Aileen Stewart's Blog, page 15
August 15, 2016
What's Your Job?
I remember when Emily graduated from pre-k many years ago and the teachers had asked all the kids what they wanted to be when they grew up. There were the usual responses like fireman, mom, dad, police man, veterinarian, etc... All the parents laughed because we knew that the dreams of children, although sweet, frequently change from week to week, month to month, and year to year.
So when I read a book this week simply titled, Mary Smith, I started thinking about jobs again. Mary's job as a knocker-up was to wake people up on time each morning before their were affordable and reliable alarm clocks. Mary went about doing this by blowing dried peas through her pea shooter at the windows of sleeping customers until they awoke. I guess we don't think much about jobs that people in days gone by might have held. Jobs like lamplighter, or whipping boy (a job I would not have wished to hold had I been a young boy). Of course, as good reading material is apt to do, it made me think about many other things.
It made me think about some of the jobs I do both paid and unpaid. Jobs like being a mom and wife, being a children's author, volunteering at my library, and running my local farmers market. And thinking about my job as the market manager made me think of the tasks of the job like taking pictures of vendors and products for our face book page. And as you have probably guessed by now I do love to take pictures, especially of food.
It also reminded me of my dad, who while he was still alive always told me, "You are only a failure if you don't try." The idea of trying new and possibly scary things was also the theme of the second book I read which was called, You Can Do It Bert. I don't want to give anything away, so I won't tell you what Bert, a cute little bird, was being encouraged to do, but I will say I was surprised when I reached the last page.
Well, that about wraps it up for this week. Join me next week for another exciting episode, same crazy time, same crazy channel. Also be sure to drop by and join the Literacy Musings Monday Blog Hop where you will find other great blogs, or my personal website, Fun With Aileen, where you will find more on reading, writing, and my very own early grade Fern Valley chapter book series and my Quack and Daisy picture book series. And finally, you can find me on twitter @AileenWStewart if you want an extremely brief glimpse into my days.
So when I read a book this week simply titled, Mary Smith, I started thinking about jobs again. Mary's job as a knocker-up was to wake people up on time each morning before their were affordable and reliable alarm clocks. Mary went about doing this by blowing dried peas through her pea shooter at the windows of sleeping customers until they awoke. I guess we don't think much about jobs that people in days gone by might have held. Jobs like lamplighter, or whipping boy (a job I would not have wished to hold had I been a young boy). Of course, as good reading material is apt to do, it made me think about many other things.
It made me think about some of the jobs I do both paid and unpaid. Jobs like being a mom and wife, being a children's author, volunteering at my library, and running my local farmers market. And thinking about my job as the market manager made me think of the tasks of the job like taking pictures of vendors and products for our face book page. And as you have probably guessed by now I do love to take pictures, especially of food.
It also reminded me of my dad, who while he was still alive always told me, "You are only a failure if you don't try." The idea of trying new and possibly scary things was also the theme of the second book I read which was called, You Can Do It Bert. I don't want to give anything away, so I won't tell you what Bert, a cute little bird, was being encouraged to do, but I will say I was surprised when I reached the last page.
Well, that about wraps it up for this week. Join me next week for another exciting episode, same crazy time, same crazy channel. Also be sure to drop by and join the Literacy Musings Monday Blog Hop where you will find other great blogs, or my personal website, Fun With Aileen, where you will find more on reading, writing, and my very own early grade Fern Valley chapter book series and my Quack and Daisy picture book series. And finally, you can find me on twitter @AileenWStewart if you want an extremely brief glimpse into my days.
August 14, 2016
List of Book Festivals
List of Book Festivals
Nebraska Book Fest (Nebraska) (?)Montana Book Festival (Montana) (?)Bangor Book Festival (Maine) (?)Connecticut Children’s Book Fair (Spring?)Savannah Book Festival (Georgia) (Feb)Amelia Island Book Festival (Florida) (Feb)Virginia Festival of the Book (Virginia) (Mar)Augusta Literary Festival (Georgia) (Mar)Tucson Festival of Books (Arizona) (Mar)Venice Book Fair and Writers Festival (Florida) (Mar)Cape Author Fest (Maine) (Apr) San Antonio Book Festival (Texas) (Apr)High Country Festival of the Book (North Carolina) (Apr)Newburyport Literary Festival (Massachusetts) (Apr)Southern Kentucky Book Festival (Kentucky) (Apr)Alabama Book Festival (Alabama) (Apr)Hawaii Book and Music Festival (Hawaii) (Apr/May)Kids Author Carnival (New York) (May)Claire’s Day (Ohio) (May)Children’s Festival of Reading (Tennessee) (May)Hudson Children’s Book Festival (New York) (May)Gaithersburg Book Festival(Maryland) (May)Millbrook Book Festival (New York) (May?)The Chesapeake Children’s Book Festival (Maryland) (Jun) Nantucket Book Festival (Massachusetts) (Jun)Printers Row Lit Fest (Illinois) (Jun)Wordstock (Oregon) (July)Georgia Literary Festival (Georgia) (Aug)Queens Book Festival (New York) (Aug)Columbus Children’s Book Festival (Georgia) (Sep)South Carolina Book Festival (South Carolina) (Sep)Baltimore Book Festival (Maryland) (Sep)Mid South Book Festival (Tennessee) (Sep)Mansfield Book Festival (Texas) (Sep)AJC Decatur Book Festival (Georgia) (Sep)Brooklyn Book Festival (New York) (Sep)National Book Festival (Washington D.C.) (Sep)Fall For The Book Festival (Virginia) (Sep)Kansas Book Festival (Kansas) (Sep)South Dakota Festival of Books (South Dakota) (Sep)Morristown Book Festival (New Jersy) (Sep/Oct)Books by the Banks (Ohio) (Oct) Warwick Children’s Book Festival (New York) (Oct)Southern Festival of Books (Tennessee) (Oct)West Virginia Book Festival (West Virginia) (Oct)Warwick Children’s Book Festival (New York) (Oct)Humbolt County Children’s Author Festival(California) (Oct)Keene State Literary Children’s Festival (New Hampshire) (Oct)Williamsburg Book Festival (Virginia) (Oct)Louisiana Book Fair (Louisiana) (Oct) Wisconsin Book Festival (Wisconsin) (Oct)Wilmington Book Festival (California) (Oct)Carolina Book Fest (North Carolina) (Oct)Chippawa Valley Book Festival (Wisconsin) (Oct)Vegas Valley Book Festival (Nevada) (Oct)Utah Humanities Book Festival (Utah) (Oct)Sheboygan Book Festival (Wisconsin) (Oct)Northern Arizona Book Festival (Arizona) (Oct)Buckeye Book Fair (Ohio) (Nov)Kentucky Book Fair (Kentucky) (Nov)Rochester Children’s Book Festival (New York) (Nov)Texas Book Festival (Texas) (Nov)Central Massachusetts Children’s Book Festival (Massachusetts) (Nov)Lititz Kid-Lit Festival (Pennylvania) (Nov)WNY Book Expo (New York) (Nov)Southwest Wisconsin Festival of Books (Wisconsin) (Nov)Miami Book Fair (Florida) (Nov)
August 8, 2016
Summer Stories
Summer is a time of stories, stories of time spent swimming, of cookouts and birthday parties, eating watermelon, of vacations, and all the things that make summer great.
Managing my town's local farmers' market and selling baked goods while Emily sells magnets is a big part of our summer story. This past weekend we had to move from our normal farmers' market location because of the local cruise-in car show. We didn't have to move far, just to the back end of the park, but we didn't have the normal cover of our pavilion. Thankfully, however, most of my vendors had canopies and there was a lovely breeze.
My summer story also consists of reading great kidlit, and my choices this week were smile worthy. The first book aptly titled, The Story I'll Tell, was a beautiful tale of adoption. My oldest niece is adopted, so this story hit particularly close to home. In this story, a mother imagines the stories she will tell her adopted child when he is old enough to ask where he came from. The creative ways she dreams she will tell him are like beautiful poetry; but in the end, she reveals that the truth is equally beautiful.
The second book I read, I'm My Own Dog, was a tale of pet ownership from the point of view of a dog. It was quite amusing and although I don't own dogs, it made me think about my three cats' points of view. I'm pretty sure they, like the dog in the story, believe that we humans are their pets and they work continually to train us.
Well, that about wraps it up for this week. Join me next week for another exciting episode, same crazy time, same crazy channel. Also be sure to drop by and join the Literacy Musings Monday Blog Hop where you will find other great blogs, or my personal website, Fun With Aileen, where you will find more on reading, writing, and my very own early grade Fern Valley chapter book series and my Quack and Daisy picture book series. And finally, you can find me on twitter @AileenWStewart if you want an extremely brief glimpse into my days.
Managing my town's local farmers' market and selling baked goods while Emily sells magnets is a big part of our summer story. This past weekend we had to move from our normal farmers' market location because of the local cruise-in car show. We didn't have to move far, just to the back end of the park, but we didn't have the normal cover of our pavilion. Thankfully, however, most of my vendors had canopies and there was a lovely breeze.
My summer story also consists of reading great kidlit, and my choices this week were smile worthy. The first book aptly titled, The Story I'll Tell, was a beautiful tale of adoption. My oldest niece is adopted, so this story hit particularly close to home. In this story, a mother imagines the stories she will tell her adopted child when he is old enough to ask where he came from. The creative ways she dreams she will tell him are like beautiful poetry; but in the end, she reveals that the truth is equally beautiful.
The second book I read, I'm My Own Dog, was a tale of pet ownership from the point of view of a dog. It was quite amusing and although I don't own dogs, it made me think about my three cats' points of view. I'm pretty sure they, like the dog in the story, believe that we humans are their pets and they work continually to train us.
Well, that about wraps it up for this week. Join me next week for another exciting episode, same crazy time, same crazy channel. Also be sure to drop by and join the Literacy Musings Monday Blog Hop where you will find other great blogs, or my personal website, Fun With Aileen, where you will find more on reading, writing, and my very own early grade Fern Valley chapter book series and my Quack and Daisy picture book series. And finally, you can find me on twitter @AileenWStewart if you want an extremely brief glimpse into my days.
August 2, 2016
Ten Reasons Why Cooking With Children Matters
I believe a love of literacy is an invaluable tool to share with children. I believe that cooking with children is also an invaluable tool. So as a children’s author, mother, and cooking enthusiast, it seemed only natural to combine both stories and recipes in one of my books. We all know that raising children is a difficult task at best, but raising children who grow up to be well adjusted, compassionate, intelligent adults who are a beneficial part of society is even more difficult. But believe it or not, cooking can help!
So here are ten reasons why cooking with children matters.
1. Quality Bonding Time: Cooking with children means time spent with them, and time spent with them, working together on a common goal such as chocolate chip cookies, means bonding. Bonding with another human being gives children a much needed connection and helps them to begin to form important emotional qualities like trust.
2. Memory Making: Cooking with children means making memories, and memories are the strings that bind children to their past and give them hope for the future. Good memories are the things that keep us going when times get hard, help us to forge ahead when we have lost loved ones, and help us form the story of our life.
3. Honed Math Skills: Cooking with children can help them hone their math skills. Many children ask why they have to learn math, or they comment on how they don’t think they will ever use math when they grow up. I remember thinking the same thing when I was a child. But math is an integral part of cooking since measuring cups and spoons are all fractional and because sometimes all that’s needed is a half of a recipe and sometimes a double batch of something is required.
4. Broadened Pallets: Cooking with children broadens their pallet. Kids are more likely to try and to eat foods that they have prepared or helped prepare. If they have invested time in making a recipe, they will probably want to taste test. This is a good way to get children to try new fruits and vegetables.
5. Improved Self-Esteem: Cooking with children helps them to improve their self-esteem. When children accomplish tasks they begin to understand that they are capable and they feel confident. And when they see that a meal they helped prepare is being enjoyed by others, their confidence soars to even greater heights.
6. Improved Reading Skills: Cooking with children helps them to improve their reading skills as well as improving their direction following skills. Recipes are tricky creatures and for the product to turn out well directions must be followed and must be implemented in the proper order. Reading recipes offers children the opportunity to learn new vocabulary and to ask questions like, “Why do we mix the butter, eggs, and sugar before adding the flour?”
7. Cultural Diversity and Creativity: Cooking with children offers an opportunity for them to learn about other cultures as well as the chance to be creative. There are many delicious dishes from around the world to choose from, and cooking a dish from another country helps children become aware of the world as a whole with all its similarities and differences. Cooking also allows a child to be creative with garnishes, plating, ingredient substitutions, decorations, and so much more.
8. Practice Makes Perfect: Cooking with children is a great way to help them learn first-hand that age old adage, practice makes perfect. Letting children help in the kitchen allows them to make mistakes and learn from them. It allows them to see that not every baking attempt turns out the way they imagine it will the first time, but that with continued effort, their dishes will improve. And as with all things in life where practice is involved, they will learn that cooking becomes easier as time goes by.
9. Time Management Skills: Cooking with children helps them to learn time management skills. Gathering ingredients, preparing the recipe, and clean up all takes time. Cooking gives children the ability to learn how to make the most of the time they have. For example, washing utensils and bowls as they go means less tedious clean up at the end. Similarly, gathering all ingredients before beginning allows the child to determine if they have all needed supplies or if a trip to the store is necessary.
10. Responsibility: Cooking with children instills the concept of responsibility. Children who are cooking or helping to cook will see that there is more to cooking then the beautiful and delicious meal that miraculously shows up on the dinner table every night. They will learn that thought about what will be prepared, actual preparation, and clean up all have to happen before eating and enjoyment can occur. In addition, the time and effort put into cooking will give them a greater appreciation of just what others do for them on a regular basis.
So here are ten reasons why cooking with children matters.
1. Quality Bonding Time: Cooking with children means time spent with them, and time spent with them, working together on a common goal such as chocolate chip cookies, means bonding. Bonding with another human being gives children a much needed connection and helps them to begin to form important emotional qualities like trust.
2. Memory Making: Cooking with children means making memories, and memories are the strings that bind children to their past and give them hope for the future. Good memories are the things that keep us going when times get hard, help us to forge ahead when we have lost loved ones, and help us form the story of our life.
3. Honed Math Skills: Cooking with children can help them hone their math skills. Many children ask why they have to learn math, or they comment on how they don’t think they will ever use math when they grow up. I remember thinking the same thing when I was a child. But math is an integral part of cooking since measuring cups and spoons are all fractional and because sometimes all that’s needed is a half of a recipe and sometimes a double batch of something is required.
4. Broadened Pallets: Cooking with children broadens their pallet. Kids are more likely to try and to eat foods that they have prepared or helped prepare. If they have invested time in making a recipe, they will probably want to taste test. This is a good way to get children to try new fruits and vegetables.
5. Improved Self-Esteem: Cooking with children helps them to improve their self-esteem. When children accomplish tasks they begin to understand that they are capable and they feel confident. And when they see that a meal they helped prepare is being enjoyed by others, their confidence soars to even greater heights.
6. Improved Reading Skills: Cooking with children helps them to improve their reading skills as well as improving their direction following skills. Recipes are tricky creatures and for the product to turn out well directions must be followed and must be implemented in the proper order. Reading recipes offers children the opportunity to learn new vocabulary and to ask questions like, “Why do we mix the butter, eggs, and sugar before adding the flour?”
7. Cultural Diversity and Creativity: Cooking with children offers an opportunity for them to learn about other cultures as well as the chance to be creative. There are many delicious dishes from around the world to choose from, and cooking a dish from another country helps children become aware of the world as a whole with all its similarities and differences. Cooking also allows a child to be creative with garnishes, plating, ingredient substitutions, decorations, and so much more.
8. Practice Makes Perfect: Cooking with children is a great way to help them learn first-hand that age old adage, practice makes perfect. Letting children help in the kitchen allows them to make mistakes and learn from them. It allows them to see that not every baking attempt turns out the way they imagine it will the first time, but that with continued effort, their dishes will improve. And as with all things in life where practice is involved, they will learn that cooking becomes easier as time goes by.
9. Time Management Skills: Cooking with children helps them to learn time management skills. Gathering ingredients, preparing the recipe, and clean up all takes time. Cooking gives children the ability to learn how to make the most of the time they have. For example, washing utensils and bowls as they go means less tedious clean up at the end. Similarly, gathering all ingredients before beginning allows the child to determine if they have all needed supplies or if a trip to the store is necessary.
10. Responsibility: Cooking with children instills the concept of responsibility. Children who are cooking or helping to cook will see that there is more to cooking then the beautiful and delicious meal that miraculously shows up on the dinner table every night. They will learn that thought about what will be prepared, actual preparation, and clean up all have to happen before eating and enjoyment can occur. In addition, the time and effort put into cooking will give them a greater appreciation of just what others do for them on a regular basis.
August 1, 2016
Christmas in July
This past week found me baking away even more then usual because at Farmers' Market we were having Christmas in July as well as a chef event sponsored by the Richland County Farm Bureau. The vendors decorated their spaces and the public voted on their favorites. Bobby brought me home some cardboard from work and I made a Bethlehem scene. Emily made a Christmas tree which turned out quite well.
The Christmas in July theme made me think of some of my favorite Christmas books. Books like A Star So Bright. Although published in 2006, this book is definitely worth looking for in your library or finding used on Amazon. A lovely nativity story told in well played rhyme, this book also features a cutout on each page that shows a star. When you reach the last page, the star actually lights up.
There is also Together At Christmas. Together At Christmas shares this same idea. It is a story of ten cold mice who leave their huddle one at a time to find shelter from the storm. Each does indeed find a place of refuge, but in the end they realize something even more important then enjoying a cozy dwelling alone.
And of course there is The Christmas Miracle of Jonathan Toomey. I almost cried at the beauty of this story. Jonathan Toomey is known to all the town folk as gloomy Toomey. Unbeknownst to them, Jonathan has lived through a calamity that has caused him unbearable grief. That is until the widow McDowell and her son once again show him the joy of Christmas. I have definitely added this to my list of best ever Christmas stories!
Well, that about wraps it up for this week. Join me next week for another exciting episode, same crazy time, same crazy channel. Also be sure to drop by and join the Literacy Musings Monday Blog Hop where you will find other great blogs, or my personal website, Fun With Aileen, where you will find more on reading, writing, and my very own early grade Fern Valley chapter book series and my Quack and Daisy picture book series. And finally, you can find me on twitter @AileenWStewart if you want an extremely brief glimpse into my days.
The Christmas in July theme made me think of some of my favorite Christmas books. Books like A Star So Bright. Although published in 2006, this book is definitely worth looking for in your library or finding used on Amazon. A lovely nativity story told in well played rhyme, this book also features a cutout on each page that shows a star. When you reach the last page, the star actually lights up.
There is also Together At Christmas. Together At Christmas shares this same idea. It is a story of ten cold mice who leave their huddle one at a time to find shelter from the storm. Each does indeed find a place of refuge, but in the end they realize something even more important then enjoying a cozy dwelling alone.
And of course there is The Christmas Miracle of Jonathan Toomey. I almost cried at the beauty of this story. Jonathan Toomey is known to all the town folk as gloomy Toomey. Unbeknownst to them, Jonathan has lived through a calamity that has caused him unbearable grief. That is until the widow McDowell and her son once again show him the joy of Christmas. I have definitely added this to my list of best ever Christmas stories!
Well, that about wraps it up for this week. Join me next week for another exciting episode, same crazy time, same crazy channel. Also be sure to drop by and join the Literacy Musings Monday Blog Hop where you will find other great blogs, or my personal website, Fun With Aileen, where you will find more on reading, writing, and my very own early grade Fern Valley chapter book series and my Quack and Daisy picture book series. And finally, you can find me on twitter @AileenWStewart if you want an extremely brief glimpse into my days.
July 25, 2016
The Dog Days of Summer
We are in those Dog Days of Summer. You know, those hot, sultry, I don't want to go outside and do anything but maybe swim kind of days. And it is so hot here in Ohio, I had to resort to painting the front of my house as early as seven in the morning. But it's done now. I scraped and painted the garage door trim, the entire front of the house, the mailbox, the shutters, and the front door trim. Bobby even put up new front porch lights for me, so now the front of the house is no longer an ugly peeling mess!
This week we also attended a pool party where my dinner contribution was cranberry meatballs. They are so easy and convenient that anyone can make them. All you need is two pounds of meatballs (for a big crowd), two bottles of chile sauce (which incidentally should never be mistaken for hot sauce as I once did), two cans of cranberry sauce with whole berries, and a jar of seedless raspberry jam or jelly.
Place the meatballs in a large oval crock pot. I usually buy frozen meatballs for convenience sake. Then in a saucepan you add the chile sauce, the cranberry, sauce, and two heaping tablespoons of jelly. Simmer it over medium heat until everything is melted and completely combined. Pour over the meatballs stirring to coat evenly and then put the lid on and forget about it until supper time!
I also made Emily some fabulous french toast smothered in butter and fresh maple syrup form one of my farmers' market vendors. Doesn't the picture below just make you hungry for breakfast?
So when it was time to dive into a pile of great reading material this week I decided to go with the dog theme. I know the Dog Days of Summer don't actually have anything to do with dogs, but it's a great theme and I'm going with it.
The first book I read was Cosmo Zooms. It is quite simple and oh so sweet. Cosmo is feeling a bit downhearted because all his friends seem to be good at something and he is not. That is, until he takes an unexpected ride. I don't want to give too much away, so I will simply say that Cosmo happily, if accidentally, finds out what he excels at. This book is quite a few years old, but I would check to see if your library carries it like mine did. If not, there are some used copies available on Amazon.
The next book I read was The Dog Who Cried Wolf. This is the story of Moka and his girl Michelle. Michelle takes good care of Moka and even takes the time to read to him. One day she reads a story about wolves, and Moka begins to be discontent with the life he leads. The next day he runs away to live free like the wolves. His adventure isn't all he imagined it would be and he finally realizes the life he was living with his girl was pretty good after all!
And lastly, I read Puppy. It isn't your conventional dog story, but it made me smile. Trog, the cave boy, has great toys like a stick, a rock, and some mud, but what he really wants is a puppy. He finds one, or so he thinks, and some interesting adventures begin. This book has a semi comic book feel to it and is a super story for both boys and girls.
Well, that about wraps it up for this week. Join me next week for another exciting episode, same crazy time, same crazy channel. Also be sure to drop by and join the Literacy Musings Monday Blog Hop where you will find other great blogs, or my personal website, Fun With Aileen, where you will find more on reading, writing, and my very own early grade Fern Valley chapter book series and my Quack and Daisy picture book series. And finally, you can find me on twitter @AileenWStewart if you want an extremely brief glimpse into my days.
This week we also attended a pool party where my dinner contribution was cranberry meatballs. They are so easy and convenient that anyone can make them. All you need is two pounds of meatballs (for a big crowd), two bottles of chile sauce (which incidentally should never be mistaken for hot sauce as I once did), two cans of cranberry sauce with whole berries, and a jar of seedless raspberry jam or jelly.
Place the meatballs in a large oval crock pot. I usually buy frozen meatballs for convenience sake. Then in a saucepan you add the chile sauce, the cranberry, sauce, and two heaping tablespoons of jelly. Simmer it over medium heat until everything is melted and completely combined. Pour over the meatballs stirring to coat evenly and then put the lid on and forget about it until supper time!
I also made Emily some fabulous french toast smothered in butter and fresh maple syrup form one of my farmers' market vendors. Doesn't the picture below just make you hungry for breakfast?
So when it was time to dive into a pile of great reading material this week I decided to go with the dog theme. I know the Dog Days of Summer don't actually have anything to do with dogs, but it's a great theme and I'm going with it.
The first book I read was Cosmo Zooms. It is quite simple and oh so sweet. Cosmo is feeling a bit downhearted because all his friends seem to be good at something and he is not. That is, until he takes an unexpected ride. I don't want to give too much away, so I will simply say that Cosmo happily, if accidentally, finds out what he excels at. This book is quite a few years old, but I would check to see if your library carries it like mine did. If not, there are some used copies available on Amazon.
The next book I read was The Dog Who Cried Wolf. This is the story of Moka and his girl Michelle. Michelle takes good care of Moka and even takes the time to read to him. One day she reads a story about wolves, and Moka begins to be discontent with the life he leads. The next day he runs away to live free like the wolves. His adventure isn't all he imagined it would be and he finally realizes the life he was living with his girl was pretty good after all!
And lastly, I read Puppy. It isn't your conventional dog story, but it made me smile. Trog, the cave boy, has great toys like a stick, a rock, and some mud, but what he really wants is a puppy. He finds one, or so he thinks, and some interesting adventures begin. This book has a semi comic book feel to it and is a super story for both boys and girls.
Well, that about wraps it up for this week. Join me next week for another exciting episode, same crazy time, same crazy channel. Also be sure to drop by and join the Literacy Musings Monday Blog Hop where you will find other great blogs, or my personal website, Fun With Aileen, where you will find more on reading, writing, and my very own early grade Fern Valley chapter book series and my Quack and Daisy picture book series. And finally, you can find me on twitter @AileenWStewart if you want an extremely brief glimpse into my days.
July 18, 2016
Half Way Through and My Love For You...
I can't believe we are halfway through summer break already, but my family and I have been making the most of it. Every Friday Bobby, Emily, her Aunt Kay, and I go bowling through the Summer Bowling Program. We aren't fantastic bowlers, but what we lack in skill we make up with enthusiasm. So you can imagine my surprise when I made my first ever Turkey (three strikes in a row).
Emily and are are also continuing to enjoy Farmers' Market. She stays busy through the week making magnets to sell and I bake up a storm. My best seller has turned out to be my blueberry/banana bread.
We have a pool party coming up for a friends birthday, and Emily often has friends for overnight stays.
Something else exciting happened this past week. I won a recent contest hosted by KidLit TV and my prize arrived on Saturday. It was a autographed copy of My Love For You is the Sun. I was extra excited to receive this book because it is written by my Face Book friend Julie Hedlund and it is illustrated by my friend and super dooper incredibly talented human being, Susan Eaddy. Julie's story of love for her child told in rhyme is tender and well done. Susan's sculpted clay illustrations are so strikingly beautiful and detailed it almost takes my breath away. This book is one of those books you will definitely want to have in your kidlit collection.
I also received a fun craft bag with my book that included sculpting clay and some accessories to make a creation of my own. And while I have yet to attempt a masterpiece, I will soon. Emily and I did a craft project last year that is similar and that was our salt dough project where we used cookie cutters and ink stampers on our dough.
Well, that about wraps it up for this week. Join me next week for another exciting episode, same crazy time, same crazy channel. Also be sure to drop by and join the Literacy Musings Monday Blog Hop where you will find other great blogs, or my personal website, Fun With Aileen, where you will find more on reading, writing, and my very own early grade Fern Valley chapter book series and my Quack and Daisy picture book series. And finally, you can find me on twitter @AileenWStewart if you want an extremely brief glimpse into my days.
Emily and are are also continuing to enjoy Farmers' Market. She stays busy through the week making magnets to sell and I bake up a storm. My best seller has turned out to be my blueberry/banana bread.
We have a pool party coming up for a friends birthday, and Emily often has friends for overnight stays.
Something else exciting happened this past week. I won a recent contest hosted by KidLit TV and my prize arrived on Saturday. It was a autographed copy of My Love For You is the Sun. I was extra excited to receive this book because it is written by my Face Book friend Julie Hedlund and it is illustrated by my friend and super dooper incredibly talented human being, Susan Eaddy. Julie's story of love for her child told in rhyme is tender and well done. Susan's sculpted clay illustrations are so strikingly beautiful and detailed it almost takes my breath away. This book is one of those books you will definitely want to have in your kidlit collection.
I also received a fun craft bag with my book that included sculpting clay and some accessories to make a creation of my own. And while I have yet to attempt a masterpiece, I will soon. Emily and I did a craft project last year that is similar and that was our salt dough project where we used cookie cutters and ink stampers on our dough.
Well, that about wraps it up for this week. Join me next week for another exciting episode, same crazy time, same crazy channel. Also be sure to drop by and join the Literacy Musings Monday Blog Hop where you will find other great blogs, or my personal website, Fun With Aileen, where you will find more on reading, writing, and my very own early grade Fern Valley chapter book series and my Quack and Daisy picture book series. And finally, you can find me on twitter @AileenWStewart if you want an extremely brief glimpse into my days.
July 11, 2016
Fun, Family, and Fireworks!
This past week was a happy busy week. We came home from our camping trip, readied for Friday night bowling, readied for Farmers' Market, and had some hair raising stat-icky good times in our own back yard.
We also attended fireworks. Most cities host fireworks for the Fourth of July, but Shelby always waits until the following weekend and sets of fire works during the annual Bicycle Days. The fire works didn't last long, but I did manage to get a few fairly decent pictures during the show. And believe me, it was quite the job to get those few non blurry pictures.
And of course, I rounded the week out by reading two great books. Because let's face it, life with a little kidlit is always a good thing.
The first book I read was Five Little Ducks which is a retelling of the song by that name. The pictures are bright and colorful and there is even a cd version in the back of the book. So if your children love both music and stories like me, be sure to look for this book.
The second book I read was called Win Or Lose, I Love You. Written by Christian author Lysa Terkeurst, it is the story of good sportsmanship. All the animals of the forest are having field day and learn that winners shouldn't brag, losers shouldn't cry, and everyone should do their best in everything they try! And at the very end of the book, there are ten Biblical words of wisdom whether you win or lose accompanied by scriptures. This book would make a great Sunday school read or even an addition to Christian home school curriculum.
Well, that about wraps it up for this week. Join me next week for another exciting episode, same crazy time, same crazy channel. Also be sure to drop by and join the Literacy Musings Monday Blog Hop where you will find other great blogs, or my personal website, Fun With Aileen, where you will find more on reading, writing, and my very own early grade Fern Valley chapter book series and my Quack and Daisy picture book series. And finally, you can find me on twitter @AileenWStewart if you want an extremely brief glimpse into my days.
We also attended fireworks. Most cities host fireworks for the Fourth of July, but Shelby always waits until the following weekend and sets of fire works during the annual Bicycle Days. The fire works didn't last long, but I did manage to get a few fairly decent pictures during the show. And believe me, it was quite the job to get those few non blurry pictures.
And of course, I rounded the week out by reading two great books. Because let's face it, life with a little kidlit is always a good thing.
The first book I read was Five Little Ducks which is a retelling of the song by that name. The pictures are bright and colorful and there is even a cd version in the back of the book. So if your children love both music and stories like me, be sure to look for this book.
The second book I read was called Win Or Lose, I Love You. Written by Christian author Lysa Terkeurst, it is the story of good sportsmanship. All the animals of the forest are having field day and learn that winners shouldn't brag, losers shouldn't cry, and everyone should do their best in everything they try! And at the very end of the book, there are ten Biblical words of wisdom whether you win or lose accompanied by scriptures. This book would make a great Sunday school read or even an addition to Christian home school curriculum.
Well, that about wraps it up for this week. Join me next week for another exciting episode, same crazy time, same crazy channel. Also be sure to drop by and join the Literacy Musings Monday Blog Hop where you will find other great blogs, or my personal website, Fun With Aileen, where you will find more on reading, writing, and my very own early grade Fern Valley chapter book series and my Quack and Daisy picture book series. And finally, you can find me on twitter @AileenWStewart if you want an extremely brief glimpse into my days.
July 4, 2016
Smokey The Fireman
This week's blog will be short and sweet since I am in the middle of my family's annual camping trip and I don't want to miss any of the fun. You know the kind I mean, sitting around the campfire, blowing bubbles, cooking out.
Since our KOA is only about fifteen minutes away from home, each morning I run home to feed and water the cats and scoop the litter boxes. Glamorous I know, but a mom/authors work is never done. This does afford me the opportunity to quickly read and review, however, and since last night when we sat around the fire we heard the sound of the visiting firetrucks giving kids rides around the campground, I thought it would be appropriate to share Smokey The Fireman by Richard Scarry.
I remember reading Richard Scarry when I was a wee thing and the illustrations would keep me intrigued for hours. We had this really big book of bedtime stories by Richard which meant many nights of entertainment. Smokey The Fireman is a short, step into reading book, but still fun none the less. It is about Smokey and his adventures as he rescues Miss Kitty and puts out a house fire. It is about picnicking with Miss Kitty and ending up putting out a nearby barn fire. And it is about eating lots and lots of pie. And let me tell you, you just can't go wrong with pie be it in a book or the real thing!
And if you happen to like the fire truck theme, here are two more great firetruck books.
Well, that about wraps it up for this week. Join me next week for another exciting episode, same crazy time, same crazy channel. Also be sure to drop by and join the Literacy Musings Monday Blog Hop where you will find other great blogs, or my personal website, Fun With Aileen, where you will find more on reading, writing, and my very own early grade Fern Valley chapter book series and my Quack and Daisy picture book series. And finally, you can find me on twitter @AileenWStewart if you want an extremely brief glimpse into my days.
Since our KOA is only about fifteen minutes away from home, each morning I run home to feed and water the cats and scoop the litter boxes. Glamorous I know, but a mom/authors work is never done. This does afford me the opportunity to quickly read and review, however, and since last night when we sat around the fire we heard the sound of the visiting firetrucks giving kids rides around the campground, I thought it would be appropriate to share Smokey The Fireman by Richard Scarry.
I remember reading Richard Scarry when I was a wee thing and the illustrations would keep me intrigued for hours. We had this really big book of bedtime stories by Richard which meant many nights of entertainment. Smokey The Fireman is a short, step into reading book, but still fun none the less. It is about Smokey and his adventures as he rescues Miss Kitty and puts out a house fire. It is about picnicking with Miss Kitty and ending up putting out a nearby barn fire. And it is about eating lots and lots of pie. And let me tell you, you just can't go wrong with pie be it in a book or the real thing!
And if you happen to like the fire truck theme, here are two more great firetruck books.
Well, that about wraps it up for this week. Join me next week for another exciting episode, same crazy time, same crazy channel. Also be sure to drop by and join the Literacy Musings Monday Blog Hop where you will find other great blogs, or my personal website, Fun With Aileen, where you will find more on reading, writing, and my very own early grade Fern Valley chapter book series and my Quack and Daisy picture book series. And finally, you can find me on twitter @AileenWStewart if you want an extremely brief glimpse into my days.
June 27, 2016
A Saturday Trip
This past weekend Emily and I attended Farmers' Market as usual. I bought some fresh lettuce from a fellow vendor. Emily once again offered her face as a advertising billboard for our face painting vendor who paints her face for free every Saturday. And Emily bought and ate almost a quart of fresh cherries.
But instead of relaxing after we returned home and ate our lunch, My husband suggested a short day trip to the Velvet Ice Cream Factory. The factory, gift shop, and ice cream parlor are all located in an old mill that rests on beautiful grounds. There is a small pond with ducks. There is a short hiking trail next to the river. And best of all, there is ice cream to eat. This particular Saturday there was also a woman offering carriage rides, so Emily also got a little time with he favorite animals, horses. If you are ever in Ohio and find yourself near Utica, be sure to stop by.
But the most interesting event of the day, actually happened when we were just on the outskirts of Utica. We were driving along and suddenly my husband pointed to a bird gliding across our path and he said, "An eagle." Stunned to see one up close and personal and in a semi state of shock and wonder, I pointed too and cried repeatedly, "A bald eagle. A bald eagle. A bald eagle."
For me, life is really about the little things. Expensive family vacations, cars, and toys, are nice, but the little every day things like sighting a bald eagle in all its glory zooming across the road in front of us is what really makes me happy. That, and things like discussing wildflowers on the side of the road with my husband and dreaming of planting fields of them if we ever become the owners of a large piece of country property.
And speaking of wildflowers, the book I happened to read this week was titled Miss Lady Bird's Wildflowers. It is the true story of the first lady Mrs. Johnson, her childhood, her love of flowers, and how she is the one responsible for wildflowers on the sides on the highway.
Well, that about wraps it up for this week. Join me next week for another exciting episode, same crazy time, same crazy channel. Also be sure to drop by and join the Literacy Musings Monday Blog Hop where you will find other great blogs, or my personal website, Fun With Aileen, where you will find more on reading, writing, and my very own early grade Fern Valley chapter book series and my Quack and Daisy picture book series. And finally, you can find me on twitter @AileenWStewart if you want an extremely brief glimpse into my days.
But instead of relaxing after we returned home and ate our lunch, My husband suggested a short day trip to the Velvet Ice Cream Factory. The factory, gift shop, and ice cream parlor are all located in an old mill that rests on beautiful grounds. There is a small pond with ducks. There is a short hiking trail next to the river. And best of all, there is ice cream to eat. This particular Saturday there was also a woman offering carriage rides, so Emily also got a little time with he favorite animals, horses. If you are ever in Ohio and find yourself near Utica, be sure to stop by.
But the most interesting event of the day, actually happened when we were just on the outskirts of Utica. We were driving along and suddenly my husband pointed to a bird gliding across our path and he said, "An eagle." Stunned to see one up close and personal and in a semi state of shock and wonder, I pointed too and cried repeatedly, "A bald eagle. A bald eagle. A bald eagle."
For me, life is really about the little things. Expensive family vacations, cars, and toys, are nice, but the little every day things like sighting a bald eagle in all its glory zooming across the road in front of us is what really makes me happy. That, and things like discussing wildflowers on the side of the road with my husband and dreaming of planting fields of them if we ever become the owners of a large piece of country property.
And speaking of wildflowers, the book I happened to read this week was titled Miss Lady Bird's Wildflowers. It is the true story of the first lady Mrs. Johnson, her childhood, her love of flowers, and how she is the one responsible for wildflowers on the sides on the highway.
Well, that about wraps it up for this week. Join me next week for another exciting episode, same crazy time, same crazy channel. Also be sure to drop by and join the Literacy Musings Monday Blog Hop where you will find other great blogs, or my personal website, Fun With Aileen, where you will find more on reading, writing, and my very own early grade Fern Valley chapter book series and my Quack and Daisy picture book series. And finally, you can find me on twitter @AileenWStewart if you want an extremely brief glimpse into my days.
