Jessica Haight's Blog, page 6

Views From the Pond May/June

I was hoping to do one post for May and one for June, but life had other plans. So, like last time, I will be sharing pictures from my pond over the last two months. Although May and June proved to be very busy months, I did find moments to sit outside and soak up the sights, sounds, and smells of Spring and early Summer. Of course, much of Mother Nature needs to be absorbed in person and I just wasn't fast enough to catch many of the visitors to the pond and yard. Maybe next time! 

Every day I see the pond and surrounding area look so different depending on the light and shadows. It is beautiful and amazing. I can see why Monet created so many paintings of his water garden. The every changing views are good for the soul! 

And a few of the animals that I saw over the last couple of months. I missed taking pictures of a raccoon that comes down at dusk to wash his hands and face, a red fox, squirrels, a variety of birds, and all the fireflies. 

Last July we began a drought here, which lasted through the early Fall. The pond got down to a puddle and the brook dried up. The frogs and other animals were so sad. I hope this summer will have the right amount of rain for  all the creatures big and small. I'll keep you posted!

FEAR NOT THE UNEXPECTED

Marvelous Middle Grade Monday # MMGM Book Review: The War I Finally Won l by Kimberly Brubaker Bradley

 

The War I Finally Won picks up right where The War That Saved My Life ended. Adad had her surgery to correct her foot and there is a world of possibiliries awaiting her. She and her brother, Jamie, are living with Susan Smith, who has been caring for them more than their own mother ever did back in London. Sadly, they are no longer living in Susan‘s comforting house as it was bombed. They’re living in a cottage that belongs to Lady Thorton. This new house is dark and dismal, but they are making do. Lady Thorton is a little sharp tongued and cold, making Ada feel tense. Things become a little more difficult when a teenage girl named Ruth comes to live with them from Germany. Lady Thorton is not happy, but she has to allow it. Could Ruth be a spy? With the war going on and all the changes in her life, Ada has no choice but to change and grow.  Who will she be?
I absolutely adored The War I Finally Won. Ada is a characters who touched my soul and made me care about her and the things that she’s gone though. I was hoping now that she and Jamie are officially with Susan that there life would be easy. But, the times weren't easy and war brings a lot of sadness, and Ada had tough things to experience. I enjoyed getting to see old friends from the first book like Maggie and I enjoyed meeting new ones. It was interesting trying to figure the new characters out!  The characters will definitely stay with me, as they have made their way into my heart! This is a great sequel to a wonderful book and one I would recommend to anyone who loves historical fiction and is 9 years old and up. I bet even people who aren't fans of historical fiction will be captivated by Ida, Jamie, Susan, and their story.  I definitely look forward to reading more books by Kimberly Brubaker Bradley.

Has anyone else read The War I Finally Won? Or have your read another book by Kimberly Brubaker Bradley? We’d love to hear your thoughts!
Happy Reading!~L
For other MMGM posts, please visit Greg Pattridge's blog.FEAR NOT THE UNEXPECTED

Flora Fireworks and Forest Feels...

By the faintest breath of Persephone's rise, flowers pick peeping eyes. Conjuring colors to dainty petal, Nature simmers spells in a kettle.  Pattern, line, shadow, light; divine elements brewed up right. Once a charm is set in stone, its power ripples through flesh and bone.

Microscopic Modern Art by Jess Haight: Cottagefive.com "Spring Bouquet"— bleeding heart, azalea, lilac, dandelion, forest flowers
New England is blooming; flora showing off like fireworks, breeze smelling sweet. I invite you to frolic with the flowers and bask in their earthly patterns. Tip-toe through the tulips, eternity spins divine—no matter the measure. 
"Sorcerer Lazuli" 
"Cloud Diary" 
"Kiss of Gold"
"Color Sphere"

"Humming Bird Spell" 
"Portal"
"Inside Patterns"


"Tiny House Party"
"Skull Jam"
"Bewitched"
"Creeper"
"Rise"
Forest Feels 💖✨FEAR NOT THE UNEXPECTED

Margo's Musings: What Will Happen to the Project?

When we saw The Barnabus Project on display at our local library this past weekend I have to admit, I couldn’t wait to read it. I was curious about what it would be about and totally understood why my little sister, Margo, ran to it and snatched it off the table.

Barnabus lives in a lab because he is a Perfect Pet. He lives near his friends and the men in the green suits come and feed him his favorite foods- cheese and peanuts. One day the guys in green suits come in to check on Barnabus and the others in his area and  they are all rejected. They don't meet the standard for a Perfect Pet and this means they need to go back to the starting point and become a perfect mouse or elephant, not a mouse/elephant. But Barnabus is worried that becoming perfect may mean he doesn’t love his favorite foods or the things that make him him. His friends are worried too and they realize the only thing they can do is escape. But can they do it before the men In green come back? Where will they go? How will they survive? They aren’t sure, but they know they have to do it!


The illustrations in this story are absolutely beautiful. So many details are hidden within the pages and there are new things to discover with every reading. The creatures are fascinating to look at, and I had fun pouring over the pages. The colors really set the mood of the story and turning each page was a true delight. 


I love the messages In this book because teamwork is crucial and it’s important to be who you are. I enjoyed the book for the complexities in the story, and Margo loved the simplicity. The story offers similar takeaways to people of all ages, but it also offers something different depending on the reader's age. That helps make this a truly special book for the whole family. 


I think kids and adults of any age can enjoy this book together (or alone). The Fan Brothers worked together to create this masterpiece and it has been a treat to read and reread. I highly recommend this book and am sure it will become a favorite after the first reading. 



Has anyone else read The Barnabus Project? Or have you read another book by The Fan Brothers? We’d love to hear your thoughts!
Happy Reading!~F
FEAR NOT THE UNEXPECTED

Views From the Pond- March/April

Over the last year and a half I have moved to a new house (it was quite a process). One of my favorite things about my new space is the small pond in the front yard. Although it wasn't on my list of things I "needed" when I was house hunting, it turns out it was something I needed in my life. 

Depending on the season, there is a house or two visible in the distance, as the pond is close to my street (which is very quiet most of the time). If I sit on my front porch I can see and hear the pond and the babbling brook that feeds into it. There is also space close to the pond to sit and relax. Over the last year I have watched the daily changes and have marveled in the animals that come to visit. In the evening, the sounds of crickets and frogs mingling with owls and other night creatures creates a symphony that changes daily. 

I decided to share my views with all of you- so this is the first of a new regular monthly feature on Fairday's Blog. 

These pictures are all from this past March and April. I love the Mallard ducks that visit most days! I talk to them and call them Lord and Lady Quackerly.  Some mornings it is hard to leave for work because there is so much to observe at home. You will notice algae in some pictures, and that is a new addition. There wasn't even a trace of algae in the pond until after the pond came back from a drought we had last summer/fall (it lasted for about 3 months and the pond became a puddle). 

This post contains a lot of pictures because I am sharing two months of Views From the Pond instead of one. It is amazing to see how much the pond changes each day, and the view is so therapeutic. The first picture is from the morning of  March 1st and the last is from the last weekend in April. I have SO been enjoying watching my Magnolia tree bloom. 

I hope you enjoy the views as much as I do! Nature changing and coming alive is pure magic to witness.  ~StephanieFEAR NOT THE UNEXPECTED

Marvelous Middle Grade Monday # MMGM Book Review: Unicorn Island: Beyond the Portal by Donna Galanti

 

In the final book in this series, Sam is tying to distract herself now that she knows her mother disappeared through a portal on Unicorn Island ten years ago. Could her mother still be alive? It’s consuming all her thoughts, so she decides to learn everything she can about her new role as a unicorn protector. With the help of her friend, Tuck, she explores a book and uncovers a hidden code, explaining more about the portal. Sam and Tuck know going through the portal would be extremely dangerous, and they also know neither of their parents would allow it. But, they can’t resist the urge to find out more. How else will they know if Sam‘s mother is still alive. They decide to go through the portal, with Barloc (a unicorn) as their guide. They all know it is dangerous to bring a unicorn through the portal, because the portal was created years ago to save the unicorns who were being hunted in another world. What if they are still being hunted today? Is Sam‘s mother still alive, and if she is will they even be able to find her? Once they go through the portal will they be able to get back? 
It’s always a good feeling when the final book in a series or trilogy wraps everything up. Unicorn Island: Beyond the Portal does just that! I was so happy that all my questions were answered by the end of the story. I liked seeing the way Sam grew as a character from when we first met her. I’m glad she has such a good friend in Tuck. They help each other come to conclusions and decisions, each bringing something different to their friendship. This book will be a huge hit with anyone who likes unicorns, adventures, or other worlds. I would recommend this book to kids in second grade and up. I think it’s awesome that the series can be found online on Epic Books for kids and it’s available in hardcover. My copy is beautiful, and I love the illustrations. They are bright and colorful! Having them periodically throughout the book was an additional treat to look forward to while I was reading. The three books in this series have been a fun adventure! Although this series may be over, I’m looking forward to the next book by Donna Galanti.
Has anyone else read Unicorn Island: Beyond the Portal? Or have you read another book by Donna Galanti? We’d love to hear your thoughts.
Happy Reading!L
Our review of Unicorn Island Book 2


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

FEAR NOT THE UNEXPECTED

Fishy Perspectives and Mood Candles: Jess's Musings

I have a fish, his name is Mr. Fish, and he lives in a tank in the middle of my house. Mr. Fish is eleven years old, and he can communicate with me. For instance, if something is off in his tank, he swims as hard as he can and smashes into the glass. It scares the wits out of me, and I check to make sure he's okay. Message received. 

Sometimes it's super nice to shift into low gear and take in the scene. I think of Mr. Fish, and what his daily life must be like. How strange it would be to experience things from his point of view. 🐟

Contemplating perspectives is interesting, and when you relax into the moment and let your mind wander it's easy to get swept up in imagination. Magic lives in details; you must slow down for the experience. 

So feel into your mood and flow with the good vibrations resonating right now. Take a pause to reflect and dream. 

I'll light a mood candle to raise spirits.🕯✨

Mood Candle Art: Raising Spirits 

Mood Candle Art is created with glass jars, acrylic paint, tea lights
Cuteness!
Colors Dancing in MIND

FEAR NOT THE UNEXPECTED

Cheers to a New Year!

It's hard to believe that we are about to start 2023. Our blog is going on 12 years! New beginnings make us think and reevaluate. We love all the people we have connected with through our blog and visiting blogs is always fun. There will be some changes here, but some things will remain the same.  

As we pause and reflect, we want to take the time to wish all of you a Happy New Year! May the year ahead be filled with all the things that make you happy.  😀🎊

FEAR NOT THE UNEXPECTED

Step Into a Mystery this Season...

 

Stories stir our spirits and ignite our bones, so step into a mystery this season! Books are delicious to a bookworm, and if you have a hungry one that you love, it's important to keep them well fed. If your bookworm happens to love a good mystery, give them a bite of the Begonia House. The suspense will fill them to the brim. 👀

Signed books make magical gifts! ✨

Jess and Stephanie will be at Barnes and Noble in Waterbury, CT signing copies of The Secret Files of Fairday Morrow and Fairday Morrow and the Talking Library on Saturday 12/3 at 2pm. Grab a signed book bundle and cozy up with a good mystery this season.

Jess Haight & Stephanie Robinson

The Secret Files of Fairday Morrow (Book 1) Fairday Morrow and the Talking Library (Book 2) Middle grade mystery books for ages 8 and up Eleven year old Fairday Morrow moves from Manhattan to a small town in Connecticut where her parents have bought a big, spooky, crumbling Victorian manor called the Begonia House. They want to turn it into a bed and breakfast, but after Fairday moves in strange occurrences start happening, and she finds out that an unsolved mystery had taken place in her new home. Fairday and her friends in the Detective Mystery Squad, Lizzy and Marcus, are on the case. The three sleuths try to sort out what happened in the Begonia House.

The first mystery wraps up, but Fairday soon finds out that her house is hiding many more secrets. After she receives a worrisome note from a mysterious librarian warning that a bookworm is eating words in stories, the DMS opens the next investigation. They stumble through a magical portal that transports them to the Talking Library, where books come alive and story magic abounds. Find out what happens when Fairday and her friends uncover fantastical clues and put the pieces of this intriguing puzzle together.

Fear not the unexpected. Truth lies betwixt the lines.

FEAR NOT THE UNEXPECTED

The Riddle of the Stone...

Hello, Riddlers! Jess here. I've been plotting ideas, making connections for story crafting, and this new piece presented itself. A creative play with art and words, inspired by the ineffable space where we allow our stories to unfold. 

Fear not the unexpected. Truth lies betwixt the lines. 

DISASTERPIECE

The world had gone mad with stories, so I examined my own. Hum drum of days, in and out. Like breathing. Dew shimmies on leaves; chomping caterpillars hungry for greens. Bees buzz around while I paint my heart, watching colors cover nothing— no thing is the stickiest glue. Truth lies betwixt the lines, and in between those squiggly lines there is emptiness— that’s the truth; the strong force binding story flavor. So subtle, yet powerful. The liminal essence of creation scattered amongst the stars in a vast sea of space. History and Herstory forever smashing together in little bursts of light— lingering like ghosts in the dark. Memories swim asunder in endless pools of thought. A disasterpiece transformed into a masterpiece simply by the love of hearing the other— or vice versa.

The Riddle of the Stone

There was once a stone that knew who it was.

The stone remembered the story.

The story had a beginning, middle and end@beginning, middle, and end@beginning, middle, and end@...

The beginning was new.

The middle unwound.

And the end was known. 

Who is the stone?

Only you know the answer to this riddle. 😀

FEAR NOT THE UNEXPECTED