The Kansas Snokomo 1883 School House

Would children benefit learning 

in the peaceful surroundings 

of a country one room school house where they write on slate boards with chalk?  

With no overhead fluorescent lighting 

to trigger brain waves to respond at a unnatural speed,

would children learn easier without behavior problems?

Would they benefit by not breathing in formaldehyde fumes 

that come from modern walls made of glued chips 

that form particle board used in contemporary buildings?

No off gassing or outgassing in an old school house.

If laminated plastics didn't exist, 

would it make a difference in the learning environment?

I think it would.

Having fewer students in a old fashioned atmosphere 

without rushing from one classroom 

to another before the school bell rings would change the feel of the learning environment.  

Leaving the world behind would increase morale, relax the nerves and let the children enjoy a slower paced school environment. 

Take a breather.

Lil Miss with classmates had one day of school 

at the 1883 Snokomo Kansas country school house.

Inside activities and outdoors with Mother Nature.

The day was beautiful with powder blue skies 

and laughter in the air.

SO quiet and tranquility was an easy lesson to learn. 

Peaceful.

I could hear myself think.

The children enjoy their day at school.

After entering the classroom, 

the Pledge of Allegiance was spoken, places to sit were taken

and the school day officially started.

What a memorable experience to have.

Little House On The Prairie comes to mind.

Blessings to you,

d

 2 Timothy 2:15

King James Bible

Study to shew thyself approved unto God, 

a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, 

rightly dividing the word of truth.

New International Version
Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a worker who does not need to be ashamed and who correctly handles the word of truth.
New Living Translation
Work hard so you can present yourself to God and receive his approval. Be a good worker, one who does not need to be ashamed and who correctly explains the word of truth.
English Standard Version
Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a worker who has no need to be ashamed, rightly handling the word of truth.

Jibber Jabber and Stepping Back In Time

Last day of school for Lil Miss.  I picked her up from the Park as her school had a free day.  I had a diet root beer and took to the road.  Picked Hubby up from the Dentist, looked at the Hardware store to buy some picture nails, stopped by the Dollar Store.  Bought a salad for lunch to eat at the Park, sweated as I vacuumed the floor board of the car and then drove home.  

Our social life is one of going to the doctors.  Yesterday, Husband went to our Family Physician and Optician on the same day.  A Dental appointment today.  Next week, he'll have a follow up from his surgeon that removed his cancerous thyroid.  Blessed to have Health Insurance.  Blessed to have him.

It's the middle of May and Husband has bronchitis.  Last year this time, we both had it.  This didn't stop us from looking at our flowers in our yard.  A gentler side of me stops to smell the roses and admire the blossoms of all kinds of flowers.  One of my favorites are the Irises.  As I admired them, I admitted deep in my soul, I LIKE IRISES.  Beautiful blossoms.   

Last year, we didn't know what color the Irises would be that were given to us by a friend.  Square flower beds were made around two of the side yard trees.  This year they bloomed and it has been like a nice Christmas present surprise.  The alley flower bed is blooming as well.  We bought grab bags at the University Gardens Fund raiser last July.  I hope we can go again this Summer to purchase some more Bridal Wreath and other white blossoming flags.  I love 'em.  

~A STEP BACK IN TIME~

My week has been one of traveling back in time with Lil Miss as her class went to spend the day in a old Kansas country school house.  The children dressed as Pioneers.  I took some pics and then left when they started their school day writing math facts with chalk on slates with their Teacher.  I was never very good at Math.  1 plus one = trouble.  

As I drove the country roads, I went to the Paxico Antique Shop.  

Didn't stay long, but gave myself permission to admit:  I LIKE ANTIQUES.  

Driving the distance to pick Daughter up from work, we went to one of my favorite thrift shoppes and if it weren't for circling around twice down an aisle, I would have missed seeing the Anchor Hocking Boopie Glasses that I collect.  The Lord was kind to me and at a super price there were thirteen iced tea glasses for a $1.50 a piece.  For under $20 I added to my collection!  The Iced Tea Glasses have been the hardest for me to find when out and about.  I am one happy momma.

The week continues and so must I.  
Home on the range happy. 
Blessings,
d 

Feeding Your Family For Less

Ways to Spend Far Less Money

and still enjoy LIFE.

Wanna share.

Hello from The PRAIRIE.  

I'm wearing my ruby red slippers somewhere in the Kansas Flint Hills.

Thinking about ways to SAVE money.  Glad you've stopped by.

Please say HELLO,

d

 

MAKE YOUR OWN BABY FOOD

Canned fruit in water, mashed bananas, cooked peas or carrots to puree,

 are a few favorites to start with when making your own Baby Food.

As a child grows and can handle cooked foods, puree what you can from the main meal.  

Cooked vegetables such as carrots and peas can be thoroughly mashed with a fork or blended in a food processor.  
Blenders can be used as well.  
Have you thought of using a electric coffee grinder?  

Little hand operated food grinders are on the market 

that travel light when out and about.

 When making up Baby Food, make more than needed for one feeding then refrigerate the rest in small containers.  These should keep well for three days.  You might consider using an ice cube tray to freeze small portion sizes.  After the food has set by freezing, pop the cubettes in a plastic baggy for safe keeping until ready to thaw and warm up for a feeding.  Or if you like cover the tray with cellophane or place the entire ice cube tray in a large zip lock baggy.

  

After nursing my children ran its course, being bottle fed became the main source of nourishment.  Baby Formula and Juices plus some water became the norm of feeding the babes.  Depending on the Pediatrician and their philosophy at the time of the children's birth greatly determined the method of feeding and the course of action I went.  As you know sometimes the nursing comes to a halt because the fountain runs dry or mother nature's method isn't used in the first place. 

Main thing is to hold the baby while feeding them the bottle 

so they feel secure and loved.  Slow paced.  Enjoy the moment.

With my boys, Rice Cereal was added to their menu after the one month mark.  

With my daughter came a change of doctors and philosophy.  She had no cereal until she was a year old.  Prepackaged Teething Biscuits concerned me as they would break with the possibility of chocking becoming a scare.

The convenience of prepared Baby Food in the jar was a delicacy 

and luxury for our pocket book back in the day as were disposable diapers and Playtex bottles.  You might have to Google that one. 

We managed. 

I used cotton cloth diapers with cute baby diaper pens.  Plastic panties were worn to cover the diapers up to keep outer clothing dry.  When laundering the diapers I lined dried them outdoors on the clothesline and hand washed the plastic wares.  The wind ironed the clean diapers.  They dried almost as fast as I could hang them on the line.

  Glass baby bottles were used instead of Playtex plastic lined bottles or plastic bottles period until the children were over a year old.  First the bottles were washed in hot soapy water then rinsed with extremely hot water.  Finally, I boiled them in a oversize pan of water for extra sanitation.  

Also the bottle nipples.

SPARKLING CLEAN.

  

Gradually the sippy cup came into use then a regular cup.

Dried cereal like Cheerios in a baggy make for a economic snack food.  

Easy to carry in a diaper bag or oversize handbag and very affordable.

Blessings to you,

d

1 Corinthians 10:31

Whether therefore ye eat, or drink, or whatsoever ye do, do all to the glory of God.

Granny Nanny With Victorian Decorating and Summer Activities

When I look at this old image…I wonder how the dwellers managed.  The artwork was a sign of prosperity.  A way to display they were doing well.  

This particular old fashioned Parlour looks like a store to me.  Perhaps items were sold from this place…I don't know.  I understand that The Victorians thought it a plus to have the rooms filled with treasures to show off their prosperity.  This room doesn't look overly large, but it's filled with much.  If you like this style of decorating, please give me a shout out.

I'm not sure how often one would even dust.

I have a adventure living in our old Victorian stone house where the dust begets dust.  Square footage wise, our place isn't as big as it appears on the outside.  The thick 22 inch walls are great for insulation, but the house gives the illusion of a larger structure than we actually have to live in.

As I have been writing down ideas for Summer activities for Lil Miss to do, DUSTING is one of the FUN ACTIVITIES 
I thought we could do together as Gramma and Lil Miss pal around.  If I can convince my Grand daughter that this is FUN she might enjoy this activity.  She's almost seven and a half.  Instead it might be a lesson in what is necessary when keeping up a HOME.

I thought we would start our mornings out with Breakfast, grooming, getting dressed for the day and making the bed.  Depending on the day will determine which room we clean on a little bit and what other activity we will do such as listen to French Lessons, bake a cake, draw, play the piano, sew, take a walk, play in the water sprinkler…have Lunch, watch a children's movie, read, take a nap and have computer time before her Mom gets HOME from work.

Sounds good.  Now, can I pull this off?  Shall see.

I will encourage Lil Miss to have a Summer Time Prayer Journal that she keeps by writing in a spiral notebook.  Something simple.  Not only would this be a good way to practice penmanship, but also a way to encourage her to pray for others.

The School year is coming to a close.
Summer is in the forecast,
Granny d Nanny