Learning activities

Coupons, ads, catalogs and magazines can be used as learning tools.

When our children were growing up we were always looking for fun ways to help them learn. Educational materials can be expensive to buy but there are other materials that work just as well.

Sometimes simple things like magazines, catalogs, the ad papers and coupon pages that come in the newspaper can be good learning tools. First the magazines can be used for making collages for art projects and finding recipes to make meals or snacks. When children help pick out recipes they are more likely to want to help prepare the food and more likely to eat it.

Magazines are also a good resource to use when making cards for special occasions. With Valentine’s Day coming up a card with a large “I,” a picture of a heart and a large letter “U” can say I love you. Other pictures, letters and words can be used to make other messages to give to a loved one or friend. Grandmas and moms would find a card full of flower pictures very special. We think handmade cards are more special than store bought because it shows that someone took the time and thought to make them.

The coupon pages are good for children to learn many skills. First they can learn to cut straight lines when cutting out the coupons. Second they can sort them by category such as snacks, cereals, soap, toothpaste, shampoo, lotions and so on. Then sort them by expiration date starting with the shortest to the longest, so they can practice putting things in sequence.

When making out a shopping list the children can look through the sorted coupons to find ones that match the items on the list. Next they can look through the store ads and find which items on the list are on sale, at what stores and which one has the best prices. All these activities help them learn plus they can feel they are being helpful.

For children learning their alphabet, have them cut out pictures that start with each letter. They can print out the alphabet, one letter per sheet of paper and glue the pictures that start with that letter on them. Those that are learning phonetic sounds can write those sounds on individual sheets of paper and then find pictures that start with those sounds.

Older children that are learning to spell can look for pictures that match the words on their spelling lists. Also cutting out letters and pasting them in the correct order to spell the words is a fun way to help memorize their list.

When the children are done making pages of pictures to match the alphabet, phonics sounds or spelling their words they can be sent or given to grandmas and grandpas. They always like to see what the children are doing.

All these activities are good things to do indoors on rainy days like we have been having. Our favorite is finding a recipe that requires baking. That way the house gets warmed up as well.

Household orgnization

Binder and supplies to create an organization binder.

Organization is one thing some resolve to do better on in the New Year. We are beginning a household organization binder to help us keep better organized.

The important thing is to gather household information in one place so that we do not need to go on a search every time we need a bit of info. Others may use files and some people keep this kind of thing on their computers.

Sections in the binder can be for a calendar, meal and recipe ideas, party ideas, holiday section, projects and to do lists. We use notebook paper to write ideas on and clear plastic pockets to keep clippings of recipes, pictures and other hints in. To separate the sections we use dividers with tabs that say what is in each section.

The calendar section is to keep track of birthdays, anniversaries and other dates that are special. Also notes of ideas for gifts for each occasion. Gifts purchased in advance can be listed in this section as a quick reminder of what is on hand.

The meal and recipe section can include daily meal planning as well as new recipes that we might want to try at a later date. If meals, desserts, breads, fruits or vegetables are prepared ahead and stored in the freezer, a list of what is in the freezer is good to have. That way stored food will be easy to remember and not be forgotten about. A list of canned items on hand is also nice to have.

A party idea section can include menus, decorations, games and other activities to try at a future event. We also list possible themes to use to center all the plans on for specific parties. Then under each theme is a list of food, decorations and activities we could do for each one.

The holiday section is where we keep track of things we have tried in the past with comments on how well we though they turned out as well as ideas to try for the future. Also gift ideas for friends and relatives are good to list in this section. A list of gifts purchased in advance and for who is nice to have as a reminder of what is already done. To not repeat the same type of gift a list of what was given and to whom is a good idea.

Projects and the to do list section is to help keep track of projects already under way and what steps are needed to complete them. Also new ideas of things we might want to do in the future and what items we need to have to do them. Types of projects might include home improvement ideas, gardening ideas or craft ideas.

Each section can include pictures, diagrams and any details that might help with future plans. Just jotting down thoughts and ideas ahead of time can be helpful. An event can sneak up on us but these things can give us a jump start.

Organization and preplanning not only helps with ideas but with the budget as well. If there is a plan and even some items purchased in advance it can save not only time but money. Last minute purchases tend to cost us more than when we shop at sales or can make something ourselves instead of purchasing ready made items.
Saving time and money are both things that make our lives go smoother for us.

Storm damage

Fallen oak tree took out power lines, dog run and goat barn with two goats inside.

We are hoping by the time this column is published we will have our electric back. The storm last Friday broke the top out of an oak tree next to our house that took two more limbs off the tree as it came down, all of them landing on the power lines and our dog run and goat barn.

There were two goats in the barn at the time and we thought they were goners. Everything except for part of one wall was flat under the fallen tree parts.

First we called 911 as the warnings we have heard say if we had downed power lines to call them first. They patched us through to the California Department of Forestry. The CDF person said if there was no arcing and sparking they would not come out.

So we went to take a closer look. If CDF was not concerned we decided to find out if the goats survived. By then one had made it out on its own. The other we had to remove some of the debris to find. It appeared unhurt so we got it out and put both goats in with our other goats their fenced area.

After checking all our other animals we set about hooking up our generator. We know automatically that we will be on the bottom of the repair list for Pacific Gas and Electric. It only took two days to get us placed on the repair list with no estimated time of repair in sight!

Even though we are only three to four miles from the edge of town, we might as well be 100 miles when it comes to emergency or repair services. If we can not take care of something ourselves it most likely will not be taken care of.

Equipment we have found that is essential to have ready at all times include: generator, backhoe, chainsaws and fire extinguishers. Extra supplies we keep on hand are: gasoline, diesel, flashlights, batteries, first aid kit, water and food. The only things we have run short of are fresh bread and hot showers.

Our generator is not big enough to run our stove and oven so baking is something we have to do without. We do all our cooking on top of our wood stove. It takes longer but it works. Also the hot water heater is too big for our generator to run. We have to heat all water on the wood stove.

Cleanup and repairs are still ongoing. We have cleared the access road along the power line so that when the repair crew finally arrives they can reach the power poles. The limbs directly on the dog run and goat barn will have to wait a few more days. We built another temporary dog kennel to make due until the other can be rebuilt.

Other storm damage we still have to get to is replacing shingles on our garage and carport; cleaning up broken limbs in the walnut orchard, then repair the and clean up all equipment to make it ready for next time.

We thought five days was a long time to be out of power in 1995. This time we have passed that. For all the improvements for quicker responses we hear about we sure do not see it. Even the times there are no storms to blame, response time has proven slow.

Update: Late on day six PG&E workers pieced the wires back together. There are many splices but the power is back on.

Plant stands

Plant stands: before and after views of upgrade.

A few years ago we made some simple plant stands out of two by two and one by 12 lumber. They were about 28 inches tall and 12 inches wide by 18 inches long, painted white. As plant stands they worked just fine. But recently we were looking at some internet sites that featured furniture and saw some small tables that were similar but much fancier. It seemed to us that we could rework our existing tables by adding some features and details to look about like the ones we saw on the internet.

So we went to the home building supply and got a sheet of three fourths–inch plywood that was sanded for appearance, a sheet of eighth-inch hardboard, some eight-foot pieces of one by four lumber and several lengths of plain molding. Also, we wanted the stone look so we got a few boxes of slate tiles (which happened to be on sale at the time) to install on the top of the finished stands.

We had to sand the tables on all sides first, as that was not done when they were originally put together. Some of the stock was quite rough and required substantial sanding to get to a smooth appearance.

Next we made a 20 by 14 inch base for the table out of the plywood. Around that we added the one by four lumber, and put the molding around that. The corners are all mitered so no end grain shows.

Around the top we applied two layers of the hardboard to get a scalloped look. The inside layer is raised about fourth-inch above the level of the table to make a place for the slate to be fitted later.

After all assembly was done and everything sanded and nail holes filled, we painted it a high gloss white overall, except where the slate was to be installed. The last thing was putting the slate on.

The slate tile is 11 3/4-inchs square so that left about three and one-half inches of table on either side. We decided to use some flat round rocks and bought some flat glass beads that were about one inch long and applied them with tile adhesive to the table. After grouting around the slate tile and the rocks, the table was finished.

Now it is nice enough to be an attractive end table or it can still be used as a plant stand. We have done several projects like this over the years. This way we get something that custom fits our needs.

Sometimes they seem a little difficult at first and require some figuring out, but we can usually come up with something useful and at a substantial savings over buying readymade. Once in a while we will have to buy a tool in order to be able to complete a project and that always adds to the cost. But then we are all set the next time we do a similar project.