Category: Books

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Road Trip Treasures

Took a little road trip the other day with some of the kidlets. We visited–and fell in love with so many cute shops along the way. That’s always the best part of adventures like this–the serendipitous goodies that insist on coming home with us.

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Found an adorable “bubble” pattern for the baby chickies. That’ll be coming soon.

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Discovered some pre-punched baby bibs–one for each baby. All I have to do is trim around them and crochet some scallops or somthing. I’ve never tried it before–so this could get interesting. I’m game. If it’s ugly–I don’t have to show you. ha!

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This is a quilt pattern that I’m sure will look so much better in prettier colors. Of course, since I’ve never made a quilt–perhaps it will actually look better if I get someone else to make it. haha

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Found these sweet little file folders in the close-out corner in a tiny fabric shop–while I was wandering around…touching stuff.

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This is a felt pattern for holiday felting. Sorry the picture is blurry. I’m sure it’s because I was so excited to show this to you–I couldn’t hold still. Don’t you just love Christmas stuff?

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This should help with my SQDD. You know…Severe Quilting Dysfunction Disorder. If not–oh well. It was only 50 cents.

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Last and certainly best–we found a used bookstore that had a huge 1/2 off sign in the window. Ohhhh…game over. The bald kid and I nearly got lost–never to be seen again. The titles are a bit blurry–camera hands trembling with joy again, no doubt.  We found both volumes of “Sherlock Holmes”–by Doyle, “Ruby Holler” by Creech, “Esperanza Rising” by Ryan, “The Dark is Rising” by Cooper, “Peter Pan” (our next Family Book Club Choice) by Barrie, and “The St. Nicholas Anthology,”–by a huge raft of famous writer’s. Summer could be over tomorrow and I’d still be happy. New stuff. Old stuff. Cool stuff.

I’d put it all away, but I just have to leave it stacked up for a while…you know…

so that every time I walk past…

I can stare at all my treasures–

and giggle.

 

 

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Week #18 Food Storage Prompt: 10lbs. sugar

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A Very Mousey Tale

Clear back in October I mentioned that our family has a book group—a sort of–everyone chooses books they are interested in reading or having the group read and we take turns leading a discussion when we’ve all finished–type group. You may recall my three page whine fest about having to read the book “Frankenstein,” back then.  The bald kid led the discussion and fed us jello molded into a brain. Gak.  Amazingly, we all survived.

Well, here is our most recent choice–“The Tale of Despereaux.” Have any of you read it? What did you think? It was probably a mistake for us to see the movie first because we just kept looking at each other saying, “What the heck?” through the whole thing. Seriously, none of us had a clue what was going on. So, needless to say, I wasn’t incredibly pumped to read the book. Then Jacob reminded me that I had chosen it and would be leading the discussion. Yikes.

So, after finally forcing myself to just pick the darn thing up and get going, I found–to my surprise–that I really liked it…loved it, in fact. And found, also to my surprise, that most of my family didn’t really give it a lot of points. Odd, isn’t it–how different we all are?

But then, that’s the point.

It’s a story about a bunch of characters that behave and dream a bit differently than they’re “suppose” to–a tiny mouse who falls in love with a princess, a rat that craves the sunshine, and a servant girl who aches to know what it feels like to be treated like a princess.  I loved that in the end–everyone’s wishes were respected and that it was ok for them be who ever they were. It made me really happy and honestly, it was lovely to read of a princess who had compassion and tolerance rather than selfishness and pride. Wahoo for this chicky.

I think I’ll give the movie another try–now that I–you know– get it. Perhaps it won’t seem like quite the wack-job it did the first time around.

I’m a forgiving soul.

Since poor little Despereaux loses his tale at one point in the story, I gave everyone a mouse tail bookmark. Kinda sick, I suppose–but they all liked it.

But then, we may just be an odd lot.

Quite likely, in fact.

heh.

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Storytime for Baby Birds

Update continued…

New Year’s Goal #4–  I will read 4 picture books a week to a couple of sweet babies who love books, or to a hatchling that is about to.

This one is easy–a given, in fact. Oh, and I’ve got the books all right…from the early days when I worked at a local bookstore and had an incurable possession problem. Alas, a few symptoms still linger. Afraid it’s cronic. There is no cure.

Little Chick’s Easter Surprise

Although the twins–Lily and Beckham are only about 14 months old, they still love to climb up on a lap–any lap, and have someone show them, page by page every picture, in any book.

Each Peach, Pear, Plum

But since they are still at that “board books only” phase, that severely limits the coolness and magic that Grammy can share with them…for now.

The Relative’s Came

When they are older and not so fascinated with how paper sounds–when it rips–just think of the possibilities…

“Stand Back,” Said the Elephant, “I’m Going To Sneeze”
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Homeplace

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Laura Charlotte

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The Red Lion
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The Seeing Stick
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Whale’s Song
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Beauty and the Beast

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The Mitten
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The Magic String

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I could go on for days…but we’ll pause here…to anticipate.

Tough stuff–this patience thing. We’ll be brave.


Because any kind of magic is worth the wait.

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Hibernation

The weatherman says we may have 6 more inches of snow–in some areas–by morning. I say…bring it.

What I really wish is that it would keep coming down for three days until snow covered up the door, the windows and maybe even the roof–with only the chimney sticking out—so just for a while, we wouldn’t have to go anywhere. I hope it happens in the dead of night sometime so that everyone is home and safe and warm.

Picture it. The first guy up would look out the window—which he couldn’t see out of because it is–as I said–covered with snow. He would say, “DUDE, I’ll have to stay home from school today.”

Then the next guy up would try the door and say, “It won’t open. Guess I can’t go in to work today.”

The next one up would say, “The snow is up to the roof. We better stay inside. I think we’re…snowed in.” Dun-dun-dun.

The all of a sudden we have hot chocolate, and Brocoli Cheese soup, and garlic toast just appearing, magically–from scratch. Board games come out, book shelves are studied, puzzles are started. We would have no choice but to stay inside and read and cook and play and snuggle together with…

a sweet smelling…

fuzzy headed…

…yummy baby.

And just how perfect would that be?

“Baby Chomp”
9lbs. 3oz.
21-3/4 inches long
January 7th, 2009  8:41 pm

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New Year’s Goal #4–  I will read 4 picture books a week to a couple of sweet babies who love books, or to a hatchling that is about to.

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Books to Christmas By

Because I think I know so much, I’d like to show you some fabulous Christmas books that are big favorites around these parts. Now, because I’m terrifically old, some of these books may take some focus to find. But if you’re interested…I’ll try to help.

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1. “Silver Packages” by Cynthia Rylant

Daney-boy’s favorite. An Appalachian story of how kindness can change lives.

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2. “The Bird’s Christmas Carol”

Really old and really worth the search. It’s one of those stories about taking care of each other that they just don’t write anymore.

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3. “Dance in the Desert” by Madeleine L’engle

A mother, a husband, and a young son join a caravan to help them cross the desert to Egypt. If this book had no words–the illustrations are worth the read.

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4. This is the Star by Joyce Dunbar

Along the lines of the “House That Jack Built” in composition. But the illustrations by Gary Blythe (Whale’s Song) are frame worthy. Seriously.

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5. The Christmas Miracle of Jonathan Toomey by Susan Wojciechowski

Mine came with an audio CD which is fun, but I would miss the illustrations. Very moving, healing book.

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6. The Santa Claus Book

All I know is that my grown-up kids still love to read and laugh at this one. We’ve nearly worn our copy out. You’ll have to get this one from the library–or borrow mine. It has gone into the mysterious realm of “collectibles.”

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7.  “One Wintry Night” by Ruth Bell Graham

Written by Billy Graham’s wife.  Take a few evenings to enjoy this one. They even made Christmas cards out of some of these. She begins the Christmas story from the creation of the world. Wonderful, perfect approach.

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8. Countdown to Christmas by Bill Peet

Just silly enough to be a yearly family favorite. How can you beat a timeless line like, “A cool Christmas to all and a groovy New Year!” The library should have it.

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9. The Christmas Carol by Lewis Carol

This is a great way to get your kids hooked on a classic. The illustrations–again–are worth the price. Just read it.

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10. Polar Express by Chris Van Allsburg

We still love this one—couldn’t stand the movie–but the book remains one of our top favorites.

As you can see–I personally have a severe possession problem. But all you healthy people can most likely check these out at the library. That should keep your bedtimes busy until just about Christmas Eve. Woohoo!

Praying for snow…