Frog and Toad

 Four decades ago Arnold Lobel wrote and illustrated Frog and Toad Together, and last night my son giggled his way through reading the first two stories in that book. Isn't that something? After forty years, Lobel's ability to capture kindness, friendship, and humor still resonates with the children (and parents) who pick up his early readers and open their covers today.

Last month it was announced that The Jim Henson Company would be developing Lobel's Frog and Toad into a film. I can't think of a better fit.

Images: Children's Book-A-Day Almanac, cllctr, cllctr

beach towel sale

It is not quite the end of July and already the beach gear sales are in full swing. Every summer I think,  this year I will replace all of the old beach towels that have been with us since Y2K was newsworthy, but every summer they find their way back into storage. Not this year! I will take advantage of at least one of these sales.....

 Images/Sales: Target, Amazon, Land of Nod, Zappos, Crate and Barrel, Land's End, Land's End, Pottery Barn Teen, Kohl's

salt water taffy

 

If you spend any time near the beach, you have probably had salt water taffy. It seems it is the one must have item in every beach town souvenir shop. No matter how much I try to avoid it, I probably end up eating dozens of flavors of taffy by summer's end!

Having eaten so much of it, I know it is all mostly sugar, but I was still curious about how the taffy is made. Might be a fun project to try with older kids....

 Ingredients

• 1 cup sugar
• 2 tablespoons cornstarch
• 3/4 cup light corn syrup
• 1/2 cup water
• 2 tablespoons butter
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1 teaspoon flavoring (your choice)
• a couple of drops of food coloring (your choice)

Instructions

1. Mix sugar and cornstarch in 1-1/2 quart saucepan.
   
2. Stir in corn syrup, water, butter and salt. Cook over medium heat, stirring constantly, until mixture boils and sugar is completely dissolved. Continue cooking then, without stirring, until candy thermometer reaches 260 degrees or between firm and hard ball candy stage (mixture will form a flexible ball when drizzled in cold water).
   
3. After boiling has ceased, stir in flavoring and coloring.
   
4. Pour onto lightly greased pan. Let stand until cool enough to handle.
   
5. Pull the taffy with greased hands. Cut into 1-inch pieces and wrap the candy pieces in waxed paper.

Recipe: recipelion  , Image: troyerscountrymarket

found poem

In some very old mail, I found a poem. I still like it, reading it after such a long time, so I am posting it here.

Almost Love

Magaly Sanchez, Cuba

(translated by Margaret Randall)

It happens sometimes; a pair of eyes a profile
someone we don't know and see only once
or every afternoon.
Someone we met, it was just like that:
a hand on yours
some hasty words.
But someone who became a part of you
and now there's no seeing that face without paling
without trembling hands
and it's almost love.

Image: jacquesleblanc.net

sea glass earrings

While on vacation at Cape Cod, I thought a great project for my daughter (and  for me) would be to spend an afternoon collecting sea glass that we could later make into earrings to gift to my sister and mother, who were also vacationing with us. I had visions of gathering enough glass to make sets of earrings for the cousins for Christmas and for my friend who adores the beach.
Wouldn't you know, we did not find a single piece! I know certain beaches are better for uncovering sea glass and we definitely were not on one, but I am still including a link to the project.
If you find yourself with an excess of sea glass just begging to be repurposed- this is for you.

Images: marthastewart, coastallivingblog   Project: marthastewart

wedding gloves

I went to a college friend's wedding this weekend. Her bridal look was very classic and simply beautiful. It got me thinking about why some wedding fashion works all the time.
One bridal accessory I can always appreciate (if worn with the right ensemble)....gloves. They can be elegant or sassy, unique or traditional- they just add style always.

 Images: etsy, verawang, etsy, balogney, masterfile, pinterest

summer float

When I was little there was an A&W in the town over that actually had waitresses on skates who would wheel the trays of hot dogs, onion rings, and root beer floats right up to the station wagon window....I wish there was a spot like that around now for a summer night out with the kids. While I miss those perfect onion rings and have never found any better, I can make a mean root beer float (first "recipe" I ever mastered :) ).
This is the simplest, one step recipe for summer refreshment!

Ingredients

• 1 pint Vanilla Ice Cream, or prepared
• 32 ounces root beer

Directions

1. Scoop 1/2 cup ice cream into each of four tall glasses. Add enough root beer to fill each glass. Serve each with a long iced-tea spoon and straw.

 Image: mccormick.com, recipe: marthastewart.com

Sarah's House-Season 4....where are you??

I am very anxious to see designer Sarah Richardson's work on season 4 of HGTV's Sarah's House. When will it air here in the US, I wonder??
It has already been shown in Canada, so stills of the design work are in the blog world.....I like what I see, but the best part of that show is seeing how these rooms come about, from idea boards to brainstorming, the execution of the vision is what makes up every interesting episode.

 

 Images: Parkdale Ave.

20 most beautiful children's books

 

Peter Pan illus. Arthur Rackham

The folks at Flavorwire put together a round-up of "The 20 Most Beautiful Children's Books of All Time"- a lofty, near impossible, task if you ask me, but I was very curious to see what titles made it onto their list. I do agree that many of the included books are breathtaking, but there are a few choices I would have replaced with other titles. How about you?

 Hans Andersen's Fairy Tales- illus. Harry Clarke

 Snow-white and the Seven Dwarfs illus. Nancy E. Burkert

 The Arrival author/illustrator Shaun Tan

 Flotsam author/illus David Weisner

All images: flavorwire

watermelon season

 The color watermelon is one of my favorites. There is something fresh and summery about it- just like the fruit. A little watermelon in your life goes a long way.....

 Images: prettyandpenniless, decorpad, elizabethannedesigns, cupcakesomg, favoritepaintcolorsblog, Funkyarns, jamnglass