Love, Laughter, and Life

May 6, 2019
by Angie Leave a comment

Book Report: Freedom’s Highest Flight by Casey McCall Corbett

FreedomsHighestFlight_webcover

Freedom’s Highest Flight

Written by Casey McCall Corbett

Illustrated by Patrick Powell

Mascot Books, 2019

2C5286EE-D8D5-4ECC-8D02-F967413A6EAD

I received a review copy of Freedom’s Highest Flight from Mascot Books. Thank you!

Happy May 7, 2019, book birthday, Freedom’s Highest Flight!

I was attracted to Freedom’s Highest Flight because of the bald eagle and football connections. I’ve always been interested in birds of prey and football is on my list of favorite fall activities.

Written in rhyme, Freedom’s Highest Flight tells the tale of both Freedom, the bald eagle mascot for Georgia Southern, and Erk Russell, one of the most famous football coaches for that university.

I enjoyed the imaginative story telling by Erk as he shared Georgia Southern football history with Freedom. I learned more about football strategies, plays, and players. By the end of the book, I was proud of GSU and all of their championship accomplishments. Interesting backmatter is a great addition to the story. Freedom’s Highest Flight is a fun read!

For lovers of college football, team mascots, and football history, Freedom’s Highest Flight is the perfect book choice.

8B454D9F-A59C-45BE-9ECA-39C2A8BC39E4

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:

Mascot Books Publishes Freedom’s Highest Flight

By Casey McCall Corbett

Herndon, VA, May 7, 2019: Mascot Books announces the release of Freedom’s Highest Flight by Casey McCall Corbett; Illustrated by Patrick Powell.

Fans of Georgia Southern University will love this tale about one of the most famous football coaches in school history, Erk Russell. Join Freedom the eagle and his pal Erk on a high-flying journey through history to recount the rise of GSU’s football program to winning multiple championships.

Growing up with a father as a football coach immersed Casey into the world of football at an early age. Several of her father’s high school athletes went on to play with Georgia Southern during its infancy of Erk Russell football, when the school was just a college and the program itself had very little funding. Little did she realize she was watching the history and legacy of Georgia Southern football develop and where it would lead her later on in her life.

Her affection for the outdoors and wildlife led Casey to a career as the education coordinator at the Center for Wildlife Education at Georgia Southern University in 2009. It was in this position while being trained to fly Freedom, and the other raptors, that ideas of a book about Georgia Southern Football began to form. The memories of her football past and growing up with a connection to Erk Russell football made her realize she had come full circle with an exciting story to tell.

To set up an interview, reading, signing, or for information regarding Freedom’s Highest Flight, please contact Chris Baker at chris@mascotbooks.com.

Freedom’s Highest Flight is registered with the American Wholesale Book Company, Baker & Taylor, Follett Library Resources, and Ingram, and available online with the following retailers:

About Mascot Books

Mascot Books is a full-service, multi-genre, independent book publisher and distributor. It is a hybrid publishing company headquartered in Herndon, Virginia. Co-founded in 2003 by Naren Aryal, Mascot has published more than 2,500 books in a variety of genres, including fiction, nonfiction, children’s, cookbooks, and coffee table books. Learn more at www.mascotbooks.com.

B9D06863-4378-4594-A43E-195740973D07

May 1, 2019
by Angie 1 Comment

Happy Hump Day Haiku Challenge: cotton candy

835743AA-B102-475A-B6FA-EAF468F12529

cotton candy clouds

effervescence, bees’ delight

pink blossom carpet

cotton candy by Angie Quantrell

I love spring blossoms and the buzz of happy bees. Welcome, pink!

April 25, 2019
by Angie Leave a comment

Big Brother Sympathy

Chocolate cake and her Minnie balloon.

Miss Autumn has been birthday princess for the last week. Minnie Mouse visited her birthday through cake, wrappings, and gifts. Cool balloon Minnie greetings floated in helium bliss and adorned Autumn’s wrist and bedroom.

Birthday girl has been hauling around a beloved Minnie balloon. Inside and outside. Can you see where this is going?

Yesterday, held free-hand instead of tied, the favorite balloon escaped and slipped from Autumn’s clasped fist. Helium filled Minnie quickly ascended to travel blue skies. The lesson of what happens to all free floating helium-filled balloons became reality.

Sobbing tears, this heart-broken nearly 3-year-old announced to the nearby world how upset she was with this loss.

Despite mama loves, the sobbing continued. And was quickly added to when big brother Donavyn began sobbing and came to mommy. With puppy Ginger tangled around her feet and two sobbing children, mommy Jamie staggered in the house to try and restore order and figure out why Big Brother was crying.

A Minnie cake by Gramma Schlenker, a sweater hand-me-down from Auntie Chelsie (who is 28!)

And what a caring boy to cry and sob.

Big Brother Donavyn was crushed for his sister and her balloon loss. We thought something had happened to him (bee, fall, scrape) but he was sympathizing with sissy. Such a sweetheart to take on and share the feelings of his little sister!

Are you a sympathetic cryer? I have my moments when I just can’t help myself and cry right along in sympathy (or empathy, if the occasion for tears is truly a shared experience). Shared tears offers comfort.

Good job, Donavyn, for helping Sister feel better.

Autumn is happy, just not sure how to smile at the camera AND show her card.

April 24, 2019
by Angie Leave a comment

Happy Hump Day Haiku Challenge: forest lollipop

B9AC3087-BE56-4DF6-A1D6-C2D7EE8E7B48

lollipop curl road

dancing, growing, reaching high;

what flavor opens?

forest lollipop by Angie Quantrell

Don’t these fern swirls look exactly like fuzzy lollipops? Of course, I don’t want to lick treats containing fuzz, but my imagination considers what interesting tastes live in forest lollipops.

Happy Haiku Day!

April 23, 2019
by Angie

40 Years Ago Today

Senior Prom, 1981; Dress made by my mama, hair by Aunt Helen, hunk complements of his parents!

My honey keeps track of the ‘little’ big important days.

I know birthdays, anniversaries, holidays, that sort of thing. But for remembering the dates for first date, first kiss, first trip, and so on, he wins the prize.

First, he tells me that Tuesday (today) is a special day.

“What is Tuesday?” I ask, wracking my brain.

“I’m not telling you, you have to figure it out.”

Great. I am not good at this game. We’ve known each other a very long time. More than 40 years.

After several comically wrong guesses, I vaguely recall this time of year being when we finally got together as a couple.

“40 years ago, you agreed to be my girlfriend!”

Aww. He is absolutely right. I think. 40 years ago today, we started dating. As his mother used to say, “No, you keep him, you’ve had him longer.”

I agree. I’ll keep him. I have had him longer. I still want him. 🙂

April 22, 2019
by Angie Leave a comment

Earth Day

BFDA994D-C1FC-4BF9-B734-121E11BE310A

Happy Earth Day, neighbors!

I love this old earth. It’s the only one I’ve got, so I suppose I should help take care of it. Earth Day reminds me to do something, not just talk about it or ignore the problems I see.

B42BFF4F-E00F-472D-A2FD-476A74F54388

For example:

~Yesterday and today, I planted thyme and basil, both edible yumminess for humans and flowering treats for bees.

~I’m trying to convince my pasture mowers to leave the dandelions as is for bee food.

~We avoid spray unless absolutely necessary and spend more time hand weeding.

~I keep planting baby trees from the Arbor Society to create habitat for birds and small animals.

~I always have water out for the cats, but wildlife benefits from the source of hydration.

~I’ve been noticing lots of trash along roads and paths, so it’s time to carry along a trash bag and pick up as I go on walks.

~We pay extra in our valley to allow us to recycle trash items like cans, cardboard, and certain plastics.

A61BD34A-2029-4492-88A6-BF13B00D57AF

I know there are many ways to help Planet Earth. These are only a few ideas to be good stewards of the beautiful environment God created for us to enjoy and care for. Spend some time outside today and pay special attention to how awesome our Earth is.

How about you? I’d love to hear what you do, especially if you have fresh ideas!

April 22, 2019
by Angie Leave a comment

Book Report: Astronaut-Aquanaut: How Space Science and Sea Science Interact by Jennifer Swanson

4606AF2A-D9A2-482D-B55E-D6A5C510CA67

Astronaut-Aquanaut: How Space Science and Sea Science Interact

Written by Jennifer Swanson

Published by National Geographic Partners, LLC; 2018

3EA893FC-717E-43AD-8D26-1E79BE6DBAEE

I received two copies of Astronaut-Aquanaut by Jennifer Swanson, one to keep and one to give to my grandson’s school. We made the delivery in January, giving the book to his teacher. Thanks so much to Jennifer!

You can learn more about Jennifer and her books by visiting her web site.

AMAZON BLURB:

Journey from the deepest trenches in the oceans to the farthest humans have ventured into space and learn what it takes to explore the extremes. You might just be surprised by how similar the domains of ASTRONAUTS and AQUANAUTS really are.

Space and the ocean. If you don’t think they go together, think again! Both deep-sea and space explorers have to worry about pressure, temperature, climate, and most importantly, how to survive in a remote and hostile environment. Join us on an amazing journey as we go up in space with astronauts and dive deep down in the ocean with aquanauts to explore the far-off places of our planet and the solar system.

With a strong tie into STEM topics–such as making connections, making comparisons, and recognizing patterns across content areas–readers will discover the amazing science and incredible innovations that allow humans (and sometimes only machines) to survive in these harsh environments.

321D524A-001D-49F4-935D-F39F21B5D455

WHAT I LIKE ABOUT THIS BOOK:

Astronaut-Aquanaut is a gorgeous book! Colorful illustrations, photos, graphs, and detailed information fill the pages. Despite ample pictures to look at, the text is skillfully written and explains so many space and ocean concepts! I learned many new ideas and information. I had no idea how similar deep sea science and deep space science are to each other.

This book really is an excellent resource for anyone who wants to learn about becoming an astronaut or an aquanaut. The pages are filled with so many cool tidbits, factoids, and real life experiences of those individuals who have pursued careers in both fields.

STEM based, Astronaut-Aquanaut is primed for leading young explorers to delve far and wide and learn more about both areas.

This nonfiction picture book, geared for older readers, is an excellent example of a text that instructs, entertains and informs.

Way to go, Jennifer Swanson!

April 22, 2019
by Angie Leave a comment

Happy Easter!

88EE86E7-23D3-4FF9-A4F3-D834C8CB0E36

Happy Easter! He is Risen!

Matthew 28:5-10 (NIV)

⁵The angel said to the women, “Do not be afraid, for I know that you are looking for Jesus, who was crucified. ⁶He is not here; he has risen, just as he said. Come and see the place where he lay. ⁷Then go quickly and tell his disciples: ‘He has risen from the dead and is going ahead of you into Galilee. There you will see him.’ Now I have told you.”

⁸So the women hurried away from the tomb, afraid yet filled with joy, and ran to tell his disciples. ⁹Suddenly Jesus met them. “Greetings,” he said. They came to him, clasped his feet and worshiped him. ¹⁰Then Jesus said to them, “Do not be afraid. Go and tell my brothers to go to Galilee; there they will see me.”

Happy Resurrection Day! Hope your day was filled with love and joy!

6C8691BC-7A20-432B-86CB-665F9835D020

April 20, 2019
by Angie 2 Comments

Rubber Stamping Alert: Success Despite Losing Battle with Concrete Curb

9484158D-844B-49F0-A33A-2B5BB6C795B6

Last weekend was my first foray into Stamping Land over the Cascade Mountains since fall. I was long overdue for hours of creativity, messes, visiting, snacking, and generally solving world problems.

Initial bruising and future scar (at end of eyebrow). That tiny hole caused so much bleeding!

But first! After tripping mid-street and saving myself 3 times before reaching the cement curb, I landed right-face-side smack on my eye bone and glasses up against the edge of the curb. Curbs do not give way. Glasses and faces do!

Alas, the nearby young lady was probably scared for life after witnessing my bumble and being unable to prevent the collision, but she was extremely helpful in procuring napkins, tissues, and aids of phone calls or rides someplace. Any place!

Gold duct tape for my poor glasses.

Lots of Good Samaritan help came my way, despite the blood pouring from my eye lid bone (the part at the end of your eyebrow, whatever that bone is called). A passerby offered a package of tissues and advice to get it checked. The restaurant owner repeatedly came in and out, bringing napkins, concern, and reassurances that I was not the only one to find this edge in the middle of the road. The young lady stayed with me until my ride arrived. And my ride came post haste after I remembered I had her number stored in my phone. Whew! Thanks, Connie! Otherwise, a long walk up steep hills with broken glasses and napkins held to my swollen eye/head…

Back to Stamping Land. Ahhh. The glorious experiments and messes we made. Interspersed with walks for meals, snacks, chatting, even a book on tape! Not that we could solve the mystery…Alyson’s B & B fit the bill for a weekend of crafting. Thanks, hostess!

After my initial concern of decreased productivity (due to head injury), you can imagine my relief when 66 cards were completed. Good progress!

Wow, when I compare then and now, I might just look worse now!

Rubber stamps, ink pads, markers, colored pencils, chalks, booger dots, patterned papers, cardstock, glue sticks, tape, scissors, paper cutters, bits of ribbon and scrap paper-just a little bit of anything and everything. PLAYING is what we call it. Playing with our stuff. And what do we get? Fun cards!

Have you ever given yourself a black eye? Or a wound with ample amounts of blood? What do you do when you get creative? Here’s to grace and play time!