Fairie Houses for Christmas

These are some pictures of the fairie houses I made for the girls. They are a little out of order but you get can get the idea. :)

Katie's fairie house

Ana's fairie house

This is part of Katie's house (I can't seem to get this picture posted in the correct order) :)

Please Pray for Noah

Noah "and" his family need our prayers.
www.prayingfornoah.com

Gluten and Dairy Free Fried Mashed Potatoes

Using left over mashed potatoes, pat them into a pancake and fry them in soy free Earth Balance. These are soooo good. :)
I make my mashed potatoes with sf Earth Balance, unsweetened coconut milk and salt. I add everything to my liking; I never measure. :)

Another Gluten Free Cookie Recipe

I changed this recipe from a 1991 Better Homes and Gardens Christmas Cookies Magazine.
My changes are the flour, and the "butter." As I made these last Christmas, these cookies rarely made it to the plate. As soon as I made them everyone was grabbing them. :) ... Ed usually stays away from gluten free but I remember him telling me that they were one of the best cookies I made. These are time consuming, but when you really get into making them, it is well worth it.

-Gluten Free Flour Mixture-
6 cups white rice flour
2 cups potato starch
1 cup tapioca starch
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Orange Crisps (gluten, dairy, soy, nut free)

2 egg whites - room temperature
1/4 cup earth balance-soy free
2 teaspoons finely shredded orange peel
1/2 cup domino sugar
1/2 cup gluten free flour mix
confectioner's (powdered) sugar (gluten free)...Aldi's is gluten free
optional: Enjoy Life Chocolate Chips

*Set oven at 375 degrees for 5 to 6 minutes.*

Melt earth balance in microwave and stir in the orange peel; set aside.
In medium bowl, mix egg whites with electric mixer until you have soft peaks (the tips curl over). Add sugar and beat until you have stiff peaks (tips stand straight up)...this may take awhile. fold in 1/2 of the flour, gently stir in earth balance mixture and fold in remaining flour. Combine well.

Using a level tablespoon, drop batter onto well greased cookie sheet "at least" 3 inches apart into 3-inch circles. Bake only 3 cookies at a time. Bake as directed above.*

You must remove the cookies immediately from the cookie sheet with a thin metal spatula. Place cookie upside down on counter and moving quickly, roll it around the greased handle of a wooden spoon. Slide the cookie off and cool on waxed paper. As I slid the cookie off, I would press them a little. This kept them together. Repeat with other cookies. If the cookies cool before you roll them, reheat for 1 minute.

Sprinkle/ or sift powdered sugar over the cookies or melt Enjoy chocolate chips dip one end of the cookie in the melted chips or drizzle.

I love chocolate but I really believe these are best with the powdered sugar.

*These are delicious.*

Gluten Dairy Soy Nut Free Recipes

I like this flour mixture:
6 cups white rice flour
2 cups potato starch
1 cup tapioca flour
(sometimes I also had 1/2 cup Sorghum flour; especially for "heavier cookie batters)

Brownies:
2 cups domino sugar
1 cup earth balance
1/2 cup cocoa powder
1 teaspoon alcohol-free vanilla extract or a vanilla bean
4 eggs
1 1/2 cups gluten free flour mix (above)
1 1/2 teaspoons guar gum
1/2 teaspoon baking powder (gluten free, aluminum free)
1/2 teaspoon salt

Melt earth balance and mix everything together. Bake at 350 degrees for about 20-25 mins. (30 minutes makes it really cake-like) Use a 9 x 13 pan/greased. (I use spectrum shortening)
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Chocolate Chip Cookies

1 cup earth balance
1 cup domino white sugar
1 cup packed brown sugar
2 eggs
2 teaspoons alcohol-free vanilla extract or 2 vanilla beans (I like the van. beans)
3 cups gluten free flour mixture (above)
3 teaspoons guar gum
1 teaspoon baking soda dissolved in 2 teaspoons hot water
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 1/2 to 2 cups Enjoy Life chocolate chips

I put everything in the bowl in order and mix well but stirring in the choc. chips by hand.
Roll into balls (not large!) and place onto greased cookie sheets. Bake for 10 minutes at 350 degrees.
(this is how I bake these in my oven: I put a rack in the middle of oven and one the next level up. I bake half way through and then switch the pans to the opposite rack and bake the next half of time)
Do not let them get to brown around the edges.
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Our favorite *(Margarete's Own Recipe)*

Egg, Gluten, Dairy, Nut, Soy Free Chocolate Cake

3 cups gluten free flour mixture (above)
1 tsp. salt
2 cups domino sugar
1/2 cup cocoa powder
2 teaspoons baking soda
1 Tablespoon Guar Gum
1/2 cup plus 2 Tbsp. canola oil
2 tsp. alcohol-free vanilla extract
2 cups plus 1/3 or 1/2 cup Tempt (hemp) chocolate milk
optional: handful (or more) of Enjoy Life Chocolate Chips

Mix everything together (except choc. chips)very well. Pour into greased and floured 9 x 13 pan. You can pour choc. chips over the top and press down slightly.
Bake at 350 degrees. Start checking at 35 minutes with a toothpick until toothpick comes out clean.

I also blend together Spectrum Shortening and Powdered Sugar (gluten free) to our taste and use that for icing. You can add vanilla extract but I do not.
I first put the cake in the freezer for awhile before I spread on the icing...easier that way.
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Thanksgiving

HAPPY THANKSGIVING!
*HAVE A WONDERFUL DAY WITH YOUR FAMILIES AND FRIENDS.*

We are on our way to my parents' home. I can't wait to get there, our son Bob, his wife Bethany, and our grandson Patrick are there! We haven't seen them since August. Patrick is now 5 months old!

Happy Thanksgiving again!
~Margarete~

*THANK YOU LORD FOR ALL YOU DO FOR US*

Katie's paper fairie

Veteran's Day and Pictures of Crafts and horses

Katie

One of Katie's creations

Ana's "Sargon the Great" from Story of the World 1. We used colored pencils, black curly yarn, and for the background, material scraps.

Katie's "Sargon the Great"

Ana

Thank you to all who have served our country.

The girls are doing some worksheets about Veteran's Day and Tom is watching a WWII documentary.

For kids:
www.apples4theteacher.com worksheets

http://www.apples4theteacher.com/holidays/veterans-day/tomb-of-unknown-soldier.html

http://www.dltk-teach.com/minibooks/flanders/index.htm
http://www.dltk-holidays.com/t.asp?b=m&t=http://www.dltk-holidays.com/remembrance/images/bflanderspoem.gif
http://www.dltk-holidays.com/remembrance/worksheets.htm

Ana's paper quilt from dltk-kids.com

Katie's paper quilt

Sewing

Today the girls went to horse riding lessons and then we stopped at our favorite "cafe" and play area at our local church. We found out that there were women there sewing pillowcases for hospice and quilting. The girls were allowed to go in and learn how to sew. They each learned how to sew straight and made a mini pillow for their dolls. They listened well and picked up very fast. I now have to get my sewing machine fixed. Katie is ready to sew a blanket; that's what she says. ~smile~

Back track to Saturday. The girls were in a local horse show and Katie came home with 2 blue ribbons and Ana came home with 1 blue and 1 yellow ribbon. They were very excited and Katie "can't wait until she can get every color ribbon." ~LOL~

Have a good night everyone.
~Margarete~

Katie's Chinese Armor and Ana's dragon

Katie's "Chinese armor" She created it herself. ~smile~

This is the back of the armor. I have to laugh; she put a target on the back! ~LOL~

Here she slipped into her armor and made the sleeves and the shoes.

This is Ana's Chinese dragon (it is a "mini dragon). ~smile~And here, I just decided to post this lovely photo I took.

First Experience

The girls had their first experience of being thrown off a horse, at the same time. They had their lessons today which the two of them were going a bit slow. All of a sudden I saw purple flying (that's the color Katie was wearing), and then Ana was off on to the ground. What happened was ice came of the roof of the arena (outside) and spooked the one horse. While that horse was spooked it scared the other. Of course I screamed, "a little". Inserting rolling eyes here. It scared me because it happened so fast. The girls were a little shaken but after the horses were calmed down, they got right back on. I think they may be a little sore tomorrow.

Gotta go.
~Margarete~

Gluten Free/Dairy Free/Soy Free Pancakes

These pancakes are so good. I found the recipe here. I changed the ingredients to what Katie can eat. So here is my recipe and how I cooked them:

2 1/3 cups Arrowhead Mills All Purpose Baking Mix
2 Tbsp. domino sugar
2. tsp. baking powder, gluten free
2 tsp. salt
1 1/2 to 2 cups Silk Original Coconut Milk (I believe I used the 2 cups)
3 Tbsp. earth balance, soy free (melt)
2 beaten eggs
1/2 tsp. alcohol-free vanilla
2 1/2 tsp. guar gum or xantum gum (I used guar gum)
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Mix with a wisk and then a wooden spoon. It should be thick not runny.

Heat a non-stick skillet low to medium heat (not to high!)

Melt extra earth balance in skillet (do this for each set of pancakes). Each pancake was an overflowing Tbsp. that you use to eat soup. I fit 4 pancakes in the skillet. Cook like a regular pancake. They should get very fluffy and the outsides a little crisp or should I say a small crunchy texture and golden brown. I topped them with homemade chunky applesauce. Oh, they are too good. ~LOL~

This made more than a dozen.

Merry Christmas!

Only kidding!

We are having a nice snowstorm today. The girls have been out playing for quite a while so I had to go find the snowsuits, etc. They were in sweatshirts. It didn't bother them. The snow is quite heavy; uur neighbors tree looks like it's destroyed by the heaviness.

I'm going to make some more applesauce; I have been making applesauce and apple pie mixture for a few weeks now. Our friend Jimmy has given me a total of about 9 carpenter sized buckets filled with apples.

I have been craving cheesy, potato, corn cowder so that is what I will be making for dinner. It's the perfect day for this. ~smile~

Ed started up the coal stove and it died. I don't know what's wrong with it so we have to wait to use it. Yes, I have the heat on. Yesterday I turned it on when I realized it was only 63 in here and everyone's noses were turning red. ~LOL~

Have a good snowy day, everyone!
~Margarete~

Homeschool Giveaway

www.homeschoolgiveaways.com Is giving away a one year subscription to www.exploringnature.org! This looks so awesome for science. Take a look. ~smile~

My Thrift Store Find

Just a quick note:

Yesterday the girls and I stopped at the thrift store while out shopping. I picked up 'Copywork for Little Girls' 180 lessons for gr. 1-3 and 'Copywork for Little Boys' for a total of .50 cents.

I also bought Introductory Logic and Intermediate Logic workbooks and answer keys for a total of $1.00. ....Tom's so thrilled.... ~LOL~

Oh and I found the Abeka historical fiction novel 'The Talisman' for .38 cents.

Yesterday was a good day.

~smile~
Margarete

Egyptian Scarab Falcon Clay Necklace and a Griffin

We decided to make air dry clay egyptian necklaces tonight. They turned out a little larger than expected but the girls had fun. I made a pdf file of the paper necklace and put it on hslaunch to share; top of the right sidebar. You can color it in, use air-dry clay, model magic or whatever you would like. I really think the model magic would be the way to go. But, I didn't have any on hand. We are going to paint them gold and add color to them. I have to go out tomorrow to get the paint.

Tom had the idea to sculpt a griffin. He's not done yet, but he is doing a great job.

Gluten Free Dairy Free Blueberry Chocolate Chip Scones

Tonight I decided to make quick gluten free, dairy free, and soy free scones. I used the Arrowhead Mills Gluten Free Baking Mix and found a recipe in which I changed. These turned out pretty good. The Aldi's frozen blueberries are perfect and plump for this recipe. I used the Enjoy Life Choc. Chips. They are huge! Katie is on her second one. There is a little bit of a taste in them that I am not sure of. It may be from the box mix. But for a quick recipe, these are perfect. As long as Katie likes them that's great!

Story of the World 1 Red and White Crown

Here are some pics. of the girls' red and white crowns for Egypt study of King Narmer. Ana remembers the king by rhyming with "armor". ~lol~
I got this idea from watching a youtube video http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AEatkWOZnGM
This is very easy to do. I just drew it on paper after watching. I added the piece in the back.

You could get real fancy with the back and cut it out around the ears but I really didn't feel like it. So, I just cut out a rectangle piece and taped it to the back.

Our Egyptian Cat Mummies

We got the sheets ready to rip...

Got out the tea bags...

Soaked the tea bags and sheet strips in boiling water...

I dried them in the dryer (this is the book we used for this craft) It will be listed on the left sidebar this week.

Tom sewing his ears on his cat mummy

Tom's cat mummy

My cat mummy

Ana's cat mummy (she doesn't like the face she drew)

Katie's cat mummy...she sewed her mummy's ears on by herself. Ana and I cheated; we used glue. ~smile~

A Journey Through Learning Lapbooks 'Giveaway'

"A Journey Through Learning Lapbooks" is giving away a Peter and the Wolf cd and lapbook. Here's the website:

http://www.ajourneythroughlearninglapbooks.com/2011/09/06/peter-the-wolf-cd-and-lapbook-giveaway/#comment-561

Wordless Wednesday

Air Dry Clay

I found this online today. How to make your own air-dry clay. I think we may give it a try.

http://www.examiner.com/mixed-media-in-seattle/cold-porcelain-recipes-how-to-make-your-own-air-dry-modeling-clay

Question

Should I put "everything" on this blog...the lapbooks, etc. Or, should I keep putting the lapbooks, etc. on my other blog http://lovinglifelapbooks.blogspot.com ? I would just write about other things on here. I really need to figure out how to get everything together.

Story of the World 1 Ancient Times History Timeline

I posted pictures of the girls new Story of the World 1 Ancient Times History Timelines and their first notebooking page on my Loving Life Lapbooks blog.
http://lovinglifelapbooks.blogspot.com/2011/08/story-of-world-1-timeline-with.html

They love it!

Waiting....

We are just hanging around waiting for the storm to hit. We have the backyard cleaned up and all the boxes in the basement are up off the floor. We are just praying that our pump keeps working and we don't lose electricity.

We almost lost our bunny the night after we got him. He was accidentally hit by a bat. Yep. Only here could that happen. He was taken out of his cage (without permission), one of the girls' friends was taking him back to the cage when our daughter swung a big fat plastic bat. She came running in with Pancake and handed him to me saying, "Do something with him!" I was not expecting that so I laid him on the floor and he looked like he was dead. His head was tilting and his left eye was almost shut. We rubbed him, hugged him, gave him water, said some big prayers, and within a few hours he was hopping around the house. Even the dog let Pancake snuggle next to him.

He is an amazing little animal. He loves to look over your shoulder, he's not afraid of anything.