Blogging is now a viable career option and there are endless examples of bloggers who have monetised their site to the point where they can quit their 9-5 job and live the dream. Consequently, the …
Source: How to Simplify and Authentically Grow Your Blog Without Spending Money
Hello, friends! This post is for those of you who are bloggers. Suzie has some great strategies. I love her low cost approach! Penny pincher, that’s me. 🙂
Jello did not like Valentine’s Day.
True, the holiday was fine. For everyone else. But for Jello? No one ever remembered to deliver a valentine specific to his – ahem – tastes.
“Jello,” shouted Hatchback. “Happy Valentine’s Day!”
Strawberries, a favorite of turtles. Disappointing. Putting on a smile, Jello croaked, “Thank you.”
“Hey, mellow Jello,” squawked Licorice. “Will you be my valentine?”
Corn, a crow’s go-to meal. No surprise. Jello belted out, “Thank you.”
“Ssssay, Jello, old buddy,” called Slinky. “Rosessss are red, berriessss are blue. You are my friend. Here, jusssst for you.”
Speckled eggs. Eww, shells. Pasting a pleased look on his face, Jello gulped, “Thank you.”
“Hi-de-ho, Jello,” chortled Twitch. “My heart belongs to you.”
Dandelions, and I’ve no rabbity teeth for gnawing. Jello grunted, “Thank you.”
“Sweet as honey, Jello,” roared Buzz. “BEE my valentine!”
Sticky honey. Ugh. It glued Jello’s mouth shut. Jello bellowed, “Thank you.”
No one indulged Jello with his favorite treat. Valentine’s Day was a bust.
“Jello-pie,” croaked Jiggle. “True love of mine, you’ve wiggled into my heart!”
Jello gasped! A valentine, just for him! Pink tasty worms. Perfect for his – ahem – tastes. Beaming, Jello barked, “Thank you!”
Maybe Valentine’s Day was not so bad after all. Jello shared his valentine treats with his friends.
Happy Valentine’s Day!
Written by Angie Quantrell (214 words)
The Second Annual Valentiny Writing Contest: by Susanna Leonard Hill
The Contest: since writing for children is all about “big emotion for little people” (I forget who said that, but someone did so I put it in quotes!) and Valentines Day is all about emotion, write a Valentines story appropriate for children (children here defined as ages 12 and under) maximum 214 words in which someone is confused! Your story can be poetry or prose, sweet, funny, surprising or anything in between, but it will only count for the contest if it includes someone confused (can be the main character but doesn’t have to be) and is 214 words (get it? 2/14 for Valentines Day 
You can go under the word count but not over! (Title is not included in the word count.) If you are so inclined, you are welcome to submit more than one entry – just remember you’ll be competing against yourself No illustration notes please!
All you need is love. But a little chocolate now and then doesn’t hurt.
~ Charles M. Schulz
Love comes from many places: a spouse, parents, siblings, children, grands, friends, neighbors, and co-workers. Don’t stop there. Call it what you will, but I know my cats give me love, dogs give love, and pets of all sorts show attachment to owners. Living, breathing people and animals give love. Love is not easy to understand, is sometimes challenging to offer, and this side of Heaven is totally imperfect. It can’t be forced but it can be reciprocated. That doesn’t mean we shouldn’t try to love, as difficult and trying as it sometimes is. Just trying counts. Hoping tomorrow I can do my part in spreading the love. And some chocolate.
“For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life.” John 3:16 (NIV)
May your Valentine’s Day be filled with love and dark chocolate.
(Hope everyone enjoys the blog title nod to Music & Lyric’s fictional band PoP 🙂 ) Roses are red Violets are blue Valentinies rock And so do YOU! Hang onto your chocolate everyone! It’s time for . . . The Second Annual Pretty Much World Famous Valentiny Writing Contest!!! Valen-tiny because the stories are not very […]
via PoP Goes My Heart! The Second Annual Valentiny Writing Contest Is Here!!! — Susanna Leonard Hill
Today is it, folks. At least for the Yakima Valley. Maybe.
Time to get out there and grab a bowl full of clean fresh snow before the rains hit tomorrow. Let’s make snow cream!
Snow Cream
My mom used to make snow cream for us when I was a kid. I think she used to add eggs. But I’m not a big fan of raw eggs, and I was a kid. I could be way off base. Either way, no eggs.
Brain freeze!
A photo tells a story.
At the end of a recent vacation, I shot a selfie of the two of us, relaxed and replete after several days of downtime and fun. This picture is one of my favorites.
Factor in one of Kevin’s co-workers, Kathy Bensch. She wanted to do a painting of us for Kevin’s office. Just because. We gave her a copy of our favorite photo.
Et voila! There we are, in living water color. Thank you, Kathy! Perfect!
Not that the painting will ever make it to Kevin’s office…I do have some ideas on how to share.
But I think this painting looks great in the RV.
Princess Autumn is happy to show off an antique gown.
The title says it all. Here is Autumn, our princess. She’s not 100-years-old, but 9 months, and comes complete with teeth, crawling agility skills, and potential for climbing.
Autumn is sporting a 100+-year-old cotton dress. Notice the intricate stitching and detail as she chews on her hair brush. See the tiny buttons stitched to the opening on the back of the dress. Allow your gaze to appreciate the length of the long dress and long sleeves. For posing and walking, this ankle length gown is divine. For crawling, gnawing, and drooling, maybe not so perfect. Over 100 years ago, this antique gown was handcrafted by a loving and skilled female member of the family. I adore vintage.
Throwback Thursday welcomes Princess Autumn, which is kind of ironic, as she has not even had that many Thursdays…yet.
You made it through! It doesn’t matter if your journey was like this… Because you have emerged victorious! OK, so maybe your journey wasn’t that difficult. Whatever the path was l…
Source: Got 30 Ideas? Sign the Storystorm Pledge!
Ta-da! A month full of great picture book ideas! OK, maybe not all are great, but still! Many thanks to Tara Lazar for making Storystorm happen! Happy writing!
by Dr. Carrie Barron Here is a wonderful quote I just found by psychologist and creator of the Hierarchy of Needs pyramid, Abraham Maslow: “A first rate soup is more creative than a second rate pai…
Source: Storystorm Day 30: “Make Soup!” by Dr. Carrie Barron
Creativity. Sometimes it comes and sometimes you have to start working and then the juices get flowing. Writers and other creative souls, we just need to start working with our ingredients, be those pen and paper, paint and canvas, clay and tools. Smell the soup!
by Kirsten Hess, Bookseller It has been wonderful to read the posts in Storystorm this month, to get a peek into the creative processes that go into the many wonderful books that we carry in our sh…
Source: Storystorm Day 29: “Let’s Play Books!” by Kirsten Hess
I love having books and play partnered together! Perfect match. Need to visit this bookstore!
Love, Laughter, and Life 