ABC Book continued

So, after my recent post about ABC's and Reading, I got inspired to make a few more pages.  They're simple, really, but when you have two little ones and you're baby sitting a newborn, it gets a bit challenging to get anything done.  So, I figured I'd post the first four letters for your enjoyment.  I hope someone else gets some good use out of them as well.

I'm not sure about the cursive on the C, it looks a lot like a lower case "e" if you ask me.  What do you think?  I might change it before I actually print it out.  I'll post an updated one if I do.

ABC's and Reading

Ok, so I've been a total slacker on this one... I started this ABC book for the kiddos forever ago and I may get it done by the time the kids are in college LOL.  But seriously, now that my 3 year old is really getting into the alphabet (he actually knows the whole alphabet... in order!) and is learning to identify the letters, I'm realizing that there is an issue with the different styles of font. He can identify most of the letters in a sans serif style of font, but when you add the little squigglies and stuff with serif fonts, he's still a little confused.  It throws him off.  So I've decided to change up my ABC book a bit and have a serif, sans serif and cursive font on the letter page.  Here's what I've come up with for the A page to show you what I mean:

Since they don't teach cursive writing in school anymore (at least, not around here) I feel it necessary to teach my child how to write in cursive.  It's a lost art, really.  And I don't want my two little ones to be like my stepson whowriteswithoutspacesoranypunctuationtothepointwhereyoucan'tbarelyreadhiswritingatall.  I had a hard time typing that, I automatically put spaces in without even thinking.  I don't know how he can write without spaces or any punctuation to the point where you can't barely read his writing at all.  UGH, it drives me nuts.  But, he's 19 and has moved out, so I don't have to go over anymore of his homework, thank goodness!  But I'm going to work with these two little ones of mine, like my mother worked with me.  Thankfully, the 3 year old really likes books.  I'm hoping the 1 year old will too.

Feel free to use these ABC pages that I make for your own personal use.  I'll post more as I get them done.  And if you want to link back to my blog, that would be super nice, but not necessary.  Although I'd love to hear if you like what I've done on here.  

Thanks for stopping by today.  Speaking of learning your letters, which leads to reading... how's your Banned Books Week going?  Did you pick a book?  Which one did you pick?  I'm working on Moby Dick.  It's a book I never got a chance to get through, but have always wanted to read.  

Corn on the Cob Day

June 11th is Corn on the Cob Day.  Remember, corn is a grain, not a veggie.  (Just a little tid-bit of non-essential info for ya there.)  Originally grown by the native American indians, it became necessary for the new world settlers to learn how to grow it in order to survive.

As I was searching around for pics and information on corn on the cob, I came across one of the cutest ideas, especially if you're a corn on the cob lover like I am (my mouth is watering just thinking about corn on the cob!)  Corn on the cob CUPCAKES!  Too cute, I've just got to try this one day.

Black & White decorating sugars?  To look like salt & pepper... Really?  Didn't even know black decorating sugar existed... but I digress.......

If you're curious on how to actually cook corn on the cob, there's actually a website dedicated to such a subject.

Not exactly original, but certainly not hard to find or mistake for anything else!

Anyway, would you believe that there's actually a Corn Maize (maze) company (family) who have, or have made, mazes all over the US, Canada, Poland and the UK?

I just love this pic, she's so adorable and looks like she's really enjoying the maze of maize!
I really wish I could get great pics like this of my son.

And searching around at the different Maize locations, and being from PA, myself, this particular place just looks like a lot of fun.

Yet another adorable (and obviously professional) pic of a very cute kid

I think I've totally gotten off track again from the original point of this post... Corn on the Cob Day, but I hope I've brought you some fun ideas of something to do... find a maze and get lost!  Ha ha ha... Seriously, though, this post has made me miss Autumn and just makes me want to move back up north where there are four seasons instead of the two we get down here in Florida:  Wet and Not-So-Wet.  This past "winter" (if you can even call it that) we barely got any cold temps at all.  Usually we see at least a few weeks of downright chilling weather.  But this year, we barely cooled off.  The mosquitoes are gonna be horrendous this summer.  Yuck!

Again, I'm off topic.  But it's very late (or very early, depending on your perspective) at the time of this writing, so I blame lack of sleep.

So, back to the celebration of Corn on the Cob... In Dublin, Ohio, there is a field of concrete corn on the cob.  A piece of art by a man named Cochran, it serves as a dedication to the areas rich agricultural roots, as well as a memorial to the field's original owner/farmer, Sam Frantz, the inventor of the hybrid corn.

These are actually people-sized concrete corn on the cob statures

Of course, there are many corn festivals all over the place in honor of corn on the cob, (corn festivals, popcorn festivals, you name it!)  just Google it and you'll see for yourself, and maybe even find a good one near you that you never even knew existed.  Of course, you'll find some ridiculous things as well.

And maybe even a few cute ones...

Anyway... however you like your corn on the cob, enjoy it to the fullest!

National Yo-Yo Day

Today is National Yo-Yo Day... who knew?!

Strangely enough, I found a pattern for crocheted yo-yo's.  Go figure.  You can find anything on the internet!  (secretly, I can't wait to make a few of these!  but don't tell anyone!)

http://www.craftster.org/forum/index.php?topic=307721.0

Staycation Saint Augustine Florida

St. Augustine, the oldest continuous settlement in the United States!  This quaint little city we call home is one of the most remarkable historic cities that I've ever had the pleasure of "playing tourist" in.

We've got everything from the Castillo de San Marco to the Alligator Farm to the sandy beaches of North East Florida.  Sunrises are spectacular and right about now, the sunrises happen around 6:30 AM. 

This is a recent sunrise that I had the pleasure of photographing. 
One of my favorite things to do is go to the beach and
capture the beauty with my camera.

This Memorial Day has us watching the skies with the St. Augustine Air Show with a special "Salute to Veterans" that has been a tradition since 1967.  Don't miss out on the amazing stunts, static displays and much more!


Winner of the Poster Art Contest.
For those interested, they will have
another contest again next year.





History, Mystery, Mayhem & Murder!  If you enjoy lurking on the shady side of the street, skulking in corners and lurking in doorways, just to get a juicy tidbit of the darker side of our town's history, skulk no more!  This tour is what you've been waiting for. 

Anastasia State Park is a quiet beach area with watersports available as well as a self-guided nature trail through a wooded area close by the beach.  Camping is also available as well as an archeological site.

Flagler College, one of our most popular and most recognizable backdrops of our city's skyline, is glanced at in passing, yet as residents, many of us do not stop by to enjoy a wonderful tour of the hotel-turned-college.  It has an extensive and intriguing history and is something that anyone living here or visiting here should not miss out on.

Another city icon is the St. Augustine Lighthouse.  It's not just a lighthouse, there is a museum and they also offer a "Guest Keeper Program" to learn what it's like to keep a lighthouse running.  This is a three-day weekend event.  There is also traditional wooden boatbuilding, standard tours of the lighthouse itself, a Dark of the Moon after hours paranormal tour and a Sunset Moonrise event to watch the sun set and the moon rise from atop the lighthouse with a champagne toast and light hors d'oeuvres.

The Fountain of Youth is a nice little park that is free to St. Johns County residents with ID and is cheap for all others.  Yet it is a very interesting attraction with some wonderful historical tours available.  Don't miss out on this, especially if you live here.  You can't beat the price!  And it's a beautiful and relaxing way to spend a day with the family.

Something that we, as residents here, take for granted is the Castillo de San Marcos.  But did you know that it is the only fort that was never taken in battle?  It has changed hands via treaty only!  The amazing design and materials used in building the fort contributed to the durability and defense of one of our most popular and recognizable icons of our city.

First Friday Artwalk is another of our little secrets that is fun and free!  This is an event that takes place year round on the first Friday of each month.  Check out the website for sponsors and participating galleries.

Continuing with the art exhibit theme, the Butterfield Garage Art Gallery is another place to put on your grocery list of places to pop in on.  This is for our local artists to exhibit their work, so it is definitely a place for locals to honor our artistic neighbors. 

If you enjoy fishing, or if someone in your family does and you and your family want to just sit back and relax, Devil's Elbow Fishing Resort is probably for you.  This place used to be a little hidden spot that was just for fishing, but it has become a small, quiet resort with cottages and a heated pool.  Sit back and rock away on a covered porch,  watch the dolphins, go boating, go fishing, enjoy the old world style of relaxation just down at Crescent Beach and enjoy what others have enjoyed for 50 years. 

Limelight Theatre is another of our city's treasures.  I personally had worked on their very first show here in St. Augustine and it has been a delight to watch this company grow into such a wonderful beacon of culture.  Their next play will run from June 17th to July 10th called Assassins.  A macabre musical comedy that sounds quite intriguing.  There is also the Exploding Bishops Improv Comedy Crew the first Wednesday of the month, as well as the KidzFactory Summer Performance Camps.  Don't miss out on the wonderful world of theatre in our very own Limelight!

With that in mind, there is also the St. Augustine Murder Mystery Dinner Theater.  I haven't experienced it myself, but have read good reviews.  If you're interested in "dinner and a show" with a comedic, interactive twist, this may be for you. 







Worley Favor Pottery is an interesting artist gallery.  His pottery is quite interesting and beautiful.

Honestly, there are so many more things to do here in St. Augustine that it's really impossible to list them all.  We have so much rich culture and history, yet living here, we tend to take it for granted.  Don't miss out on the wonderful rich history and fun activities that we have.  Just look around at all the forts, museums, numerous beautiful churches, parks, antique shops, our winery, the lighthouse, our entertaining attractions, our oldest house, oldest schoolhouse, oldest "everything," St. George Street, horse and carriage tours, boating tours, golfing, horseback riding, and who knew you could ride a Segway on the beach on a guided tour?!

Of course, there's nothing like taking one of the tour trains or trolleys around town.  And before you get all uppity about the trains/trolleys (they are two different companies, did you realize that?) and looking "too much like a tourist" give them the benefit of the doubt.  They're not too expensive and they actually give a nice tour with quick little bits about different attractions that you stop at as well as points of interest that you pass by. 

After doing the research for this post, I now have my family's entire summer planned!  I hope I've been helpful to your summer schedule as well.  Don't take our city for granted, we have too much to pass up and "put off" for another day that never comes.

Get out there and enjoy our beautiful city of St. Augustine, Florida!