See You Soon

Contrary to what I like to believe, I can't do it all!

I have to focus on my day job, selling wine, and my family.

I am taking a blogging break for a few weeks.

Most of the world's wine is sold between October and December.

See ya in a couple weeks.

Tuesday Tales - A Beautiful Feast

I am guest posting again at AVT Coach with a Tuesday Tale.
The holiday season is upon us and with many feasts planned I was reminded of this book.

A Beautiful Feast for a Big King Cat is written by John Archambault and Bill Martin JR. The beautiful illustrations are by Bruce Degen.

I love children's literature, and I have many favorites about cats. This is certainly due to the influence of my Bookworm who is a cat lover. She loved cats at a very young age and now her love of cats has grown to include leopards, tigers and lions. She and the Artist are both animal planet junkies.

I found this book many years ago in a scholastic book form and ordered it for my then three year old cat lover. She loved the rhythm of the language and as time went by we could explore the more complex lessons and the moral found in this book.

For the full review hop on over to AVT Coach.

The story involves a litte mouse who teases a cat and learns it is a dangerous game. In the end the mouse gets himself out of trouble by using his imagination.You will miss the magic of this book if you only read it a few times! As the child anticipates the story and memorizes the text they will join in with the rhythmic rhyming verse. We read this story at least 100 times before my daughter could read and then again we enjoyed it as she was learning to read. A true gem.

I will finish this post with a quote from one of the author's Bill Martin Jr. who incidentally didn't read until he was in college and became an expert at hiding his own illiteracy.

"A blessed thing happened to me. I had a teacher who read to me." Bill Martin Jr.

Mud Anyone?

How about some pond scum?

Ah yes, the joy of living in the dirt country.

I am playing wordless Wednesday at five minutes for mom.

Faces of Freedom

To honor Veterans Day, we visited a local Memorial.

The local news interviewed my bookworm about Veterans Day.

In November 1919, President Wilson proclaimed November 11 as the first commemoration of Armistice Day with the following words: "To us in America, the reflections of Armistice Day will be filled with solemn pride in the heroism of those who died in the country’s service and with gratitude for the victory, both because of the thing from which it has freed us and because of the opportunity it has given America to show her sympathy with peace and justice in the councils of the nations…"

The Power of a Simple Gift

Every November the kids and I fill shoe boxes for children less fortunate than us. My kids include a picture of themselves and a letter to the child.



Two years ago a letter from Sri Lanka arrived for my daughter. It was from the girl that had received her box. The letter was really amazing and it made the whole exercise come to life for both of my children. National Collection Week is November 17-24. It has been a worthwhile activity for my children and is a wonderful way to demonstrate God's love and the power of a simple gift.

This thermos and that's all I need...

My Bookworm has discovered the amazing properties of a thermos.

While working in the vineyard with dad she was truly amazed that the old Aladdin thermos kept water ice cold in very hot weather for hours. Ever since her discovery we hear the familiar squeak of the thermos top every where we turn; in the car, at the table, in her room, in the family room.

She is busily fixing it up and getting herself drinks out of her new discovery.

Remember the movie The Jerk and the Thermos Song.

She just loves it and apparently it is all she needs!

Wait till we tell her it keeps things hot in cold weather too.

A Curious Social Experiment - Trick or Treat Style

On Halloween, we always trick or treat in our little downtown since we live in the country and don't have a neighborhood. We often meet friends or bring some along. Below is a picture of my girl as Cleopatra with two of her friends.

For years my kids have sorted all their candy on the living room floor by type. Then the bartering begins, "Well if you give me two candy corns I will give you a snickers." On and on it goes with both kids negotiating all kinds of trades. It entertains them for a while.

Now for the social experiment. My kids are four and a half years apart, with my son being the oldest. During this candy sort, we have always noticed that my daughter gets more candy. This happens every year. So this year I had them count each pile. My son's candy totaled 129 pieces, with my daughter at 159. A difference of 30 pieces!

I guess people just feel like giving more to the youngest, or the girl, or both? Please comment if you have noticed similar discrepancies among your children. Is it the big age difference or the difference of the sexes? Is it youth or beauty? What do you think?