Mr. Crow

Thanks Freda for choosing me as last week's winner! Folks,  stop by ThisWay ThursWay  and join in the fun!

 So, I was leaving Target (do you have that store in your area?) and looked up as I was returning my shopping cart to the designated area. I just happened to see this beautiful blackbird and was so pleased he stayed still. It sure looks like a crow to me!






“You can’t get a cup of tea big enough or a book long enough to suit me." C. S. Lewis

The Land Beyond The Gate

The Land Beyond The Gate is not a book, but rather the caption to my photos. I was up early, taking a morning walk with a friend, and I was so fortunate to have my digital camera in my pocket. When I came across this awesome wooden gate, I just had to capture the image.

I felt as if a story was begging to unfold and develop, once you were on the other side. My mind raced with so many activities and dialog ahead.

Image via Wikipedia

1. If you could go inside, what would you discover? What did you learn? Who would you meet?

2. If you could map the imaginary land, what would you say about the journey, describing the people?

3. Do you imagine Fantasy Land and its characters beyond the gate, like Land of Oz, Narnia or Candyland?



LadyD Books is participating in Outdoor Wednesday, Wordful Wednesday and Wordless Wednesday.

“You can’t get a cup of tea big enough or a book long enough to suit me." C. S. Lewis

Book Review: Story Engineering

 About The Book:

From story concept to character development to scene construction and beyond, this blueprint for dynamic storytelling makes putting together a strong novel, memoir, or screenplay easier than ever. Beginning writers in all genres--from fiction writers to nonfiction writers to screenplay writers will learn how to wrap their heads around the big picture of storytelling at a professional level through a new approach that shows how to combine six core competencies: the four elemental competencies of concept, character, theme, and story structure (plot); and the two executional competencies of scene construction and writing voice. You'll discover how to achieve the greatest potential in your story through mastering the way these six factors combine and empower each other on the page. 

Product Details

• Paperback: 288 pages
• Publisher: Writers Digest Books; 1 edition (February 24, 2011)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1582979987
• ISBN-13: 978-1582979984 

My Review

Whether you've been writing stories ever since you can remember or you've just begun, like so many of us, you will need a map (blueprint plan) to get to where you want to go. Hopefully, that means seeing your stories published and in the hands of wonderful readers.

Larry lays done the right foundation to the essential elements of story architecture, in his book Story Engineering: Mastering The 6 Core Competences of Successful Writing, released by Writer's Digest Books. If you're hungry to see your novel or screenplay published one day, and you realize that things are just not flowing for you right now or perhaps you're discouraged with the many re-writes or rejections you've received... I believe you will find the answers in this amazing book of treasures (Larry's professional experiences) that work.

I love the book (especially the music comparisons) and I see "Story Engineering" as a great tool box for writer's. The tips will help you fix your story. A wealth of valuable information is being shared and you will feel as if you're sitting under a waterfall. Once you come up for air, you will begin to write your story, your dream with passion and with understanding more successfully.

***** stars to Larry Brooks and this awesome book. 

Thanks to Thomas Nelson Publishers for providing the book for review. I was not compensated for my honest opinion.
Story Engineering.






“You can’t get a cup of tea big enough or a book long enough to suit me." C. S. Lewis

Do You Have Some Bananas?

I am participating in Blue Monday  and Mellow Yellow Monday

On our property, we have ice cream banana trees. we are fortunate where we are that the weather is pleasantly mild all year long. Very seldom will we get a freeze here in California where I live. What is so amazing to me is that these cute little fingerling baby bananas grow up into yummy ones, as above.

I do enjoy making banana bread, giving it away as gifts and yes, eating the yummy bread as well. I'd love to hear of the many different ways you enjoy serving bananas. I must confess, it's the #1 hit around here with my grandchildren and they can peel a banana all by themselves! If you're looking for a new recipe:

Banana Bread For One

Nutella Banana Bread

If you are interested in a some children's books regarding bananas, here's a few:

The Day the Teacher Went Bananas (Picture Puffin)

Once Upon a Banana


PEAS AND BANANAS: Outside with Lil Boo

“You can’t get a cup of tea big enough or a book long enough to suit me." C. S. Lewis

Lovely Lavender in My Garden

"here’s your sweet lavender
sixteen sprigs a penny
that you’ll find my ladies
will smell as sweet as any"

-- Lavender Sellers’s Cry, London England CA 1900

"There’s flowers for you;
Hot lavender, mints, savory, marjoram;
The marigold, that goes to bed wi’ the sun,
And with him rises weeping; thes are flower
Of middle summer, and I thek they are given

-- To men of middle age." William Shakespeare The Winter’s Tale

"'Best among the good plants for hot, sandy soils
are the ever blessed lavender and rosemary,
delicious old garden bushes that one can hardly dissociate."

-- Miss Jekyll Home and Garden 1900

"ladies fair, I bring to you
lavender with spikes of blue;
sweeter plant was never found
growing on our english ground."

-- Caryl Battersby

"And lavender, whose spikes of azure bloom
shall be, ere-while, in arid bundles bound
to lurk admist the labours of her loom,
and crown her kerchiefs witl mickle rare perfume."

-- William Shenstone The School Mistress 1742

 "lavender, sweet lavender;
come and buy my lavender,
hide it in your trousseau, lady fair.
Let its flovely fragrance flow
Over your from head to toe,
lightening on your eyes, your cheek, your hair."

-- Cumberkand Clark Flower Song Book 1929

 Stop by and visit Freda at Freda's Voice

Visit Ewa Kelly at Blueberry Craft and Hobby Time


Lovely Lavender in My Garden 

I grow lots of lavender around my property mostly because of its hardiness and also because it flourishes in my climate zone. The plant is drought tolerant, pest resistant and my rabbits and gophers leave it alone. The lavender plant is actually in the mint family.

I have heard of lavender farms in Oregon and Washington. I know we have some in California as well, mostly around Santa Barbara area. On my ranch, the lavender plant blooms all year round. 

Many of my relatives in Greece say it grows well in the Mediterranean and I’ve read that the plant extends through Southern Europe, Arabia, India and Africa as well. There are around 40 different types of lavender. I’m only familiar with a few kinds, French, English and Spanish Lavender.

For more of my article, visit Lovely Lavender

I've made sachets of lavender for gift giving and have bundled a sprig for bath-time. I thought I'd make lavender sugar next.  Have you used lavender before? If so, I hope you'll share your ideas with me.

“You can’t get a cup of tea big enough or a book long enough to suit me." C. S. Lewis

White Puffy Clouds

                                                                 

 LadyD Books is participating in the weekly photography meme hosted at http://skyley.blogspot.com/

When you look up at the sky, what do you see? Maybe you imagine or pretend to see these delights! I am indeed fortunate to live on a mountain top with an incredible view!

Photo Credit: The Graphics Fairy

If you are interested in using free vintage clip art for your blog, stop by http://www.graphicsfairy.blogspot.com/ and say hello to Karen from LadyD.

A big thank you to my new followers. I love my readers!







“You can’t get a cup of tea big enough or a book long enough to suit me." C. S. Lewis

The Friday 56: McBroom's Wonderful One-Acre Farm

McBroom's Wonderful One-Acre Farm, Three Tall Tales: McBroom Tells the Truth, McBroom and the Big Wind, McBroom's Ear - First Scholastic Edition, 1st Printing 1998

Pg. 56

"Those hoppers had spotted our great ear from the sky and came whirring across the farm in a green blizzard."

-- Sid Fleischman  

 

 

Sid was awarded the 1987 Newberry Medal for The Whipping Boy. He was born in Brooklyn and grew up in San Diego! :)

 

He worked as a professional magician and newspaperman before turning to fiction writing. He is a master of the comic novel, and his books have been translated into sixteen languages. A number of them have also been made into motion pictures.

 

His popular books include The Whipping Boy, Jim Ugly, The Midnight Horse and so much more. His son, Paul Fleischman, is a writer also.

Quentin Blake does cartoons and illustrations that have appeared in Punch, The Spectator and many other magazines. He has illustrated many of the stories of Roald Dahl and others.

LadyD Books participates in this cool book meme each Friday.

Grab a book, any book. 
Turn to page 56. 
Find any sentence that grabs you. 
Post it. Add your (url) post at Freda's Voice.

 
LadyD Books is also participating in:
Hop Along Friday at Chubby Cheeks Thinks.

Happy Friday!







“You can’t get a cup of tea big enough or a book long enough to suit me." C. S. Lewis

ThisWay ThursWay: Clouds

LadyD Books is participating in ThisWay ThursWay 
hosted by http://fredamans.blogspot.com/

I've always loved this song, "Clouds" written by Joni Mitchell in the 70's and when I look up at the clouds, they just keep changing. On this particular morning, the clouds just seemed to say to me, "Have an awesome day!"










“You can’t get a cup of tea big enough or a book long enough to suit me." C. S. Lewis

Book Review: Uh Oh! by Mary Newell DePalma

About The Book

Using bright and comical watercolor paintings, this nearly wordless book tells the story of a hapless little dinosaur’s disastrous day. Children will be amused as they follow the endearing main character from one scrape right into another. 

My Review

How wonderful to be the author of children's books and the illustrator, too! I was delighted to receive an advanced copy of Uh-oh! by Mary Newell DePalma. What a wonderful book for  children ages 4 to 8 to see.  Have you ever made a few mistakes or have had an accident? What fun to follow along and see a little mischievous dinosaur accidentally spill a jug of milk or to see what happens when the dishwasher is over-filled. I found this book to be a refreshing, unique approach to children's literature, along with excellent, vivid illustrations that will have you laughing and saying out loud, "Uh Oh!" Darling and cute. A favorite addition to our library. *****

Product Details

 

• Reading level: Ages 4-8
• Hardcover: 32 pages
• Publisher: Eerdmans Books for Young Readers (May 27, 2011)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0802853722
• ISBN-13: 978-0802853721

Hardcover: $14.00

"In this lighthearted and nearly wordless book, a hapless little dinosaur leaves a trail of mayhem behind him as he jumps from one disaster right into another. To the consternation of his whole family, it seems that he can do nothing right."

About the Author

 

Mary Newell DePalma has written and illustrated several books for children, including The Strange Egg (Houghton Mifflin) and A Grand Old Tree (Scholastic), which received the IRA/CBC Children’s Choice award. She has also illustrated several books for Eerdmans: Swimming Sal, Now It Is Winter, and Now It Is Summer. Mary lives in Massachusetts. 

Visit her website at http://www.marynewelldepalma.com.

I thought of this 'almost wordless' book today while participating in two memes on Wednesday,  Wordless, and Wordful. LadyD Books loves Uh Oh! It's a fun one for my grandsons and granddaughter. Thanks, LibraryThing. I'm glad I won this one!









“You can’t get a cup of tea big enough or a book long enough to suit me." C. S. Lewis