Fantasy Story

Jane was a very creative little girl with a wild imagination. She lived in a fantasy world, filled with princes, princesses, knights in shining armor, witches, ghosts and goblins. She loved to play pretend and was always dressed as some character from a fairytale. Her mother often joked that she had more dress up clothes than normal ones. Sometimes, she would even let Jane wear a princess costume to school.

Other children in Jane’s class would often laugh and make fun of her costumes and games. “You’re too old to play dress up! You’re such a baby!” Jane wouldn’t pay attention to their hurtful words. She continued to live in her world of magic kingdoms and royal families.

On Jane’s ninth birthday her parents built her a tree house. Nestled in a sturdy, beautiful cherry tree in her backyard, her father painstakingly built a beautiful little cottage for Jane. The house was a pale yellow wood with a blue roof, complete with decorative flower boxes outside the tiny, picturesque windows. When Jane’s father unveiled it to her the very first time she was overjoyed. A ladder of steps was built onto the tree trunk, and she could hardly help herself before scurrying up the tree like a squirrel.

Inside the tree house was as magical as she could have ever imagined. A small kitchen, a table, and chairs decorated the one room. Small curtains hung from the windows, giving the tree house the feel of a real home. Her parents crawled up behind her with a picnic basket. All three of them sat in the small cottage enjoying birthday cupcakes and special treats for Jane’s birthday. Although she was still a little girl, Jane understood the enormity of this gift. She looked at her parents with eyes full of tears and hugged them both tightly. “Thank you so much!” she choked. “This is the best present I will ever get! Ever!” Her parents laughed, and her Dad patted her hair. “You’re welcome Jane. You’re the light of our lives and you deserve it.”

Her mother insisted it was time to get inside. The sun was setting and a cold, spring chill was settling in. Jane begged her parents for a few more minutes. “Well, okay.” Her mother said. “I suppose you can stay out here for a few more minutes. But not a second more!” Jane smiled and promised, and her parents retreated down the well built latter. She looked around, feeling very lucky. She felt like a princess in her own castle. All of a sudden, the breeze picked up and the trees rustled violently. The floor began to tremble underneath her as the tables and chairs shook. All of a sudden, she felt herself spinning. Terrified, Jane shrieked, but as soon as the sound escaped her lips the world settled into view.

Right before her very eyes were dozens of people dressed in gowns and fine tuxedos. Music was playing and men and women, as well as children, were waltzing. Jane looked around and noticed a ceiling full of stars and gold. She was in a grand ballroom! She looked down at her own clothes and to her astonishment, she was wearing aa gown of velvet and silk. On her feet were dainty, glass slippers. She touched her head and felt a large, heavy tiara. Was she dreaming? She pinched her cheeks, hoping she was hallucinating. She rushed through the crowd, but noticed people kept shouting to her. What were they saying? “Hello, princess!”  is what it sounded like! She exited the crowd and saw her Mother and Father in front of her, seated on two large chairs. Were they sitting on thrones?

 

Her mother was wearing a gorgeous blue gown while her father looked regal in a suit of his own. Above both of their heads lay beautiful crowns. “Am I dreaming?!” Her parents smiled at her and shook their heads.

To Be Continued…. 

Feature Article: The Double Edged Sword of Being Gluten Free

 

Perhaps one of the most popular diets or lifestyle changes in our society today is the decision to go “gluten free”. Studies show that approximately 29% of Americans today are cutting gluten completely out of their diets in hopes of living a healthier life. Numerous high profile figures and celebrities have endorsed the gluten free diet, making this diet a “trend”, or the popular thing to do. Many converts to the “GF” way of life have done so out of free will, simply seeking better health and longevity in a world filled with unhealthy options.

What these trendsetters and fad dieters don’t understand, however, is that the popularity that has been attributed to this way of life has damaged the quality of gluten free products for those who absolutely need them due to health conditions, like celiac. Celiac Disease is a serious condition of the digestive system that is triggered by gluten, which is a protein found in food products containing wheat, barely, and rye. This means cookies, bread, cake, beer, pasta – all the GOOD stuff – is off limits! When those who have celiac come in contact with gluten, depending on the severity of their allergy, they can be bed ridden for days and become seriously ill at the drop of a hat. The trendy, cool reputation the GF diet has obtained causes chefs, waiters, and grocers to take the diet and the allergy cautions less seriously. Because so many people do it “just because”, who cares if a gluten free product comes in contact with a product containing gluten? In reality, it does matter, and those who practice GF out of necessity suffer the consequences.

Also, gluten free isn’t all it’s cracked up to be when it comes to your nutritional health. Not only is it expensive for the average person to sustain this kind of diet, but also it is not necessarily better for you. To substitute for gluten, GF products are often more fatty and don’t taste as good. Dietary fiber, which is found in products containing whole grains, is a key component to a healthy diet according to the USDA. When you are gluten free, many of your sources of fiber are restricted. So, before you think about making a major lifestyle change just because you “heard” people are doing it or because it is “the healthy thing to do”, do your research, check your facts, and talk to someone who leads a GF lifestyle because they simply don’t have another choice.

 

This article was written with the help of a good friend who has had celiac disease and is living the GF lifestyle every day!

180 Degrees: WordPress Daily Prompt

Tell us about a time you did a 180 — changed your views on something, reversed a decision, or acted in a way you ordinarily don’t.

When I read this, I immediately thought of how I met one of my best friends, Jackie. Jackie and I have been friends for eight years, ever since she came to my high school as new 9th grader. I had attended my school since 6th grade and the transition to high school wasn’t too difficult for me. I already knew everyone and had my group of friends established, or so I thought. We received 20 new girls in 9th grade from varying school districts and other Catholic schools in the area. It was exciting to have a bunch of new girls in our grade, but I wasn’t intimidated because as far as I was concerned, I wasn’t a “new kid”. 

Pre-season for fall sports started two weeks before the first day of school. I showed up to field hockey try outs with my friends, excited to begin practicing. I remember we were all looking around, spotting the “new girls” and wondering who we could be friends with. This sounds awful, but it’s true! We were definitely sizing everyone up, not in a mean, threatening way, but rather in a curious way. We had been stuck together for years and it was exciting to see so many new faces. 

Somehow I came face to face with Jackie and enthusiastically introduced myself. I remember she pretty much ignored me and seemed to be responding to everyone but me when I talked to her. To add insult to injury, she was super aggressive on the field! I was all for being an aggressive player, but Jackie pretty much body checked me when we were doing one-on-one drills. She barely said sorry even though I mumbled an apology for knocking into her…even though it was NOT my fault. 

I got angrier and more insulted at this new girl as the days went on. Jackie stuck mainly with the other new 9th graders during practices. In small conversations on the sidelines, I attempted to get to know the other new girls and forge some friendships. Jackie still basically wanted nothing to do with me and ignored me or walked away when I talked. One day I was so offended I confided in my new friend, Deirdre (who is also one of my oldest, closest friends to this day). I remember turning to her and saying “What is the deal with this Jackie girl? She is SO rude!” Deirdre looked at me and laughed uncomfortably. I could tell I went too far. “Um, I think she’s nice! What do you mean?” She obviously did not agree with me, but didn’t want to say so. I definitely turned red and became very embarrassed, saying something like “Oh, nevermind!” Great, this girl didn’t like me and I just flat out told one of her friends!

As the weeks went on, I got to know Jackie inside of school. One day, something clicked. I don’t know how or why, but we became inseparable and stayed that way throughout high school and college. A few years later, we were reminiscing about how we met each other. Laughing, I told Jackie my first impression of her. She began laughed hysterically also, and told me she was afraid of me when she met me because on the first day of practice she thought I was a senior girl. She told me she kept wondering why a senior in high school would talk to a new freshman. This explains why she would look or walk away every time I talked to her and why I thought she wanted nothing to do with me!

You could say I did a complete 180 when it comes to Jackie. This situation has definitely taught me that first impressions do not always indicate the quality of someone’s character. Before making that harsh judgment, get to know someone…they might just turn out to be your best friend!

 

 

Erasure

Yesterday I discovered WordPress’s “prompt of the day” and thought it was so cool. Each day they have a new prompt to respond to. What better way to practice being a “writer” is there? Yesterday’s prompt was “Erasure: If you could erase one moment from your past, what would it be?” This got me thinking hard for one big event or bad situation I could take back…of course, there are so many instances in my life that I wish simply did not happen at all, like that fender bender I got into in or the nasty fight I had with my brother. I wish I could have responded perfectly to a rude comment a certain someone made or stood up for myself in a situation that called for it, but I didn’t because was afraid of confrontation or of being rude myself.

There are so many “what if’s” swirling around in my ahead that it is overwhelming. Sometimes I harm myself and my mental health by thinking this way “What if this happened” or “What if that had gone another way” does not help me deal with the here and now of my life. To be honest, If I erased things that have happened to me I probably would not be the person I am today. I’d like to think that things happen for a reason and go by the old saying “God doesn’t give you more than you can handle”. Hopefully I have learned from all these situations that I would prefer to simply “erase” and have become a better person as a result. One thing I know for sure is that if I sit here wallowing in all of the things I wish I had done, or could take back, I will be sitting here for a looooong time (and probably not in a very good mood). I know that all I can do is learn from my mistakes, acknowledge them, make promises to do better and move forward! It’s okay to look back, but don’t get stuck there.

An Irish Treat

I love St. Patrick’s day. This holiday will always hold a special place in my heart. Not only because I am Irish, but because it is a holiday that really represents friends and family to me. I have a tradition with my mom of baking Irish soda bread each year as the 17th of March approaches. My grandmother used to join us, and the three of us would whip up loaves upon loaves of this delicious bread. There is nothing better for breakfast, a snack, lunch, a side at dinner, or dessert than a piece of soda bread with butter. Well, that’s my opinion anyway! I thought I’d share the fairly simple recipe here for those of you who would like to try it! Happy St. Patty’s!

Irish Soda Bread 

3 cups all purpose flour

1/2 cup sugar 

1 tablespoon baking powder

1 tsp. baking soda

1/2 tsp. salt 

6 tablespoons softened butter (sweetened)

1 cup buttermilk

1 cup raisins

1 egg 

 

1. Preheat your oven to 375 degrees and line a baking sheet with parchment paper or grease it – whatever you prefer

2. Mix flour, sugar, baking powder, baking soda, and salt in a mixing bowl

3. Add butter into the dry mixture and blend with a pastry blender until the mixture is the size of small peas 

4. Add raisins and mix

5. Add the egg and the buttermilk together and whisk. Then, add the mixture to the flour mixture. Mix only until incorporated

6. Place dough onto a floured board and kneed until it comes together. Divide into 2 rounds 

7. With a knife, score an X on the top of each loaf and brush with beaten egg or cream

8. Put onto baking sheet and sprinkle loaves with sugar

9. Bake for about  35 minutes or until a cake tester comes out clean from the middle of each 

Enjoy! Now my mouth is watering

 

 

Spotlight On: Margarita Engle

One of my new favorite authors for young adults is Margarita Engle. If you haven’t read one of her books yet, I encourage you to do so. Engle is of American and Cuban descent, a child of an American father and Cuban mother. She has won numerous awards for her works, including the Newbery Medal and the Pura Belpre Award, Americas Award, and the Jane Addams Children’s Book Award…the list goes on!

Most of Engle’s books take place in Cuba, where she is from. What I like most about her books is that she writes historical fiction pieces for adolescents about young people who are faced with impossible situations, yet still have hope of making the world a better place. Her characters often face hardship, poverty, prejudice, and racism, yet come together in unlikely friendships that span across class, race, sex, and religion. These are all important, relevant themes to be discussing with our students!

One of Engle’s books that is not to be missed is Tropical Secrets: Holocaust Refugees in Cuba. The book highlights the journey of Daniel, a young, Jewish boy who has been separated from his family in his escape from Nazi Germany. Cuba has welcomed a ship of Jewish refugees from Europe after they have been turned away from America. However, this doesn’t mean that all the Cuban people are happy to welcome these refugees into their homeland. The book chronicles Daniel’s loneliness in a strange land without his family, and a friendship he makes with a Cuban girl named Paloma, against her father’s wishes.

Before I had read this book, I had never known that Cuba took in Holocaust refugees from Nazi ruled Europe. So often, we think of America as a place that has always welcomed those who were in trouble or displaced. This book opened my eyes in a powerful way to the historical facts of the time, and challenged a lot of what I thought I knew already.  I have no doubt it would have the same affect on young students.

Engle’s style of writing is also lovely to read. She writes in short chapters, each about one or two pages long told from the perspective of different characters in the story. Her style is almost stanza-like, where she presents character’s thoughts and feelings in short, easy to read vignettes. I think her books would be great for the reluctant, adolescent reader because they make the reading easy to do, yet filled with content. Engle’s style gives the reader a strong sense of each character while simultaneously allowing the story to flow in an exciting, interesting way. I felt like I was reading an exciting, riveting story, but learning about history as well as the strength of the human spirit all at once.

I highly recommend Tropical Secrets , as well as The Firefly Letters: A Suffragette’s Journey to Cuba. Both are great historical fiction books for young adults that can be used in numerous ways in the classroom. Happy reading!

Daylight Savings

Spring ahead, fall back

We feel the pain in March for the hour we now lack

Daylight savings, why are you so cruel?

Tricking us while we are asleep in our beds is not very cool

The only treasure, I must say

Is a few hours more of sunshine instead of a finished, dark day

I’ll get used to you soon, I always will

But right now I must swallow this horrible pill

Snow Dog

            My dog is truly a creature of his natural habitat. I posted a picture of him earlier in our “digital storytelling” assignment, but I have to share just one more here. Newfoundland dogs are from Canada, have a double thick coat, and are supposed to be “lifeguards”, with big webbed feet and an affinity for swimming in the sea and rescuing lost swimmers. Now, let me tell you, my dog is certainly not a lifeguard. He is the definition of a scaredy cat who is afraid to even go in the water. Besides his gentle, loving personality, we’ve always regarded him as the opposite of what Newfoundlands are supposed to be like.

            However, there is one time where he truly embodies the characteristics of his ancestors…when it snows! Upon a heavy snowfall like yesterday’s, Bear will make it his business to stay outside as long as he possibly can. When it’s snowing, he will readily sleep outside all night long, embracing the cold and relaxing in a snowy bed he has made for himself. He is nearing 9 years old (63 in dog years!), but his true puppy comes out with the snowy weather. He prances, runs, digs, and rolls on his back, wanting to get as much of the fluffy, white snow on himself as he can. It’s a funny, cute, endearing sight to see that always makes me smile.

 

Here is a recent picture of Bear during snowstorm Nemo….can you spot him?

Longing for Summertime

I am not feeling so hot today, which seems to be the trend of many others’ blogposts lately! I’m not “sick” yet, and I refuse to be! I am in the crummy, tired feeling stage before a bad cold or god forbid something worse comes on…but I am taking plenty of Vitamin C, echinacea, and resting today. For some reason, haikus are not easy for me to write. I think it is because they are very simple and my brain tends to be VERY wordy! However, I think they are beautiful because of their simplicity and their ability to create vivid imagery. I wanted to practice a bit, so here are a few about not giving in to this impending sickness!

Throat twinging slightly

Stomach aching bitterly

Sickness go away

Vitamins, tea, rest

A snow day is the best cure

Taking it easy

Longing for summer

Where illness does not exist

Sunshine can cure all

Not Again!

So, here I am four months after Hurricane Sandy without power again. The storm was beyond anything any of us imagined it could be, and certainly reminded me I have a lot to be thankful for. One week without power in November was something I could endure, but I know that nothing compares to the strength of the thousands of people who were more deeply affected, and those that even lost everything.

Anyway…a transformer blew in my neighborhood and once again, my family and I are finding ourselves without electricity (hopefully not for too long!) Last semester in Dr. Brause’s class, she gave us the option of writing up “25 Things to Do When the Lights Go Out!”  inspired by the recent hurricane chaos. So many of these fun ideas could easily be transferable to the classroom and really urge you to get creative. My classmates had some awesome ideas and here are a few of my own:

1. Learn how to knit
2. Play ZOOM
3. Huddle together for a flashlight-lit story time
4. Make s-mores over gas lit appliances or candles (if safety permits)
5. Make a “reading” fort
6. Play “I Have…Who Has?” with states and their capitols
7. Play “I’m going on a picnic…”
8. Do a free draw “visualization” activity – one person describes a person, place, thing, situation and other’s draw it.
9. Do a “blind sketch” activity following the same rules as #7
10. Make puppets and put on a play or performance of a favorite story
11. Go on a nature walk and record and illustrate what you see
12. Play Mad-Libs
13. Round Robin Storytelling – Have one person begin a story and stop while their neighbor picks up where they left off…see where you end up!
14. READ!!
15. Write a story and illustrate it
16. Have a board game/cards night
17. Create a recipe book of favorite recipes
18. Sing, whistle or hum to play “Name that tune!”
19. Play 20 Questions
20. Put on a talent show
21. Play I-Spy
22. Do a jig-saw puzzle
23. Begin or write in your journal
24. Tell ghost stories
25. Go around the room and say one positive thing about everyone in it or a goal/dream that you have for yourself

…….As I finish writing this I’ve received a text from my mom that power is back on! Woohoo!!!