sun sends goodnight wish
illuminating hearts of
plethora at rest
goodnight wish by Angie Quantrell
photo by Angie Quantrell
Yakima Valley
Haiku Moment: goodnight wish
Category Archives: The Daily Grind
Another Successful Weekend of Rubber Stamping!
I LOVE creating rubber stamped greeting cards! Some of you know this, but for others, NEWS FLASH! (insert smile emoji)
Over the long weekend, I went to my partner-in-creativity’s home and we got busy making a mess (required), dug out all the stuff (also necessary), and bounced ideas off of each other (foundational for great ideas) as we stamped, whacked the papers, embossed card stock, assembled, cut, glued, taped, tied, and generally produced beauty from chaos. That’s my kind of relaxation.
Let’s have a greeting card show and tell. Or at least show.
Which is your favorite? What kind of cards do you like to send? Or do you enjoy a different hobby?
We also managed to squeeze in two times of pickleball (my first time playing, and now I’m scheming to see how I can play where I live) and made beginning plans for a trip later this year. Besides the great food, long walks, playing with the kitties, and catching up on life, I’d say it was a good getaway. Plus. 85 cards!!! (I can’t resist counting how many I make.)
Thanks for the wonderful weekend, roomie!
Sunday Joy: Happy Mother’s Day
Thank you, mothers, for all you have done for us!
Haiku Moment: blow for wishes
bumper crop awaits
choose, imagine, inhale, wish
pucker up and blow
blow for wishes by Angie Quantrell
Yakima Valley
Book Review: The Planet We Call Home, written by Aimee Isaac, illustrated by Jaime Kim
The Planet We Call Home
Written by Aimee Isaac
Illustrated by Jaime Kim
Philomel, 2023
Wow! Thanks to Aimee Isaac and Susanna Hill, I was gifted a copy of The Planet We Call Home. Just in time for the birthday of my youngest grand who will turn 7 very soon. She will love opening her very own autographed copy! Thank you, Aimee and Susanna!
The Planet We Call Home is beautiful! Written in a cumulative style, each phrase is added to the next, so by the end of the story, lines have been repeated and the story internalized. I love this format! The lyrical text is hope-filled and based on nature and conversation of our precious planet Earth. Lovely illustrations complement and extend the story. Back matter provides resources for further reading and ways to help our planet. Well done, Aimee and Jaime!
With Earth Day coming up soon, The Planet We Call Home is just right! It’s also the birthday party day, so I know one 7-year-old who will be reading it on Earth Day.
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
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.
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
Haiku Moment: croaking greenery
croaking greenery
hides hungry peeper intent
on locating friends
croaking greenery by Angie Quantrell
photo by Angie Quantrell, Yakima Valley
Love, Laughter, and Life 