A – Z Photo Challenge: V is for Vegetables, Venture, View

I’ve been a little busy, so it took me some time to figure out my V photos for the A – Z challenge. The only thing that came into my mind is a violin, yet I don’t play a violin. Finally, I looked in the dictionary for inspiration.

V is for Vegetables. It appears to be pumpkins and squash.

V is for Venture. I went on an exciting venture to the Great Wall of China.

V is for View. This is the view from my parent’s deck.

Click here for more V photos!

http://flickrcomments.wordpress.com/2012/05/29/a-z-archive-v-challenge/

Weekly Photo Challenge: Summer

Memorial weekend is the unofficial start to Summer. I’m very late for this weekly photo challenge, but it’s the idea that matters. I was busy with a wedding, so I didn’t get a chance to post for this week. The wedding was in Eastern Washington in Spokane, Washington. My family stopped at a camp ground near Coulee City, Washington, that we always camped at when I was younger. However, I can’t remember the last time I went camping.  The camp ground was Sun Lakes State Park. It has a little of everything – swimming, water skiing, fishing, golf, camp fires, mini-golf, RVs, cabins, campsites, and you can even drive a little bit and visit the Grand Coulee Dam. I wish we could have stayed a bit and camp.

Welcome Summer!

This is the swimming area.

Here are docks to launch your boat.

Here are some campsites.

Here is sort of a look from above at Dry Falls. A natural wonder carved by glaciers.

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Weekly Quote: Maya Angelou

Any book that helps a child to form a habit of reading, to make reading one of his deep and continuing needs, is good for him.

― Maya Angelou

Book Review: Uncle Peter’s Amazing Chinese Wedding

Uncle Peter’s Amazing Chinese Wedding 

Written by Lenore Look 

Illustrated by Yumi Heo 

Published January 3, 2006 by Atheneum/Anne Schwartz Books

Genre/Topics: Realistic Fiction, Cultural, Chinese Wedding, Family 

Ages: 6+, 40 pages 

 

This is a cute story told from the perspective of a young girl named Jenny who is the only person not happy that her favorite uncle is getting married. Normally, she loves weddings but she is her Uncle Peter’s special girl and feels that he is leaving her. As Jenny puts it ‘I am the jelly on his toast, and the leaves in his tea’. Everyone else is joyous and celebrating, but Jenny is sad. The book describes the Chinese wedding process and what the day would be like hundreds of years ago. Uncle Peter drives his car to pick up the bride, but is told that he can’t see her yet and must pay up. So the groom bargains and finally pays two hundred dollars until the bride appears wearing a red dress. It’s time for the tea ceremony where the bride is officially part of the family and she serves tea. Jenny has a sneaky idea and empties the tea-pot and puts just water to get the bride in trouble. Jenny’s mother  talks with her and finally Jenny understands to be happy for uncle. The wedding fun continues with exchanging red money packets, speeches, outfit changes, and dancing. The bride gives Jenny a special box filled with butterflies and tells her thanks for sharing your amazing uncle.

Today, my sister is getting married so hopefully everything is amazing. I’m even a bridesmaid, so I should have lovely photos to share.

 

Book Review: Pop! The Invention of Bubble Gum

Pop! The Invention of Bubble Gum 

Written and Illustrated by Meghan McCarthy 

Published April 5, 2011 by Simon & Schuster/Paula Wiseman Books 

Genre/Topics: Nonfiction, Invention, Biography, Food

Ages: 6+, 40 pages 

 

Pop! The Invention of Bubble Gum is the interesting story about how Dubble Bubble chewing gum was invented. It was made in small candy factory in Philadelphia in the 1920s by a man named Walter Diemer.  Walter was an accountant, but became curious about a laboratory next to his office. The company was trying to make a new kind of chewing gum. Walter experimented with different mixtures until finally bubbles formed. He added some flavor and began to chew it. Walter blew large bubbles from the mixture. However, the next day the mixture was as hard as a rock and wouldn’t blow a bubble. So, Walter continued to find the correct ingredients and finally had what he wanted. He added pink coloring, since that was the only color available. Batches were sent to  local stores and Walter Diemer gave gum blowing lessons. He never got rich from his invention, but he didn’t care because he enjoyed making people happy as they blew bubble gum. The book provides additional information about Walter Diemer, gum facts, and the history of gum.

Fun Gum Facts: 

• If you swallow your gum, it won’t stay in your stomach for seven years.
• Dubble Bubble was included in ration kits for American soldiers serving in World War II.
• The largest bubble recorded is set by Susan Montgomery Williams for twenty-three inches in diameter.
• During World War II, some kids kept their Dubble Bubble “alive” in glasses of water at night. Some even managed to continue chewing one piece for as long as a month!
• Chewing sugarless gum can prevent tooth decay.
• Chewing gum on an airplane will prevent your ears from popping.

A – Z Archive: U is for Underground, Underwear, & United States

U is for underground.

U is for underwear.

U is for the United States of America.

Click here for more A-Z photos!

Join the fun for more “U” ideas, such as umbrella, upside down or underwear!

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Weekly Quote: Neil Gaiman

Books make great gifts because they have whole worlds inside of them. And it’s much cheaper to buy somebody a book than it is to buy them the whole world!

― Neil Gaiman

Book Review: Touch Blue

Touch Blue

Written by Cynthia Lord

Published August 1, 2010 by Scholastic Inc.

Genre/Topics: Realistic Fiction, Adoption, Foster Children 

Ages: 8+, 192 pages 

 

Tess Brooks is an eleven-year-old who believes that if she acts a certain way luck will follow. For example, she believes that if you touch blue then your wish will come true. She lives on a small Maine island with her family. However, the state of Maine is threatening to shut the school, because there are not enough school children. Her own mother is the school teacher. Tess and her family may have to move to the mainland until the reverend thinks of a creative idea to get more children to live on the island. He thinks of the idea of people taking foster children into their home to expand the school population. Tess and her family take in Aaron, a thirteen-year-old trumpet player. It takes time for Aaron to feel comfortable in the family. Tess hears how wonderful Aaron plays his trumpet and talks to busybodies for him to play at the 4th of July picnic. Every chapter begins with a superstition that Tess follows that relates to the story. I thought this was an enjoyable book about different family relationships.

 

 

Weekly Photo Challenge: Hands

This week’s photo challenge is hands, however I haven’t taken any recent photos of my own hands. I searched through my China photos and discovered hands performing different tasks.

Hands carving jade.

Hands working jade.

Hands cutting hair on the street.

Hands playing a musical instrument.

Hands pouring tea.

Here is a photo of my hand after getting a Chinese manicure.

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A – Z Archive: T is for Tulips, Turtles, & the Tacoma Dome

T is for tulips.

T is for turtles.

T is for the Tacoma Dome.

Click here for more A-Z Photos!

Join the fun with any “T” photo idea, such as the tightrope, tango, or toes!

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Weekly Photo Challenge: Blue

The new weekly photo challenge finally arrived. The topic this week is blue, which excites me because it’s my favorite color and it’s perfect for today. It was another warm and sunny day, so before I even saw the photo prompt I was going to take a walk along the waterfront. The day was filled with blue skies and blue water.

Blue sky and blue water

Blue with the Cascade Mountain Range & Mt. Rainier

Washington State ferry from Vashon Island to Tacoma

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Weekly Quote: Ernest Hemingway

There is no friend as loyal as a book.

― Ernest Hemingway

Book Review: A Present for Mom

A Present for Mom 

Written by Vivian French 

Illustrated by Dana Kubick 

Published April 1, 2002 by Candlewick

Genre/Topics: Mother’s Day 

Age: 4-6, 32 pages 

 

It’s the day before Mother’s Day and Stanley doesn’t know what to get for his mother. So he asks his older siblings to get ideas for presents. However, Stanley’s ideas are not perfect. His older brother Rex is giving flowers, so Stanley collects flowers from the garden, but soon all the petals had fallen off. His older sister Flora is baking a Mother’s Day cake, so Stanley creates a mud cake that unfortunately doesn’t stay beautiful. Finally, Stanley has the perfect Mother’s Day idea. Stanley gives his mother a cardboard box that at first glance looks empty, but Stanley says that the box is filled with kisses. Of course, his mother loves the gift, because boxes of kisses last forever and ever.

Happy Mother’s Day!

A – Z Archive: S is for Sailboats & Seaweed

I’ve been waiting and waiting for the new photo challenge from wordpress, but nothing has been posted. I decided to participate in the A – Z Archive Photo Challenge. It’s wonderful, because I pick what the photo topic will be. Today was a beautiful sunny day and I spent it at Pt. Defiance Park taking photos and reading. You can join the A-Z photo challenge with any “S” idea, such as sunflowers, snails, sun, snow, seagulls, or anything else you can think of. Normally, I’ll post the new photo on Tuesday.

S is for sailboats.

S is for seaweed & the shore.

 

Click here for more A-Z Archive Photos!

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