Fleece Baby/Kid Blanket

My toads love there blankies!

I received one as a gift for my oldest. 

He loved it so much I had to make one for the next toad that came along and he loves his even more.

I am now making them for other babies on the way (not mine!). 

Here is how they are made.

You will need:

two pieces of fleece that coordinate in color (1-1.5 yrds. each)

coordinating thread

scissors

sewing machine

 Step 1: cut edge off fabric

 

Step 2: If your fabric has a print, put it facing the other fabric.

step 3: line up one side (the lengthwise side) of the fabric and pin it.

 (note: pin the first and last needle 4 inches from end. 

this will be the starting and ending points for your sewing line.)

step 4: smooth and line up the rest of the fabric the best you can. pin other side and trim any extra fabric.

  

Step 5: starting at 4 inches in sew a straight stitch down the lengthwise side of the blanket. Repeat with opposite side.

Step 6: turn the blanket right-side out.(for a nice finished look, on the outside of the blanket, do a zig-zag stitch down the same sides you've already stitched)

 

Step 7: on the width-wise side of the blanket stitch a straight stitch 4 inches from the side.repeat for other side.

 (Tip: I used masking tape and marked a line 4 inches out for a guide)

Step 8: on the width-sides of the blanket cut 1 inch strips. be careful not to cut past the sewn line. repeat for opposite side.

Step 9: tie front and back strips together in single not as seen below.

There you have it! a soft blanket they can grow with.

Dust Bunnies

I can't remember where I got this idea. I believe a friend said something on facebook about making dust bunnies out of socks too make dusting more fun for kids.

This is what I pictured...

 

Here is how you make it.

 Take an old white sock and turn it inside out.

Cut down the middle. Make it as long as you would like the ears to be. I wouldn't go more then half way.

sew the ears. you could hand sew if you do not have a machine.

flip it right side out.

For the next step you will need thread, needle, and some cotton. (cotton balls would work too).

Shove that cotton into the heal of the sock and make a tight ball.

Use the thread and needle and weave it through the sock around the ball.

Pull tight and tie it off.

Check the inside, if you still have a little hole then sew it shut, so you don't lose any stuffing.

Now you are done!

A new meaning to Dust Bunnies!

Gunnie Bag

Do you have a hard time getting your kids motivated to clean up there toys? 

I was! and like I do with any parenting problem, I first look back to what worked for me as a child. 

I introduce to you the Gunnie Bag

He is not your child's friend. 

After setting a time limit with your kids, he loves to eat toys that do not get put away.

He does, however, return them after a day or two. 

This is an easy thing to put together and works wonders on your children. 

You could keep it basic, like the one I have here in photos, and buy a white pillowcase and draw some eyes on the top. 

Or...

get more creative and make a pillowcase out of fun fabric. (I believe the one I grew up with was purple and white striped)

Have FUN with it!

Way too easy peanutbutter cookies

 

mix in a bowl, by hand, the following:

1 C peanutbutter
1 C sugar
1 egg

roll into balls, place on un-greased cookie sheet. smash slightly with fork or bottom of a cup. bake at 375 for 9 min.

Worms

Earthworms also known as "dew-Worm" "Rain-worm" "night  crawler" and "angleworm". dirty slimy little things that crawl around in your yard. Why do they exist? and what is there purpose? And why am I talking about worms today?

Well , now that the weather is cooperating I decided to tackle all the trash and tumble weeds that had blown up against the back of my house and down the stairs to my basement entrance (the joys of having no fence and a large field lining my back yard.)  As I was cleaning the trash and dirt up at the bottom of the stairs I came across this.

That is my four year olds' hand for comparison.

Did you know that worms have five hearts? There are 4400 species of worms and 2700 different kind of earthworms. they have been around 120 million years. Cleopatra said they were sacred. Aristotle called them "the intestines" of soil. Charles Darwin Studied them for 39 years and said "It may be doubted whether there are many other animals in the world which have played so important a part in the history of the world as these lowly organized creatures."

 Earthworms are great to have around. They are recyclers. they eat and digest trees, leaves, fruit, nuts, dead animals and many other things. An abundance of earthworms is very beneficial to the organic gardener. there can be as many as 250,000 worms in a unhealthy acre of dirt and 1,750,000 in an acre of very rich soil.

Now to the fun part. 

Did you know you can make your own worm compost? all you need is a rubber or wood tote with a lid, worms, and some food waste. This process is called Vermiculture. These are not your everyday earthworms. You must use the Brandling worm, also known as the tiger worm or the Red wiggler. The Internet or local gardening club is your best bet for finding a worm vendor near you. To get more details on the process of making your own worm farm check this out!