A Hodgepodge December and a Chalk Pastels ebook

A Hodgepodge Christmas

It’s been a Hodgepodge sort of December. We’ve collected many happy memories even though we were hit with sickness starting early in the month. The flu was staggered with each of our family of seven – lasting 10 days to two weeks for each of us. So far, only one escaped. The sick ones were [...]

Small Victories and Nana’s Art Tutorials

Focusing on Small Victories at Hodgepodge

This week has been a bit of a colorful blur. We’ve had a few sick children around here. One level of the house for the sick, one for the well. We do have well ones! And everyone else is slowly feeling better. So I focused on small victories. Like this one I shared on Facebook… [...]

Do you homeschool in December?

Do You Homeschool in December?

What does Christmas look like at Hodgepodge? In our homeschool? I invite you to come and sit by the fire, enjoy a warm cup of coffee, hot chocolate or tea and put your feet up – for about five minutes. Just five minutes because in December things are changing moment to moment. Like most families, [...]

Homemade Gifts

Homemade Gift Ideas

(my brother’s homemade gift tags – small, free hand pieces of art we look forward to each year) Part of the fun of giving gifts each year is making them! We set aside some afternoons – spread apart in December – to spread out supplies and make gifts. Permission to paint and create! Sometimes we [...]

Easy Art Projects for Winter

Easy Art Projects for Winter

Winter offers so many opportunities for art fun. Art projects for Christmas and winter holidays can warm us and brighten blustery days. A thrill of hope. The weary world rejoices. For yonder breaks a new and glorious morn! Today I share some of our favorites… Christmas Tree in the Snow Christmas Ornament O’er the hills [...]

Christmas Star Chalk Pastel Tutorial

Christmas Star Chalk Pastel Tutorial at Hodgepodge

This lesson is a simple, yet a lovely one to celebrate the Christmas season. My students enjoyed the bright colors and the velvet blue night sky that we painted. He appeared and the soul felt its worth… The supplies are simple: we used regular copy paper, pastel chalks in black, yellow, orange, white, dark blue [...]

Top Ten Helpful Habits of 2011

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Watching the music box at our aunt and uncle’s house. This week we were still in the midst of celebrating Christmas with family. Visiting friends at Starbucks. Just enjoying break. I also got in the little bit of homeschool planning each day. New readers! I’ve reserved our Tapestry of Grace library books, done a bit [...]

What Fun it is to Laugh and Sing

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What fun it is to…laugh! 1. Make Christmas cookies | 2. Get an early Christmas present – new washer and dryer! | 3. Go on a library trip then laugh over Diary of a Spider | 4. Make tents on a rainy day | 5. Catch Eldest Boy in the laundry room again | 6. [...]

Christmas is…

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We’re riding over to my aunt and uncle’s house for the reunion type holiday gathering. The Christmas music is playing from the local Christian station. An ad comes on. The voice lists all the goodness of the season. Christmas lights, children not able to sleep on Christmas Eve, good food, family. This is what Christmas [...]

Christmas Ornament: A Pastels Tutorial

Christmas Ornament Chalk Pastel Tutorial at Hodgepodge

This lesson is quick enough to enjoy this week before Christmas. A present to you from Nana and the Hodgepodge! Begin by choosing your favorite two ornaments. Place them on your table where you can get a good look while you use your pastels. Take your black pastel stick and draw the simple, ball shapes. [...]

Overnight Slow Cooker Grits and Breakfast Casserole

Overnight Slow Cooker Grits Recipe

We’ve enjoyed this simple, celebratory breakfast on Christmas for many years now. Perfect for any easy going weekend breakfast or brunch. Certainly fast food for slow Sundays. Overnight Slow Cooker Grits Ingredients Amount of grits for your family. (I make the amount for eight servings) Double amount of water suggested in directions. Salt Topping suggestions: [...]

Christmas Favorites

Christmas sugar cookies

I found myself looking through my archives for some Christmas favorites. So, I thought it would be good to place them all in a nice little spot. Favorites like recipes we use often in December, advent resources and holiday and winter art. He appeared and the soul felt its worth… From all three Hodgepodge categories [...]