Book Look Bloggers: Willie Out West

"Willie Out West" by Rhonda Walker is a nicely illustrated story (pictures by Alan McCuller) about a young walrus named Willie who is bored at home with his family so he leaves his cold home to travel out West.  He is made deputy and tries to help rid the town of Old Walter the one-eyed whale.  Wille tries to think how he can save the people of the town who are scared of Walter.  He comes up with a plan to throw a harpoon at the whale's tale.  This is where the story really turned me off.  I don't really like to have violence in my children's stories.  This book would have been so much better if Willie could have befriended Walter.  Instead he (and all the townsfolk) bullied Walter who ran out of the town.

I would not recommend this book even though I loved the pictures and all but the end of the story. Just because a fellow creature is ugly (so Wille says) doesn't mean the first thing we do is be mean to the creature.  I was quite disappointed in the ending and don't even want to give away my copy.


*Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from the publisher through the BookLook Bloggers <http://booklookbloggers.com> book review bloggers program. They did not require me to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 <http://www.access.gpo.gov/nara/cfr/waisidx_03/16cfr255_03.html> : “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”*

Book Look Bloggers: The Day is Waiting

One of my children's favorite books was "Corduroy" by Don Freeman.  The little bear was a hit with my preschool kids as well.  So when I got the chance to preview "The Day is Waiting" which his wife and colleagues created from never before published artwork I had to jump on it!  The simple text is Linda Zuckerman's and it rhymes.  The pictures are truly mini works of art and show Freeman's sense of humor.  Some are of a more simplistic style, but many of them are really breathtaking.  My personal favorite is a goat on top of the house (enjoying the view), but the greenhouse filled with flowers is a close second.  The book is about enjoying the sights in the world while knowing you have a home to return to.  

Though the language is simplistic and the book is short, there are many topics that come up in the book that would make great springboards for discussion with your little one.  There are animals, modes of transportation, cities, people and insects.  Whatever catches your young reader's eye can be discussed at length.  For an older child's activity you could challenge them to reorder the pages and tell a new story!

I recommend "The Day is Waiting" almost as much as I would recommend "Corduroy."

*Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from the publisher through the BookLook Bloggers <http://booklookbloggers.com> book review bloggers program. They did not require me to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 <http://www.access.gpo.gov/nara/cfr/waisidx_03/16cfr255_03.html> : “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”*

Weekend Sewing--Got more blues!

 Did my two light blue Rainbow Scrap Challenge blocks and am linking up with Angela's blog.  Woven fourpatches above and Ohio Crossroads (or Backroads as I call it since I turned a four patch!) below.

 I also made up the rest of the Talkin' Turkey geese.  These blocks should whip up a bit faster now!  There will be a total of 24 of them.

 I also did my Wild and Goosey this week.

 And I put them all down (two rows are not attached by the rest is all one piece) and Bug had to check them out.  One more block and this might be done.  Not sure yet.

 Finished off a few more knitted dishrags.  I really like making these.  I really wish I would get back to the socks...dug them out and thought about it, but I am not sure yet.

 And Bug had to pose on top of the quilt that Kathy was under on the couch tonight.  Kathy got sunburned at our Father's Day party at my brother's house.  We both put on sunscreen..I put it on my about three times and only have a little red.  Kathy hasn't been feeling well since about 3.  It was a great day to be out by the pool even if it was 115.  Key is drinking lots of water and plenty of pool time!

We are going to Rocky Point next weekend (then back home a few days) then back up for a long forth of July weekend.  Mom and Dad will stay the whole time and my siblings will be up on the weekends.  Really looking forward to it...been packing like mad because I work 12 hours days this week and know I will be running out of time.  Working at the crack of dawn tomorrow so I better get myself to bed (as if I could sleep at 9:30 PM!) Night owl here!  Kathy is already out!

A Winner, A Car, A Castle and some Geese!

The StoryPatches winner is number 5--Alycia who said..."Sounds so interesting. I always wonder where tech will take us next!"  Congratulations Alycia.  I will email you so you can send me your address so I can get your prize in the mail.

 I am also a winner this weekend, I bought myself a new car!  It is Boston Red and is a Hyundai Veloster.  I love it!

 Today Kathy and Barb (a last minute stand in for Randy) got up early and toured Torvea Castle in Phoenix.  It was a great tour and I learned a lot about the history of the area too.  We were able to go inside in the basement and first floor as well as outside and all around the grounds.  They have a virtual tour of the upstairs floors because there is only one way up and down and so code won't allow tours to go up there.

I loved this cool thing over the faux fireplace.  Apparently the guys building the Orphium at the same time as the castle was being done put this medallion in.  So if I ever get to that theater I will be looking for them.  You can also see the beautiful stenciling on the wall (it was also on the ceiling) which really was gorgeous too!  

 I also got a perm this weekend--so my hair can grown out a bit.

 Only a little bit of sewing happened this weekend.  I made the Talkin' Turkey geese in green and grey--five more colors to go.

 And I managed to make my weekly Wild and Goosey block.  Tomorrow back to work.  The weekends go too fast!

Getting Back to Neglected Projects!

 I finally made another Wild and Goosey block...I had been going strong with one per week and then after the first week of March I fell off the wagon.  So three months and about twelve blocks behind I am back on it!  I love these blocks.  One little square in this one has a light blue goose (bottom right center goose) made from a tiny scrap I found of my Grandma Nan's leftover fabric.  I then used the brown maple leaf print I bought after my dad's funeral for the center square.  This block makes me smile and remember both of them.

 Another neglected project is my Talkin' Turkey.  Have't touched this since January of last year!  I have eleven blocks done and need about 24.  (the red and blue one is a smaller verison sent off for the astronomical block challenge).  I happened to catch Kevin's post with a Christmas colored version of Talkin' Turkey and he encouraged me to get back to mine.  So I spent an hour or so reorganizing my strings that at one time had been sorted by color..then over time got all mixed up.  This time I put them in bags in the drawers instead of just four colors to a drawer.  Hoping this will make it easier.  I then made the flying geese for six more blocks.  So seven more colors to go.

 Barely made a dent in my strings which is fine because I am dying to make the string geese quilt Bonnie posted awhile back.  Geese on a String just looks like a cool quilt and when these string geese are done I shall get to that one!
It has been a busy and productive weekend and I am already in pj's and thinking I may actually fall asleep early tonight.  Hope your weekend was as fun filled as mine!

Saturday Sewing and QuiltCam!

 I spent all of Saturday (after water aerobics and Jump Pilates) sewing and sewing and sewing.  I watched QuiltCam (I had not seen any of the past five episodes).  I have now seen them all!  Kathy hung out in the garage as some guy replaced our windshield (again) and made this sign to sell on ebay.  Too cute!

I made the next Block Party block for Nimble Thimbles--Patriotic Pinwheels.  If I win this one I will do it up as another QOV.  Would be nice to have a second one done fast!

Not the best picture, but I made a backing for the Mystery quilt I made last year at Quilting on the Rim.  The gal sold her business so Becky and I didn't get to go back this year.  Bummer but hey we have the Quiltville cruise in October!

Watching QuiltCam reminded me that I should get back to work on the All People Quilt Four Patch Quiltalong.  My pile grew...

 and grew.  I decided to use some four patches that I had leftover from other projects--some needed to be trimmed down to fit, but they are doing me no good in the overflowing leftover parts bin so I am using them up!

 I made the light blue Betty's Choice blocks for the Rainbow Scrap Challenge--one for me and one for Amy.  Linking up with SoScrappy!

 Here are all the blocks together.

 I met Jill at the butt crack of dawn (7 AM) though she said it was half way through her morning (HA!) and we hiked the Ridgeline at South Mountain.  Kathy went to the gym and went swimming.

Pretty happy with getting in that exercise early.  Now I can sew, read, and relax all day long!  If you haven't entered my giveaway click on the link and leave me a comment on that post.  I will draw randomly on Friday for the StoryPatches.  Now, what should I sew?

Rainbow Scrap Challenge and Bitty Blocks!

 I made my two Bitty Block Hearts in blue.  Here are all the blocks so far!

 I followed the directions (and my notes carefully this time) and even to pictures to prove to myself that I was following the directions (last green geese had the points in the light instead of the green, grrr) and guess what?  I did them correctly.  Apparently last time I didn't follow my notes...I have to make them opposite the direction picture so I must think about it every time!  This is my favorite way to make Flying Geese blocks though (Eleanor Burns Quilt in a Day method).

 I also used leftover parts I had (gifted to me from June way back when) to make the inner block.  Made it go that much faster!  So here is the green pinwheel.

And here are all the blocks so far.  I am linking up with Angela at SoScrappy for the Rainbow Scrap Challenge!