book review: Wesley the Owl

I finished a book called Wesley the Owl by Stacey O'Brian. It was a memoir of Stacey’s life with an owl. She raised the owl from four days to the end of his life. They lived through 19 long years of happiness, hope, sickness and tough situations. Stacey relates other knowledge about animals to the subjects she is currently talking about throughout her book which really gives the book a boost. While she was working with Wesley (Wes), she learned the Way of the Owl. Owls only have one mate for their entire lives. If an owl’s mate dies, the owl will often sit in grief and die of depression. Wes was a barn owl found out in the wild either fell out of its nest or was abandoned. Dr. Penifield found and brought Wes back to Caltech where Stacey was currently working at the time. She was called and asked if she wanted to give this owlet a home for life. I really enjoyed this book because I love owls and have had my own special encounter with an owl. I recommend this book for anyone who has a sense of love for the wild.

Lioness Rampant

I just read a book called The Lioness Rampant. It’s about a female knight who goes on a quest to look for the Dominion Jewel. It is this Jewel that can make dead trees bear fruit, create rain during drought and all these other phenomena’s. This book is not set in a specific time period. Well, on the way she met a Shang dragon who is basically a very experience 10 + black belt karate guy. As they were traveling through a foreign country, they came upon the princess in exile, her guard, and orphans. Alanna, the Lioness, has to go through a blizzard and fight the earthy spirit to get the Jewel. When she went home, she found out the villain she killed a year ago, was brought back to life by her brother, a sorcerer. Also the villain was tearing the land apart. Only King Jonathon could use the jewel to save Tortall.[the kingdom]

book review: The Georges and the Jewels

I just finished The Georges and the Jewels by Jane Smiley; it was the best book that I’ve ever read. It’s about a girl named Abby who lives on a ranch in California in 1960. The horses they have there are to be sold so her daddy names all the geldings George, all the mares Jewel and tells her not to get attached. Abby is good with all the horses except for one who bucks her off every chance he gets and won’t look her in the eye. With trouble at school the horses will keep her company through her problems. I really enjoyed this book because I love horses and it’s about a girl my age. After reading this book I wanted to have ridden horses as much as her. There is a second book to the series coming in this October called A Good Horse. I am really looking forward to reading that book.

book review: Albert Einstein

I just finished Albert Einstein by Kathleen Krull. It was a very interesting book. He was a genius and a bit of a wise guy too. The book was about his life and his theories and ideas. In the begging he was a very rebellious kind of kid and didn’t like to listen to the teachers. When he was older and had graduated from college he applied for a teaching position at a university in Europe. He applied all over the continent and no one would offer him a job even though he had his PhD. So he worked as a clerk in a patent office. Einstein was finally offered a job as a lecturer the (lowest job at a college) and was paid so little that he had to keep his job at the patent office (he was eventually moved up and was paid more and was also offered a twice as paid job). He wrote all of these great articles and a lot of people thought nothing of him because he was Jewish. Hitler said something like as long as Jews were in science he could live without science for a few years. But whatever people said Einstein was still a genius. If it weren’t for Einstein we wouldn’t have TV.

swimming

Today Bi, Dad, and I went to the Vergennes pool for a swim. We went yesterday too. When we got to the pool guess who i saw? I saw my little kindergarten friend Carly and her mom Jen, her brother Ryan, his friend Neo, and Neo's mom Nikki. I had sooooooo much fun. I played with Carly and I also played tag with Carly, Bi and Dad. It was in the 90's today so it felt really good to get into the pool. I hope we go again soon!

blackberries

Today I picked 14 blackberries right from our own property. Oh my gosh they are good!! The other day I picked 16 blackberries and I have been sharing them with my family and everybody loves them. We didn't plant the bushes but they just seemed to have found there way up into the world and they provide wonderful fresh berries. We've been getting them for quite a few years now as far as I can remember. The berries are small about the size of my index fingernail(1/4 an inch long and wide). They are circular and bumpy like blackberries. I think they are mini blackberries. I love them!!!!!(they are much smaller than the ones in the picture.)

4th of July

I wonder if other countries use fireworks for their patriotic celebrations -- I'll let you know if I ever take the trouble to look into it. As Chani said, we went to Bristol to see the fireworks - they're SO BEAUTIFUL!! Now that I'm thinking back, I can't remember any rainy 4th of July's, can you?

Bristol seems to be the holiday town around here -- it's the town where the high school is, so it's kind of the hub for many surrounding towns. (And there are probably few towns that do a better job at Halloween than Bristol!!)

We're going to read the Declaration of Indedependence together today, and possibly watch the move 1776. Bi mentioned yesterday that until Thomas Jefferson became president, everyone was expected to bow before presidents, as though they were royalty. He changed all that. Way to go, Mr. Jefferson!

Mom