Do You Know Why Leaves Change Color In the Fall?

Greetings!

Just in case you've ever wondered (or want to have the answer should your children ask) here's the answer in a nutshell.

During the summer, using sunlight, water, and carbon dioxide, trees create food for themselves (glucose) using a process called photosynthesis. Let's take a quick jump from science to grammar and notice that photo comes from the Greek word photos(light) and synthesis from the Greek words syn (with, together) and thesis (put, place.) Photosynthesis literally means using light to put something together. Chlorophyll, a chemical that helps this process happen, gives leaves their familiar green color during the summer.

We all know that the days are getting shorter. That means less "photos" (to use that Greek word for light). Decreasing sunlight is a cue to the trees to begin shutting down the photosynthesis process for the winter. As chlorophyll levels drop, the green color disappears, and the beautiful reds, greens, yellows, and browns that make autumn so gorgeous become apparent. So while there may be less "photos" there are plenty of photo opportunities. Get your family outdoors to create and capture some beautiful memories this fall.

Also, The Old Schoolhouse has a wonderful new unit study coming out and the first study in the series can be yours for free!

Autumn Treasures

In order to get this fabulous study for free, just visit the store by clicking this link, add the item to your cart and checkout! It's absolutely free.

Special Announcements

Do you have a favorite $7, slow-cooker supper you can share for our newest Molly Makes $7 Slow-Cooker Suppers E-Book? Please contact Elizabeth at ebrandt@thehomeschoolmagazine.com and she will let you know exactly what we're looking for. We'll make sure you get your copy of the E-Book free if we use your recipe!

PS. We'd like your slow-cooker desserts too!

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Suzanne Meyers, aka The Hillbilly Housewife, will be stopping by Econobusters all next week as our guest blogger! I am so excited about all that she is going to be sharing with us. Be sure and come back each day, as she will have a new post, and a new topic to share about.

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We have a brand new giveaway going on at Econobusters. How would you like to win a complete set of The Homestead Blessings dvd set? This set includes the following: Breadmaking, Candlemaking, Soapmaking, Herbs, Gardening, and Canning. Simply click here for details on how you could win!

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Did you know that we extended our special until the end of October? You can purchase the October Digest and Molly Makes $5 Dinners and $3 Desserts for only $9.95! Add both items to your cart and then upon checkout, use the coupon code OCTMOLLY and it will deduct the extra amount.

On the Blog Last Week

Here is a great recap on all that we talked about on the blog last week.

Weekend Wonders has a special find from one of my friends (and a very clever problem solver for those little hands). Be sure and read what she did.
On Tuesday, we started our very first coupon roundup. Lots of great coupons for you to print and use!
Looking for some great ideas for decorating using just what you have outside? Be sure and read this post about Home Made Simple.
If you have a special slow cooker recipe, be sure and read this post on how you can submit it for our newest cookbook in the works!
This week's Works For Me post is all about cleaning tips. I shared some of what we do at my house to keep it clean.
You know how I love bread! I found a great recipe for Artisan Bread that doesn't even require kneading.
Don't forget about my newest giveaway for a complete set of Homestead Blessings dvd's.
I am always entering giveaways. I have decided to start sharing my finds with you. Check out the ones I entered this week.
Lots of freebies in the Freebie Friday post.

Featured Website

This week's featured website is Frugal Family Fun Blog. Valerie and I have been chit-chatting for a while because I simply love her site and all the fun things she posts over there for kids to do on a frugal budget. In fact, this week, she has the coolest art project for kids to make. . . an autumn tree!

Be sure and stop by her blog and check out all the neat tutorials and projects that you can do with your kids.

Recipe of the Week

Photo courtesy of Recipezaar

For this week, I found a fabulous recipe courtesy of Recipezaar.com, it is for Maple Leaf Cookies. With fall weather quickly cooling us off, it brings to my mind images of playing in the leaves (and using them to decorate!), which put me in the mood for these buttery, maple-y, tasty treats. This is a good recipe to let the kids get involved with because they can help with the cookie cutters. So, get in the kitchen and whip up a batch of those delicious fall memories with your family this week! You will all enjoy the taste and smell of fall, and you may have time while the cookies are in the oven to put out another autumn decor item!

Canadian Maple Leaf Cookies

Ingredients

4 cups all-purpose flour

1 cup butter or margarine, softened

3/4 cup packed light brown sugar

1/2 cup maple syrup (the real thing!)

2 eggs

2 teaspoons cream of tartar

1 teaspoon baking soda

3/4 teaspoon salt

Directions
Measure all ingredients and place into a large bowl. Beat ingredients on low speed until well mixed.Shape dough into ball; wrap with plastic wrap.Refrigerate dough 1 hour or until easy to handle.

Preheat oven to 350*F. Grease large cookie sheet. On a lightly floured surface, roll small portions of the dough at a time to about 1/8" thickness. With a maple leaf cookie cutter, cut dough into leaves. Place cookies 1 inch apart on greased cookie sheet (or use parchment lined sheets.) Bake 10 minutes or until golden.

With pancake turner, carefully remove to wire racks to cool. Repeat until all dough is used, greasing cookie sheet each time (If not using parchment). Store cookies in tightly covered container

(Reprinted with permission from Recipezaar)

Weekly Tutorial

Photo courtesy of A Field Journal

Paper Leaf Garland Tutorial

This has got to be the easiest and cutest fall decoration I have seen so far! I found this tutorial over at A Field Journal. You could even add some color to these leaves to make them look more like fall. This is a great way to dress up any plain mantle.

Go by and check out the tutorial and leave a comment thanking them for sharing with us.

Idea Center

So many different ideas for using leaves that I just could not put them all here, so I picked out my favorite ones just for you!

Dollar Store Crafts has some great ideas using leaves and picture frames that would grace any wall during the fall.
Artists Helping Children website has tons of great ideas and projects using leaves that would look great as decorations around the house.
If you crochet, Craft Stylish has the directions on how to crochet your own leaves for the fall.
Better Budgeting has some great tips on using leaves to make fall gift wrap for your gifts.
Make a fall treasure bag to take with you while collecting leaves!
Here is a wonderful recipe for Chicken and Ham Pot Pie that you can decorate with leaves (just like they did!)
Over at the Kids Creativity blog, you can print out leaf printables for your kids to color and decorate your school room with. We do this every year, so that our schooling area feels more festive!
If you scrapbook, here are some really cute downloadable autumn embellishments.

Molly's Money-Saving Digest
October--What Can We Learn From the Great Depression?

October 2009

You're not afraid of the big bad wolf are you?

During the time of the Great Depression many people closely identified with the story of the Three Little Pigs. Today, many are comparing that time period with the economic downturn of the present day. Regardless of how accurate the comparison is . . .
"This really is a season of opportunity to re-think our resources and re-evaluate our needs, repair what we can, and rejoice in all that we've been given."

This month's Molly's Digest explores the resourcefulness and ingenuity that are still alive and well in 2009. There's a lot packed into this special issue--practical and creative ideas inspired by stories of the Great Depression era, smart money-saving opportunities to try, and a whole lot more . . . Take a glimpse at the many topics you'll explore:

Reduce Your Food Budget Unbelievably With Coupon Basics: Couponing - Part 2--Amy Howard had read reports of moms just like her, with way more mouths to feed, spending as little as $40 or $50 a week! She was determined to learn all she could. How do sales trends and stacking and couponing all come together? Discover how it can work for your family!
Re-purposing to Supplement Your Income: Gain some great tidbits of knowledge as you begin your research journey into not only re-purposing those -items you find at a great price in garage sales, but also reselling them to make a profit from home. There's much to consider and glean from Amy Howard's expert advice.
Save $ by Feeding Your Family on a Budget: Reduce money spent on your grocery bill by putting a little extra effort into learning how to use a budget. Enjoy a week's worth of frugal family favorite menus-easy on both your pocketbook and on your time. Check out these delicious thrifty-minded meals and recipes!
What Can We Learn From the Great Depression? (October's Feature):
What Exactly Was the Great Depression? By taking an elementary look at a complicated subject, you'll learn some basic facts and develop a context for learning from that era. How does the plot of the Three Little Pigs story parallel the experiences of many families in 1933? Find out!
Plus, many more articles that are filled with useful tips and information! This Digest is 40 pages of frugal, money-saving ideas!

Click HERE to view a sample of this item.

Which little piggy are you? Stop the huffing and puffing--put Molly's Money-Saving Digest for October to work for you today for only $4.95! Order NOW!

Purchase the October Molly's Money-Saving Digest and Molly Makes $5 Dinners and $3 Desserts and save over 20%! Get both for just $9.95!

Place the October Molly's Money-Saving Digest and Molly Makes $5 Dinners and $3 Desserts in your cart and then enter coupon code OCTMOLLY at check out. Offer expires October 31^st.

We Want to Hear From You!

We love to include your stories and ideas in our monthly Molly's Money-Saving Digests.

We're always looking for "goal-getter" stories, examples of up-cycled or re-purposed objects, and frugal decorating ideas. Send me your story--Remember, if we include your contribution in a Digest, you'll receive that issue FREE.

Until next week!