Halloween Themed Lessons

Since it is October and I really want my kids to have hands on experiences to help solidify what they are learning, I did some research on things. I found music that evokes all things Halloween, starting with Mussorgsky (Night on Bald Mountain). Books or Literature (Bram Stoker and Mary Shelley's works and an older one from Washington Irving) and Haiku poetry or poetry in general. Science experiments from YouTube and just things to do in general. Math is fun project...the original project called for kids to measure the auditorium or gymnasium and create a haunted house. The kids had to measure the room and figure out the cost for what they wanted to create. My change (remember I homeschool) is for the girls to measure the front yard, driveway and side yard and figure out what they want to create and how much it will cost. They spent a good deal of time outside measuring and discussing what they want to create. I did put one caveat on their plans....no scaring little kids. Geography is studying places that are known for being scary, like Transylvania, Romania.

This is going to be such a fun month...I am saving Christmas things to make (we are decorating using yarn) and making gifts (using yarn and sewing techniques) and we are making our own Halloween Decorations. What makes you happy? I know that crafting makes me happy and finding something that makes the girls work, makes them happy and they work without realizing that they are learning! Education should be fun and that is what I am trying for. I want to find something that sparks them and gets them running on the work.

Afghans:
Rustic Panels Afghan
Crocodile Flower Afghan
Crocodile Stitch Afghan
Stadium Blanket
Alaskan Blue Tunisian Throw
Square Diamond Throw
Spiral Afghan - Very interesting look.
Irish Shamrocks Afghan
Bavarian Rainbow Afghan
Swedish Countryside Afghan

Animals:
Crochet Cat Bed - I have cats....4 of them. They like my yarn, so this could be fun to make.

Bags:
Candy Bag - this is listed as an Easter Bag, but it could be made for Halloween as a party favor (change colors) or Christmas even.
Errands Bag
Hobo Bag

Christmas/Winter:
Crocodile Stitch Christmas Tree

Cowls/Scarves:
Anthophila Knit Scarf
French Inspired Cowl
How To Infinity Scarf
Magentalicious Cowl
Breezy Night Sky Scarf
Rainbow Mood Scarf - can be a lot of fun.
Papagena Scarf - this is such a beautiful scarf. I may have to make a few of these for my girls.
Crocodile Cowl
Subway Scarf
One Skein Asymmetry Scarf
Arrowhead Lace Cowl
Itanos Summer Scarf
Neon Dreams Infinity Scarf - This was nicknamed the Willy Wonka Cowl by all free crochet. This pattern is free and found on Moogly Blog. It is really pretty and if done in these colors could really be something Willy Wonka would definitely love.

Flowers:
Crocodile Stitch Flower

Gloves/Mittens:
Oyster Mittens
Blooming Berry Baby Mittens - girl babies.

Halloween/Fall:
Skull Scarf

Hats/Headbands:
Pink Ski Hat - colorwork as there is other colors in it.
Slouchy Horseshoe Cable Hat
Basic Crochet Beanie
Blue Green Boy Striped Hat
Simple Slouch Hat

How To/Tutorial:
Bavarian Rectangle
Bavarian Square

Kitchen/Dishcloths/Hotpads:
School of Fish Scrubby - I don't know if this will work for you, but I got the pattern from Red Heart Free Patterns
Knit Scrubby Washcloth - very simple, using the new Scrubby yarn.
Twist Stitch Diamond Dish Cloth - free Ravelry download
Doily Style Dishcloth - very interesting look....may be fun to make a few.
Water Lily Dishcloth
The Crazy Dishcloth
Crochet Angel Dishcloth
Sun Catcher Dishcloth

Shawls/Wraps:
Batwing Shawl
Kristin Shawl
Prism Shawl - this is a free pattern on Ravelry. I learned some time ago, that if you put a free pattern that you like into your "library" it will always be available to you, even updates to the pattern.
Sapphire Shawlette
Greek Revival Shawl - I had to use the wayback machine to find this link and have it pull up, but is so worth the look and print. It is beautiful!

Socks/Slippers/Booties:
Crocodile Stitch Baby Booties
Hybrid Slipper Socks
Striped Baby Booties
Lemon Lime Baby Booties
Creta Lace Socks - nice looking socks....think one of the girls might like them.
Circus Striped Socks
Peppermintoes - this is a very interesting style of sock.
Slipper Socks
Lace Socks

Tuesday, A Day to Go Out, Wednesday, A Day to Remember a Life Well Lived

Today, is another warm winter day. I need to refill bird feeders and I really want to go somewhere. After that week of illness, I just want to get out and do something. I know that tonight I will finish working on my emails and try to get it down another 50 emails. (My goal, lower by 50 every other day or daily). I also need to get some things off my FB page, too. It has been awhile since I cleared it off. I think it partially has to do with my just wanting to do other things. I do see a light at the end of the tunnel. I will try and get a few more of my mother's recipes on to her blog page. I know that my one sister has marked that she is following it. That is good. I know that my brother has been looking at the page, too. He wants some recipes to make for our father. Lent is also on the way. Soon we will see the old men eating fish on Friday and Ash Wednesday. I do enjoy the fish fry at the nearby church. So does my husband. We end up meeting up with friends and just enjoying the company. I hope that my dad and father-in-law go to a few during the season as they will enjoy it as well.

Last night, we had a pretty good storm blowing around outside (Tuesday night) and since my house has been hit by lightning twice in the past, I turn off the computer and the internet, etc and just read books. I just finished reading "Elvis and the Memphis Mambo Murders" by Peggy Webb. This is a Southern Cousins Mystery. I have yet to read the first book in the group, but I have read 2 of the other books by her in the series and I just have a little trouble with Callie being wishy washy about how she feels about her husband (who she says she wants to divorce but still hasn't). Too much time is spent on how she feels about her husband and how she loves him and how he is good for her, but at the same time she wants children and he doesn't and this is the impasse that they have reached.

Tonight, I will be going to a funeral home for the visitation of the husband of a friend of my mom's. I grew up with their children and have known them all my life. He lived a good life and has been a good husband to her and good father to their children. He has been a good friend to my parents and while she was unable to come to my mom's funeral, he did make an appearance. He will be missed.

Knitting Time Calculator for those people who think my time is worthless. A way to figure out what I made is worth.

Homeschool - Using Netflix lists of shows and age groups and classes.
Homeschool - Explore Science with Food

Homeschool - Smithsonian - Virtual Tour for those days where you want to go to a museum and getting there is not an option.

Saint - Brigid Resources

Pattern - Afghan - Andante Crochet Throw
Pattern - Afghan - Snow Queen
Pattern - Afghan - Round Stained Glass
Pattern - Aghan - Juicy Fruit
Pattern - Afghan - Arrowhead Lace Knit Throw
Pattern - Afghan - Warm Stripes Throw
Pattern - Afghan -Peppermint Candy Afghan
Pattern - Afghan - Mitred Squares
Pattern - Afghan - Shades of Sunset
Pattern - Bags - Desert Sunset Tote
Pattern - Bags - Dynamite Market Bag
Pattern - Bags - Plarn Market Bags - Plarn is yarn made out of plastic bags. Plarn also makes good seat covers for sporting events and ground covers for campers or for homeless.
Pattern - Bags - Wicked Lime Green Backpack
Pattern - Bags - Dollhouse Purse Great bag for a young girl.
Pattern - Bags - Mesh Knit Market Bag
Pattern - Basket - Cotton Crochet
Pattern - Dishcloth - Cherry
Pattern - Dishcloth - Pink Grapefruit
Pattern - Dishcloth - Buttery Sunshine
Pattern - Gloves - Fingerless
Pattern - Hats - Textured Turban
Pattern - Hats - Winter Cable Hat
Pattern - Hats - Crochet Crowd Houndstooth Tutorial
Pattern - Hats - Crochet Crowd Crystal Ice Tutorial
Pattern - Hats - Sunset Slouchy
Pattern - Hats - Airy Avalon Slouchy
Pattern - Hats - Breath of Spring
Pattern - Hats - Modern Knit Beanie
Pattern - Hats - Mighty Warrior scrap hat for child/boy
Pattern - Hats - Cladach Hat
Pattern - Hotpad - Flower
Pattern - Hotpad - Dutch Skies
Pattern - Hotpad - Stir Me Up Potholder free Ravelry download
Pattern - Kitchen - Dish Scrubber with tutorial
Pattern - Kitchen - Spring Cleaning Scrubber
Pattern - Kitchen - Tiny Flower Scrubber
Pattern - Links to Amigurumi
Pattern - Scarf - Lovely Leaf Lace
Pattern - Scarf - Easy Leaves Lace Scarf
Patterns - Scarf - Candle Flame
Pattern - Shawl - Sport Shawl
Pattern- Shawl - Ocean Front
Pattern - Shawl - Escapist
Pattern - Shawl - Perfectly Elegant
Pattern - Shawl - Comfort Hug Prayer Shawl
Pattern - Slippers - Orange and Blue
Pattern - Slippers - Flower
Pattern - Slippers - Crochet
Pattern - Socks - Crochet Shell Socks

Facebook and Email Cleaning

Well, I have spent a good deal of time cleaning off my email and have ignored the patterns and homeschooling links on my Facebook page. Yeah, I know that you can save things on Facebook, but when I tried to find them later, they weren't available. So, I started moving them here. Much easier to find and put into some kind of order. I hope that this helps anyone looking for patterns. I know that it has helped me. I am finding patterns that I had wanted to make (why I had saved so many of the old emails) and why my email filled up so quickly.

Cooking - 33 - 3 ingredient Slow Cooker Meals

Homeschooling: Music: Carrot Clarinet
Homeschooling: Science: Bone Anatomy
Homeschooling: Science: Fair Ideas
Homeschooling: Science: Rock Candy
Homeschooling: Note Taking: Study Tips
Homeschooling: Science: Drinking Water
Homeschooling: English: Worksheets

Afghans - Temperature Afghan
Afghans: CAL: Groovyghan
Afghans - Peppermint Candy

Amigurumi - Blue Kitty

Gloves - Colorful Texting Gloves

Halloween - Scary Muffins
Halloween - Bug Infested Bowl
Halloween - Dog - Blooming Dog
Halloween - Candy Corn Banner

Kindle - Cover from Sock Yarn

Mittens - Maplewood
Mittens - Norwegian
Mittens - Zig Zag
Mittens - Broadstreet
Mittens - Sweetheart
Mittens - Skeleton

Scarf - Arrowhead Lace and Cable
Scarf - Rio - looks like it uses the crocodile stitch.

Shawl - Rainbow Afternoon

Socks - Staggered Stripe

Toys - Woodins
Toys - Grass
Toys - Perching Pigeons

TED Talks - What Makes You Happy? This is very important....you are responsible for your own happiness! But here are some talks on Happiness.

August Already! 2015

Wow! It is already August! Time flew this summer. We have had a lot of rain. A lot of rain. The summer was cooler most of the time. We have had some hot days. I made the girls start school again over the summer and I am still waiting for the paperwork from the school district. We will be traditionally homeschooling this year. I have borrowed books from the library, I have bought some books from bookstores and other places, I have internet sites chosen. I have also bought some books for Kindles for school. The girls are excited about traditional, but at the same time they are thinking they can have an easier school year. Guess they don't know their old mother. But today, is going to be an easy day and I need to remove all the links from my FB page again.

Patterns:
Toothfairy Doll
Friendly Snake
Christmas Penguins
Christmas Socks
Back to School Crochet
Crochet Christmas Village
Gryffindor Hat
Helix Mitts
Cupcake Celebration Square
Crochet Toys for Baby - from Moogly Blog

Recipes:
Reese's Nutter Butter Cookie Truffles
Glazed Rum Cookies - Okay, I don't drink that much alcohol, so I have a large bottle of rum (a gift) and would like to try something like this.
Soft Glazed Pumpkin Sugar Cookies
Deep Fried Lasagna Rolls - one of my daughters would love this for a meal.
Peanut Butter Cheesecake
Slow Cooker Lasagna
Pumpkin Cream Cheese Bread
Easy No Yeast Dinner Rolls
Panera Copycat Broccoli Cheddar Soup
I Want to Marry You Cookies
French Toast Bake
Harry Potter Inspired Recipes

Homeschooling:
Inspiring Resources
Print Your Own Grammar Book
Freshman Reading Skills
US Maps for printing
Free Gradebook and Record Keeping
Charlotte's Web Reading Questions
Freshman Algebra
High School: Math, Statistics, Physics, Chemistry - Actually, this is way more than what I listed. Some are free and can be read online, others cost. This is a definite check out.
Free Basic Advanced Math
Vatican Library
Time Machine Questions
The Hound of the Baskervilles Questions

Science (yeah, I know it falls under Homeschooling, but at same time, I want to find it):
Free High School Biology Book
Rock Candy Edible Geode
35 Science Experiments
Speed of Light Experiment
Middle School Chemistry

Other things:
I took my daughter to a class where she could learn some tips to help her take more and better pictures. This is the website for the man who taught the class. He did a great job.
Ed's Pictures
This site is called Godly Woman and they put up verses to read every day for a month, the calendar changes monthly. It is a great resource.

Coloring Pages:
Adult Coloring Pages

Fun Chemistry Links

Epic Chemistry Teacher
Magical Science Experiments
Awesome Chemical Reactions



Physicists Zap a Semiconductor