The Shortest Day
by Susan Cooper

So the shortest day came, and the year died,
And everywhere down the centuries of the snow-white world
Came people singing, dancing,
To drive the dark away.
They lighted candles in the winter trees;
They hung their homes with evergreen;
They burned beseeching fires all night long
To keep the year alive,
And when the new year's sunshine blazed awake
They shouted, reveling.
Through all the frosty ages you can hear them
Echoing behind us Listen!!
All the long echoes sing the same delight,
This shortest day,
As promise wakens in the sleeping land:
They carol, fest, give thanks,
And dearly love their friends,
And hope for peace.
And so do we, here, now,
This year and every year.
Welcome Yule!!

The George Washington Portrait

Follow the clues and help solve a make-believe mystery! Using your noggin and a special spyglass tool, you’ll uncover hidden layers of the painting and learn fascinating facts about the portrait along the way. Let the sleuthing begin! --> Portrait for Kids

Mom's Review of Boo at the U

Last night, we discovered Boo at the U exactly 20 minutes before it started. That was just enough time to iron Belle's costume, grab a sack, drive to TWU and find a parking place. Not terribly sentimental, but it filled a bag with candy. And it was also fun to see all the costumes in one place, although it became more and more frenzied as more families showed up.

So here's the FYI for next year -- Get there early, do it, and leave. That's pretty much what we did. Outdoor stuff first while it was still light enough to look at all the neat cars (trick or treating was from trunks of decorated cars with costumed students passing out candy). Then the indoor stuff as it started to get chilly. Then it was packed and it was time to go.

I don't know what to say about the bounce house and the train. The line was too long for the bounce house and it was too cold to sit outside long enough to ride the train around campus. It was trick-or-treating and carnival games and FREE and an absolute ton of FUN! We even got to see the BIG Denton fire truck -- the cherry on top!

Garfield's Halloween Adventure

Part 1



Part 2



Part 3

Where's George?

Track your dollar bills!

Where Rivers Meet the Sea

Play the GAME.

Young Artist Workshop

Here's a blog that has how-to videos for learning to draw -- Young Artist Workshop. I know a local artist who could do something like this!

I think you'll like this author/illustrator --->Ashley Rice

Don't you hate it when bacon sticks to your foot....?

I have a splinter ALL THE WAY IN MY FOOT, and bacon helps draw it out. SO-OOO.... Mom Band-aided a peice of bacon onto my foot. :( IT'S SO DARN COLD!!!!

Click --> About Juliette Girl Scouts <-- Click

New Kids on the Block

These two are Araucana chickens. Right away, I've noticed something helpful at that link. After observing for quite awhile, the darker of the two is extremely aggressive about pecking at a place on the other one's back, just above the tailfeathers. It's already a bloody spot. And I notice as well that the darker one has a scarlike area where it seems that he's been treated the same. Hmph. Will have to keep an eye on this situation and hope it'll stop soon.




And these two are supposedly a cross between Araucanas and Buff Orpingtons. All are about 2-3 months old and should start laying eggs in about two months. I'm guessing they should start laying by the first of November if things go well.




The Araucanas have bluish legs! This will be fun to watch them grow. Right now, they just have little pink nubs on their heads where the combs will eventually grow. So far, they stick together in pairs by breed.

Stinky Perfume!