Happy Halloween from Barefoot Books – Free Downloadable Recipes!

(See Barefoot Books link in blogroll!)

HAVE LOTS OF SPOOKY GOODIES FOR YOUR HALLOWEEN PARTY!

FREE DOWNLOADABLE RECIPES FROM BAREFOOT BOOKS TO YOU!

ENJOY THE FUN!

from TALULA

Families of Children with Heart Problems, Please Read About “Possum’s Heart!”

 

Read "Possum's Heart" by Karen Collum below.

 

 

This post is NOT one of my normal children’s book-spouting posts…

As you will see if you continue reading, there IS A CHILDREN’S BOOK INVOLVED ; but it is a very special book being written as we speak for a very special little almost-4 year old boy! 

His mom (Karen Collum) is a wonderful blogger friend of mine and I am proud to know her. It also happens that she is a published children’s author, with many more books in the works over the last few months. In recent weeks; she felt she might be writing ‘Too Much’ and decided to slow down and spend a lot more time “in-the-moment” with her 1 year old twins and her almost 4 year old son she calls “Possum” in her blog.

Who among us parents hasn’t felt the tug of missing time with our little ones during our busy, everyday modern lives? How many of us really listen to that little voice in our heads and do something about it to change our schedules; and actually create more time for just “being” with precious babies before they grow too big for us to cuddle?

Well, Karen did! (Thanks to the ‘voices’ in the universe, God and whoever else you listen to!)

And this is what Karen observed. Her little man ran, jumped and played everyday – but not quite as much as he had a month or two ago.  Several bouts of normal type illness occurred through the last few weeks, each running its course through the whole family. And Karen noticed that her “Possum” didn’t bounce back quite as well as the other members of the family. So she began to worry, as mothers tend to do; and called to make an appoinment with the local doctor. The doctor heard a little murmor in his chest, said it was probably just a symptom hanging around from the virus, and planned another visit to check him out again in a week. The noise was still there; so as doctors do; referred her to a Specialist. Problem was; the soonest visit to be scheduled was for 3-4 months down the road. This was unsettling to the mother. So she prayed for God to intervene in the timing, if he thought “Possum” really needed it.

Read Karen Collum’s  own story here about what happened after that in a very small town in Australia! And you will get the extra bonus of reading her unfinished new book “Possum’s Heart”.

Now “Possum” is scheduled for heart surgery in a few weeks, and true to form for a children’s writer; Karen is writing his story into a book to make it easier for him to deal with the fears and worry that a little guy has when faced with a hospital visit and a major operation. Now this amazing woman who was a ‘childminder’  and ‘Positive Parenting’ teacher in her life before babies;  has embarked on a book  (written almost overnite) to help her own son (and if published later, in the future – many other children) – overcome their  worries when facing major heart surgery.  She has just found an illustrator to put together a few drawings to make it a ‘Real’ book for “Possum” in time for his surgery. 

Plus,  she has contacted the organization for families of children with heart disease  in Australia called;

HEART KIDS (www.heartkids.org.au) to find some more information and correspond with other families dealing with the same type of situation. Maybe by posting this information here in this blog, I can help bring more families a link to more support and information.  

And for those familes facing the same thing at home in the U.S. here is a link to my local children’s hospital Texas Childrens Hospital (renowned around the world for its Pediatric Medicine and support of families).  Families here might find the following pages of use:

Texas Children’s Pediatric Hospital Resources:

Parent Connect

Parent Advice Line

Downloadable pdf of Safety Info to Post On Your Refrigerator   

KAREN ~ I AM PROUD TO CALL YOU MY FRIEND AND “RENAISSANCE WOMAN #2”.

BLESS YOU AND “POSSUM” AND YOUR WHOLE FAMILY!

Faeries & Beltane

The BFB of Faeries

In honor of my Gaelic Irish heritage ~ I want to honor the Beltane (or Bealtaine) today with my Barefoot Book of Faeries!

To those not blessed of any Gaelic lineage in their family ~ Happy May Day!

Take a look here at this beautifully written (& narrated on the accompanying CD) by Tanya Robyn Batt (a professional faery) and gorgeously illustrated by Gail Newey and order from http://tswagon.com ( or directly from My Barefoot Bookshop ).

The Barefoot Book of Faeries     <<<<Take a closer look here!

Enjoy the Fey Stories ~ and   ~   Whoopee!  >>> Free Shipping Through may 10, 2009!

EDIT: I kept thinking about Fairy Cakes all day; so I did a little research and found these little lovelies over at>> becks & posh    << where Sam & Fred actually give you the recipe [go to their search block and put in My Favorite Posts – 2006]– and Sam says the Fairy Cake Fairies just jumped into the frame when she took the photo!

Bake Fairy Cakes & Fairies Come A-flyin!

Also ~ if you are not a whiz in the kitchen and prefer to buy your fairycakes ~ look no further than Oprah’s List for the>>> Rum Cake Fairy   <<<   (aka Tracey Hughes) to order them online or by phone (888-488-8RUM) or (888-488-8786). Oh; I just love this site! Yummm!

Rum Cake Fairy on O' List!

 

Petit Fours in gift 7

Medium Size Minis Mix

Gift Pack 4

I hope you have a time to share Fairy Cakes with a child or friend soon…laughing all the while and be sure to eat dessert first and dinner later ~ if there is room after Tea!       Happy May Day!

 I think I’ll just have to make some Saturday morning!     Ta – Ta Talula 

P.S. I realized later that I forgot to thank Natasha over at>>>    “children’s books for grown-ups”  <<< for being my original inspiration for this Fairy Cakes post that sent me careening all over the internet to find info to add here. You will see in the link her version of Fairy Cake (recipe included as well) which is just one of the little treats she snacks on while reading children’s books. (Sorry – I tried twice to upload the photo but it keeps disappearing on me – I guess the faeries ate it!)

Oh yeah! I also am sending some of my Fairy Cakes over to my beautiful “Grand Mia” ~ since it is her Third birthday today and she is a CRAZY Fairy Fan! Actually a “Tinkerbell” Fanatic.  🙂 Hey I have given her a lot of things with other fairies, but Of course she LLOOOVES TINK!

Happy Winter Holidays For Whatever You Celebrate!

White Rose of Peace

Edit: Not a week goes by that i don’t see someone coming to visit my site picture of this white rose (7 in the last two days); so I wanted to mention that it is a stock photo available at yahoo. It came with my installed computer software and I use it for several things. It is beautiful though, so I can understand why so many folks want to see (and I assume copy it). 

P.S. It DOES NOT have anything to do with the German youth group called “White Rose” that is a modern day anti-Nazi movement, it is just a coincidence that I chose it for its beauty & peace symbol.

 

Yesterday was Winter Solstice, and Hanukah, Christmas & Kwaanza are all on the calendar this week. El Id was just a few weeks ago. So today I thought would be a good day to send warm wishes for winter celebrations in cultures all over the globe! May the blessings of your culture be visited upon you this season!

I know there are various wars and conflicts going on in far-flung corners of this beautiful earth and I hope that there will soon be peace in all of them; and soldiers everywhere will soon have no ‘war-work’ to do. I wish with all my heart and spirit that Peace will break out in all the conflict-stressed places of our fragile Mother Earth.

I also hope that children everywhere will find love in their family relations, with a gentle touch to rock them to sleep at night. For I have seen too much in my life cycle of children who have too few (if any) gentle touches and soft hugs; not to mention the horrors of abuse. It breaks another piece of my heart every time i run across those children (with neglectful or abusive parents) in my lifetime of work with children and families. May there be peace in all children’s hearts this world-over soon!

My future is looking a little brighter this month, since I have chosen to go back into the Early Childhood Education field and accepted a job offer just this week that will send me back into other’s children’s lives. I have been out of this field for almost 5 years; so there will definitely be an adjustment period for me. I will be posting here a little now and then about my trials & tribulations as I re-learn the finer points. (Translation: I’m rusty & need to read up on all the regs in our state that were implemented last year, plus have a newly required Homeland Security check.) Gee – I hope you can’t be failed for bad credit. I don’t think I’ll ever recover from having myself and 3 semi-adult children in college at the same time!

Well here we are again at the end of this post, cause I’m about to sneeze from my allergy/cold whatever — jeez — I know that lady in the mall store REALLY does get a bonus for spraying Chanel No. 5 right in my face! No matter how hard I try to stay away from those stores — I always end up caving-in and going to help with at least one set of grandchildren — and those perfume ladies get me every season! AAACCHOOO! Sorry! Couldn’t hold it in!

Meddy Chris-mas and Hoppy New “Achoo!” Year! May everyone have a blessed year in 2009! And for Pete’s Sake — read a bedtime story to a child near you!

Final Chance To Order Barefoot For Christmas 2008!

Ok Last Shot Here For All You Last Minute Shoppers…and you know who you are!

Barefoot Books Last Date to Order and Still Have Delivery Prior to Christmas 2008 is Almost Here!

<<<MONDAY DECEMBER 22… DEADLINE >>> ORDER MUST BE DONE PRIOR TO 11:30AM [EST] OR 8:30AM [PST]>>>

That leaves Friday (Dec.19), Saturday (Dec. 20) & Sunday (Dec. 21) to browse and find what you need to delight those little folks or those older folks who collect children’s literature/ great poetry volumes/or beautifully illustrated classics! And remember our puppets, multi-cultural music, and audio-books to add to the package and create a stunning gift surprise!

Then hurry to beat the final shipping date and you will get ‘rush’ delivery for the standard shipping cost!

How’s that for a last-minute bargain! Thanks for reading my blog and I hope you find a good read here for your beautiful child!

Talula

Enjoy our “Fireside Stories” & Warm Your Family Gatherings This Season!

Love to curl up in front of a fire and read to your family on cold winter nights? …Well; my Barefoot Books shop has a great gift for you to share winter storytelling right here!

FIRESIDE STORIES – Tales For A Winter’s Eve  This warm collection of stories  are retold by Caitlin Matthews and illustrated by Helen Cann; and these are just the ticket for sharing on the couch while all snuggled up  together on frosty evenings! You will find eight wonderful tales from far and wide in this sumptious book; each celebrating a different aspect of the winter months! Together; they will keep you royally entertained all season long!  Your friends & family will love hearing the winter-time stories from Scotland, Russia, Austria, Canada and the Czech Republic! So make a pot of hot chocolate, grab the marshmallows and your favorite blanket; then snuggle up to listen to Schnitzle, Schnotzle Schnootzle – A Story for Christmas Eve or one of the other great tales. I am willing to bet your little ones won’t fall asleep until the last page is turned for “The End!” as my 2 yr old grandaughter says after every book!

*Browse our collection of 400 plus items and once you make your online purchase of at least $60.00 by 11:59 EST on Dec. 8th, 2008; you will receive a FREE COPY of Fireside Stories (Hardcover) when you check out!  FREE BOOK NO LONGER AVAILABLE; BUT FIRESIDE STORIES IS STILL AVAILABLE AT REGULAR COST!

There’s plenty of time to get your order before Christmas when your order regular shipping (UPS)  by December 16th, 2008 (or if later – you can rush ship it!). Check out our selection of toddler books, pre-k, elementary, and our new middle school/jr high editions (YA genre); or look over our beautiful titles to suit the adult collector on your holiday gift list. Barefoot Book of Classic Poems , Shakespeare’s Storybooks or Odysseus should work for them!

If you are a fan of PBS shows on Public Television; then browse through our brand-new PBS Parents Collection and read how we have just partnered with them for several new upcoming ventures.

And for those of you who like to make your gifts count for charitable work at the same time; read about our new partnership with BOOKS FOR AFRICA and make a donation of a book  for $3.00 or $5.00 and we will see it gets shipped to Africa for children to learn to read & about the rest of the world.