Make A Stargazer

Let your stars shine bright, day or night!

American Girls are my heros. In a society where young girls are sexualized, I'm happy to support things that let girls be girls. American Girls, Holly Hobbie, Strawberry Shortcake are some of my favorite characters. At the moment Chloe loves to read the American Girl Short Stories before bed. At the end of each book there's a how-to craft. In Molly Takes Flight we learned how to make a stargazer. This was an excellent craft to do with a 5-year-old and a 3-year-old. It was fast, fun, open to interpretation and educational.

You will need:

Round oatmeal container
Wax paper
Pencil
Scissors
Picture of a constellation (Wikipedia)
Tape
Nail
Hammer
Black marker
Construction paper
Markers, stickers (optional)

1. Remove the lid from the container. Place the end of the container on the wax paper, and trace around the container with the pencil. Cut out the circle.

2. Choose a constellation. Put the paper circle over the map. Draw dots for the stars in the constellation.

3. Turn over the paper circle so you see the reverse of the constellation. Place the circle over the closed end of the container. Tape down the edges. Ask an adult to help you use the hammer and nail to punch holes through the stars.

4. Remove the paper circle. Color the outside end of the container with the black marker.

5. Cover the outside of the container with construction paper, and decorate it with anything you wish.

6. To view your constellation, face a window or a light source, and hold the viewer up to your eye. You'll see stars!

All-time Favorite Singers

1. John Denver
2. Indigo Girls
3. Norah Jones
4. Anne Murray
5. Davey Jones
6. Paul McCartney
7. Phil Collins
8. Gibb Brothers
9. Billy Joel
10. James Taylor
11. Stevie Wonder
12. Allison Krauss

(to be continued. . .)

Nimmest Name

I've been asked where the nickname "Nimmy" came from. It's one of those things that has evolved until finally it stuck. My parents and grandparents used to call me "Aim the Dame" when I was little. I have sisters with names straight from Germanic influence. So why was I named just Amy? I used to ask my parents where my name came from. They must have said that it was French, because from then on I would say my name is "from French." So the nick name "Aim the Dame" seemed fitting. As I grew up my nick name was shortened to just Aim. It came in very handy when I ran for student officer. Slogans like "Aim High," "She'll Aim to please," and (the one I actually won with) "Campaigning is lame, just vote for Aim" were very catchy. At about this same time I used to bake desserts most Sundays with my sisters and mom. It usually would turn into a time of joking, talking, eating dough, and singing. My sister Heidi (aka Heed) was making up a song with my name in it: "Nimmest N'Aim, Nimmest N'Aim, doesn't like to be called that name. She goes around on a big brown train. Nimmest N'Aim." So after that day I was called Nimmest, Nimertha, Nimmerton, Nim, and Nimmy. Nimmy stuck and is who I am known as in my immediate family, except for those who still choose to call me "Lame". . .

Other nicknames that I've had: Maimie, AimerHeid, Schmame, Halvie, Lame, Lamy, Mon Ami, and the most recent Nm (thanks to Mn).