Short O and U Word Family Posters

 

Hi yall!

I feel like I need to catch up. How is every one's school year going?

Are you keeping pace? Falling behind? Feel like each day is an adventure?

I sure do!

If you are like me, you're still new and trying to figure out what works best for your child/student.

I have learned my daughter is a visual learner. She likes the songs, games, and posters! Big, flashy, grab your attention kind of things!

That means part of my job is to find lots of colorful worksheets, youtube videos that go with her lesson, and to find, er...create lots of great posters and flashcards to keep her engaged.

Canva is a great resource for making semi-easy material.

Each time I use it, I find a new way to enhance my project. It really is neat.

Here are the latest two short vowel posters I have made.

Short O Word Family Poster

Short U Word Family Poster

If you'd like to purchase the whole short vowel family as a bundle, you can and save!

Vowels A,E,I,O,U Bundle and Save

This week we are focusing on money, coins, and the silent E.

I am super excited to get to work on more material!

Make sure to keep checking back for more great resources!

Happy Teaching!

Short I Word Families ~ Classroom Poster/Decor

 Happy Tuesday!

I know for me this week is creeping by! I was not ready for the weather change. 

I always try to drag out and hold on to summer as long as possible. We try to fill up every day with fun activities and enjoy the sunny days.

Although we all have to stop and work, I try to make that fun too.

Even in the classroom. My "work" this week consisted of working on a Fall lesson and getting another word family poster made up. We've moved on to the short I words.

My daughter actually did super well with short E words so we moved ahead quicker than I had planned.

I guess I need to catch up with her and get these posters done!

I now have available over on TeacherspayTeachers, three of the word family posters.

Short A, E, and now I families.

Short A Words Poster 

Short E Words Poster

Short I Words Poster

More to come! Keep watching and check out the other items available in my "shop" to download.

Happy Teaching!

Short E Word Families ~Poster/Classroom Decor

 

Hello,

It's been a busy week already, and it's only Tuesday!

I seriously am loving working with CANVA

There are so many fun ways to make up great classroom posters and wall decor!

Everything is so easy to customize. I am super excited to start decorating our "classroom" once we get moved.

I am still working on getting all the short vowel word family posters made up and decorated for our room.

If you missed our first set of 6 posters(Short A Word family), jump over here to download your posters.

Short A Word Family

Click the following link to get your copy of Short E Word Family Posters

This is a 3-page packet that focuses on 

-ed, -et, -and -en word families

I hope you enjoy them.

I'd love to see them displayed and be sure to comment anything your classroom is missing.

I'd love inspirations!

Short A Word Families~ Posters/Classroom Decor

 Good Morning Y'all!

I have been burning up my computer searching, learning, and making resources for homeschooling!

The internet truly is amazing! How did we survive without it?

How in the world did all those mommas teach the simplest lessons without all the amazing, at your fingertips resources we so easily take for granted?

I struggle daily to figure out where to begin!

What is the fastest, easiest, and most cost-efficient way to fill my child's brain with knowledge?

I know we could all use any help we can get.

I am still amazed at how fast I caught on to using CANVA

It really is a great tool. I can totally customize pretty much anything I need.

Worksheets, posters, schedule templates, teacher notes, diagrams...

The list could be endless. (I'm still working on it) and finding new ways to use it!

I wanted to share my latest creation with all of you!

These were super fun to make and as soon as the first page came spitting out of the printer, my daughter grabbed it up and commented on the fun pictures and began reading the words aloud!

This is a 6 pack that you can download and print right at home! I have done the work for you!

Short A Word Families

Click Link to Find ALL 6 Pages

I hope you will take a look around my little shop and keep checking back for more!

"I can write my name" Printable Lined Paper for beginner writers

 

Hello, 

Wow! I cannot believe we are already into September!

I know this year has been a trial for all of us. Our littles included.

How are yours changing the way they are learning?

I know we have made a ton of changes around here.

If you've been following me for a while, you know that we did a year of preschool homeschooling back in 2017 and 18.

It was definitely a learning experience for us both.

I can say that I learned so much about schedules, techniques, and found so many wonderful free resources!

There are thousands of moms, educators, and child care workers who put in so many, so many hours of work. All so that people like us have easy access to materials for us to provide an education for our children at home.

We decided to go ahead with a traditional public school for kindergarten.

She did really well learning so much. She learned all the important basics for her age and grade level. I am forever grateful to her teacher.

I honestly didn't realize how much she had actually absorbed into that little brain until I started homeschooling her again going into first grade.

This kid is amazing! I may be biased.

I wanted to jump in and give a tiny bit of help to all these mommas out there searching for help. I finally found a free program that I can manage to navigate.

I have been using CANVA

It has a free version and also a paid premium one.

I admit I haven't upgraded my account yet, but with all the amazing choices to work within designing so much, I'm sure I will make the change soon. I admittedly am not at all tech-savvy so it took me a bit to figure some things out.

They actually added a whole section for "school templates" which has made it so much easier!

Here are a few FREE printables I made.

These are easily converted from png to jpeg for printing.

Please take these freebies and keep following. I am hoping to get more printable made up and posted.

I made these easy for the kindergarten level just playing around. Now, I am excited to move on and make up a few first-grade worksheets.

Stay tuned!

Rhode Island Reds

Let's talk chickens!

Specifically, let's talk about the glorious Rhode Island Reds(RIR).

I will start by saying that I am completely biased toward these beautiful girls(in my case).

Although the roosters can be gorgeous!

I have always been drawn to their beauty and have wanted to get my own for years.

I did all my research.

The things I needed to consider for my breed of choice ended up being a relatively short list but very important.

1. I absolutely had to have a breed that is kid-friendly, docile, and wouldn't have me running scared away from the coop door!

RIRs are known to be just that. Docile with huge personalities. Each one is different. I have four and they are everything from timid, flighty, comical, sassy, to big babies.

2. I wanted a bird that wouldn't be sick more than it was healthy. Since these would be my first chickens, I wanted something I wasn't going to be spending thousands on in vet bills or more trying to put myself through veterinarian school specializing in avian-ology(is that a thing?)

RIRs are known as an A+ health breed. Most live completely healthy lives without any issues. 

Of course, that means that they have a safe, clean, and adequate living space.

Their life span is 7-8 years!

3. EGGS!

Yes, I wanted eggs. and, lots of them!

Again, with it being my first go at this, I do not intend to use them as meat birds.

Although they are categorized as dual purpose. Tri-purpose if you consider eggs, meat, pets.

4. Weather hardy

We live in Ohio.

We have hot, humid summers and can get frigid winters.

I chose chooks that could live healthily without me having to redesign their coop with the changing seasons.

RIRs do well in both climates. Their large combs help them release heat in the hot months, while their size helps them maintain their body heat in cold months.

5. I wanted pretty birds!

I admit I was drawn to these chickens first by their appearance. They are gorgeous!

They can come in a variety of "reds". Everything from a light rust color to the deep mahogany.

I have four, from the same hatchery. All hatched on the same day and I can tell them apart just by their feathers and coloring.

These were my top 5 reasons I chose the Rhode Island Reds.

They are only about 4 months old and no eggs just quite yet, but I am so pleased with them and definitely will add more when space permits it.

Here are some facts to read up on.

Rhode Island Red

Purpose-Dual

Eggs- Large Brown

Production-200-280/year

Broody- not typical but can be

Weight- roosters 7.5lbs  hens 5.5lbs

Temperament-hens calm/docile  roosters can be aggressive

Life span-7-8 years

Class/Type- American/Large Fowl

Varieties-single or rose comb

Rarity-On Watch(less than 2,500 registered in the United States)

Here is a great article to get more information

Rhode Island Red information

You can also find a ton of products and even order your own chickens from Tractor Supply Company

I hope this information helps you decide if this breed is right for you.

I chose them and am 100% pleased. If you have any questions, just ask.

Now for their photoshoot! Enjoy!

Crochet Summer Tank Top

Crochet Summer Tank Top
(pattern link included)

Hey Y'all!

I hope everyone is enjoying their summer! As much as we can with COVID19 hovering over!

I'm not going to elaborate ANY on that subject. Let's just say, it was acknowledged and move on. Besides, this is a crochet post, right?

Right!

So, who is ready for this super fun and easy project?

That is totally wearable!

I actually made this one a few months ago.

I just seemed to be busy doing the usual 1,000 other things and this post got pushed aside.

No worries.

Thanks to me visiting, revisiting, and re revisiting...(you get it), my amazing Pinterest board full of ideas and patterns I spotted this one and decided to get it posted!

Breann over @Hooked on Homemade Happiness has a ton of amazing crochet projects.

Great patterns and easy instructions.

All creds go to her!

I loved this pattern, but I wanted to do my own colors.

I decided not to label this post "Ombre" tank because:

1. Breann already claimed that

2. I didn't follow her color pattern

I think it still turned out pretty well and I love it.!

She has written out an easy to follow pattern in sizes S, M, and L

I used the size small pattern.

I am 5'0" and 115lbs.

Don't forget to jump over and let Breann know if you use this pattern.

I hope you enjoy!

Happy Crocheting!

Our Little Backyard Homestead

Welcome!

I have been wanting to write this post for a few years now.

So, I am just going to jump in and get it going. We'll figure out together where it will end!

Meet the family and our back story:

My husband and I have 3 daughters and now 1 granddaughter.

We have been married 23 years next month.

Our life together has been full of hopes, dreams, wishes, prayers, and so, so many blessings!

One of our dreams and goals is to have our own farm!

That isn't exactly an easy goal. It wasn't something either of us even talked about or considered when we first met. We didn't even know how badly we wanted it until about 10 years ago.

We come from completely different backgrounds.

 He was an Air Force brat, moving all over the country, on base, off base, in many different environments. He was the city kid, the jock. He also was raised to buy new. the newest, best, biggest.

Why fix it when you can just go get a new....whatever?(Except for cars)

I still haven't figured that one out. LOL

I was raised in the same house my entire life. I went to the same school up until 10th grade.

Although, I too was raised in the city, I came from the country(not the south) and YES, there is a difference!

I spend every summer in Kentucky. I was raised to save, reuse, recycle, and nothing goes to waste.

"Waste not, want not"~Darrell Halcomb

One thing my husband and I have learned is that we make an amazing team.

There is plenty of giving and taking.

We both have a great list of skills under our belts to actually make our dream lifestyle workable.

It has been a learning and growing process.

We don't have all the answers and we too are learning every day.

Jumping along...I'm not the novelist in the family.

Here we are today.

We are enjoying our "micro backyard homestead"

While we are hunting for our own home, we are using what we have.

We have a garden.

We have our chickens.

We are learning more about reusing materials we have and are actively preparing to can and preserve what we grow(and buy)

Hard work, education, budgeting, and faith are where we are right now.

For us, it is a huge step.

I'm not saying we are going to move off-grid or be super self-sufficient, but we are making our lives better for us.

It definitely is a family "business".

All hands on deck

We live with .16 acres!

That is point 1/6 of an acre

in the city(yea...that is a whole other post)

Our garden is roughly 15ft x8ft

We also have a lettuce bed/box for greens and salads

and tons of pots(or coffee cans) for herbs and extra plants

Our chicken coop and run is 8ft x 4ft and houses our 7 pullets

plus the "infirmary" that is a dog cage(2ft x4ft)

We have about 100 jars for canning in our cold cellar room, some full, some ready to be filled.

A few of our other skills include:

car mechanics

woodworking

carpentry

plumbing(learn as you go..I mean grow)

small electric

budgeting(extremely)

crochet

sewing

landscaping(not so much me)..I fear the weed eater like the plague!

cooking

candle making

and we can add Avian vet to our list of skills! LOL

ok, may be not yet.

We have some great kids who are privileged to join us on the adventures.

We do make them work hard!

We also let them play because your "homestead" should always be enjoyed!

So, whatever you choose to call it, homesteading, backyard gardening, micro-farming, living semi-off-grid

We love it!

We are continuing to grow and be blessed every day!

I hope you will keep visiting and enjoy in watching our adventures and our family grow!

Life Updates: A bit of everything

Hello,

Here I am yet again trying to figure out what to do with this blog!

I keep telling myself, this is the year I get serious about it. This time I will be more committed. This time I will set aside time solely to write and keep my posts updated. This time...

I will use those affiliate links

I will learn to make money from it

I will be more organized

I will start my weekly posts back up, and stick with it

I will share more

I will learn more...

The hard truth is, my life is still a series of chaotic events/days

Some days, I feel like I am spinning in circles.

Some days I have 10 projects, chores going at once

Some days, my mind is a blank or I forgot to edit pics

Some days the topic doesn't seem relevant.

I know, I know. I am all over the place.

So, if you are still reading...

Here are a few of our major events...that I had hoped to actually blog about in separate posts, all nice, neat and organized...

Maybe I will get there one day.

I tried doing the crochet "business" thing for awhile...

That kind of fizzled out due to warmer weather, COVID-19, and all the changes.

I honestly just kind of burnt myself out with it. I get super excited about a project, jump in head first, then immediately psych myself out, overthink everything and flop! Or atleast that's how I feel.

I am also trying to keep up with my reading challenge for the year. I am usually so dedicated to it. I really push myself. I started out with a goal of 125 books, that has been reduced to 100, since it is now the end of June and I am only on 25 books.

But, I have read some really good ones that I am hoping to blog review soon.

In December...I became a MEMAW!!!

True story! And THAT didn't even get a blog post!!!

What?!?!!?

IKR?

I told you I have no time or organization!

So our Saunter Rose was born December 14!

I am mind blown that she is almost 7 months old already!!!

She can almost sit up unassisted, she says momma and dadda, holds her own bottle and is obsessed with her feet!

So much cuteness!

I can't describe how it feels...

Such an amazing blessing, all kinds of new fears

Especially with all the world is going through at the moment!

I just pray every day, God, give us peace and strength. I don't know what any of our futures will be like. It is definitely a terrifying time to be alive.

I won't get into all the topics, but I will say, I wholeheartedly believe my God has a plan and my faith is in Him alone!

I will try my best to keep everyone updated...as much as I can.

Blessed be each of you!

P.S.

We got CHICKENS!!!

Stay tuned for those posts too!

Crochet Pretty in Pinks Cardigan

Crochet Child Cardigan

Hi Y'all!

This post is long coming. I have been so excited to learn and branch out with my crocheting abilities. Every new pattern is such an accomplishment!

I love that with crochet the possibilities truly are endless!

Every day is a new search and every project is a new achievement.

This pattern has been sitting in my file for some time and I honestly was a little intimidated to start it.

I kept going back over it. Rereading through it. Double checking the stitches, etc. I really had to work up the courage to follow through. My six year old daughter is a great motivator!

She just kept asking..."Mom, when are you going to make my sweater"?

(Patience my small one.)

The pattern is free from:

Courtney@CrochetingCrazy

The Mini Me Cardigan

She has done an amazing job writing this pattern out for even us...non professional crocheters!

Kudos to Courtney!

For mine, I used Bernat Pop in "Lipstick on My Collar" yarn

I am so excited about how this turned out!

My little has decided to call hers,

Pretty in Pinks. So, for this blog and my personal sweater only, that is the name.

I hope you enjoy this as much as we do.

The pattern really is simple. I should have made this long ago!

I used the pattern for size 6/8.

That way she will get to grow into her sweater.

Enjoy and Happy Crocheting!

Crocheted Reusable Swiffer Covers

Hey Y'all.
I wanted to get this post written and posted a month ago!
I have been super busy crocheting like crazy! Yes! Production!
Always a good thing!

I won't go into too much here. I wanted to focus this post on the incredible...
Crocheted.
Reusable.
Machine Washable!(I have used and washed mine 6 times already)
Amazing Swiffer Covers.
I have also seen them called "Swoofers" "Sweepers" and "Swifter" so how ever you search or choose to refer to them...THEY ARE AMAZING!

 Check out these before and after pics!

Here is the link to the fastest, and easiest pattern I have found:
Ravelry: Swoofer Pattern
There are several if you surf around the internet, but I like to live the "fast, simple, functional" life!
Be sure to share and link back.
I would love to see our pattern, product...and definitely before and after pics!
They really do work great!

Crochet Fabulous-ness!

Hey Y'all! I know I haven't been on here for-EVA!

Lots of life been happening.
I wanted to do a quick post to get back into the swing of things and get this running...again.

So, here is a few projects I have been doing and working on!
I love getting new ideas and inspirations!
Pinterest and Ravelry are 2 of my favorite places to find great new patterns.

Almost all of my yarn is purchased at either Walmart.com or Yarnspirations.com

I have enjoyed making all these things and so much more! Please comment and share. Always follow and invite friends. Please feel free to post pics of your own, send me ideas and make sure to tag
MY FACEBOOK PAGE
Thank you to everyone for supporting me and what I love doing! It is truly appreciated!