Tips n Tidbits

Merry Christmas!

Here’s a quick recap of Christmas-related posts from last year—two from this site and two from our Savvy Baker blog. All the best to you and yours for a wonderful holiday weekend!

DIY Felt Ornaments

LEGO Nativity Scene

Chocolate Peppermint Biscotti

Peanut Butter Party Biscotti

Great Books for Homeschoolers (Part 1)

I have wanted to share this list for AGES!

These books aren’t new—thousands of homeschoolers are probably using them already—but if you haven’t seen them yet, check your local library for access to these phenomenal resources. We’ve been thrilled to borrow dozens of them as needed for our curriculum.

Without further ado, here are some Bohan favorites.

Getting to Know the World’s Greatest Artists, a series by Mike Venezia

Each book features a single artist and utilizes a combination of written history, amusing cartoons and reproductions of the artist’s work, as well pieces by influential contemporaries. We have found this series to be both educational and entertaining, conveying the artists’ talents and contributions in the context of their own personal stories and their place in history.

Despite at least one scathing review for his treatment of Van Gogh, we found these books to be age appropriate for the Amazon recommendation of “ages 6 and up.” (Based upon that one review, perhaps there should be a cap on that, limiting it to ages 6-12.)

Continue reading Great Books for Homeschoolers (Part 1)

Fun Felt Friends

Mrs. Owl by Kelly Bohan (9 years)

Mr. Owl by Timmy Bohan (6 years)

These adorable finger puppets are based upon ones found in Fa la la la Felt: 45 Handmade Holiday Decorations by Amanda Carestio. We made these this winter when it was too cold to go outside, and we recently started working on similar projects now that it’s too hot to go outside!

With a little felt, some embroidery thread, a needle, scissors and buttons, you and your child can make one too. Have fun!

Summer Beauties

Virginia ctenucha on a clematis blossom (Michigan)

According to Wikipedia, the Virginia ctenucha (Ctenucha virginica), pronounced ten-ooch-ah, is a moth that ranges from North Carolina to Canada, east of the Rocky Mountains. It inhabits wet meadows and open spaces with bushes. Virginia ctenucha caterpillars have multiple tufts of white and yellow hair and feed mostly on grasses. Adults feed primarily on nectar during daylight hours.

Though this photo was taken over a month ago, now that temperatures are rising, more butterflies and moths are emerging from their cocoons and chrysalides to explore parks, yards and gardens for food. And they’re not alone. Below are pictures of long-legged flies and a milkweed beetle, critters Matt found by taking a closer look at some of the leaves in our garden.

If you haven’t already, set aside some time with your children to watch these amazing creatures this summer.

Long-legged fly (Michigan)

Milkweed beetle (Michigan)

Children’s Book Week

Save 25% off 4 or more used children’s books now through May 8 at Better World Books. What’s not to like about that?!

No, I’m not a registered affiliate, and I don’t get a kickback. I just love what they do. Not only has Better World Books raised more than $9.5 million dollars for literacy and libraries so far, but they have also assisted in the reuse or recycling of over 53 million books!

According to their website, “Better World Books collects and sells books online to fund literacy initiatives worldwide. With more than 8 million new and used titles in stock, we’re a self-sustaining, triple-bottom-line company that creates social, economic and environmental value for all our stakeholders.”

Better World is a B-corporation, its “Beneficial” rating earned by treating its customers, community, environment and employees better than other companies. To read more about these companies, check out better.bcorporation.net.

Get ready for summer reading! See the deals and the benefits for yourself at BetterWorld.com.