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?