Ukelele Orchestra of Great Britain performing the Theme from Shaft

This is fun, and it really gets particularly good around the one minute mark.



I think I may like this one (Theme from The Good, the Bad and the Ugly) even better.

The Power of an Inspirational Teacher

I think you'll enjoy this video:



These are the students in the Chorus at PS22, Staten Island, NY. This is not a magnet or fine arts school, but a typical big city public school, with a different group of fifth grades making up the chorus each year. Wow! The faces and the body language! Note the two girls on the right side of the aisle playing their imaginary pianos during the introduction. No doubt these kids are involved and loving it.

You can read more about the chorus and their instructor, Gregg Breinberg, in this ABC News article: Music Class Is Hit With Kids, Online Viewers

The chorus was formed in 2000 and Breinberg started blogging about their activities a few years ago. If you scroll to the bottom of the home page there are many links to past performances. They've been on various TV programs and performed at major special events, but I had never heard of them. Of course, I live under a rock. Had you heard of them before now?

Free Entertaiment at the Expense of Your Family and Friends

There are a thousand things I should be doing right now, but this somehow seems more important. Have you seen the fun OfficeMax site where you can turn yourself and your friends into dancing elves? Check out this one of Fran, my mother and me getting down with our bad selves at JibJab ElfYourself. Yeah, I know, pretty impressive. Try to wipe that image out of your mind.

You can have hours of fun at this site, creating "elves" who can perform five different dances. Email your creations to anyone who needs a good laugh. Or put them on your blog. Or post them on Facebook for the world to see.

Marshmallow Experiment

Good, but I bet they can't do this with their eyes closed. Now that would be something!

FAO Schwarz - Big Piano
Uploaded by soanepowate. - See the latest featured music videos.

It Just Dropped Out of the Sky and Came to Rest in Our Neighborhood...

...right at the top of our driveway, to be exact. At about 3 this afternoon, I happened to look out our bedroom window, did a double-take and then grabbed my camera. Within five minutes the balloon was deflated. Another five minutes and it was packed in the trailer and gone. I almost missed this wonderfully unexpected sight!

A Nod to Bob - A Nod to Palindromes

Another video...the easy way out when I don't have time to blog. Palindromes + Weird Al Yankovic + Bob Dylan = good stuff. For more palindromes go to http://www.rinkworks.com/words/palindromes.shtml

Inspector Gadget Theme

Hmmmm...I'm thinking Bill at the next Providence Talent Show.

Fall! Leaves, Apples, and Gourds

Some great sites for Fall:

Remember that old song?

The falling leaves...

drift by my window...

I feel a craft project coming on...

so I must go...

...or something like that. I know the first two lines are right. Here's a project for you if you just don't know what to do with all those pretty maple leaves that will be falling soon:

How to make roses from maple leaves

...and if you are like me and don't know a maple leaf from a ginko, here's a nice leaf identification guide from the Missouri Botanical Garden:

Autumn Leaf Scrapbook

Mmmmmm...apples. Beautiful pictures of a number of varieties at:
Apple Journal: Photo Gallery

Gourds: In my spare time I would love to learn how to do this:

Marilyn Sunderland Studio

Aren't those beautiful?

Interview with Michael Snyder, Part Two

As promised, here's part two. Read to the end to find out how to enter for a chance to win a signed copy of Return Policy.

RH: You’re sitting in Starbucks and three authors walk in and ask to share your table. They are:

MS: -Hmmm, I’m tempted to say Grisham or King, so we could get all the refills we want. But I think I’m going to go with Hornby, Russo, and Coupland. When we ran out of writerly things to talk about, we could have an arm wrestling contest.

RH: A character in your book is serving raccoon at a candlelit dinner. Red or white wine? Side dishes? Condiments? Background music?

MS:-I’m really glad you went with raccoon as opposed to inebriated basset hound or badger! So I’m thinking red Kool-Aid, white vinegar, with a side dish of a large takeout pizza. The condiments would have to include dental floss for sure. The background music would obviously be the theme song to the old Daniel Boone series.

(This photo has absolutely nothing to do with the interview, but I just find that pictures heighten interest, don't you agree?)

RH: Any new titles/projects that you are currently working on that you can tell us about?

MS:-My current novel-in-progress is called A Stand-Up Guy. It attempts to answer the question, “What if a stand-up comic resolved to only tell the truth in his act, no matter who gets hurt?”

I’ve also described it this way… “A classic tale of girl meets boy, boy catches girl stealing.”

The story’s really not as funny as I’m making it sound. It should have plenty of jokes and humorous observations, but hopefully will have a pretty big heart beating inside between the pages as well. (And maybe even a few more mixed metaphors like the one I just doled out there…)

RH: What is a word or phrase that you need to be careful to not overuse in your books?

MS: -It really changes with every book. I know in the first draft of Russell Fink it seemed like every character grinned and nodded a lot. So it was like I was writing about a cast of maniacal bobble-head dolls.

And my wife is always catching me misspelling the word “from.” I spell it f-o-r-m, which obviously changes the meaning quite a bit.

RH: Do you listen to music as you write? If so, whose music brings out the best in you?

MS: -Absolutely! When I first started writing, I could only listen to a handful of albums—namely, Jonatha Brooke’s early stuff, Miles Davis’ Ballads & Blues, and a couple of Keith Jarrett solo piano things.

Thankfully, my muse has grown more agreeable and I can listen to pretty much anything I like now. For some reason lately, I’ve been on a Wilco kick. Ryan Adams is getting a lot of play as well. And a newish band called Roman Candle.

RH: Is there something that you wish an interviewer would ask you but never does? Feel free to ask and answer it here.

MS:-“How can you be so incredibly rich AND good-looking?”

Frankly, I’m a little bummed (not to mention surprised!) that you didn’t ask. I’ve read and reread these questions numerous times and still can’t find it. I’m trying to forgive you.

RH: Have you ever won a prize in a contest?

MS: -I suppose you mean writing contests. Obviously, I’d prefer not go into detail on my long and storied legacy as a body-builder, a cake decorator, a moose hunter, and the world’s-fastest-nail-clipper.

A few years ago a short story of mine was named the editor’s choice in a literary journal called Relief. Also, My Name Is Russell Fink was nominated for the Book of the Year (2009) by Christianity Today—Marilyn Robinson actually won the award. Can you believe she beat me?

RH: Please direct us to your blog/website. Can you direct us to any websites where we can read some of your short stories/writings?

MS: - www.michaelsnyderwrites.com

I have just paid someone to update my website and blog. So hopefully I’ll be adding content worth reading in the very near future!

And of course, I’m noodling around with some regularity on Facebook and Twitter.

RH: Do you need another dog?

MS:-Only if it promises to either a) educate, or b) quietly dispose of, my current dog.

RH: What are you thinking right now?

MS:-“I wonder if Rhonda remembers she owes me ten bucks…”

Ahem...at this point I abruptly ended the interview. I could tell you that Michael left me with these words: "Rhonda, you ask amazing cool questions. And you’re one of the best aunts in the business." Yes, I could mention that but it would be self-serving, so I won't.

Interview with Michael Snyder, Author of Return Policy

---Today I am posting the first half of an interview that I conducted with Michael Snyder, whose second novel, Return Policy, was released a few months ago. I've written about Michael in a previous post.

RH: Let’s start with the most important question first: At what point after you married my lovely niece, Alicia, did you realize the incredible bonus of having me as your aunt? Describe your feelings in as many words needed. Take your time...no rush...

MS:-Oh, I realized the benefits immediately, if not before.

The actual sensation is difficult to describe, but not terribly unlike an early onset bout of the giggles, followed close behind with that funny bone feeling that began in my toenails and swirled upward until my spine was practically dancing with joy (or possibly shimmying…a close call), ending with euphoric hangover that included (but was in no way limited to) whooping cough, slight gas pains, and a small patch of acne behind my left knee.

But I’m sure you get that answer all the time.

RH: Return Policy is your second novel, following the equally enjoyable My Name is Russell Fink. How did you grow as a writer from one to the next?

MS: -Definitely not taller.

I think more than anything it’s getting a little easier to discern what to leave out of my stories. There are a lot of details and anecdotes that an author needs to know that don’t necessarily need to make it onto the page. This is especially true with character-driven stories (as opposed to plot-driven).

I heard a great musician comment once that he liked to think of the notes he played as stepping-stones to the next silence. Sometimes, what’s implied is as powerful as what makes it into print. So it’s difficult sometimes to leave things out, to “kill my darlings.” But if it makes the book better, it must be done.

RH: The three main characters in Return Policy are Willy, Ozena and Shaq. The story alternates between these characters, all speaking in the first person. What do you do to make sure that their voices are distinct one from the other?

MS: -That’s a great question. And I just hope, on some level, that I actually did make their voices unique. There are lots of ways to accomplish this, some more subtle than others. It really has to do with knowing your characters well...and frankly, loving them well.

The real difficulty in this book was Shaq. He was an educated homeless man. He’s also a bit delusional. So saddling him with specific speech patterns or jargon was all but impossible. It was very important for Shaq to feel credible, no matter who he was talking to. As such, his speech patterns tended to change based on the conversation he was having at the time.

For Willy and Ozena, I just had to spend time getting to know them. Then it’s just a matter of staying true to their character.

RH: It is evident in your writing that you are one funny guy. How do you come up with those witty descriptions and scenarios?

MS: -Wow, thanks! And I don’t really have a very good answer for this question. I’m just glad you asked it. So I’m providing this non-answer to ensure that the question stays in the interview!

RH: What is your process when you begin to write a book?

MS: -Procrastinate, panic, pray, repeat. Eventually I sit down and actually start typing. Then back to my three P’s above.

I’m not much of a plotter, more of a seat-of-the-pants writer. In fact, my favorite part of the process is the actual composing. I love it when something completely unplanned and/or unscripted comes flying into my brain and out of my fingers onto the page.

It’s been said that good story endings need to feel both surprising and inevitable. When the writing is going well, it all feels like that, not just the ending.

The first order of business is getting to know the characters. If there’s a reliable or consistent way to do this however, I haven’t figured it out yet. Eventually, if I plant my butt in the chair and keep typing, it all works out.

RH: Describe your workspace to us.

MS: -I wrote My Name Is Russell Fink in the bonus room or our first house. I started it on a clunky PC and finished it on a sleek Mac laptop. (And yes, that makes me a Mac snob!)

Return Policy was written at our dining room table, which just happened to be parked for nineteen months at my brother/sister-in-law’s house.

Now, I write tucked away in an odd rectangle just off the rec room in our new house. I did eventually wear the old Mac out and have “new” one. Most nights I sit on a rickety office chair, bellied up to Alicia’s grandfather’s old desk.

Sometimes, just for the sake of variety, I will rearrange all the clutter.

RH: What were your favorite picture books as a child? What are your children’s favorite picture books?

MS: -Are You My Mother?

Legend has it, that I used to read this book upside down. RH: (Why am I not surprised?)

As for my kids, they LOVE books. And we have tons of them. I really don’t know if they have favorites, per se. But they too love the Dr. Seuss books, as well as Silverstein and Milne. And I’m not sure these qualify as picture books, but we’re all huge fans of Patricia Polacco books.

RH: What books or authors influenced you most as a writer?

MS: -The easy (and true) answer is: Every writer I’ve ever read.

Specifically though, I credit Richard Russo’s Straight Man as the book that finally convinced me to try my hand at writing. I’m a pretty big fan of Nick Hornby, Douglas Coupland, Flannery O’Connor, John Irving, and Lorrie Moore as well.

RH: What is one thing most people don’t know about you?

MS: -To quote one of my least favorite songwriters ever: “I’m a sexy man trapped in an ugly man’s body.”

---Well, that's it for now. I'll post Part 2 tomorrow...or the next day...or the day after that. There will be a give-away, too. And no, it's not a pair of goofy glasses.

David Scofield Hoard

October 13, 1970 - August 31, 1999

It seems like yesterday

It seems like forever

Psalm 116:15

Precious in the sight of the Lord is the death of His saints.

Meet Michael Snyder: Talented Author, Funny Guy, International Olive-Pitting Champion, and oh yes, My Nephew

...well, most everything in the title above is true.

Yes, we have a published author in my family. Michael is married to Alicia, the oldest of my six favorite nieces, and he doesn't know it, but I liked him before I ever met him. Fran and I happened to visit Alicia right after she started dating Michael and I could tell by the look on her face when she talked about him that he was someone very special.

Shortly after he became part of our family, he gave Ellen, the youngest of my six favorite nieces, a drawing, that if we had thought about it, would have been a tip-off of things to come. Somehow, this little 3/4 inch X 1 1/2 inch drawing came into my mother's possession, and I am able to show it to you here because my mother doesn’t throw anything away. Case in point: she still has taped on an index card half of a sewing needle that came out of my foot years after it went in. But, enough about me. Back to Michael’s drawing.

At first glance, you might think that the little man is holding a piece of paper behind his back. No. That white box is actually a cut-out, which is very important because, you see, if you take your index finger and bend it down at the second knuckle and strategically place it behind the picture, it will appear that the little man's little draaars have fallen down to reveal the little man's little bottom. (Now you can see how the addition of Michael to our family gave us the sophistication we so desperately craved.)

So, fourteen years and four children later, when he is not working his regular job, being a devoted family man and fixing things around the house, Michael writes (and drinks a lot of coffee).

His second book, Return Policy, published by Zondervan, was just released a couple months ago. I really liked his first book, My Name is Russell Fink, but I really, really enjoyed this new one. Michael's writing is wonderfully funny and I find myself resisting the urge to highlight some of his observations, memorize them and then drop these witticisms into conversation at appropriate times to impress friends and acquaintances.

















"Once a year my senile aunt tries to kill me." - That's how Return Policy begins. Over the course of the novel we are introduced to three main characters, Willy, Ozena, and Shah, whose narratives and complicated lives intertwine before too long. I won't tell you much more except to say that early in the story we find Willy trying every which way (and without success) to destroy his espresso machine.

I have to admit, I don't read a lot of Christian fiction, mainly because I find much of it predictable and preachy. But Michael's writing is edgy, and filled with humor and compassion. He tackles tough issues and causes me to examine my own life and charity toward others. I would classify the genre as contemporarily quirky, or quirkily contemporary. Hey, Michael, if you are reading this, what do you think?

At Amazon you can read some great reviews by folks who do a much better job expressing my sentiments about Michael's writing.

In a few days I will post an interview with Michael that I think you will enjoy. Perhaps you would like to know that I will be giving a signed copy of Return Policy to one lucky person. But more about that next time. Thanks for stopping by!

School School School School School

...and more school. I'll feel much better in a few weeks. Everything seems to change from school year to school year: schedules, staff, procedures. Handling change well...not one of my gifts.

Save the World, er, I mean...Save the Words!

This is a screen shot of the home page of the Save the Words website. Here you will find a collage of various obscure words. Visiting this wall of words and having them call out to you ("pick me" or "yo, over here") is reminiscent of going to the Human Society, but without the guilt and emotional angst. There's that, and in addition, if you adopt a word you won't have to feed it or take it out for a walk, or have someone (Lori) callously suggest that you shoot it.

If you move your mouse outside of the white frame the words scroll from side to side or top to bottom. The idea is that these words are not used often enough and they are in danger of becoming extinct. You are called upon to step up, get involved and adopt one of these words.

In adopting you agree to this pledge: "I hereby promise to use this word in conversation and correspondence, as frequently as possible to the best of my ability."

So I ambitiously adopted two words today. I will use them in a sentence right now: Having been a foppotee for as long as I can remember, I am murklins as to what I should say next. Bet you can't guess the words I adopted. If you can, then you are not as much of a foppotee as I thought.

So what are you waiting for? There are lots of words that need a-savin'. Adopt one today! Use it in a sentence here, and then go out and share it with the world. You will feel so much better.

I'm Learning to Knit!

It's true! This is only something that I've wanted to do for forty years. I come from a family of crocheters (crochettes? -- crochetians? -- crochetarians? -- crochetsters?) so I've known how to crochet since I was young, but it seems that when I look at patterns, the ones I gravitate toward involve knitting. So I got Knitting for Dummies and a how-to video from the library, some knitting needles and yarn and I'm on my way. It really isn't as difficult as I thought it would be.

So, now that I am picking up a little speed, I thought this would be a good time to tell you that whatever gift you get from me in the next few years will probably be something knitted. In fact I'm working on Christmas gifts for some of you now. Here are a few photos of what I hope will be finished in time to bless you with a little special handmade something. You'll notice these are mainly hats or legwarms, the easier stuff, because, well, I'm still learning.

Expect more ambitious gifts next year: jumpsuits, ponchos, sweatercoats, things like that. See if you can guess which one is yours.

This might be a good time to disown me as a friend, forget my blog address and block my emails. Don't say you weren't warned.

Gratitude

Next Wednesday I will report back to school after a ten-week summer break. Each year at this time I start grumbling about having to return. My job is great, I love being around the kids, the staff is wonderful, and school is two miles from my house. It's just hard to give up the freedom. So I decided this year I need an attitude adjustment. When I start hearing that grumbling going on in my head or spilling out through my mouth, I am trying to remind myself of all God's blessings. So, if you hear me complaining about going back to work, you have my permission to wag your finger at me and give me your best scowl. That should make me feel guilty.

Psalm 100

Make a joyful noise to the Lord, all the earth!

Serve the Lord with gladness!

Come into his presence with singing!

Know that the Lord, he is God!

It is he who made us, and we are his;

we are his people, and the sheep of his pasture.

Enter his gates with thanksgiving,

and his courts with praise!

Give thanks to him; bless his name!

For the Lord is good,

his steadfast love endures forever,

and his faithfulness to all generations.

Smoky Mountain Vacation - July 2009

A few weeks ago Fran and I returned from one of the best vacations we have ever had. We went to the Gatlinburg-Pigeon Forge area and stayed in a wonderful cabin in the mountains. What made the trip particularly enjoyable was sharing it with our grandson, daughter-in-law, and her parents. After a stop-over in Nashville to see Alison Krauss and others perform at the Grand Ole Opry, we headed to a little cabin in the mountains. This first photo is the view from a rocking chair on the back porch.

Our cabin was located in the Legacy Mountain Resort, conveniently located right outside of Pigeon Forge. I had reserved the cabin, site unseen, by doing a Google search and then looking over various websites. Everything Legacy Mountain advertised was there...we had no disappointments. In fact, it exceeded our expectations and it would be difficult to stay anywhere else in the area after this wonderful experience. We highly recommend it.

Here are some shots of the inside of the cabin. It was a one bedroom unit with the addition of two sofa sleepers. And if you have two willing folks who don't mind climbing up a ladder to sleep in the crow's nest (see photo below) you really could sleep eight. Our grandson loved the crow's nest!

There were two porches, one on each level, with a hot tub on the upper porch. Pool table, foosball, and my personal favorite, air hockey. Full kitchen with cook- and eating-ware provided. It was fun.

And our daughter-in-law's mom, Becky, is a phenominal cook. She loves to cook breakfasts, so every morning, before heading out, we ate the kind of breakfast that makes you forget about eating again until suppertime.
If you ask people what to do in the Smoky Mountains, they will usually tell you to be sure to take the Cades Cove scenic drive. It is nice, although there are often traffic jams, because apparently there are many people who have never seen deer or wild turkeys. Our very favorite drive is the Roaring Fork Loop. If you can only take one scenic drive in the park, make it this one.

The road begins in Gatlinburg and winds through deep old forest and alongside a flowing stream. Back in the 1830's there was a settlement here, and some of the homes are still standing. There are various waterfalls and great hiking trails. Oh, and we did get a passing glance at the backside of a black bear in a blackberry patch. The photo below shows a tub mill, used for grinding corn into meal.

On another day we drove the Newfoundland Gap road across the Smoky Mountains from Gatlinburg to Cherokee, NC. At one point, the Appalachian Trail crosses over. Seeing the sign below reminded me of how much I enjoyed reading Bill Bryson's book A Walk in the Woods: Rediscovering America on the Appalachian Trail. I may need to re-read that book. But I digress.

You can only ask a ten-year-old to spend so much time in the car, so this drive was nice as it offered several opportunities to get out at overlooks and look around. As Khale headed up the Appalachian Trail, I thought I heard him say that he would meet us back at the cabin.

Babies and Wild Things - Synonymous?

Two fun websites today:

Having a bad day? Visit Tom Arma Collections and see if you can keep from smiling. A couple of my favorites are the caterpillar and the fly in the "Baby Bugs" gallery, and the buffalo in the "Please Save the Animals" gallery. What's your favorite?

Do you remember reading Where the Wild Things Are, the Maurice Sendak classic? You probably have heard that it is being made into a movie, scheduled to be released in mid-October. How they are building a feature-length movie out of a picture book is beyond me, but I'm interested. Recently I discovered Terrible Yellow Eyes, a website created by Cory Godbey, an artist/illustrator living in South Carolina. Graphic artists are invited to use this site to pay tribute to Where the Wild Things Are by sharing their creative interpretation of Max and the Wild Things. It is truly amazing to see the work of these talented artist and then to be able to visit their websites or blogs to see what else they have in the works. Wow, what an inspiration!

Oh, and you can view the movie trailer at Warner Brother's site: http://wherethewildthingsare.warnerbros.com/

Do You Know...

...what these words have in common?

Keepsies
Marrididdles
Alley
Taw

Extra credit: Give the definition of each.

A free pair of these glasses to someone.

You don't have to have the right answer to win, so take a guess!
NO cheating (as in googling, wiki-ing)

Tim Hawkins - Funny Man

We just returned from our vacation and I hope to blog about it soon. In the meantime:

Need a Good Laugh?

I have had the opportunity to go to a Tim Hawkins Comedy Night not once, but twice, this year. What a funny guy. If you are not familiar with him, you can see some of his comedy routines at http://www.timhawkins.net/. He not only has a wonderfully quirky view on life, but he plays the guitar and sings as well. He parodies a lot of songs, one of my favorites is his music video Cletus Take the Reel (Jesus Take the Wheel) which you can watch on his website.

Check out his calendar to see if he is coming to your town anytime soon.

Remember the William Wegman dogs?

These dogs were popular on Sesame Street several decades ago.

Question 1: What is the breed of these dogs?

Question 2: Do you find it peculiar that they have human-looking hands?

Question 3: Would you eat bread made by dogs? What if they agreed to wear gloves and those hair net thingies?

Question 4: Is this a PETA-approved activity? Why or why not? Defend your answer in 25 words or less.

Wish I could get my dog to bake bread...

Here's another cute one...

Khale is 10 Today!

Happy Birthday, Khale!

We are so proud of you!

The Palm of Your Hand - Alison Krauss

This song makes me cry (in a good way) every time.



"If I trust the One who died for me,
Who shed His blood to set me free,
If I live my life to trust in You
Your grace will see me through.

***

I'd rather be in the palm of Your hand,

Tho' rich or poor I might be.

Faith can see right through the circumstance,

Sees the forest in spite of the trees.

Your grace provides for me."

Happy Anniversary!

Here are three interesting websites that I hope you enjoy:

There I Fixed It: This first site is in honor of my husband, Fran. Today we celebrate our 31st anniversary. We probably wouldn't have ever met except for the fact that my car broke down 32 years ago. When I told my friend, Nick, that my car was in trouble, he said "Let's take it to my friend, Fran. He can fix anything." And that's how I met Fran. Our first date was to Hood's Discount Store. Isn't that romantic? He won my father's practical heart almost immediately, and truth be told, my parents have always liked him better than me. So this site shows examples of repairs that would never be attributed to Fran. By the way, I think cooking multiple hotdogs on a rake (above) is actually a pretty good idea. Go to the site to see more "creative" ways to fix things.

25 Awesome Virtual Learning Experiences Online:
Well, you could spend all day and then some here. What incredible learning experiences are available through the Internet! From panoramas of the Seven Wonders of the World to a virtual tour of The Louvre to a virtual walking tour of the Smithsonian National Museum of National History. Pretty cool stuff.




And finally, Plantware just makes me laugh. I have trouble enough getting things to grow around my house, let alone adding the extra pressure of trying to make plants grow around things or be funtional.

The Little Engine That Could

Do you remember the Watty Piper book The Little Engine That Could from your childhood? Or perhaps you have read it to your children or grandchildren?

I am the librarian in a school that is over 50 years old. Back in 1978, before I was there, the school suffered a fire which resulted in total damage of the library and other rooms. A new library was built, but there were no books. All the other elementary schools were asked to donate duplicate copies of books, or books that they did not want, so that the library could be back in business. Consequently, when I came along about 10 years ago, there were still many old books in the collection. Some are in such bad shape that I have to remove them from our collection, but there are others which are passable and might even fetch a little money if they could be up for sale.

One book that is still hanging around is the 1954 Platt & Munk Co. edition of The Little Engine That Could. I recently discovered a 2005 edition with new art work by one of my favorite children's author/illustrators, Loren Long. Much of his art work is remeniscent of the WPA artwork from the mid-1930's, particularly the landscapes of Grant Wood.

The Little Engine That Could by Watty Piper.
Illustrations by Loren Long. Copyright 2005

Here are the two styles, taken from the same area of the story that reads: "Up, up, up. Faster and faster and faster and faster the little engine climbed, until at last they reached the top of the mountain." Sorry for the poor quality of the page above...check out the book from the library to see the beauty of this new artwork.

The Little Engine That Could by Watty Piper.
Illustrations by George & Doris Hauman.
Copyright 1954

I love what Loren Long has done with this classic. He has turned dated art into illustrations that breathe life into every page. It's a real treat to enjoy an old story in a new way.

Self-Inventory - Quiz #2

Today let's revisit the topic of "Growing Up Born Again." You may find my earlier blog posts about this topic helpful, or even if you don't, just humor me and go read them, okay? Just as We Were and Self-Inventory - Quiz #1.

Here's a quiz from the book Just As We Were: A Nostalgic Look at Growing Up Born Again written by Patricia Klein, Evelyn Bence, Jane Campbell, Laura Pearson, and David Wimbish, c2002.

Which of the following sayings would you NOT find in a Daily Bread Promise Box?

1. Haste makes waste.
2. There is no new thing under the sun.
3. To every thing there is a season.
4. An eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth.
5. Cleanliness is next to godliness.
6. Money is the root of all evil.
7. Out of the mouths of babes.
8. Today is the first day of the rest of your life.
9. Am I my brother's keeper?
10. The borrower is servant to the lender.
11. Let it be.
12. God helps those who help themselves.
13. A watched pot never boileth.
14. A little child shall lead them.
15. Because you're mine, I walk the line.

Wildlife, Watermelon and Wide Open Spaces

Librarian that I am, I feel that it is my solemn duty to pass along links to websites that I find either: entertaining, educational, enlightening, weird, or all or any combination of these. So, in no particular order, and with no rhyme or reason, I give you the following links:

It's summer so it must be time for WATERMELON! Did you know that watermelon is a vegetable? It is a cousin to cucumbers, squash and pumpkins. Did you know that the largest known watermelon was grown in Tennessee and weighed 262 pounds? At the National Watermelon Promotion Board's website, you can find all things watermelon, from recipes to how to select a watermelon, a Kids' Activities section, and even lesson plans for educators. Be sure to check out the photos of carved watermelons. It's amazing what you can do with a sharp knife, a watermelon and a little time on your hands.

Bembo's Zoo This is a good one to share with younger children or grandchild. Or maybe just for your inner play-baby. The designer has managed to create a menagerie of animals using only letters and punctuation marks. Very creative and fun.

And for those of us who just need to get away, if only in our minds, consider a free mini-vacation at Fabulous Nature. Breathtaking photos. Stay as long as you like.

That's it for now. Hope you enjoy these websites.

Seth

UPDATE: Seth is doing well after surgery. Thanks for your prayers. If interested, you can read about it at The Johnson Family Blog: Seth's Surgery

This little guy belongs to Dave and Leanna (my niece). He has been a wonderful addition to their family.

Please pray for Seth today. He has a three-hour surgery ahead of him this afternoon. The surgeons will be repairing his cleft palette. Pray that they will have wisdom and steady hands. Oh, and I'm sure Dave and Leanna would appreciate your prayers for them as well as they wait for the surgery to be completed.

Thanks!