Activities With Children

Sunday Night Tomato Sauce, originally uploaded by hobocampcrafts.

Yesterday’s plan was to do some laundry& screenprint Snuggle Bunny all while visiting my parent’s house. We visited ( I even ate some dark chocolate w/ a pretzel stick), we did our laundry ( a ton of little girl’s hand me down adorableness)- we even screenprinted 3 shirts, till our screen kinda went kaput! So we’re working on getting another S.B. along with a different design.

A stop to the market and we were back home. I made some delicious tomato sauce for dinner. It is a great thrill using your own herbs, I can only imagine if they were my tomatoes as well. I was able to freeze 3 containers for later use- which is what it is really all about, right?

Stomach issues still happening- wondering could it be soy? I have no idea!

This week there will be new coffee cuffs & onesies in the shop- I’m trying to crank up the creativity. I also have 2 dresses to photograph, and a few other kids & ladies pieces. We haven’t done any shows this whole season, so we have one planned in September at some point and I’d love to have enough product. Plus as I get bigger & bigger, who knows how much sewing my stomach will tolerate! I need to stock up!
Keeping with my constant theme of ” always the last to know”, I’ve decided to share with you my new cute music fave.
Her name is Andrea Simms-Karp,
Meet her here! From what I gather, she plays banjo & guitar and possibly more. She has a really upbeat, folky tone – kinda reminds me of The Be Good Tanyas, who I also adore. I only just downloaded 3 songs to check her out, but really like them already.

Zach also found on iTunes, the Target commercial song, where the two girls are dance/battling while decorating their sides of the dorm. I’m ridiculously all over the place with music and a sucker for fun commercial music. Just WAIT till the holiday commercials start!

Well have a great Monday!
xo
M

It is summer. We are out of town at an event for my daughter. That does not mean that learning has to end. It just means that learning cannot be very structured. For us, this is a lesson in unschooling. It is alot like and extended field trip.

What makes a house a home? Is it the little decorating touches, the noises of little feet stomping down the stairs in the morning or the feeling that when you enter your home you’ve left the world behind?

Starting Something New, originally uploaded by hobocampcrafts.

A few years back when I really got into knitting, I went out and bought a ton of yarn as I also inherited some from family & yard sales. When we moved I got rid of a lot of it. Then I found this suitcase. The suitcase is a huge-sized duffle. One that was originally purchased when I lived in Indiana and needed to get my belongings back to NY. So it was meant to carry a lot. So you can see, I was shocked when we found it full of yarn!

In the spirit of recycle-reduce-reuse, I’ve decided to use as much as I can. It is mostly acrylic, but I’ve always found when used in bright colors, it not only shows stitches easier ( which is helpful for a semi-novice after 5 years) but it is vegan as well. Don’t get me wrong, I enjoy wool- but I prefer using a recycled sweater to wear or deconstruct rather than get a skein of it.

In the long of it, I chose the color pumpkin to start my first back- to- the- needles- project. I thought it would excite me about the upcoming fall days that I so long for every year.

Some new coffee cuffs will be listed today & tomorrow. My brain is swirling with ideas of an Autumn Preview. Including some old favorites & new surprises. I’ve started using some of my favorite autumnal prints. How exciting!

Yesterday, I met my new Midwife. She’s wonderful. She made me feel more cared for in a 1- hour meeting than any of my previous OBGYN doctors did in years. She was convinced we will get to the bottom of my stomach ailments & was very knowledgeable about a veg diet- which so many people don’t really discuss. She also mentioned I need to get back electrolytes.. since I’ve been sick. So, I high-tailed it to the market and found Vitamin Water on sale & promptly stocked up. It feels good to have someone in your corner who cares.

I started rereading my Mary Engelbreit/ Home Companion magazines for August, September & October. They are the only magazines I save, along with Vegetarian Times. I group them by season. I love going over every article, especially the home decor and artist pieces. They’ve covered some amazingly inspiring people and places. Flipping through instantly puts me in a positive & crafty mind frame. Gotta love that!

be well ~
M

Why do home schoolers need a guide to surviving the hot summer months, I hear you ask, your children are always at home why is the hot summer months any different?
Well simply because other children are around. Most homeschoolers I know have a sense of dread at this time of year, knowing for the next 6 weeks any semblance of our normal routine is impossible.

Homeschoolers hot summer months moans:
The parks and playgrounds where we spend our afternoons lazing around are full of children. There is no sitting down and watching the toddler from a distance anymore. We need to follow him around in order to see him and make sure he takes turns.
The libraries where we idle away our rainy days curled up on beanbags reading, are full of such ear-splitting din that it is difficult to think never mind read.
Museums, which we happily potter around for hours on end, are suddenly so full it is impossible to see anything.
Friends who haven’t even phoned all school term suddenly seem to have moved in and everywhere you go in your house you trip over children.
Also if you adopt a formal approach to home schooling it is difficult to persuade you children that they should be working when they can hear children playing outside.

How to cope: major tip is to try to view the mass of children as an ‘educational resource’ rather than an encumbrance.

Parks and playgrounds: Could you change your favourite one for one slightly quieter? Where I live we have two local parks, one is on the sea front and people drive over from several miles around to visit it, so it is always packed. The other is a local one in a housing estate, used by local children; this becomes our regular haunt in hot summer months.
If your children don’t know many local children (home schoolers friends are often spread over a relatively large area) hanging out in the local park over the hot summer months is an excellent way to let them make local friends.

Libraries and museums: They often lay on special events and fun stuff to do for children over the hot summer months, these are well worth finding out and getting involved in. As well as entertaining the children at the time they also provide an excellent opportunity to meet and chat to people such as the local Children’s librarian and museum curators and educational co-ordinators. Mention you are home schooling and they are often keen to help by running sessions at the libraries and museums for home schooling groups.

Friends: Make the most of opportunities to catch up with schooled friends. You are pleased to see them really and your children certainly will be.
Take advantage of the extra children cluttering up your house to do fun stuff to do that are difficult with only one or two children; help the children put on plays, play cricket or baseball, have a mini Olympics etc.

‘School work’: Does it matter if you let things slide a bit really? Perhaps you could change the time you sit down to work so everyone is finished early. We are often sitting at the table at 7am.

And of course, don’t forget to plan your back to school picnic. The day the schools go back gather your home schooling friends, a yummy picnic and take yourselves down to the beach, park or other favourite hang out, kick back and enjoy the peace.

Last night I decided to go with my inner Shear Genius vibe and cut my hair into a little bob. I’ve always been able to do this, just go for it, grab my scissors and cut. Like Tim Gunn- I make it work. OK enough Bravo references- my husband’s ears are probably ringing (he works at Bravo). But for reals, at this time of year I just needed the hair off my neck- besides I was just wearing it in a pony tail- so what really is the point?!
It is a little flapperish- which I adore.

Saturday I went crazy with creating new onesies, here are a few shots of our new merch for babes in the shop.



I just think the squawking bird is hysterical!

Last night, during my night time snack (which was a vanilla soy pudding by Cozy Shack- Yes, they make soy pudding!!!) I noticed a little butterfly feeling in my tummy. When I actually realized it was the baby moving! I lifted my shirt and actually saw my stomach moving! The baby was kicking- which felt more like a butterfly, which is just a sweet feeling. Zach was on his way home, so I called my mom at 11pm to tell her my news. It was pretty exciting and now I’m anticipating & waiting for more- come on baby!

We have new onesies
in our shop- check them out!
xo
M

YAY Feature on Vintage Indie~, originally uploaded by hobocampcrafts.

I feel like so much is happening, yet everything is standing still. Does that make any sense? I’ve been down with a stomach bug of sorts for about a week. I’m trying not to let it keep me down.

This screen pic is from the awesome blog Vintage Indie, http://vintageindie.typepad.com/vintage_indie/2008/07/vintage-green-.html they graciously featured two of my coffee cuffs today. Check them out!

Yesterday was my 19 week sonogram. All went well ( although I had to drink 32 ounces of water and couldn’t use the restroom- which was torture)- finding out who we are cooking in my belly was ALL worth it. Of course it is 90% positive- we’re having a LITTLE GIRL!! We couldn’t be happier. The names are just flowing and I am just trying to write them all down so I don’t forget. We want something old fashioney and unique. Being named “Melissa” sort of took away from being special when there were 7 others in every class!

After the sonogram, mom and I went to have breakfast- (actually my second breakfast – apparently my child is now a Hobbit and we need to eat numerous breakfast meals). Mom & and highly recommend Ikea’s new breakfast options. The home fries were yummy and the French toast sticks were outta this world! Only I could have had 2 servings- they only give you 3 per serving.

I picked up an adorable mobile made of felt , some wooden picture frames to paint and some cushions for the kitchen chairs. I was staking things out for our upcoming weekend trip. Maybe I can convince the hubbie to take me back for B-fast & more French toast yumminess.

Things in the creating department for Hobocamp have been slow. I have been doing a bit more nesting and working on home/baby projects. But I plan this Friday to spend the day crafting up new pieces for the shop. So there will be some new summery coffee cuffs which can also be used to keep your hands dry on iced cups!

Have a great day!

No place like home, originally uploaded by hobocampcrafts.

Up front- I’ll say I only liked these words together for a non- boring title and by no means do they have any significance.

However, with that said we did have dinner and spend our evening with Zach’s sister’s family- who live in Hawaii. We strolled around 42nd street ate at a lovely Italian place called Azalea and people watched from the corners. It was my first time being in NYC since I became pregnant. I must now have baby-vision b/c everywhere I look their are teams of preggos. There was also a nice man who gave me his seat on the subway- so much for wondering” Do I look pregnant?”

Thursday- Saturday we spent in Oneonta with my family. Cooking out, chatting and laughing at the silliness of little kids. I had a really nice time. Everything clicked. The food was great and things ran smoothly. Although the beds are a little uncomfy- the gorgeous bathroom my brother just installed- made up for all that. I can now say I’ve taken a bubble bath in Oneonta. On our way out of town we hit the local Sal’s. Zach scored some great shirts and I found some adorable onesies and such.

The rest of the weekend was spent hanging up towel racks, picture frames and shopping for food at the market- our first actual ” big shop” for the new place.

Now Monday is here. I am visiting at my parent’s house, washing all of the baby clothing I have recieved and sorting it. With hopes, this Wednesday at my sonogram we’ll find out who we are cooking in this tummy of mine!

With luck when I return home today- there will be a new air conditioner, new back door, new closet doors and a new step installed in our place. I just hope the kitties behave!
Have a great Monday
xo
M

For most of us, having a home business is not a route to “getting rich quick.” That does not mean that many of us do not hope and wish and work to get more money in our lives.

In previous posts, I and other homeschool bloggers here at families.com have discussed our experiences with charlotte mason curriculum.