Friday, June 26, 2020

113 Things to Do With Kids Without Electronics

113 Things to Do With Kids Without Electronics
by Laura Lane
Photo by Markus Spiske on Unsplash

Are you running out of ideas to keep the kids busy and happy while they are home? I thought about some of the things we did when I was young long ago. I also included some of the things my four kids did with an abundance of time, no video games or tv, and limited videos. My daughters, Emily and Amy, then added their ideas as well. All in all, we came up with 113 things to do without electronics!
Here we go!
  1. Blow bubbles 
  2. Catch fireflies 
  3. Make homemade ice cream 
  4. Read a book together
  5. Play in the sprinkler 
  6. Ride bikes  
  7. Play with balls
  8. Play dolls
  9. Kickball
  10. Play with cars and trucks
  11. Learn to play jacks or marbles 
  12. Have a pillow fight
  13. Water balloons
  14. Science experiments ie. cola and Mentos
  15. Picnic under the stars, under a shady tree or under the kitchen table with sheets over it
  16. Sidewalk chalk
  17. Whittle sticks
  18. Playing outside
  19. Dig in the dirt
  20. Play in a sandbox
  21. King of the hill or play set
  22. Jump roap
  23. Play in a creek
  24. Build a fort with sticks or blankets
  25. Find the thimble
  26. Skits
  27. Exploring
  28. Trampoline
  29. Roll down a hill
  30. Play catch
  31. Wiffle ball
  32. Badminton
  33. Volleyball
  34. Hopscotch
  35. Obstacle course
  36. Climb trees
  37. Garden
  38. Look for 4 leaf clovers
  39. Mow the lawn
  40. Cook together
  41. Blow leaves
  42. Pick wildflowers
  43. Write snail mail letters
  44. Make homemade jam
  45. Pick blueberries
  46. Make slime 
  47. Bake cookies
  48. Go to a drive in
  49. Make ice pops with water, juice, yogurt or pudding
  50. Sing
  51. Dance
  52. Teach your dog tricks
  53. Karaoke
  54. Dance party
  55. Write a letter to the grandparents by snail mail
  56. Play in a home pool big or small
  57. Fashion show
  58. Overnight hammocking challenge
  59. Make a play
  60. Reenact a movie
  61. Wash the dog or pet
  62. Write and perform poetry
  63. Read a play together with parts
  64. Weirdness contest
  65. Staring contest
  66. Walk
  67. Run
  68. Puzzles
  69. Slap jack
  70. Race hotwheels
  71. Race bikes
  72. Sing lots of rhymes and kids' songs
  73. Egyptian Rat Slap
  74. Spoons game
  75. War card game
  76. Go Fish card game
  77. Board games like Monopoly, Battle Ship, Chutes and Ladders etc
  78. Paint a room
  79. Reading Marathon
  80. Manicures and pedicures
  81. Dress up
  82. Makeover
  83. Private concert for the stuffies (stuffed animals)
  84. Bake cookies
  85. Blind taste tests
  86. Lemonade stand
  87. Gymnastics— somersaults, cartwheels, etc.
  88. String games
  89. Clapping games
  90. Magic tricks
  91. Scavenger hunt
  92. Ice cream run (in pajamas one night 
  93. Flash mob with just your family 
  94. Volunteer
  95. Make daisy chains
  96. Play house (this includes plant soup)
  97. Climb a tree
  98. Eat dandelions
  99. Get ahead on school
  100. Field trip!
  101. Ride a bike
  102. Crafts
  103. Wash the car
  104. Write stories
  105. Swing!
  106. Adopt a kitten
  107. Take pictures
  108. Draw pictures
  109. Play the game "Twister"
  110. Play hide and go seek
  111. Eat popsicles (and try to get them open without scissors)
  112. Sleep all night on a trampoline
  113. Coloring
Amy, 18, added this.
And above all, give your kids freedom in their play. A lot of amazing childhood memories are made by kids using their imaginations and parents being loving and being supportive! Have fun with your kids, but let them also go and act like pioneers together, or build a fort with random things they find. This builds so much character, forms those memories (and isn't that what we want to do for our kids? Help them create wonderful memories?), and teaches them lots of good lessons. To learn, and be healthy, kids need to do things by themselves (and this can be with help). In doing so, they learn, and also learn independence, knowledge, and ultimately maturity, and sometimes wisdom (even from learning a hard way at times).

Enjoy this time with your children and teens. You may never have this much time together again. Make it count for good. Hugs to you all! Thank you for joining me here at Harvest Lane Cottage.

Laura
Happy at Home

P.S. Please share ideas that I've missed and your prayer requests as well.

Find me online here:

Goodreads:    Laura Lane 2020 Goal 50 books ~ 20 Finished so far
Ravelry:         HarvestLaneLaura
Facebook:     Harvest Lane Cottage
Instagram:    @lauraofharvestlane
Email:           laura@harvestlanecottage.com
Paypal gifts: lauraofharvestlane@gmail.com
Address:        Available by request




Inspire Me Monday Classical Homemaking





Monday, June 22, 2020

Help For Troubled Hearts


Photo by Rod Long on Unsplash


"Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid."

John 14:27


Dear friends,

 They are all looking at you—looking at me. They're watching to see what we do, what we say, whether we are stressed or whether we are peaceful. Many people are watching to see if this Jesus thing is real to us. Family, friends, strangers, co-workers are all watching. So, is this Jesus thing real to you?

 When you face a crisis of any kind, first words matter. Are your words of hope? Of fear? Of thankfulness and praise to God? Of despair? Only you can control what comes out first and what comes out most often. Others will use your reaction to judge Christianity and God. Make sure that your first words and all words are life, hope, peace, and joy.

 When we are pressed, we are not crushed. We have a father God who loves us and provides what we need and heals us. Do we believe that?  I do. 

  I am an older woman. I've had years of experience with hard times both financial and health challenges. That's an advantage I have over many who are facing their first big challenges with this Covid-19 threat. 

 I've seen God provide when my husband's income was cut in half, because the company no longer wished to pay his salary. He was forced to quit. I've seen God supply when we had a long period of unemployment when my children were little. I've seen God supply when we closed a business and didn't have income for 4 months while my husband was looking for a position. God always supplies our needs. I've learned to pray and trust him. The trick is to do it without worrying. There's a lot of scripture about that. ~smile~

 God has brought me through pneumonia three times, two for which I was hospitalized. He's brought me through more surgeries than most families have had in total. Lately, he's brought me through breast cancer. I have evidence that Holy Spirit will never leave me nor forsake me. I just have to keep paying attention and praying and praising and worshiping. My faith has been deepened by the numerous trials in my life. I have been refined. 

 We're all dealing with the virus in one way or another. I encourage you to speak life, speak truth, speak hope, speak faith, speak the Word of God. Now is a time to draw closer to Him, and He will draw closer to you.

 Keep calm and pray on!

 Laura Lane



Bio:
Laura married my high school sweetheart thirty-three years ago. You might say they're going steady permanently.  Laura is married to her high school sweetheart and makes her home in Carthage, Missouri.She has four adult children. Two of her daughters live at home and attend colldege in the next town over. 

She met my Jesus when she was fifteen, and her life has never been the same. She enjoys writing, knitting, sewing, quilting, crocheting, baking, cooking, making jam, and making soup. Her recipes have been included in Gooseberry Patch's Hometown Christmas, Grilling and Campfire Cooking and Secrets from Grandma's Kitchen, too.

Laura is the author of Harvest Lane Cottage encouraging others in their faith in Jesus, homemaking, books, and thrifty living. She is a breast cancer survivor since 2017.




Shared at Classical Homemaking.

Sunday, June 14, 2020

Thrifty Things Lately at Harvest Lane Cottage #154



Hello ladies,

Here are a few things I've done lately to save money. But first....

Thank you Dianna for your hospitality recently! It was so nice to get away and spend some time at the lake. ~smile~

Here I am sampling lake life at Dianna's. 

Now onto the thrifty things.

~ I used some apples that were past their prime to make apple crisp. I've been using the same recipe since I was in college. The lay I lived with for awhile was a wonderful Christian wife, cook, and homemaker. I learned so much from her in the few months that I lived with her and her husband.

~ I made a batch of quick laundry detergent.

~I made ant poison. I'm going to have to make another batch. The critters came back.

~I listened to the New Testament on Bible.com. I'm in Acts right now.

~I've been reading and listening to a couple of books on Scribd. I received a month free because someone used my referral code. She got two free months. It's only $8.99 after that for unlimited ebooks, audio books, sheet music, podcasts and more.

~ We continued using tinkle wipes to reduce our toilet paper usage. In a home with three women, it helps a lot.

~ I went to a wig shop and the owner showed me how to keep my wigs on with a wig grip. She also cut some bangs into one of the wigs that a wig sister sent to me. The wig I'm wearing above is Sierra by Rene of Paris. It's also the one I've been wearing to work the last couple of weeks. I am just beginning to feel comfortable with a wig on my head. ~smile~

~ We enjoyed many beautiful bouquets made from our prolific peonies and lillies.

~ My husband and daughter planted some tomatoes and other  herbs, flowers, and veggies in the garden.

~ I found a pillar candle at the thrift shop for $.50.

~ I bought some cards at Dollar Tree. It was a quick run in and out with a mask. I've been wanting to send more snail mail. I sent several cards and decorated the outsides with pink pen. It's obvious to the post office and the recipients that it is happy mail. ~smile~

~ We enjoyed homemade dump stew. I collected leftover veggies, some leftover roast beef and gravy, and some leftover hamburger. I added a couple handfulls of pearled barley, a bag of mixed veggies, a box of Aldi's beef broth, and a single chopped potato. It made a plentiful, delicious soup for Sunday.



Blessings to all of you!
Remember... keep busy.
This too shall pass.

Have a homemade, handmade, heartmade thrifty week! 
Laura

P.S  I highly recommend using Scribd. You get unlimited ebooks and audio books plus other reading materials for just one low price. $8.99 a month. You don't have to pay per book. It's all included in the one price. It's the best money I've spent this year!

If you use my link, you'll get a 2 month free trial of Scribd, and I will get a free month as well. I'm not an affiliate, it's just a neat perk that they have for their subscribers who tell their friends. I've earned 210 free days just sharing how much I love their service! You can too. Cancel at any time. My daughter uses it, too.

Find me online here:

Laura Lane on Goodreads
2020  18 Finished Books
Goal 50

HarvestLaneLaura  on Ravelry

Harvest Lane Cottage on Facebook

@lauraofharvestlane on Instagram

laura@harvestlanecottage.com

Address available by email

Paypal lauraofharvestlane@gmail.com


Monday, June 8, 2020

Summer Reading List ~ 2020 ~ Harvest Lane Cottage



Reading is one of my cherished ways to relax or learn. I am fond of losing myself in a book or pondering as I read non-fiction. I make time daily to read or listen to good books. There's nothing that can make housework go quicker for me than listening to the Bible or a marvelous book. I especially like to use the the text-to-speech feature on my Kindle Fire 8 Tablet or listen to some audio books on Scribd* while I work or knit.

Reading a lot of books is as simple as using every free moment. Even when I had small children I read a lot. Many of those books were educational kids' or teens' books. ~smile~

I've included affiliate Amazon links for your convenience. I listen to many books on Scribd for a single fee of $8.99 a month. Details are below.

It's a long list, but I've already started some of these books. Ambitious lists help me to read and listen more while I'm doing other things. Have you made your list yet?

Here's what's on my book pile, my Scribd app, and in my Kindle for summer reading:



by Donna VanLiere on Scribd
I finished it!


by Elizabeth Prentiss on Scribd 
a book club selection
I finished it!


by Karen Andreola
A gift from the author
I'm reading and savoring!


by John Harris
Old book borrowed from the coffee shop
I finished it!

by Nathaniel Bluedorn
One of my kids' old homeschool books
Still reading!


by Ben and Erin Napier on Scribd
Reading and enjoying how they write
exactly like they're talking to you!


by Herman Melville on Kindle
I finished it! I deserve a medal!


by Francine Rivers on Scribd
a book club selection
It turned out much better than I thought.


by Debbie Johnson on Scribd
I stopped reading a chapter or two in because of bad language.
A shame because it was interesting.


by Cheryl Smith
a review book
I'm reading and thinking my way through this.


by Terry Brennan  
a review book
I've got it but haven't started.


by Erica Vetsch
a review book
I've begun.



Using Bible.com to read:

Acts ~ finished!
Romans ~ finished!
1 Corinthians ~ finished!
2 Corinthians ~ finished!
Galations ~ finished!
Ephesians ~ finished!
Philipians ~ finished!
Colossians ~ finished!




As you can see, I use Scribd a lot. You get unlimited ebooks and audio books plus sheet music, articles, and other reading materials for just one low price. $8.99 a month. You don't have to pay per book. It's all included in the one price. It's the best money I've spent this year!

If you use my link, you'll get a 2 month free trial of Scribd, and I will get a free month as well. I'm not an affiliate, it's just a neat perk that they have for their subscribers who tell their friends. I've earned 180 free days just sharing how much I love their service! You can too.

Blessings to you all! Seize the day! Bring a book!
Laura

Find me online here:

Laura Lane on Goodreads
2020  22 Finished Books
Goal 50


Harvest Lane Cottage on Facebook

@lauraofharvestlane on Instagram

laura@harvestlanecottage.com

Address available by email

Paypal donations to lauraofharvestlane@gmail.com 




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