Laura's Front Porch - Commentshttp://www.neepeople.com/laurasfrontporch/Laura's BlogLaura Nee 2006. All rights reserved.en-USSquarespace Site Server v5.0.0 (http://www.squarespace.com/)Laura comments on Four O' ClocksLauraThu, 24 Jul 2008 10:58:17 +0000http://www.neepeople.com/laurasfrontporch/four-o-clocks.html#comments2957:30023:comment/1651613That is a lovely memory and story Mischelle! Thank you so much for sharing!

]]>Mischelle comments on Four O' ClocksMischelleThu, 24 Jul 2008 00:14:02 +0000http://www.neepeople.com/laurasfrontporch/four-o-clocks.html#comments2957:30023:comment/1650608When I was a little girl, I loved watching and waiting until the Four O'Clocks opened in the afternoon at my Grandmothers house (I called her "Big G"). They were my favorite of all of her flowers, and when she passed away a little over 17 years ago, my mother dug up one of the plants and brought it to me. I planted it very carefully in my back yard, and unfortunately it went into "shock" and wilted horribly. As much as I tried to baby it back to health, it was no use. The poor thing had passed....or so I thought!

The next year (and after planting something else over the top of the original Four O'Clock planting), to my surprise, it sprouted right up through everything else! It was lush and green, with hundreds of bright fushia flowers!

Ever since then, I have harvested the seeds and taken some with me wherever I go. My work has allowed me to travel the US a bit, and I have tossed seeds in the soil of every state I have been to. My children have all settled down now, and I am giving each of them seeds to plant at their homes, to share my loving memories of "Big G" with them. It's amazing to me, that after 17+ years, I still have the original plant from my grandmothers house, and it's still just as beautiful as she was.

]]>Gabriella comments on The Angel Cried...GabriellaMon, 28 Apr 2008 01:14:04 +0000http://www.neepeople.com/laurasfrontporch/the-angel-cried.html#comments2957:30023:comment/1450639INDEED! HE IS TRULY RISEN! Love this hymn so badly. My mother and I tried to sing it earlier, and well... We forgot most of the verses... *sigh* It's wonderful though! Happy Pascha to you.

]]>Mother comments on Have some hummus darling! Have *lots* of hummus!MotherThu, 24 Apr 2008 12:47:28 +0000http://www.neepeople.com/laurasfrontporch/have-some-hummus-darling-have-lots-of-hummus.html#comments2957:30023:comment/1443790Yes, you can freeze hummas. Just use a freezer-quality bag and make sure to get all the air out.

Good luck!!

]]>Laura comments on Heeeelllllppppp meeeeee!LauraSun, 13 Apr 2008 00:57:26 +0000http://www.neepeople.com/laurasfrontporch/heeeelllllppppp-meeeeee.html#comments2957:30023:comment/1415997Thanks, Magda!

Now I have lots of resources. Thanks everyone!!

]]>Magda comments on Heeeelllllppppp meeeeee!MagdaSat, 12 Apr 2008 13:20:08 +0000http://www.neepeople.com/laurasfrontporch/heeeelllllppppp-meeeeee.html#comments2957:30023:comment/1415363Alice in Wonderland
The Secret Garden
A Little Princess
Little Women (etc.)
The Wonderful Wizard of Oz (etc., about 40)
Caddie Woodlawn (even though it's been mentioned, it's really good)
Mandy by Julie Andrews Edwards
The Ordinary Princess by M.M. Kaye
Dealing With Dragons by Patricia C. Wrede (etc.)
Cheaper by the Dozen
Number the Stars by Lois Lowry
The Railway Children by E. Nesbit (many other books by her)
A Family Apart by Joan Lowry Nixon (etc.)
Road to Avonlea series (based on film/tv versions of L.M. Montgomery's books, but for younger readers): The Journey Begins, The Story Girl Earns Her Name ...
Charlotte Sometimes by Penelope Farmer
Pollyanna by Eleanor H. Porter

for later?
A Girl of the Limberlost by Gene Stratton-Porter

I don't know whether Ana is particularly interested in horses as I was at her age. I was ravenous for my sister's Black Stallion series. There are also "children's classics" series, like tales from Shakespeare, or retellings of things like The Three Musketeers.

When I was growing up, the library would have a particular section for the "Texas Bluebonnet Award" books, providing lists of suggested reading material:
http://www.txla.org/groups/tba/

I found that there's a Maryland Black-Eyed Susan Book Award list as well:
http://www.maslmd.org/awards_nominees.php

And for everyone, I particularly enjoyed reading Fr. Andrew's post about the life of St. Catherine the Great:
http://christinthemountains.blogspot.com/2007/12/no-fairy-tale.html

]]>Mimi comments on Heeeelllllppppp meeeeee!MimiFri, 11 Apr 2008 23:38:53 +0000http://www.neepeople.com/laurasfrontporch/heeeelllllppppp-meeeeee.html#comments2957:30023:comment/1414772You know another series she may like is "The Littles" I remember loving those as a kid. On the same theme is "The Borrowers"

]]>Emily comments on Heeeelllllppppp meeeeee!EmilyFri, 11 Apr 2008 20:59:13 +0000http://www.neepeople.com/laurasfrontporch/heeeelllllppppp-meeeeee.html#comments2957:30023:comment/1414597My absolute favorite was the Boxcar Children (the originals, not the later additions.) My sister and I used to love pretending we were the Boxcar Children -- I really wished we were!

I also loved A Little Princess and The Secret Garden for the same reason. I had a very active imagination, I guess. :)

]]>Mimi comments on Heeeelllllppppp meeeeee!MimiFri, 11 Apr 2008 20:54:39 +0000http://www.neepeople.com/laurasfrontporch/heeeelllllppppp-meeeeee.html#comments2957:30023:comment/1414591You'll have to let me know what you think - I loved it as a child and still love it.

]]>Laura comments on Heeeelllllppppp meeeeee!LauraFri, 11 Apr 2008 20:39:31 +0000http://www.neepeople.com/laurasfrontporch/heeeelllllppppp-meeeeee.html#comments2957:30023:comment/1414567Hmm...never heard of Caddie Woodlawn. This is why I like to ask for suggestions!

]]>Mimi comments on Heeeelllllppppp meeeeee!MimiFri, 11 Apr 2008 18:29:01 +0000http://www.neepeople.com/laurasfrontporch/heeeelllllppppp-meeeeee.html#comments2957:30023:comment/1414219I loved Bobbsey Twins and Nancy Drew. I also really like the American Girls books even though they came out after I was a grownup (Shhhhh, I still read them)

What about Caddie Woodlawn?

I also agree, Kate DiCamillo is wonderful - Because of Winn Dixie and The Tale of Despereaux are the ones I've read.

]]>Laura comments on Heeeelllllppppp meeeeee!LauraFri, 11 Apr 2008 17:32:02 +0000http://www.neepeople.com/laurasfrontporch/heeeelllllppppp-meeeeee.html#comments2957:30023:comment/1414124THanks, Philippa...we tried Anne a while back and she said it was a little too hard. It may be the edition we have...the print is kind of small. She wanted to save it for when she was older. I hadn't thought of the Bobbsey twins though...we'll have to look into that one!

]]>Philippa comments on Heeeelllllppppp meeeeee!PhilippaFri, 11 Apr 2008 14:15:50 +0000http://www.neepeople.com/laurasfrontporch/heeeelllllppppp-meeeeee.html#comments2957:30023:comment/1413655What about some of the "oldies"?

The Bobbsey Twins Series
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bobbsey_Twins

Looks like you can download the series as an e-book for free here: http://www.gutenberg.org/browse/authors/h#a367

Little Women

Little Men

Anne of Green Gables

Hope this helps!

]]>Laura comments on Heeeelllllppppp meeeeee!LauraFri, 11 Apr 2008 11:58:38 +0000http://www.neepeople.com/laurasfrontporch/heeeelllllppppp-meeeeee.html#comments2957:30023:comment/1413453Thanks Amy...she started a Ramona book a few weeks ago. I think she likes the American Girl books because they are so formulaic. LOL.

I'll definitely look into your suggestions. I think we have some Beverly Cleary books laying around. Maybe we'll do the EB White too. I haven't tried Magic Tree House yet, but that's also a good suggestion.

I only check out about 6 books at a time...the problem is she's reading them so quickly now! I guess I shouldn't complain...

Trevor...that's really funny and not at all surprising, knowing you!

]]>AmyH comments on Heeeelllllppppp meeeeee!AmyHFri, 11 Apr 2008 01:52:50 +0000http://www.neepeople.com/laurasfrontporch/heeeelllllppppp-meeeeee.html#comments2957:30023:comment/1412923We also have a limit on books they can check out from the library at one time (7). Makes it easier to keep track of. Here are my suggestions, and I will think of some more, I'm sure, and she's probably already read some of these.

Any E. B. White

Does she like mysteries? Boxcar Children and Trixie Belden, or Nancy Drew if you think appropriate.

Little House Books.

Because of Winn Dixie by Kate diCamillo

Mr. Popper's Penguins

My Father's Dragon set by Ruth Stiles Gannett

Beverly Cleary, esp. the Ralph Mouse series, and Ramona

The Dragon Slayer's Academy series by Kate McMullan (if she's interested in fantasy)


Paddington books by Michael Bond

also there are American Girl mysteries, has she seen those?

Magic Tree House books are popular and numerous

These are just ones we have on our shelves that the children read a while ago. You might also try pointing her to nonfiction, like junior biographies, poetry, kids' craft/cookbooks, etc. Good luck!


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