Love, Laughter, and Life

Adventures With a Book Lover


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Fairy Houses by Autumn

One of the grands loves creating and spending time outside dinking around. This summer she asked permission to make a fairy house and garden in my potted lavender. I like fairy gardens, seeing kids use their imaginations, and watching them be involved outside, plus this is right where we would benefit from some nice garden decor! Yes, please, create away!

This is fairy house location number 1. Sadly, the lavender did not want a fairy house and/or garden in the pot. So, the grand had to relocate to a more fairy house friendly neighborhood.

Below is the artist at work at fairy house and garden location number 2. Sunflowers don’t care. They make excellent tall trees for fairy houses and gardens. And shade for the construction workers. Plus. Big leaves and strong stalks for walls and a roof!

Garden shears in hand, additional permission was granted to gather leaves and thick stems. Add rocks, water, dirt, and shells, and utilize existing cement blocks and nature protection from sunflowers and potted plants. Excellent ideas.

Et voila!

We were instructed to water carefully to avoid damaging the new location. We followed the instructions very well. But the leaves dried up, the wind blew, and the stalks fell over.

Never fear though. Miss Architect visited regularly to repair and rearrange the fairy house and garden.

She even established a bathing pool across the brick patio in the cement bird bath/waterer. I missed grabbing a photo of this when it was otherwise occupied by one of the fairy residents.

Imagination. Nature. Plenty of loose parts. Equals the best childhood!

I’m afraid to say that the fairy house might have to migrate south for the winter to escape snow and ice. But we shall see how mild or tough the winter is. Until then, we might consider charging a tiny bit of rent. ;0


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Haiku Moment: beauty lures

sky above reflects,

but what lies hidden beneath?

i imagine teeth

dark depths creep closer

exude malice, beware ye!

keep hands in the boat

sunshine beauty lures,

lurks; still, something is down there

looking up at me

beauty lures

by Angie Quantrell

Cypress Gardens, South Carolina


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Haiku Moment: lounging alone

lounging alone on

glistening bed, to showcase

my excellent form

lounging alone by Angie Quantrell


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Haiku Moment: secret roads

tiny lives scramble

tunnel secret roads beneath

mystery bark world

secret roads by Angie Quantrell

Cowiche Canyon Trail, Central Washington


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Haiku Moment: green snow

green snow, you look weird

better than yellow, but what???

slushy algae ice

green snow by Angie Quantrell

Yakima Valley


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Book Review: Spreckle’s Snack Surprise

Spreckle’s Snack Surprise

Written and illustrated by Sandra Salsbury

Peachtree Publishing, 2023

Oh, sweet delight! Adorableness and humor! Spreckle’s Snack Surprise by Sandra Salsbury is a funny, engaging picture book. I love it!

Thank you, Sandra, for sending a copy of Spreckle’s to me, along with a sheet of cute stickers and a beautiful postcard! I learned about Sandra and her new book from Jena Benton on her blog. Thank you, Jena, for featuring Sandra!

Spreckle’s Snack Surprise is delightful. The front cover alone had me giggling and predicting that perhaps Spreckle would love to have some nice poppy little chicks for snack. But that would be horrible, right? The front and back cover read like a food container, filled with grocery-style information and ad copy. FUNNY and very clever!

But besides that, the story of Spreckle is adorable. Hatched on a farm, raised with chicky siblings, Spreckle needs a snack. Much to the reader’s dismay, obvious snacks peck around at his feet. But hold on, all will be well. We hope!

Why I Love This Book:

~humor

~clever wordplay

~assumptions

~food!

~dragon, chicks, chickens

~perfect illustrations

Thanks again, Sandra and Jena, for introducing me to Spreckle!


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Book Review: Mossy and Tweed: Double Trouble by Mirka Hokkanen (Holiday House)

Mossy and Tweed: Double Trouble

By Mirka Hokkanen

Holiday House, 2023

Will you just look at this early reader I Like to Read Comics picture book by Mirka Hokkanen? Fun, adorable, and engaging. Thank you, Jena Benton Lasley and Mirka Hokkanen for sending me this most excellent comic picture book! Our family will enjoy reading it over and over again.

There is double trouble in this installment of Mossy and Tweed, when a new unicorn arrives on the scene, upstaging Wise Old Unicorn. Much fun and adventure follow in Gnome Woods. Two thumbs up for Mossy and Tweed: Double Trouble.

I adore maps that set the scene, and Mossy and Tweed does not disappoint. It makes me want to go exploring.

What I like about this book:

~ graphic novel comic

~ early reader, just right for those who are learning to read

~ imaginative

~ fun characters and setting

~ easy to read illustrations and format

~ great story

Thank you, Mirka and Jena. Well done!


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Haiku Moment: heart chewing bug

a random leaf i

think not, rather a love note

signed, heart chewing bug

heart chewing bug by Angie Quantrell

Yakima Valley


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Haiku Moment: laundry day

rain shower spinning

jewels glisten to and fro

fairy laundry day

laundry day by Angie Quantrell

photo by Angie Quantrell

Kilkenny, Ireland

I was fascinated by the beautiful rain encrusted spider webs we discovered as we explored Kilkenny, Ireland. Our tour driver shared that he had learned as a young child that the webs were out when the fairies were doing laundry. Enchanting!


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Book Review: This Is Not A Unicorn! By Barry Timms and Ged Adamson

This Is Not A Unicorn!

Written by Barry Timms

Illustrated by Ged Adamson

Nosy Crow, 2023

Let me say, what a creative, imaginative picture book! Florescent colors, fun characters, delightful word play, and general amazing-ness. Thank you, Nosy Crow, for sending me a copy of This Is Not A Unicorn! (along with the super red tote)!

This Is Not A Unicorn! was the perfect gift for my 7-year-old granddaughter. She loves books and unicorns. In fact, after I gave her the book, we sat outside and read it together. And then we utilized the featured QR code (see below) and listened to the read aloud! So much fun! Books make perfect gifts.

I love the brilliant colors used in This Is Not A Unicorn!. At first, I was a bit shocked at how vibrant and glow-in-the-dark the illustrations and cover looked to be, but after reading, the colors fit perfectly with the story and the characters.

Word play is something I truly enjoy, and this is spot on for readers of this age. There is plenty of wonderful word play in this picture book.

Imagination! This ranks right up there with word play, characters, and colorful illustrations. Two thumbs up for This Is Not A Unicorn!.

I enjoyed reading This Is Not A Unicorn!. Perfect for readers who love unicorns with creative skills.