Books! Books! The Magical Fruit!

So I have decided that when I read a good book I need to tell people! As a teacher I am exposed to a lot of great literature, and some not so great (BORING!) But as I come across books that I love I am going to tell you all about them!
This has been my latest. Children of the Dust Bowl, The True Story of the School at Weedpatch Camp. This books centers mainly on the unknown tale of the "Okies" of Southern California. John Steinbeck wrote an amazing (and disturbing) book called the Grapes of Wrath after visiting this Weedpatch Camp, he pulled his story from the real life suffering of these people. During the Depression there was a huge migration of "Okies" or people from Oklahoma (from the Pan Handle) to California. They were going through a terrible drought in the Dust Bowl Area, which included parts of Texas, Oklahoma, Kansas and New Mexico. People were losing their farms, and living through horrifying dust storms. California was promising jobs and opportunity for anyone and everyone who came. But it was a lie. As these people, the Okies, came to California they found no jobs, no help, and hate and scorn. They were considered the lowest of the low, and were starving as surplus food was burned infront of their eyes. They were called "Okies" as a kind of derogetory name. The horrible the kinds of conditions the book talked about them living through was shocking, and this was in the United States, less than a hundred years ago!! It was appaling to me! But through the hard work of a good man, and many others things changed. They built a school when no one wanted them and made something better of themselves.
This is an amazing read! I read it less than an hour, so its not too long. I'm no amazing speed reader! But as we talked about this book with others from my school that had grown up in California, they knew nothing of this! They were not taught this part of their states history. I don't blame them, it's not something to be proud of. But they should be proud of all the amazing people that came out of that camp, and eventually the school that was built there. If you need a great inspirational true story of human spirit and have a spare hour, this is a great way to spend it! I have a copy so borrow away!

Life's Little Joys

We live in the basement of our house. As with all Basement living, it can get COLD!! I am not one for cold, and my husband knows this. He bought me the coolest Christmas Present, it is called a Snuggie, which is basically a blanket with sleeves! It is the best!! Well, if we don't turn the heat up during the day, my bedroom gets quite nippy and it is like jumping in between sheets of ice when we climb into bed. Bryan, the warm hearted one, LOVES it, and so I try to leave the heat down, and just use blankets. (It also saves money) But every night I climb into bed and shiver for a few minutes until my body warmth has warmed up my blankets. Tonight I caught my amazingly thoughtful and kind husband doing something a little weird! I came in to go to bed, and he was using my blow dryer to heat up the sheets and blankets on my side of the bed! I was one of the sweetest, kindest, oddest thing he's ever done for me. I know I've said it before, but I'll say it again, isn't he the best!?!!! By the way, it is one of life's little joys to jump into a nice and toasty warm bed. If you haven't tried it, YOU SHOULD! :)

2 years and going strong!

Two years today, Byran and I met for the first time. We decided that on this day every year we would go back to the first place we met, and just make it a special day. We'll if any of you know our story, the first place we met was the Airport! Soooo Corney, I know, but we drive up to the airport each year (this will obviously only be the second time we've done this, well the third if your counting the first time) and we go out to eat where we went on our first date, (Sensuous Sandwich) which was technically also today! Its been an amazing two years, and if I could even venture, better that the two years/18 months I spent on my mission, and that is saying a lot but that's only because of how amazing Bryan is! I have to run off and do more homework, but I didn't want to pass up being able to tell you about this, and truth be told, I COMPLETELY forgot about it! Bryan is the one that remembered, isn't he just the best ever! I can't imagine life without him.

Thanks Alison

I just wanted to say thanks to Alison (Danielle's Sister), I was looking over some of the older posts that we have had, and we, for one reason or another have used a bunch of pictures that she has taken and then sent to us (Halloween and the house) so as a way to say thanks I got a picture of her son Chancelor (very cute kid) for her and put it up here, enjoy.

(it is his missing halloween picture)