“Mom, what is this?” My 4 year old son asked while squeezing behind his knee.

“That is a tendon”, I said, “It connects the muscle to the bone”. He then proceeded to ask about his forearm bones and because he was game I pointed out his ear cartilage, and leg muscles. He walked away doing his silly strong man act. But I got the message loud and clear. Not a future engineer as formally predicted. With this kind of anatomical curiosity he is most certainly a future doctor! If you know me you know I jump on my children’s scholarly curiosities with drive, usually in the form of a library request list but for this very special occasion nothing less than a purchase would do!

The book? Uncover the Human Body: An Uncover It Book by Luann Colombo and Jennifer Fairman.

We have paged thought this book a bunch of times at the bookstore. It is very unique. Each page has a human shaped die-cut center to accommodate the modeled anatomical model visible from every page. All the systems and organs of the body are separate, perfectly detailed molded plastic pieces. As you turn a page some parts travel with the page revealing more anatomy.

It never ended up making the cut but I honestly don’t know why. It is the coolest anatomy book ever and I know this because today I did the research! The fact that it is illustrating a very complex three-dimensional subject with annotated layers of three-dimensional pieces makes perfect sense.

This book is in fact part of a successful series of anatomy books which includes such animals as a shark, tiger, and a frog. In my opinion this is how all frogs should be dissected going forward!

If this works out, wink, wink, it will be the best 12 dollars and 89 cents investment I have ever made. Wish me luck molding my future doctor and definitely check out these books!

Here is my opinion and a confession. I hope I don’t hurt anyone’s feeling with this… Before I started my blog, I avoided blogs! If Google sent me to a blog when I was let’s say, looking up a recipe, I would immediately hit the back button and select a “more established” more reputable site.  Honestly, I wouldn’t even give it a chance.  And this is coming from a person who has a very close sister who has been a successful blogger for years! It is not that I didn’t respect what she was doing.  I was, in fact, impressed with what she had accomplished and built. I even occasionally visited her site but probably not as often as I should have. Back then, I suppose many of the blogs I happened upon where just not for me plus I didn’t “get it”.  Like the commenting thing. What? In order to comment I have to register with who? From those early experiences I concluded that blogs and bloggers had their own separate society and culture that was different than mine that I was more than fine not being a part of.

Enter The Pioneer Woman…

I was reading a lot after my son was born. I stopped working fulltime and there were long stretches without contract work. My home was running smoothly and my kids were napping. Ahhh, I love reading. So enjoyable. I picked up a copy of Ree Drummond’s The Pioneer Woman: Black Heels to Tractor Wheels: a Love Story. It looked like an old fashioned story of love and life. I couldn’t resist. I did enjoy it which prompted me to check out her blog. I learned that she home schools her kids and her site provides resources for that along with many amazing recipes, beautiful images, and tons more creative, useful, and entertaining stuff.  Then I discovered Design Mom and I though wow this is great too. Her site is full of culture and design inspiration. I wanted to be like these women! They completely changed how I thought about blogs. They also have many followers who are not bloggers which means they are changing the culture “out there” to be more open to blogs as a viable source of entertainment and information. I can only trust that this will continue to happen as more big bloggers are created and will ultimately benefit all bloggers.

What do you think?  Please chime in!

I ♥ my Canon PowerShot SX40 HS!

I went back and forth and back and forth on upgrading from my Canon PowerShot S410 with 3X optical zoom.  The main thing I wanted was lots more zoom for taking bird and other nauture photos.  The Canon PowerShot S410 also has a 10X digital zoom but at this magnification my pictures looked fuzzy.  Should I get another point and shoot but with lots more zoom or should I upgrade to a DSLR with a telephoto lens?

How I decided…  

In the end I decided to go for the convenience and affordability (under $400) of another point and shoot but with mega 35X zoom: The Canon PowerShot SX40 HS.  It’s convenient because there is no extra lens to carry around and the mega zoom retracts, keeping the camera more compact.  I figured it would be more consistent with the spontaneous way I take pictures (switching on the spot between close up and distance shots).  I like to always have it with me in my regular handbag too.  Full disclosure: my regular handbag is a diaper bag so it it on the large size (and yes, I am still carrying around a diaper bag even though my youngest has been out off diapers for over a year and no, it not a cutesy one).

I still may upgrade to a DSLR, one day, but I envision this camera will still be my everyday, go-to camera.

Out of the box…  

I have had this camera now for 10 weeks and I couldn’t be happier!  Honestly I don’t think I have learned the ins and outs fully yet (I am not really a sit down and read the manual type) but I could start taking great pictures from the get go and quickly became familiar and comfortable with operating the camera and the majority of the features.  I took this photo of a Cardinal right after charging the battery for the first time: Hello Birdie!  It is a motion shot so the bird is blurry but it is still a cool shot I think.  I have since discovered there is a “sports” mode for action shots.

This image is not enhanced nor re-sized (click on to zoom in).

Examples…

Just this morning, on the way home from dropping my daughter as school, my son and I saw this Wild Turkey.  I just pulled over and we watched him gobble and puff out his feathers.  I took this photo from inside the car.  I just love coming home and uploading photos from this camera!

Check out these posts to see more of what this camera can do…

• It’s so boring around here!
• Hovering Hawk Craft
• It’s a Bird! It’s a Plane! Special Edition
• Brand new, must haves for spring!
• Station Starlings 

Video

It also takes HD video in MOV format.  If you use Windows Movie Maker, which takes just AVI, for editing, no problem, the Canon PowerShot SX40 HS comes with ZoomBrowser which will make the conversion.  Here is an example of some video I took: Home Sweet Home.

Technical specs…

To learn more about what this camera can do and read the technical specs form Amazon click here: Canon PowerShot S410

Final thought…  If you like the convenience and price of a point and shoot but want lots more zoom for taking bird photos, I encourage you to consider the Canon PowerShot S410!

Today I am sharing a bunch of my favorite posts strung together with info about me and Doodles and Jots’ trajectory.  I think my tag line says it best: Ideas for, diversions from, and celebrations of family life from a creative mom.  You can also get to know more about me by checking out my About page, My ABC’s post, and Pregnancy Test Trees and a Pickle Baby (about me becoming a mom). I started this site in October 2011 with the encouragement of my sister who is a long time, successful blogger at Life Learning Today. Her blog is full of great advice on healthy, happy, purposeful living. Definitely check it out!

To read more about why I started this blog and my thoughts on the benefits of blogging, check out Why I ♥ Blogging.

What’s in a name?

I came up with the name Doodles and Jots early in my exhaustive brainstorming of blog names. I liked how it sounded whimsical but I was afraid it wouldn’t describe my often practical content enough.  I though of many other names which had mixed reviews from my consultants (aka husband, sister, and mother) but I kept coming back to Doodles and Jots.

Some of my practical life posts…  

• Eat better while saving time and money!
• Save Money, Have Fun!
• This is how I keep my house from slipping into utter chaos

I decided to go for it and vowed to live up to this name and always share spontaneous original thoughts and visuals.

It makes it hard sometimes but is good discipline for me. I am definitely honing my visual skills (illustration and photography) as well as my written skills. Honestly, I do not consider myself a writer. I am too scarred from my years struggling with dyslexia. Instead I think of my writing as sharing of my thought and ideas. In real life I have a pretty good sense of humor and I hope what I do share entertains (like this and this) as well as explains.

What do I share?  

I love observing nature especially birds and trees (check out my printable bird journal and my post about tree bark).  I am passionate about fun, practical, whole family oriented learning about the world around us. Our environment is full of curiosities!

Whole family learning examples… 

• Dreams of Darwin
• Make a water tower
• Materials Flash-cards
• Teaching Fractals
• Ripple Effect

I also love reading and LOVE childrens books.  As a matter of fact I almost studied illustration at art school!  I love sharing great books that I enjoy and my kids ask for over and over.

Book inspired posts and reviews…

• Brother Sun, Sister Moon
• Balloons Over Broadway
• Need a kids birthday party gift idea?
• Winter Reading
• Imagination books

I also get such a thrill from creating and sharing things like original mini-books and other fun printables.  Here are some examples…

• Poem
• Top 10 Favorite Vehicles
• Oy!
• Materials Flash-cards
• Get Your Irish On

I also love coming up with ideas for simple crafts or toys you can make with your children like this…

• Childhood is Magical
• Leapin’ Lizards
• Paper-doll Printable
• All Signs Point to Fun
• Easy Heart Garland Craft

My background is product design which I still do part-time from home while my kids are in school. I don’t talk much about product design on this blog because most of what I work on is confidential, but I do occasionally review products or share what I consider good design or clever ideas here and on Pinterest.

Some of my favorite product review posts…

• Ultimate Baby Nursery Wishlist (accessories)!
• This Land is Your Land, Easter Innovation
• LeapPad!

Feedback, sharing, and navigating 

If you like a post please let me know in the comments and/or share. Sharing options are made easy with my Shareaholic tabs. I love feedback and sharing and will usually return the favor!  Please consider following me (made easy with my FOLLOW ME buttons at the top of my sidebar)!  If you click on RSS feed you can choose to follow via your preferred reader or email. I also have a few more sidebar options for exploring Doodles and Jots starting with RECENT POSTS with thumbnails, further down is a complete site archive by date and title (now at 200 posts, yay!), and WAY down is a animated tag cloud by topic. Along the top of my page I have categories and MY favorite page, Visual Archive, with thumbnails of all my posts!

What is next for Doodles and Jots?

I don’t consider myself much of a planner. I really love to happily go where life (and the weather, weather, weather, weather, weather) takes me asking questions along the way. Anything else?  I would love to get more artsy and experiment with different mediums like paper cut art and printmaking techniques and perhaps try more creative writing.  Come along with me on this wonderful windy path of life!

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This post is linked up with What’s the Word? Wednesdays over at Frankly My Dear.  Grab a coffee and check it out!

My neighbors often have a table of free stuff on their front lawn. Sometimes bigger things too including furniture but they are usually old MDF pieces that are close to the end of their life cycle therefore not worth taking. No matter what they have, my daughter wants it. Sometime I will take the long way in order to not have to pass it because I hate saying no.

Yesterday they had an old television cabinet out on display. My daughter called it a cupboard and said she wanted it (of course). This piece could technically be called a cupboard. Google’s definition of cupboard is: a cabinet or closet, usually with a door and shelves, used for storage. Cupboard, Cupboard, Cupboard, what a wonderful word. This was definitely NOT a cupboard though. Cupboards are what my grandmother kept her tea cups in and where the little animals in Beatrix Potter stories kept their pies and poor Old Mother Hubbard… well, let’s not even go there!

This got me started thinking about other “grandma words” or should I now say “great-grandma words”. These old words have fallen out of favor and it’s our own fault! Don’t you remember cringing when you grandmother called your super cool Guess jean, dungarees. It is sad though because these words are so rich in emotional references to the people, places, and things from our past.

So let’s celebrate these old-timey words today with a printable book to share with kids! Your children can learn some new words and you can enjoy a trip down memory lane.

“Fun Old Tmey Words” printable accordion book

Here is the list…

1. Parlor = living room
2. Dungarees = jeans
3. Ice box = refrigerator
4. Rubbish = garbage
5. Galoshes = rain boots
6. Valise = small suitcase
7. Housecoat = bathrobe
8. Cupboard = cabinet
9. *Girdle = shape-ware

preview of accordion book

To print out the accordion book just click on the following hyperlink to open a PDF file that you can save or print: old-timey words accordion book. Once printed, cut along the solid lines, use a glue stick on the flap to attached the 2 strips together, then fold back and forth accordion style along the dotted lines.

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Oh, so close to 500 words, but not quite, Google! Apparently if you want to optimize your searchability on Google you must post daily with at least 500 words. For more on Google’s new SEO guidelines read this great post from Pragmatic Mom. And then go check out Vanita Cyril’s After Bedtime Blog. This site is chock full of super helpful blogging tips likes these!

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I am sure I forgot some great old timey words! Please leave a comment and add to my list.

*Just for moms and not in the book so don’t worry about having to explain this one!

Being a Mother (sketchbook watercolor)

Telephone calls
Paintings for walls

Rhymes with rinds
Thrift store finds

Decoration
Concentration,

On Sudoku,
Night-owl go-to

Sunday, cooks
Reader of books

Historical drama
Number 1 Grama!

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Happy Mother’s Day everyone!!!

Recently I posted about the Gray Catbird and their mimicking ability with a video from Cornell Lab of Ornithology comparing their sounds with the bird they’re mimicking.  Apparently they mimic to attract a mate.  Well let me tell you, my backyard is like a mall full of teenagers on a Friday night right now!  Check out this video I took…

Doesn’t that sound crazy?!  Except for some crows in the background that is all them!  I think it sounds fascinating although I might feel differently if I was trying to sleeping in and that was going on outside my window!

Proud Parents (mama in front)

Back in March I posted about House Finches and how they were building a nest over our garage…  

Gathering Nesting Supplies

Well today we have news! The House Finches are expecting! I though maybe they had abandoned the nest due to my meddling camera or maybe fertility issues but no, just planning ahead!

There they are!

I think there is just two. Although there might be a third, I just can’t get in there to see. Doesn’t it look nice and cozy? What a great spot for a nest; well protected by the eagle. Don’t mess with him! Although he don’t seem to mind getting pooped on.

We will keep you posted on any further developments!

Lily of the Valley

…from my backyard

My backyard has such a nice sweet smell lately!  So many plants, bushes, and trees are flowering.  This is the smell of spring that fragrance companies are going for but can never quite achieve.

I’m enjoying it and it seems to be driving the pollinators wild!  The bees, butterflies and other buzzy things are very busy back there.  I just try and stay out of the way of the bees.  Bee stings really hurt!

Speaking of pollinators, have you ever hear about Darwin’s orchid?  Watch this…

Isn’t that amazing!  Think of what you do know and apply it to what you don’t know and you could come up with an amazing theory that could one day be proved out.  I think the hardest part would be having the courage when everyone tells you that you are wrong.

Reminds me of this article too.  Scientist believe there are about 8.8 million species in existence but only about a quarter of these have been discovered and that some of these undiscovered ones might be in our very own backyards!  Wouldn’t it be cool to discover a new species?!  I think I would like to discover two so I could name one doodle and one jot and then I could use them on my banner!

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Doesn’t it make you want to learn more about Darwin?  I couldn’t find one specifically about Darwin’s orchid.  Could it be possible one doesn’t exist?!  Someone should write one!

Here are the books I added to our library request list…

The Tree of Life: Charles Darwin by Peter Sis

Charles Darwin and the Beagle Adventure (Historical Notebooks) by A. J. Wood and Clint Twist

Discover the plants, animals, and people Darwin encountered on his groundbreaking voyage aboard the BEAGLE. Packed with novelties, including extracts from Darwin’s diary and later works, CHARLES DARWIN AND THE BEAGLE ADVENTURE takes readers on an eyeopening exploration of our globe and uncovers the path that led to the cornerstone of natural history: the theory of evolution (Amazon Description).

Darwin by Alice B McGinty, illustrated by Mary Azarian

Filled with the fascinating words of Charles Darwin—designed as handwritten entries—this picture book biography reveals the assembling of a profound idea: the survival of the fittest. Two hundred years after his birth, 150 years after the publication of his ORIGIN OF SPECIES, this thought-provoking, splendidly ilustrated account invites us into the private thoughts, hopes and fears of a soul who forever changed the way we see the world (Amazon Description).

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This post is linked up with Mama Smiles and her great link up Home + School = AfterSchool.  Check it out for lots of fun ways to keep the learning going after school!

Monkey Wrench (felt-tip pen on marker paper)

This morning we were running late and not just a little.  We had a few monkey wrenches thrown into our morning.  That is how I explained it to my son’s preschool teacher on the phone.  On the ride home I was thinking about a monkey wrench and other idioms.  One of my favorite assignments from elementary school was using an idiom in a sentence and then drawing a funny picture of the literal meaning.  Of course they tell you not to use idioms in your writing because they are over used cliches.  I think this is true but I also think it is good for kids to learn about them so they know what they mean plus it is fun and funny!

Printable Idioms Workbook

In honor of that great grade school assignment today I am sharing a printable idiom workbook.  Each page has a classic idiom and a place to draw a picture and add a sentence.  I think it could be a fun after school activity.

Print the following PDF:  Idioms Workbook and make sure to select the double-sided printing option in your printer preferences.  Then fold and staple to create the booklet.

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Thanks to this forum for a great list of the top 100 idioms for kids! 

By the way, it is raining cats and dogs here today.  Do you have a favorite idiom?