All posts by Danielle Huddleston

Confessions of a bookaholic…

05/05/2014 Danielle Huddleston 2 Comments

I found a blog series all about what is on other people’s bookshelves!

I felt like I had suddenly found many kindred spirits and it inspired me to share some of the more extreme things I have done because of books.

Check out the series at Modern Mrs. Darcy’s blog.

1. When I moved down to Oklahoma to go to school I felt lonely and lost. My parents came down to visit, brought my books, and a bookcase to display them. It made me feel at home and happy to go to my apartment each night.

2. When I first went to my now husbands apartment I was impressed with his book collection. I am not saying that is the only reason I kept seeing him but…

3. I went to meet my soon to be in-laws for the first time. I saw my mother in-laws bookcases filled with books and liked her immediately.

4. I might have pursued a friendship with someone after finding out they were an Austen fan. I felt like we had a mutual friend.

5. Right after we got married my husband made me bookshelves to fill our spare room with and turn it into a library. I still think of it as one of the best gifts I have ever received.

6. I often stop myself from talking about something a friend of mine did because I realize it was a fictional charter in a book and not someone I have actually met…

7. My husband learned early on that I hear nothing when I am reading.

8. Sometimes I get so into a book that I start reading the characters lines out loud…

Are you a bookaholic?

Nature Journals

05/02/2014 Danielle Huddleston 2 Comments

I decided I wanted the boys to start nature journaling.

I thought it might be fun way to work on identifying plants and encourage them to draw something that does not include superheroes and epic battles.

We did a trial run on Saint Patrick’s Day and it went really well.

I bought them the little journal books at Hobby Lobby for under $3 each and made them both a pencil roll.

I used this tutorial as a guide but ended up not being as precise as she was.

Because I am lazy…

I tried making the slits for the pencils with an exacto knife like she did but was having trouble getting through the felt.

I ended up just drawing a line where I wanted the cuts, folding the felt, and cutting it with scissors.

I used twine I had on hand to hold them shut.

I actually had everything I needed on hand to make these or it would have never happened.

I like spur of the moment projects.

We got to try them out yesterday and they worked great!

I told them to pick any plant to draw and of course both of them chose to do a clover leaf like they did for Saint Patrick’s Day.

I was not sure about them putting the pencils back in to the rolls but my youngest did not seem to have a problem.

I told him it was kind of like weaving.

He said, “these are pencils not yarn.”

I am glad he cleared that up for me…

What do you do to help your kids enjoy nature?

Woolly Weekend at Shepherd’s Cross ~Claremore, OK

04/30/2014 Danielle Huddleston Leave a comment

We visited Shepherd’s Cross during their Woolly Weekend event.

They have it the last weekend of April every year.

Showing how to weave.

The boys actually did a pretty good job!

Maybe I should get one and have them make their own clothing…

It would keep them busy.

The way they move the sheep around was pretty funny.

She looked pretty relaxed though.

They show you how they shear them and then you can see how they card the wool and make it into yarn.

They have a little petting zoo area.

1 day old lambs!

They have some beautiful gardens!

They do a great job and it was a really nice event to go to.