LadyD Books: February 2014

Review: The Tooth Fairy's Unlikely Adventure

My 5 year old grandson recently lost a tooth. Since then, I have recently discovered oodles of tooth fairy merchandise, plus an increase of $3.50 under the pillow!

Book Description

Every child has to go thru the process of losing their baby teeth. It seems that there is nothing more distracting than a loose tooth. This was Kelli’s FIRST loose tooth. Her parents told her that when the tooth came out that the Tooth Fairy would visit her when she went to sleep that night.

Kelli had never heard about the Tooth Fairy before. She could not wait to put the tooth under her pillow and receive some coins the Tooth Fairy would leave that night. Little did she know what an amazing adventure would develop as a result of loosing that first tooth. Share her experiences with the Tooth Fairy and the Tooth Fairy’s secret special helper.

Will Kelli be able to help the Tooth Fairy?

Who gave the Tooth Fairy the best plan ever?

Who is the Tooth Fairy's enemy?

My Review

Childhood is a special time filled with wonder and excitement. Loving a Tooth Fairy makes a child's dream believable. In this moving story line, the author creates the excitement of Kelli waiting for her first time visit from the tooth fairy. She wakes up to a wiggly tooth and it seems the fun is just beginning as she shares with her school teacher, family and friends. But that night the adventure begins with an introduction to the tooth fairy's enemy (protagonist), Plaque. I'm a huge fan of good over evil plots. Find out how the conflict resolves when Plaques steals the Tooth Fairy's coins and who becomes the hero. This is a delightful book for parent and child. Very engaging, with many teachable moments. Overall, a great intro to the tooth fairy and caring for one's teeth that will last a lifetime.

4/5 stars. Recommend. Cute story!

The Friday 56

"That, of course was exactly what Plaque planned to do with the pills of candy he saw when he lifted his ugly head above the rim of the hole."

-- Gallagher Twins, Michael James

This book is so timely because my grandson who is 5 years old just lost his first tooth! Can you see all the mixed emotions on his face? He managed to slam his mouth right into his knee while jumping off the stairs. My other grandson jumps off EVERYTHING with a spin in the air on the way down. I'm sure he'll be visiting the ER more than once in his lifetime! :(

Biography

Michael James lives in Somers Point, NJ and Panama City Beach, FL with his wife of 49 years and two pugnacious black pugs. He has three wonderful kids that were and still are the inspiration for the storybooks he writes and publishes. Not having to shovel snow ever again in the winter is a small but welcome blessing.

Michael graduated from St. Joseph's University in 1964 and has held various sales and management positions. He has always been an avid reader. As his three children grew, he decided to publish "Michael and the Sandman" and then, "Kelli and the Tooth Fairy." Both storybooks are whimsical, tongue-in-cheek looks at the traditional versions.

What Others Are Saying

"The story was very creative."

"This is a very good book to give to children."

The Tooth Fairy's Unlikely Adventure (The Fairy Tale Series)

A side note here... I was amazed at how much stuff goes along with the Tooth Fairy. What a business!

Tooth Fairy Pillows

Tooth Bank

Tooth Fairy Letters

TuTu Totes

Do you have fond family memories with the tooth fairy?

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

The Bird from Snowy River

great egret perched upon house roof: LadyD Books

I've heard folks say that an egret is like a small white heron. No matter what it's called, I just couldn't get over this beautiful bird landing on my garage! I think it's a common egret but not a snowy egret who has yellow feet, nor the great egret that grows lacy plumes in the breeding season. I think this one flew inland from the coast, although I would like to imagine that he's from Snowy River... but I've read and seen pictures of thousands breeding in Tunisia.

Cheers for the egret posing for this photo shoot!

Photos for Wild Bird Wednesday

Great Egret Description

The Great Egret is a large heron with all-white plumage. Standing up to 1 m (3.3 ft) tall, this species can measure 80 to 104 cm (31 to 41 in) in length and have a wingspan of 131 to 170 cm (52 to 67 in). Body mass can range from 700 to 1,500 g (1.5 to 3.3 lb), with an average of around 1,000 g (2.2 lb). It is thus only slightly smaller than the Great Blue or Grey Heron (A. cinerea). Apart from size, the Great Egret can be distinguished from other white egrets by its yellow bill and black legs and feet, though the bill may become darker and the lower legs lighter in the breeding season. In breeding plumage, delicate ornamental feathers are borne on the back. Males and females are identical in appearance; juveniles look like non-breeding adults. Differentiated from the Intermediate Egret (Mesophoyx intermedius) by the gape, which extends well beyond the back of the eye in case of the Great Egret, but ends just behind the eye in case of the Intermediate Egret.
It has a slow flight, with its neck retracted. This is characteristic of herons and bitterns, and distinguishes them from storks, cranes, ibises, and spoonbills, which extend their necks in flight.

The Great Egret is not normally a vocal bird; at breeding colonies, however, it often gives a loud croaking cuk cuk cuk.

Egret on Wikipedia

An egret /ˈiːɡrət/ is any of several herons, most of which are white or buff, and several of which develop fine plumes (usually milky white) during the breeding season. Many egrets are members of the genera Egretta or Ardea which also contain other species named as herons rather than egrets. The distinction between a heron and an egret is rather vague, and depends more on appearance than biology. The word "egret" comes from the French word "aigrette" that means both "silver heron" and "brush," referring to the long filamentous feathers that seem to cascade down an egret's back during the breeding season.

Several of the egrets have been reclassified from one genus to another in recent years: the Great Egret, for example, has been classified as a member of either Casmerodius, Egretta or Ardea.
In the 19th and early part of the 20th century, some of the world's egret species were endangered by relentless plume hunting, since hat makers in Europe and the United States demanded large numbers of egret plumes, leading to breeding birds being killed in many places around the world.
Several Egretta species, including the Eastern Reef Egret, the Reddish Egret and the Western Reef Egret have two distinct colours, one of which is entirely white. Little Blue Heron has all-white juvenile plumage.

Birds of the Bible

Leviticus 11:19

Children's Book Recommendations

An Egret's Day
Last Egret: The Adventures of Charlie Pierce
SNOWY The Story of an Egret
Egrets on a Snowy Bank: Blank Book Handstitched (Tao Handstitched Series)

Have you seen an egret in your area?

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

A Confident Heart

Ever get tired of feeling like you’re not good enough, smart enough, or gifted enough? If so, Renee Swope has a message for you: you already have something special to offer the world!

Amazon Snippet

Built on the hope-infusing truths found in the 2012 Retailer's Choice Winner, A Confident Heart, Renee Swope's new 60-day devotional takes women on a journey toward lasting confidence. Swope has expanded her popular "When I say--God says" statements and Scriptures, and offers women a daily thought-map to help them exchange their most common and crippling self-doubts with God's transforming truths.

Like having a conversation with a friend and mentor, Renee's authentic style and soul-stirring devotions include personal stories, powerful biblical teaching, and real-life application wrapped around one of God's promises each day to help readers:

•live confidently in their God-given roles, relationships and responsibilities
•break free from people-pleasing and performance-based living
•believe God's promises and apply his truth in their daily lives
•trust the certainty of God's truth over their circumstances and emotions

The Friday 56

I'm looking forward to reading more of Renee's writings on the subject of a confident heart. I just started the book, so here's a blurb from 56% on my reader:

"My unhealthy mindset made it hard to forgive, because I replayed hurtful words and situations in my mind over and over. It's very difficult (if not impossible!) to forgive what you regularly focus on." -- Renee Swope

About The Author

Renee Swope is a popular national women's conference speaker, radio show co-host, and the executive director of radio and devotions at Proverbs 31 Ministries. She is the author of A Confident Heart and a contributing author to three books, including a Gold Medallion finalist and a People's Choice Award finalist, as well as several online and print magazines. Renee is a featured writer for Encouragement for Today, online devotions that currently touch over 500,000 lives each day across the world. She lives in North Carolina with her husband and three children. Find out more at www.reneeswope.com.

What Others Are Saying

"A Confident Heart is a captivating, story-driven book that provides real solutions to the real doubts and fears we all face."--Jennifer Rothschild, author of Me, Myself & Lies

"You'll never be the same after you read this book!"--Sheri Rose Shepherd, bestselling author of His Princess and His Princess Bride

Confident Heart Devotional, A: 60 Days to Stop Doubting Yourself (A Confident Heart)

Skywatch Friday

This is a northern view from our ranch, looking towards some of our other neighbors on the hill. Where I live, we're zoned so that others may build on their 2-acre parcel of land all around us. Today has been such a pretty day and I just love looking out at these puffy, heart clouds.

Although some of the avocado groves are being cut down, you can see the farmer's working hard on another new season of strawberries... Can't wait for the harvest!

Do you like avocados and strawberries?

Have a wonderful weekend,

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

Wild Bird Wednesday: Red-tail Hawk

One of the perks to living in SoCal is finding a pair of hawks that mate for life perched on a nearby tree. Not just any old tree mind you, but sitting on my neighbor's Eucalyptus tree. The weather has been so nice for February. I was putting up the wash on our clothesline when I looked up and saw these magnificent birds with their short tails and broad wings. I ran into the house to grab my camera. Got one picture and then they flew away.

Let me introduce you to our local Red-tail Hawks!

Wikipedia Says...

The Red-tailed Hawk (Buteo jamaicensis) is a bird of prey, one of three species colloquially known in the United States as the "chickenhawk," though it rarely preys on standard sized chickens.It breeds throughout most of North America, from western Alaska and northern Canada to as far south as Panama and the West Indies, and is one of the most common buteos in North America. Red-tailed Hawks can acclimate to all the biomes within their range. There are fourteen recognized subspecies, which vary in appearance and range. It is one of the largest members of the genus Buteo in North America, typically weighing from 690 to 1,600 g (1.52 to 3.53 lb) and measuring 45–65 cm (18–26 in) in length, with a wingspan from 110–145 cm (43–57 in). The Red-tailed Hawk displays sexual dimorphism in size, with females averaging about 25% heavier than males.
Red-tailed Hawk

Photos for Wild Bird Wednesday

Do you have these magnificent birds in your area?

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

Review: The Paleo Aficionado Soup Recipe Cookbook

The Paleo Aficiondo Soup Recipe Cookbook

Use recipes to help children practice reading and writing step-by-step instructions. Have them sample the results to see how they did! Let's Get Cooking With Words

The Friday 56 (56% reader)

"Using an immersion blender, puree the soup until nearly smooth." -- Amanda Matthews

Moroccan Tomato Soup

1 lb. chopped tomatoes

2 Tbl. olive oil

6 c. vegetable broth

1 finely chopped onion

1 finely chopped garlic clove

1 finely chopped chili pepper

1/2 tsp. chili powder

1/2 tsp. paprika

lime juice for seasoning

salt and pepper to taste

Add oil in large stockpot, add garlic & onions and cook for 5 mins. until soft. Add tomatoes and chili pepper and cook for 10 mins., covered. Pour in the stock, add the paprika and chili powder and cook for another 5 mins. Using an immersion blender, puree the soup until nearly smooth. Add salt and pepper to taste. Squeeze fresh lime juice on top prior to serving.

Book Review

I liked that the cookbook is well organized alphabetically. The vegetable soups such as Cauliflower Cream, Lemon Asparagus, Butternut Squash and Moroccan Tomato are good. The Mayan Chicken Soup sounds very inviting but I haven't tried it yet. Pretty much the proportion sizes are correct. My only feedback is that pictures added would be a real warm addition to the book. Everyone likes soup, so this is a good choice!

4/5 stars!

The Paleo Aficionado Soup Recipe Cookbook (The Paleo Diet Meal Recipe Cookbooks)

Do you have a favorite soup recipe? I like homemade Tomato soup, any type of Italian and Butternut Squash. My mom always made a great lemon and rice soup... yum!

I just love tree silhouettes, especially palm and avocado trees!

This particular winter sunset reminds me of tomato soup!

It always amazes me how quickly the sky changes. I can't get over our beautiful weather!

Photos for Skywatch Friday

I am so blessed to be living here in SoCal, surrounded by family, friends and online readers.

Wishing you a Happy Valentine's Day! You are loved!