Sunday poem -- Eloquent Tail continues:

Spotted: Wild cat
loves
to chase the little boy,
her tail
she curls.

She curls,
her tail
to chase. The little boy
loves
spotted wild cat.

Sunday's poem

Here is a poem I wrote Wednesday morning, before I fell. Although I am very pleased our backyard no longer has a dumpster, port-a-potty, torn up sod or wax myrtles, I am a less excited about going out and using it right now. :(


The story of our back yard:

It started all pristine and green
Except for some ugly weed-trees.
Up went the garage, up tore the yard,
And walking around was really hard.
With roots uncovered
The trees still hovered.
Not only did our yard look stranger,
But it presented a clear danger.
And so we decided to pay
Someone to take the trees away
And lay some grass of brilliant green.
Maybe then it will pristine.

What not to do...

...On a beautiful Spring morning in May.

Do not wear heavy tread shoes on rough brick stairs with no railing, turn your ankle, fall with your weigh on leg of said turned ankle. What happens: A nice clean break in the tibia; a twisted, splintered break in the fibula; a broken and sprained ankle; loads of torn and stretched ligaments; not to mention a crazy amount of bruising and road burn all down the leg. This is even worse if it is your favored leg.

Book 76

What's Up, Duck? A Book of Opposites, by Tad Hills, Schwartz & Wade Book, NY 2008

I LOVE the original Duck and Goose book. The only reason I haven't yet bought it is because it is still a little long and a bit advanced for a two-(and-a-half)-year-old. So when I saw this book on the South Carolina Libraries 100 Picture Books for Preschool Children list, I thought it would make a great little board book to put in my son's Easter basket.

Before I bought the book, I did read some buyer's reviews about it and not all were positive. This is a book about opposites, so it is a concept book. With this, as with all concept books, your can't just read it if you want your toddler to understand it. You have to explain and demonstrate. It isn't difficult. For example, for the near and far concept, I held the book really close to my little boy's face and then moved it way back. He gets it and thinks it's funny. He also really likes the loud and quiet (especially the loud).

Anyway, sometimes you can't just read a book and expect the child to grasp the concept and understand -- how easy would potty-training be then?! Sometimes the reader has to do a little extra work. If you do, this is a great book for toddlers. And I love it almost as much as the original Duck and Goose book.


*For other reviews, please see Books I Buy and Why.

Sunday poem -- Eloquent Tail continues:

Cat’s tail
flicks
paper
with
little boy

Little boy
with
paper
flicks
cat’s tail

Book 75

Pat the Bunny, by Dorothy Kunhardt, Golden Book 1940

This year for Easter, my little boy got a basket of books. He also received some small stuffed animals and a little chocolate, but mostly he got books. He loved it. And he loved this book to pieces, literally. In fact, after I write this review I will have to try to mend the book.

I bought this book for his Easter basket because it was on the South Carolina Libraries list of 100 Picture Books for Toddlers. I did not own this book as a child and my mom won't admit to owning a copy. Before I purchased the book, I read some scathing reviews, so I was hesitant, but I figured with a matching rabbit I couldn't go too far wrong.

I should say, as if you don't already know, my son at two-and-a-half is a toddler and probably the exact market for whom this book is written. And he loves it! He would not put it down, except reluctantly for bath-time, for a week. I can't tell you exactly what he loves so much about it because he seems to enjoy every page. This book appeals to all his sense (alas, even taste) in every sense.

If I am lacking in supplies and skill to mend this particular copy, I will be looking for another, hardier version, because he really wants this book back.


*For other reviews, please see my other blog Book I Buy and Why

Mother's Day poem, sort of...

Here's a silly little poem I wrote under the inspiration of my son's foam alphabet letters:


I loves U
By jumping the Q
H clings to I
To hail a “hi”
N with O
Form a resounding “no”,
But O slips away
To join kooky K

I never do this, but...

Sometimes you find such a great deal that you want to tell everyone about it. And I did.

Another thing I almost never do is buy jewelry -- I make jewelry -- so something has to be outstanding or very shiny for me to buy it.

On Etsy I found Surfside Sea Glass Jewelry (www.seaglassgems4you.etsy.com), and in the "shop" I found some gorgeous silver-plated filigree lockets with sea glass inside. The pieces were stunning. So I ordered three different styles; two for gifts and one for me. Those three pieces were so beautiful that I ordered three more. Again, one for me, two for gifts. The prices were outstanding. The Seller had problems with one of the chains, so she sent me an additional sterling chain at no extra charge, and she sent me a fourth necklace in my second order as a free gift. So that makes three for me to keep and still have enough for gifts. Happy, happy me.

Seriously, if you were looking for unusual and lovely bridesmaid gifts or anything like that, check out her shop.

Book 74

Over in the Ocean, In a Coral Reef, written by Marianne Berkes, illustrated by Jeanette Canyon, Dawn Publication, 2004

My son is not yet two-and-a-half, and can count to ten by himself. What does that have to do with this book? Well, Over in the Ocean is a counting-to-ten book, and he has heard this story repeatedly. Never underestimate the power of reading to your children.

Over in the Ocean is also a "song" book (to the tune of Over in the Meadow), and it is a beautifully, polymer clay, illustrated book. It is also another book by my friendly acquaintance, Marianne Berkes. In fact, the first time I heard this book was when the children's library staff was helping her present it to a very full room of children at a summer program. I was really into the song until I got caught out by the seahorse. That one little twist makes the book memorable. And as I've said before, it is beautiful, with its turquoise ocean and brightly colored sea life.

*For other reviews, please see Books I Buy and Why

Cat-bird saga conclusion....

Here is the end of the cat-bird saga. It began about two weeks ago and was interspersed with The Eloquent Tail if you want to read it beginning to end.


Wings in face, the trance is broken
And the senseless kitty stirs.
Through the door the stalker darts
Into the safety of the house.
Once inside the cat is breathless
While the other cat seems amused

What’s the moral of this story?
My answer is there are two, in fact:
A mother will protect her young
And curiosity could kill a cat



-- I should say, for any animal lovers, no cat was injured and there still are three (so cute!) baby birds in the fern hanging from our porch. Unfortunately, the porch is just beneath our bedroom window, so around dawn, those three crying birds are a little less cute. My cats still sit by the window and cry, but neither attempts to run outside when the door is opened. :)

Cat-bird saga continues:

OK, I was going to wait until Sunday to post the next installment. Then I decided it would be a better idea to finish the poem-story this week. So here is the latest installment:


With flapping wings and shrieking calls,
The guarding birds swoops closer still.
In a panic, the frightened cat freezes.
In the house the other cat cries
And taps the pane beside the door
To stir the silly, witless cat