Holly is an author, storyteller, and Florida Master Naturalist who loves to share heritage skills taught to her by her grandmothers. Florida has been her family home for generations and preserving that lifestyle for the future is her goal. Holly enjoys coming alongside women to share skills and help them discover their own natural gifts and talents.
By Holly Giles |
Grapevine wreaths are simple for children to work with at any age. Look around in your own backyard, neighborhood park or patch of woods for the pesky vines. You will be cleaning up and making a beautiful wreath at the same time. Small wreaths are easier to manage with small children. It is just continuous […]
Continue readingBy Holly Giles |
Handicrafts are an abundant portion of our learning at home. The wooden pencil holder provides skills with measurement, drills and a saw. Boys and girls alike will feel accomplished when tools of carpentry can be learned. It can open up a whole new world of imagination for them. Smaller sized drills are available that work […]
Continue readingBy Holly Giles |
Tin can lanterns speak pioneer Christmas to me! Our Prairie Life book club decided that the chapter on Christmas was their favorite. I can see Laura and Mary helping Ma make handmade ornaments and dressing up the ordinary into something beautiful. When given the opportunity, children can make Christmas special for family and friends by […]
Continue readingBy Holly Giles |
Making lip balm is fast, easy and fun. We shared a lesson on making lip balm in our Life Skills section, but we wanted to remind you of this craft for holiday projects. Using the same recipe, use peppermint oil as the flavor base. It is my all-time favorite! The original lip balm video is […]
Continue readingBy Holly Giles |
Lemon sugar is an easy gift that can go along way. Starting at least three weeks prior to gift giving, add lemon peel to a bowl of sugar. I prefer a glass container so no odors transfer into the sugar. This is a great gift for tea drinkers. My sister-in-law always asks if I am […]
Continue readingBy Holly Giles |
Gingerbread Biscotti is my favorite holiday treat. I make plenty to give to friends, but I love to keep a jar next to the coffee maker and dunk them in my morning coffee on cool winter mornings. It sets the tone for our holiday season. I have to hide the packages I make for friends because Grayson […]
Continue readingBy Holly Giles |
Cowboy cookies have been a favorite around the Frontier for many years. We rotate putting them back on our gift-giving list. They are always a hit with family and friends and our boys feel like they made something special for them to enjoy. It is also a nice extra gift to have on hand when […]
Continue reading
By Holly Giles | Uncategorized
Read: Read chapters twelve and thirteen to finish the book. Copywork: Copy the poem above for copywork and narration. Summary: It is a busy time of the year at the Ingall’s place. Threshing the oats, braiding straw hats, hulling corn, and working the garden. Winter was on its way and there was so much […]
Continue readingBy Holly Giles | Uncategorized
Reading: Read chapters ten and eleven this week from Little House in the Big Woods. Copywork: Copy the quote from Laura or use it for narration. Review: Chapter ten is called “Summertime”. What did people do during the summertime? What language did Mrs. Peterson talk to Laura and Mary in? How would you have divided […]
Continue readingBy Holly Giles | Uncategorized
Read: Read chapters eight and nine this week. Copywork: Copy the quote above for copywork or narration this week. Laura has learned what a “sugar snow” is. Laura and Mary each got maple sugar candy from Grandpa. Pa explains the process of tapping the maple trees, how he collects the sap and boils […]
Continue reading