Taking A Break

This past week was a whirl of activity. I attended my first meeting as a Library Board of Trustee Member. Emily and I readied for Farmers' Market. I bowled with family and friends. Emily and I attended a summer reading program at the library. And, I baked another loaf of Italian Bread and several pies with the fresh black raspberries from our garden.

And while I didn't squeeze a picture book in this week, Emily read one for me titled The Boy Who Loved to Draw. I snagged this out of our library's biography section because Emily likes biographical picture books and she loves to draw much like, Benjamin West, the subject of the book. This book tells the story of how the first world famous American Artist came to be an artist. I love biographical picture books because they combine the beauty of picture books with a tinge of history. This book would be a perfect addition to home school curriculum as well as for kids like mine who just love biographies.

This week I will be getting ready to attend Nerd Camp in Michigan with one of my besties, author Deborah Boerema. This, along with many other summer activities, has made me decide to take a few weeks break from blogging. But don't despair, I will be back some time in August!

Well, that about wraps it up for this week. Join me next week for another exciting episode, same crazy time, same crazy channel. Also be sure to drop by Literacy Musings Mondays for more great blogs as well as my personal website Fun With Aileen where you will find more on reading, writing, and my very own chapter and picture books. And finally, you can find me on twitter @AileenWStewart if you want an extremely brief glimpse into my days.

Art and Lazy Cats

This past week I celebrated both my birthday and Mother's Day. During art lessons with Emily we made our own printing blocks out of Styrofoam plates cut down. She made two prints on card stock and unbeknownst to me she turned one into a birthday card. The other she made into a Mother's Day Card for her MaMaw.

This was a super easy art and craft project and if  you want to make your own all you need are a few foam plates, scissors, a pencil, some poster paint, a foam roller, and card stock. Cut the plates into squares and draw a design of your choice with pencil into the foam. Roll the paint gently over the foam block and carefully press down on card paper.

I also continued drywall work in the basement. I got all the corners taped and mudded and all the ceiling seams taped and mudded as well. After a particularly long day of sanding and mudding, I went up to take a shower and wash the drywall compound dust off of my face and out of my hair, and I found all three of our lazy cats on my bed. If only I could teach them to work with me in the basement (sigh).

 So all the celebrating and art this week made me grab for some books out of  my pile about artists. The first book I read was called Remy and Lulu. It was the story of LuLu the dog and her new found friend Remy the painter. They become the rage of Paris until Remy receives new spectacles and loses his passion to paint. Fortunately Remy and LuLu's friendship helps them to survive the bumps along the way, and in the end, they make spectacular art and a new friend.

The second book I read, Radiant Child, was the true life story of artist Jean Michel Basquiat. Against all odds, and despite some hardships, Jean Michel never lost his desire to become a famous artist, a feat which he eventually accomplished. Inspired by his mother who drew with him on the floor when he was young, Jean Michel is the ultimate picture of following your passion and never giving  up. Unfortunately, Jean Michel struggled with drug addiction and passed away at a very  young age. But Javaka Steptoe keeps his memory alive in this colorful picture book.

Well, that about wraps it up for this week. Join me next week for another exciting episode, same crazy time, same crazy channel. Also be sure to drop by Literacy Musings Mondays for more great blogs as well as my personal website Fun With Aileen where you will find more on reading, writing, and my very own chapter and picture books. And finally, you can find me on twitter @AileenWStewart if you want an extremely brief glimpse into my days.

Books To Cheer One Up!

This past week was a normal week full of both highs and lows. The kind of week most everyone has. The biggest high had to be the KitchenAid mixer and shredder attachment with which my sister surprised me. Of course, I had to immediately try it out by shredding cups and cups of zucchini as well as mixing the quick breads I sell at my local farmer's market. I even tried a new recipe for chocolate zucchini bread which I will post at the end of this article.

Another high was the night we went bowling and I scored the highest score of my entire bowling career... a 129. And just in case you might be laughing, I want you to know that what I lack in bowling ability I make up with enthusiasm!

The first low which actually wasn't all that bad was the day I mowed my mother's lawn and it started to rain. At least it was light and It cleared up after only about fifteen minutes. The next not so great moment occurred during the farmer's market where it once again started to rain. Not having a tent when you have books for sale, does tend to worry one a bit. But I just popped the books into ziplock bags and waited for the sprinkles to stop. Despite the misty start to the morning, my sales of baked goods were pretty darn good.

The final low showed its face at the end of the week when I entered photographs in my local county fair. I entered nine photos and thought I would do pretty well. To my surprise, I only received two second place ribbons, one for a rooster and one for some pampas grass in winter. Of course I was disappointed, but I really was happy to have won any ribbons at all.

But that wasn't the low, the true low, the one that almost made me cry, the low that brought a frown to my face was the fact that so few people entered anything in the fair. The arts and crafts building was almost bare. There were barely a dozen jars of canned goods. There were only a half dozen decorated cakes. There weren't that many photos. And there weren't even that many fruits and vegetables entered. You don't know how truly sad the only plate of grapes looked despite its first place blue ribbon. How can a person be excited about winning when they are the only one that entered?

So saddened by the demise of fair participation, I rode home in silence. And for anyone who knows me well, that is an almost unheard of happening. Thankfully, I had a pile of good books to read. And thankfully, that and writing this review worked wonders and cheered me up immensely.

The first book I read was a truly funny read called Captain Pajamas: Defender of the Universe. I'm pretty sure you can only find this book used or at your library, but I recommend  you make the effort to find and read it. It is the hilarious tale of a super boy and his super dog working hard to defend his sister form the aliens he believes are in his home.

The second book I read was The Paint Box and it was a beautifully told story of  a young Venetian girl in the late 1500's who had to dress like a boy in order to accompany her artist father around  Venice to galleries and workshops. Although this story is fictional, the main character, Marietta, really existed and was a fine painter.

And now for the promised recipe:

Mini Chocolate Zucchini Bread

2 cups sugar
1 cup extra light olive oil
3 large eggs
2 tsp vanilla
1 1/2 cups unbleached flour
1/2 cup cocoa powder
1/4 tsp salt
1 tsp baking soda
1 tsp cinnamon
1/4 tsp baking powder
2 cups shredded zucchini

NOTE: (If you are using zucchini that has been frozen be sure to use the water as well as the zucchini. If you are using freshly grated zucchini, be sure to add about 1/4 cup of water to the mix)

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Grease and flour five mini loaf pans and set aside. In a large bowl mix sugar, oil, eggs, and vanilla. Gradually add dry ingredients and stir thoroughly. evenly divide batter between the five loaf pans. Bake for 35 to 40 minutes or until a toothpick comes out of the center of a load cleanly. Cool a few minutes and remove from pans to cool the rest of the way.

Well, that about wraps it up for this week. Join me next week for another exciting episode, same crazy time, same crazy channel. And feel free to drop by my personal website, Fun With Aileen, any day of the week for even more on reading, writing, my very own early grade chapter book, Fern Valley, and my soon to be released sequel, Return To Fern Valley, coming September second! I'm also on twitter @AileenWStewart if you want an extremely brief glimpse into my days.