Love, Laughter, and Life

Adventures With a Book Lover


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Haiku Moment: blow for wishes

bumper crop awaits

choose, imagine, inhale, wish

pucker up and blow

blow for wishes by Angie Quantrell

Yakima Valley


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Haiku Moment: barefoot

toes and roots dig deep

garden girl searches, enjoys;

dines on spring color

barefoot, bare-root seek

connect with God’s fertile earth

nourishment for girl and plant

barefoot by Angie Quantrell

photo by Angie Quantrell

Yakima Valley


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Happy 7th Birthday, Autumn!

Seven years ago today, a mom and a dad, two grandmas, and various medical helpers watched baby Autumn make her appearance. Babies are special and sweet, and oh what a delight to watch them grow and develop their own personalities!

Happy 7th birthday, Autumn!

Personality, fashion style, dreams, hopes, and plans. It’s a good day to be 7.


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Haiku Moment: survey my catdom

thinking kitty thoughts

lo! who goes there? it’s all mine;

be gone, trespasser

survey my catdom

fleece regalia is just right,

the queen on her throne

survey my catdom by Angie Quantrell

cat model Monet


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Book Review: Abuelita and I Make Flan by Adriana Hernández Bergstrom

Abuelita and I Make Flan

Written and illustrated by Adriana Hernández Bergstrom

Charlesbridge, 2022

What a delicious book! I have fond memories of my mom making flan, so I knew this book would be special! Thank you, Kathy Temean and Adriana for sending me a copy. Truly beautiful and tasty!

Anita is super excited to help her abuelita make flan for her abuela’s birthday. Anita is her abuelita’s special helper, and she can’t wait to learn how to make this delicious dessert. Except an accident happens, and Anita is afraid to tell abuelita about how she dropped a favorite glass plate that was often used to hold flan.

Traditions. Flan. Family. Mistakes. Birthdays. Helping.

Abuelita and I Make Flan is a beautiful picture book. Complete with a recipe, Spanish words, and glossary, this picture book is a keeper. Young readers will be inspired to be helpers, hopefully want to learn new things, and be more willing to admit mistakes. Learning to apologize for accidents is a good thing to learn.

This book goes with my other “all about food” picture books! I can’t wait to try the flan recipe. Thank you, Adriana, for crafting this delightful book!

Amazon Blurb

Anita loves to bake with her abuela, especially when they are using her grandmother’s special recipes for Cuban desserts like flan!

Anita is making flan for Abuelo’s birthday, but when she accidentally breaks Abuelita’s treasured flan serving plate from Cuba, she struggles with what to do. Anita knows it’s right to tell the truth, but what if Abuelita gets upset? Worried that she has already ruined the day, Anita tries to be the best helper.  After cooking the flan, they need a serving dish! Anita comes up with a wonderful solution.
 
Complete with a glossary of Spanish terms and a traditional recipe for flan, Abuelita and I Make Flan is a delicious celebration of food, culture, and family.


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Haiku Moment: hope sprouts

look! bursts of purple

shout joyfully, spring arrives!

hope sprouts from its rest

hope sprouts by Angie Quantrell

photos by Angie Quantrell

model flashback of my grand, Autumn


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From the Cat: Happy New Year!

Monet wanted me to send out her greetings and wishes for a wonderful and joyful new year!

From her humans (aka slaves), we also hope you have a beautiful 2023!


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Sunday Moment: Advent 3 – The Love

Love came down at Christmas,
love all lovely, Love divine;
Love was born at Christmas;
star and angels gave the sign.

Written by Christina Georgina Rossetti (1885)

Image by Joe Goble; Flickr.com

See more of Joe’s work here.