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See this on Amazon:How will Gregory find his way back to Dad? Swish-swoosh . . . Gregory draws a lion in the sand. ''Don't go in the water, and don't leave Sandy,'' warns Dad. But the sandy lion grows a tail that gets longer and longer and soon Gregory is lost on the beach. This wonderful read-aloud book brings to life a summer experience that is all too familiar for young children. Karen Williams's rhythmic text has been paired with Floyd Cooper's brilliant illustrations, revealing the trip down the beach entirely from a [...]

As travelers in Europe, Steve and I have stayed for part of several trips on organic farms.  One of the best parts of the places we stayed was the opportunity to meet the Wwoofers who worked on the farms. These mostly young people come from all over the world to volunteer, learn about organic farming, learn the language in the country where they work and to travel cheaply.  They find their way to these farms through the World, Wide Organization of Organic Farms (http://www.wwoof.net).Choose a country from the website.  These farms are all [...]

Look what was spotted as a featured book at the Chapel Hill Library!A writer loves to see her books on the shelf in a library.Better yet checked out and in the hands of kids.And then this note from a teacher.  A writeralso likes to know her worksare bing used creativelyand meaningfully!AmazonKaren,You might recall that I wrote to you last March to let you know I was using your book Circles of Hope in a UU regional workshop on storytelling and social justice.  By the way, the story worked great!This summer I have started a new projectcalled Storyinworship.org that reviewsstories that are [...]

 Casa do Burro, named after this guy,  another organic farm get- away is just one kilometer up the mountain from Aqua Ventura(see previous post).  This welcoming farm owned by a German couple with two small children is just as magical as Aqua Ventura.Also close to the sea and villages with cafes, Sagres and Lagos, hiking and adventure nearby this unusual get away has it's own kind of whimsy.The mainstay of the organic farm and guest home is goat cheese made on the property and sold at local markets. Besides the goats there are rabbits, [...]

Any time the directions to a place reads something like, "as  you enter the village of Pedralva turn left at the house with red shutters, then cross a small bridge, go about a kilometer and you will see a house on the hill on the right.  After that there is nothing,  you have gone too far."…I know I want to go there.Johnny and Vio of Aqua-Ventura have realized their dream; an organic adventure tourist farm now located in the forest area of the Algarve region of Portugal. Still a work in progress it [...]

Ever since I moved to the Navajo reservation I have been interested in all things sheep.I have herded sheep, sheared sheep, carded, spun and woven wool.  So the Sheep is Life celebration is a high point every year.  It is a fiber arts workshop organized by The Navajo Lifeway organization.  (navajolifeway.org )This year Rebbecca Shepard taught us how to felt a sheep herders hat.As with all things sheep it is not as easy as it looks.Who knew we would have to start with uncarded raw wool?I have carded before.  Believe me it is [...]