Nodin's Nest

Spring is Coming Soon

noreply@blogger.com (DJ) — Tue, 24 Jan 2012 18:39:00 +0000

With Spring comes Easter!

So I've started my spring crafting early with these pretty little Easter Egg ornaments. They came out so cheery and sweet, I think I'm going to make some more in different colors. You can see more ornaments and crafts for sale in my Etsy shop.

Life of Fred, Our Favorite Math Books

noreply@blogger.com (DJ) — Mon, 16 Jan 2012 22:15:00 +0000

My son has always had a knack for math. He enjoys patterns and geometry. When he began learning math, everything was new and exciting and then we hit a wall. All of a sudden the textbooks wanted him to do pages of the same problems, just using different formulas to arrive at the same answer. He didn't get it, didn't even want to understand it. He knew how to solve the problem, so why did they want him to waste time doing it ten different ways? I know how he felt. I was the same way in school. If I arrived at the correct answer, why did it matter how I got there?

Then one day while I was reading posts in a gifted forum, I noticed many references to "The Life of Fred" math books. I purchased the first one in the series at the time "Fractions". I read the 1st chapter and was intrigued. The best way I can describe them is as an interactive literary math journey.
My son who was six at the time, read it in bed over three days. He loved it! He read it again and again.

I have since ordered three more books including two from the new elementary series that was just completed. Now, I must tell you, these are not ordinary math books and what they have become in my son's world are so much more. They are a continuing story that points out the use of math in daily living and asks the reader to participate along the way. At the end of chapters, are problems for the reader to solve.

Included in the story are also many other facts relating to literature, history and science. Reading these books have sparked my son's interest in so many other areas! Most recently in writing. Currently he has begun writing his own book (adapting Fred's style) typing on the computer. He now has five pages complete. This from a boy who until now, would spend an hour or more writing three sentences!
Needless to say, I'm thrilled.

The best part, is that the series will carrying him through college level math. I'm sure we will do other things along the way, but I know that these books will always be good for when boredom and burnout sets in. The author does have biblical references occasionally but as a secular home educator, I did not find them to be an issue. So if you have a child who is bored with pages of problems and who likes to read, I highly recommend "Life of Fred"!

*This is not a paid review. I purchased the books myself. Just sharing great ideas!

Sweetheart Pins.

noreply@blogger.com (DJ) — Thu, 12 Jan 2012 20:20:00 +0000

New in my Etsy shop, sweetheart pins for Valentine's Day!

Here We Go

noreply@blogger.com (DJ) — Mon, 02 Jan 2012 20:41:00 +0000

So it's 2012. How, when or why it happened, I don't know. The New Year completely caught me off guard and now I feel like gasping for air and begging for part of 2011 back again. I wasn't finished with it yet, I didn't end it on a high note or any note. It's just gone.

I want so much to believe that 2012 will be a better year for everyone, but my gut tells me I'll be clawing my way through it as well. Between the economy, the election year and personal family health troubles brewing, I think most of the country, like myself, will still be struggling to keep our heads above water.

My son and I will start world history study this year, with the nomads up first. Perhaps their trials and travels will inspire me to keep putting one foot in front of the other. I'll also keep creating things to sell in my Etsy shop and hope my pet sitting clients are still traveling and in need of my services.

Florida is suppose to get the coldest weather so far this winter tonight, maybe even freezing and that always cheers me up and makes me more creative. I know, you guys up north think I'm crazy, but I find it hard to do crafty things when it's eighty plus degrees out. Valentine's Day and Easter are coming soon, so I better get to it! Wishing you all the best 2012 you can have, and that we all survive it.

Happy Holidays Everyone!

noreply@blogger.com (DJ) — Sat, 24 Dec 2011 16:37:00 +0000

Hope all your dreams come true and your day is filled with joy.

A Tour of The Christmas Tree

noreply@blogger.com (DJ) — Mon, 19 Dec 2011 14:52:00 +0000

Conversations with My Son

noreply@blogger.com (DJ) — Tue, 13 Dec 2011 16:07:00 +0000

Son: Mom, stop the car!
Me: Why? Please don't scream like that when I'm driving.
Son: I lost a lego piece behind the seat.
Me: How many times have I told you not to bring legos in the car? I can't remove the seat.
Son: But I neeeeed that piece!
Me: Well, whose to blame for it getting stuck behind the seat?
Son: Darn gravity!

Me: If you keep using the wrapping paper to wrap up your cat and dog gifts (not really, he's just re-wrapping old toys), there won't be any left for your presents.
Son: That's ok because we need to save the trees by not wasting paper. Just put them under the tree as is.
Me: What about the paper you just used to wrap the cat toy?
Son: That's ok because he mostly plays with the paper, so it's not wasted.

Me: I'm making you eggs and bacon for lunch ok?
Son: What have I told you about eating eggs?
Me: What?
Son: Chicken eggs are supposed to hatch into chickens.
Me: Not these eggs, they are not fertilized.
Son: Well then, we need to get a rooster.
Me: Uhmm, yeah, no.

Happy Birthday Tree 2011

noreply@blogger.com (DJ) — Sun, 11 Dec 2011 21:04:00 +0000

My son just turned seven and this is the second photo next to his Starfruit tree.
He was given that tree for his sixth birthday by a family friend. Last year a bloggy pal (thanks Lin!) suggested I take a photo of him next to it every year. So we did. Last year it looked like this:

You'll notice that the tree is in a different location now. I had to move it because it was going to grow too close to the electrical line above it. That may have slowed down it's growth some, plus last winter we had three freezes and I lost some of the top. It has recovered and seems to be growing well, as is my son!

A Young Mathematician's Version of Art

noreply@blogger.com (DJ) — Fri, 02 Dec 2011 21:45:00 +0000

All I wanted was a simple circle snowman or a stick figure reindeer, but that was not to be. My son was trying to draw a picture for a Christmas card to send to his grandma. He used to draw wonderful detailed pictures when he was younger, but now he stares at blank paper unable to start.

He has elaborate ideas in his head but won't attempt to draw them, because they won't be perfect. It has taken a while for me to understand this. No amount of claims about art not needing to "be perfect" helps. I now realize that the reason his art work seemed more detailed than other children's art when he was younger, was because the thoughts and images in his head were also more detailed.

However at three or four, they weren't so intricate yet that his hands couldn't still draw an image he was happy with. Now at seven, his ideas and thought processes have zoomed way ahead of his fine motor skills and he is unable to produce any drawn image he is happy with. It's also one of the reasons he hates to write words, because they are not perfect.

Today I thought I'd help him get started by giving him some Christmas shaped cookie cutters to use as templates. I thought I was onto something when I saw him busy putting pencil to paper. I was wrong.
Moments later I found him cutting out a ruler he had drawn, so that he could measure the different sizes of the cookie cutters.

He then used his "handmade ruler" to measure his work space and decided it needed to be expanded in order to be more useful. That led to drawing a floor plan, re-arranging furniture and constructing shelving etc, etc... Maps, diagrams, algorithms and so forth are all acceptable uses for a pencil in his mind.

So we do not have a Christmas card for grandma, but he does have a more functional crafting area, should he ever decide to actually craft! Oy.

Happy Thanksgiving 2011

noreply@blogger.com (DJ) — Wed, 23 Nov 2011 20:09:00 +0000

Wishing everyone a wonderful Thanksgiving Day! My son and I will be on the road until the end of the month with pet sitting jobs as usual. Next weekend we'll have our family dinner, after our clients come home. Until then...gobble gobble.

Blue Christmas Trinket Box

noreply@blogger.com (DJ) — Sat, 19 Nov 2011 22:03:00 +0000

Here's another trinket box and I love how this one came out! I just had to show it you.

Serene Blue Christmas trinket box, made with ivory fabric and robbins egg blue felt.This whimsical box is perfect for rings and small treasures or special gifts. Would also make a unique place card gift for holiday party guests.

The base is covered in a gathered ivory fabric and the top is a beaded felt soft sculpture with silver and white beads. It has a goldtone interior. See more trinket boxes in my Etsy shop.

Christmas Trinket Box

noreply@blogger.com (DJ) — Tue, 15 Nov 2011 23:27:00 +0000

It's Christmas crafting time again and new in my Etsy shop is this cheerful little trinket box!

I made it with red and white striped cotton fabric and red felt. This whimsical box is perfect for rings and small treasures or special gifts.

It would also make a unique place card holder and gift for holiday party guests. You can see more trinket boxes in my Etsy shop.

Dead Pumpkin Walking

noreply@blogger.com (DJ) — Wed, 09 Nov 2011 19:21:00 +0000

See that perfectly beautiful pumpkin in the picture above? I have a confession to make. I couldn't do it, I couldn't carve it up. There it sits, still a whole gourd, complete as it is.

Halloween came and went and so did our tradition of carving a spectacular jack-o-lantern.

I don't know what came over me. We were busy getting ready for the holiday and I kept looking at it, trying to decide what it would become this year.

It just sat there, looking perfect and almost regal. So I gave it a reprieve, no carving.

I know what your thinking, "but DJ, it won't last forever". I know, I know!

Now Thanksgiving is around the corner and the question becomes, how much do we really want pie?

My Man in Black

noreply@blogger.com (DJ) — Fri, 04 Nov 2011 21:09:00 +0000

Mr. Harry Potter in Grandma's glasses (who really needs a haircut).

Half wizard, half ninja!

On a mission, no turning back now!

(FYI, the mission was a huge success!)

Happy Halloween 2011

noreply@blogger.com (DJ) — Mon, 31 Oct 2011 13:12:00 +0000

Have fun tonight everyone and be safe!

Because It's Beautiful!

noreply@blogger.com (DJ) — Wed, 26 Oct 2011 20:39:00 +0000

Life of flowers from VOROBYOFF PRODUCTION on Vimeo.

Computer Issues

noreply@blogger.com (DJ) — Mon, 24 Oct 2011 20:11:00 +0000

Talk about trouble, nothing causes more chaos (except maybe car trouble) in my house than computer malfunctions! For the last four days I've been deep in trying to fix my son's computer.
I finally gave up and I'm reinstalling Windows.

I hope that works, because if not I'll have to call for help. Not an expense I need right now. I may just have to leave it broken and let him use mine under strict supervision. Not to mention I still have a pumpkin to carve!

Hope to back to regular blogging soon :)

Pumpkin Design Time

noreply@blogger.com (DJ) — Thu, 13 Oct 2011 19:24:00 +0000

Once again it's Fall and Halloween is coming. In previous years my son has changed his mind five times by now about what he wants to be. This year however, he is firm in his decision to be Harry Potter.

Not too original I know, but I figure every boy who has read the books or seen the movies, goes through this stage. Most days he's either pretending to sword fight foes or casting wizard spells at anything that moves. At least it's an easy costume to create. Not like some earlier years when he drove mommy crazy with even crazier ideas!

Since we have the costume nailed down, all we have to decide now is how to carve our Jack-o-Lantern. In years past we have created a hawk and a Florida gator. My son is leaning toward a wolf but mommy gets the final say, since I have to actually be able to do it. I like to try and make our Jack-o-Lanterns something unusual and native to the area. I have yet to see a wolf any where near by. All suggestions are welcome!

Steve Jobs, His Company's Words...

noreply@blogger.com (DJ) — Thu, 06 Oct 2011 01:47:00 +0000

They help me teach my son every day. This quote is on our wall and gives me courage to see my son with a clearer lens :

"Here's to the crazy ones, the misfits, the rebels, the troublemakers, the round pegs in the square holes... the ones who see things differently -- they're not fond of rules... You can quote them, disagree with them, glorify or vilify them, but the only thing you can't do is ignore them because they change things... they push the human race forward, and while some may see them as the crazy ones, we see genius, because the ones who are crazy enough to think that they can change the world, are the ones who do." -- Apple / Steve Jobs 1955-2011

Thank you Mr. Jobs for your inspiration. May you rest in peace.

Vintage Fabric Fish Magnets

noreply@blogger.com (DJ) — Tue, 04 Oct 2011 21:49:00 +0000

Still busy crafting, hoping for some holiday income. I love fish shapes and these are magnets made of vintage Lilly Pulitzer fabric. The set of four is now available in my Etsy shop.

You can find more items made with vintage Lilly in my shop. I seem to be on a funky fabric laminating spree!.

Florida Orchids

noreply@blogger.com (DJ) — Fri, 30 Sep 2011 22:15:00 +0000

After three years of sitting in this evergreen tree, my orchid finally bloomed! I'm not sure of the name because it was a plant I rescued from someone who threw it out. I have placed it in several trees in my yard but this is the one that it took hold in and began to bloom.

The tree it finally likes was one of those tiny live Christmas trees they sell in Lowes. It was the first Christmas tree I had when I moved into my house twenty some years ago. I planted in the yard and now it's about twelve feet tall!

The blooms are so tiny and delicate, I'm sure they won't last long. Now I need to identify the orchid. Since it has decided to live, I will try to help it along. It's survival of the fittest in my yard!

Really Wild Magnets

noreply@blogger.com (DJ) — Thu, 22 Sep 2011 16:52:00 +0000

New in my Etsy shop this month is this fun and very colorful set of wild animal magnets, made from vintage Lilly Pulitzer fabric.

They are mounted on card stock and heat laminated on both sides. The lamination will protect the vintage fabric.

I'm working on other sets of fabric magnets as well. I only have a small supply of the vintage fabric so I know I won't be making too many of them.

I once owned a gift shop years ago here in Florida and Lilly Pulitzer had a shop in the same plaza. I was lucky enough to buy some samples the year they closed up. Wish I had bought a lot more now!

Rainbow Overhead

noreply@blogger.com (DJ) — Wed, 21 Sep 2011 17:04:00 +0000

We were under the rainbow!
It was really a double rainbow and the colors were
much more brilliant than this photo shows.
I felt lucky all day!

Are You A Homeschool Hoarder?

noreply@blogger.com (DJ) — Fri, 09 Sep 2011 16:57:00 +0000

You might be if :

You get a library card to save money on books and then come home from said library, with books you bought from the library book sale section.
You have bookmarked 400,000 websites in your computer's favorites, in case they might be useful at some point.
Instead of presents, you have asked friends and family to give your child gift cards to Staples and Michael's Crafts for holidays and birthdays.
You no longer have a dining room table or a dining room, for that matter. All those supplies have to go somewhere!
There is never anything to put out in the recycle bin because you may need that doohickey, thingamabob, or whatnot someday for some as of yet, un-named science project.
You stock up on blank notebooks, just in case the entire world decides to go "paperless".
You finally have a reason to hang on to your parent's thirty year collection of National Geographic magazines.
You child doesn't understand why the telephone pictures in his textbooks, have really long cords attached.
All of the photos, on all the walls and doors around your home have been replaced with charts, posters and diagrams.
You have three plastic leaf bags full of empty toilet paper and paper towels rolls in your garage because... well, just because.

Vaccines Please, No Shots For Me.

noreply@blogger.com (DJ) — Tue, 30 Aug 2011 17:10:00 +0000

While at the pharmacy yesterday, my son noticed the "Flu shots" sign posted. Being that I've worked in veterinary medicine for twenty plus years, using the word "shots" instead of vaccines or vaccinations, has always been a pet peeve of mine.

So I couldn't help but smile when my son mentioned to the pharmacist that his sign wording was incorrect and that it should say "Flu Vaccines". The pharmacist agreed with him and told him that using the word "shots" was probably too scary for some people (especially children).

I'm sure there was some eye rolling after we left, but I didn't care. It was a proud mommy moment for me!