Silly Stories and Tasty Treats

I've been meaning to tell you about our favorite book lately. Remember The Day Jimmy's Boa Ate the Wash? Man, my kids love that book. I love it too. I still remember when it was "new" and the school librarian read it to us during library time in Elementary School.

The story itself is absurd and silly, and I love the sequence that unfolds as the child-narrator answers her mom's questions about what happens next throughout their class trip.

"How was your class trip to the farm?"
"Oh boring, kind of dull, until the cow started crying."
The kids are always VERY concerned about the cow, who gets stuck under a falling haystack. After we're all reassured (for the 20th time) that the cow is fine, and that she's not bleeding, we continue with the story. (sigh)

The illustrations capture the events perfectly. Don't you just LOVE Steven Kellogg? We'll often just sit and do a picture walk - just look at the pictures and talk about what's going on (there are so many little scenes on each page). I love the way he draws the animals - he makes the animals seem so human. Jimmy's boa constrictor seems to really feel guilty that he upset all the chickens by going into the henhouse.

They particularly like the egg fight scene, and like to match up who threw what egg, and who's going to get hit, etc. And oh, it's SO funny! hahaha hee hee ho-ho!! Then we of course choose our favorite character. Yaks likes Tommy and Boo likes Marianne.

Being a teacher and experiencing field trips with 30+ kids, I can really relate to how the teacher looks on the closing pages, and I really feel for her. Poor woman. Although, she was having them take notes about corn for goodness sakes. How boring! Exhausted, frazzled, dirty and tired, she is obviously contemplating her career choice.

Speaking of treats, I hope Steph and Sarah don't mind me passing along these yummy dessert recipes!

Ice Cream Crumble
1 german choc cake mix
¾ c margarine
½ c brown sugar
1 c chopped nuts
½ gallon ice cream, softened (your choice of flavor Steph recommended mint choc chip)

Mix together cake mix, margarine, brown sugar and nuts. Press into 9x13 and bake about 8 min at 375. Take out and as it cools, stir it up with a fork making it crumbly, remove about 1/3 of the mixture and save it for the top. Spread softened ice cream after the crumbles are cool, then top with remaining crumbles. Serve with a drizzle of chocolate syrup or caramel

Fruit Salsa
1 small orange
2 medium granny smith apples peeled, cored and finely chopped (2 cups)
1/2 cup finely chopped fresh strawberries
1 medium peach, peeled and pitted, finely chopped (2/3 cup)
2 T. packed brown sugar
2 T. apple jelly

Grate peel from orange; squeeze orange to make about 1/4 cup juice. In a medium bowl, mix orange peel, orange juice and remaining salsa ingredients. Serve over ice cream, angel food cake or cinnamon crisps! Serves about 8 (1/2 c. servings)