Ben, 21 days from 5 years. :(
Wednesday, February 3, 2010
Tuesday, February 2, 2010
Sleuth Training for Children's Classics Mystery Challenge
To celebrate my 21st birthday my friends "kidnapped" me. Really. They did.
It was a Sunday night (if memory serves) and my roommates all left our dorm room to go eat supper. I thought it odd that no one asked me to join them but I had plenty of ramen noodles (a college staple!) in the room to eat for my supper.
A few minutes after they left, they came back, bursting through the door and declaring me "kidnapped." I was blindfolded and led to an awaiting car where I laid down in the backseat. Then my friend (I think it was Sheila) drove around our small town to confuse me on where we were headed.
What my friends didn't know is that I read one (or ten) too many children's mystery books growing up! The heroines in those books are always getting kidnapped or trapped in a truck. So as a tween (though long before THAT phrase was coined) I would pretend to be kidnapped when my family drove around town. I would lay in the backseat of our car and try to figure out where we were by the sounds, bumps and turns.
As a result of my previous sleuth training, I knew exactly which restaurant my friends stopped in front of - Western Sizzlin (what? you thought it would someplace else?!). We all piled out of the car, me taking off the blindfold, and enjoyed a great dinner in one of their banquet rooms. I have to say, it was one of the best birthday parties I've ever had!
Well, it's been YEARS since I've pretended to be kidnapped in a car or read many children's mystery books. But I intend to remedy that this year by participating in the Children's Classics Mystery Challenge at 5 Minutes for Books.
All you have to do is read a children's mystery chapter book written before 1980 and link up your reviews on the 2nd Tuesday of each month. That's it.
My plan is fairly simple: read the Nancy Drew book I picked up off the $1 table at the library and read the 7 or 8 Trixie Belden books stored in my basement. I might even throw in a little Box Car Children since Will is devouring those at a rate of one a day!
And maybe, for old times sake, I'll close my eyes the next time Joel drives and pretend I've been kidnapped. Or just take a nap. Either one would work.
It was a Sunday night (if memory serves) and my roommates all left our dorm room to go eat supper. I thought it odd that no one asked me to join them but I had plenty of ramen noodles (a college staple!) in the room to eat for my supper.
A few minutes after they left, they came back, bursting through the door and declaring me "kidnapped." I was blindfolded and led to an awaiting car where I laid down in the backseat. Then my friend (I think it was Sheila) drove around our small town to confuse me on where we were headed.
What my friends didn't know is that I read one (or ten) too many children's mystery books growing up! The heroines in those books are always getting kidnapped or trapped in a truck. So as a tween (though long before THAT phrase was coined) I would pretend to be kidnapped when my family drove around town. I would lay in the backseat of our car and try to figure out where we were by the sounds, bumps and turns.
As a result of my previous sleuth training, I knew exactly which restaurant my friends stopped in front of - Western Sizzlin (what? you thought it would someplace else?!). We all piled out of the car, me taking off the blindfold, and enjoyed a great dinner in one of their banquet rooms. I have to say, it was one of the best birthday parties I've ever had!
Well, it's been YEARS since I've pretended to be kidnapped in a car or read many children's mystery books. But I intend to remedy that this year by participating in the Children's Classics Mystery Challenge at 5 Minutes for Books. All you have to do is read a children's mystery chapter book written before 1980 and link up your reviews on the 2nd Tuesday of each month. That's it.
My plan is fairly simple: read the Nancy Drew book I picked up off the $1 table at the library and read the 7 or 8 Trixie Belden books stored in my basement. I might even throw in a little Box Car Children since Will is devouring those at a rate of one a day!
And maybe, for old times sake, I'll close my eyes the next time Joel drives and pretend I've been kidnapped. Or just take a nap. Either one would work.
Labels:
Children's Books
Monday, February 1, 2010
February Weekly or Monthly Menu Plan
- Chili, Cheddar Cheese, Crackers
- Chicken & Carrots Curry, Rice
- Broiled Lemon Pepper Salmon, Rice, Steamed Broccoli & Carrots
- Turkey Spaghetti, Salad
- Homemade Pepperoni Pizza, Pineapples
- Homemade Chicken Pot Pie
- Chocolate Chip Pancakes
Tips:
- A few months ago Meredith inspired me to cook several pots of pinto and red kidney beans. I then scooped roughly 3 cups of pintos and 2 cups of kidneys into individual freezer bags. I use one bag of each kind to make chili each week. I have saved a TON of money by doing this!
- I also double the chicken pot pie recipe and cook 3 smallish pies at a time. We eat one and freeze the other two (when they've cooled). Just carefully remove from pan, wrap well in plastic wrap and aluminum foil, and place in freezer. Square or rectangle shapes work better than the traditional pie. I love grabbing a homemade supper from the freezer!!
Labels:
Menu Plan Monday
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