Buckets of Ideas

Monday, December 5, 2011

Christmas 2011

I just looked and the last post I made was over a year ago! I was in the middle of working on 100 projects on my last post. I was diagnosed with Adrenal Exhaustion about then and pretty much everything stopped. I am feeling much better and ready to get up and going again. I will post soon about Adrenal Exhaustion - it is something that I think many people have and don't know it. I would like to help educate people about it ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Busy time of year~! I love Christmas - I post my Christmas happenings for the most part on my Christmas Blog - http://bucketideasforchristmas.blogspot.com/ Would love to have you join me over in my Christmas blogging room.

Today I have been canning tomatoes. I need room in my freezer for holiday cooking and pulled them all out to make speghetti sauce. I had two bushels of tomatoes stuffed in the freezer - no wonder I didn't have any room! The recipe I am using is from the Ball Canning Book. It looks lovely! You know the show Get Smart and when Maxwell Smart is in the cone of silence and screams "I am so Happy....." only the cone doesn't work...that is how I feel about the tomatoes - my canning is officially done for 2011!!!!!!!!!!
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I am combining several of my blogs into this one and have taken a few posts to add here - thanks for stopping by - signing off for today! Paula

Fun Treats and Gingerbread House How To's

Like many of you we have made a Grahm Cracker House Vilage every year since our children were small. Now we have grandchildren, we still have our "Gingerbread Day."All you have to do is to gather your supplies listed below and let everyone construct their houses! We always eat them on New years Ever with a cup of Hot Chocolate.Have so much fun and take pictures!Here are some instructions I found on a website listed at the end.You Need:Graham crackers (10 per house - allow for mistakes though!)White chocolate chips or white candy melts (approx. 6 oz. per house)Assorted candies for decoratingPiping bags and tips or gallon size freezer bags (make sure your bags have a nice square corner, not a pleated one.)First prepare graham crackers. Two whole grahams need to be trimmed for front and back panels (see diagram A). Make sure to start knife at point "A" and bring back of knife down to point "B" to keep tip of cracker from crumbling. Check to see if the angle you cut is right by putting two whole "roof shingle" grahams up against the front panel to see if they will fit as in the final assembly. Create a door with a small piece of graham (approx. 1 "x 2").Now is the time to make the mortar for your house. Heat the white chips or candy melts either in the microwave or on a double boiler just until melted. Stir smooth. Chocolate at this point should be warm, not hot! If it's too hot to handle, let it cool. If you're using a piping bag, prepare the tip. Spoon chocolate into piping bag or freezer bag and squeeze down to the tip of bag (or corner if it's a freezer bag). Seal bag behind chocolate by twisting. If using a freezer bag, cut the slightest bit off the corner to create a tip (if too much chocolate comes out or if bag springs a leak at some point, use a new bag).To create base, place three grahams side by side with approximately 1/16" space between (see diagram B). Pipe white chocolate mortar down between crackers to fill the gap. When done, Push grahams together (just slightly). Let set a few minutes.Start on construction of the house. First run a bead of mortar along bottom edge of front panel. Set in place on base and hold or prop till sets. (Chocolate mortar tends to set up pretty fast, though). Then run a bead of mortar along back edge of front panel (where it will meet side panel) and along side edge and bottom edge of side panel. Set in place. See diagram C to show how cracker "walls" will align. Pipe additional mortar along seams for support. Do the same thing for other side panel. Next, pipe mortar along back edges and bottom of back panel. Set in place. Strengthen seams, if needed with additional mortar. Let set a few minutes until sturdy. Next pipe mortar along top edges of half of house where one roof panel will go. Put panel in place. Hold or prop to set. When set, pipe mortar along top edges of other half of house and peak edge of already-installed roof panel. Set in place. Hold or prop to set. If roof panels don't match perfectly, try to fill with mortar or for a really big gap use candies or licorice to conceal. Using mortar as glue, adhere door to front panel.Decorate house as desired. (suggestions: gumdrops, peppermint candies, m&m's, candied fruit slices, candy canes. licorice, nonpareils, cookies, assorted decors and colorful candies)If white chocolate mortar stiffens up, reheat slightly and stir or knead until smooth again. http://www.funroom.com/holiday/gramhse.html

SANTA CUPCAKES
These cupcakes are so cute and Christmasy, Santa Clause faces. Fun to make, yummy too.
16 oz pkg poundcake mix 3/4 cup water 2 large eggs 16 oz tub white frosting Pink food color 18 red fruit slice candies (Hat) 2 cans white decorating icing with star and writing tips 9 mini marshmallows (Hat Tassels) 36 brown mini M&M's (Eyes)9 pink jelly beans, halved (Noses)1 roll Fruit Streamers strawberry fruit snacks (Mouth)Heat oven to 350 degrees. 18 lined muffin cups. Prepare cake mix as package directs, using water and eggs. Divide batter among muffin cups. Bake 20 min. or until done. Tint frosting pink, spread on cupcakes. Add fruit slice candies for hats. With writing tip, pipe a squiggly hatband and attach marshmallow halves, cut sides down, for tassels.Add M&M's for eyes, then pipe on eye highlights. With star tip, pipe on hair, beards and mustaches. Add jelly bean noses. Peel red strands from Fruit Streamers, cut 36 (1") strands. For each mouth, pinch together 2 strands into a smile. Trim excess, place on cupcakes. MAKES 18 CUPCAKES.*

Marshmellow Snowmen - These look pretty easy. They don't have instructions. This is the link with the picture. http://www.ronnissw%20eettooth.%20com/images/%20lotsosnomen.%20jpg

POPCORN SNOWMEN3 c. mini marshmallows 3 tbsp. butter 6 c. freshly popped, plain popcorn. Decorations such as raisins, gumdrops, pieces of dried fruitIn a large pot, over low heat, melt marshmallows and 3 tablespoons of butter, stirring constantly until marshmallows are gooey. Remove from heat. Stir in the popped popcorn a little bit at a time. Let the pot cool for at least a minute. Rub some butter on your hands. Then, scoop out a handful of the mixture and make one ball for the body and one for the head. Use decorations to make eyes, nose, mouth. Is you make his body about the size of a tennis ball, this recipe makes about 7 snowmen. http://www.popcorn.org/nutrition/Recipes/rprsnowman.cfm

12 Days of Christmas for the Children in Your Life

1 - Get a manger scene with 12 pieces. If you live near sneak one piece a day to your grandchildren with a bible verse attached. If you live far away, mail all twelve pieces, wrapped with the instructions to open one each day.

2 - Fill a sack with Christmas stories and an object that matches each story. Seal in individual sacks to be opened one at a time each day during the 12 days before Christmas.

3 - Send an e-mail with a fun story or recipe or activity to all your grandchildren.

4 - If you have enough free time, do an act of service each day for someone 12 days before Christmas. Can be one person or 12 diffferent ones. A few ideas: Make cookies and share with someone. Share a story with someone. Shovel the walk for someone if health permits.

5 - Make or purchase 12 ornaments, to be hung on their tree each day starting 12 days before Christmas.Link of Ideas for 12 Days of Christmas to do with Grandchildrenhttp://pie.midco.net/grammalowe/12days.html

Here are some silly Christmas Jokes and Songs to use in your 12 Days of Christmas Projects:Carols and JokesName That Carol!

The following words are alternate titles for several well-known Christmas Carols. If you get 100% correct, you will be assured a full Christmas stocking!Have fun!!

Quadruped with crimson proboscis___ _________ ___

5 p.m. to 6 a.m. without noise_______ _________ ___

Miniscule hamlet in the far east ____________ ______

Ancient benevolent despot ____________ _________ _

Adorn the vestibule ____________ _________ ______

Exuberance directed to the planet ____________ ____

Listen, aerial spirits harmonizin _________________

Monarchial trio ____________ ___________________

Yonder in the haystack ____________ _________ ____

Assemble, everyone who believes ____________ _____

Hallowed post meridian ____________ _________ ____

Fantasies of a colorless December 25th ____________ _

Tin tintinnabulums ____________ _________ _______

A dozen 24-hour yule periods ____________ ________

Befell during the transparent bewitching hour ______

Homo sapien of crystallized vapor ____________ ____

I merely desire a pair of incisors ____________ ______

I spied my maternal parent osculating a fat man in red__

Perambulating through a December solstice fantasy ____

Aloft on the acme of the abode ____________ _________

Quadruped with crimson proboscis —Rudolph, the Red-Nosed Reindeer

5 p.m. to 6 a.m. without noise — Silent Night

Miniscule hamlet in the far east — O Little Town of Bethlehem

Ancient benevolent despot — Good King Wenceslas (or some believe in Jolly Old St. Nicholas)Adorn the vestibule —Deck the Halls

Exuberance directed to the planet — Joy to the World

Listen, aerial spirits harmonizing — Hark the Herald Angels

SingMonarchial trio — We Three KingsY

onder in the haystack — Away in a Manger

Assemble, everyone who believes — Come All Ye Faithful

Hallowed post meridian — O Holy Night

Fantasies of a colorless December 25th — I’m Dreaming of a White Christmas

Tin tintinnabulums — Silver Bells

A dozen 24-hour Yule periods — The Twelve Days of Christmas

Befell during the transparent bewitching hour — It Came Upon a Midnight Clear

Homo sapien of crystallized vapor — Frosty the Snowman

I merely desire a pair of incisors — All I want for Christmas is My Two Front Teeth

I spied my maternal parent osculating a fat man in red — I Saw Mama Kissing Santa Claus

Perambulating through a December solstice fantasy — Walking Through a Winter Wonderland

Aloft on the acme of the abode — Up on the Rooftop

Results:

15 – 20 Correct — You don’t need any Yuletide spirit!

10 – 14 Correct — You could use something in your stocking!

5 – 9 Correct — Are you sure you have the right holiday?

1 – 4 Correct — Surely you jest!?!

Silly Chirstmas Jokes for your Family Parites or Anytime~

What’s white and goes up?A confused snowflake!

What do you call an old snowman?Water!

What do you sing at a snowman’s birthday party?Freeze a jolly good fellow

What goes: now you see me, now you don’t, now you see me, now you don’t?A snowman on a zebra crossing!

What goes ho-ho whoosh, ho-ho whoosh?Santa caught in a revolving door!

What goes “oh, oh, oh”?Santa walking backwards!Knock knock!

Who’s there?Snow.Snow who?Snow use – I’ve forgotten my name again!

Why does Santa have three gardens? So he can ho ho ho!

When does Christmas come before Thanksgiving? In the dictionary!

What’s the difference between the Christmas alphabet and the ordinary alphabet? The Christmas one has no L (noel)!

What do you have in December that’s not in any other month?The letter D!

Why is it always cold at Christmas?Because it’s inDecemberrrr!

What Christmas carol is a favorite of parents?Silent Night!

What’s impossible to overtake at Christmas?The three wide men!

Who hides in the bakery at Christmas? A mince spy!

How does a snowman lose weight? He waits for the weather to get warmer!

What do snowmen eat for breakfast? Frosted flakes!

What did one snowman say to the other snowman? Can you smell carrot?

What do you get when you cross a snowman with a vampire?Frostbite!

Where do snowmen go to dance? A snow ball!

How many presents can Santa fit in an empty sack? Only one, after that it’s not empty any more!

What do you get if you eat Christmas decorations? Tinselitus!

How does Good King Wenceslas like his pizzas?D eep and crisp and even!

What carol is heard in the dessert? Camel ye fathful!

What do monkeys sing at Christmas? Jungle bells, jungle bells!

What does a cat on the beach have in common with Christmas? Sandy claws!

What is Santa’s dog called? Santa Paws!

Who delivers presents to baby sharks at Christmas? Santa Jaws!

What do you get if you cross Santa Claus with a detective?Santa Clues!

What do you get if Santa goes down the chimney when the fire is lit? Crisp Cringle!

What do you call Santa Claus when he doesn’t move? Santa Pause!

How do sheep greet each other at Christmas? A merry Christmas to ewe!

What do you get if you cross an apple with a Christmas tree? A pineapple!

What kind of candle burns longer, a red candle or a green candle? Neither, candles always burn shorter!

Why are turkeys wiser than chickens? Ever heard of Kentucky Fried Turkey?

What happened to the man who shoplifted a calendar at Christmas? He got 12 months!

What do you call people who are afraid of Santa Claus?Claustrophobic!

Why are Christmas trees like bad knitters? They both drop needles!

What often falls at the North Pole but never gets hurt? Snow!

What is the best Christmas present in the world? A broken drum – you can’t beat it!

This is an excerpt from my book "Buckets of Ideas for Grandparents." These ideas can be used for any of the children in your life.
Service Opportunities During the HolidaysIt is Christmas! That magical time of year that brings thoughts of gifts and the visit from Santa. The tradition of giving gifts originates with the Three Wiseman who came from the East to visit the baby Jesus and bring him presents. Christmas can be a wonderful time to teach your grandchildren about serving and loving others. Here are a few ideas to help you brainstorm how you and your family can do this.Community
Meals on Wheels - Make little favors to go on the trays that are delivered to the people in your community.Angel Tree’s – These are set up at various locations and have angle ornaments on them that list the needs of others in the community with instructions of where to return them.Salvation Army – This organization helps whole families. You can contact them about sponsoring a family for Christmas.Salvation Army Bell Ringer – You can contribute to their ringing pots.Food Bank – Your local food bank is always looking of donations whether they are small or large.Community - Your community has various events that help to gather money or needed supplies for those in need. There will be advertisements on your local paper as well. Be on the watch to know how you and your grandchildren can help this together.Nursing Home - Call a local nursing or retirement home to find a need, to read or spend other time with the residents.Service Men – Write letters to service men and women.Soup Kitchen – Serve at a soup kitchen for an afternoon or evening.Go Caroling - Deliver goodies to neighbors as you go caroling. Nursing homes also welcome carolers to their halls. If you have performable talents you couls present a program for the residents.
Neighborhood12 Days of Christmas – Choose a family in your neighborhood and deliver a gift everyday, 12 days before Christmas anonymously. Gifts can be goodies, a story, poem, Christmas Ornament, etc.Shovel Walks – After a snowstorm shovel a neighbors walk who needs itDeliver Good Plates – Take your grandchildren with you to deliver things to your friends and neighbors.Talk to your local clergy – They always know someone in need for the holidays.Do a Christmas morning service before opening gifts.FamilyDo any of the above for your family members. Let your grandchildren help you as you do these thingsHave a family party hosted by you and your grandchildren. The other adults are the guests!Have a wonderful Holiday Season this year by sharing with others and teaching your children and grandchildren the wonderful art of giving!

Gingerbread Houses!

We had our annual gingerbread day this week at our house. Everyone loves this activity!
Thes actually started when our children were small. We tried real gingerbread, but their little hands had a hard time being really careful and the gingerbread broke. We decided to use graham crackers and have nmade villages for years. Sugar cones make great tree's covered with green frosting and red hots. Life savers are great wreaths. Glass sucker recipe makes a great pond, so many fun things to do with this! We also have made trains to go with our village.
I went to the dollar store and bought graham crackers, powdered sugar and lots of finger candy.
We opened the table up as far as it would go, put all the different candy in their own bowls, gave everyone a bowl of royal icing and a kitchen knife and the decorating began!
Everyone made a house of some kind. Some were cottages and others were huge! Then we put them all together in a village and they are displaying proudly on the shelf in our family area. I love our gingerbread village.

Great instructions for a train are here:

http://familyfun.go.com/recipes/special/feature/ff1106-gingerbread-train/ff1106-gingerbread-train2.html

Treat Table

One of our favorite things to do during the holidays is make the "Treat Table." I am sorry to say I can't find a picture of it! I had no idea I didn't have one!
Our treat table was created when our cupboards weren't big enough to hold all the goodies we made plus what other people shared with us. So we started out with a small table and it has grown into 2 card tables. We have special Christmas dishes that are reserved just for this table. Some are dishes the kids have made, others are dishes that are Christmas dishes that were grandmother's. We put books under the table cloth to give a varied height so it is easier to find things.
All through the years the kids friends were in and out and now they stop by at Christmas time to sample the treat table. It is great!

Nutmeg Jim

I just shared this on a list I am on and thought I would post it here. It is such a fun thing to do.We have a little elf named "Nutmeg Jim"He comes every Thanksgiving night and stays until Christmas Eve when he hops back in Santa"s sleigh. He is a little stuffed elf I made.
Everyone loves Nutmeg Jim at our house, he leaves sugar cereal occasionally, which I NEVER buy. He leaves a new Christmas movie every year. He leaves little notes that tells that recipient they are wonderful. He usually leaves a package of Oreo's which I never buy either--so it is a fun treat. Everything is random, his job is to report back to Santa and tell him how things are going here. One year when we were having children fighting issues, he brought a new friend with him. His name is "tattle tale mouse." He is a little mouse ornament that hangs on the tree and tells Nutmeg Jim if there are problems.

Cookie and Candy Bash

Several days before Christmas, we have a baking/candy making day.
When the kids were little I would cook and everyone wanted to help so we started out at 9:00 a.m. and cooked all day. The kids would sometimes fight and so I started scheduling them for 1-2 hour blocks. They were responsible to choose a cookie and a candy recipe to make one on one with me. Always a fun and productive day.
Now they are grown, we schedule a day to bake and a day to make candy. Each family chooses 2-3 cooies. It is at our home and I provide all the flour, sugar, etc. They bring any ingredients that are unique to their cookies. We bake all day.
This year we are making cookies today and candy on Monday. I will post pictures as soon as I have them.

Sweedish Rosettes

We love to make sweedish rosettes to share with our neighbors. It is an old family favorite. We actually served them at our wedding. We make lots of plates and then deliver them with caroling.

Here is the recipe:
Swedish Rosettes
Ingredients - 1 cup flour, sifted 1/2 teaspoon salt 1 teaspoon granulated sugar 1 cup milk 2 eggs, slightly beaten, 1 tsp lemon flavoring, 1 teaspoon vegetable oil, oil for frying, powdered sugarPreparation - Combine sifted flour, salt and sugar; add milk, beaten egg and vegetable oil. Beat until smooth; allow to stand for 1 hour to allow air to escape. Deep-fry in hot oil, using rosette iron or timbale case iron; drain on paper toweling. Dust warm rosettes with powdered sugar
Yield: 2 dozen
Notes -To Fry Rosettes: Heat rosette iron in a large kettle with enough oil to cover iron well. Iron is ready when oil temperature registers 365°. Drain oil from iron, blot iron slightly with paper toweling and dip into batter to within 1/4 inch of top. (Do not cover top of iron.) Carefully lift out iron, drain quickly and lower into oil. Fry until rosette is crisp and brown. Carefully lift iron from oil; turn upside down to drain. Quickly remove rosette from iron; cool. Return iron to batter without dipping into oil unless it needs reheating. Iron is too cold if mixture does not cling to iron when dipped into batter. An iron which is too hot will cause rosette to spread and drop from iron when cooked; if Rosettes are soft and thick rather than thin and crisp, batter is too thick and should be thinned slightly with milk.

White Stocking

On Christmas Eve we have a White Stocking that we put a note of the gift we wish to give Jesus in the coming year. It is always so interesting to pull out the one we wrote the year before and see what our gift was and how we were able to do it. It is a wonderful thing to do as a family.

Christmas Morning Service Project

Every Christmas Morning we do a service project for someone before we open our gifts. This year we went through our neighborhood and shoveled walks for those out of town or not able to do it themselves. It is a wonderful way to start our Christmas morning. When we come home we eat and open our gifts. When the kids were little we did this to help them focus more on Jesus and all He has done for us, As the years have gone by it has become a treasured tradition. As our family is growing we can really accomplish alot of great things!

New Year Games

See http://bucketsofnewyearsideas.blogspot.com/ for all kinds of New Years Eve Games for home with children or adults.

Celebrating New Years with Children

We have been married 34 years. Our oldest is 31 years old, (Not sure how that happened! I still feel 31!!!) When she was about three and her sister one, we started having New Years Eve parties with our children. I have to be honest when they were really little I went around the house and set ahead the clocks so they wouldn't be up so late. As time went by they became teenagers. (5 kids oldest 10 years older than youngest) Our party was tradition and they invited friends to it. We had waffles at midnight with ice cream and all kinds of toppings.We started doing this when they were young for the sole purpose of them being home on New Years when they were teen agers and it worked. Sometimes they did go to dances but they were home before midnight so we could all have our waffle breakfast, play games and watch a movie. (We do sleep in!) Now that we have grandchildren, they still spend New Years Eve at our house. It was worth it and has because a wonderful party looked forward to all through the holidays.
Happy New Year!
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I found this article and wanted to share it because it really explains things well.
How to Celebrate New Year's Eve With Your Childrenby eHow Holidays & Celebrations EditorIntroductionThrow a party and celebrate with your kids, letting them stay up until the new year dawns.InstructionsDifficulty: Moderately EasySteps

1 Help your kids decorate a room in your house. Hang streamers, scatter confetti and set out party hats and noisemakers.

2 Bake a cake.

3 Dress up in party clothes.

4 Prepare the kids' favorite dinner and eat the cake for desert. Put candles on the cake and blow them out in recognition of the birthday of a new year.

5 Teach the kids the words to "Auld Lang Syne," and sing other songs with them as well.

6 Explain the concept of New Year's resolutions to your children. Ask them if there is anything they would like to accomplish in the next year.

7 Lay out sleeping bags in the living room. Read stories out loud and play board games late into the evening.

8 Toast the New Year at midnight (if your kids are still awake) with sparkling fruit cider.

Tips & WarningsIf your kid doesn't have a favorite meal, make spaghetti with tomato sauce and serve salad on the side. This is generally a kid-pleasing meal.Overall Things You'll NeedConfettis Streamers Party Hats Pillows Cake Mix Spaghetti Noodles Spaghetti Sauces Cake Pans Noisemakers Sleeping Bags Streamers

Happy New Years and Time Capsule

Come on over to our house for our New Years Day Pajama Party.
We play games and eat after sleeping in from our slumber party the night before!
Bruch is served about 11:00!
We make our annual time capsule with our children and grandchildren.
Each person puts a small item in it that they want to save and a list of what they think cars, houses, clothes etc will be like. We put a pix in of the group that we take with a digital camera and print off right there from the computer. Each person also writes on this list a little about what they are doing right now. Label the can with the year, decorate it and seal it up!
Come and join us!

Ground Hogs Day!

Happy Groundhog Day!Groundhog Day CupcakeBaked cupcakeAlmond Joy candyWhite frostingWhite jelly beansBlack decorators' gelWatermelon slice candyBrown M&M's MinisChocolate cookieStep 1 Remove a piece of cake the width of an Almond Joy candy from the center of a baked cupcake. Set the candy upright in the hole, then spread a layer of white frosting on the cupcake. Step 2 For the groundhog's eyes, trim the ends from a white jelly bean, stick them in place with frosting, then dot them with black decorators' gel. Add a tiny triangle cut from a watermelon slice candy for a nose, brown M&M's Minis for ears and cheeks, and a tiny rectangular piece of white jelly bean for teeth. Sprinkle chocolate cookie crumbs around the partially emerged groundhog, and he's ready to greet his fans.2009 © FamilyFun
GROUND HOG ACTIVITIESJust a couple of ideas for you:We always eat "ground food" and eat on the "ground."We watch for "Phil" the ground hog to see what he is doing to do.Play ground hog bingo, and adapt other games to be "Ground Hoggy" it is always a fun, kind of pick me up day in the winter.

Valentines Fun

I love Valentines Day. Such a fun day to tell everyone you love that you love them! I am looking for some new project ideas, here are some I have found, I will add more as I find them that I can do with my darling boy Wyatt. To see the things I found in addition to the cupids arrow below, visitbuckets of Valentine's Day Ideas

Cupid's ArrowSupplies Needed:
One roll of Wild Cherry Livesavers Candy 6 inch bamboo skewer 1 - 1 1/2 inch wooden heart Drill with a small drill bit Piece of red foil paper approximately 1 1/2 inches long and 5 inches wide. Transparent tape Scissors Craft glue Red paint and paintbrushDirections:Drill a small hole in the heart's indentation. Paint the heart red and set it aside to dry. Fringe the foil paper by cutting narrow strips along the width, about 1 inch deep. Apply a small amount of the transparent tape to one end of the uncut portion of foil paper. Attach tape to blunt end of skewer. Twist foil paper around skewer and fasten with another piece of tape to form the arrow feather.Finishing: Poke pointed end of bamboo skewer through center of candy roll, apply dot of glue to tip of skewer and secure into hole in painted heart.http://www.familycorner.com/homegarden/crafts/cupidsarrow.shtml

Beach Party

Next Monday night (January) we are having our annual Family Beach Party.
When the kids were little they got really restless about the end of January. It is Idaho and very cold so we started our family Beach Party.
"Have a beach picnic with all the trimmings. We cook hotdogs in the fireplace, play games and end with a summer movie. A few suggestions are Boatniks, Glass Bottom Boat, Sing Along Beach Party with Mickey Mouse, or Disney's Back to the Beach.
Turn up the heat and ask everyone to wear shorts, flip flops, and sunglasses, eat on a blanket on the floor and have a great time!"
Excerpt from my book - see side bar for details.

Easter!

What a bright, fun time of year. So many wonderful things to do and see.

EASTER EGG COLORING DAY
Like most of you we have an Easter Egg coloring party

Here are a few websites with some fun and unique ideas to spice it up if you want to add some new things:
Natural Dyes - We have tried this and it is great!http://www.stretcher.com/stories/00/000410h.cfm
All kinds of ideas:http://nanaellen.com/village/easter/egg.htm
Misc Decor ideas
http://freestuff4kids.net/2008/03/06/13-creative-ways-to-dye-and-decorate-easter-eggs/
Natural Decor Ideas
http://freestuff4kids.net/2008/03/06/13-creative-ways-to-dye-and-decorate-easter-eggs/
For More Easter Ideas visit:
Buckets of Spring and Easter Ideas
You will find things like this:
EASTER SMORES

EASTER BASKETS TO MAKE

We live in Idaho and we have very short summers. The weather is finally nice so I am in the garden. I will post a few activity ideas over the summer. I just planted a fairy garden with one of my darling grandson's.

The details are at http://bucketideasforgardening.blogspot.com/2009/04/finally-spring-is-in-idaho.htmlCome on over and join me!

I have a grandchildren's garden and in it are all kinds of (edible) flowers, little toys, fairy garden etc. More details in my book - see info on the side bar.) I have made stepping stones with each grandchild that go in that garden.
This is a picture of one of them:

For more stepping stone ideas see my garden blog at: http://bucketideasforgardening.blogspot.com/2009/05/stepping-stones-yard-art-blooming.htm
Here are a few links for more ideas:
All kinds of stepping stones –http://familycrafts.about.com/od/steppingstones/ig/Garden-Stepping-Stone-Photos/

How To Make Stepping Stoneshttp://familycrafts.about.com/cs/steppingstones/a/040201c.htm

Blogs with Stepping Stone Ideashttp://craftygardener.blogspot.com/2008/04/stepping-stones.html

Michael’s Stepping Stones Ideashttp://www.michaels.com/art/online/search?pageNumber=1&channel=0&search=yes&type=0&searchWords=stepping+stones&as_fid=1&x=15&y=11

Grandma Sign - Great Gift Idea!

We made this adorable sign for my husband's mother for Mother's Day. It is a picture of all of our grandchildren - her great grandchildren. My mom died in 1993 - so sadly I couldn't make one for her - she would have loved it! I saw one done on Aleesha's blog that said "MOM" and was so excited to have such a fun gift idea for Mother's Day - http://ready-set-create.blogspot.com/2010/04/mothers-day-is-right-around-corner.html Thanks Aleesha!

Reasons Why WE Love You! Birthday Fun!

Every birthday we do a list of reasons why we love the person who's birthday we are celebrating. It started when our children were little and started out as however many years they were old - that number of reasons. The reasons have been put on posters, put on papers that led a trail into the house or their bedroom etc. It has become a highlight on everyone's b-day.
A couple of years ago after we had 3 weddings in one year I thought maybe it was time to stop the reasons - let their spouses take care of B-day's. It was a big mistake - EVERYONE rebeled. They siad they would rather have the reasons than have gifts, so it continues.
It is a wonderful thing for everyone to hear why their siblings love each other. This year I made them into posters with a family pix so everyone can put them in their office, den or craft room area to see all year long.

Grandchildren Garden and Play Yard

Over on my gardening blog are pictures and information about my grandchildren's garden. When you have a minute I would love for you to drop by.http://bucketideasforgardening.blogspot.com/2010/05/my-grandchildrens-garden-and-stepping.html

Christmas 2011

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Busy time of year~! I love Christmas - I post my Christmas happenings for the most part on my Christmas Blog - http://bucketideasforchristmas.blogspot.com/ Would love to have you join me over in my Christmas blogging room.

Today I have been canning tomatoes. I need room in my freezer for holiday cooking and pulled them all out to make speghetti sauce. I had two bushels of tomatoes stuffed in the freezer - no wonder I didn't have any room! The recipe I am using is from the Ball Canning Book. It looks lovely!

I am going to decorate the Ancestor tree later tonight for FHE - I am pretty excited to do it.
Signing off for today! Paula

Tuesday, September 28, 2010

Project #33 - Harvesting

Here are a few of the things I have harvested so far - I will add more pictures as we fill up the buckets!

Monday, September 27, 2010

Project #32 - My Fall Bucket List

My Fall Bucket List

I love this idea that is on this website. 40 Fun Ideas for Your Fall Bucket List

Here is my Bucket List for Fall

(I have copied quite a few of her's because they are great ideas!)

1. Take time to witness the leaves turning brilliant colors -notice the golds, russets, and browns. (Apparently this activity is called leaf peeping.)

“Autumn is a second spring when every leaf is a flower.” ~Albert Camus

2. Jump into a pile of freshly-raked leaves.

3. Go for a walk and take in the clean, crisp autumn air.

4. Wear a funky hat. Chase it when the wind blows it off your head.

5. Enjoy the sound of leaves crinkling and crackling underneath your shoes.

6. Make caramel apples.

DONE -7. Decorate my house for fall

8. Collect golden autumn leaves and use them to decorate your dinner table, windowsills, or any other surface you choose.

DONE 9 - Buy some autumn lights and string them with garland around my windows.

DONE 10 - Make a fall cloche

DONE 11 - Be a part of the fall party blog carnivals

12. Go to your nearest apple orchard and look for the best apples to take home. (This will be in my own yard!!!)

13. Bake an apple pie–with a flaky, light, delicious crust–from scratch.

14. Get a large tub of water, fill it with apples, gather a fun group of people, and go bobbing for apples.

15. Build a bonfire and roast marshmallows. Make S’mores.

16. Select your favorite park, arboretum, or nature preserve and go on an autumn hike.
“It was one of those perfect English autumn days which occur more frequently in memory than in life.” ~ P.D. James.

17. Go on a hayride. Choose between horse and buggy or a truck-driven hayride.

18. Visit a pumpkin patch and choose several pumpkins to take home.

19. Make pumpkin cupcakes.

20. Roast pumpkin seeds.

21. Carve your own Jack-0-Lantern.

22. Attend a Fall Festival.

DONE 23. Make a Fall Wreath and hang it from your front door.

24. Enjoy some apple cider. Get yourself a warm mug of cider and sit out on the porch or balcony when it’s cool out.

25. Get some nutmeg, cinnamon sticks, vanilla beans, and cloves, and make Fall potpourri. Add pine cones, twigs, and dried flowers.

26. Smear peanut butter over a plain unpainted pine cone and roll it in bird seeds. Hang it in a tree with a bit of yarn and watch to see what birds it attracts.

DONE 27 - Decorate my front porch for fall and halloween

28. Decorate your home for Halloween.

29. Organize a Halloween party.

30. Go trick-or-treating.

31. Watch “It’s the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown”.

32 - Gather seeds from garden for next spring

33. Listen to your favorite Halloween songs:

34. Get a big bag of fresh Brach candy corn - make some treat bags and give them away .

35 - Make 13 days before Halloween for our grandsons

36. Make a scarecrow (here’s a good tutorial).

37 - Dress up for Halloween

38. Have a Fall movie night marathon.

39. Set an elegant harvest table of Thanksgiving. Make a classic Thanksgiving meal. Remember to go around the table and have each person give thanks for at least one blessing they’ve received this year.

40 - Do an act of "giving" daily for the month of November

Project #31 - Fall!

Please stop by my Fall blog to see all I have been doing this Fall.

http://bucketsofideasforfall.blogspot.com/

Friday, September 17, 2010

Project #30 - Collecting Ideas for Future Fun for My Family

I decided to have a post that I can collect fun ideas for my familyand realized that is a project!Here is my first one - this post will have things added from time to time.

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Frisbee Golf

We have a Frisbee Golf Course here in town and it is fun. I never thought about doing that for my family - silly me! Here is a tutorial about getting your own frisbee golf game set up. Love it!