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.

Meal planning

Three books that can help in meal planning.

The New Year is just a few short days away. Many will be making New Year’s resolutions. They may include weight loss, better nutrition, getting more organized and sticking to a budget.

To help keep these resolutions we propose planning and making meals in advance. This will help achieve all the above goals and also will save time and make meal time something to look forward to.

With busy schedules families often run out of time to plan nutritional meals much less do it on a budget. There are cookbooks that have suggestions, recipes, menus, shopping lists and more that make this doable.

Cookbooks are tools to be used to make the job easier. There are three that we have used to help us come up with our own style that is a combination of methods they suggest.

“Once-a-Month Cooking” by Mimi Wilson and Mary Beth Lagerborg gives menus, shopping lists, recipes and instructions on how to prepare meals for two weeks or a month at a time. This method is best if there are two or more people working together. We have used this method and it is a lot of work up front but the reward comes when all we had to do was defrost and heat meals that were already assembled.

“Don’t Panic-Dinner’s in the Freezer” by Susie Martinez, Vanda Howell and Bonnie Garcia focuses on preparing one or two meals at one time in multiples of two, four or six. Each recipe in the book has the ingredients listed to make two, four or six meals at a time. Then after it is cooked it can be divided that many times and frozen. That way one meal can be used that day and the others will be ready when needed.

“The Cook It and Freeze It Book” by Margaret Deeds Murphy has information on how to package different types of food for freezer storage as well as recipes that can be made and frozen. It also gives suggested length each item can be stored in the freezer.

Most of the time we make double or triple the amount we need for a meal and freeze the extra meals. We also do things like make a big pot of beans or a big roast that can then be used to make several different recipes.

About a month before our walnut harvest time we push to do more of a once-a-month type plan where we can have enough meals to last us through harvest. That way when we come in from the orchard at night tired from the day’s work all we have to do is heat up dinner and eat.

This year we ran a little short of our desired goal. There was another alternative we decided to use. In Red Bluff there is now a business called “Dinner My Way.” They have all the ingredients needed for 14 different recipes all ready to be assembled. We ordered online the meals we wanted and made reservations to go in and assemble them. In about an hour we had the additional meal we needed put together and ready to freeze. Information about all they offer is available at dinnermyway.com.

Many families have children in sports and other after school activities. That along with both parents working can make it hard to prepare meals that are nutritional as well as meet the budget. Getting the entire family to participate in a meal preparation plan will make it possible to have meals that meat the nutrition and budget goals.

When one person of the family is to be the main one responsible for making the meals, the easiest way is to make multiple batches on one meal and then divide it to be frozen for later meals. A good plan is to work up to cooking only one meal a week and use previously made meals the rest of the week.

Do not be afraid to try different methods. After trying the different ones you will be able to customize a plan that works for your family. The goal should be to make meal planning less stressful.

Handmade Snowmen

Small and large handmade snowmen.

Christmas is almost here. Some are still scurrying around to find that last minute gift or decoration. We like to use homemade snowmen as decorations as well as gifts.

They are fast and easy to make. All are different and unique. They can be made in any size. The body is white fabric. Knit or stretchy fabrics are easier to work with.

Buttons, beads, pom-poms, fabric paint and fabric can be used to make the face. A strip of fabric can be used for the scarf. The hat can be made out of fabric that matches the scarf or even from the leg part of a wooly-winter sock.

Twigs or small branches from a tree can be added for arms. To finish add a few buttons on the front.

All items used to make the snowmen can be recycled from discarded clothing. For the snowman’s body a leg can be cut from an old pair of white pants. Or an old white t-shirt or sweat shirt will work as well. Besides fabric or an old sock for the hat, a sleeve from an old sweater will work just as well. The scarf can be cut from an old sweater or flannel shirt.

For the large snowmen pictured above we started with a 13 by 17-inch piece of stretchy fabric. Putting the right sides together we sewed the 13-inch side together forming a tube. Then we attached a six-inch circle for the bottom. After stuffing we ran a gathering stitch at the top and pulled it together to close the top.

The small snowman pictured above is made with a nine by 12-inch piece of white fake fur fabric and a four-inch circle at the bottom. It also has twigs for arms.

To make the hats we used knit fabric. We just measured around the head for width and estimated the amount needed for the height plus about an inch to fold at the bottom edge. The top of the hats are gathered together with a running stitch.

We stuffed our snowmen with polyester fiberfill but other things can be used for stuffing as well. Even dried beans or rice can be added at the bottom to make them stand up better.

Creativity comes from just trying different things. There is no right or wrong way to make a snowman.

These snowmen also make good last minute gifts. We have used them as exchange gifts, house warming gifts and as a hostess gift. To us a handmade gift is extra special.

Besides fabric snowmen we have ones made from wood and ceramic that we set out for the Christmas season. They are also a decoration that can be left out through January. We like to leave them out after other Christmas decorations are put away. That way the house doesn’t look so bare after Christmas.

Another gift idea is to give some of those jams, jellies and apple butter canned during the summer. It is still not too late to make apple butter for the holidays. We looked at easy crock pot recipes on the internet and found many. The following is one of 68 from cooks.com:

Put three quarts of apples, sliced thin, in a crock pot and cook overnight on high. Next morning add 2 teaspoons cinnamon, 3 cups sugar and 1/2 teaspoon cloves. Cook all day on low. Tastes like old-fashioned apple butter that is cooked in copper kettle.

You can use applesauce if you do not have time to prepare the apples. The crock pot makes it possible for apples to cook a long time without being stirred.

We welcome readers to share their homemade gift ideas.

Bread making

Animal shaped bread loaves.

During the winter we make almost all our bread. For one thing, it’s something productive to do when it is raining outside, and it serves to warm up the kitchen. Often we like to experiment with different kinds of bread. The same old kind every day gets to be boring for us.

Basic white is OK if you want something to make a sandwich with. But usually we like something with a little more pizzazz. There are books and books on making bread of which we own our fair share. They are interesting to read even if we do not use many recipes from them.

But this is the Neighbors column after all so we would like to share one of our favorite bread recipes. It is called Colonial Bread.

Ingredients for bread:

1 package yeast

3 1/2 cups flour, unbleached

1/3 cup yellow cornmeal

1 1/2 cups boiling water

1/3 cup molasses

1 teaspoon salt

1 tablespoon butter or margarine

Directions:

Place cornmeal into a bowl. Stir in boiling water, making sure there are no lumps. Let stand to cool for about 30 minutes. Stir in molasses, salt and butter. Place in mixer bowl and add yeast. Add flour until dough cleans the sides of the bowl. Let rise until double, then shape into loaf and let rise again. When doubled, bake in a 390 degree oven for 25 to 30 minutes. Bread is done when brown and sounds hollow if tapped. Recipe may be doubled to make two loaves.

Making bread is a great way to involve the children in household activities, cooking in particular. Sometimes we make the bread into animal shapes or other fun things, like braiding or tube loaves. Shaping bread to match a party theme is also fun. Children love anything out of the ordinary.

Making hamburger buns was a challenge until we ran across this tip a few years ago. Our problem was that the buns would rise so much they looked more like a tennis ball than a hamburger bun. The solution is to put a cookie sheet on top of them after shaping the buns and placing them on the baking pan. This helps to prevent them from rising too much. Remove the cookie sheet just before placing them in the oven to bake. That way when they bake, they raise some but not too much.

Once we were talking to some friends a few days after Thanksgiving. The discussion was regarding the use of turkey leftovers. Someone said that sourdough bread makes a great turkey sandwich. Our comment was that sourdough is great but is rather complicated to make compared to regular yeast bread. They looked at us like we were from another planet or something. But in reality, bread making is not very hard at all and the rewards of eating fresh-baked bread with melted butter make it all worth it.

Other favorites we make often are rye and French bread. Variety is the spice of life so try a different flavor of bread than the normal choice this week. We welcome everyone to share a favorite recipe.