art with children / crafting with children / HOMESCHOOLING

June 3. Summer activities for kids

The girls pretty much handed me the Mother of the Year award when I told them a few weeks ago that we wouldn’t be taking the summer completely off from school. Yes, there will be Math. Yeah, just kidding. No award. You can imagine the…

The girls pretty much handed me the Mother of the Year award when I told them a few weeks ago that we wouldn’t be taking the summer completely off from school. Yes, there will be Math. Yeah, just kidding. No award. You can imagine the eye rolling and moaning, I’m sure.

But light school or not, I still have a few “want to’s” on my list for the summer. I’ve been pinning tons of ideas to my “Make” board on Pinterest with summer entertainment in the back of my mind. Generally, I go for the easy, one-session, few supplies needed, lots of bang for your buck kinds of summer activites and crafts for my kids. But as the girls get older I’m able to dive in to some slightly more in-depth ideas and crafts. Fun! Birdy, on the other hand, will most likely nap through many of these projects. Or else be happy to color at the kitchen island with her marker and put “creepy eyes” on all the animals in her coloring books. She is the most meticulous, left-handed color-er I know. And she’s obsessed with putting what she’s coined “creepy eyes” on every animal and person. Giving the “creepy eye” means putting a group of concentric circles around something’s eyes. And really, it is kinda creepy. 

Anyway, back on track!!….here are nine summer fun even though we have to do MATH craftastic ideas at the top of my summer to-do list! 

L to R, starting at the top:

Polymer bead necklaces // Freezer Stencil Pillowcases // Fabric-bleached napkins

Button bracelets // Bedroom banners // Polymer pendants

DIY art supply storage // Heart garland // Scrapbook paper monograms

 

 

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family / IN MY KITCHEN

june 2. homemade granola

Several of you asked on here and instagram, if I’d share my grandmother’s granola recipe. Her granola is pretty much a staple in our kitchen. When we first moved to Maryland and lived on the farm with her, I remember standing with her in her kitchen with two industrial sized mixing bowls full of the ingredients. NPR would always be playing quietly in the background while we’d stir and stir and stir those bowls of oats.

I think one of the things I love about making her granola, aside from…

Several of you asked on here and instagram, if I’d share my grandmother’s granola recipe. Her granola is pretty much a staple in our kitchen. When we first moved to Maryland and lived on the farm with her, I remember standing with her in her kitchen with two industrial sized mixing bowls full of the ingredients. NPR would always be playing quietly in the background while we’d stir and stir and stir those bowls of oats.

I think one of the things I love about making her granola, aside from the memories, is that it’s a sign of a good morning at home. The recipe requries a few hours of attention, stepping into the kitchen every 20 minutes or so to give everything a stir and turn in the oven. 


When I made a batch last week, we were all in the kitchen together. The kids took turns stirring, which I’ve downgraded to doing by hand (literally). And I let them help with the regular stirring in the oven. Which means I think I have officially “christened” my new oven since oats are now thrown everywhere inside. Oh well.

My grandmother had fifteen children. Her recipe for granola is written to feed fifteen children. So one half-batch serves our family of six very well. My favorite way to eat it is over yogurt and raspberries. Most of my family sprinkles it on top of their bowls of cereal for a yummy mix. And of course, it goes really well over vanilla ice cream.

 

Marylea Farm Granola (half batch)

1 large canister of old-fashioned oats (42 ounces, I think!)

2 cups (or to liking) of nuts (I’ve been using mixed nuts and adding in extra pecans, my favorite.)

1 generous cup of the following:

oil (I’ve used both a mild olive oil and vegetable oil)

brown sugar

wheat germ (or ground flaxseed)

honey

Preheat your oven to 400. Place all the ingredients into a very large bowl (I found mine at West Elm Market), or divide among two bowls and stir until coated and combined. For added fun and mess, mix by hand. Spread out granola in a layer on the bottom of an rimmed baking sheet or pan. I have an over-sized baking pan with high sides that I use for this. I use this solely for granola-making. Your granola can be about two inches deep in your pan, but the thinner the layer the more quickly it will cook. Because you’ll be turning the temp on the oven down before baking the granola, you can also put more than one pan of granola in the oven at a time. You can experiment with time and how thick your layer of granola is and alter your baking times accordingly. Before you put the granola in the oven, turn down the oven temperature to 225 degrees. Place the granola in the oven and stir every twenty minutes or so. It takes me approximately two hours to reach the golden brown stage. When the granola is golden brown, turn off your oven and leave the pans in the closed oven until completely cool. Remove and eat it straight off the pan. I mean, put it into an air-tight container and enjoy! 

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art with children / family / home

june 1.

If you asked me, I’d say we’re a family that keeps our social calendar pretty light. More often than not, we’re a bunch of homebodies. Maybe it has something to do with Dan’s long hours during the week. Or the endless projects that need attention on the weekends. Or the fact that I’ve always been a stickler about those afternoon naps. 

But today was apparently the most popular day of the year to plan an activity or event because our day was fuller than any I can remember in a very long time. 

Early Saturday morning we had Mary’s final recital for the Conservatory of Music. There was much “recital stress” and worry leading up to this morning. But nothing a good shopping trip and acquiring of the “recital dress” can’t ease. Of course the recital was wonderful and gave me all sorts of fluttering nostalgia for my own musical history. 

We came home long enough to nibble on cheese and crackers,…

If you asked me, I’d say we’re a family that keeps our social calendar pretty light. More often than not, we’re a bunch of homebodies. Maybe it has something to do with Dan’s long hours during the week. Or the endless projects that need attention on the weekends. Or the fact that I’ve always been a stickler about those afternoon naps. 

But today was apparently the most popular day of the year to plan an activity or event because our day was fuller than any I can remember in a very long time. 

Early Saturday morning we had Mary’s final recital for the Conservatory of Music. There was much “recital stress” and worry leading up to this morning. But nothing a good shopping trip and acquiring of the “recital dress” can’t ease. Of course the recital was wonderful and gave me all sorts of fluttering nostalgia for my own musical history. 

We came home long enough to nibble on cheese and crackers, check on animals and head out to a private first communion mass. The family has become dear friends of ours and it was such a privelege to be included in that special ceremony.  

After more celebrating and late lunching we came home again, just long enough to have cereal for dinner, lock in chickens and do evening chores before the big girls and Dan headed out for another evening concert at the local library. Birdy and I stayed home to do the day’s piled up dishes, a few loads of laundry, baths and early bed for a very tired toddler. 

The rest of the homebodies rolled in around ten. We sat around the dark kitchen, eating grapes and re-telling the stories from the concert until sleep couldn’t be fought any longer. 

And that’s when I discovered the secret to no bedtime battles. Those girls were practically asleep before we could turn out the light and sneak from their rooms. 

<<Here we go. I’m doing my darndest to be here every day in June. Whether it’s a day where I feel like I have something to say, or not. I’m stretching my writing muscles and getting back in the habit of being here. xo.>>

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