Fairy Tales, Reading and Terrariums

     Okay so me and my son are going to try something a little different and fun for our fall crafting. He is an avid reader, loves to help me in our garden, and of course very creative. So the other day I got a couple baskets of flowers and I said to myself "Okay I have to find a way for people who have less than a green thumb  be able to keep these alive." Then I found the solution: TERRARIUMS!!!!
     I have been searching and having a blast envisioning the creations my son and I will create. We are just so excited. I have already decided to do a "jungle" one for his room and something a bit more girly and whimsical for myself.
    Of course I love to connect anything my son and I do into his books. SO that as his interests grow so does his library. When he loved owls we bought owl related books and birding books, trains same thing, when he began to bake I got a little more creative and got the IF You Give...series.
     So how do you connect miniature gardens in a glass bowl to reading? For a girl it's simple just build a fairy garden based terrarium and read fairytales. For a boy it's a bit more difficult. SO now I am on the search for the perfect book that will tie in with a terrarium. I am thinking maybe The Giving Tree or Johnny Appleseed or maybe get a tiger and read a jungle themed book? Any suggestions? He is three so something like a picture book.
    

Obama, Why do you Hate US Citizen Coal Miners?

Normally I wouldn't write about something like this involving politics, but for once it involves my entire life. My whole family are coal miners. They work every shift to support their families in a respectable way. They are true Americans, before the majority got too lazy to do the hard manual labor that still exists here in the Appalachian Mountains. Coal has funded WV for years, there are no other jobs like the factories of the north or the fishing industry in the south. We are a land locked state that uses what we have to better ourselves.
Do people ever remember the days when factories were abundant and the US produced steel and other goods that were exported? I wasn't there for it but I can imagine how grand the country must have been. Here in WV we keep that alive we mine coal. It is something that retains the spirit of America.
Coal miners pay taxes. With the current budget problems, you'd think the president would worry about creating more high paying jobs instead of killing an entire industry that pays taxes, employs US citizens, and supports the economy. I mean won't the millions of dollars from coal taxes be missed with the current budget problems?
This is all because of environmental concerns right? Well aren't scientists still arguing if Global warming actually exists? When I was in high school we learned that the earth naturally goes through temperature changes  every so often, it can actually be shown on a graph. Otherwise how would you explain the ice age and such. Also Obama bailed the auto motive industry out and guess what, cars create pollution as well. We all know oil spills happen but we still use oil now don't we? Logically none of this makes any sense.
Now let me explain what is happening in WV. Stores are already closing. In my area we had four restaurants, two have closed. We used to have a bookstore in our shopping mall, its gone. Why? Because there are not enough high paying jobs for people to spend money. WHy? Because Obama is slowly chocking the life out of WV. People who have worked in the industry for years have lost everything, cars, houses, and their way of life.
What happened to the right to a pursuit of happiness? I remember reading that each man is as free a they want so long as their freedom doesn't encroach upon the freedom of others. Isn't Obama encroaching on our freedoms? Why should WV's people suffer? We love our state, we don't want to leave, but what will we do when WV is empty of jobs? If coal goes the entire economy of WV will follow. Are the other 49 states more important than us?
 What happened to America? I used to smell the air in the woods and think this is the life. Now I have to worry if the President and EPA are going to rip my life out from under me. The life that me and my family have made for ourselves for years. Will a government representative be there when I  look my son in the eyes and say honey no more books, toys, and mommy will have to work just to feed you so you won't see me or will there be a government representative that comes with new job opportunities for my husband that pays the same wage? I think not. That's what is coming to WV if Obama doesn't quit attacking an industry that pays taxes, employs US citizens, and PRODUCES something instead of consuming. Oh and by the way coal emissions have been going down steadily for years.  That's the truth. You don't know the heart of the mountain unless you are raised in them, work in them, and carve a life from their country roads.
That's why I wrote this because I stand for my husband, father, uncles, cousins, grandfather, my family all the way back to the early 1900's. I stand for the coal families that have no voice against this injustice. That's what this is INJUSTICE. I stand for my State and most importantly I will voice my outrage that one man can cripple thousands of citizens that have paid their dues to this country in more way than one. What has Obama done that's so great that he can play God with the lives of thousands? The framers would be horrified to see hard workers kicked out of their jobs by one that is supposed to be a leader for the whole country not just those who agree with him.

Allegiant by Veronica Roth Review

A final book in many ways can be difficult to read and for a writer, hard to finish. There are really only two options 1)hero lives happily ever after or 2)Hero dies. Spoiler: The book was written in two point of views and I think that gave a clue as to how the series would end. I found the writing itself just as good as Roth's previous books but I think she crammed a lot of info into this final installment. That being said sometimes it felt thick when I was reading. There was just a bit too much to thoroughly enjoy it all the time. I would have liked to have seen more of a bond between Four and Tris but the distance between them seemed almost deliberate. Was Roth trying to prepare Tobias for Tris's ultimate death?
Her death was a well thought out one. When she decided to go instead of Caleb, to me, it was the same self-sacrifice Harry attempts in the final Potter book. Tris however, was merely human and falls. But her fall was necessary. She was the only one who had a hope of being immune to the death spray and she was. What no one anticipated was that someone would kill our Divergent hero with a common gun. In her final breath we get to see her mother come for her and lead her to her final home. This part was the most beautifully written part of the book in my opinion.
Then we see Four struggle with his loss. Although he is reunited with his mother he has lost the person and a life he wanted more than anything. Another beautiful part was when FOur finally zip lines. That part made me cry. Loss is certain as a human. It defines what it means to be human and mortal. More than anything I think that was the message behind this book.
Tris knew she couldn't last forever. Like FOur says in the book a flame that bright isn't meant to last long. Tris took risks and lived more than Caleb ever could. I think that may have also been a reason why she volunteered for the job. Caleb is the only part of Tris that remains. I was a little shocked that Caleb let her go, as he was always depicted being the one who followed the selfless lifestyle better. But in the end Tris made the ultimate choice. I don't think she could have lived in a world where Four was a second class citizen. Tris was selfless. Tris was strong. Tris was fearless. TRIS WAS DAUNTLESS.

Review of Charlie the Ranch Dog

I bought this book for my son because he loves Biscuit the Small Yellow Puppy and Clifford. I was a little worried because the reading ages are a little higher, but it was a pleasant reading experience for my son. He loved the comical Basset Hound. The main character thinks he is a hard worker but in reality he is lazy and loves two things, sleeping and bacon. The illustrations are just as striking as the writing style that draws youngsters in the story. I give it five out of five stars and can not even tell you how wonderful the book is. It is a book your children will love to read over and over. Also it is relatively new so you could buy the books and collect them as they come out. I consider it a multi-cultural read. Most children's books are based in highly populated areas and this one is based on a ranch. That means it will give your children a different view on how people live and enable them to relate to a wider variety of people. You could also use this book to teach your kids where their food comes from and how animals are managed on a farm.

Teardrop by Lauren Kate

review

This book was a solid three for me. I was a bit let down. When I first found the cover I was astonished by how beautiful it was but while reading I read that her hair was now black and remains black throughout the book. So the cover was a misrepresentation. Then we get into the book itself. In Fallen she hinted at drinking teens but it wasn't a bold fact. This book had a couple scenes that involved drinking and it bothered me that she put it in a book that was intended for a preteen to teen audi...more This book was a solid three for me. I was a bit let down. When I first found the cover I was astonished by how beautiful it was but while reading I read that her hair was now black and remains black throughout the book. So the cover was a misrepresentation. Then we get into the book itself. In Fallen she hinted at drinking teens but it wasn't a bold fact. This book had a couple scenes that involved drinking and it bothered me that she put it in a book that was intended for a preteen to teen audience. Kids see enough of inappropriate behavior on television, why not keep the book pure for its intended audience? So that was what dropped my star rating, however the saving grace for this book is it's story. The story was original and beautiful. I love love love Ander. I feel bad for Brooks but not as bad as I did for Cam in Fallen. Now lets talk about the other important characters. I most related to Cat a bit in her man loving ways but again she was a jail bait character. That is not the type of girl you want pre-teens to look up to. I thought it was aweful that both her mother figures died and that the twins had to watch. But all in all it was a decent novel.

Review on the House of Hades

     wow, he didn't leave us with a cliff hanger. BY THE WAY SPOILERS AHEAD READ AT YOUR OWN RISK! Okay so here is what is up with the heroes of Olympus. First off Nico is homosexual. Didn't shock me really, I was wondering when Rick was gonna put in some homosexuality because he is writing in Greek Mythology and we all know Achiles had Patrocles. Greeks weren't real touchy about the homosexuality thing. However having feelings for Percy could cause one of three things to happen. 1)Percy Dies (not likely) 2) New male character is introduced to steal Nico's heart(possible) 3.) NICO DIES! (Likely) I think he will die but if not romance is in the air for him.
   On to the next thing Bob the Titan and Little Bob and the Giant. I really hope they are not dead. Honestly I am thinking we are going to see them resurface and fight on the good side. I really want little Bob to live.
    On to Percybeth, Glad they made it out. Really have a feeling that they are going to move to Camp Jupiter as ambassadors for the Greek Camp. Its a way for them to get their happy ending. I think that may also make Jason stick to his new decision that he would like being Greek. He and Piper will stay at Camp Half Blood to help strengthen the bonds between the two camps like Percy and AnnaBeth.
   that leads us to the new love between Leo and Calypso. I really hope things work out for them. I know Leo will try to get the girl of his dreams. My heart really feels for Leo. I mean how much can a guy love without getting any love back. Him getting Calypso to make a fire safe pouch for Frank was just showing how golden his heart really is. I LOVE LEO!!!!!!!!
    Hazel and Frank were Kick ass in this book enough said.
    Piper is discovering that being the child of the Goddess of Love is a good thing. Love is infinite. You can always make more and it is never ending.
    Now the new relationship between Jason and Nico. I think it really gave Jason some depth and humanity that he accepted Nico for who he was and tried to offer him a friendship. Nico needs to realize that not everyone is prejudice.

Clifford Still Captivates Children

My two year old has read his Biscuit books so often the bindings have fallen off, so I agreed to order him the whole set for Christmas in hard cover. Now I want to expand his reading materials. He doesn't care for Dr.Suess yet, but he loves books about dogs. At Walmart I bought a Biscuit book on a whim. He loved it. I bought another and he has read it to death as well. So when I went to the Books A Million I looked for more Clifford. I found a hardback edition called the Clifford Collection. Inside is the six original stories and a little bit about the author and how Clifford the big red dog was born.
My son was transfixed by the dog and his Emily Elizabeth. His favorite was Clifford Gets a Job. Reading to him is now more enjoyable than ever. He loves his daily dose of Clifford, and I love having a variety to read to him.
The moral values in the books are beneficial to the way I want my son to be as a grown man. From being nice to learning to pay for your own way. Every child should be read a Clifford book. I look forward to tracking down and ordering him the Clifford set through out the next year. Maybe by next Christmas he will have them all.