Intention

Intending to blog again soon. Watch this space!

Shadow Shot Sunday - August 12th, 2012

Took a short break from the housework to capture the light and shadows playing on the cupboards. 

Shadow Shot Sunday - August 5th, 2012

Shadows on the fence today for Shadow Shot Sunday. 

Shadow Shot Sunday - July 22nd, 2012

Shadows on the laundry wall.

Shadow Shot Sunday - May 27th, 2012

Curtain shadows on the washing machine

and plant shadows on the wall 

Shadow Shot Sunday - May 13th, 2012

Not a lot of shadows around this morning. Those that do appear don't stay for long. I did manage to capture these - 

To see others' contributions to Shadow Shot Sunday, visit www.shadowshotsunday2.blogspot.com.au 

A to Z challenge 2012: Z is for Zoo

The final post in the April A to Z blogging challenge. I've really enjoyed it this year and my theme of "sharing books with children" has turned out to be a lot of fun and a great learning experience.

Z is for Zoo. 

"What kind of pet would you like from the zoo? An elephant, a lion, a snake, or something smaller? Lift the flaps and see what has been sent - it's bound to be a surprise!" 

Dear Zoo by Rod Campbell is the first lift-the-flap book I have included in this April challenge. Lift-the-flap books are great for encouraging children to look after books. On the first sharing, children love to try and guess what animals are hiding behind the flaps. For repeated readings, they enjoy calling out the animals before they are revealed. A great test of memory! One way I have really enjoyed sharing books such as this one is to help with taking turns. With a small group, children need to wait patiently for their turn, which can be a challenge at times! 

I found a great, simple activity based on this book. Children can make their own lift-the-flap surprise postcard. Instructions here. Or if you have more time, why not make a lift-the-flap book of your own. Children can draw their own pictures or for outlines based on the book go here.  

Shadow Shot Sunday - April 29th, 2012

Waiting, waiting, waiting for shadows today. 

While hanging out the washing this morning I was thinking that Shadow Shot Sunday was going to be easy today. There were so many great shadows. I went inside to grab the camera. By the time I got back they were all gone. After quite a wait the sun reappeared and I was pleased to capture these two. 

Other people's contributions to Shadow Shot Sunday can be found at  www.shadowshotsunday2.blogspot.com. Definitely worth a visit!  

A to Z challenge 2012: Y is for Yertle

It's getting close to the end of the challenge! I've really enjoyed it this year and my theme of "sharing books with children" has turned out to be a lot of fun and a great learning experience. I have been reflecting on my favourite children's books, how I have enjoyed sharing books in the past and how I will continue to share books in the future. I have  learnt a lot along the way, remembered many of my favourite books and explored new ideas for sharing books. I have enjoyed all of the comments and sharing an enjoyment of picture books. I have 'met' lots of great bloggers and visited many interesting blogs. I'm really glad I decided to participate in the challenge again this year. 

Y is for Yertle. 

Yet another Dr. Suess book as the feature of one of my A to Z post. I'm starting to think that next year I may just concentrate on Dr. Suess books and characters. Yertle was one of my favourite characters as a child and I enjoyed sharing this story with my eldest daughter when she was little. In this book, Yertle the Turtle and other stories by Dr. Suess, the story of Yertle who lets power go to his head until he is toppled by Mack, a plain little turtle who has had enough can be enjoyed along with the stories of Gertrude McFuzz and The Big Brag. 

A to Z challenge 2012: X is in Axel

It's getting close to the end of the challenge! I've really enjoyed it this year and my theme of "sharing books with children" has turned out to be a lot of fun and a great learning experience. I have been reflecting on my favourite children's books, how I have enjoyed sharing books in the past and how I will continue to share books in the future. I have  learnt a lot along the way, remembered many of my favourite books and explored new ideas for sharing books. I have enjoyed all of the comments and sharing an enjoyment of picture books. I have 'met' lots of great bloggers and visited many interesting blogs. I'm really glad I decided to participate in the challenge again this year. 

X is in Axel. 

A little bit of cheating for the x post. There is a book I love which I haven't included yet in the A to Z challenge. Truth be known, there are many books I love which haven't been included. The one I am writing about in this post though is illustrated by Axel Scheffler. 

The book is Monkey Puzzle by Julia Donaldson. This one will get them giggling. Monkey has lost his mum and butterfly helps him to find her. The text rhymes making it a lot of fun to read aloud. Each clue monkey gives about his mum leads butterfly to different animals. 

"She coils round trees? Then she's very near. Quick, little monkey! She's over here." And then butterfly leads monkey to snake to which monkey replies "No, no, no! That's a snake. Mum doesn't slither about and hiss. She doesn't slither about and hiss. She doesn't curl round a nest of eggs. And anyway, my mum's got more legs." 

Finally, monkey tells butterfly his mum looks like him (which butterfly hadn't considered - her babies don't look like her!) and after a slight twist they find monkey's mum and there is a happy reunion. 

A very cute story by Julia Donaldson and illustrated by Axel Scheffler. This one was first published in 2000.