Children’s Book Monday--Miss Hickory

Miss Hickory by Carolyn Sherwin Bailey

Miss Hickory is a doll of the finest materials, her Hickory nut head is attached to her apple-wood twig body. She is dressed in clothes from her owner Anne and lives in a little corn cob hose at the base of the lilac bush. Life is perfect for Miss Hickory. That is until her owner leaves and forgets her prim and proper little doll.

Winter in New Hampshire isn’t easy if you are a twig doll with a nut for a head. Miss Hickory uses her wits and with the help of some of her friends embarks on her changing season adventure. Will Anne recognize her treasured toy upon her return.

First published in 1946, this Newbery Award winning story is a favorite of mine and my children. The lithograph illustrations by Ruth Gannett are the perfect compliment to this tiny adventure. Read it aloud, it is too good to miss.

Visit Elise at A Path Made Straight for more ideas for wonderful children’s books.

Technorati tags: Children's Books, children's book review, reading, homeschool Miss Hickory, Carolyn-Sherwin-Bailey

Gift from a Friend

Renee at 2 Peas in Pod shared this award with me. She is always a bright light full of joy and is so deserving of it. I don't know that I live up to it, but for her to say I do means a lot.

I want to pass it on to Annie, Sheryl, Kim, Maria and to Jenny. You all have been so kind and blessed my heart. Renee I'm sending it back at you too!!

I Can’t Believe She Wants to Know MORE about Me

Shalee certainly is a glutton for punishment tagged me for a meme. Shalee also tagged me for a meme way back here. She knew I was weird even before she met me. But since she lied and didn’t tell the world how bad I was was so nice and said lovely things when she did meet me, I’m going to play along. Because I don’t talk about myself enough.

Cough, sputter, SNORT!

But since I did this one before, I am tweaking it a little because who wants to listen to the same junk you all want to know MORE about me!

Four jobs you've had in your life
Four jobs I wish I had been able to have:
Ophthalmologist (I was a Certified Ophthalmic Assistant and was so impressed with the doctors I worked with.)
Librarian (You work with books!)
Proofreader (Not good at proofing my own, but love to edit others.)
Bookstore owner (I'm sure this would be hard to understand, seeing as how I never talk about reading and books, books, and more books!)

Four movies that you would watch over and over
Four movies I want to watch soon that I’ve not seen:
One Night with the King
Memoirs of a Geisha
Pride and Prejudice (all of them)
Beowulf & Grendal

Four TV shows that you love to watch (or used to watch)—Used to watch before children (and computers):
ER
JAG
West Wing
M*A*S*H

Four places you've lived
Four places I wish I lived:
The Island of Sodor
Narnia
Dinotopia
The 100 Acre Wood

Four places you've been on vacation
Four (actually 13) vacations I want to take:
The Shire
Camelot
The Island of Avalon
Hogwarts

Four websites you visit daily:
Pastor Al
The Weather Channel
My Way Photos—both “User Photos” and “Pet Photos”
Bloglines—where I see if you’ve posted something new for me, me, just for ME!

Four of your favorite foods:
Bread
Pumpkin Bread
Banana Bread
Cheesecake of any variety

Four places you would rather be right now:
Heaven
New Zealand
England
Rivendell

Four people I’m tagging:
Leslie at Do You Weary Like I Do?
Maria at Free to Fly
Kim at mom-musings
Sheryl at Taking the Challenge

Faith Lift Friday

My Lord is ever with me
Along life's busy way;
I trust in Him completely
For guidance day by day.

So shall I have wherewith to answer him that reproacheth me; for I trust in Thy Word. Psalm 119:42

WHAT TIME I AM AFRAID

What time I am afraid
I put my trust in Thee;
In God I rest, and praise
His Word, so rich and free.

In God I put my trust,
I neither doubt nor fear,
For man can never harm
With God my Helper near.

In God, the Lord, I rest,
His word of grace I praise,
His promise stands secure,
Nor fear nor foe dismays.

Upon me are Thy vows,
O God, in Whom I live;
The sacrifice of praise
To Thee I now will give.

For Thou hast saved from death,
From falling kept me free,
That in the light of life
My walk may be with Thee.

Behold God is my salvation; I will trust and not be afraid. Isaiah 12:2




Visit Sheryl at Taking the Challenge for Faith Lift Friday.

And You Thought You Knew Everything About Me!

Leslie at Do You Weary Like I Do? tagged me for this meme traveling around Bloggyville that asks us to:

Go back through your archives and post the links to your five favorite blog posts that you’ve written. But there is a catch:
Link 1 must be about family.
Link 2 must be about friends.
Link 3 must be about yourself.
Link 4 must be about something you love.
Link 5 can be anything you choose.

So, for your horror enjoyment I dug up and dusted off:

Link 1--Family/What Doesn't Get Said in the Christmas Letter
Link 2--Friends/I Saw Big Don
Link 3--Myself/Where the bloggy madness began
Link 4--Something I Love/Really, I love these!
Link 5--Anything I Choose/More stuff you truly didn't need to know about me. LOL!

And if you aren't bored with me yet (and that will surprise me!) you can look on my sidebar for "Joys Revisited--Some of My Favorite Posts." Then you will probably run screaming and never come back.

I'm supposed to tag five people, so I'm tagging you, and you and...well if YOU want to play join in!! I love to read the stuff you love to write!

Thursday Thirteen

I like words, odd words, fun words, words that catch your attention. So for today I present:

Thirteen good words to know

1. Tintinnabulation: the ringing sound of bells (One of my favorites! My son likes this one too.)

2. Gnomon: 1. The raised arm of a sundial that indicates the time of day by its shadow. 2. The remaining part of a parallelogram after a similar smaller parallelogram has been taken away from one of the corners.

3. Omphaloskepsis: the contemplations of one’s navel. (Synonym for blogging??)

4. Roborant: restoring strength or vigor; also, a restorative.

5. Arriviste: an upstart.

6. Autochthonous: indigenous; native.

7. Abecedarian: pertaining to the alphabet; also, rudimentary; also, a beginner.

8. Zanjero: one who is in charge of water distribution.

9. Pilgarlic: a bald-headed person. (Things that make you go, "Hmmmm...:

10. Hirsutulous: Minutely hirsute. (Would Extrahirsute mean the opposite? Just kidding.)

11. Verbigeration: Obsessive repetition of meaningless words and phrases. (Would this mean ME?)

12.. Vomitorium: A passageway to the rows of seats in a theater. (Really???)

13. Triskaidekaphobia: fear of the number 13. (Thought that was appropriate!!)

THE PURPOSE BEHIND THE THURSDAY THIRTEEN:
The purpose of the meme is to get to know everyone who participates a little bit better every Thursday. What do you do? Write Thirteen things about yourself, summarize your week in one entry, make it easy for other bloggers to get to know you on a weekly basis. Visiting fellow Thirteeners is encouraged!

Wordless Wednesday

Here, Fishy, Fishy, Fishy...

What, Mom??? I'm busy!

For more Wordless Wednesday participants check the HUB.

Spread Some Love

Maria at Free to Fly has graced me with the Spread the Love Award. Thank you Maria, you are such an encourager. The award originated at Garb-oodles Soup with Mica. What a sweet admonishment to spread the love.

I can’t be stingy here, love is to important not to pass on. So I am not being lazy, but truly everyone on my blogroll deserves this award. Spread the Love everyone, spread the love.

And as long as we are speaking on love, I would ask that you visit sweet Kelli and send her some prayers and love. She is at a serious point and is asking a crucial question. Your part might be a prayer, maybe a link, maybe more, but spread some love to Kelli for me. ‘K?

A Year of Romance

Maria at Free to Fly is asking us about romance. She is, in fact, hostessing "The Year of Romance."

Weeeellll…hmmm…If you want to know how my Cave Geek speaks my “love language” you could read this post. To some that might not be very romantic, but it is to me!!

Fifteen years is not as long as some, but I think these days it is pretty impressive. We’ve agreed on how things should be, they are things that others might not see eye to eye with us on, but that is okay. We married each other and no one else. What keeps us going is the common bond, the common goal and the appreciation for the little things—he bought me the can opener, tonight I remembered he is in need of sweat socks. I’m telling you, they will not write a book about sweat socks. But it is those little things.

Romance is making coffee for the other to wake up to. It is ignoring my housekeeping (or lack of). It is being content just to be in the same house. My husband travels some and while I am a capable woman, it is just nicer to have him here. It is shared stupid jokes and finishing each other’s sentences. It is having the same sarcastic, smart-alec, barbed sense of humor. My sister’s affianced really thinks we are weird the way we talk to each other. We are not ummmmm…very, shall we say "courtly".

I don’t need the car door opened for me, but help with the groceries is nice. He can do his own laundry, but is ever so grateful to have me do it for him. (Out of compassion I did quit ironing his clothes, though. I ruined more than one pair of dress pants. Blush.) I don’t always need my hand held, but there are times I need a shoulder to cry one. He doesn’t need me to watch every football game with him, but if I will listen to him vent about the outcome of our team, it is nice. He takes my opinions about work and matters of our future and gives them weight and tells me they are valuable. And proves it with his decisions.

Newlyweds may have flames, but I’ll keep my cozy well stoked marriage. There was a time in our lives when we went dancing and dining. Now we settle for a two-step or a waltz in the kitchen. But the rhythm is still there.

Visit Maria and tell her (and us) what is romantic at your house?

Children's Book Monday

Last night I got to hold a precious new baby Her mommy has been my friend for over sixteen years now. I’ve watched my friend grow from a teenager to a fantastic young woman and now a new mother. What a sweet and precious thing.

Before this lovely child was born the boys helped me pick out a shower gift for our friend. She told us last night how much she enjoys the books we got her. They are some of the boys and my favorites. Since she was pleased I will share the books we gave them for our review this week.

The first was The Quiltmaker's Gift by Jeff Brumbeau and I talked about that briefly during the Read to Me 2007 Challenge. It is a favorite of mine and since our new baby friend's grandma is a quilter, I thought it would be perfect for when Grandma babysits.

The second is Jamberry by Bruce Degen. It is a fast and nimble almost tongue-twister, certain to bring giggles and smiles. Who can resist"...Strawberry ponies, Strawberry lambs, Dancing in meadows, Of strawberry jam..." The colorful and lively illustrations are funny and joyful.


The next book is Tumble Bumble by Felicia Bond. We have a video of Roo's third birthday party where he "read" it for us. Of course he had just memorized it, but that was due to us reading it at least once a day...maybe more.

It is a book of meeting new and unexpected friends and a tiny adventure and surprises. Felica Bond has, of course created many other books, so this treasure is no surprise.

The last book is Time for Bed by Mem Fox, Jane Dyer Illustrator. This soothing, gentle bedtime rhyme sets just the right tone for the last book of the night. All the animals are ready for bed, from the bee to the horse, from the dog to the deer. Bedtime was so sweet reading this little gem.

All four books are books that I cannot bear to part with. Too many memories all wound up in the words.

Visit Elise at A Path Made Straight for more wonderful children's book recommendations and Children's Book Monday.