Fiddlesticks and Indoor Picnics

She had peeked out the window before he could stop her. Letting the curtain drop, she turned in disgust. “Fiddlesticks!” she said as thunder rumbled outside.

It had been raining since before dawn and showed no sign of stopping. Creek knew his mom had planned for the 4^th of July picnic for over a month. She was happy when she planned things and he liked her that way best. 

“I’m going back to bed. “ 

“No! Wait, “Creek tried to think of something fast “Someone still might come!” he knew they all would come, but he wanted to surprise her when they did. 

“No one will come in the rain, Creek,”

“It’s the 4^th of July, mama. Someone still might come,” he took a large bowl of potato salad from the fridge and walked toward the grand old dining room they never seemed to use anymore. 

“Where are you going with that?” she followed Creek into the next room and gasped.

While she’d been getting ready, Creek had put every leaf in the table and dragged in as many small tables and chairs from outside as time allowed before Mama had gone and peeked out the window. For a moment he was afraid she would turn and go upstairs, but as he lit a candle in her favorite centerpiece, Creek saw his mama’s eyes light up as well. When she smiled at him his heart soared.

“I guess you and I could still celebrate,” mama said softly

“Oh yessum! A little rain won’t take away our pride or joy for our country and our freedom, right mama?”

“Right,” mama chewed her bottom lip to keep it from quivering.

Creek could tell she was thinking she didn’t want to celebrate without his dad. But his dad had left a year ago and loyal little Creek was still here. He was wondering what to say when the doorbell rang.

Mama raised an eyebrow “Are you expecting someone?”

“Yes Ma’am! We both are!” Creek raced to the door

Soon, people were pouring through the front door faster than rain on the roof! They brought steaming bowls and brimming baskets, hugs and beaming smiles – and best, oh best of all, was that mama wore one all day!

dee Kay

National Independence Day – July 4^th

We all know what this celebration is for, right?

The 4^th of July is a yearly celebration of the 1776 signing; by all thirteen colonies, of the Declaration of Independence from Great Britain rule.  We came to build or own country – and that’s exactly what we did!

One California fifth-grader says “The fourth of July is simple: We are free.” 

But have you heard of this one?

National Work Without your Hands Day – July 5^th

It’s a tough one.

Could you push a long broom with the point of your nose?

Or pick up your socks using only your toes?

Could you rake up the leaves in the yard with your tongue?

Hold a leash in your mouth when the dog wants to run?

How would you work without your hands?

USA Angel Food Cake

Ingredients:

• 1 (21 oz.) can of blueberry pie filling
• 1/2 C of maraschino cherries, drained and cut in half
• 2 firm bananas, sliced
• 1 prepared Angel food cake

Preparation:

1. Place the pie filling into a large mixing bowl.
2. Gently fold the cherries and bananas into the pie filling.
3. Carefully spread the mixture over the cake.

Makes 8 servings

Preparation Time: approximately 15 minutes
Total Time: approximately 15 minutes

  apples4theteacher.com

Breaking News! A truant Tooth Fairy caught in the act...

Breaking News!

This just in from the folks at 

 It Could Happen:

Tooth Fairy Plays Hooky!

Can you imagine a world where even the Tooth Fairy sneaks a day off sometimes?

We bring you this incredible news from Holeysock Creek where young Jeffrey K. left his tooth under his pillow last Friday night only to find that it was still there in the morning! Frustrated, Jeffrey asked us to investigate and what we discovered might surprise you! Instead of sneaking off to frolic in the moondust, play some glitter golf or shop on the Milky Way, the troublesome Tooth Fairy had run off—are you ready for this?—to get married! What in the world could this mean for Jeffrey and his remaining teeth? Well, we asked that very question a few days later and are pleased to announce that Jeffrey now has two Tooth Fairies and ended up getting twice the amount for the one he lost last Friday!

Aw, I love happy endings, don’t you? But you know, kids didn’t always get money in exchange for their teeth. Nope. Centuries ago when a child lost a tooth his parents would bury it in the garden so that another strong and healthy tooth would grow in its place. It wasn’t until later, when apartments became popular and gardens were not, that baby teeth were stashed under pillows and exchanged for treats.  Legend has it that it was a dentist who first introduced the popular idea of trading baby teeth for money. Do you think it was a good idea?

And did you know the tradition is so old that Tooth Fairies actually have their own day to celebrate now? Yep. Just like Teacher Day or Groundhog Day. It’s August 22, a Saturday this year, and I wonder if any of them will take the day off? Let me know if you find out :-)

Until again, be well, be happy—and read!

What's So Funny?

Belly Rolls and Jellyfish ~

Remember the last time you doubled over in uncontrollable laughter? Or found yourself giggling right along with particularly infectious laughter—even though you have no idea what’s so funny? Have you ever been unable to contain your chuckles while attempting to repeat a good joke? There’s nothing like a good old-fashioned belly roll to lift the spirits!

Besides the secret smile I get when noticing a familiar title in a stranger’s hands or book bag, is the curious delight I feel when hearing someone laugh out loud with their nose in a book! I’ve done it myself and know you can get some pretty odd looks, but Hey, you just have to read it too-and you can, soon as I’m finished!

To some folks humor is as natural as breathing; they are just plain funny. When a perfectly normal discussion becomes an exhilarating laugh-fest, you know you’re in the company of a master. It’s a double-bonus when these same funny people happen to be writers who write the kind of books you recommend but never lend for fear of losing your own personal piece of that special kind of magic.

There was a time when I thought it would be particularly tricky to write humor for children. Age is definitely a consideration, though there’s no real guarantee that a seven year-old wouldn’t laugh at humor intended for say, a nine year-old. And quite honestly, unless you’re a polka-dot gnat on the playground, how would you know? For anyone pondering this, as I did, I recommend an (older) article by Jan Fields, “A Spoonful of Humor” . The good folks over at Bright Horizons report that a child laughs 300 times a day! 

What could be so rib-tickling funny? Besides just about everything, children not only see the humor, the magic and the fantastical, they are eager and willing parts of it. (that’s me; sighing wistfully)  Incidentally, here’s a delightful new book I think you’ll enjoy! I Thought This Was a Bear Book

With that in mind, I am determined to write at least two funny stories by the end of this year! See how I do at Streampebbles.com!

 And now for the Jellyfish. In relation to humor, they are at once interesting and startlingly swift to harm.  Kind of like bullies.  Except that Jellyfish don’t follow you around the schoolyard. So what is a kid to do? Well, a little old fashioned embarrassment never hurt anybody. In fact, it will often remind a bully that he or she is only human, too.  And kids, always, always tell a grownup—they’ll have some pretty good ideas!

Until again, be well, be happy and read!