Caldecott Awards

The Caldecott Award has been given out since 1923 for outstanding illustrations in childern's books.

One of my hobbies is collecting Caldecott award books. I have all but 7 books of the yearly award winners. Also have tons of the Honor books......

Emmy is taking a Children's Lit class in college. She is now reading through all the Caldecott books in my collection. The Honor books will wait for now.........

My sweet kids

Both my littles are all grown up now. Graduating from Junior College and High School this May.....

Girl Scout Gold Award

My 17 yr old dd is working on earning her Gold Award in Girl Scouts. It is a 70 hr service project and one part is a toy collection for Shrinners Children's Hospital.

She has gotten donations of cash and we maximize it at the Target 75% toy sale today.

She spent 205.60

Shelf was 665.60

Savings - $460.00

The kids will have so many cool toys when they are in the hospital.

Some more bird watching

At Rancho SECO County Park in Herald, CA

This is what I am reading right now. It is the fourth book in a sweet, fun mystery series called The Cottage Tales of Beatrix Potter. They are set in the Lake District , England. The main character is Beatrix Potter. She lives at Hill Top and there always seems to be a mystery she can help solve. The village folks are so funny. The animals can talk to each other and are very much a part of each story. They don't talk directly to the humans, but do often help solve the mystery. I bought these first in paperback, loved them so much I gave the paperbacks away and bought hardbacks to keep and read again and again.

Check out the nice website and learn more about this author and her books.
Cottage Tales Website

I have a family member who has written a quilt/history book about Elizabeth Patton Crockett. She was the second wife of Davy Crockett and happens to be my 5th great grandmother.

Elizabeth made a quilt top that was in the family for years and years. It was donated to the Alamo and is part of their collection.

My family member went to the Alamo, took photos of the quilt and reproduce it in period style fabric. She has the history of the quilt and the pattern in her book. I have ordered it and thought some quilters (especially ones from Texas) might be interested in obtaining a copy.

Look here to order a copy
Scraps of Life

New Camera

I bought myself an amazing SLR digital camera. It makes me feel like a professional. I got a few great photos on New Years Day.

Two Red Tailed Hawks and a smaller hawk battle over some dead thing. My first Bald Eagle sighting at the Sacramento River National Wildlife Refuge.