One-room schools existed throughout America in its early days and still are in operation in a few rural areas.  I attended one of these during my first four years of schooling and have fond memories of teachers and friends.  I thought it fun to discuss these schools in conjunction with “back-to-school” theme week.
This type of education runs deep in my family, since my sister, brothers and I attended a one-room school, as did my parents and grandparents.  My mom and her mother were teachers in one-room schools, along with many of Mother’s cousins.  My paternal great grandmother also was a …read more

For most students, it’s back to school, whether they’re attending classrooms or being home schooled.  At our household, our granddaughter has entered college in another state and grandson entered high school.  Big changes in their lives and ours.
In your home, there must be excited youngsters who are embarking upon new adventures in a new year at school.  Or you may be planning learning activities at home.
This was an exciting time when I was a youngster, too.  New clothing, new shoes, a new bookbag and possibly a new lunch box.  Mother didn’t have a great deal of money to spend, but …read more

A friend mentioned the thunderstorms in her area this summer and then reminisced about overcoming her fear when she was a child.  She learned to have a healthy respect for lightning, from a safety viewpoint, but she didn’t panic every time a storm was predicted.
This brought back memories of my early fear of this natural phenomenon. (Remember this is Nature Theme Week in my Parenting posts, so lightning ties in!)  However, Mother’s calmness and prayers, her explanation of how and why lightning occurs, gave me a sense of peace.
I tried to impart this to my daughter and grandchildren, so they …read more

In keeping with the Theme of the Week – Nature, in my Blisstree Parenting posts, I thought it would be fun to come up with at least 13 quilt patterns with names relating to nature.  I know there are many more, but here are 13 I selected from among the traditional patterns.
You may work in nature related themes in your fabric art.  Share with us something you’ve done in this area, whether it’s an original pattern or a traditional one.

Butterfly Quilt
Dresden Flowers
Blazing Star
English Flower Garden
Grandmother’s Flower Garden
Honey Bee
Maple Leaf
Ocean Wave
Palm Leaf
Spider Web
Strawberry
Sunbeam
Wild Goose Chase

What else can you think of?

Nature and the out-of-doors comprise our theme this week.  What can you and your youngsters do this week that’s related to nature (learning about it, preserving it and enjoying it)?

Take walks around your neighborhood and find natural objects you can learn about.
Pick up trash as you take your walks…you’re helping keep your environment green and clean.
Collect objects you can use for nature crafts…stones, shells, fallen leaves, acorns, unusual sticks, and more.
Listen to the birds and try to identify them by sound and sight.  Keep a list and add to it.  Mother taught me to take time to listen to the …read more

Since I’ve dubbed this Picnic Theme Week for readers of my Blisstree Parenting posts, it’s an ideal time to mention kids cooking or family food preparation.  Many picnic foods are fairly simple, so why not let the youngsters help or even do all the preparation?
Most kids beg to help in the kitchen when they’re young, but moms sometimes feel they don’t have the time to let inexperienced fingers at the food.  So sandwich making may be a good way to learn.
I recall a 4-year old niece being so excited because I let her help me make lunch sandwiches.  Apparently she’d never had this experience before, so …read more

Picnics for youngsters provide special fun and create memories, the  topic for this week,  Picnic Theme Week.  Throughout the summer and into fall, many occasions arise for picnics, whether in the backyard or during travels.
These are times for gathering picnic memories to share in later years with children and grandchildren.  Some picnics also become annual affairs and create traditions in families.
The types of foods prepared or toted along are many.  You can barbecue on the spot or make sandwiches and salads to enjoy during meal breaks.
Picnic possibilities:

Make sandwiches to take in a cooler during travels.  My dad liked to take Sunday drives …read more

In my Parenting posts here at Blisstree, I’ve been featuring Theme Weeks throughout the summer with information and activities for youngsters.  Since this is Mountain & Camping Theme Week, I thought I’d see what suggestions there are for mountain quilt patterns.
Among the older and traditional pattern designs, I found:

Rocky Mountains
Moon Over the Mountain
Delectable Mountains
Rocky Mountain Road
Saw Tooth (there also are mountains of this name)

Many quilters nowadays are creating quilts, quilt hangings and mixed media from pictures of mountains, either photos they’ve taken or ones that have inspired them.  They also print photos onto fabric, from their computer, to make the …read more

Since this is Mountain Theme Week, I’m going to quiz you on some mountains.  See how many of the following you’ve heard of.  Then do you know which state or states in the United States where they’re located.  Have you ever visited any of them?  Do you live in any of them? 
Why not locate them on a map?  Read about them?

Rocky Mountains
Smoky Mountains
Green Mountains
White Mountains
Appalachian Mountains
Pocono Mountains
Adirondack Mountains
Cascade Mountains
Sierra Nevada Mountains
Catskill Mountains
Ozark Mountains

How many do you know?

Exploring mountains, along with backpacking and camping, provides a great deal of summer fun for many families.  When our daughter was a teen, my husband and I enjoyed many mountain excursions with her, both in our home state of New Hampshire and the Rocky Mountains of the American West.
These experiences made memories we discuss today and share with her children.  Her life situation is different, so that they don’t do much camping, but take day trips in our New Hampshire area for geocaching. 
Each family has its own form of recreation and family entertainment while exploring mountains…hiking, camping, swimming in lakes, driving …read more