is huge. There are signs posted that tell passengers how many minutes it will take to walk to the correct departure gate. My favorite part was the automatic protective plastic cover that slides over the toilet seat. You wave your hand over the green light and a motor starts and the machine pulls a clean tube of plastic over the toilet seat. It probably creates a big amount of plastic garbage, but it sure was fun!
This 2003 Newbery Medal winner was really a great read. The story takes place in medieval England. After his mother dies, the boy, Crispin, must flee his town because of a mysterious political intrigue that threatens his life.
On the road, he meets Bear, a juggler, political activist, and spy. Together, the two encounter dangers, and become as close as father and son. Crispin discovers his true identity and makes some big decisions.
Traveling the roads with Crispin, we learn a great deal about life in medieval times. Avi certainly did his research. Crispin: The Cross of Lead is a good book!
Leave it to Australia to produce another weird creature! Thought to be extinct, this animal that looks like a combination of several others, may be hiding out in the wilds of Oz.
The Thylacine, or ‘Tasmanian Tiger’, was the largest known carnivorous marsupial of modern times and the last one is thought to have died in Hobart zoo in 1936. However, credible sightings have prompted scientists to embark on a serious investigation to see if some have survived. Professor Bill Laurance is deploying 50 camera traps in the hope of capturing footage of the mysterious animal.
from BBC World Service News, March 30, 2017
As a grandmother, I’m past most of this. Never heard of the Wild Kratts. But I can relate to crawling into a hole for the next 3 to 5 business days!
Because sometimes you wake up with a sore throat, an AWFUL attitude, and something growing on your face that looks like a second chin.
Because sometimes you just want to crawl into a hole for the next 3-5 business days, but there are still lunches to make, boo-boos to kiss, hair to brush…the list never ends.
Because sometimes the Wild Kratts’ Monkey Mayhem game is the hardest thing in the entire world, and Chris and Martin should crawl into a hole.
Disclaimer: I’m really quite fond of the Wild Kratts. Their TV show and most of their games are wonderful. It’s just that my almost four-year-old isn’t quite ready for this game, and it is the ONLY one that he wants to play.
Today I put on my trusty boots and went to see what was new in the woods. Snow melt and rain have combined to fill the creek. The water is brown from all the mud. I’m betting this is the highest the water gets all year.
I slogged along on the soggy ground. The skunk cabbages haven’t made much progress since the last time I checked.
This is the stone wall that may or may not mark the edge of our property. I wonder again who built it so long ago.
The ocean nymphs (Nereids) represent a portion of the Okeanides, or water nymphs. According to Greek mythology, the Okeanides watch over all the earth’s water. The Okeanides each have their area of specialization: some are Cloud-Nymphs (Nephelai), Breeze-Nymphs (Aurai), or Spring and Fountain Nymphs (Naiades), and more. There are one thousand of them, and they’re all the daughters of the ocean god Okeanos, and Tethys, his wife.
I am interested in ocean nymphs, because I’m about to write one into my book. The Nereids, goddess-nymphs of the seas are not dangerous like the kelpie. The ocean nymphs preside over the all the sea life. They protect sailors and fishermen and help those in distress.
When I give a writing prompt, I expect you to choose whether you want to write about yourself (in first person, “I”) or a character.
Here’s an idea to spark a story:
A kid is walking in a park. He or she sees a large pair of wings on a park bench.
What does the character do?
What happens next?
The ants found the faerie gifts first.
I have to rethink this faerie gift thing. Any ideas?
Walking in the woods today, I found greening star moss.
A yellow crocus . 
And a faerie castle.
March 2017
Nathaniel Hawthorne, the young hero in Hansen’s book, confronts the greatest adversary of all time: Mr. B., the Devil himself. The story takes place in a small community theater in the Midwest, where Nathaniel helps his Aunt Misty put on performances. When Mr. B. joins the company, he is, of course, an excellent actor. However, Mr. B. has higher aspirations: to rule the world. It is up to Nathaniel and his friend, Keisha, to stop him.
With Nathaniel, we watch plays performed, and make a short visit to Hell where we meet the current Seven Deadly Sins. Author Hansen manages to sneak in a lot of interesting information about plays, their production, and Mr. B.’s various appearances throughout human history.
I particularly liked the end of this book, because it surprised me. It wasn’t your typical happy ending, that’s for sure. But maybe that made the conclusion more satisfying.
Hansen is the author numerous books and short stories and an editor for Stinkwaves Magazine and Handersen Publishing. He also happens to be my editor for the Magic Trilogy.
Tangled Magic 