salty ice cream + planet art

As a little recipe reading practice, the kids made their own ice cream. So easy, really (too bad it didn't work quite right!!!!!!). You put half a cup of milk in small ziplock bag, add vanilla and 2 T sugar. Zip shut, put in large ziplock- add lots of ice and salt. Wrap a towel around the bags and shake for 10 min (or less). The milk froze beautifully and would have tasted great, except that in most cases the smaller bags broke open and salt got in. But, I am thinking if you get high quality ziplocks and maybe tape them closed it would work. We will try this again.


A fun art project that I saw here (of course :))

Trace several circular objects. We used a cd, a jar, paint bottles, a glue stick, and a lid. Paint the planets with watercolors. Cut them out and glue to a piece of black paper that you have spattered with white paint (I had the kids dip a brush in white paint and rub their fingers on it to get the little speckles of paint on the paper)





See the little square universe in the middle? The kindergarten class (all one of them) decided to do a second version; used marker to color a piece of paper black, made planets, then scotch taped it all firmly to the wall.

school

Back to school this year has been extra nice- one reason is because we are in our new classroom. What a huge difference this makes for me! It is like I become a "real" teacher when I walk into this room instead of last year when we used the kitchen table. Then I was mom trying to finish the laundry while teaching math and getting the dishes done.


It is a happy place. I know that this year will have it's challenges, but right now I am so thankful for this slice of peace and happiness.


Also! This is good news...I found this site (blurb.com) where you can make yearbooks! I downloaded the program for free and whenever I take photos of the kids I can immediately add the photos to the book and (I am hoping) that at the end of the year it will be as simple as adding the last photos and clicking 'order book.'


That's our news- school has started and I'm on the yearbook committee. How is your week going?

the crayon melt project

I saw it here. And mine is not as pretty as Meg's but it was a fun experiment.


I like the different types of crayons- the sizes and differences are fun...but, only Crayola melts perfectly and vibrantly. Seriously, every other cheapo crayon melted clearish and melted slower.


You glue your crayons to the canvas (glue gun). Then melt them with a hairdryer.



Just like life- a little messy and not at all perfect; but beautiful nonetheless.


Dave got new glasses! He's cute :)

Our first day of school went well-more on that later. Hope your Monday is nice :)

Thursday's Confessions

1. I love this salad! Tabouli, a Mediterranean salad with parsley and bulgar (I used quinoa in place of the bulgar) ((my family would hate this salad...so I'm not sharing!!!))

2. I may have mentioned it- but we are ready to start school on Monday :) It is funny, I have read so many homeschooling articles that say that in order to homeschool you must enjoy being with your children. I have to be honest here and say that homeschooling has allowed me to enjoy my children more. The last few weeks in August; after a hot summer, and them getting a little too spoiled by us-- there are moments when we do not necessarily 'enjoy' each other.....but the structure of school is good for the mincy family and our relationships.

3. I have been looking back at August of 2010:

homeschoolers are weird
first day of school
2nd day of school
coke vs. pepsi
sillybands

4. Lastly, I painted this last August (how long has it been since I have painted on canvas??? It feels like forever), and it is a good verse to meditate on today.

Have a wonderful Thursday :)

linking up to: The Adventures of Jolly Goode Gal- Thursday's Confessions

happy face bush man

We see this bush every time we drive on a main road near our house. There are other cute bushes too- a basket shape, a swan, a little house. I threatened the kids that I was going to stop one day- and the other day we did. We got out and knocked on the door...(our 9 year old was mortified, "mom! this is so embarrassing!")

The lady was so nice- she said her husband did all the gardening and that yes, we could take a picture.

That man is a happy gardener!

Local friends, have you seen this? Know which road?


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We are starting school on Monday. We are all very ready. Ready for the routine and the challenge to our mushy brains :) Have you started?

Hi, Hello, + Banana Bread

Hi, How are you? I am fine. How was your Sunday? Ours was good. Church was great. I love church. I always get so encouraged and pumped up for the week! God is good and He gives us grace! We cannot get through without Him.


I have been asking myself, "what if...?"

What if I picked up my Bible instead of picking up my phone to check e-mail or my blog 10 times a day?

What if I meditated on a verse every time I went to the bathroom instead of looking at my phone to read a ton of blogs?

What if my children saw me reading my Bible a lot more than they saw me on the computer?

What if I prayed instead of letting my mind wander and worrying over matters that I really need to pray about?

I think we all know the answer to these questions. A lot more wisdom and peace and closeness to my Savior- that is what would happen.

I am going to [with God's help] intentionally try and do these things this week.

Answers to your questions:

The book where I found the vegan recipes was the RAVE diet and lifestyle book. (Like I said, I found it in a 'free' box at our local homeschool store...a store run by a homeschool family. They sell curricula on consignment and also new books. I got 100% of my stuff there this year and saved a ton of money- yes, we are spoiled and I love that place). Here is a link for the book, although, there are so many great vegetarian websites that you probably don't need it- AND, I'm going to give you the banana bread recipe.

My 2 favorite healthy food sites so far:
Two Peas & Their Pod
Fat Free Vegan Kitchen

And, my healthy food pinterest board -you can click on each picture to be taken to it's original site and to see the recipe.


Vegan Banana Bread/(cake)
...................................
4 ripe bananas
2 cups whole wheat pastry flour (I used regular whole wheat flour)
1-1/2 tsp baking soda
I cup chopped walnuts (I didn't use)
1 cup maple syrup
1/3 cup applesauce (I used natural applesauce- no sugar)
1/4 cup water
1 tsp vanilla extract

Preheat oven to 350*. Mix flour and baking soda in a bowl. In a large bowl, beat maple syrup and applesauce together. Add bananas and mash them. Stir in water and vanilla, mix thoroughly. Add flour mixture and nuts and stir to mix. Spread in a non stick 9" square baking pan (I greased the pan with butter..and also, I only made a half size of the recipe and put it in a loaf pan- worked well). Bake for 45- 50 min, or until a toothpick inserted comes out clean.

Let me know if you make it and how it turns out :)

vita-(no)meata-vegamin

I think it is because it is the end of summer and we have been bad- too many ice cream cones, too many fast food trips,.... too much. So when I picked up a free book at the homeschool store about the RAVE diet, I was intrigued (you know trying different diets is my hobby, right?!)

Anyway, I want to tell you about the fun meals we have had this last week.

Basically the RAVE diet is no:
Refined food
Animal food
Vegetable oils
(no) Exceptions

I am using recipes from the book- which we have loved. I am not against eating meat and dairy (as a moral issue), but I have been eating pretty much a vegan diet for a week, and like it!

Dave and the kids have been eating the same as always for breakfast and lunch; and then I have made an entirely vegetarian supper most nights (can't say vegan because I have let them have cheese and butter). My goal is to make this as appealing and filling and yummy to them....so far it has been a hit!


The favorite so far has been the banana bread. Made with whole wheat flour, maple syrup, applesauce, and bananas- this stuff was super moist and wonderful! A definite keeper. The chowder was good too.







Supper #2...pretty good. Dave loved the beans...the kids were not huge fans of the antipasto mainly because the rice vinegar is not their favorite. But I could make this with a different sauce.



The kids have enjoyed looking at the menu and knowing what will be for supper. Saves me from telling everyone what we were having a million times :)



Supper time is such an important time for us as a family. Bring back the family supper every night, I say!

That is my soapbox :)






The sweet potato fries look disgusting! But they were good- baked with cinnamon.

I am just blown away with how positive this week has been!!!! I have always wanted to try this healthy eating thing- but was so sure that it would be torturous! It really made me focus on veggies/fruits/grains and how to get as much of that as we could for the same budget that we have been on for food. It is totally doable! And Dave and the kids enjoyed it much more than I thought they would.

Dave gave the meals and overall experience an A-

I feel like I could conquer the world :)

video games + our kids

I read a good article today. About technology and the balance of it in our lives.As I was talking to some friends the other day it seemed we all agreed that video games have been a frustration to us as moms. One mom said that her kids were not even allowed to be on the wii because of their fighting when they play (same thing happens at my house- drives me crazy, lately I have said- one person on the wii and everyone else out of that room!! Whatever happened to, "the wii will be nice because we can all play happily together!?) Another mom said she wishes they had never gotten the xbox.

What I loved about the article I mentioned above is the light he sheds on our hypocrisy as parents and how we use technology. All I can say is that things have been out of whack around here. And we do have a very strict time limit. Some days each kid gets 30 min of video games- some days a little longer- more often than not, lately, it's none at all because of the whining and greediness and fighting that seems to go right along with the "fun and games."

I think we do use technology as a babysitter of sorts. I think I need to [as a mom] take more control of the day- sometimes I think that they need to creatively decide what to do all day and they better make good choices! But at ages 10, 8, and 5; my kids need guidance and help. My kids need to be told to go outside and play. They need to be told to read, they need to be told to play a game with their little sister, and write a letter to a grandparent, and weed the garden. They need this help in their lives! For goodness sake, I need this help in my life! Can someone please tell me what to do?! Just kidding, but really, they are not adults yet, and when they grow up, I want them to be responsible and spend their "free" time productively- not just playing video games!!!!!

I know part of the angst I am feeling is because we are winding down from summer vacay- they are bored and need to be challenged and need to get their muscles (and brain) back into gear.

How do you balance technology in your home? How old are your kids? I know that when our kids get older, things will just get more complicated. I would love to hear how you manage these things in your home.

**Bottom line- we are here on this earth to glorify our Great God who made us and loves us- what are we doing to accomplish that when we let our kids stare at a screen all day?! (or when we stare at a screen all day?! :))

waffle/pancake fun

I saw this on pinterest and isn't it the cutest idea? Watermelon waffles. ((with chocolate chip 'seeds')). I will show you the inspiration photo (but at the end and far away from my version- cuz hers is much cuter :)


pink waffles....when we ran out of green


This picture just pops in randomly to say Hi. Hello Pen-guin and stramberry (like I have said- she's hom-skooled)




I got this idea from the watermelon waffle post- put your pancake or waffle batter in these squeeze bottles. I cut the tops to make the holes bigger- and the possibilities are endless!




I like it..

Source: michellesjournalcorner.blogspot.com via Sara on Pinterest

Here's something I would love to make- and with the squeeze bottles (and some practice :) I may be able to- come spring!

Source: the-wilson-world.blogspot.com via Sara on Pinterest

And finally- the inspiration photo- sigh- someday I will make a waffle worthy of a pinterest pin....such as these beautiful watermelon-ffles.

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On another note- welcome to you new readers. Thanks for visiting here at the art*house! I love you all; old and new readers alike. It was good to hear from you. ThAnKs so much for the notes and comments about my (our) dollhouse and our (my) schoolroom! I luv your feedback :)

dollhouse update

The bathroom is coming right along. Fabric patches glue gunned up for window treatments- ric rac glued on top. The mirror was the cover to a candle.


Rug and wall and window treatments done in here! (it's a dining room today- but has been used as a school room and...garage), I used the liquid starch to affix the rug and wall covering. I love this technique- you just paint the liquid starch on the wall- smooth on the fabric, add another coat of the starch- voila! A beautiful non-permanent covering.


The red + green room. I glued on a piece of paper doily first, then glued on the fabric for curtains. Tied back with ric rac.


Landscaping, check


Window boxes, check



We forgot to paint this side of the house a wheat color like the other side...but none of the homeowners seem to notice.


Notice the yellow room (how could you miss it?). You will be proud of me- I let my girl (the true owner of the dollhouse) pick the color and paint it herself.



She did good :) She got paint in her hair, paint on her arms...paint on her ear.........paint on the carpet....



See the precious enamelware pitcher and cups I found at an antique store for a dollar!!??!!? CUTE! *We love them :)


I see this picture and I have to take a deep breath and be OK with Spider Man who has invaded the playroom..


We are having fun :)

Linking to Beyond the Picket Fence.