tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23362211111478358032024-11-01T01:15:17.283-06:00Helping find ways to connect to the land and our families through our daily activities.Katrina Thennishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08139208604038785445noreply@blogger.comBlogger58125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2336221111147835803.post-9875931743759229982015-08-24T05:00:00.000-06:002015-08-24T05:00:09.095-06:00

We follow the Charlotte Mason method of homeschooling which includes doing Handicrafts.  My girls chose sewing as their handicrafts for this term of school.  To begin with, we are going to use this free Craftsy video on Sewing Machine Basics.  It includes printables to go along with the video tutorial.  Then we are going to use these tutorials from www.schneiderpeeps.com. Make

Katrina Thennishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08139208604038785445noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2336221111147835803.post-12135767892463458662015-08-22T09:18:00.000-06:002015-08-22T09:24:32.147-06:00

Unbeknownst to most of you, we recently moved to a new home.  Hopefully this will be the last move for a long time. I'm giving you a quick tour(I'm showing most of the rooms empty because I still have random boxes here and there!) and then I have some fun info for you!  What I really love about this house is that I have a room set aside for our homeschool, plus a room that we use as

Katrina Thennishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08139208604038785445noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2336221111147835803.post-36360391324287145122015-08-21T09:28:00.000-06:002015-08-21T09:28:04.352-06:00

I am cleaning up and reposting only relevant posts.  I am sorry if this causes any confusion or broken links.  I feel this is a necessary action though.  I am culling any "fluff" posts in an effort to only include quality articles and information. Thank you for your patience!

Katrina Thennishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08139208604038785445noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2336221111147835803.post-54673626343807610302014-12-02T12:51:00.000-07:002015-08-21T08:43:15.964-06:00

First I want to tell you guys about a book I've been reading.  It has been such a blessing and has served to inspire and uplift me.  It's the book Living Virtuously- A wife's guide to keeping her heart & home by Erin Harrison. It makes such great reading and a wonderful reference for when I am feeling frustrated or uncertain and want suggestions on things like raising my children

Katrina Thennishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08139208604038785445noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2336221111147835803.post-44756334538087852012014-10-22T06:00:00.000-06:002015-08-21T09:19:37.319-06:00

fb279f57801097cbfc5f93d61fc6e9f2f37c1825d9fdaddbef Today I've gathered some of my favorite resources for making a rag rug.  These are places I found when I was learning how to make my own rugs and a couple of sources for purchasing needles, patterns and even finished rugs.  Do you have any to add? Let me know and I will put them on the list! Rag Rug Cafe: This is one of the

Katrina Thennishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08139208604038785445noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2336221111147835803.post-5855369219364530252014-10-19T08:01:00.004-06:002015-08-21T09:19:54.132-06:00

Follow my blog with Bloglovin I'm so excited to get started on this with you guys!  Rag rugs make such a pretty addition to your home and also make a lovely gift.  And each one is as unique as the person making it.  I can't wait to see what colors everyone chose and how the rugs will turn out!  I have made some video tutorials on how to make the rug in case you don't

Katrina Thennishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08139208604038785445noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2336221111147835803.post-60227393458229722712014-10-14T16:42:00.001-06:002015-08-21T09:20:13.235-06:00

Hello fellow crafters!  Saturday we are going to get started with our Craft-Along.  You can join us on Facebook or check back here to follow along. Today I am going to go over the supplies you need.  If you prefer a written version, that's available here too! So first, let's go over what you need. Supplies: -2 Sheets -Sewing Scissors -Large Safety Pin -Ruler or Yardstick (

Katrina Thennishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08139208604038785445noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2336221111147835803.post-24983094339032535142014-10-01T16:29:00.001-06:002015-08-21T09:22:55.795-06:00

Need some advice when it comes to teaching math?  Me too. Math is an intimidating subject for me. So for this article I decided to seek out the advice of those around me who have more experience and I am sharing it with you!  And while I think that this information will be helpful, I would encourage you to do some research for yourself as well.  If you have concerns about a

Katrina Thennishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08139208604038785445noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2336221111147835803.post-24060224892961338162014-08-26T15:29:00.000-06:002015-08-21T09:19:19.143-06:00

 If you are looking for a complete, hands-on Science curriculum that has been thoroughly tested and proven to be effective and fun, then I would suggest Supercharged Science e-Science Curriculum! It is put together by Aurora Lipper who has spent many years teaching it in public school, college and home settings.  She is committed to quality education, thus the projects aren't watered

Katrina Thennishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08139208604038785445noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2336221111147835803.post-16806358462208399082014-08-12T10:04:00.002-06:002015-08-21T09:23:12.850-06:00

This game was shared with me by a friend of mine who teaches 2nd grade.  It can be used to introduce the concept of Multiplication and to practice Multiplication facts. For 2-3 players, but you can have multiple games going. The idea of the game is to fill in the grid paper with different sized rectangles and the winner is the one who can fill in the last space with their rectangle.

Katrina Thennishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08139208604038785445noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2336221111147835803.post-82975863966690182014-08-11T08:20:00.000-06:002015-08-21T09:18:53.211-06:00

This game was shared by my Mother-in-Law who has taught 5th grade math for 20+ years.  It is a spin-off of a game that was originally found in a book titled Multiplications and Division Flashcard Games for Grade 3-4 by Susan Dillon.  My MIL says she is amazed at how well loved this game is because it's SO simple!  But it's a great way to learn Math Facts (not just Multiplication

Katrina Thennishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08139208604038785445noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2336221111147835803.post-19643173355170734852014-07-15T17:00:00.001-06:002014-07-15T17:00:50.866-06:00

I know a lot of us are not able to dedicate an entire room to our homeschool.  It can be a little tricky to carve out a space but I thought I would share some of the ideas we have come up with to make homeschooling work in a small space. 1. Moveable storage We like to use plastic storage drawers on wheels to store each child's supplies.  That way, no matter where we are working we can

Katrina Thennishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08139208604038785445noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2336221111147835803.post-91336745088900741322014-07-10T13:34:00.000-06:002014-07-10T13:34:18.463-06:00

I haven't really shared what our family has been up to recently, but we sold our house on 3 acres in order to look for land to build a house on.  We needed a little more room for our family and livestock.  We have been living in a condo in town and it's a nice place to live but I think we are all a little restless with town living.  I had to explain to my 5 yr old the other day why

Katrina Thennishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08139208604038785445noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2336221111147835803.post-4341760499527817342014-07-04T05:00:00.000-06:002014-07-04T08:08:18.310-06:00

This article is a part of my Proverbs 31 on the Farm series.  I intended to write about Preparation and Perseverance.  And I really like the verse for this month, it's very inspiring: But I feel like I may be the last person qualified to write this.  I want to avoid just another "You should work hard because it's a blessing to your family" post.  And even though our

Katrina Thennishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08139208604038785445noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2336221111147835803.post-4532123866944457492014-07-02T05:00:00.000-06:002014-10-13T13:15:20.020-06:00

One of our favorites simple recipes is mini-pizzas made on English Muffins.  Part of the allure is the option for the kids to customize their own pizzas.  And they only take a few minutes to throw together.  I hope you enjoy them! Ingredients: -Whole Wheat English Muffins -Pizza or Marinara Sauce -Mozzarella Cheese, shredded -Pizza toppings such as Pepperoni, Canadian Bacon,

Katrina Thennishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08139208604038785445noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2336221111147835803.post-92070762271610696632014-06-25T09:33:00.000-06:002014-06-25T10:01:01.832-06:00

I recently read a fun article from Homeschool Creations called 30 Picture Books in 30 Days.  She has an awesome list of great books to read to 5-8 yr olds.  I have been meaning to start reading through the list with my kids and thought we would share our experience here.  We are going to change it up a little and use the book she lists and but take a week for each one.  I am

Katrina Thennishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08139208604038785445noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2336221111147835803.post-66115216400462774212014-06-25T09:02:00.000-06:002014-06-25T09:02:19.644-06:00

Summer can be an exciting time to see a large variety of birds and it’s a great opportunity to familiarize yourself with the birds that call your area home. Cedar Waxwings- can't you tell?  Ok, maybe I need to spiff up my photography skills ;) As homeschoolers, birds offer an easy opportunity to delve into Nature Study as they are easily accessible for observation. And it brings a

Katrina Thennishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08139208604038785445noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2336221111147835803.post-75696541993464363482014-04-11T06:41:00.000-06:002014-04-11T06:41:18.306-06:00

Utilizing the Summer Months for Our Own Education As homeschooling parents we pour so much into our children's education. We read countless articles and books seeking to ensure that we are making available the highest quality education we can afford them. We spend large portions of time preparing for school and teaching them. But for their benefit and our own, at some point we must also

Katrina Thennishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08139208604038785445noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2336221111147835803.post-52012366591899134842014-04-05T07:23:00.000-06:002014-04-05T07:39:46.446-06:00

Looking back, this was a much busier week than I thought it would be.  Tuesday was April Fool's Day and all of the kids had Dentist appointments. (That's kinda funny in itself...) I tried to talk my oldest into wearing gross, fake teeth to her appointment but she wouldn't go for it.  Instead she said I could send a picture of her to her grandparents showing her "clean" teeth.&

Katrina Thennishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08139208604038785445noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2336221111147835803.post-13161639567297675862014-03-29T07:14:00.000-06:002014-03-29T09:55:15.400-06:00

We had a lot of fun this past week.  We did a bit of freestyle schooling and I have found some helpful encouragement. Off the Beaten Path This past week we went to my parent's house for 6 days to help my mom with some spring cleaning and to help with lambing out her sheep.  I know the kids loved seeing the lambs and the highlight of their trip was watching one of the goats kid, but I

Katrina Thennishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08139208604038785445noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2336221111147835803.post-31112028512216917642014-02-01T07:48:00.000-07:002014-02-02T06:27:11.805-07:00

Jan 27-31 Man this was  a difficult week to stick to our school schedule!  Our house is for sale and we had three showings and a Realtor Tour.  I don't think we had even one full day at home.  We had to get a little creative to fit school in. Bible I have gone back and forth and tried out all sorts of ideas for what to do about Bible learning in our homeschool.  This

Katrina Thennishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08139208604038785445noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2336221111147835803.post-41503421746575798832014-01-29T04:00:00.000-07:002014-01-30T08:51:14.235-07:00

I was watching my almost two-year old son the other day as he crashed his cars together and jumped off of every surface he could climb onto.  And in my thinking, as long as he wasn't getting hurt or hurting somebody, it was good for him.  It was teaching him skills he needs as a rough and tumble little boy and helping him grow. However, with my daughters, I have fought tooth and

Katrina Thennishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08139208604038785445noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2336221111147835803.post-72861032241205172952014-01-27T06:30:00.000-07:002014-01-27T17:11:17.678-07:00

My sweet grandpa passed away this summer. We lived with my grandparents until I was four years old and then lived in the same small town as they did until I was 18.  Any chance I got I stayed at the ranch with grandpa and grandma.  Grandpa would wake up early, as usual, and turn up the heat in winter or turn off the fans in the windows if it was summer.  Then go out and turn on

Katrina Thennishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08139208604038785445noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2336221111147835803.post-89527271557037067182014-01-24T04:00:00.000-07:002015-08-21T09:33:59.003-06:00

This morning I read Ephesians 5:15-16 as part of my Good Morning Girls study.  It says: See then that ye walk circumspectly (diligently, carefully) not as fools but as wise.   Redeeming the time, because the days are evil. What a great reminder that I need to be more thoughtful about how I choose to spend my time.  I can't just let my day "happen."  I need to steer it!

Katrina Thennishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08139208604038785445noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2336221111147835803.post-8884135504428400662014-01-21T04:00:00.000-07:002014-01-21T07:41:26.580-07:00

Life is full of changes. Sometimes it's exciting and other times it can be stressful.  And in our case right now, it's both! We are just a couple weeks away from moving out of our house and into a rental while we build our new place on 10 acres.  It's something we have prayed about for quite some time and feel that God wants for us.  But when things get complicated and don't

Katrina Thennishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08139208604038785445noreply@blogger.com0