Book Review: Diamond Jim Dandy and the Sheriff

“Diamond Jim Dandy and the Sheriff,” by Sarah Burell. Pictures by Bryan Langdo. I had mixed feeling about this book, so I had a friend read it. She too ended up with the same opinion as me; you shouldn’t have children think playing with a rattlesnake in any way is okay. They are dangerous. I have no idea with such a great premise the writer used a rattlesnake as the hero. Why not use a king snake? I think it came down to the rattle on the rattlesnake. The baby in the story grabs it after falling down a cliff and the snake saves her. But I personally think it is wrong to send a message to kids that if you grab a rattlesnake’s rattle you won’t get bit. Maybe if she saw kids in the hospital who have been bitten by rattlesnakes the author, who otherwise is a fine writer, would have made the snake a different kind. And maybe my friend and I are being extra harsh because we live near rattlesnakes and we know people who've had their beloved dogs die after getting bit by rattlesnakes.

Summer dog tip

I met a vet who told me to pass on the news that on hot summer days do not take your dog on hikes in the middle of the day. He has seen dogs come in for heat stroke this way. He said in summer, at his practice, more dogs die of heat stroke than from rattle snake bites. Take your dog for a walk in the cool morning or in the evening when the sun is down. Someone, not a vet, told me if your dog's tonuge is getting purple than they are getting overheated. I personally don't know if this is true or not.

Movie Review: Sister Act

Movie Title: Sister Act. Comedy. Rated PG. For older children and teens. This movie is worth renting. If it's not on your movie list, put it there. The plot is great. And it's extremely funny in places. The movie starts out with lounge singer Delores (Whoopie Goldberg) witnessing her mobster boyfriend telling his thug to shoot a man. (It sounds bad, but there is no blood and a silencer is used so it's not loud). Delores goes to the Feds who hide her out in a nunnery until they can bring her boyfriend to trial. Delores, who's as close to nun as a Frankfurter, has to learn to fit in at the convent. She even has to disguise herself and wear a habit. With her background as a singer, Mother Superior gives Delores the job of instructing the choir how to sing. The sisters learn to sing some mighty upbeat choir tunes with some words changed from oldie songs.

Make Super Easy Homemade Fruit Ice Cream

Easy Homemade Fruit Ice Cream

This Fruit Ice Cream is so good you’ll ask for it in Heaven.
Serves four to five people.

What ingredients you will need to make this Fruit Ice Cream: 5 cups of frozen fruit (Peaches, Strawberries, Blueberries. All make tasty ice cream.); one teaspoon of vanilla; half a cup of Fructose (I got mine from Whole Foods grocery store) If you don’t have Fructose you can use regular sugar but end result won’t taste as heavenly; one and half cups of heavy whipping cream.

What you need to do:
1-Put all five cups of frozen fruit in your Cuisinart. It should fill half the bowl. If you don’t have a Cuisinart you can use your blender, but be careful not to over blend ice cream. Honestly, this ice cream tastes better if you can make it in a Cuisinart. I can say this because I did a tried and true test on it. Press Pulse on your Cuisinart a few times to crush fruit. (Or blend slowly in blender.)

2-Add Fructose or sugar and vanilla. Always do this before adding heavy whipping cream. Press Pulse again. (Or blend).

3-Add heavy whipping cream. Mix again. Taste. You might want to add more sugar or more cream depending on your taste. Serve fruit ice cream right away or place ice cream in bowls and put in freezer to serve when ready.

Car Game

Car game to keep bored children occupied:
Have parent or child start a story. After a couple of minutes have them stop. Have another child pick up the story, using their imagination. After a couple of minutes have them stop. Have another child or adult continue the story. Keep going around the car. The story will get funnier and funnier.

Dog Tip for Summer

In the summer when your dog sheds more brush them every week to cut down on the dog hairs in your home. Vacuum/sweep house weekly. There are some digestible products I've read about that say when given to your dog it cuts down on shedding. One you put in their water. Ask your vet about such products.

Movie Review: The Nutty Professor

Movie Title: The Nutty Professor. Comedy. 1963 version starring Jerry Lewis. This is my favorite Jerry Lewis movie where he isn't paired with Dean Martin. Eddie Murphy stars in another version of this movie in which he plays many of the characters. But Mr. Murphy's main character goes a bit over the top when he turns into a ladies man. The 1963 version is milder. In this version, a mild mannered chemistry teacher, Julius (Jerry Lewis), has the social skills of a bumbling buffoon. He goes ape over a woman, but lacks the charisma to win her heart; or so he thinks. Julius puts his chemistry knowledge to use and creates a potion to make him suave and debonair. He calls this new personality, Buddy Love. But the potion keeps wearing off at the most inopportune times. Will Julius ever find true love?

Parenting Article: Get Your Child to Listen to You

Do you ever feel that your child is not really listening to what you are telling them? Do they focus on only one or two words or only one aspect of what you are saying? Whether you are correcting them, giving them instructions or explaining something to them it can be frustrating when your child or teen will not listen to EVERYTHING you have to say. If your child only listens to part of what you are saying they aren’t getting the full benefit of what you are attempting to communicate.

Seven reasons why children might not fully listen:
1) Your child has focus problems.
2) They are angry/upset for not seeing things their way.
3) They are angry/upset that you are correcting them.
4) They are embarrassed you are correcting them in front of a friend.
5) They think they already understand what you want.
6) They are not interested in what you are saying.
7) They do not think your idea or information has sufficient merit to give you their whole attention.

Your child or teen may not completely understand what you are trying to convey if they do not let you finish talking. Unfortunately, I have seen kids get caught up with a single aspect of a bigger picture. They hone in on it. And because of this they interrupt you with: "But Mom he started it." "You’re taking his side!" "Dad you don't understand." Or "I don't agree." What is worse, some kids will tune you out. When this occurs I suggest you take a deep breathe. And if they are upset have your child do the same. Tell them to please not interrupt you as you speak and to listen to ALL you have to say. If they refuse to do this, have them go to their room until they cool off. Then try again. Once again start off by telling them to listen to everything you have to say and not just some words. It can be hard. Kids will hear what they want to hear. Some kids more than others. You could repeatedly repeat what you are saying, but if they get fixated on only one or two words they are not grasping the entire meaning of what you are telling them. They are not getting the "whole ball of yarn" they are merely getting snippets. You want your child to comprehend all of what you are saying and why.

Advice:
This is what you can do if you have a child who often has a difficult time listening to you: First politely ask your child or teen to uncross their arms if they tend to so. But do not make an issue of it! I only suggest this to loosen them up emotionally. When a defiant person crosses their arms as you are speaking it often is a sign they are "shutting you out." They are showing you they are unreceptive. From the very start you want your child or teen to be as open as possible to what you have to say.

After this, clearly state they are to listen to ALL you have to say BEFORE they can make a response. When you do speak, cut to the chase. Do not ramble on. Also, do not put too much emphasis on your child making eye contact with you. It is more important they GET what you are trying to say. As you talk if you start to see your child getting upset or annoyed by their body language or facial expression calmly tell them to calm down. Count to seven or ten silently. If they can not control themselves or they cop an attitude, calmly tell them to take a moment or few to collect themselves in their room or another room. Later talk to them again. I propose this because you want to break their thought of not wanting to listen to your position. If you revisit the issue afresh you might have a better time of getting them, to at least, listen to MORE of what you have to say. I realize that with children with OCD they might still be focused on one or two words you had said. In fact, they might be stewing on it if they are alone with nothing to do. Try to get them focused on something else. Have them read a book or do some activity to relax them. This is as much for them as for you. Limit the negative impact their OCD can have on them.

Car game for bored kids

Car game for bored kids to make trip seem shorter.
Starting with the letter A, have everyone in the car, one at a time, say an item, animal or food that starts with A. When no-one can think of anymore A words go to B. When no-one can think of anymore B words go to C. And so on.

Book Review: The Loud Book

“The Loud Book,” by Deborah Underwood. Pictures by Renata Liwska. Cute picture book to read to wee ones. The book is about what the title suggests, loud noises. There are usually only few to several words on each page. All sorts of interesting loud sounds are given with a picture of the noise above it.

Movie Review: Flubber

Movie Title: Flubber. Rated PG. Family movie. Comedy. An absentminded professor (Robin Williams) creates flying rubber and names it Flubber. He hopes his creation will save the college where he works. To show how great Flubber is he puts it on the bottom of the shoes of the men's basketball team. This team is not the hottest team around. But things change thanks to Flubber. Kids will enjoy the funny antics of the fast moving bouncy Flubber. Memo, the professor's flying robot, is also a stand out character. My favorite scene: When the professor puts Flubber in his car's engine and his car starts to fly.

Summer Car Tip

When it's extremely hot out and your car has been sitting in the hot sun be careful about washing it. I know someone who had her car parked in the hot sun and had all the windows closed. During the heat of day she splashed cold water on her windshield and it cracked. She later found out from her auto mechanic she wasn't the first one this happened to. Pressure builds up in a hot car. He suggested that if she parks her car in the driveway when it’s hot out, to roll down two windows, at least an inch, on opposite sides to let the air flow through. If you park on the street be careful of sprinkles!

Summer Gift: Arts and Craft Project

Is your family going to a dinner party/BBQ soon? Would you like to give the host a different and lasting gift? Then make a batch of cookies and put them on a pretty plate that you will decorate in a most unusual way.

Items needed: Clear, flat glass plate. Colored tissue paper, or wrapping paper with designs or pretty patterns on it. Small can of Polyurethane. Paint brush. Clear glue with a brush. Scissors. Pencil. Alternative: Special plate paint (ask for at craft store). Buy two colors.

Place plate on wrapping paper. Trace around it and cut out. Wipe glue on the back of plate. Place wrapping paper cutout on top of glue so picture can be seen from above (where you place cookies). Or have your child cut out different size pieces of colored tissue. Put colored tissue on top of glue. After doing either, you the parent, in ventilated area, brush Polyurethane over wrapping paper or tissue paper. Let dry. The plate must be hand washed. Meaning it isn't dishwasher safe. If you do the alternative project using plate paint. Paint back of plate using a swirl pattern with both colors. I still recommend using Polyurethane on the back to insure that the paint won't chip off.

Movie Review: Yours, Mine & Ours

Movie Title: Yours, Mine & Ours. Old school Comedy-Family Movie.
Henry Fonda plays, Frank Beardsley, a Navy officer who's a widower with ten kids. Lucille Ball plays, Helen North, a navy nurse who's a widow with eight kids.
At a market these two bump into each other with their grocery carts. They start dating. When they finally decide to marry they buy a big Victorian house and move in there with their 18 children. Having that many kids in a house makes for comedy. It's pretty funny to watch the efficient and organized Frank run his household like a well oiled Navy ship.

Dog Days of Summer: Doggy Tip

Make sure your dog has plenty of clean water. Give them new water everyday. Recheck water bowl on hot days to make sure your dog still has water. Do not leave their water in a metal bowl in the hot sun. The metal can get really hot and it could burn them when they go for a drink. Use a ceramic one. My thoughts: If humans nowadays are not suppose to drink water out of plastic bottles that have been in the sun too long or in the hot car, then a dog should not drink out of plastic containers which are placed in the heat/sun day after day.