Winter break for the Austin school district didn’t end until Tuesday, January 9th(!) so we had the pleasure of doing some projects with Griffin and Parker while their parents went back to work.
Parker, who’s in first grade, did her first science project …
Meanwhile, Griffin pursued a project on whether he could create biodegradeable cold packs that measured up to commercial gel packs. As part of the project, he used thrift store linen and sewed it into bags to be filled with dried rice, beans, or peas. He got the hang of the sewing machine in no time flat …
G also has a project due on his cultural heritage. Since Don’s grandfather immigrated from Scotland (as did my great grandfather), that became the focus of G’s efforts. He interviewed his great great aunt Marge, who at age 82 was able to tell him about growing up with immigrant parents.
I told him about tartans and tried to weave a sample of the family Angus tartan, which is a bit too weft-faced, but gives the general idea …
Don pulled out the family photo albums. And even though it wasn’t a part of the project rubric, G looked up and drew the Angus coat of arms …
Luckily for us, Scottish shortbread is also on the project list, so I’m looking forward to making another batch next weekend before his project is due … since we’ve already eaten the first and second batches.
I’m also looking forward to dinner tonight, as the formerly green tomatoes that Don picked last month before the freeze have finally ripened to the point of edible …
Yum!
I'm Going to Texas (version 2.0) 
Liz~. It sounds like lots of fun learning going on! I smiled that the first two batches were eaten up! That would have happened here too 🙂
Here’s a wild bread idea for you…can you say Banana Bread?!!! lol
LikeLike
Ooops, sorry about the giant link photo!! ugh.
LikeLike
no worries
LikeLike
I love having an excuse to bake
LikeLike
love that you wove the tartan!
LikeLike
I’d like to try again with a slightly thicker thread in wool next time …
LikeLike
Projects that weave family and traditions; what a special time, especially for Griffin.
We have attended many Celtic festivals and the Scots always have such wonderful displays of family tartans and coat of arms. My sister in law traveled to Scotland many years ago and although the family is German, she was able to buy what is known as a universal tartan skirt that she wore very Christmas with a thistle pin on her jacket. Our girls have been to Scotland and had a wonderful time. They are adventurous eaters ,one is a vegetarian so no go at trying Haggis and even the meat eating daughter, passed on this delicacy. Shortbread, however, was consumed just about every day. This year for Christmas, one of our special treats was a tin of Scottish shortbread that featured a wonderful painting of a highland cow on the tin cover. Buttery deliciousness!
https://www.scottishgourmetusa.com/product/gordon-mccoo-shortbread-tin
LikeLike
shortbread and highland cows sound like the perfect combination to me (and haggis, not so much)
LikeLike
Hi LA – what an amazing day of projects – and that look on Parker’s face is priceless. Though it also reads like it could have been a tad exhausting. Go well. B
LikeLike
honestly, we usually fall asleep on the couch after bringing the kids home
LikeLike
What great start to the year – so much learning! Love the tartan weaving by you too – and well, shortbread is a necessity for the new year! You did well to ripen those tomatoes – ours are being picked early as well as they are all a bit water-logged and will likely burst!
LikeLike
I’m thinking we’ll do more ripening on the windowsills in the future, especially in the summer when extreme heat and bugs make ripening on the vine a challenge …
And your comment brought to mind one of your posts about shortbread prickery, which was an amazing five years ago! I’ll have to show G when he comes over to make more
https://paperponderings.blogspot.com/2019/12/of-this-and-that.html
LikeLike
oh yes to shortbread pricking. It’s one of my things to do a different pattern on each and every one – despite the fact I never really plan the pattern… I looked at the post and our comments there and yes it is my great grandmother’s recipe and I like that your mum also pricked and broke, didn’t cut, shortbread. And funnily enough I am wearing the pants that appear in that post today! Still going strong.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Love seeing those tomatoes and those very engaged children! Shortbread is one of my favorite things, there would be several batches here too.
What a fun idea to weave the tartan. I am not sure I could do mine (Galbraith, a great great something grandfather), I am up for mending the scarf I have though. The moths got into it.
LikeLike
I have to confess that this is a very sketchy version of the Angus tartan … I’ve also ordered a sample piece of the tartan from the UK which I’ll show when it arrives (hopefully in time for G’s project) … the Scotland Shop sells sample swatches of tartans for $7 including postage!
https://www.scotlandshop.com/us/plaid/swatches
LikeLike
They look like great projects and the tartan sample is lovely.
LikeLike
I’m going to leave the sample on the small bead loom so G can bring the whole thing to class … I’m guessing a lot of students may not be aware of how cloth is made from warp and weft
LikeLiked by 1 person
What a great idea. 😊
LikeLiked by 1 person