Book Review: Dear America Series "Christmas After All"

I love the Dear America Series! It is a wonderful way to get kids and possibly adults interesting in reading and/or interested in history.

If you have never read a Dear America book, I am really sorry! ;) They are really really well written. One of my all time favorite books is a Dear America book it's the diary of Anetka Kaminska during the mining boom in America. I have read it so often that I can pick it up, flip to any page, and know right where I'm at in the story.

Sadly, it is out of print. :( but my mom did buy it for me as a Christmas present one year so I can read it any time I want to! I usually don't buy a book because our local library has such a great selection. They have a lot of the Dear America books in the children's section.

The reason that I like these books so much is because they are geared towards 11-13 year-olds that are curious about history. I also like historical fiction because it brings history to life. I like having a personal perspective on a historical event. Plus, in reading books like these you can understand not just the event but also people's attitudes towards what's going on, cultural references that we wouldn't understand today, and a character that you have a personal connection with.

Anyway, I said all that to tell you about one of the latest Dear America books "Christmas After All: the diary of Minnie Swift (Indianapolis, Indiana, 1932).

The reason that I started reading this book is because I am fascinated with life in America during the depression into World War II. If we had time to sit down over a cup of coffee or tea I would tell you all about why I am fascinated because I have done a lot of studying about this period so I know quite a bit. ;) I have often said that if I had a time machine I would go back to the 1930s so that I could see it all unfold.

This book was really great! It talked about all sorts of interesting things. I also learned was Aspic was. Gross! But you'll have to read that for yourself!

It was fascinating how she talked about different people and how some handled losing all that they had and what the concerns of the adults in her life were. An awesome read! Pick it up and read it for yourself!

New Shopping Experience: Zibbit

I wanted to introduce all of you to a new way of shopping!

Visit Zibbet

First of all, it's a lot like Etsy but it is called Zibbet!  Explore, take a look, buy! It is another venue for handmade and vintage items. I also wanted to give you a heads up and let you know that I have opened a shop on Zibbet. Same name and everything just a different platform. And if you are just comfortable using Etsy, then by all means, use Etsy. :)

Please note that the Zibbet shop doesn't have as many items as the Etsy one.

Visit the shop!

"Pop pop pop!"-Jam lids, it's a beautiful sound

More fun!!!

Yay! Happy green-bean canning day!

Today was green-bean day! Enjoy the photos!

Farmer at Heart

You know your a farmer at heart when a truck of pink snouts drives by...

Let me explain. The other day I was at work on the Bookmobile and we were sitting at a stop light. As the light turned green for the other people, a livestock truck drove by. Being in Southern Idaho these trucks are usually full of dairy cows. We'll not today! As it drove past us I looked at it and saw a bunch of pigs. The funniest part was that most of them has their snouts sticking out of the holes sniffing the air. It was kind of like they were saying "Hello! Hello!" I thought that it was super cute. Plus it makes me smile!

Speaking of pigs, I just put a new finger puppet set in the shop called "Farmer in the Dell" which includes a farmer, a dog, a cat and a chicken!

Sad Good-byes

Saying good-bye is never fun. In fact, it usually rots!  I hate to say good-bye. This last Sunday a couple of my friends are moving so we had to say so long. Their parents are moving for a new job so I was happy for them but I am certainly going to miss them. So long guys! Safe travels!

Flour Sack Quilt

So I went to my great-grandma's retirement center the other day and played bingo with her. I had a good time and I ended up meeting a really nice lady.

Her name is Donna Bowlin. We got talking and she mentioned that she had a flour sack quilt. I have really been wanting to see an original flour sack quilt. I asked her if I could come to her room and see it. She said yes!

The reason that I really wanted to see it was because I have never seen a flour sack quilt and I wanted to see what the fabric looked like.

When I was visiting her she also showed me a pillow that was made out of flour sacks. It was awesome to see a quilt that old. There were a few swatches that I really enjoyed and so I took individual pictures of them for you to enjoy.