on Saturday night... you can't beat that!
Did I mention these are heirloom?? I have grown BCT for four summers now and have saved seeds from year to year to start. So... these are Special!
The plants are not yet ready to go in the ground. So if you live close to me and would like some, I will make sure you get them within the next week or two.
On a different note... Saturday, we moved the chicken coop. The TVA came over the winter and cut down all of the shade in the fence row behind the old chicken coop leaving our hens with no shade except for their roof. We didn't want our chickens getting too hot for their britches this summer. So Saturday was moving day. We let them out to "play" with the rooster all day and luckily he left me alone. We worked all morning on the relocation of our birds. It actually went easier than I thought. We waited until late evening when the chickens found places to roost to catch them up and take the to their new home in front of the shop. We were still catching hens at 8:30. But we got them all in safe and sound.... except for the rooster. Unluckily we had to make the decision on keeping him. Mean as he was to me, flogging me, chasing me, stomping his feet at me, bruising my legs, it didn't make sense to keep him around anymore. I do miss his crowing but I do not miss the fear I had every time I went to feed the chickens and even though I carried a tobacco stick with me I knew he would do it again just any day. I witnessed his quick death and for some sick reason felt a little sorry for him. That is part of life on a farm I guess. I will say that feeding the chickens is stress free now and somehow... they seem happier too.
Casa de Pollo, with a hint of Fred Sanford.
It used to look ok... behind the shop!
Much happier!
This is Cinnamon. She is always the first one to the feed.
Not only are they in a much cooler spot, we are going to start letting them out to roam during the day since they are where we can watch them better. Who needs dinner and a movie?? Chicken watching on Saturday night... you can't beat that!
Saturday, May 5, 2012
We Have A Winner!
Thanks so much for all of the wonderful entries in my most recent contest for the awesome canning giveaway! After help from my lovely assistant (Shaun) in picking a folded up name out of a hat, our lucky winner is....
Akwooten: :) I've canned tomatoes before and that's it! I would try strawberry jam, since I can't talk Marty into doing it again! Lol!! Hope I win!!!!
I'll get the loot to you asap! Thanks again everyone!
Akwooten: :) I've canned tomatoes before and that's it! I would try strawberry jam, since I can't talk Marty into doing it again! Lol!! Hope I win!!!!
I'll get the loot to you asap! Thanks again everyone!
Wednesday, May 2, 2012
200th Post Give Away!
In my personal celebration of my 200th post on this super-duper blog, I have a Give-Away!!!!! Everyone say YYYYYYYYYYAAAAAAAAAAAAYYYYYYYYYYYY!!!!!!
I've been blogging here since 2009 and deep down wish I had posted more than 200 BUT 200 is a lot still. And if you didn't know I have that many posts please feel free to browse around! There are recipes and crafts and gardening tips.
Enough about me... let's get to the goods.
Today, I have a fabulous Canning Gift Set to give away!!!! clap, clap, clap!
To become the recipient of this uber prize pack please comment or email me and tell me in a few short words what your favorite thing to can is or you think will be! Pickles, Strawberry Jam, Tomato Juice... whatever is it!
The winner will be picked on Saturday, May 5th.. Cinco de Mayo!
You have no excuse! Here is the kit with three jars included, instruction book, pickle crisp, pectin, jar lifter! Who could ask for anything more! Make this the summer that you began Putting Up and savoring the flavor of Spring and Summer for the Winter to come. You won't regret it!
GOOD LUCK!
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