Training Our Daughter's to Be Keepers At Home

This is the title of the curriculum I bought for my eldest, now 26, daughter many moons ago.  We did several projects out of it, and even taught sewing classes years ago.  Now I am going through it again with my next two daughters on Thursdays.   We call it "girls club" as we meet with other young ladies on Thursday afternoons.  After co-op, I send out an e-mail to recap what we did, and for any homework purposes.  Also, if anyone missed, they can do the same things at home.   I thought I may also add these recaps to my blog on Thursdays or Fridays so that other women who may want to teach their daughter's the same way could join us on our journey from their own homes.  I'd love to hear how it's working for them, and if they have any suggestions.   So this is a LONG recap today of the last 4 weeks.  It will usually be much shorter in nature.   This is your invitation to join us via cyberspace every week to train our daughters to be keepers of the home.     If you are interested in the curriculum we are using, click here.   It's a great resource!

REVIEW WEEK 4
Sewing:  Practiced zig zag stitches, straight stitches, and seams.

Gardening:   Read about “your” weeds in Weeds and What they tell.  Summarize and record information.  Keep it in your notebook.  Relect on what “weeds” we’ve allowed to grow in our hearts.   Pray for GOD’s weeding job.

Cooking & Baking:   We discussed equipment and utensils..

We made scones.

Next week:   We will be making tortillas.

Bible
We read “Careless Gracie’s Lesson” and talked about taking care of the things the Lord blesses us with.

REVIEW WEEK 3

Sewing:  We talked about cutting skills and the sewing machine.  We located parts of the machine we are using.

Gardening:   Continue identifying weeds in your yard.

Cooking & Baking:   None this week.

Next week:   We will be making scones.  

Bible
We read “A Valuable Secret” and talked about finding a place for all our things and being a good steward of our time.

REVIEW WEEK 2

Thursday went well.   We didn't get to the sewing because it was Nicholas' birthday and we ended up eating and fellowshipping a bit.  We did do our Bible Study and baked banana bread.  Again another yummy recipe that I'll put below for your daughter if she wants to keep it on a recipe card.  

Homework:

Sewing:  Practice threading and knotting a needle.  On scrap material hand stitch and label the following stitches:  running stitch, slipstitch, overhand stitch, whipstitch and backstitch.  Next week we will be learning the sewing machine and practicing stitches.   I  few weeks you will be making a pillow case.   You will need one yard of cotton print or flannel fabric.  

Gardening:   Look at weeds in your potential garden area(s) and identify them.  make a list of what you found and where.   Gardeners job=create better growing conditions than in the wild:   *water available
*increase low nutrient levels of soil
*increase level of oxygen in clay soils
*select species and varieties of vegetables best adapted to climate, local pests, and diseases
"PATROL" garden-don't let weeds grow they're vigorous and will outgrow vegetables. 
Grasses rob soil of most available nutrients and compete for light.  Pull out roots and all.
*"Pernicious weeds" (regrow quickly or make huge quantity of seeds):  thistles can regrow rapidly after being hoed, morning glory, night shade.
*Other weeds:  compete for light with vegetable seeds

Cooking & Baking:   We discussed kitchen safety and food storage.

Banana Bread (one medium loaf....325 for 70 minutes)  

1.  Place in a large mixing bowl.   With a wire whisk blend in remaining liquid ingredients one at a time, in order listed:

1/4 c soft butter, unsalted preferred
1/4 cup honey
2 eggs
1 c mashed banana
3/4 t vanilla extract


2.  Place flour & nuts in a medium mixing bowl.   Thoroughly blend in remaining ingredients with a mixing spoon:

3 c whole wheat pastry flour
3/4 c chopped walnuts, optional
1/2 t cinnamon
1 T baking powder
1 t salt


3.  Blend dry ingredients into liquid ingredients with wire whisk just until mixed.  DO NOT OVERMIX!

4. With rubber scraper scoop batter into a greased loaf pan, cleaning sides of bowl well.

5.  Set pan in center of oven.  Bake 70 minutes or until a table knife inserted in center of loaf comes out clean.

6.   Cool in pan for about 10 minutes.  Remove and cool thoroughly  on a wire cooling rack before slicing.

Next week:   We will be making scones.  

Reminder Susie:  4 T butter.

Bible
Remember from the story how Bessie treated Aunt Ruth and think how we can be kind to others.

REVIEW WEEK 1 

Today we did an overview of the curriculum to let everyone know what we will be doing.  The first year projects are as follow:  Godly Womanhood:  We read from "The Kings Daughter", Cooking:  Lunches & Snacks; Sewing:  Learning the basics, then sewing a pillowcase, hanging bulletin board, an oven mitt, an apron, a quillow, a totebag, a patchwork placemats and napkins; Gardening:  Basics; Knitting:  basic stitches, hooded scarf, shawl, mittens, and socks; and Greeting Card Making:  rubber stamps.

We read over the first story.  We made applesauce muffins.  They were delicious!  We discussd sewing equipment.  

Homework:   You will need a notebook to put all your notes, handouts, and practice stitches in.

Sewing:   Bring scrap material next week, a needle, and contrasting thread.  We will practice and label hand stitches.  We will then discuss cutting skills, and the sewing machine.

Gardening:  Order seed catalogs.  Here's a link for free catalogs:   http://www.organicgardening.com/learn-and-grow/seed-catalog-time.   Borrow from library or a friend or buy:  "Square Foot Gardening" and read pages 1-14.

Cooking:  We discussed the ABCs of food preparation.  A.  Read recipe.  B.  Assemble Ingredients.  C.  Collect utensils  D  Preheat oven if necessary.  E:  Begin step 1  F.  Clean up  G.  Practice good safety & food storage habits.