Edible Periodic Table, anyone?

This year in homeschooling, Katie is taking Exploring Creation With Chemistry & Michael is taking Exploring Creation with Chemistry and Physics (Young Explorer Series).  And both, of course, are learning about the different elements & the periodic table.  One of the projects that Michael had listed in his book was to make a colorful, edible periodic table.

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We made lots of homemade French buttercream icing and sugar cookies, and then we got to work icing and labeling each one with an element.

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  Here’s the crew after all their hard work is done! 20131003_142701And here they are enjoying the fruits of their labor!

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20131003_142852And the really good thing about all this is we got to share our edible elements with good friends & family!

This is just one more reason that I love homeschooling.  We had a lot of fun choosing which element we wanted to eat & taking the time to find the names of each one (and trying to pronounce them! LOL).  I love the fact that learning can be fun for them (and me) and that they love learning about new things.

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For a precious baby boy….

Some dear friends’ of ours recently had their first baby, a sweet baby boy.  I wanted to do something special for this sweet little one.  So, once I found out the nursery theme, I got out my hooks & yarn & set to work.  His nursery theme is a nautical theme, so the colors I chose worked out beautifully!

The first blanket is an Ocean Waves pattern that is extremely versatile.  But, the waves pattern fit with what I was looking for.  It’s rectangular shape makes it so that it can easily be used with a car seat, swing, etc.

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I ended up making two because I came across this next pattern and just knew that I had to make it for the sweet little one, as well.  I ended up having just enough yarn for both!  This pattern is called Chromium Star Blanket.  By using the same colors, it reminds me very much of fireworks!

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I was so please with how they turned out, and mom & dad loved them!  I pray that their precious little boy has many years of enjoyment out of them.

My 2013 Fair Entry: Sunshine & Shade Crocheted Afghan

Our local county fair was later this year than normal, and the entries were only about 1/3 of what they normally are.  This makes me sad because I so enjoy seeing what everyone makes each year in all the different divisions.  It was also a little disappointing, especially since my afghan was the only one entered in my division.   In the rules, if there is only one entry, it automatically takes 2nd place.  So, not only was I surprised to see mine as the only entry, but I was also surprised to see a blue ribbon!  No matter.  I absolutely love my afghan and am looking forward to curling up with it during the cold winter days with a good book or my next crochet project & a nice cup of hot tea or hot cocoa.

I patterned after the log cabin quilt pattern: sunshine & shade.  I love how the colors came together.  The border is my own little added touch.  No pattern for it – just the one that came together out of my head!

Sunshine & Shade Afghan Quilt