Snow accumulation 1-3 inches? My a$$.

February 8, 2010 | Iowa,Weather,Winter

Books: Sledding

Books,Family,Iowa,School

For our next “Read a Million Minutes” book, we read Sledding by Elizabeth Winthrop, illustrations by Sarah Wilson. Very cute!

Books: I can Read with My Eyes Shut!

February 7, 2010 | Books,Family,Iowa,School

For our next “Read a Million Minutes” book, we read I can Read with My Eyes Shut! by Dr. Seuss. My son read it to us. We love Dr. Seuss in this house.

Books: Goldilicious

February 6, 2010 | Books,Family,Iowa,School

Another Read a Million Minutes read was Goldilicious by Elizabeth Kann and Victoria Kann. It was one of the books I got at Bookadee for the SHE WRITES call to action. The kids loved this one.

Books: Rose’s Garden

February 5, 2010 | Books,Family,Iowa,School

For our next “Read a Million Minutes” book, we read Rose’s Garden by Peter H. Reynolds. The kids liked the use of color and how there was no color until the children started bringing flowers. It’s a nice story and a beautifully illustrated book.

Books: Snowmen at Night

February 4, 2010 | Books,Family,Iowa,School

For our next “Read a Million Minutes” book, we read Snowmen at Night by Caralyn Buehner, illustrated by Mark Buehner, recommended by some friends on Facebook. Lots of fun.

Books: Andy and the Lion

February 3, 2010 | Books,Family,Iowa,School

For our next “Read a Million Minutes” installment, we read Andy and the Lion by James Daugherty. (Thanks, Magpie Musing!)

Movie: The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo

February 2, 2010 | Books,Movies,Stieg Larsson

I got Män som hatar kvinnor from Norway for Christmas. It’s a movie based on Stieg Larsson‘s book, The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo. Wow. It was in Swedish. I watched it with Norwegian subtitles. It stuck really close to the book, so that helped. But, wow. Great movie.

Books: Beth’s Job

February 1, 2010 | Books,Family,Iowa,School

For our next “Read a Million Minutes” installment, we read Beth’s Job by Carole Roberts and illustrated by Michael Garland. No magpies in this one, but I still say thanks for the inspiration to Magpie Musing.

Music: Choo Choo

January 31, 2010 | Music

I <3 Twitter. Don’t you? It is SO full of awesome. And, OMG, the music. I follow some of my favorite musicians on Twitter, and I’ve found some great music I probably never would have found otherwise. The Snake Charmers? Hello. Rock!

I’ve followed Choo Choo, a band from Switzerland, for a while (@choochootheband). I finally ordered their CD, and it arrived the other day, so I listened to it. Oh, what fun. They describe their sound as 1960s teenage beat and Indie pop. And, yeah, I hear the 1980s resurgence of the 1960s in there. They remind me just a touch of Southern Culture on the Skids (SCOTS are way more hillbilly, but something is similar, especially the frantic drums) with a dash of The Finnsters, who could do a mean Steppin’ Stone back in the day. They’re working on a new album right now, and I think it’s due out later this year. Go, Choo Choo!

(Speaking about SCOTS, did I ever tell you about them, Skipper’s and Stephen King? Eh, another day, then.)