Mother-2-Mother Blog

Why You Should Visit Amish Country - The Amish Home and Farm

2015-09-14T05:11:00.000-07:00

I spent the week-end in Lancaster, PA recharging my batteries and admiring the Amish. It's been several years since I've visited, but regardless of the time span between my visits, I always find it to be peaceful. Who can't use a little peace in their life, right. We may recharge our batteries and seek peace in different way, but we all need to stop and take action at some point.

Watching the Amish and their way of life causes me to pause. The fields of corn, horse and buggies, roadside produce stands, handmade quilts and the slow pace take me to a peaceful and simple way of living. They are gentle people with a deep belief in God and family above all else. They have a deep sense of community and helping their neighbor without the distraction of modern technology. Most importantly, they are self-sufficient, independent, and they take care of each other. They pay taxes, but no welfare or social security benefits for their community. They have no desire to integrate into our society, their lifestyle is a choice. Plain and simple is their motto and they live it.

During my visits, I've taken tons of pictures and I thought I would share some of them with you in a two part post on the Amish and their lifestyle. This is Part I - The Amish Home and Farm. This home was actually lived in by Amish and Mennonites families for many years. It is now used to educate the public about the Amish and their family.

Amish homes are usually quite large. Most families have 7 or more children so many bedrooms and bathrooms are needed. When parents get older they remain at the home usually in another house on the property called a dawdi haus, which can used as a guest house or for elderly parents. It is rare that an Amish person is put in a nursing home or sent elsewhere to live. The Amish take care of each other for life.

The Amish are a deeply religious community; however, they don't attend churches. Families take turns hosting church service at their homes. The picture above shows an Amish living room that has the furniture removed. When a family is hosting the bi-weekly church service, the furniture is removed and church benches replace the furniture. Benches are set-up in the house, barn or buggy house on the property. Wherever the service will be held benches are placed on both sides of the room. Women sit on one side and men on the other. After a 3 hour or more service in German, lunch is served and everyone socializes while the children play. Sunday is the day of worship, so only the basic chores are done at home and businesses are closed. Visiting neighbors is high on the list for the Amish on Sundays.

Once married life begins, there is no divorce. The women take care of the home, husband, children and kitchen gardens while the men bring home the money, work the fields and take care of the farm animals. There are some Amish men and women who work outside the home or farm. They own businesses such as making furniture or outdoor storage sheds and yard furniture. They also work as waitresses, in factories or other jobs with the English, non-Amish. I own 2 storage sheds built by the Amish. Their work is superior.

Those who work on the farm are ready to go at sun up and stop working at sun down. They eat a hearty breakfast before heading out to the fields, return around noon for lunch and again for dinner. They usually start their day at 5:30 am and are in bed by 8:00 or 9:00 pm.

The above picture is a typical Amish kitchen. The cook stove and the refrigerator are powered by propane gas. Lights, faucets, sewing and washing machines, blenders and mixers are powered by compressed air. As in most homes, the man sits at the head of the table and his wife to the right of him. The oldest child sits on the opposite end of the father. There are no pictures of family or children hanging on the walls, Amish do not take pictures. They do hang quilted wall hangings, a framed list of their children and their birthdays, framed puzzles etc.

Amish women serve hearty meals. They typically preserve hundreds of jars of vegetables, fruits and meat during the canning season to feed a family of 9 or more during the winter months. They are masters at baking bread, pies, cakes and they are able to grow their own fruit for jams, jellies, pies and cobblers as well as vegetables in their kitchen gardens. Their gardens and flower beds are meticulous. You won't find a weed in them. The children start in the morning pulling weeds to ensure that nothing distracts from mom's garden. They butcher or use Amish butchering shops for their meat. Self-sufficiency and being experts at it is the name of the game, and the Amish know how to play. They are astute at making things happen.

Amish women are experts at sewing and quilting. They do the sewing for the entire family. They make their dresses and aprons, pants and shirts for their husbands and all of the children's clothing. They also make quilts, diapers for infants and a host of other items. Most prefer the old Singer treadle sewing machines shown above.

They do shop at local stores such as Wal-mart for plates, glasses, and other home goods as well as undergarments, socks, hosiery, Birdseye diapers/pampers etc. Most stores provide hitching posts for their horse and buggies while they shop.

This is the typical wardrobe for Amish girls. The dresses are calf length and made in muted colors. Pink, green, purple, blue, brown and black are acceptable, but no prints are allowed. Prayer coverings are black or white and they are pinned onto the solid colored dresses. Hook and eye closures can be used, but no buttons are used on the dresses. Coverings are pinned onto the dresses. Prayer caps are white and heart shaped. Shoes are black although I have seen the Lancaster Amish wear sandals, Crocs, sneakers or go barefoot.

Around age 9 the cape is added as shown on the green dress. The black hat is actually a bonnet and is worn over the prayer cap when going to town or other public places or events. A black cloak is worn in the winter. The black bonnets are worn over the white prayer caps and may be worn without the cloak, but the black cloak can't be worn without the black bonnet. Amish women do not cut their hair, it is parted down the middle and worn in a bun under their prayer caps. They are not allowed to wear prints or jewelry, not even a wedding band.

This is a picture of a nursery or small child's bedroom in the Amish home. They have the usual furniture that you would find in a nursery: a crib, rocker, changing table and dresser. Bottle warmers, mobiles and monitors won't be found in an Amish home.

Diapers and pampers can be stored in the changing table. I bet this baby is worth a mint. Their hardwood floors are the wide planks and absolutely beautiful as well as spotless. Amish women take their ability to keep house seriously.

This is the typical Amish boy's room. They wear black pants that hit about the ankle, muted color shirts with buttons, Snaps, hook and eyes, and suspenders are used for pants. No zippers are allowed on their clothing. On Sundays, they wear black pants, white shirts, black vests or jackets. Straw hats are worn in summer months and black felt hats in the winter. Married men grow beards without a mustache.

This is the typical dress of a married Amish woman. Her aprons are black, dresses are the muted colors a described above. Her husband's clothing is the same as the boys as described above.

Amish women usually give birth at home and are assisted by a mid-wife. They can use a birthing center or hospital if they desire.

It looks like an older son is replacing posts on the farm. He has several of his little siblings on the wagon, and making sure everything is the way it should be after making a turn. Amish boys work the fields with their fathers at an early age. Women and girls also help if needed. The equipment is pulled by horses or mules.

This unmarried young man, no beard, is working in the fields on another farm. Corn fields are everywhere in Lancaster. The corn is harvested in stored in the farm silo. The Amish are masters of their domains. This young man is handling a team of 6 horses to do what I don't know. Women are subordinate, but equal partners in their marriage and are involved in the daily operation of making the farm efficient and productive. They can be seen hand picking various vegetables or helping with the harvest of corn.

Amish use wringer washers to do laundry, which is normally on Mondays. They use diesel generators to power the agitator. The washer is usually located in their basements or summer kitchens. Not only do they hang their laundry out year round, they also iron their laundry.

Lancaster is a combination of things. Traffic, shopping malls, horse and buggies and endless rows of corn. It's a place where you can lose yourself in the simplicity of a culture that is admired and misunderstood. The beauty of the farm houses and acres of rolling land capture your deepest senses and draws you into a life that can only be admired by those of us who relish our smart phones and laptops. I have much love for my Amish brothers and sisters and their ability to persevere in the mist of modern technology. Their calming affect takes me back to the days of running through the cool grass bare foot, eating homemade ice cream or drinking ice cold water from the hand pump down the lane on my grandparents farmette. It was the best.

If you have an Amish community nearby and you haven't visited, you should. We can all learn from them and it's a great family activity. Stay tuned to Part II - Quilts, Transportation and Great Food.

Sunday's Best Linkup - #37

2015-09-12T16:30:00.003-07:00

Welcome to Week 37 of Mother 2 Mother's Sunday's Best Linkup. It's hard to believe that school is back in session and fall is around the corner. We're continuing our Leaves Are Falling theme this week. We're looking for posts on fall crafts and decorating, recipes for apple sauce and other canning recipes, your photos with fall colors, fall flower arrangement ideas, fall tablescapes and anything you would like to share on the season.

We also welcome other recipes, crafts, DIY, home makeover and gardening tips, SEO and blogging information, sewing projects, patio and deck makeovers, front porch makeover ideas, organization tips, ideas for backyard hot dog roasts, and more.

Blow the dust off your old posts and link those too. They're great for inspiration. Don't have posts that fit into the theme, link up whatever post you would like to share. We would love to have parenting tips, DIY projects, homesteading, homeschooling, and your posts on family and life. Your linkups and giveaways are welcome here too. Anything goes, as long as it's family friendly and you may linkup as many posts as you would like.

Each week your hosts will select their favorite post and it will be featured the following week. An image from your post will be used on my blog the following week with a link back to your blog. Be sure to check back to see if you're a Sunday's Best featured blogger. All Featured Bloggers will have their posts Pinned to the Sunday's Best Pinterest Board.

What's New: We would like readers to select their favorite posts. Voting will start at noon every Friday until mid-night. We will be adding the post with the most votes from our readers to our Sunday's Best featured bloggers. Be sure to have your blog readers and social media followers head over to vote for your post on Fridays.

All posts linking to Sunday's Best will be promoted on Twitter.

In addition to the reader's and hosts selections, a post for our monthly themes will be selected and featured each week as well.

If you are interested in becoming a Sunday's Best host, please contact me for details at rhonda@mother2motherblog.com or email one of our other hosts.

Your Hosts Are:

Rhonda - Mother 2 Mother Kim U. - Pinterested Parent Kim M. - Life In A House of Testosterone

Here's the rules, please connect with us on social media before you leave or subscribe to/follow our blogs:

Mother 2 Mother: Please like my Facebook Page, follow me on Twitter, Google+, Pinterest, BlogLovin or subscribe/join my blog on the right before you leave.

The Pinterested Parent: Please like Kim's Facebook Page, follow her on Twitter, Google+, Pinterest, Bloglovin before you leave.

Life In A House of Testosterone: Please like Kim's Facebook Page, follow her on Twitter, Google+, Pinterest, Bloglovin, or Instagram before you leave.

Last, please help us grow by placing our button on your sidebar. If you are selected as a Featured Blogger please let your readers and followers know. They may want to join the party too! For those who have a Link Party list/directory, please add us. I appreciate your help in promoting the linkup with Re-tweets and shares. Now lets party!

The Sunday's Best Posts are:

Kim U. selected DIY Pumpkin Jars from The Scrap Shoppe Blog

I selected How To Make Sushi Towels from Tiger Strypes

and

Fall Vignette with DIY Grapevine Pumpkins from Inspiration For Moms

Kim M. selected How To Keep the Clutter Out from Clean Scentsible

The Readers Selected:

Save Time by Making a Standard Grocery List from Medium Sized Family

and

The Favorite Theme Posts

Leaves Are Falling

Ghost Pudding Cups from Summer Scraps

and

Halloween Party on a Budget from Living Off Love and Coffee

Congratulations to our featured bloggers! All of the posts were great, and I appreciate each of you linking up. I would like to invite all of you back to linkup your post(s) again, it could be selected this week. While you're here take a minute to visit these great blogs. It's a great way to meet and connect with new bloggers. Be sure to PIN or share any posts that you like, we all appreciate a little love.

An InLinkz Link-up

Sunday's Best Linkup - #36

2015-09-05T17:14:00.000-07:00

Welcome to Week 36 of Mother 2 Mother's Sunday's Best Linkup. It's hard to believe that school is back in and session and fall is around the corner. We are starting our Leaves Are Falling theme this week. We're looking for posts on fall crafts and decorating, recipes for apple sauce and other canning recipes, your photos with fall colors, fall flower arrangement ideas, fall tablescapes and anything you would like to share on the season.

Our lovely Kim M. is taking a break for few weeks, she will be returning shortly. Here's the rules, please connect with us on social media before you leave or subscribe to/follow our blogs:

Mother 2 Mother: Please like my Facebook Page, follow me on Twitter, Google+, Pinterest, BlogLovin or subscribe/join my blog on the right before you leave.

The Pinterested Parent: Please like Kim's Facebook Page, follow her on Twitter, Google+, Pinterest, Bloglovin before you leave.

Life In A House of Testosterone: Please like Kim's Facebook Page, follow her on Twitter, Google+, Pinterest, Bloglovin, or Instagram before you leave.

The Sunday's Best Posts are:

I selected Cookie Monster Brownie Cookies from Marty' Musing

and

Easy Dinners To Go by Diana Rambles

Kim M. selected She Shed Reveal from Ella Claire Inspired

The Readers Selected:

80+ Bags For Food and Drinks Sewing Patterns from Wesens Art

and

The Favorite Theme Posts

Leaves Are Falling

Fall Centerpiece from Krystal Kitsch

and

Apple Cider Bourbon Cocktail from Growing Up Gabel

An InLinkz Link-up

We're Moving

2015-09-05T06:34:00.003-07:00

Please excuse our mess, we're packing Mother 2 Mother and moving it to Wordpress. Things should be put back to normal shortly. Thank you for bearing with us doing this time.

25 Ways To Feed Your Soul and Why You Should

2015-09-02T20:20:00.000-07:00

Are you feeding your soul? Our soul is the essence of who we are. Feeding the soul is different from feeding the body. We feed our body to live, we feed our soul to connect with who we are and to make us whole.

Feeding our soul awakes our passions. It releases stress, helps us find peace, and enjoy our life. It requires us to connect on a deeper level and it's as individual as you. What works for one may not work for another, so it requires you to connect with you. It requires you to find inner peace and to get in touch with who you really are and what you love.

For me, I find peace and connect with nature. Its beauty touches my soul. I could literally spend hours enjoying all of its glory. In the spring the grass turns green and flowers come to life. It motivates me to become one with nature and it awakens one of my passions, gardening. In the summer I enjoy the sound of the ocean and fall the beautiful colors. Sipping a hot cup of coffee while inhaling the crisp air on a fall morning stirs my soul. I gather fall leaves for crafts and take nature hunts with the kids. These things illuminate who I am and brightens my spirit. Feeding my soul leads me to my voice.

Here are a few ideas on how you can feed your soul and awaken your spirit:

Take a long walk/hike.
Have a good old fashioned picnic with your husband/significant other.
Go to the book store and buy a book.
Pick a bouquet of flowers from the backyard.
Take a drive through the country.
Plant a garden or a few flowers.
Listen to your favorite songs.
Take a bubble bath.
Curl up with a cup of tea.
Let go of all things and people that cause you stress.
Take a yoga or meditation class.
Light your favorite candle and have a cup of coffee.
Attend/join church.
Take a walk on the beach and listen to the ocean.
Read daily inspirations.
Watch the sun rise or set.
Refinish or paint a piece of furniture.
Have a good cry.
Go sight seeing.
Get a manicure and/or pedicure
Bake a batch of cookies and enjoy.
Clean out a closet, attic, or basement and reminisce.
Revisit one of your favorite childhood places.
Refresh your bedding.
Spend time with your children/grandchild and laugh.

Start feeding your soul, it allows your light to shine. You will feel rejuvenated, happy, and find the way to great things in your life.

5 Full Body Massages To Try

2015-09-02T04:24:00.003-07:00

Do you find yourself tied in knots, stressed out, joints and muscles aching at some point through out the year? I can relate, life can be stressful and stress can wreck havoc on our minds and bodies. Stress can manifest itself in many ways, which is why we need to pay attention to our bodies and deal with it when it appears. .

For the past few years, I have treated myself to a full body massage for my birthday. I swear by it. They relieve stress and work out the kinks. I literally leave the spa like a wet noodle. You are so relaxed, it is advised that you not drive after your session. If you have never had a full body massage, you must add this pleasure to your list. Ask your husband or significant other for a gift certificate for your birthday, Christmas or just because. Every woman deserves to be pampered at least once in their lifetime, but be warned once you start you will want to continue the service.

Here are the massages offered at the spa that I use. I have had 3 of the 5 listed, the Swedish, Hot Stone and Deep Tissue. I love the Swedish and Hot Stone, but I encourage you to research and make a decision on what you think you would enjoy:

1. Swedish - It's the most sought after and is used to relax the entire body. The massage therapist uses long strokes to increase the level of oxygen in the blood while decreasing toxins and improving circulation. It eases tension as well.

2. Prenatal - These are great for the mother to be. The massage therapists focuses on decreasing swelling in the arms and legs, and relieve aches and pains in muscles and joints.

3. Hot Stone - It is amazing what hot stones can do. They literally melt the stress away, eliminates stiff muscles, increases circulation and your metabolism. Because the hot stones relax muscles, the masseuse is able to do a deep muscle massage.

4. Deep Tissue - The Deep tissue massage is similar to the Swedish massage. It focuses on deeper pressure with the goal to be the release of chronic muscle tension. This massage is known to drop the blood pressure and boosts your mood and relaxation.

5 Reflexology - The massage therapist will use the traditional Swedish and sports massage techniques starting with the hands and than moving to the feet, calf, and upper leg area. This is great for athletics or those who have problems with foot or ankle pain. It also reduces stress.

The spa that I use also offers packages for couples, girlfriends, mom and daughter/son or mom and granddaughter/grandson. Make it a family affair or a day of intimacy, you won't regret it. It will leave you wanting more and more.

Inspirational Quote - Your Purpose

2015-08-31T06:54:00.000-07:00

Sunday's Best Linkup - #35

2015-08-29T17:19:00.001-07:00

Welcome to Week 35 of Mother 2 Mother's Sunday's Best Linkup. It's hard to believe that school is back in and session and fall is around the corner. We are starting our Leaves Are Falling theme this week. We're looking for posts on fall crafts and decorating, recipes for apple sauce and other canning recipes, your photos with fall colors, fall flower arrangement ideas, fall tablescapes and anything you would like to share on the season.

The Sunday's Best Posts are:

Kim U. selected 10 Awesome Science Ideas for Fall from P Is For Preschooler

I selected Shabby Chic Bedroom Ideas from Marty' Musing

and

Jamaican Jerk Marinade from Sandy's Point of View

The Readers Selected:

35 Easy School Lunch Box Ideas from A Pretty Life In the Suburbs

and

The Favorite Theme Posts

Back To School!

30+ Make Ahead Back to School Recipes from My Pinterventures

and

Back To School Crayon Wreath Busy Being Jennifer Busy Being Jennifer

An InLinkz Link-up

5 Safety Tips For Latch Key Children

2015-08-27T00:18:00.003-07:00

Did you give birth to a Latch Key Child? Schools are back in session and some parents will be leaving their children alone for several hours after school for many reasons. Some parents are single mothers who can't afford the expense of child care, many families have both parents working outside the home, others because their children are old enough to take care of themselves for several hours and than we have those who can't find after school care. What ever the reason, there are approximately 15 million Latch Key Children in the U.S. so don't feel that you're a bad parent or that you're alone in your decision.

My daughter was around 10 when she became a latch key child. I've always hated that term, but it is what it is. I was a single mother at the time and I was trying to purchase a home. I was saving every penny that I could, so I asked my daughter if she thought she could stay alone for several hours to cut out child care expense and she jumped at the opportunity. The bus stop was 500 yards from my front door and I had neighbors that would step in if there was an emergency. I felt guilty initially, but I realized that I wasn't the only parent who had a latch key child. I soon released the guilt and became comfortable with my decision.

Many parents question the appropriate age for leaving children unattended. The ages vary from state to state, so if you're considering leaving your child alone be sure to check out the legal ramifications. You will also have to assess your child's maturity level and their ability to follow directions as well as the safety of your neighborhood. Think about the time frame that your child will be alone. If it's more than a few hours, you may want to find another option in my opinion. My daughter was home for 2 hours before I arrived. That was the longest 2 hours of my life.

We decided to do a trial run and if we were comfortable we would implement the plan. Here are the safety tips that worked for us:

1. Rules Must Be Established - No friends over, do not answer the phone or door unless it's for people who are checking on them, do not leave the home to play in the neighborhood etc. It's also important that your child understand that they can't tell people that they're home alone and why. It's imperative that your child understand the rules.

2. Establish a Routine - You must give your child a routine. In my home it was to come straight home, let me know that she was home and that start on her To Do List. Today there are nanny cams and home monitoring devices that allow you to see what's happening in the home while you're at the office. There are also devices that allow you to turn off the alarm system remotely and reset it once your child gets inside the home. Skyping is a great idea too if it's allowed in your office.

3. Create a To Do List - Keeping your child occupied is important, they won't have time to think too much about being alone. I created a list of things for my daughter to do once she arrived. She could get a snack, no cooking allowed, and turn on the television, radio etc. Yes, sound is nice here. Homework had to be completed and her room orderly before I got home. If homework was completed, she could watch her favorite movies or television show.

4. Establish Emergency Procedures - .Make sure your child knows to call 911 if an emergency arrives and has a list of phone numbers for neighbors or relatives who are close by. My neighbor agreed to check on my daughter as well and my daughter knew that she could go next door if needed.

5. Give Lots of Hugs and Praise - Let your child know that they're doing a great job following the rules and how much you appreciate the fact that they're growing up and helping to contribute to the household by being responsible. Children love praise and they deserve it.

The experience actually build confidence in my daughter. It also made her understand responsibility and the importance of following directions. Did you raise a latch key child or do you currently have one? What were some of the rules that you implemented? They could be of benefit to other parents.

6 Tips On How Not To Eat Up Your Food Budget When Traveling

2015-08-25T05:06:00.000-07:00

When I'm traveling with my family, I have a budget and it's imperative that I stay within it. I look for ways to save on meals, but also ensure we have a great time. My grandchildren like snacks and sandwiches, but I'm also feeding adults who need meals that will fill them up and stick. Eating 3 meals out for 7 days can be expensive for a family. Here's a few ways that I ensure we stay within our budget:

1. Check Out Resorts That Offer Kitchens/Kitchenettes - If I'm traveling for more than 3 days, I always book accommodations that have a full or partial kitchen. This allows me to cook meals and save on food expense. Having a kitchen is great, especially when I'm traveling with my grandchildren. It's difficult to get them up and out for breakfast and sometimes lunch.

2. Look For Discounts in Travel Guides or Online - I research local restaurants wherever I'm staying and if I decide that I would like to check out a few of them I search for a coupon or discount.

3. Take Advantage of Happy Hour - If you want to eat light, check out restaurants that have happy hour. I have taken advantage of specials on wings, burgers, stuffed mushrooms etc. It's a great way to have a few adult beverages on the cheap too.

4. Find The Local Grocery Store - I purchase snacks, drinks, bottled water and any items that I need for meals. After checking in, this is the first task on my list. I'm able to purchase drinks and food for the beach, bathroom items, a candle to relax, batteries if needed and anything else on the list. I save a ton of money by taking this step.

5. Check Out The Resort/Hotel Welcome Package - I visit the hotel or resort concierge and ask for information on local activities or restaurants. They normally have a welcome package which contains coupons for local attractions and other valuable information that you can take into consideration and help with your budget.

6. Look For Resorts/Hotels That Offer Free Activities - I look for resorts or hotels that offer water slides, lazy rivers, or firework displays in addition to the beach and nearby activities for the kids. I search for coupons for miniature golf, amusement parks, seek out free concerts and than use the savings for ice cream treats, sno-cones etc. while we're out and about.

Don't wait until you arrive at your vacation destination to start saving. You should be saving all year for your vacation. This takes the stress off and any worries that everyone won't be able to have a good time because of a cash shortage.

You may also like: 15 Ways You Can Save Money

Inspirational Quote - LifeLessons

2015-08-24T04:54:00.000-07:00

7 Uses For Sunflowers

2015-08-23T00:56:00.001-07:00

I love the strength, grace and beauty of sunflowers. They're one of my favorite summer flowers and a must in my garden. They stand tall, erect and they're showy. They tower above everything else in the garden and their bright color makes an impact. There are different varieties to grace your garden and they all grow to various heights. This particular variety is the Russian Mammoth, which has grown to about 10 or 11 feet. The fence in the background is 6 foot.

Sunflowers make a statement, but did you know that every part of the sunflower can be used. It's actually considered the cash crop because the seeds, petals, stalk, leaves and roots can be used in various ways. Here are a few:

1. Seeds - Humans eat the seeds raw, roasted or dried. They are a healthy snack and a great source of protein, Vitamins A, B, E and iron. I love the seeds raw in salads and roasted to snack on.

2. Commerical Use - Sunflower seeds are used in a variety of birdseed mixtures. I actually leave the majority of my sunflowers in the garden for the cardinals and finches to enjoy. You will find black oil sunflower seeds in my bird feeders during the winter.

3. Petals - The petals can be dried and used along with other natural items for summer or fall potpourris.

4. Leaves - The leaves of sunflowers can grow quite large and tasty. They can be used to feed livestock or seeped to make tea.

5. Stalks - The stalks of sunflowers are strong. I actually use some of my sunflowers stalks as a trellis for my cucumbers. You can cut them off at the base and allow them to dry over the winter. Next season you have a great source of poles to use as a trellis for your veggies. You can also break them in sections, dry them, and use them in fire pits or wood stoves over the winter.

6. Roots - The roots of a sunflower can grow quite deep and large. It is often used to make herbal medicine.

7. Dried Flowers - The flowers can be dried and used in floral arrangements. Quite pretty in fall arrangements or on wreaths. The best flowers for dried arrangements are those that are just opening. They will continue to open as they dry.

You May Also Like: How Make Bottle Greenhouses This is how I start my sunflower seeds.

Sunday's Best Linkup - #34

2015-08-22T17:22:00.002-07:00

Welcome to Week 34 of Mother 2 Mother's Sunday's Best Linkup. This is the last week of our Back To School theme. We're looking for posts on shopping tips, recycling last year's purchases, books that will help with reading, grammar, spelling etc., tips for moms with college students and those who will be enduring the empty nest syndrome, lunch ideas, after school activities and more.

We also welcome other recipes, crafts, DIY, home makeover and gardening tips, SEO and blogging information, sewing projects, patio and deck makeovers, front porch makeovers, summer organization tips, ideas for backyard BBQ, summer flower arrangements and more.

Our lovely Kim M. is taking a break for few weeks. Here's the rules, please connect with us on social media before you leave or subscribe to/follow our blogs:

Mother 2 Mother: Please like my Facebook Page, follow me on Twitter, Google+, Pinterest, BlogLovin or subscribe/join my blog on the right before you leave.

The Pinterested Parent: Please like Kim's Facebook Page, follow her on Twitter, Google+, Pinterest, Bloglovin before you leave.

Life In A House of Testosterone: Please like Kim's Facebook Page, follow her on Twitter, Google+, Pinterest, Bloglovin, or Instagram before you leave.

The Sunday's Best Posts are:

Kim U. selected Cheesy Cauliflower Breadsticks from Lou Lou Girls

I selected Gluten Free Chocolate Peanut Butter Cups from Not So Shabby Gabby

and

Disney World Tips from Penney Lane

The Readers Selected:

10 Thing You Do Differently With A Second Child from Funny Money Mom

and

The Favorite Theme Posts

Back To School!

100 Plus Back To School Idea from Penny Lane

and

21 Mason Jar Teacher Gifts The Scrap Shop Blog

An InLinkz Link-up

Road Trip Printable: Scavenger Hunt Game - Part 2

2015-08-21T04:34:00.000-07:00

Our road trip series continues. We have 2 additional printables that we have added to our Scavenger Hunt. It's as bright and colorful as the first scavenger hunt printable too. Children like to choose just like adults. If you have more than one child they may not be interested in searching for the same items. Who wants to hear over and over, I don't want that one or I'm not going to be able to find those things before the hunt begins. Keeping children occupied during a road trip can be challenging. If you're like me, you don't want electronic devices to be the solution to everything. Especially, when there's so much more that we can be enjoying.

What's the goal of the trip? Isn't it to arrive at your destination safely, create great memories along the way and enjoy your time when you arrive. Why get into a struggle and ruin the memory while you're trying to get there. Pouting, crying and unhappy kids can make the trip seem much longer than is really is. Give each of them their choice of scavenger hunt printables, a snack, drink, and let the trip begin.

Searching for different items and trying to finish first makes the hunt exciting and challenging. It also get them focused on their surroundings and takes their mind off of how long it's taking to arrive at your destination. One of your greatest memories will be the kids searching for the items, the conversations you will engage in while hunting for them and the peace you will find by having happy children. Now that is priceless.

You may also like this game: Road Trip Print: Scavenger Hunt Game - Part 1

How To Make Your Child's Breakfast Disappear

2015-08-19T05:32:00.001-07:00

Do you have a picky eater? Getting kids to eat can be a struggle. We all know that breakfast is the most important meal of the day, so we need to make sure that it's hardy and nutritious. I found a way to make my grandchildren's breakfast exciting.

Wondering what I've come up with? I've stocked up on pancake molds. It's the perfect solution. When my grandchildren are visiting or I'm visiting them, they wake up every morning looking forward to helping me make their favorite pancakes or waffles. My stash includes: barnyard animals, dinosaurs, an airplane and a train. The barnyard animals are their favorites.

My grandchildren love them so much on mornings when I just don't feel like making pancakes, and I try to bribe them with yogurt or some other quick meal, the majority of the time they don't take the bribe. They enjoy helping me mix the batter and watching me pour them into the molds. I must admit, I enjoy eating a cow or pig pancake too.

I found these molds on e-bay. They're easy to use as long as you spray the molds well with PAM as well as the griddle. I allow the molds to heat up before I pour the batter into them. This ensures they lift from the batter easily. I've found that a measuring cup or batter bottle works well in controlling the batter when pouring it into the molds.

Make these fun pancakes with your children and they too will disappear. Add a few fresh strawberries or apple slices with the pancakes, and you're guaranteed a happy plate too. Bon Appetit'!

Inspirational Quote - Responses

2015-08-17T05:00:00.000-07:00

Sunday's Best Linky - #33

2015-08-15T17:00:00.000-07:00

Welcome to Week 33 of Mother 2 Mother's Sunday's Best Linkup. We're continuing our Back To School theme this week. We're looking for posts on shopping tips, recycling last year's purchases, books that will help with reading, grammar, spelling etc., tips for moms with college students and those who will be enduring the empty nest syndrome, lunch ideas, after school activities and more.

The Sunday's Best Posts are:

Kim U. selected 20 Football Food Ideas from Dreaming of Leaving

I selected Sticky and Sweet Wings from Frugal In Florida

and

Summer is Sunflowers from Helen Fern Original Photography

and

The Readers Selected:

No Bake Cherry Chocolate Parfait from A Dish of Daily Life

and

The Favorite Theme Posts

Back To School!

5 Things Your Child Should Know Before Preschool from The Happy Home Life

and

8 Tips To Prepare Your Child To Stay Home Alone from The Bad Domestic Goddess

An InLinkz Link-up

Label Daddy Peel & Stick Promo

2015-08-14T14:20:00.000-07:00

Save 20% on Label Daddy labels! Label Daddy is the number one solution for labeling your belongings! Remember to label all clothing, sports equipment, electronics, and other personal belongings your kids bring to school, camp, sports leagues, day care, vacation, and other places. Label Daddy labels keep them from getting lost or mixed up with others. These labels are great for adults too! -- Put them on your sunglass/eyeglass case, phone, camera, sports equipment, tablet, e-reader, hats, clothing, and more. The possibilities are endless. Promotion sponsored by US Family Guide.

Inspirational Quote - Hope

2015-08-13T06:20:00.000-07:00

Road Trip Printable: Kid's Scavenger Hunt Game

2015-08-11T18:48:00.000-07:00

Road Trip Scavenger Hunt

Family road trips can be exciting, but they can also lead to a barrage of are we there yet if you're traveling with children. Kids will be kids, but it's enough to drive you crazy at times. I don't know about your children, but anything over an hour seems to be more than my grandchildren can bear.

Wondering how I keep them occupied? Road trips are a good time to unplug and enjoy the beauty surrounding us. It's also a great way for children to observe the country side and happenings on the interstate as you're traveling. Observations can lead to questions and interesting conversations with your children. It's a great way to bond and make the trip memorable for everyone.

To make things interesting, I created a series of Travel Scavenger Hunts and word search puzzles. They love looking out the window in search of items on the paper. We come across most of them during our trips, and we have so much fun trying to find the items. If we find all of them all before we reach our destination we play games, my grandson does word search puzzles or we do another Scavenger Hunt in the series. I don't know who has the most fun me or the kids.

If you like our Scavenger Hunts please share and feel free to print for your use. Stay tuned for a list of games and other printables in my Road Trip series.

Sunday's Best Linkup - #32

2015-08-09T04:38:00.007-07:00

Welcome to Week 32 of Mother 2 Mother's Sunday's Best Linkup. We're starting our Back To School theme this week. We're looking for posts on shopping tips, recycling last year's purchases, books that will help with reading, grammar, spelling etc., tips for moms with college students and those who will be enduring the empty nest syndrome, lunch ideas, after school activities and more.

The Sunday's Best Posts are:

Kim U. selected How To Create a Reading Nook from Clean and Scentsible

I selected Minion Cupcake Recipe - from A Dish of Daily Life

and

Kim M. selected Worry from Living In Mommywood

and

The Readers Selected:

Investing In Your Grandchildren from Grammie Time

and

The Favorite Theme Posts

Back To School!

Bus and Bus Stop Safety Tips from Ramblings of a Bad Domestic Goddess

and

Back To School Gifts In a Jar with Chocolate Chips Marty's Musings

An InLinkz Link-up

Dinosaur Land: These Prehistoric Dinosaurs Are Larger Than Life

2015-08-07T07:19:00.000-07:00

Looking for inexpensive places to visit before the kids return to school? If you're planning a trip to the Shenandoah Valley in Virginia take time to check out Dinosaur Land. It's an inexpensive roadside attraction that has been around since 1962, and is a great place for photo ops with the little dinosaur lover.

I've taken my grandson there twice. The first visit he was overwhelmed by the huge creatures. He was 2 at the time. We took him back a few years later and he loved it. The park is deceiving, it looks quite small from the outside, but once you get inside the gates there's a nice spread and the dinosaurs are quite large. There are more than 32+ prehistoric figures on display with their names and a little history.

Crushed stone paths weave throughout the park. It's a self-guided tour, so you can move at your own pace. There a few benches to rest on if you need to while enjoying a nice breeze in the shade before proceeding. The park is never filled to a point where it's difficult to maneuver around the displays and you can get your stroller through easy if you have one.

The children are allowed to touch the displays with care. Now I have to admit I didn't see many children rushing to touch any of the displays, lol, but it is an option.

There is an area in the park where some of the dinosaurs are bloodied from a day of battle or a meal. That display is small, but could be an issue with some some children. The park is showing some wear, but it is clean and a nice place to hang out for an hour or two. They have a nice cool souvenir shop where the kids can browse and pick up a model of their favorite dinosaur once the tour is complete. The entry fee is $6.00 for ages 11 and up and $5.00 for children ages 2-10. I give it a thumbs up.

Inspirational Quotes - Life Changer

2015-08-05T19:56:00.001-07:00

How To Shop Smart For School Supplies

2015-08-03T18:24:00.001-07:00

Summer is just about over and the kids will soon be returning to school. Where did the time go? Backpacks, school supplies, and clothing will be needed for the upcoming school year. Parents will be heading out to stock up on school supplies. Here are a few tips on how you can stock up and shop wisely:

1. Make a list of the needed supplies - Check your child's school site for a list of needed supplies for the upcoming year. Many schools provide a list of the school supplies needed for the upcoming year as well to local Kmarts, Wal-Marts, Office Max etc. Be sure to add extra items for homework and additional week-end/tutoring sessions. You can save money by not guessing about what is needed or having to make an additional trip to the store because you omitted items.

2. Take inventory of supplies from last year purchases - Check your supplies from last year so you won't buy duplicate or unnecessary items when you head to the store. You can spend that money on other items.

3. Do your homework - Check ads for the best deals. Head to your local Dollar Store first and eliminate as many items as possible. You can purchase quality crayons, pencils, pencil cases, sharpeners and inexpensive notebooks for practicing math problems etc. here.

5. Purchase quality items - Purchase quality book bags and electronics. Trust me, you will end up spending the money again if you don't purchase quality items. Check online stores like Best Buy, Amazon, Dell, HP etc. for great deals on electronics and look for free shipping sites. I purchased a Michael Jordan book bag for my grandson last year. He will carry it for years before I have to purchase another.

6. Take the student with you - Getting the children involved helps eliminate items that they may be unhappy with and it also gets them involved in the back to school process. If the student doesn't want to go along, ask them for any specific items they may want.

7. BOGO is your friend - You will use the item later in the year I guarantee it, so go ahead and indulge. The item may not be BOGO later in the year.

You may want to purchase a storage bin to house school supplies for the upcoming year. Items will be easy to track and access when needed too. What tips can you add to the list?

You may also like: Back To School Shopping Tips

Sunday's Best Linkup - #31

2015-08-01T17:06:00.000-07:00

Welcome to Week 31 of Mother 2 Mother's Sunday's Best Linkup. We're starting our Back To School theme this week. We're looking for posts on shopping tips, recycling last year's purchases, books that will help with reading, grammar, spelling etc., tips for moms with college students and those who will be enduring the empty nest syndrome, lunch ideas, after school activities and more.

The Sunday's Best Posts are:

Kim U. selected the 15 Things to Watch on Netflix from Living Better Together

I selected 7 Must Try Lettuce Wraps - from Ella Claire Inspired

and

Murder Mystery Blondies from Lorraine's Resources and Rewards

and

The Readers Selected:

5 Desert Adventures from Urban Naturale

and

Mason Jar Chandelier from Marty's Musing

The Favorite Theme Posts

Everything's Beachy!

Beachy Family Room House Decorating from Worthing Court Blog

and

Kim M selected Coastal Sea Shell Wreath from My Pinterventures

An InLinkz Link-up