Kids Can Kids Club Summer Fun

Summer time is prime Kids Can Kids Club time. During the school year I have found that most of the time the kids are so busy with after school activities that there just isn't time to squeeze in one more thing. I have an occasional tea party for the older girls, crafting sessions and special gathers now and then that are age related but in summer we gather once a week. And then sometimes kids are away at day camp or on family vacations, but I have 9 kids in Kids Club now so even with a few missing I have my hands full!

Decoder & Clue Search Kids Club Style

The main attraction at Kids Club this summer has been what we call Clue Search using a Decoder. Basically, I write clues in code that lead to another clue that leads to the next clue, and so on. What are they trying to find? Well each time it is tailored to what that days theme is and I always give them a verbal clue to start out with. Once, I used the verse, knock and it shall be opened as the verbal clue, so the first clues where taped to doors. The kids love figuring out the clues so much there really doesn't even have to be something at the end of it all to find. 

Family Traditions Blessing Blanket

This was first published at Family Home and Life.

Do you have family traditions? We do too. I try to be careful not to over load the family with following too many of them because family traditions can become chores rather than blessings. When we were expecting our first grand child, I wanted to have a gown and blanket for each child to use on their Dedication Day at church; like a Christening gown. A new tradition to follow.

Know Any Chihuahua's?

Hello friends! It's way past time for me to be checking in. It has been a long time and I am still around. I have missed my time online but it was very necessary to be off line. I was having too many health issues and I just couldn't stretch myself any thinner. I would like to tell you everything that has happened in the last year plus but there's just too much to say. So what I will tell you is that I made it through....key word is through, and I am better and hope to stay that way. Auto immune diseases are just bad stuff!

Repurposing: My Hardworking Office/Class/Kids Craft Room, an Unexpected Tour

I was looking through some photos of Kids Club meetings and thought you might like to see a room I don't often photograph in. Let me tell you, other than my kitchen this room is a very hard working room! It is an addition to the house and the former owner who built it did not connect to the A/C duct work in there. There is an added A/C window unit but it doesn't really help and oh my gosh is it expensive to run!

We have 3 doors leading from this room into the main house so by leaving all those doors open we mostly get the cooling we need in the summer. Winter is not a problem at all because this room is on the south side of the house. So let me show you my hard working space. 

Itty Bitty Turns 3!

Today we are celebrating a birthday with a party; Itty Bitty is three years old! My how these last three years have flown by. Happy Birthday sweet girl! 

Perfect Boiled Eggs

Do you know how to make the perfect boiled egg? Seems like such a simple task to boil an egg yet I boiled my eggs wrong for many years. I like my eggs cooked firm but not over done. Runny yolk? Eww no way! A while back when we were at the cabin with my family, one of my daughter in laws who is a decent cook asked how to boil eggs.....seems she had never made boiled eggs without an egg 'cooker' before. My other daughter in law spoke up and said she always boiled them for at least 30 minutes or longer. 

With summer coming cool meals are desirable and boiled eggs can be used for egg salad, deviled eggs, an addition to other salads or just by themselves for a quick breakfast or snack. Perfect for lunch boxes too. Let me tell you how to boil the perfect egg.

* Glass Canning Jars, Fruit Jars, Mason Jars, Ball Jar

Mason is one brand name, Ball or Kerr another, and if your folks are from the south and a couple of generations back you might know them as ‘fruit jars’. They are jars used for canning fresh fruits and vegetables. Whatever you call them, they are workhorses in the kitchen and around the house.  I use them for all kinds of things besides what they were intended for. I try to stay away from using plastics as much as possible.  I also try not to use to many  disposable items in my home such as plastic bags. These jars really help out with that. They are air tight, **oven proof, **microwavable (with the lid off of course), and can be **frozen. 

* Scavenger Hunt Chore Cards

Days playing at Gramma’s sure are fun for all. But when it’s time for clean up, well it’s not so fun.

Where does a body begin? How can I help my little ones figure out where to start when I’m not at all sure myself?

* Little Bits of Savings in a Lot of Way

There are many ways to save money, just as there are many ways to save time.  How about saving space in your refrigerator or pantry; saving gas by not making as many trips to the grocery store? What about recycling, and being ‘green’?  And always….. How do we best save our good health?

* Uses for Coffee Filters

I receive some good email tips from time to time, here are a few.

* New Use for an Everyday Kitchen Tool

With all the extra effort lately to save money I have a new way to keep my feet looking good between pedicures; stretching out the time between getting them.  That saves money right? Today I have for you a kitchen tool that works so good....on your feet! 

* Spring Time and Family Day

We celebrated spring on Family Day here at our house this last March.  The kids and grandkids gathered for fun and food and some life lesson teaching about sowing and reaping. Our day began with visiting and the kids playing. Then we all gathered together while Gramma explained the natural laws of reaping what you have sown.  I had many kinds of seeds for everyone to see and feel and try to guess what kind of seeds they were. I included some sprouting potatoes too.  Everyone thought that looked gross! 

* Focusing on the Big Picture

It seems that the whole world is focused on money and ‘stuff’.  Making money, spending money, saving money, investing money, and all that money does for us.  We make a house payment, we pay for utilities, food and cars, insurance and the list goes on.  Then we buy clothing, household items, toys (an item intended for play time, adult and children’s); we entertain ourselves with money.