Gifts that Keep Giving...

The fall is full of birthdays here in the Dickenson home.  Raegan is a September baby and Pyper is a November baby.  I have carefully thought out our position on toys, and have requested specific toys from family and friends.  This is a touchy subject because I don't want to offend any one's good intentions.  But these are our children, and we want to raise them our way.   I don't want toys that require batteries.  There!  I said it!  You may think I'm keeping my kids in a bubble, but it's OUR bubble.  It's not so much the noise of the blinky, beepy, annoying toys that I'm trying to discourage.  (Although, I must admit, that is SOME of it!) I am trying to ENcourage my children's imaginations by having THEM create the sounds.  I don't want to rob them of creativity or imagination.  So, please, don't send my girls any toys that require batteries.  It will immediately go into the Goodwill pile. 

Here's a sneak peak of what we have already given or will to be given.  Pyper is big into role playing, being a "mommy" and cooking.  You'll see in this past post: http://farmwithoutaname.blogspot.com/2012/03/all-natural.html, that I have already bought Pyper several great items for her birthday and Christmas.  I try to buy year round, when items are on sale, so it doesn't hit us all at once in the fall.  My dad is making the girls a wooden washer and dryer.  I can't wait to see the end result!!!

Pyper has already made several batches of real cookies, chicken and dumplings and other dishes with me.  I thought she'd really enjoy this baking set.

This is a little family set for Raegan.  It's small for her little hands.  She can put the sleeping bags on each family member, and start to associate color and size difference. 

Pyper is fascinated with how things work.  I found this great tool set with nuts, bolts, washers and wrenches on Etsy.  Many people think that tools are primarily for boys.  Not at all--at least not in our house!  I like how open ended this toy is, and I can really see Pyper enjoying it.

  

These are large play silks for Raegan.  She is so tactile driven, playing with hair, touching fur, taking food out of her mouth to examine it.  I thought she would love the color and texture of these silks.  Pyper and Hunter will enjoy them too...they can be made into capes, the sky, long Rapunzel hair, grass, etc...the choices are endless.

This past summer, Pyper fished out her winter coats to play with the zippers.  She would sleep in her coats, wear them outside in the heat, and eat with them on.  She is very determined to "do it myself!"  She now can zip her coat up without any assistance.  I found these dressing frames and thought they would satisfy Pyper's love of "working things out."  Snaps, zippers, buckles and ties.  I refuse to hold her back due to her age, and have promised to make whatever thing accessible within limits.   Who says a 3 year old can't learn to tie shoes?  

These are simple plates, bowls spoons, forks and knives.  Pyper will enjoy role playing with these, washing them, and I plan on teaching her to set a table correctly. 

More role playing toys.

We got these lacing beads for Raegan's birthday.  Right now, she's interested in dumping them out, and putting them back in the bag.  Soon, though, she will follow Pyper's lead and lace them, which will encourage fine motor skills, concentration and focus. 

These cute nesting bowls are for Raegan.  Not only will she stack them, but she'll probably sort the beads in the above picture and put them into the corresponding bowl.  The possibilities are endless.
We got this walker for Raegan and she tears up the hallways!  I love the soft clickity-clack of the woodpecker's bills on the wood.   

Gone to the Dogs

The rescue where we adopted Naki, Imminent Danger German Shepherd Rescue, is having a drive for items they need.  Since Deb, the owner and lady that found us Naki, is so wonderful, we have decided to try to meet the needs of the rescue.  They need dog bowls, food, collars, leashes, toys, medicine, bleach and paper towels, and dog beds.  I love to sew, and I love saving money, so I started thinking of how I can donate dog beds in my tight budget.  They're expensive brand new at the store!!!  I had an old comforter that I've had for 5+ years that I washed and stored away.  I no longer was crazy about the pattern, and thought it would be good for camping.  SO, I got to thinking...scary when that happens!  I laid it out, and cut into fourths.  Perfect sized dog beds for large German Shepherds. 

 Itty wanted to inspect my work...

 Then Naki came along and made herself comfortable.

 I used a large zig-zag stitch on my sewing machine and sewed up the 2 raw sides being sure to sew down the batting.  Naki approved of my work!

 Hammish really liked it too.

Hannibal didn't want to be left out, and I found him trying it out.   These beds are bigger than I had anticipated, but can easily be folded to fit into a crate.  I just like knowing that precious rescued dogs will be enjoying them this winter!

RATS...and eggs

I had started to notice that we were going through about 50 lbs of chicken feed every week.  That's a lot of food and ultimately, a lot of $$ for 8 regular sized chickens and 2 pullets (Fannie and Barry.)  I knew we had a pest problem.  I knew this because every night, when I would open the coop door (from the inside of the barn) and walk in, the mass exodus of rats and field mice would jump from the 3 lbs hanging feeder to high tail it out of my sight.  One rat was so fat that when he/she tried escaping through the hole in the corner, he/she literally got stuck.  It had to back out, and try another avenue of escape.  I decided to wage war against the rats and mice.  So, I bought these great tomcat rat traps.  I chose these because only rats and mice can enter and exit.  My chickens, cats and dogs--and kids!-wouldn't have a chance to get a hold of the poison.  The rats enter, eat the poisoned blocks, and exit.  I added a bit of feed inside to really make it tempting.  Within a week, the rats and mice were exterminated and now my barn smells like death.  Oh, well.  Hammish cat does a great job mousing, but some of these mice are half his body length.  Nasty critters.

 These are the traps I used.  Wonderful design and VERY effective...see pic below...(and these are relatively SMALL compared to the others we found in later days...)

 This was the death count the first day Pyper and I went out looking for dead rats.  Pyper was fascinated by them, and when I lined them up, she neatly counted each of them.  Who said you can't teach kids on the farm???  These are the ones we could find.  There are still several more in the hay, behind the pile of wood, in their little nests, etc...I couldn't get to them, but we smell them.  It's pretty nasty, but it's better than feeding them. 

 After getting rid of the dead bodies, we let the girls and guy out.  Can you spot Fannie and Barry?  Their not so little anymore!  (My toe is pointing to Fannie and directly behind her is Barry.)  Pyper loves to count the chickens.  It's great since we have 10 and she's comfortable counting that high. 

As Pyper and I were looking through the barn for more rat carcasses, we found Foghorn Leghorn's little nest of eggs.  We know these are hers as she is our only white egg layer.  I love my barn.  I just wish I more time to spend in there...minus the stinky smell of decaying rats. 

The Tables Have Turned

Have you ever heard of a nature table?  I hadn't either, until I started reading about Waldorf and Charlotte Mason education methodologies. 

What is it, you may ask?  It is an area where things are brought in from outside to reflect the changes of the seasons. Things on the nature table are meant to be gently played with and inspected by the children of the house and let them explore the wonders of God's creation as it changes throughout the year.

I have been holding off on incorporating a nature table at our house, as I was concerned with little hands breaking things, little ones choking on things, and honestly, what others may say.  I've really only seen it done in one other house.  And I must admit, I always look at it with longing...I realized that Jenn, our nanny was already doing a nature table if she knew it or not.  On the outside table one day last week, there was an assortment of black walnuts, leaves, sticks, and chicken feathers.  I asked her what it was, and Pyper said, "Mommy, these are my treasures!"  While outside, Jenn had the little ones pick up things on their adventures that interested them and put them on the table.  She told them they were treasures.  How true.  I realized I needed to change my perspective.  We have the perfect table to dedicate to God's treasures.  I'm looking forward to starting it. 

 My friend, Brandy, has been incorporating a nature table into their family's rhythm and home for quite some time.  I hope she doesn't mind me stealing showcasing her autumn table.  I did try calling her to ask permission, but she didn't answer.  I think she makes the prettiest ones.

This is a pretty winter table.  I might use a white play silk to cover the table since we live in an area with snow. If you live in an area without snow, you could use a light tan one, or even a piece or burlap to reflect the brown that most of the earth is as it goes through winter. We might have a bulb in a jar that we are 'forcing' and it is still dormant, but ready to spring forth with life soon. We could have some pine cones that fell from the tree out back, as well as a vase full of evergreen boughs. We could have some pebbles that we found on our walk, and arrange them in a path shape that leads up to a little house we made of bark that fell off a tree. We could have angels out of wool, or even use wool on the 'ground' of our scene to look like snow. We could have a ball of yarn that we are going to knit into mittens, with the work in progress. Which reminds me, I would LOVE to learn to knit!!!  We could have a mirror on the ground to look like a pond that has turned into ice, and we could prop up a branch that has no leaves on it to reflect all the trees that have gone dormant for the winter.

 I really like this Spring table and how it incorporates books with a Spring time theme.  I think I will do the same, as Pyper loves books and narrating what she "reads" in the pictures. 

A nice summer table.  Your creativity can really take off as you explore the different items you could display for each season.  I think if you had a beach vacation, perhaps you could collect sea shells, save some sand, maybe add a live hermit crab, and add a favorite mermaid to the table to make your vacation last longer. 

Do you think you'll start a nature table?  I am.  I can't wait!

It was GRAND!

 We had such an outpouring abundance of love and support from our family and friends for our Grand Opening Party at the pharmacy last weekend.  Things are only getting better, too.  So, for all of you out there that helped, came and played, ate, and laughed with us, "Thank you!"

 My dad worked at the snow cone machine.  It was the greatest success of all.  The kids (and adults!) were lined up for snow cones!

 Jenn worked her booty off that day and that whole week.  We would be lost without her.  She is such a great nanny to our girls, and now she has even insisted on mowing our grass!  I think it's because she couldn't stand the way I did it!  ha!

 I love my Mother in law, Sharon.  The food was a huge success because of her!

 My amazing mom.  She really helped me stay calm (or as calm as to be expected) and watched the kids.  She's my rock. 

 Fauna whispering sweet nothings into Joshua's ear...

 My big 1 year old, Itty. 

 Pyper SO enjoyed the bouncy house

 Jay was the winner of the 39" TV

Our sweet Willow enjoying her Barbi

One Year Ago...

Our sweet Raegan Ellis was born.  Our lives were changed by this easy going, loves to be held/worn, ginger baby.  Her smile will light up a room and warm your heart, and her big blue eyes captivate you.  Happy Birthday, Itty.  May all your dreams come true.  Ours have.