March 17 2018:
The Little Piano Girl
The story of a little girl who loved music more than anything in the world. Mary Lou Williams began playing the keyboard at just four years old. When she was eight she became a professional musician.
“Jazz is created in the mind, felt in the heart, and heard through the fingertips.” Mary Lou liked to say.
We loved this story of a young girl that never lost sight or touch with what she knew and loved in her heart.
March 4 2018:
Liang and the Magic Paintbrush
An older DEMI book … from 1980. Yet, still so good.
This one is about a poor boy who receives a magic paintbrush and uses it for good deeds. This was before the illustrations in her books became so much more vivid with color. The illustrations are still amazing with beautiful detail.
February 18 2018:
It was Princess puzzles tonight. We love puzzles!! xoxo
February 21 2018:
It was volunteer day at the library for Lillian Darnell and I today. This was the largest hold list we’ve ever had!! 109 holds! Took us two hours and ten minutes! WOW!
It’s usually half that! Lillian was a trooper. Worked the entire time pulling those holds! As we were driving home, she said that every part of her was tired, except for her arms. xoxo
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Tonight was read-together-on-my-bed-while-listening-to-classical-guitar-music night. We kinda love books … and music. xoxo
It was also get-invited-into-Thomas’ lair night. He showed me this cool community alongside a beach that he had created. He built me a little community of tiny houses on the beachfront. One for each Team member. My question: “When do we move in?”
February 22 2018:
Dominoes tonight! Lillian made domino stairs. These were really cool as when you placed a domino at the top, it would slide down! Wheeee!!!! I love standing them so as to give that first one a push and watch em fall!
February 22 2018:
And Thomas’ community has expanded since last night! Wow! I told him I have to move now cause it’s too crowded! Then he showed me that he left my wee little beachside community in tact and far away from the rest.
See that small square shape on the beach near the top right corner? That’s it. Told him I would stay as long as I could get everything I needed there. Yep! There are two markets and everything else I’d need. Ha! xoxo
February 23 2018:
Thomas and I had a workout this morning. We carried these boxes down from the third floor and then walked them over to huge bins behind the building. Took us about 30-40 minutes. AKA: Homeschool PE … HA!!
February 17 2018:
Good-bye, Havana! Hola, New York!
Inspired by the author’s childhood in Cuba and New York in the late 50’s and early 60’s. Wonderful story of growing up in two cultures. We loved it!
February 3 2018:
Philip Reid Saves the Statue of Freedom
In the year 1859 the Statue of Freedom’s plaster model faced being broken unless a construction puzzle was solved. Philip Reid, a skilled and enslaved African American stepped forward and solved the puzzle.
In 1863, the Statue of Freedom was lifted to the top of the Capitol. Very interesting book! Had never heard this before and it was wonderful to learn about this amazing man!
January 10 2018:
Today was volunteer day! Staying strong at keeping with our 2 hour a week commitment! Here’s Lillian pulling holds and pushing the cart. Instead of doing them together, now we divide the hold list and she’s pulling em by herself now!
We also may or may not accidentally find books we want to check out too! (That’s what the bottom shelf of the cart is for holding!! Right??)
January 6 2017:
Mountain Chef
Beautiful and colorfully illustrated book about Tie Sing. A Chinese American who lived during a time of terrible discrimination against ethnic Chinese in the United States. In 1882 Congress passed the Chinese Exclusion Act, which prohibited Chinese people from entering the country. The act also declared that Chinese-born people already in the United States would never be allowed to become citizens.
Tie Sing hiked the mountains with mapmakers, whipping up gourmet meals for them. His reputation grew and became known as the best trail cook in California. Sing cooked for the thirty men that Stephen Mather took on a days long hike to convince them that national parks needed to be protected. This was the beginning of the National Park Service.
Great book! We loved learning about this time in history and about Tie Sing.
“Long may you build the paths through the mountains.” ~Tie Sing, July 1915
December 30 2017:
Spic-And-Span! – Lillian Gilbreth’s Wonder Kitchen
We adored this book! Learning more about the life of the woman who was the subject of two movies: Cheaper by the Dozen and Belles on Their Toes was made all the more interesting with Monica Kulling’s writing style.
During Lillian Gilbreth’s lifetime she was an efficiency expert, an industrial engineer, an inventor, a psychologist, an author, and a professor. And, she always said that her favorite role was that of a mother.
December 16 2017:
Toulouse-Lautrec – The Moulin Rouge and the City of Light
In this book we learned about Toulouse-Lautrec who was a wonderful painter and draftsman famous for being the father of the poster. He was a painter of Paris nightlife and especially The Moulin Rouge!! Interesting reading!
December 7 2017:
Today was Spanish Springs Library. I had a ball with the photo booth and Thomas found a hidden cubby hole and Lillian checked out 577 books! xoxo
