Creative Creator

For the past week, it had been too hot to walk Maxie during the day.  So, we took her and JJ for a walk in the evening.  At the school field, JJ picked up a few interesting looking pods that looked like small wooden spoons left on the ground.  I looked up and saw more hanging from a large tree, along with many pinkish red bell-shaped flowers. 

  I was in awe of God's creation.  Then, these verses came to mind:

"Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made."--John 1:3

"For in him all things were created: things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities; all things have been created through him and for him."

--Colossians 1:16

"For from him and through him and for him are all things. To him be the glory forever! Amen."

--Romans 11:36

  There's no one like my God.

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Compost Box Tutorial

Pinterest is a wonderful resource for all kinds of DIY projects.  I have been so inspired that I finally invested time doing research and installing a drip irrigation system for the front porch.  With that, the front porch project grew.  I got more plants to pot and found more tips to keep the plants healthy and happy.  Making compost then became a no-brainer.  According to several pinners, I do not need an expensive compost bin.  Just a few simple materials/tools could get any rookie like me started.  

I found a large 30 gallon storage bin I got from the Halloween sale and emptied the bin by dumping all the content into another container.   The bin is ideal since it has a latch lid to keep my dog and cat all pests away.  I use my handy dandy Fiskars hand drill to create holes on the lid, on the bottom and the side of the bin for aeration .  Hubby was laughing at my slow drilling and offered help with his power tool.  Thanks, honey, but no thanks.  I could not believe how easy it was and how much satisfaction came out of all that drilling!  It was so much fun that each of my 3 kids begged to help.  Yap, they begged because mama did not want to share her hand drill.  I had to very gently remind them that I did not need hundreds of holes drilled.  Please note that when JJ drilled the holes, my hand was holding the drill so she could turn the rotary handle and not hurt herself and her mom.  (I asked her to pause and post for these shots.)  JJ noted that the shaving looked like dried shrimp!  LOL.
After marking/decorating the bin, JJ and I placed crumpled up newspaper at the bottom of bin, sprayed water (the materials should be as damp as a rung out sponge), placed the composting ingredients on top (vegetable/fruit peels and bread crumbs mostly; no meat/fish, bones, grease or dairy), and topped with shredded paper to avoid stench.  Close the latch lid, place the bin outside the kitchen on top of another plastic lid to catch any leaks and voila!
I have been diligently collecting kitchen scraps for my compost box, keeping the layers of the content one green (kitchen scraps), one brown (shredded paper and leaves), and using a shovel to turn the content every 1-2 weeks.  In a few months, I should be able to "harvest" the compost!  My plants WILL thank me.

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The Gift of Life

Scarlet Runner Beans

Right before school ended last year, for the science unit, Ms. W let each student plant a scarlet runner bean (see how big those beans are?).  Soon, JJ came home with a 5" tall plant in a foam cup.  She was so thrilled to have her very own plant that she watered and watched the plant grow every day.  As the plant grew taller, it started to become floppy.  With my help, JJ transferred it to a terracotta pot with stakes (...well, they were really space filler pieces from an IKEA shelve packaging, disposable chopsticks, garbage bag ties and long rubber bands). 

Sitting on the kitchen windowsill, the bean plant flourished.  It was funny to see the vines tended to cling to the window to kiss the sun.  Then, we spotted the white and yellow bean blossoms, though most just withered after a few days.  Just when we thought nothing else would grow out of this plant, JJ went into the kitchen one afternoon and squealed with delight.  Without fanfare, a slightly curved oblong bean pot had been quietly forming.  By the time JJ picked it, the pod was almost as long as her palm.  Curiously, when JJ opened the pod, she found the bean inside to be creamy white, instead of scarlet, like its mother plant.  We planted the white bean a few weeks ago and found it sprouted this morning (exactly a year after the mother plant was planted)!  Life just keeps on giving.  Isn't it a beautiful thing?

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Starting A Collection?

Just not long ago, I was gifted with a cute mug from auntie Shu-jen.  For some reason, I thought the chick looked awfully familiar.  Then, JJ exclaimed: "Mom, I have the same chick!" and showed me her cute Piyo Piyo chick piggy bank (back of the picture) from uncle T.  They now sit together on our display shelf, keeping each other company.  Love the vibrant colors and the adorable eyes.  The thought of collecting Piyo Piyo crossed my mind for a second.  Then I quickly scratched it off my head.  I, for one, know too well the price one needs to pay for a collection--the time, the attention, the money, the space...etc.  Nah, let's just keep these two and make sure they don't multiply.
 

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JJ's Loose Teeth & Teeth Pouch

Within 3 weeks, JJ lost 2 baby teeth!  Both during dinner time.  We were all thankful that JJ did not swallow them with her food.  JJ got to be on her class "tooth chart" twice!  (Her teacher, Mrs. O is so brilliant!  She knows how to put a proud smile on those young faces even when they talk funny.)

F was more excited than JJ.  "You could ask mom to make you a reindeer pouch for your loose teeth!" she said.  So mom had one more chore on her to-do-list.  Thank goodness, this one was fun.  This teeth pouch was based on  this tutorial from my little mochi.  JJ wanted the pouch to look just like her sister's but with pink ears.
Now, if I could just stop playing the tune of "All I Want For Christmas Is My Two Front Teeth" in my head...

JJ's 1st  Loose Tooth & Permanent Tooth

 

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Mason Jar Happy Flowers

This spring, JJ and I planted wildflower seeds in the front yard.  Not knowing how the flower bed would look like, we watered and weed diligently, even supplemented with plant food periodically.  Since I have "the finger of death" (from the record of numerous dead plants), I did not have high hopes.  Then, one early May  day, we noticed the 1st sign of life.  After that, things just took off on their own.

We had different flowers come and go during the past three months.  Right now, the flower bed is filled with Rudbeckia Hirta (black-eyed Susan).  These vibrant colored flowers make me smile.  If I could hug them like teddy bears, I would.  They are my "happy flowers".  They have been working hard growing toward the sun that there are too many of them crowded in the front yard.  The heavy flower heads bend the stems.  I, then, had my chance to cut a bunch of them and brought them indoors.  My labor with JJ still makes me smile.

 

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Tutoril: DIY Western Paper Bunting

When it comes to decorating a classroom for VBS week, I want something that will not take away my time preparing for the lessons, easy and cheap.  To add color to the room, I thought buntings might do the trick.  I've searched high and low for western themed scrapbook pages or stamps and found nothing.  What to do?  DIY.  This is super easy.  I had JJ help me with this project.  She was able to fold, draw lines, cut, stamp and staple.  If she could do this, so could you.

Materials:

A: 18" x 12" Construction Paper in red, white and blue.

B: Sample tiles from Home Depot (as the stamp wood mount)

C: Small foam sheets (any color)

D: Stapler

E: Black ink pad

F: Ruler

G: Pencil

H: Yarn

(others: a pair of scissors)

 Making the stamps:
1. Draw paisley shapes, small circles and irregular blotchy cow prints on the foam using a Sharpie.
2. Cut out the shapes.  (note: cor the paisley, I cut out every ring first, then tossed the 2nd largest and the smallest pieces).  Glue the foam pieces to the back of the sample tiles.
2. Ink and stamp away!

Cutting the triangles for the bunting:

1. Fold the construction paper in half widthwise (so it becomes 18: x 6").  Fold in half lengthwise and then in third (dividing into 6 equal rectangles).  Use the pencil to draw diagonal lines in each rectangle as pictured.

2. Cut on the drawn lines.  You will end up with three different shapes.  Cut the diamond shape in the middle to make two triangles.  DO NOT toss away the small right angle triangles yet.  Save them to make a smaller size bunting!

3-4. Stamp the blue and red triangles with the paisley stamp and the white with the cow print stamp.

5. Take the small right angle triangles and draw a equilateral triangle as pictured. Cut on the line.

6.  When stamping the smaller triangles, arrange them as pictured at the bottom, so you only need to stamp once to get the image on three pieces.

Assembling: 

1. Stack the triangles according to their colors and sizes.

2. Flip the triangle so the un-stamped side is shown.  Place a piece of yarn on the base of the triangle, leaving a 5" tail (to tie later on).  Sandwich the triangle and yarn in between the crimp area and staple away.  I stapled at three different points to insure security of the yarn.

3. There you have it.  Two different sizes of paper western buntings!

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JJ's New Math Skill--Carry Over Subtraction

Recently I got a set of wooden number rods (similar to the Montessori Number Rods, only in different colors and fit in a child's palm) at a sale for $1.  I write numbers on them to identify their lengths.  Then, I use them to introduce the concept of carry over subtraction to JJ.  Here's how:

1. Set the minuend (the number that is to be subtracted from) using number rods.  In this case, 15--1 ten rod and 1 five rod.
2. Since the subtrahend (the number that is to be subtracted) is greater than the one's place of the minuend, JJ needs to substitute the ten rod with 10 ones cubes. 
3. Remove the ten rod.
4. From the 10 ones cubes, subtract the subtrahend.  In this case, 6 ones cubes.
5. Remove the cubes and get the difference.  Start by saying the name of the number rod (5), then add the remaining ones cubes to that number (6, 7, 8, 9).  Easy?  JJ thinks so, too.

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I Love You More Than This

For a few weeks, JJ and I played the "I Love You More Than..." game right before her afternoon naps.  Then, one day, JJ asked when she'd get a special Me & Mommy journal (picture below) just like her sister's.

That's when an inspiration stroke.  I gave JJ a small 5x5 scrap book and some 3D stickers and asked her to decorate the cover (with my supervision, of course).  Then, we started taking turns writing and drawing on the pages.  Since JJ has learned many words and how to look up words in a dictionary, she has no problem expressing her thoughts.  We have had much fun doodling and reading what the other person writes on the pages.  JJ would read this book over and over during the day and ask if I like what she's done.

As I write "Dear JJ, I love you more than (this)" each time, I pray that she will grow her love for Jesus day by day.  So when He asks her, "JJ, do you love me more than these? (John 21:15)", she will gladly answer, "Of course, I do!" without hesitation.
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Party with JJ

After reading "Princess Posey and the Monster Stew", JJ made two party hats, one for herself, one for Jimmy, her dolly, following the instruction in the back of the book.  

So, what are you two celebrating? End of the school, perhaps?

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JJ's Dance Costume

Right before school ends, it's probably the busiest time of the year.  Life seems to be jammed in the midst of finishing up assignments and tests, band concerts, class parties, and preparations for graduations.  Swim competitions are already in full swing since May.  Dance rehearsals for end of the year performances take up at least a full week.  And taking dance pictures is in the middle of all activities.
JJ's dance costume is not much different from last year.  Well, I remember the same puffy tutu, polka dots and the feathers...fine, this year is hot pink instead of sliver and black; but basically, same same lah.

Phew.  Glad the hour long dance photo is done.  Now everyone could smile.
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