Update! Because it's the weekend and I want as many people to enter the give away as possible, I will wait to draw the winner's name until Monday night. Then we will get your package in the mail on Tuesday before we head off to Iowa.
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Jeff has been bringing home tons of dvd's for us to preview as content for The Homeschool Channel and some of them have been great. The children really enjoyed all of the Drive-Thru History series and the two or three that I watched were quite entertaining while sharing historical facts. I have personally enjoyed The Homestead Blessings series produced by Franklin Springs media. We have watched three dvd's showing candle-making, soap-making and bread baking. While we have done some of each I was really impressed with the candle making and have been inspired to get my hands on some beeswax and make up some glow lamps for myself. These were quite beautiful and didn't seem too difficult, but get the dvd and see for yourself. This week we have watched the breadbaking dvd a couple of times and Kaelan has decided that she wants to start handling our bread baking. Kaelan has been my "helper" in making bread, but today she asked to do it by herself. I did supervise and probably will for a little while longer but she made a great loaf of cinnamon bread and we also made three loaves of plain bread, two pans of cinnamon rolls and a double batch of chocolate chip oatmeal cookies. Aaron even got in the kitchen and made his own batch of cookies (he is allergic to eggs). I have been teaching him to write down recipes and make his own pancakes and now cookies this summer so that he doesn't always have to depend on me or Devin to do it for him. Can I write that up as a life skills course?
The Homestead Blessings series has just recently doubled in size to include three more dvd's on canning, gardening and herbs. This series is hosted by the West ladies--mom Vickie and three daughters who are very down-to-earth and very Southern ; ) . To get you started on your own set of The Homestead Blessings dvd's I am giving away one copy of your choice of either candle-making, soap-making or bread baking. Just leave a comment telling me which one you would like and why. Have you ever done any of these activities before? Are you a pro or do you have no idea how to even get started? The dvd's will interest you no matter your level of expertise. These dvd's also make great gifts! I have already given one to a sweet young friend who celebrated her 14th birthday just this week. Each entry will be placed in Jackson's cowboy hat and I will let him draw the name of the winner. The contest closes at 5 Sunday night and I will have Jackson draw later that evening and will post the winner's name asap.
14 comments:
Oooh, a giveaway! Put my name in the hat, please. I would love the soap making video. We've done the glycerin soap where you just melt and pour, but that's all. I would love to find some recipes to try.
I would love to put my name in the hat for soap making, because my girls unanimously agreed that they would enjoy learning how to make and give away soap! (and unanimous is always good!)
I guess I have to agree with the other comments. I would love to know more about soap making.
Just wanted to say that these dvd's are great! My husband bought the set for me as a little happy. I've learned sooooo much from these dvd's!! Our daughters were 7 and 8 years old when we got the set. They have helped me to make cinnamon rolls and bread as a result of watching the dvd's with me. They wanted to make re-milled soap for their grandmother's birthday. They grated the soap and added the spice. I helped by melting the mixture and then poured into the molds for them. Their grandmother was so pleased with her soap made by her grandaughters, with help from Mom. The West Ladies show different ways to make soap. As Anita stated, they are down to earth in explaining each step! It is such a wonderful blessing to have my daughters wanting to learn right along with me. We are looking forward to learning from the next set as well! The wisdom from the West Ladies is truly a blessing!
Whoever wins the dvd, will truly be blessed!
Sincerely,
Becky
Becky, it's nice to meet you! Thanks for the back-up on my review. Let me know which of the three of the newest you would like and I can include you in the drawing as well. We should be able have them in the "company store" soon.
Anita,
I think M.C. would love the one on candle making!! They all sound so good! You guys have a safe trip!!
I am very interested in candle and soap making. I have made soap once but never candles. I know my kids would really enjoy using something they helped to make. Either one would be wonderful. Great idea!!
Oh, WOW! Thank you Anita! What a nice surprise! I just wanted to let everyone know how truly wonderful these dvd's have been to our family. I really like the new one on Herbs. I'm excited about learning from someone who has used and continues to use herbs in everyday life. Of course, having the West Ladies teach us about herbs will make it even better! My husband received an email from Franklin Springs Media letting him know of the new dvd's. I also reminded him how much the girls and I enjoyed the last set! ;)
Thank you again for your kindness,
Becky
This series fits right in with our American History focus this school year! I think the candle making would be very interesting, but I know we would enjoy the bread baking as well. We have tried candle making in the past, both during the KONOS light unit, and the Colonial unit - lots of fun, but there's so many ways to make candles. We bake our own bread already, and I think that would be a nice gift to share with a friend. Hope you're feeling better after your surgery, Anita! Rejoice! Phil 4:4 MelRae
I have to say, of the 3 topics breadmaking is the most interesting to me. We have been on a slow, but strong move to become more self-sustaining, for purposes of being less dependent on commercial efforts that exploit & leave us exploited. Our intent in the near future is to have our own chickens & grow our own 'real' garden. We have always been accused as the familiy most likely to appear on 'frontier house'. Not just for the sake of being different but because it seems logical to know how to do practical things. Atually know where the food comes from and to be able to make breads other than artisan or breakfast fits right with our plan!
I have tried all three activities. We grind wheat and bake bread all the time - people call me a pro, but I'm always learning. I've made several different soaps - from lard, tallow, and even goose fat that we've rendered ourselves. Even did some milled soaps (just took Ivory soap, grated and melted it, and added things like lavender and herbs). Am not a pro at that, have just made soap successfully a few times. Regarding candle-making, I've taken sheets of beeswax and rolled them into candles around a provided wick; and re-melted some candle scraps and poured them into a baking powder tin around a piece of wick - but have never done the hand-dipped thing. So the candle-making DVD is one we'd enjoy.
I would love the bread making video-- we eat a lot of bread in my home-- according to my husband a meal is not complete without bread.
Tina
Anita ~ I am so glad that you finally had the opportunity to review thid DVD set! I have been interested for a while, but it is always so helpful to hear of their true usefulness in the home! We have undertaken baking our own bread this summer, so I acutally just ordered the breadbaking DVD from Vision Forum! I can't wait to get it :) We would be interested in the candle making DVD. Candles add such a warm touch (no pun intended) to the home and I love the atmosphere they create. We are down to the final remnant of a candle my brother made for us several years ago and it has been our long time favorite. I would love to learn this art along with my children! Thanks so much for your review!
I was just asking to borrow Christy Riley's Homestead Blessings DVDs yesterday! I hate I missed your drawing! We've seen the one with the large family that does the farmer's markets & finally goes to Israel. My children LOVE the Drive-Thru History videos. I like them so much, it is the one video series I'll let them watch in the van just because it is educational & fun. (I could leave out fun, but the edu. part makes it worthy, ya know.)
I have been telling Sydney Morris forever I was going to have her over for soap making. We have been doing castille goat milk soaps for years. My all time favorite is oatmeal honey. It's my brother-in-law's favorite gift.
Hannah is becoming quite the herbalist, making new tinctures all the time. She is trying her hand at salves now. We love Shoshanna Pearl's video, Making Herbs Simple. We've bought a ton of herb books in the past 6 months for her life skills education. The best book she likes is Practical Herbalism by Philip Fritchey. Great photos for herb id.
I personally want to do bee hives for my own personal stash of raw honey. Anyone do that? I'm also looking for new home made bread recipes that go well with everyday sandwiches. Anyone have one they especially love?
Heather Brandon
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