Our Reading Corner

I’ve been doing a lot of organizing at my house and this is one of the areas that was on my list.
Our bookshelf was overloaded. I’ve been contemplating what to do with all the books for a while now. I wasn’t willing to get rid of a large quantity of them, although I did sort through them.

I didn’t want to get rid of the shelf all together, although I considered it.  Instead I decided to look for bins to put on the shelves and have less books out at once.

I know this is not a new concept but it’s new for us. Since I’ve been doing a major amount of organizing in my day care storage area (basement), I’m confident that I will be able to easily find my theme books each month when I rotate my supplies. I am not ready to show pictures of that area yet - one thing leads to another so the project has grown. 

Green baskets are from the Dollar Tree. Can’t beat $1/bin!
The blue mesh hanging organizer is from IKEA.  Read here about my puppet stand.
I think we’re going to like this so much better!

Chocolate Chip Banana Muffins

*Originally I found this recipe on Allrecipes.com. It was submitted by Lois Gordon. I no longer see it online.

Ingredients:

• 1 3/4 cups all-purpose flour
• 3/4 cup sugar (I use less, try 1/2 of this, about 6 T)
• 1 teaspoon baking powder
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1 egg
• 1/2 cup vegetable oil
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 1 cup mashed ripe bananas
• 3/4 cup semi-sweet chocolate chips

Directions:

1. In a large bowl, combine the flour, sugar, baking powder, baking soda and salt.
2. In another bowl, combine the egg, oil, yogurt and vanilla.
3. Stir into dry ingredients just until moistened.
4. Fold in bananas and chocolate chips.
5. Fill greased or paper-lined muffin cups 2/3 full.
6. Bake at 350*F for 22-25 minutes or until toothpick comes out clean.
7. Cool for 5 minutes before removing from pans to wire racks.

Race Track Car Painting Printable

Painting is so much fun with cars on a race track!

Race Track Car Painting Printable|Google|Scribd

Race Track Car Painting Printable|Google|Scribd

A Sunday Afternoon Near You

Cousin pics! Brett has 2 cousins. Kyle is 19.

Kira is 14.

These three, they’re some of the best kids in the world.

And this one, he’s charming & funny.

This was a beautiful sunny fall day in Sun Prairie, WI at The Cannery Grill. What a neat area.

We’re Going on a Leaf Hunt

We’re going to find some pretty ones!

Here’s some red ones…

and some yellow ones.

Here’s a green one!

And here’s a bunch  more!

And then we’ll make some leaf collages.

On the Go|Preschool Transportation Activities PT 2

Transportation Activities Part 1 here

Shape trucks 

“take out” trucks – A Mother Goose Time kit

 

Masking tape table roads

I made the roads on our table top with masking tape. I used this tape from Lakeshore Learning

We added street signs, plants and buildings from other play sets.

Parking lot

• Transportation Activities Part 1 here

• Race Track Car Painting

What to do with a bag of sticks

One Saturday morning at the end of September, I woke up and decided to go to the farmer’s market. It was a beautiful morning and I had such a good time by myself. Our market isn’t very big but it’s nice & the weather was sunny and beautiful. I was intrigued when I came across these bagged wood sticks – what did I need them for? I see the sign said “BBQ & smoking wood” but I knew I wouldn’t use it for that. We just don’t do that ever.

Then I realized, my rabbits would like the fruit woods to chew on. They chew the bark off. So I picked a bag of the pear wood sticks. As I walked around, several times I was asked, “What are you going to do with that bag of sticks?” So it got me thinking. Sounds like a challenge to me!

I’ve used many of them for the rabbits to chew on.

It was also on my mind to use the sticks for art or crafts for my day care. So we painted with sticks. That went over very well!

I also wanted to try some decorating projects with some of the sticks. I really like the fall colors and my home is mostly decorated in these tones. Using hot glue & sticks I covered a votive cup. It looks great but I can’t say whether or not it was success. After lighting the candle and burning it briefly, the hot glue became warm and the sticks could easily come loose. They didn’t fall off but I wonder if there’s a better method? I also covered a tall tin can with burlap and the glued sticks around it for a vase. Very cute! How about sticks in a jar, a basket or a pitcher?

 

I bundled another bunch of sticks and tied them with burlap & added a fall pick.

Simple, inexpensive décor is what I like.

I will definitely buy another bag of sticks at the farmer’s market! I have more ideas! Fall is about over but these ideas can definitely cross into winter.