Mom and I have cooked up something short and sweet for you today. Well, actually we cooked this up last year. But who’s counting? Besides. Ya see, one of us is being a lazy slug today (Hi, Mom). Come to think of it, I, Kimber, am a bit tuckered, too.
Mom says solitude can be hard to come by in our rush-rush, hurry up, instant everything society. Grabbing a few quiet moments to refresh and recharge can be a challenge any time. But it’s particularly tough during the holidays, huh?
This One’s For You
So if holiday merry-making has you ready to tear your hair out or your festive feathers are a bit ruffled, this is for you.
Slow down. Grab a hot cuppa. Plop in a peppermint stick. Sit down. Put your feet up. Give Manheim Steamroller’s Stille Nacht (Silent Night) a listen. Five quiet minutes. You’ll be glad you did.
Know someone who could use a yuletide boost? Don’t forget to share!
Kimber: You know I’m a happy camper, right? I mean, hey. My middle name is “merry and bright”! So I don’t quite get all this barking about “holiday stress.” Mom says it’s a thing. So it must be a thing.
Well. You also know I’m a helper. I help going out on walks and hikes. Cleaning up kitchen spills. Guarding the house. Especially from menacing deer. Lurking Fed Ex drivers. Sketchy-looking plastic bags.
Being a world class helper and all, I figure I better help with this holiday stress thing. So here are my top ten tips for reducing holiday stress. Ready? Okay. Here goes:
Yeah. You. Can ya spare a cake the size of New York? Cuz today’s Mom’s birthday. And that’s how big the cake’s gotta be in order to accommodate all them thar candle thingies.
I was gonna tell ya how old Her Momness is today. But let’s just say she was an eye witness to the parting of the Red Sea and leave it at that, okay?
Anywho. In honor of this auspicious occasion, Mom came up with a list of 40 Things I’ve Learned Since the Earth’s Crust Cooled. We’re calling it The Birthday List. The short version. In no particular order. It goes like this:
Mom calls November the “in-between” month. Not quite winter. Not really full fall. Lots of trees have dumped their leaves. Temperatures are dropping. But not low enough for snow. Here on the Olympic Peninsula, the rains return. And return. And return.
When the weather turns wet, Mom insists on dragging out The Dreaded Orange Raincoat. Why does she do this? Is she averse to getting soaked to the collar, crashing through every puddle in sight, or galumphing around town up to her nose in rain water?
Me, I’m fine with all of the above. (I am part Lab, you know. As in water dog.)
Anyway, did I mention they closed the book place awhile back? For “renovations.” About a million dollars worth. I don’t know what that means. Can you eat it?
But it means we haven’t been able to walk over to the library lately. One of us really hates that.
Good news: The book place is supposed to re-open in about a week or so.
So you might call November the “in between month” for reasons not related to weather. Or seasons. It’s in between closures and re-openings of a favorite place in town.
At least for one of us.
The other just wants to shed her stupid rain coat.
You don’t have to say it. I know I’m beautiful. Also shy, modest, and retiring.
Kimber here with another edition of Fine Wine Fridays. (I was holding out for Excellently Scrumptious and Splendiferous Book Lists That Are So Delicious, They’re Even Better Than My Fave Dog Chow or Squeaky Toy. Mom nixed that. Ugh.)
Anyway, today we’re highlighting books set in exotic locales or other continents. So if you liked Peter Pan or Narnia, you may like… Oh, wait. Scratch that. These are set in real places, not Neverland or Aslan’s Country (Mom, you are no fun!)
Squirrel!
Wait. Where was I?
Oh yeah. Fun, interesting, engaging reads in other settings. Some titles are old. Some are new. They may be even better than my squeaky toy. (But I’m still holding on to it. Just in case.) So here, in no particular order, are:
Hold on to your bacon, friends! Cuz Her Royal Momness has come up with a Royal Doozie this time! Yes sirree, Lassie!
You know how the more you read, the more you begin to get favorite authors? Realize that no matter what they publish, the way they write and structure their work is going to pull you in every time? Like that nice, juicy burger left unattended on the backyard barbecue, so when no one was lookin’…
What?
Oh, right. Favorite authors of all time.
This is harder than you may think. And think. And think. And think again. But some hoomans asked about our fave authors the other day. So we’re up to the task. Or the Royal Doozie, as the case may be.
What do humans mean when they say ‘dog days of summer’? That I can hang my nose out the car window more on warmish days? That it’s too hot to do anything except lie in the shade and dream about kibble and surfing? Something related to Sirius, the ‘dog star’?
‘Dog star,’ huh? I kinda like the sound of that.
Wait. Kid on a bicycle going by.
Now. Where was I? Oh, yeah ‘Dog days.’ We’ve had several this summer. Temperatures ticked up to the mid and upper nineties. That may not sound like much to you Phoenix or Las Vegas types. But in western Washington, that’s as rare as a smart cat. It’s so rare in fact, that most houses don’t have air conditioning. Pontoons, maybe. But not A/C.
So Mom and I decided a soggy Saturday’s a good day to clean out the attic. (It seemed like a good idea at the time.)
Now, you may not know this about me. But I’m a Great AtticClean-Up Supervisor. I found a comfy rug. Laid down. Watched Mom cart stuff up and down the stairs. Dust. Categorize. Box. Un-box. Re-box.
Supervisin’s a tough job. But somebody’s gotta do it.
Anyway, Mom opened this one box. And sat down. “Oh my!” says she. “Kimmi, look at this!”
Six words that strike terror into the heart of bloggers:
Please share your latest blog post.
This according to Her Mom-ness. Me? I’m cool with a daily walk and “dinner” twel… I mean twice a day. But you know how moms are. For as long as I can remember – both minutes – Her Mom-ness has insisted that:
Her Royal Momness: What’s up Kimster? Earthquake? Fire? Flood? The imminent demise of doggie treats?
Kimber: ‘Course not. I just gotta tell ya about my new best bud, Petunia.
Mom:Petunia?
Kimber: Yeah. She’s furry and fluffy and she’s the star of the show in this new book for the little’uns, Blink and Glow.
Mom:Blink and Glow? By Raven Howell?
Kimber: That’s it! Mom, you’re a genius.
Mom: I thought that book was about two kids, Leo and Lilly. They catch fireflies, a salamander, and a Luna moth. For their classroom show and tell. The critters dim in captivity and grandma gently explains that they need to be free to live happily and shine bright.
Silly Mom!
Beautifully illustrated throughout!! Hi, Petunia! (Note: We received a complimentary copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.)
Meanwhile, Back at the Ranch…
Well. To cut to the chase, so to speak, Lilly and Leo think long and hard about what their grandma said as the lights of their trapped firefly and salamander begin to fade. It was fun to catch and jar them. But should the kids keep them?
This is a short, sweet story about loving and respecting nature and taking care of the environment. Bite-sized sentences are short and easy to digest and won’t strain young attention spans.
Delightful!
Besides a delightful story that’s both entertaining and educational, the text is complemented by vibrant illustrations. With bright, bold colors, the illustrations are top-notch. They’re gorgeous and dynamic, suggesting motion and fluidity.
Beautifully written, skillfully illustrated and briskly paced, Blink and Glow will make a welcome addition to any school or home library. It would also make an excellent read-aloud or bedtime story.
Bonus points:
Step-by-step instructions for making your own firefly sun-catchers are included!
Kimber: Leo and Lilly aren’t alone in their adventures in their natural world. An unnamed little white dog is supervising. Just so ya know, okay? I named her Petunia. She’s my new best bud.
Mom: Why Petunia?
Kimber: Cuz Her Royal Magnificence, Queen of the Universe and World’s Most Amazingly Brilliant and Super Gorgeous Canine was already taken. By me.
Pages & Paws 