12. November 2008 by Shannon.

… well, only partly laughing.

I’ve been waiting for some packages from both FedEx and UPS… well, they both showed up today. 

FedEx: “Excuse me ma’am (while Ev stands behind me with Poppy, our shepherd/huskymix, by her collar), I have a delivery, but you need to put the dog away, the boxes are big.” .. no problem, away goes Poppy, the guy delivers, and off he goes.

An hour later, I hear a low growl.. I go to investigate and she is snarling with all her fur on end at something she can see between the pocket doors that lead to the entrance way… so I open a door, patting her as I do and telling her what a “good girl” she is.  And there, beside my original two packages, are two more packages.  ?  So, I look out the door and there is the UPS guy driving away in his ugly brown van.

THEY OPENED MY FRONT DOOR AND CAME INSIDE!!!

I’m stunned.  And although he doesnt’ know it, he is VERY lucky that I slid those doors closed… Poppy woulda ripped him to shreds!  Dumb dumb dumb!  So now I have to make a “Beware of Dog” sign for the front window, but seriously!

How dare these people feel they have the right to open my front door and come in my house without my permission… while I’m home and while my little children are running around… that really made me mad!  But the whole experience reassured me that there is no way “Pops” would ever let anything happen to us… I feel safer in that respect.

But, my darling son decided that what we need is a door bell… so he found a “experiment” in one of his science books that tells you how to make a doorbuzzzer.  So, off to the hardware store we go.. and a whopping $30 later (!!! Oh my the price of science! Sheesh) we come out with the parts we need. 

As soon as we got back home, Ev got to work… and guess what?!?!  It works!!!  The most expensive doorbell imaginable.. and it isn’t even a bell.. it’s a buzz.  BUT at least we can put something inside the house so maybe we can hear when someone is at the door and not have strangers intruding into our home.

Imagine! 

Posted in Everett | Print | 3 Comments »

7. November 2008 by Shannon.

As a proud member of the TOS Review Crew, I was sent three books from a company I’d never heard of before (and kinda wish I had!!): Salem Ridge Press.  Started by a homeschool teen interested in bringing back wonderful literature from the past, Daniel Mills (mentored by his dad, Chuck) started this little publishing company with some pretty strict guidelines for what he would consider appropriate materials to make available to today’s readers.  Rule Number One?  No kissing.  Seriously!!  I love it! *grin*

So, ahem.. back to three books.  I’m not sure exactly what I am supposed to tell you, whether about the company itself or the books they sent.  So I’ll tell ya about both.  First the books…

Each of the three books has a pleasant type face to read… not tiny and squished like some of the older classics you find in the second hand store… all three of the ones I received have line drawing illustrations in them, with clothing styles reflecting the period of the story.. however, I’m not sure if these were original prints or if they were done by Salem Ridge Press.  The book is of good quality in it’s binding and covers… over all for that I’d be comfortable with giving as a gift (it’s not cheap looking, is what I mean).

The American Twins of the Revolution (softcover is $12.95) is based on a true story of the American Revolution!  It is written much like the style of the Little House on the Prairie books.. however one of the twins is a boy around (I’d say) 11 years old, so it doesn’t “alienate” the boy crowd during read-aloud time the way the Little House books might being stories of all girls (Farmer Boy excepted.. my son LOVED that book!! LOL!).  It’s a lovely read and I always love “based on a true story” historical books.

Glaucia the Greek Slave (softcover edition is $14.95).  WOW.. I could not put this down for the life of me.. MOM loved it.. forget kids.. who cares! LOL! No, really, my almost 15 year old son has just picked it up to read it (he loves the greek/roman time period as that was also the early church).  But if you want MY opinion, this is a fantastic book… excellent quality, and wonderful deep messages that would inspire hours of conversation on beliefs, faith, theology, etc… it was a true joy to read, and I have to say my favourite of the three books…

and Mary Jane ~ Her Book (softcover is $12.95), was the third book I received.  This one was more challenging.  My almost 6 year old son wasn’t interested in listening to it (what self-respecting “pirate wannabe” boy wants to hear about dollies and tea parties?!?!? *grin*)… my 3 year old, well, she wanted to use it as a “building” in her little “town”… and my Bigs are kinda old for the story line… so Mom read it all alone.  It’s a very easy read but not very interesting… at least not to this never-you-mind how old Mom of four.  I don’t mean to say there is no merit to it… maybe in a couple of years, Chaeli might be interested in hearing the story of another little girl (younger than school aged) and her little adventures.  The plot is basically the preschool adventures of precocious Mary Jane… and the book explores several slightly deeper concepts such as how you DON’T give drinks to baby birds in nests with the garden hose… and Important Things To Know like that… *wink*

All in all, I love the quality of the books, I love that Daniel’s standards in literature are so high, and I’d feel safe buying any book they publish. 

Well done!

Blessings!!

PS.  Check out their Christmas Promotion Here!!

As a review blogger,  I am provided a free copy of the book, curriculum or product to test and use in order to write an honest review. I receive no other compensation and the opinions I share are my own and not influenced by the company in question.

Posted in Great Finds | Print | 3 Comments »

6. November 2008 by Shannon.

I don’t have much to say for today… it’s been a long week - I promise to catch up soon!  BUT… I don’t want to leave you with nothing, so check this AWESOME Contest out… I hope you win!!! :o) (I can’t, I’m in Canada, but judging from my son’s “Cooooooool!” it’s a good contest.  LOL!)

The Official HSB Community Blog - The Quest for Thunder Mountain Contest!

Blessings!

Posted in Great Finds | Print | 1 Comment »