Jessica Haight's Blog, page 4

Views From the Pond: July/August 2024

I am on track to finally get my View From the Pond post up with only two months of pictures (instead of three months). Yay! As summer is wrapping up and we get ready for fall it is nice to look back on the hottest months of the year and all that was going on at the pond. With summer break, I enjoyed not having to leave my house every morning to go to school. Instead I was able to have my morning coffee on the porch (most mornings), and it was a delight. 

We had a hot summer here, but we also had a lot of rain. In August we had a "once in a thousand year" rain storm where it rained over 6 inches in a few hours, and although we were lucky not to have flooding at our house, the pond and brook were FULL! Towns a half an hour away had closer to 13 inches of rain and there was severe flood damage to buildings, homes, roads, and bridges. Cars were trapped in flooding and people needed to be rescued, and houses were washed away. Scary and sad for everyone impacted by the flood damage, and it made the rain we got here seem like nothing.  

I hope you can sit back and relax and enjoy some of the views that brought me peace and happiness this summer. I caught some of the visiting animals- but we did have a black bear that I saw, but barely captured as he left the yard.

July 2024

A little bunny hanging out and enjoying some snacks. 



This guy walked out of the brook and towards the house, but he hasn't been out again since (at least not during the day, which I know is normal for them when looking for food.)

Love seeing the changing light!

Our heron made lots of visits to our house this summer. Loved watching it take flight, but I didn't manage to snapany photos or videos of the amazing sight. 





Seeing reflections in the water brings me a lot of joy. 

Friends were visiting from Canada, but they got to see the heron when they were packing up the car. It was exciting for everyone- but theheron got spooked and flew away. It's large wings need lots of space and it flew down the middle of the road as it lifted up and up!


Afternoon sunlight on the tree. 




August 2024
If you look closely you can see the magnolia has blooms. It likes to bloom on and off from spring until mid fall. Beautiful flowers!


The peeks of blue make me smile. 

A bud from the magnolia getting ready to bloom in all its glory. 

So green!



The August rain storm- the brook was starting to get full!




I have never seen the pond this high since we have lived here (2 years).Amazing for sure!
The crazy thing is that 2 hours before this video the brook was barely there. I had friends over that I had to explain- over there is the brook. Then two hours laterthe water was raging! 



Hello Sunbeam!

I am still enamored with the changing light each day!




Hello again, Heron!

The trees in the backyard were sparkling with drops of rainafter a rainstorm. No rainbow- but the drops looked like dazzling gems. 
We saw the bear walk by the window and watched it. Barely got a picture. We haven't seen him since.





As I type this (September 1st) I know that summer doesn't officially end for a few more weeks, though after working at a school for the last 26 years it always feels like the end of summer when school starts. Already the temperatures are starting to change as we head into September and the light is changing too. I do love fall and I know the pond will put on a show! 
Hope summer was good to you and that fall will be even better!~S

FEAR NOT THE UNEXPECTED

MMGM: Hattie Big Sky by Kirby Larson

 

16-year-old Hattie has been shuffled around from relative to relative her whole life. She’s been living with her aunt and uncle, but her aunt is not happy having her there. She's said that Hattie needs to stop going to school and start work cleaning a boarding house. Then, out of nowhere Hattie receives a letter from her long-lost uncle giving her the land that he’s trying to farm and pay back to the state (prove up on his claim). Hattie takes this chance and moves to Montana, where she meets the cast of characters who will play important parts in her life. They help her learn what it means to be a homesteader. It's harder than she'd imagined! Hattie is a fast learner, but there are a lot of ins and outs of frontier life. Will she be able to put up the fence that's required of her? Is it possible for Hattie to plant the wheat, bag it, and sell it? What was life like out in the plains during the early 1900s when a war was going on? You’ll have to read this exciting historical fiction book to find out!

I read Hattie Big Sky by Kirby Larson because it was on The Week Jr., US Read Across America Map The Week Jr., US Read Across America Map for the state of Montana. I had already read some of the other books that were nominated for a state, but wanted to check out something new. I'm so glad I picked this book up! I LOVED it! I cared about Hattie and what she was going through. I learned about life at that time. Being a homesteader was not easy! Hattie is someone I would definitely want on my side, and someone who I would stand up for. I would recommend this historical fiction book to anybody in grade 4, and up who is interested in what life was like just a little over 100 years ago in part of our country. I look forward to reading more books by this author.

Has anyone else read Hattie Big Sky? Or has anyone read another book by Kirby Larson? We’d love to hear your thoughts!

Happy Reading!

~L

For other MMGM posts, please visit Greg Pattridge's blog.

FEAR NOT THE UNEXPECTED

MMGM: The Lucky Diamond by Valinora Troy

 

Five children are orphaned in Lowdar after their last adult family member was exiled from the community. Now the children live on the streets and life is even harder. When they find a diamond, it turns out to be no ordinary gem. They have met Lucky, a princess in a magical species. Lucky needs to return home, but there are many beings trying to stop her at any cost. The children agree to bring her home and Lucky promises they will be rewarded. A canoe, named Charlie helps them on their way and they have many dangerous terrains to pass- from water to mountains. Four of the five children have a special gift given to them by their mother before she died, and the items help them on their way. During their travels they get split up and their lives are in peril. Encounters with Queen Rose show the children what evil is capable of and they hope to help stop her from taking over the kingdom.  Will the children meet up with each other again? Will they get Lucky home? Can Queen Rose be defeated? You will have to read this fabulous fantasy to find out! 

Lucky Diamond by Valinora Troy was a fast paced fantasy that kept me captivated. It is the first in a series, but I was happy that everything wrapped up at the end of the story and I wasn't left on a cliffhanger! The siblings each have their own personality and I enjoyed seeing the way they interacted with each other. The magical elements were fascinating and I loved discovering more about the special items given to each child by their mother. I could easily picture the settings throughout the fantasy land and while there are places that sound beautiful, there are others I wouldn't want to visit! I liked trying to figure out who could be trusted and how they would get out of certain situations. I would recommend this book to anyone in 4th grade or up who enjoys fantasy, magic, and adventure. This was a page turner! I look forward to reading more books by this author. 

Has anyone else read Lucky Diamond? Or have you read another book by Valinora Troy? We'd love to hear your thoughts.

Happy Reading!
~L

For other MMGM posts, please visit Greg Pattridge's blog.

FEAR NOT THE UNEXPECTED

Views From the Pond: April/May/June 2024

 

We'll see if I ever get to doing a Views From the Pond post with two months worth of pictures. Goals! Watching the changing light as spring was sprouting up everywhere was magical. I saw changes in the woods and foliage all around the pond. Each day a little more green filled in. So amazing to watch it all enfold. The days got longer and I tried to enjoy every extra minute of each day. Having a little more outside time after work makes a big difference in my stress level. Hope seeing some of the views over the last few months will give you a sense of peace, too. 

April 2024

A hawk in the tree.

Just a little bit of snow- thank goodness. I was ready for spring!

Morning views as I leave for work. Love the way the light streams in and falls on everything.

So different from the way the pond looks after work! 

Reflections in the water bring me so much happiness. 

The brook is full!

SO hard to leave for work when I just want to sit and watch the pond.

The magnolia tree (s) look so beautiful when they are blooming. Nice nighttime light. 

May 

Love the spring colors everywhere!

Lord and Lady Quackerly out for a stroll. 

Deer grazing.

Off to work! 

So green!

We came home and a heron was in our pond. We watched and were mesmerized for a long time.

We had to have 5 trees taken down. Lots of wood (this is from one tree) 




A woodchuck out in the yard. He swam so fast down the brook. It was awesome to watch!
The woodchuck running in the yard. Faster than I would have expected!

I love when the yellow daylilies come out. 
We had work to do under the magnolia. We had so much rain after we first cleared it that weeds started growing before we could put anything down. 











All weeded and we got the mulch down! Yay!


June 

Love the blue!





We watched the baby deer learning to walk. Lots of wobbling and stumbling- but amazing! 


Momma and her baby. 




We hav 5 baby bunnies and they hop around and play with each other. If I try to go outside to take a picture they hop to safety. So- this was through the window. 

Full Moon-  I couldn't capture the gorgeous color and light surrounding it.



Our heron hanging by the pond. 








June ended with a very full brook and pond!
It's hard to believe that (as I am writing this) tomorrow is July. I am happy summer is here and plan to enjoy the longer days and evenings while they are here. I know it is a busy summer ahead with lots of friends and family visiting from all over the world. Luckily I can have some nice down time sipping on coffee looking at the pond each day, and I hope to read some books out there too. Cheers to summer. Thanks for sitting by the pond with me and catching up! 









FEAR NOT THE UNEXPECTED

MMGM: Secret of the Shadow Beasts by Diane Magras

 

Nora lives in Brannland, where shadow beasts called the Umbrae come out once the sun goes down. Adults who are bitten die, but there are children who are immune. These children become knights at the age of 7 when they train to destroy the shadow beasts. Although Nora Kemp’s blood was tested and proven to be immune, her father refused to allow her to become a knight. Knight's train hard and live away from their families and Owen Kemp wanted his daughter to have a normal childhood. Instead, Nora lives in the countryside on a farm where she has sheep and plays the fiddle. Her family has always known they have to be inside when the "gloaming" comes because that is when the Umbrae come out to attack anyone outside. But life on a farm doesn't always stop. It’s been over a year since the beasts got her dad and now Nora’s mother has been almost bitten by them (even being near them can make someone sick). Only Nora’s quick thinking saves them both. But this makes Nora think about being a knight and she calls up the school and talks to the person who tested her when she was seven. The umbrae have been getting worse and there are less people who are able to fight them, so the school agrees to have Nora come and try out. She missed five years of training but that doesn’t stop Nora’s natural instincts and abilities from shining through. Nora has a lot to learn about the school, which is divided into different orders. It takes a little bit of time for her to bond with her new order, but they are a team the first night they go to fight the Umbrea together. Unlike the video game Nora played at home, these battles are exhausting, dangerous, and extremely stressful, as she needs to protect herself, her order and the citizens. When someone from another order does something that puts the lives of everyone in Brannland in danger, Nora and her order try to come to the rescue. What they discover is even more dangerous and petrifying than they could’ve ever imagined. Can Nora and her order defeat the beasts? What secrets will Nora discover about her family? Why are the beasts multiplying? You’ll have to read this fast paced adventure to find out.

I own a hardcover copy of Secret of the Shadow Beasts by Diane Magras, but I was lucky enough to win a copy of the audiobook online. I am so glad I did. The narrator does an amazing job and I felt like I was right there in the store with Nora. The way the setting was painted made the scenes easy to imagine. Nora is a character that people can relate to because she seems like a regular kid who enjoys reading, playing video games, and spending time with her family. I like seeing how the relationships in the book change as Nora gets to know everyone. It’s dangerous for children to be out fighting the beasts, but the story explains why it needs to be children, not adults. I highly recommend this book to anyone in fourth grade or up who enjoys action, adventure, and characters who really make you care about them. I have read The Mad Wolf's Daughter by Diane Magras and I look forward to reading other books by her in the future.

Has anyone else read Secret of the Shadow Beasts? Or have you read another book by Diane Magras? We’d love to hear your thoughts!

Happy Reading!
~L

For other MMGM posts, please visit Greg Pattridge's blog.

FEAR NOT THE UNEXPECTED

Margo's Musings: What's Up With Wombats?

This week, Margo’s favorite pick was a big hit with the whole family. My little sister couldn't resist the cover and we were all curious. Turns out none of us really knew anything about wombats before we read it! They really are fascinating.

Wombats Are Pretty Weird is a nonfiction text that is perfect for read aloud! Abby Cushman is the illustrator and the author. She sure is funny! We loved reading all the little jokes, and there is a snake throughout the book commenting on the facts and they are hilarious. Margo looked for the snake and pointed each time she spied it. Through our laughter we were amazed about all the things we were learning about wombats. Once you learn about their unique poop and their bottoms, you will wonder how you never knew these things before!

Love the illustrations and speech bubbles used throughout the book. Text was displayed in a way that was easy to process. loved the way humor was used to help us learn and remember key facts. This book will have you laughing out loud and wanting to know more! I highly recommend this book to anyone who enjoys learning about animals and likes to laugh.

We were excited to learn the author has another book that just came out called Flamingos Are Pretty Funky. I know what we will be getting from the library next!

Has anyone else read Wombats Are Pretty Weird? Or have yours read another book by Abi Cushman? We’d love to hear your thoughts.

Happy Reading!

~F

FEAR NOT THE UNEXPECTED

Views From the Pond: January/February/March 2024

 I am trying to meet my goal of doing my Views From the Pond posts every two months. But, alas, here we are with three months of pictures.  January came in with some snow and the temperatures went down for a bit. We had one weekend that was in the single digits. Brrr! The snow was VERY wet and heavy. Still we were lucky and got to enjoy many snow free days and some nicer than usual temperatures. After all the rain we received in December (15 inches)- we were surprised to get another 12 inches throughout the month. It was wet! The pond was full and the brook was babbling! 

There are many pictures of my views. So thankful for this calm setting.

January 2024

A beautiful snowstorm, but the snow was SO heavy it weighed down the branch so that it brushed the ground. 


It's hard to leave for work when I see this out my door. 

Our weather station and in the pond a large branch can be seen. It broke off during the heavy snow. 



February 2024





More heavy snow! Beautiful for sure. 


Love watching the light change! So different from moment to moment. 





Limbs in the water! 

More limbs around the base of the tree. She really shed during the snowstorm!




Lord and Lady Quackerly are back with a friend. The first time I saw them was 2/7, but I have been lucky enough to see them almost every morning before I leave for work. I get to watch them for much longer on the weekends. They are so cute swimming around.  

March 2024
The limbs were so large and wet that we knew getting them out was going to be a challenge.




We had to buy a grapple to get this large tree limb out of the pond. It was heavy and waterlogged after being stuck in the pond for months (much heavier than I expected). We had to put a cord around it and pull it all the way out using a pickup truck. What a process!   



Lord and Lady Quackerly


So many pine cones this year!



Can you spot the hawk in the tree? It landed on the branch after silently swooping just over our heads! It was quite the surprise!









Hard to believe, but it was another rainy month. We got 3 inches the last week of March alone! 


I hope you enjoyed sitting by the pond with me for a little while. Hope you enjoyed some of the sights! Soon I will share picture of spring in bloom and the start of summer!
Thanks for stopping by!

FEAR NOT THE UNEXPECTED

Swirling Colors & Natural Patterns

 

Spiritscape

Spring has sprung! Nature's colors are popping everywhere, and it's glorious to behold. I've recently finished a new painting, and I took a deeper peep at the colors on my street. The ethereal realm is eternally close at hand, and it's lovely to soak it all in. 
Here's a behind the scenes look at Spiritscape plus the latest session of Microscopic Modern Art: "Spring Bouquet" 
Enjoy the swirling colors while tip-toeing through the tulips!
Spiritscape behind the scenes
Caught a rainbow playing on my painting Spiritscape on the wall (11"x14" wood canvas board) The finished painting
"Spring Bouquet"A deeper peep at the colors on the street.  Materials used: tulips, bleeding heart, feather, mushroom, dandelion, sage, magnolia, violet.

"Pink Pop" "Golden Wave' "Cosmic Eye" "Tulip Sunrise" "Circle" "Pink Splash" "Purple in Yellow" "Pink Fingers" "Left at Leaf Street" "Violet Lights" "Purpura" "Secret Cave" "Faerie Wing" "Periwinkle Forest" "Space Between" "Sun Arch" "Mirco Sorting Hat" "Yellow Peep" "Feather Light" "Flow" "Alive" "Mushroom Landing" Bits from the street! Photography & Artwork by Jess Haight CottageFive.com
FEAR NOT THE UNEXPECTED

MMGM: The Deliverers 4: Sparkling Mist of Time by Gregory Slomba

 

Every year on his birthday Eric Scott and his family celebrate by attending the local reenactment of The Battle of Canfield Corners which was fought October 22, 1777. But ever since his dad died, it hasn't felt the same to Eric. After the festivities he is summoned by The Gatekeeper who had given him his last three assignments. Eric meets with him and finds out that he and the rest of the Deliverers (Stig- a talking owl, Hallo Tosis- a dwarf, and Kate- a friend he met on his first assignment) must go back in time to 1777 to stop a creature who is using a sparking mist to punch a hole in the fabric of time. Although Eric is excited to see his old friends and to be working on a new assignment, he is also worried about going back in time and stopping something so powerful. When they arrive in Eric's town over two hundred years earlier it is familiar and strange. Luckily, they meet Mathias, a boy close to Eric and Kate's age, who is able to help them figure out what has been going on. In order to stop the creature they need to work together and use Eric's knowledge of the Revolutionary War to stop the creature from changing history and erasing the world and everyone in it. Can The Deliverers stop the creature? Will they be able to figure out the creature's reason for trying to change history and alter the world? What will happen if they fail? You will have to read this exciting ending to The Deliverers series to find out!
I have read all the books in this series and The Deliverers 4: Sparkling Mist of Time by Gregory Slomba was an amazing ending to an awesome series. I love that everything was wrapped up. It was a story that will keep readers turning the pages. I also liked that readers who haven't read the other three books would be able to read this one and understand what is going on (though it is always better to read the whole series in order, in my opinion). So happy to learn how this adventure/fantasy series ends! It was great to see the friendships continue to evolve and grow throughout their adventure in time. I also learned a lot about the American Revolution and some of the battles that took place in and around Connecticut. I definitely have some places I want to check out in person now- like Keeler Tavern.  Changing time is such an interesting concept and I think the author did a fabulous job making everything easy to understand. As I  turned the last page I was happy to have the series wrapped up and all my questions answered, but I was sad that I wouldn't be reading about these friends again.  I recommend this series to anyone in 4th grade and up who enjoys adventure, sci-fi/fantasy, and history.  

Has anyone else read The Deliverers 4: Sparling Mist of Time? Or have you read another book in The Deliverers series? We'd love to hear your thoughts!

Happy Reading!

~L

Our reviews of the rest of the series here.

Visit Gregory's website to find out more about the books!

For other MMGM posts, please visit Greg Pattridge's blog.

FEAR NOT THE UNEXPECTED

Read Across America!

 

We are so honored that The Week Junior selected The Secret Files of Fairday Morrow to represent Connecticut for Read Across America. There are so many great titles included on the map, and we thought we'd spotlight a few of the books we've reviewed, and shout out a few we plan to share with you!
It's wonderful to see Fairday and friends representing CT! The Begonia House awaits. Fear not the unexpected.  Anything's possible! 

The mystery continues to unwind in  Fairday Morrow and the Talking Library. Stay tuned for the third book, Fairday Morrow and the Master's Emporium! Here are a few books on the map we've reviewed! 
ARKANSAS
"I loved watching Marlee stand up for what she believes in, and she definitely tried to make the world a better place. It's an excellent book for people of all ages, and I think kids in fourth grade and up will especially relate to Marlee and Liz. The book makes history come alive." Read our full review 
Check out our author interview with Kristin Levine!

SOUTH CAROLINA

"I love how history and mystery were woven together in a way that makes you want to dig into your own history to see what you'll discover. I loved that the main characters both had a passion for reading and talked books with each other, like I do with my best friend." Read our full review 




FLORIDA
"Roy is a kid that I could easily relate to because he has a great sense of humor, and I love his passion for wanting to conserve the habitat of the burrowing owl. I don’t like to see animals endangered, people littering, or nature being destroyed. The characters in the book are quirky and add a lot of interest to the story. I especially like when someone can put a bully in their place!" Read our full review 


Here are a few books we're looking forward to featuring!
Louisiana: The Marvellers Nebraska: The Elephant's GirlCalifornia: City Spied: Golden Gate
HAPPY READ ACROSS AMERICA MONTH! FEAR NOT THE UNEXPECTED