Covered Bridge

It's been a rainy weekend so we've been hanging out inside today. Yesterday we ventured out for a birthday party and shopping. Nature Girl got to wear her new rain coat and use the matching umbrella. Here she is pictured in the box with her umbrella on the day it arrived. This cardboard boat and umbrella is the perfect set up for our weather this weekend! that brings me to the covered bridge part of my post.


Last weekend we went to Vermont to visit my mom and Gram. We stopped to check out this covered bridge. It's the Bath-Haverhill covered bridge. For more facts on the bridge go here. This is the inside of the bridge. It's pretty amazing to think it's built out of wood. It was recently renovated and rededicated. You can no longer drive over it. There is a side walk part on the side of the bridge with a bench to sit on. Nature Girl loved the view exclaiming "Mommy isn't that so beautiful!"
This is the view from the other side of the bridge. I love the sign "$5 fine for riding or driving over this bridge faster than a walk." We've been talking o Nature Girl about the time when people didn't have cars and used horses to get around so it was neat to be able to show her this covered bridge. eventually I hope to read The Little House on the Prairie Series to her and take her to the Almanzo Wilder Farm in NY. I think she's still a little young.
Here's our self portrait taken at the covered bridge. I'm planning to take Nature Girl to the Bath covered Bridge next time we're in VT. You can drive your car over that one. I think she'll enjoy it. We're planning to go back to VT in a few weeks to visit and take in the fall scenery. It will be beautiful! Happy fall everyone!

Fall has arrived!

So fall has officially arrived. For me I feel like fall arrived back on August 20th when I walked back through the doors of school for teacher workshops. After a four and a half year break it's been a big transition! Nature Girl has handled it very well and my husband has been fabulous about helping me through the transition. It's been hardest on me but this week I finally feel like I'm beginning to adjust to school life again. Let's hope that continues.
We're in the midst of a rainy weekend so my proposed trip to the apple orchard will have to be postponed until next weekend. But never fear Nature Girl has already gone to the orchard on a class field trip. Her dad and I both had to work that day so MB took her on the field trip for us and took these pictures. Thanks MB!
The kids got to watch apple cider being made. Nature Girl loves apple cider!


She looks so serious her, yet so cute! Oh wait, I'm a bit biased as her mom. . . .of course I'd think she's the cutest kid!
Each child was supposed to pick one apple to eat. Here's Nature Girl picking her apple at the orchard. She LOVES apples!
That face isn't showing the love! It turns out she had to work extra hard to get her apple off the tree and then was ticked off because it was the smallest apple in the orchard! That face tells it all! MB came to the rescue and ate the small apple so Nature Girl could pick a larger one.
And she was happy again!

One Last Call for the Book Swap

Edited 9/21/08 Partner information has been e-mailed so everyone should have received their partner information. Please let me know if you didn't get your partner information or if you are unable to get in contact with your partner. I've added a swap button to my sidebar if anyone wants it.


Last call on the One Good Book Swap. I'll leave it open till Thursday 9/18 at 6pm. I've already been working to pair up the kids and hope to have the e-mails sent tomorrow night. I'm really hoping I haven't forgotten anyone! I've doubled checked but will check one more time before partners go out. Here is a list of the participants. It's arranged alphabetically by parent first name. People who are signed up for multiple packages are noted. If you signed up but aren't on the list please let me know. Thanks!


Ali B
April P
Beckie J - 4 children
Beth - 2 children
Beth R
Beth V - 2 children
Catherine H
Charlotte D - 2 children
Cherie U
Christy A
Heidi D
Holly D
Iesa E
Jane H
Jennie R
Jill T
Katy J
Kristie L
Lisa C
Lisa S
Lori D - 2 children
Margy A
Melissa D
Misty W
Rhonda G - 2 children
Sari O
Shannon E - 2 children
Susan S
Valerie P -2 children

Book Swap update and Swap mail

Crayon toes! So this is what Nature Girl is doing while she waits for the sign ups for our One Good Book Swap to end this Thursday. We have about 30 kids signed up right now. I hope to get sign ups closed and partner info sent out Thursday night. My grandmother is leaving rehab on Wednesday after having hip surgery for the second time in a week. It's a long story but we're glad she's finally on the mend. Nature Girl and I are heading to VT to spend the weekend with my Gram and get her settled in at home again. The plan is to have partner info sent out before I leave for VT but that might not happen till I get back on Sunday.
Nature Girl got a surprise package from Susan. Susan hosted the Strawberry swap at her blog Chickenfoot. Nature Girl was excited to get this surprise package.

Here she is laying on the cute monkey pillowcase Susan sent. the monkeys are holding fruit, ho cute?! Nature Girl insists she wants to use this as a blanket for her legs and climbs in the pillowcase like a sleeping bag! Silly girl! Susan also sent a cat stamp and a pretty little strawberry in the package. Thanks for the strawberry surprises Susan, she loves them!
These strawberry goodies came from Carrie. Carrie sent lots of strawberry goodness in this package! Nature Girl claimed the pink strawberry and we've eaten the strawberry candy. Yummy! She also like to pass out the coasters at the table when we eat dinner. Like some restaurants have coasters on the table, she feels we should use them for our meals. I don't mind, they're very cute! Thanks Carrie!I received this pretty little mini quilt as art of the Miniature Booty Swap 2. I love polka dots! My partner also sent along some goodies for Nature Girl too. Thank you for the beautiful quilt and goodies for Nature Girl. There are so many generous and kind bloggers out there! Thank you for making us smile!

One Good Book Swap - a swap for kids

I'm hosting my first swap. . . . . .

One Good Book Swap

Swap rules:
This is a book swap for kids. You will choose a book for your child's partner. Your package will include the book and a minimum of three goodies to go along with your book. One of the goodies should be handmade and the others can be purchased. Here's an example to give you some ideas.
Chicka Chicka Boom Boom: include the book and then a minimum of three goodies like alphabet cards, magnetic letters, coloring pages, a CD or tape of the story, letter cookie cutters, stickers, felt board pieces for the story, a stuffed animal/softie(say a palm tree for this book), a craft related to the story, etc. Other goody ideas for books might include puppets, finger puppets, recipes to go along with a story, a book mark, stationary in the story theme, paper dolls to go with the story, games, etc. Be creative and have fun with this. The possibilities are endless!
Gently used books are fine as long as they are in good condition(no writing/scribbling, ripped pages, mildew, etc.) If you prefer brand new books please specify that in the information for your partner. There is no set dollar limit for this swap. You don't need to spend a lot but please be generous to your partner and give something you would be happy to receive!

All swap packages should be mailed by Saturday October 18^th. Remember a child is anxiously awaiting the arrival of the package so if you can't follow through please contact me immediately. I want this to be a good swap experience for everyone involved.

If you have multiple children you may sign up as a family and receive one book package or you can sign up each of your children separately so each child receives a book package. To clarify if you sign up your children separately each child will be given a partner to send a package to and in return will receive their own package. If you sign up as a family you send one package and receive one package. I hope this makes sense. It's my first swap and I'd hate to confuse everyone. If you have any questions leave a comment or e-mail me.

Sign ups start now and will go until September 18th. If you'd like to sign up please email me at jillytacy(at)yahoo(dot)com with the following information:

Name:

Address:

e-mail address:

Blog address:

Child's name:

Child's age:

Child's reading level(optional):

Are you willing to swap internationally?

Favorite books:

Your child's interests:

First Day of Preschool

Nature Girl had her first day of preschool today. She wore a pretty white dress and went off to preschool with no problem. Really, she's a pro now after attending preschool last year. She didn't even mind that I was working and couldn't bring her. MB our friend and neighbor has been taking great care of Nature Girl for us and does the drop off and pick up at preschool three mornings a week. We couldn't ask for a better daycare situation for Nature Girl! She has handled the transition of me going back to work very well. It makes it much easier for me to work knowing she's happy and having fun with her friends at MB's house.

MB took these first day of school pictures for us. Wasn't that sweet?!! Thanks MB it makes it seem like I was there! The kids are lining up and walking like ducks to meet their parents at the end of the session.

She's growing up so fast! The time has flown by. This year it's four year old preschool, next year kindergarten and then in the blink of an eye college! But I'm not ready to think about that yet!


Yesterday I came home from school to find two packages. Did I tell you I love coming home to swap mail? Well I do, especially when it looks like this mini quilt! Isn't it gorgeous?!! Wendy made this beautiful mini quilt for me as part of DQS4. I love the color combinations, the fabrics and the quilting! I haven't been able to take a picture yet since I brought it to school to show some teachers who quilt and forgot it on my desk so I borrowed this picture from Wendy's blog. Funny thing is it looks like the picture I would have taken. Doesn't that look like my table that's in all of the pictures on my blog?!! Sorry, I digress. . .thank you Wendy for the gorgeous mini quilt and the Moda fabric squares. I can't wait to sew again!

Swaps and Thank Yous

It's been more than a week since I posted and we've had quite a few swap goodies waiting to be shared with you. I'll warn you now this is a long post. But hang on till the end for a fun swap announcement.I won a give away over at Life is a Musical. The talented Beth created what she calls "ugly bags" using fabric she got at a yard sale. I was thrilled to win one and I don't think it's the least bit ugly! Beth created this ugly bag to be used as a reusable shopping bag but I've been using it as a tote for all of my IEPs and special ed paperwork that I'm lugging around now that I'm teaching again. It's a big bag and I've filled it with paperwork. Beth was kind enough to send along a surprise for Nature Girl. She created a Nemo crayon roll with an elastic closure. It's perfect for Nature Girl who can't tie yet. Thank you Beth! Nature Girl has been enjoying drawing and coloring pictures this week.


I've been back at school but it was nice to come home to swap mail this week. When we received our August Mini Quilt package there was a sticker of a bird on the card. Nature Girl thought the sticker was for her and peeled it off the card and included it in this drawing.


It's a flower family. I'm the biggest flower, Nature Girl is the middle flower and her dad is the littlest flower. This picture is so cute . . . it just makes me smile!


This is the mini quilt that Ros made for me. Isn't it cute! The August mini quilt theme was hand stitched. She printed the picture on a special fabric using an inkjet printer then hand stitched the quilt. It turned out great! It's such a sweet picture and I love the stitched frame around the picture. Thanks Ros!
My mini quilts are temporarily hanging on my quilt line which is too full at the moment. I'm awaiting the arrival of my mini quilts from the Miniature Booty Swap 2 and DQS4 and then will find a permanent home for all of my mini quilts.

This is the mini quilt I made for Ros. It's all hand stitched and quilted minus the worm. I hand stitched one worm but I lost him and needed to make a second one so I cheated and machine stitched the second worm. I still haven't found the first little lost wormy. He must be crawling around here someplace. This is the back of the mini quilt. I made a pocket for the worm so Ros could take the worm out if she doesn't like wormy apples. Lol! I think he's cute!


Tracy sent us these goodies for the Russian Doll Swap. The doll is so sweet and she has three little dollies in her pocket that are actually finger puppets. Nature Girl claimed the pink one as her own. Tracy also included some lovely ribbons for me and goodies for Nature Girl. Tracy has a great blog sharing her animals, crafts and construction of her environmentally friendly home in Scotland. It's very interesting so go take a peek.


Nature Girl took this photo of her goodies. The cat in the basket wasn't part of the swap but she got it on a trip to a carnival with her Grandma and Papa this week so it had to be included in the photo. Notice the pink russian doll finger puppet tucked in the basket behind the cat. I love the little pouch with her name stitched on it. It came stuffed with beads for making a necklace or bracelet. Thank you Tracy!

This is the quilt I made for Lisa in the Miniature Booty Swap 2. I was so excited about this because for the first time I actually had mitered corners. I think I'm finally catching on to the binding thing. Yeah for me!
Lastly I wanted let you know I'm going to be hosting my first swap. I've had several people ask me about the swaps Nature Girl has participated in so I decided to host a swap for kids. More details to follow later this week so make sure you come back to check it out and sign up.