Celebrating two great girls!

Today marks the passing of my dear, Boozie. Her daughter, Sweetie was also born in the month of April. They're both gone now, but never forgotten. Not a day goes by that I don't think of them. We speak of them often. We love you, girls!

Boozie

Sweetie

Brian Williams...

I'm sure everyone has heard about the debacle that Brian Williams has gotten himself into. Last night I had a dream about him. Maybe it's because his story has been all over the news and on social media.
I saw him sitting on a couch looking very sad. I said, "Poor Brian." Then I sat down next to him. I think he laid his head on my shoulder, but I can't quite remember...lol...I then said to him, "Look, everyone has lied at some point, you haven't done anything that hasn't been done before, but you did it on TV in front of millions of people. You're a reporter. You should know how the news loves to go after people and blow things up to huge proportions."

Then I woke up.

I've heard many people pontificating on what Williams did and how he may not be able to be trusted now...yada, yada, yada, blah, blah,blah...perhaps they're right, but I doubt it. Honestly, I think this was just a case of male bravado. A guy that wanted to sound impressive and look like a big deal in front of people. How many of us have stretched the truth to sound like a big shot in some way to the listening audience?

Does that make it right? Of course not, but I'm a realist and I discern what really happened. He was just trying to show off and that's it. Our president has told a lot more lies and I don't see the media going bonkers about that!

The only reason NBC suspended him was to shut everybody up. You know, the great moral people of this society that always tell the truth. Yeah. Them.

"Let him who is without sin, cast the first stone..." John 8:7

Death of an author: Zilpha Keatley Snyder

I've been meaning to write this post for several months. Back in October 2014, I received an email that informed me that one of my favorite authors had died: Zilpha Keatley Snyder. She was 87 and died of a stroke. She wrote one of my all time favorite books from childhood: The Velvet Room. I absolutely adore this story. It transported me into a mystical, magical world that sent my imagination soaring. Here's the description on the back of the book:

Why does everyone warn Robin to stay away from the old house? "Something bad lives there," the women in the village tell her. "It's the Ghost of the Palms!" But Robin has found a beautiful and secret hiding place in the deserted mansion. And nothing--not even a wailing ghost--is going to frighten her away from the Velvet Room.

I was just fascinated with the description of this room. It was circular and when Robin pulled the curtains shut, she was engulfed in pink velvet. She also found antique treasures in the room and...oooh...I get shivers just thinking about it now...lol...I mean, let's face it. How many circular rooms have you hid out in? I don't know if I've ever seen one. I imagined myself ensconced within this mystical hideaway along with Robin. I experienced the highs and lows of her life as the daughter of a migrant worker and then her magical transformation each time she snuck away and entered The Velvet Room.

Several years ago, I found an old copy in a school and snatched it up! And it was only 75 cents!! You can't even buy a pack of chips for that now. It's so old it's in danger of falling apart, so I have it carefully situated in a place of honor on my book shelf. I need to read it again because I've forgotten so many of the details, but I'm afraid the book will disintegrate if I handle it too much! I think I'll try to track down another copy so I can read it! Lol...

I think it's so cool that Ms. Snyder was still writing kids books practically till the time she passed away as her last book was published in 2011 and The Velvet Room first came out in 1965.

Do you have any treasured childhood books that have stayed with you over the years?

Toodles!

Zilpha Keatley Snyder
(Even her name has a magical lilt!)

Cover Love: The School for Good and Evil by Soman Chainani

Book One

The School for Good and Evil is the first book in series that came out in 2013, so I'm definitely late to the party. I've only heard of it recently when Nook offered it for download at a discounted price. I was just fascinated by the cover art. I love it! It just looks so fantastical and mystical. Check out the description of the story:

A dark and enchanting fantasy adventure perfect for girls who prefer their fairytales with a twist.

Every four years, two girls are kidnapped from the village of Gavaldon. Legend has it these lost children are sent to the School for Good and Evil, the fabled institution where they become fairytale heroes or villains.

Sophie, the most beautiful girl in town, has always dreamed of her place at the School for Good while her friend Agatha, with her dark disposition seems destined for the School for Evil. But when the two are kidnapped they find their fortunes reversed...

I haven't decided if I'll get it yet as I have so many books waiting to be read, but it sounds interesting. The second book in the series is out now and as you can see below, the characters look like they've grown up...plus there's a handsome young man between the two girls...will a fantasy cat fight over him, ensue...lol...If anyone's read this series, let me know what you think of it.


I think I like the cover of book one the best. What about you?

Toodles!

Book Two