We've had a very good MLK Day. DH had the day off, so we slept late, watched President Obama's second inauguration, and then explored another state park that we had never visited before.
It was a gray day, but the temperature was nice for taking a long walk in the woods (68 degrees or so).
We walked to the primitive campsites that overlook the river and then stopped at the playground on our way back to the car.
It's funny that no matter how tired Blaze is from walking (he was so tired towards the end of our walk, that his weak leg had become wobbly, and he kept turning his ankle), he still has energy to swing.
This little headband is made out of scrap leather and natural colored cotton lace. If you print the pattern image as a full page, it should be the correct size for a preschool child.
The elastic is cut to the measurements of the individual child's head.
The toddler-size utility belt was made from a woven belt that my son had grown out of and two pockets cut from a pair of worn out children's cargo pants. When I cut the pockets out, I included the fabric above the pocket with the belt loop and sewed that flap of fabric down in back of the pocket. The belt loops are now what these pockets are hanging from on the belt.
Cutting a woven belt down to a smaller size is amazingly easy. Simply pry off the metal clip that keeps the end of the belt from unraveling, cut the belt to the desired size, and replace the clip using a pair of pliers to squeeze it tightly together.
The boots I'm including with this outfit are not Victorian looking in the least, but with a small child, I think comfort is more important than authenticity.
I am working on a steampunk outfit for a little girl who is having her second birthday this week. I'm using many of the inexpensive costuming techniques I've used in the past, everything is just smaller.
Brown and black striped leggings (made following the same directions as Blaze's striped pants found here).
The last piece of the window valance I used to make my bustle, was the perfect size for a toddler skirt.
I have had three toddlers of my own and watched countless others, so I know that white shirts and active children do not go well together. A dye job and the removal of the elastic along the hem, made this blouse more what I had in mind.
I am now working on the accessories to go with this outfit.
Our holiday break is over and today is our first day back to our normal homeschool schedule.
The last day before our winter break, we finished reading The Last Safe House, a book about the underground railroad.
Today, we resumed our lessons by reading about 1/4 of the book The Day Fort Sumter Was Fired On, about the beginning of the Civil War.
We managed to fit a little bit of history into our winter break time, as well, by visiting the Museum of Florida History (free admission).
There are lots of hands-on activities for children of all ages at the museum. Blaze may have understood more of the history behind the exhibits, but the two year old we took with us had fun, too.
An electric car from 1911:
There were very few people at the museum, even though it was a Saturday, which allowed the children to move through the exhibits at their own pace and play around. This reminded me a bit of when Ula was little and liked the way her voice echoed through the halls full of animal exhibits at the Field Museum.
I have been baking and the house smells wonderful. One of the treats we will be having later today, as part of our New Year's Eve celebration, will be orange shortbread cookies.
Orange Shortbread Cookies
1 Cup butter, softened
3/4 Cup powdered sugar
1 teaspoon grated orange rind
2 teaspoons frozen orange juice concentrate
1 3/4 Cups unbleached white flour
pecan halves
Pre-heat oven to 300 degrees F.
Cream butter and sugar together with an electric mixer. Add orange zest and juice concentrate. Beat. Add flour and beat until a dough is formed. Roll the dough into a log shape and cover with plastic wrap. Refrigerate 30 minutes - 1 hour, until the butter in the dough has set up. Cut the "log" into 1/2 inch slices and place on a cookie sheet. Press a pecan half into the center of each cookie. Bake for 30 minutes.
The wrapping paper that Blaze made for my present:
Blaze was very happy with all his gifts. He kept yelling "awesome!" which turned out to be really funny when he opened a package fro my mother with a red T-shirt that said "awesome" on it.
The snacks to sustain us the rest of the day:
This is my favorite gift:
DH enjoying his gifts, the inflatable Star Trek Captains chair and the last book in The Game of Thrones series.
