Friday, November 30, 2018

Tis the Season

It's that time of year, all the best of 2018 lists are coming out. It's informative to see what books each group highlights. Here is a link to the National Science Teachers Assoc. and the list of STEM books that they consider to be the best of 2018.

Wednesday, November 28, 2018

Picture Book Recap with Matthew WInner

Matthew Winner is a school librarian, hosts a podcast and blogs. He also does a monthly recap of new picture books. Here is a sample...it's a great read.

Picture Book Recap- Oct. 2018

Saturday, September 22, 2018

While I Should Have Been Writing-Again


I always get motivated by spending time outside, so it isn't really wasted time, even when I should have been writing. I saw some beautiful moss on a hike and I got to see the start of day two of a 90 mile canoe race through the Adirondacks.

Thursday, September 20, 2018

Iron Millipede



This guy was fat and longer than my pointer finger. This North American Millipede is common in the eastern US, but it was the first I've ever seen.

Tuesday, September 18, 2018

Who is Hatching?

Now the milkweed is really a mob scene. This picture from June shows a hatch of milkweed tussock moth caterpillars....why I grow milkweed....and why native plants rock.

Saturday, September 15, 2018

Summer Reading

Though a bit late, it's always great a have s list of suggested reading. These would be some great titles to add to a classroom library.

Horn Book Summer reading suggestions

Thursday, September 13, 2018

Why I Grow Milkweed


The milkweed is swarming with butterflies, and not only monarchs. But the reason I grow milkweed in my garden is because without milkweed, there would be no monarchs.

Tuesday, September 11, 2018

While I Should've Been Writing

I get lots of ideas "when I should've been writing", so I let me guilt go...most of the time. I spotted this gorgeous bobcat while out for a walk.

ADKS


The clearest way into the Universe is through a forest wilderness.”
~John Muir
About now, my thoughts start turning to summer. But first in the Adirondacks, there's mud season.

Thursday, March 8, 2018

Thursday, March 1, 2018

In case you need a smile

A person who has good thoughts cannot ever be ugly… if you have good thoughts they will shine out of your face like sunbeams and you will always look lovely.
~ Roald Dahl in The Twits

Tuesday, February 27, 2018

A Revision Reminder

“The difference between the almost right word and the right word is really a large matter. ’tis the difference between the lightning bug and the lightning.” ~Mark Twain

Thursday, February 22, 2018

Garden spider zipper

I love the way this garden spider makes a "zipper" in her web. Is there a story here?
Learn more about the black and yellow garden spider. I found this one in CT.

Tuesday, February 20, 2018

Thursday, February 15, 2018

Corny Vocabulary

So many colors..are there words to describe them all? Ivory, yellow, gray, eggplant, mauve, rose, up close they look a bit like river rocks that have been worn smooth by centuries of icy water. There's one kernel that even looks like an engorged tick, now you can really tell I live in New England!

Tuesday, February 13, 2018

Farm Stand...and more

I found all kinds of goodies at the farm stand last summer...including story ideas. This pudgy fellow turned out to be a bedstraw hawkmoth caterpillar.

Thursday, February 8, 2018

In case winter is dragging on...



Climb the mountains and get their good tidings. Nature's peace will flow into you as sunshine flows into trees. The winds will blow their own freshness into you, and the storms their energy, while cares will drop away from you like the leaves of Autumn.”
~John Muir

Tuesday, February 6, 2018




“Dawn was breaking over the horizon, shell pink and faintly gold...” ~ J.K.Rowling in Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows

Thursday, February 1, 2018

Show Don't Tell

“Don't tell me the moon is shining; show me the glint of light on broken glass.”
~ Anton Chekhov

Tuesday, January 30, 2018

A Gentle Remindar


Patience and perseverance have a magical effect before which difficulties disappear and obstacles vanish.  ~John Quincy Adams

Tuesday, January 23, 2018

Inspiration


While doing the Storystorm idea month, so many have recommended going for a walk to clear your head, or finding something that fires your passions/curiosity. I was lucky enough do do all of these at once. Plus I could take a walk back in time to and old graphite mine.

Thursday, January 18, 2018

Super Monarch



At last, it arrived. Could this be a super monarch, getting ready for a long migration to tropical places? I hope you're ready little one. Here is a great article about super monarchs.

Wednesday, January 17, 2018

Almost here

Last summer I waited and checked and waited some more. I didn't want to miss the arrival of the monarch on my milkweed plant.

Storystorm 2024 is in the Books!