Purging....

By kathy b - October 13, 2016

Boo! I purged most of my old Halloween stuff before we moved.

Okay, most of it was picked from others' garbage piles over the years. (ie: the plastic stacked pumpkins that lit up with a one foot cord that was very hard to place without an ugly extension cord)

This week I shopped at my new favorite shop:

The Queen Bee Artisan Market.

Had to get the Bottle of Boos !

I spent last night purging photos that I should have deleted the day I downloaded them. If I don't do that, it totally gets away from me. I think I deleted over 400 bad blurry not quite right photos.

The photo above has no yellow leaves in it. The yellow is sunlight coming from behind the bench.

I didn't plan it that way.

Moving meant we donated a lot of books and cleaned the book shelves...

This week , I attempted to read an adult book about heading west in the USA. No way. Too sad.

So I found Al's juniors book on the same topic.

It was also very realistic and I think a young teen would be able to handle it. A 3rd or 4th grader reading about scalping and little children dying on the way to Oregon might really have a tough time with this one.

Having taken the kids out West and stopped at Register Cliff to show them the names of pioneers, this part of the book was especially sweet to me.

Even from the comfort of a 20th century car a child GETS that the North Platte River in Nebraska is more than just a stream, it is a geo landmark. So I related to that part too.

There was some humor. But, I'd say you really need to read what your kids are reading.

(coming from a mom whose children read so much she simply could not keep up )

Al has told me before, I should have monitored her reading more.

I just wanted them to read as much as possible.

I want to share that I mistakenly thought this series was connected to the American Girl Doll series. They are not. The Dear American series is independent and put out by Scholastica. (Thanks Lurker KH for correcting me in a earlier version of this post)

Cause Christmas is coming and who doesn't love to give or get a book?

Comments

Kim in Oregon said…

I want to find both those books. I ahve a non fiction book on the founding of the town of Astoria on the Oregon coast (by John Astor) and I am fascinating by the unfolding new history of the west.

9:54 AM

Betsy said…

My parents could never have kept up with me reading either. I have always devoured books. Both of the ones you showe look quite interesting to me. Since we're from Nebraska and have moved west, many of the landmarks mentioned in them are quite familiar to me. Pioneer history has always fascinated me and I usually read anything I can get my hands on that has to do with that subject and have since I was a child. I do agree though, it can be quite gory. Have a lovely day my friend.
Blessings, Betsy

10:06 AM

KH said…

Hi Kathy, I'm usually a lurker, but thought you might be interested to know that the Dear America books are not related to the American Girl books. Different series ��

10:25 AM

Vera said…

My parents couldn't keep up with my reading and I couldn't keep up with my son's reading! I'm just thankful he was (and is) so into reading. Love that photo of the bench with the sunlight coming through - very pretty.

Purging is a good thing - very cathartic. I've been purging clothes and shoes. Next up fabric and other thing (not sure what they are yet, but I know I will find something - lol).

10:27 AM

Tired Teacher said…

In today's world, parents need to be more vigilant not only in reading but also with social media. The internet and texting are far more dangerous places.

10:42 AM

Summer said…

Interesting☺ Love that bottle with the light ♥

11:29 AM

Bridget said…

My parents always encouraged me to read anything and everything. I don't think I was particularly a resilient kid, I think a lot of times I just really didn't quite grasp things that were improper or too upsetting.

11:46 AM

Anonymous said…

I never read any of the American Girl books; I didn't know they could be that intense. My daughters aren't into dolls. At one point they wanted one each but after finding out they'd have to spend two Benjamins of their piggy banks, they said forget it. My tween loves the Dear America series and the Royals historical fiction. I don't know the content but she is good about sharing and about regulating her reading if need be, i.e. she read a book that had swearing and didn't like that so she stopped reading the book.

11:58 AM

Wanderingcatstudio said…

I was a reader too - and so was/is my Dad. He didn't do a lot of policing of what I read, but he knew I could handle quite a bit. I sometimes think adults don't give kids enough credit and try to shelter them too much. It's got to be tough to find a good balance.

12:00 PM

kathy b said…

KH

Thanks for lurking and for the correct information !I You are so right. These books are Scholastic based not American Girl doll.
Keep lurking! Love the thought there's more out there

1:16 PM

Teresa Kasner said…

Cute bottle of boos.. ha! ((hugs)), Teresa :-)

1:18 PM

Katherine said…

Daughter Bethany and I ganged up on her kids. We split the books they read and she read half while I read the other half. I think we kept up but who ever knows! Anyway, I feel like I've read a ton of kids, teen and young people's books in the last 20 years.
Your Covered Wagon book was a blast from the past. When we moved to Texas my car reading book was about pioneer women. I guess I was feeling a little pioneer-ish during the trip.

3:43 PM

Judy S. said…

So, where is your new favorite shop? Your post reminded me that it's time to get out the Halloween stuff. It's supposed to be really windy here tonight---off with the leaves maybe?

7:26 PM

Araignee said…

Love that bottle of boos!!!!
I read the diary of a woman homesteader that I got from Amazon for free on my Kindle. It was fascinating. Those pioneers were some brave people.

9:40 PM