Handmade Jesse Tree

Finally!  I did it!!  With a few hours to spare, my Jesse Tree is complete!  (Left-click on any image to view it larger, as always.)

This Jesse Tree has two-sided ornaments to tell the lineage of Jesus.


Isaiah 11:1 A shoot will come up from the stump of Jesse; 
   from his roots a Branch will bear fruit.

Please read more about how I made this homemade Jesse Tree with a printable and directions!

Manger, Baby, and Advent Book

I am getting in the Christmas mode, and thought I'd share how we used the Christmas Advent Book Calendar  last year and will definitely be doing this year too, but with both of our children!

The Story of Christmas advent calendar and book set is fabulous. It opens like you would open the doors to a barn (in the center), and inside are 24 miniature (tiny!) four page books that tell the story of how God rescued us through the birth of Jesus.  Each Bible-based book has a number on it, so you you don't need to guess the order of the books if they are not in the book.  Each mini book has a string, so you can hang it on the tree, if you wish.  Last year we weren't able to do that, so the book would appear along with a piece of "hay" and then we placed it in the book.  I totally recommend this Advent Calendar and know that there are similar ones out there that are also great!

The "hay" was really a small piece of brown yarn that M would place in the manger.  It  prepared the manger for Jesus' arrival on Christmas morning.  The craft stick manger is just made with craft sticks and hot glue.  Baby Jesus was pretty simple to make with just some simple stitches, but you could even use glue and a marker if you don't like a needle and thread.  You can read about the making of felt baby Jesus if you like.

This was our big way of learning about Jesus' birth last year, but this year I'd like to complete the incredible Jesse Tree in time!  One (of the many) things I like about the Jesse Tree is that it can be used for children of all ages.  I anticipate using ours for many, many years.  One of my friends even adjusted some of the Scripture used to match the Jesus Storybook Bible.  I thought that was brilliant.  (Unfortunately, she's not a blogging friend, so I don't have a link.)

I am linking up to stART, ABC and 123's show and tell, and Crafy Soiree, Read. Explore. Learn.  These are all great resources for all of us looking to teach our young children or just be crafty!

Favorite Kitchen Items

Over the years, I have been given many kitchen gadgets that I use and love.  I thought I'd share my favorites in case you want to think about your Christmas list or someone else's.

1 ounce/teaspoon/tablespoon liquid measure I use this all the time!  A lot of my recipes seem to call for 1 or 2 tablespoons of oil, milk, or water and this little "shot glass" is so helpful to keep those liquids accurate.


Kitchen Aid I haven't used my hand mixer since getting it years ago!

Kitchen Aid Fruit Strainer (applesauce maker!) This is how I make my applesauce now.  It takes much longer to cook the apples than to strain them!  Please note that the food grinder is also needed to use this product though.  You can buy the strainer and grinder together, too.

Kitchen Conversion Calculator (mine is a bit different)  This is perfect for doubling and halving recipes simply.  You can also convert from tablespoons to cups to quarts to teaspoons as needed!  Though I know there are two cups in a pint and many other conversions, this is still really helpful!  This can also be used as a regular calculator.


Measuring Spoons with "odd" measurements (mine set is a bit different)  I really like having a 1/2 tablespoon measurement as well as a 1/8 teaspoon.

Pampered Chef Scraper I actually have two of these "original" scrapers, and I use them many times a week, and sometimes wish I had a third!  (I have had other scrapers, but these are much better, and longer lasting!)



Pampered Chef Mini-Serving Spatula (I want the large one!) This is perfect for cutting brownies and removing cookies from a cookie sheet.


Medicine cork (It allows you to draw up medication into an oral syringe directly from the bottle.)  If you know anyone who draws up small amounts of liquid medication daily for oral use you might suggest something like this that can be found at any pharmacy.   (And yes, if it clutters my kitchen counter, it's a kitchen gadget!)


Parchment Paper I really like using parchment paper when I make a batch of cookies.  I'd like to get the Silpat mats though to try.  Anyone out there recommend them or not?

My favorite three of these items are the shot glass ounce cup, the Pampered Chef scraper, and the kitchen calculator.

What is your favorite kitchen helper that you recommend?  

Heaven to Betsy

This month I've been enjoying Maud Hart Lovelace.  She is the author of the delightful Betsy-Tacy series.  This series was written in the 1940 and 1950's but takes place at the turn of the century (1898-1917).  The first book Betsy-Tacy begins right before the main character, Betsy's fifth birthday.  The series is all about the adventures of Betsy and her best friend Tacy as they grow up.  Last year I wrote about Betsy-Tacy.

I am once again taking part in the Maud Hart Lovelace reading challenge hosted by Library Hospital.  Since I now own the volume Heaven to Betsy/Betsy in Spite of Herself (and the later volumes, too!), I was excited to dive in to the books!

Heaven to Betsy took me back to my high school days.  Betsy is really growing up and is no longer the little girl she once was.  Betsy and Tacy are now freshmen in high school.  Betsy becomes part of the Crowd-the popular kids at school who enjoy so much together.

Heaven to Betsy really gives you a great peek at Betsy's family-the Rays.  Mr. and Mrs. Ray have a loving and respectful marriage.  They love their children, but understand their need to be kids.  The children demonstrate love to each other and their parents.  Julia (Betsy's sister) and Betsy's friends are welcome into their home before and after school and for onion sandwiches on Sunday nights.  It makes me want to join in the fun, and by reading, I was kind of part of the parties!

Though I may not have been popular like Betsy, I still relate well to the friendships and even her interactions with all the boys.  I don't think Betsy is boy crazy, but she certainly cares about what they think of her.  Well, maybe she is slightly obsessed with one certain boy, but I didn't mind.   I think the boys and Betsy flirt, but some of it also seems like brotherly/sisterly teasing, too.

I just loved this book, but I thought I would throw a little FYI out there.  At some Christmas parties there is some use of a Ouija board.  It seems innocent, but still something that a parent may want to address.

These books were written based on Maud Hart Lovelace's diaries, and I am amazed at how much "daily" history is included.  One thing that truly surprised me is how often the teens of Deep Valley are using the telephone!  Some things never change!

I've been reading Betsy in Spite of Herself, too.  It's hard to believe, but I've been enjoying this even more than Heaven to Betsy with all the extra history lessons in the story!  Please know that these little history lessons are just part of the story.  I don't think they ever seem to be preachy or teach-y though.  Maud Hart Lovelace naturally brings some facts into the stories since she really lived through the story.  I'm not through with this book yet, but I'm sure I won't be disappointed.

I was recommending this series to my friend whose daughter is an avid reader.  (She had already read many.) Another friend who is in her sixties, excitedly asked if I was referring to Betsy-Tacy and Tib books!  She read them as a little girl!

I highly recommend these for anyone who likes to live in the past or who enjoy Anne of Green Gables!  They are just a joy to read.

Thank you to the Library Hospital for giving the challenge to read and to Reading to Know for the giveaway where I won this book!  (And HarperCollins Publishers for reprinting them and sending them to me!)

Maud Hart Lovelace Reading Challenge

I already mentioned that I am participating in the Maud Hart Lovelace Reading Challenge over at the Library Hospital.  As a participant in the challenge, I have the chance to win a Deep Valley book.  (These are not part of the Betsy-Tacy series, but still Maud books...and I'd love to have them.)  All I have to do is answer a few questions.


a. Why you joined the MHLRC.
I joined the MHLRC because last year I enjoyed reading Betsy-Tacy (linked to review) and Betsy-Tacy and Tib.  Those were the only books that my library had.  Then during the summer I won several books (three actual volumes, but they cover the last six books in the Betsy-Tacy series) from Reading to Know.  Yep.  I am blessed!  These books are wonderful.  So I had to join the challenge!
b. Which book you are currently reading for the challenge.
I have read Heaven to Betsy this month!
c. Something new you have learned either from participating in this challenge or from a MHL book you have read.
Hmm...I just loved reading the biographical information in the back of my Heaven to Betsy/Betsy in Spite of Herself.   I am not certain what I learned from the book and from posts at the Library Hospital, but it's been fun.  I think it was lots of fun to know even back then girls were boy crazy.  I'm glad Maud found her journals so that she was able to write the "rest of the story" for the Betsy-Tacy series.
d. Which book in the Deep Valley series you hope to win and why.Heaven to Betsy/Betsy in Spite of Herself
I think I'd like to win Emily of Deep Valley...but really, I'm sure both would be highly enjoyable.

Book and Author Recommendations

If you are a regular reader, you know that I love a good story!  I don't review everything I read or listen to on audio CD's, but that doesn't mean I don't love them.  I am always looking for a new author (especially for audio books), so I thought I'd share some books that I've enjoyed recently.  Most can be found at your local library.

I wanted to share a few of my favorites.  Most can be found at your local library, which is always a bonus with me!

Beaded Hope was a book I won on a giveaway, but having read it, I would say it's well worth it to purchase it (and I don't buy much fiction).  It moved me in ways I never expected.  Four women from one community are placed on the same team for a missions trip to South Africa.  They are all at different places in their faith (including without faith), and one woman they meet inspires and amazes them.  The group finds a way to encourage the community while providing a way for them to earn money through their craft of beaded jewelery.  I was amazed and inspired by the book and highly recommend it.  Cathy Liggett wrote a fabulous book inspired by true events!

The Cat Who series...Oh, boy.  I have read or listened to each title my library has in this series.  These are great mysteries (not scary, though murder-never gory-is usually involved)!  James Qwilleran is a former big city newspaper reporter.  Now he lives in Moose County, "400 miles north of everywhere," with his two Siamese cats, KoKo an Yum Yum.   Please don't let the cats' names deter you from reading these books!   I just love these books by Lilian Jackson Braun.  The first book is called The Cat Who Could Read Backwards, and is where Jim first meets the cats.   Some mild language are in the books, but it's pretty rare.

Number the Stars by Lois Lowry.  Wow. I actually listened to this in August, but it made an impression on me.  This is a story of love and determination from World War II.  Set in Denmark, it tells the story of how one Danish family helped their Jewish friends escape.  This is a fictionalized, true-story account.    This may be a children's book, but there is much for all of us to learn from it.

The Mysterious Benedict Society is a children's book series that delighted me, though it's geared for children grades 5-9.  Four exceptionally bright children are chosen to complete a series of tasks, tests, and challenges.  When they do incredibly well using their own special talents, they are chosen by Mr. Benedict to go to a school to investigate the evil Mr. Curtain.  Trenton Lee Stewart created great characters in Reynie, Sticky, Kate, and Constance.  I'd like to encourage you to read a thorough Mysterious Bendict Society review at Reading to Know.   (Sometimes books geared for this age has mild language or even romance, and I'm happy to report that these books have neither.  In addition, even the bad guys are treated with respect, with the children using the title for Mr. Curtain.)


Another great children's series (though I have not read all of it yet) is the Betsy-Tacy series.  Betsy and Tacy are the best of friends.  The series begins with Betsy-Tacy at the age of five.  That book is geared (language, vocabulary, sentence structure) for a five year old.  The book series takes the girls through their schooling and all the way up to Betsy's Wedding, which is intended for a young adult!  These books are written by Maud Hart Lovelace, and are just delightful!  If you enjoy Anne of Green Gables or Little House on the Prairie, you are certain to enjoy these, too!  My local library has the first two books, and it was enough to get me hooked.   I intend to participate in the Maud Hart Lovelace Challenge this month over at the Library Hospital.  I already have Heaven to Betsy read...and sometime soon I will share my thoughts with you!  If I perked your interest, maybe you'll join me?

What/who are your favorite books or authors?  I am always looking for more clean authors (especially suspense) and children's books.  I also want to read some more classics-though honestly, I will probably listen to them on audio.