Retro-Christmas Stockings

The first time I saw this idea was when my Aunt Phala brought one for each family at my Grandma's annual Christmas party.  These are what I call Retro-Christmas Stockings.  When I was still a newlywed, my husband's mom gave each of her children's family's one of these stockings. Growing up, he and the other siblings got at stocking each year and his mom would put their name on a slip of paper at the bottom of it so that they wouldn't get mixed up (seven children in the family).  I'm not sure of the actual history, but it seems they come from the Depression Era.  If you're thrifty, you use old, (clean) knee-hi pantyhose (stockings as we called them), however, I buy the cheapo new ones.  Then in each "stocking" you place

• about a cup of mixed nuts (in their shells--very pretty)
• an orange, couple of tangerines, and a red and green apple (I like the smaller apples)
• Christmas candy (something that won't melt!)
• and a small gift or two (could be a handmade ornament for the family tree, or for an individual, socks, gloves--a tie for men or missionaries, scarf for a woman, small toy for a child)

Distribute the items evenly throughout the stocking.  Then tie with curling ribbon.  They can be made assembly line fashion and generic so that each family gets the same thing, or you can make them by males and females each sex getting the same items.  Or if you do them for your own family members like I do (five in all), I make the small gift a little more personal.  This is also a nice gift for visiting and home teaching families and employees or coworkers.

How to Love Scouts

By the time my daughters were in Young Womens at our church, my son was beginning Scouts.  Before that, I did  Tiger Scouts with him on our own because we couldn't find a troop in our area.  This worked out fine for us because we were starting to homeschool kindergarten and I treated Tiger Scouts like another subject with fun field trips the whole family took together.  I wish I would have thought to take pictures of this but since we were not in a troop it didn't occur to me.  They wore orange shirts with matching caps.

When Bryce began Cub Scouts, I made sure the leader had something Bryce had accomplished at home to record at each meeting.  Next thing I knew, I was called to be the Cub Scout Leader for our church Cub Scouts.  We went on field trips, but mostly I helped the boys get caught up and advance.  At one family meeting there was a fun obstacle course to complete in the gym.  We did a Cake Bake where father and sons (without the help of a female) made and presented a cake and held it out at the church pavilion.  Everyone received an award.


We also had a Court of Awards where I went all out on the decorations!  I made these lanterns as centerpieces and used them at several Court of Awards.  They were made with painted Popsicle sticks and wax paper with fleur de lis (Boy Scout symbol) cut-outs on each side.  This was the second time they were used.  I used battery operated tea candles to light them.  I found all kinds of ideas just by Googling Cub Scout decorations.

When my son was in Cub Scouts, they really encouraged families to be involved.  This is a recipe holder that Bryce made with his dad's help.  I've used it ever since!

When planning a Scout meeting of any kind, I always tried to fill the entire time (60-90 minutes) and even practiced the activities ahead of time.  Because of this, most meetings (involving several short activities) transitioned smoothly and kept the boys from becoming restless.  See MORE of my Boy Scout photo gallery by clicking on Read more...

This layout shows a box car rally and field trip to a local fire house that the recent tornadoes just demolished!  There's also pics from our Blue and Gold Banquet.

Here's the Cake Bake and Relay Race from two separate family events.

This shows the boys at the Stake Raingutter Regatta and the second Blue and Gold Banquet that I did.

My husband took Bryce and Sam to the last Cub Scout event before they turned eleven and became Boy Scouts.

Rickwood Caverns is a great place for a Boy Scout over-nighter (just get permission from the Boy Scout office first!)  There are caverns to tour, a pool, group primitive camping, lots of pavilions, etc.  Here Bryce and Sam are working on many beginning requirements such as lashing, swimming, cooking, etc.  They also went to their first Boy Scout Camp near Mentone, Alabama at Top of the Mountain.  Those are the top three pictures of this two-page layout.

My husband took advantage (with a little help from moi), of all the camping opportunities for new scouts.  The stake had an 11-yr.-old campout that Sam and Bryce went to and were able to sign off quite a few requirements!

Chief Ladiga Trail in Cleburn County, Alabama is such a great place to do Cycling Badge.  They guys loaded up their bikes and headed out on several trips to the trail to finish a total of 50 miles!  They're legs looked awesome (see below pic!).

Winter Camp (right after Christmas) is a good time to get those badges that can be completed at camp (so Mom doesn't have to help you finish them at home!)  I never minded my husband taking the guys to camp (using up rare vacation time) to spend quality time with his boy and helping the other young men from church advance in Scouting.

My husband had volunteered to be the Scout Master because otherwise they weren't planning on doing Scouts--just in time for my son to become a Scout!  Apparently, not too many people at our church do 11 yr. old Scouts, even though the Stake has an event for them.  So with my help (record-keeping), my husband took on not only the new guys like Bryce and Sam but anyone else who wanted to do Scouts.  There were only a handful of us--believe it or not only 3 families!

Spencer's dad volunteered to go to summer camp and ended up writing the skit our troop was to do.  It sounded like they were very successful.  They did pretty much everything you could do at Camp Sequoyah near Mt. Cheaha.  Before they went, we did a preclinic were we got some Camping Badge and other requirements completed (see top three photos, left page).  In fact the Young Women actually ended up attending this as well.

Cornhusk Dolls

Landmark Park, Dothan, AL  2002

Members of our Junior Troop included my 9 yr. old daughter, Elise and 11 yr. old daughter Christen and a homeschool friend of Christen's.  Sidekick Bryce is working on his own cornhusk doll while the three girls demonstrate to other visitors of Landmark Park at a special event (probably Heritage or Harvest Days).  Between our homeschool group and Girl Scouts, we visited Landmark Park a lot!--usually free since we were doing some sort of service while there.  The following instructions Cornhusk Dolls can be found at Pioneer Days, by David C. King (ISBN 0439259398).

Cornhusks have a smooth side and a rough side.  Always keep the smooth side facing out.

1. If the cornhusks are green, dry them until they are straw-colored.  Place between sheets of newspaper.  Store in a warm, dry place for 5 or 6 days, or until color turns.  (Can be found in produce section of grocery store or in craft stores).
2. Cover work area with more newspapers (we used a plastic table cloth).  Soak dried husks in water for about 5 minutes before working with them.  This will make them softer and easier to shape.
3. Remove all the husks from the water and shake the water out of them.  Cover the ones you are not working with, with a damp towel.
4. Cut off the pointed tips of all the husks with craft scissors to make the shapes more alike.
5. Form the doll's head by taking a large piece of husk and folding it in half.  Stuff 3 or 4 cotton balls under the fold.  Tie a piece of heavy thread (candle wicking is good) around the husk 1 to 2 inches from the fold to create a head shape (we actually used thin pieces of cornhusks to do this).  The ends of the husks will extend several inches below the neck.
6. For the arms, cut a thin piece of husk about 7 inches long and wrap it around the 6-inch piece of wire or pipe cleaner.  Fold back the tips of the husk at each end of the wire.  Tie them with the thread at the wrists to form hands.  (You can omit the pipe cleaner/wire--they can be made without this).
7. Slide the husk-covered wire between the two halves of the husk below the figure's head to form the arms, one on each side of the body.  Carefully bend the arms into any position you wish.
8. Tie a piece of thread around the doll's waist.  Stuff 2 or 3 cotton balls between the husks to fill out the torso.
9. For a full skirt, place 3 or 4 husks around the doll's waist, but point the husks up, so that they extend above the figure's head.  Tie the husks around the waist with thread, then fold them down over the tied thread to created the skin.
10. If you would like, glue a little corn silk to the head for hair and use felt-tip pens to add facial features--eyes, eyebrows, nose, and mouth.  (I prefer not to do step 10 and leave them more natural).

making the skirt

how I like to leave the dolls

Here is the simplest version for making Cornhusk Dolls found in the Nov/Dec '98 CopyCat Magazine, p. 11.  See my post for homeschoolers or teachers of K-3rd graders: http://homemakersjournal.wordpress.com/2011/07/08/native-american-culture-activities-for-kids/indian0018/

Pioneer Handkerchief Dolls

"These are the perfect beginner sewing project for Brownie troops or for young 4-H'ers."

In the mid-1980's, when I was a young adult, I liked to go to local arts and crafts festivals.  The best one I ever went to was the Watermelon Jubilee in Ft. Deposit (Greenville), Alabama.  I bought an ink drawing by a local artist that I eventually framed, and a Handkerchief Doll.  I thought it was the most darling thing I ever saw.  I really didn't notice much about its construction until I read an article in the July 1992 Friend magazine by Judie Fordham.  She actually gave step-by-step instructions on how to make one.  This is something I wanted to share with my daughters as part of the many pioneer things I love.

Materials:

Man's large white handkerchief

1-1/4 yards, 1 inch wide colored lace or eyelet

a ruler

a  needle and thread the same color as the eyelet or lace

scissors

embroidery needle

pink and blue embroidery thread

stuffing

4 pieces of narrow ribbon 10 inches long

Sew a row of lace along one edge of the handkerchief.  Sew a second row slightly above the first.

On the opposite edge of the handkerchief, find the midpoint, then measure in 3-1/2 inches.

Embroider a pink French knot for the doll's nose.  Make two blue French-knot eyes 1/2 inch above the nose and about 1 inch apart.

Wad up enough stuffing to make a ball 2 inches in diameter.  To make the doll's head place the ball of stuffing under the face you just made, gather the handkerchief tightly around it, and tie it off at the bottom with a piece of double thread.  Tie a piece of ribbon into a bow over the double thread to make the neck.

Sew two circles of lace around the back of the head for a bonnet.  Make arms by rolling the handkerchief at each side of the head and tying in a knot, leaving 1: at each end for hands.

Make three bows out of the ribbon and sew them, equal distances apart, above the lace on the skirt.

The instructions for Handkerchief Dolls is found at the following link:

http://lds.org/friend/1992/07/handkerchief-doll?lang=eng&query=handkerchief+doll

Judie Fordham, "Pioneer Dolls," Friend, July 1992

When pioneer children were crossing the plains,

They didn't have cars, airplanes, or trains.

They walked beside wagons loaded clear to the top

With food, bedding, and seeds for the next season's crop.

There just wasn't room for a toy or a doll--

The wagons were filled with all they could haul.

So Papa's handkerchief became a new toy,

A cherished soft doll that brought lots of joy.

This cute little doll loves to play or just sleep.

She'll brush away tears if ever you weep.

So keep her close by--she's easy to hold--

And pretend you're a pioneer child of old.

HERE is an 8x10 printable of the Pioneer Dolls poem.

These instructions come from Kathy Ballard, "Pioneer Dolls 'Sew' Delightful for Small Stitchers," Country Woman, Jan/Feb 1992

Materials Needed (for one large and one small doll):
1/3 yard of white cotton fabric
Scraps of calico for skirts and scarves
Scraps of lace and ribbons for trims
Thread to match fabric
Knit-Cro-Sheen crochet thread or string
Small amount of polyester stuffing for head
Standard sewing supplies
Body:  Cut one 8 inch square of white fabric for small doll and one 12 inch square for large doll.  To form hands, tie two pieces of string or crochet thread on two adjacent corners about 1/2 inch from ends (see Fig. 1).

Head:  Place a ball of stuffing, the size of a Ping-Pong ball for small doll and the size of an egg for large doll, on fabric square, about a quarter of the way down from the top edge and centered between the hands.
Fold top of fabric over so it covers the stuffing completely; gather together under the head and tie with a piece of string (see Fig.2).  Pull arms out to each side and arrange, then bunch the rest of the fabric together under the arms and tie with another string (Fig. 2).
Skirt:  Cut out a 3 inch x 8 inch piece of calico for small doll and a 6 inch x 12 inch piece for large doll.  Hand-sew a gathering thread along one long edge of the skirt.
Pull up gathering thread and place skirt around doll beneath the arms, where the second string is.  Stitch top corners of skirt together in the back, securing the skirt to the doll at the same time.
Using two or three small stitches, hand-sew the bottom corners of the skirt together.  Trim away any of the white fabric that shows below the skirt.
Hat:  Cut a piece of lace that's long enough to fit over the top of the head, and sew it on for a hat brim.  Or make a scarf by cutting a 6 inch square for larger doll.  Fold fabric in half to form a triangle.  Place over doll's head and sew the ends of the scarf together under the chin.  Stitch to doll to hold in place.
Angel Wings:  For small doll, use a 2 inch wide of flat lace about 18 inches long for a piece of white fabric 2 inches x 18 inches.  Tie into a bow with 2 inch to 3 inch streamers and tack to back of doll just below the head.
Trims:  If desired, you can use lace to trim around the bottom of the skirt and tie scraps of ribbon around the neck waist or hands of doll.

Native American Culture Activities for Kids

Any time I can include food in teaching I try to do it--so here's my attempt.  This is so wonderful to eat. When I lived out west (Colorado and Utah) they served something similar to this (a yeast bread) and called it scones.  It was served with honey butter.

Fry Bread
Vegetable oil for frying
1 c. self-rising flour
1/2 c. hot water
In a heavy skillet, heat about 1/2-inch vegetable oil over medium-high heat.  In a medium bowl, combine flour and hot water.  Blend well.  (Mixture will be sticky.)  Turn out on a lightly floured surface.  Turn once to coat with flour.  Knead dough until smooth, about 10 turns.  Roll out to about 1/8- to 1/4-inch thickness.  Cut into squares.  Stretch each square slightly.  Fry to light golden brown on one side.  Turn and brown on other side. Makes 6 to 8 fry breads.

Two Favorites from My Library:
The Legend of the Indian Paintbrush (0590447068), retold and illustrated by Tomie dePaola
Indian Legends Unit
Legend of the Indian Paintbrush Lesson
About the Book

The First Dog (0590994433), written and illustrated by Jan Brett
Book-Related Activities
Teaching with Jan Brett Books

The shown badge (top) was left over from a Girl Scout Activity Day long-since over when I became the troop leader.  I decided to do a Native American homeschool unit with my three children to use up the leftover badges.  We often went to the Kolomoki Mounds State Park in nearby Blakely, Georgia so our interest in Native American history was already peaked.

They have camping facilities, but we mostly liked to go to their museum which featured an open mound.  My kids liked it so much they made their own replica of the inside of an Native American mound.

One of the activities for our badge was to make a Native American musical instrument.  So we made drums and drew "Indian-like" drawings on them.

The kids enjoyed making tepees--instructions are included in the unit below.

Go to http://homemakersjournal.wordpress.com/2011/07/08/native-american-culture-activities-for-kids/ to find the appendix to this unit.

Origami Earrings

Elise made these for me as a gift.

Here's a fun activity that my daughters enjoyed when they were in their tweens.  One summer I bought the book and materials for them and they did this completely on their own!  The book is, Friendship Origami, by Jill Smolinski (ISBN 0737398590)

Art Badge Camp

Our Temporary Art Gallery

In the South, the advent of summer vacation is always marked by church posters advertising VBS ... Vacation Bible School. You can't miss it--they're everywhere! I can remember one summer, as a little girl, walking with my cousins to the nearest church to attend Vacation Bible School. VBS is mostly given in the evenings these days, but back then, there were enough homemakers sufficient to provide it during the daytime.  

For the most part I enjoyed the experience and many times when my children were young, I wondered why the LDS didn't do something "like unto it." So one summer, as I was helping with Cub Scouts and Webelos, I offered to put on an "Art Camp" in order to get through a pretty involved Cub Scout Art Badge. I think it was only two or three days, and I had one other mom as a helper. I think we did pizza one day, and they brought their lunches the other days.  

Most of the boys pictured are wearing one of their first art projects: screen-printing t-shirts. Of course our's say "Scout Art Camp." Each boy brought their own t-shirts and I had plenty of paints left over from past Girl Scout projects. These shirts made good art smocks so their clothes stayed clean.