Stuffies: Always There

   There is nothing more comforting than a cuddly stuffie, or a soft cuddly blanket.  These comfort objects are there when one is young and although the need for comfort often diminishes as children grew up and get involved in baseball, painting, or just growing up and making new friends, the stuffie will always be close by.  One never knows when the need for a cuddle will arise -- and knowing that the stuffie will always be there is a comfort in itself.

A great new book celebrates the exalted position of the stuffie.  Jennifer Black Reinhardt's 2021 book, features a young boy who has a loving connection to his green dinosaur stuffie but as with most stuffies or comfort blankets the need outgrows the need for a constant presence.  What does not go away is the comfort in knowing that the stuffie or blanket is close by in case a cuddle IS needed.

Reinhardt, Jennifer Black. (2021). Always by My Side: A Selfie Story. Random House. ISBN-13/978-0593173824.

Click on this link: https://www.sidekickcoffeebooks.com

In the classroom:

1. Invite children to draw a picture of their stuffie - and include themselves if they wish (the cover of Always By My Side will be a great mentor illustration).
2. Encourage discussion about the stuffie and what the stuffie means to them.
3. Writing - suggestions
• Write a paragraph telling about the most memorable moment event that included your stuffie.
• How did you come to get your stuffie, from whom, why, and a few brief memories - write a brief biography of your stuffie and you.
• Create a graphic novel that shows/tells about a time when your stuffie was there for you.
• On a scale of 1-10 (one being needing the stuffie with you most of the day to 10 where the stuffie (and you) are content to have the stuffie sitting on a shelf, or on a chair waiting for you to cuddle them -- what is your number relationship with your stuffie right now?  Explain how that came about.
• For older readers/writers:  Compare/contrast your own relationship with your stuffie to the relationship the two boys have with the green and pink-polka dotted companion and lion cub stuffie.  Is there a stuffie on your shelf awaiting a cuddle some time in the future.
4. Read some other books about comfort pals.
• Tony Baloney by Pam Muñoz Ryan (Scholastic, 2011).
• Ira Sleeps Over by Bernard Waber (Houghton Mifflin, 1973).
• Knuffle Bunny: A Cautionary Tale  by Mo Willems (Hyperion, 2004).
• Knuffle Bunny Too: A Case of Mistaken Identity by Mo Willems (Hyperion, 2007).
• Knuffle Bunny Free: An Unexpected Diversion by Mo Willems (Hyperion, 2010).
5. If possible, include a day when readers can bring their stuffies to share the classroom experience.

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Cite this blog post:

McElmeel, Sharron. (2021, February 26). Stuffies - Always There. Green Frog Gifts (Blog). http://bit.ly/stuffies102

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Green Frog Gifts -- unique gifts -- sewing and cooking and definitely some cuddly blankets and stuffies.

https://www.etsy.com/shop/GreenFrogGifts

Remembering... Raisin Pie

Remembering ... Raisin Pie

"At the blueness of the skies; and in the warmth of summer, we remember them."

And for decades tradition in the United States has brought together friends and family to remember a loved one who has passed into the next world.  We are left with memories and stories -- stories often told in the after days around food.  Before modern refrigeration came, death during seasons where there was a lack of fresh fruit, limited the pie offerings for the gatherings. But women (the primary cooks in the households of years past) were ingenious in their quest to share food at these gatherings.  Thus the "funeral pie" was born.  Dried raisins were available year around and thus could be used to make a raisin pie anytime during the year.  The popularity of the raisin pie on these occasions earned it the title of "funeral pie."

As years passed the raisin pie has gone under revision.  The basic raisin pie has been embellished with a meringue topping in place of the top crust; or eggs have been added and beaten into the raisins.

The tradition of the raisin pie as the favored funeral pie has gone by the wayside, but just the thought of raisin pie brings memories to me.  Memories of the loved ones lost and gone in the last years.  Sharing a raisin pie, no matter the occasion, brings memories back.

"At the blueness of the skies; and in the warmth of summer, we remember them."  And the memories bring joy with each passing day.

I HATE Vegetable Soup - Vegetable Soup

I HATE Vegetable Soup - Vegetable Soup

Whenever anyone finds out I don't like vegetables I get admonished about how good vegetables are for one's health.  Yes -- I really don't like vegetables.  Well sort of:

I'll eat fresh tomato bruschetti with basil. But I don't like tomatoes.  I'll eat soups such as chili with a tomato base; or pizza with tomato sauce. But I really don't like tomatoes for themselves.

I'll eat peas, but don't want them in soup.  Pea salad with cheese squares, sweet pickles, in a sweet mayonnaise dressing is actually delicious and a favorite. I'll eat corn (actually love fresh corn on the cob) but don't want corn in soup.  Carrots are okay but best if raw.  Will eat cooked if small pieces.

String beans - just don't like them.  Same with greens such as lettuce, kale - if anything raw spinach.  But I guess salad greens are not really vegetables but they are in the same category in my mind.

You get the idea.  But I do sort of like raw cauliflower, broccoli, but basically I really don't like vegetables. But this soup is so delicious that I don't really think it is filled with vegetables.  So here is the recipe -- the quantities are not precise by any means.  And if you are vegetarian I am sure you could make it with vegetable stock and no beef at all.

The soup comes out delicious and is great with fresh bread.  I have a friend who makes beer bread and it is great.  Just coarse enough and just right to dip into the broth and enjoy.  Not sure of her recipe but here is one I found that looks and sounds right.  

So serve up a big bowl - pour a glass of milk, butter a slice of bread, and enjoy.

Cite this blog post:
McElmeel, Sharron. (2021, February 10). I HATE Vegetable Soup - Vegetable Soup. Green Frog Gifts (Blog). http://bit.ly/vegsoup101

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Green Frog Gifts -- unique gifts -- sewing and cooking

https://www.etsy.com/shop/GreenFrogGifts