It started with the happiest of emails. Not the fake “you’ve-won-a-million-dollars” type, but the a real from-the-personal-assistant “Congratulations! You’ve won!” type. In this instance, though, the prize was a thirty-minute interview with Chris Grabenstein for my students. It would be exciting to interview any children’s author. We love books and love reading, so being able… Continue reading Interviewing Author Chris Grabenstein
The Encouraging Hearts & Home Blog Hop – March 8, 2017
My Little Man just finished his very first history project! We conducted an interview, played detective, wrote up his conclusions, created a bibliography, and mailed it off to the competition. It was very exciting! Exciting news! The weekly blog hop formerly known as Hearts for Home has been updated with a new name and logo! While… Continue reading The Encouraging Hearts & Home Blog Hop – March 8, 2017
“The Elusive Miss Ellison” by Carolyn Miller
Handsome appearance counts for naught unless matched by good character and actions. That’s the firm opinion of not-so-meek minister’s daughter Lavinia Ellison. So even though all the other villagers of St. Hampton Heath are swooning over the newly returned seventh Earl of Hawkesbury, she is not impressed. If a man won’t take his responsibilities seriously… Continue reading “The Elusive Miss Ellison” by Carolyn Miller
Encouraging Hearts & Home Blog Hop – March 1, 2017
The kids have done lots of baking lately, and I’m loving it! They made my Grandma’s whoopie pies on Monday, and they were fantastic. I’m hoping they feel the need to bake more soon. Exciting news! The weekly blog hop formerly known as Hearts for Home has been updated with a new name and logo! While… Continue reading Encouraging Hearts & Home Blog Hop – March 1, 2017
Grandma’s Whoopie Pies
I hear it’s long been a debate between Pennsylvania and Maine bakers as to who first created the whoopie pie. My great-aunt even joined the fun and always told the story of one of her ancestors naming the treat at their family store; in my hometown they’re usually considered an Amish thing, but that doesn’t… Continue reading Grandma’s Whoopie Pies
Book Club, Boys’ Edition: Gary Paulsen’s “Lawn Boy”
Last month the boys read Gary Paulsen’s Lawn Boy for book club. Maybe this seems like a strange choice for January, because it’s really about just what it sounds: a boy who creates a summer job mowing for lawns, but for our purposes, the winter weather suited us just fine. In the book, the main… Continue reading Book Club, Boys’ Edition: Gary Paulsen’s “Lawn Boy”
Encouraging Hearts & Home Blog Hop – February 22, 2017
Saturday was a big day in our family. My Big Helper and I headed out for a fun, girly day, and she got her ears pierced! We enjoyed picking out new earrings together, and she’s anxiously awaiting the day when she can take out her simple studs and start wearing her cute new ones. She’s… Continue reading Encouraging Hearts & Home Blog Hop – February 22, 2017
New! Stock Market Challenge Project
My Little Man is totally fascinated with the stock market lately. He’s done chores to earn the money to purchase his very own stock, and he’s picked his favorite companies (that have stock he can afford). Because he’s so very interested in this, however, I’ve been looking for ways to help him understand how it… Continue reading New! Stock Market Challenge Project
A Roarin’ ’20s Book Club: “Isabel Feeney, Star Reporter”
Some books just scream out for a special event, and that’s exactly what happened when I read Isabel Feeney, Star Reporter. I knew it would make a fantastic book club pick – not only because it offers myriads of possibilities for a special event, but because Fantaskey did an amazing job writing a book that… Continue reading A Roarin’ ’20s Book Club: “Isabel Feeney, Star Reporter”
Encouraging Hearts & Home Blog Hop – February 15, 2017
If you look outside, you’ll see that spring is on the way – even though it’s only mid-February! The temps are soaring (it was 77 here on Sunday!), the trees are blooming three weeks ahead of schedule, the daffodils are blooming (and looking beautiful in a vase on my kitchen table), and … the bees… Continue reading Encouraging Hearts & Home Blog Hop – February 15, 2017
