First Book: Access to New Books for Children in Need

Does your mom (like mine) insist that she doesn't need any gifts for Mother's Day? If you still want to give her a gift without getting yelled at, you might want to consider donating to this really lovely organization. They provide books to schools and community programs so low-income kids can learn to love the same bedtime stories the rest of us do.

Forty-two percent of children in the United States — more than 30 million — live in low-income households. Most of these children have no age-appropriate books at home, and the classrooms and programs they attend are woefully under-resourced. Approximately two-thirds of these schools and programs cannot afford to buy books at retail prices.

Visit First Book.org for more info

All I want for Christmas...

It made me chuckle.


Dempsey Press — Two Front Teeth Cards - Single

(via Shopify)

Happy Halloween, everybody!

The above photo – Death offers a hand – used with the kind permission of Graham Gangi. More of his photography here.

Happy Chinese New Year!

A friend from work posted this on her Facebook wall and made me realize I completely forgot to acknowledge the Chinese New Year. Shame on me.

花开富贵 Flowers bloom for prosperity
竹报平安 Bamboo bring the news of peace

Happy New Year!


According to tales and legends, the beginning of Chinese New Year started with the fight against a mythical beast called the Nian (Chinese: 年; pinyin: nián). Nian would come on the first day of New Year to devour livestock, crops, and even villagers, especially children. To protect themselves, the villagers would put food in front of their doors at the beginning of every year. It was believed that after the Nian ate the food they prepared, it wouldn’t attack any more people. One time, people saw that the Nian was scared away by a little child wearing red. The villagers then understood that the Nian was afraid of the colour red. Hence, every time when the New Year was about to come, the villagers would hang red lanterns and red spring scrolls on windows and doors. People also used firecrackers to frighten away the Nian. From then on, Nian never came to the village again. The Nian was eventually captured by Hongjun Laozu, an ancient Taoist monk. The Nian became Hongjun Laozu's mount. – Wikipedia

(photo: Chinese New Year, Vegas-Style - Las Vegas Blog)

Happy Burns Night.

For my Scottish readers (and Robert Burns fans) – enjoy your Burns Supper.



Burns Night, effectively a second national day, is celebrated on 25 January with Burns suppers around the world, and is still more widely observed than the official national day, St. Andrew's Day. The first Burns supper in The Mother Club in Greenock was held on what they thought was his birthday on 29 January 1802, but in 1803 they discovered from the Ayr parish records that the correct date was 25 January 1759.[30] The format of Burns suppers has not changed since. The basic format starts with a general welcome and announcements, followed with the Selkirk Grace. After the grace, comes the piping and cutting of the haggis, where Burns' famous Address To a Haggis is read and the haggis is cut open. The event usually allows for people to start eating just after the haggis is presented. This is when the reading called the "immortal memory", an overview of Burns' life and work, is given; the event usually concludes with the singing of Auld Lang Syne.

Burns supper - Wikipedia

Robert Burns - Wikipedia

Happy New Year, kittens.

Fab graphic by Frank Chimero

Marzipan Good Luck Piglets.

In Germany, well wishers give marzipan "Glücksschweinchen" to people for good luck at Christmas and New Year’s. Imported from Germany, our adorable (& yummy!) Marzipan Piglets will bring ample good luck for the New Year. Good luck for the lucky recipient and good luck for the giver as well!

P.O.S.H. Chicago - Marzipan Good Luck Piglets - Set of 4

Crate & Barrel ornaments.

Trim a Tree Sale | Crate & Barrel

mrYen holiday papergoods.

This little shop, based in Leeds, has some lovely papercut tags and cards.




mrYen — Welcome!

SNOWMEN.

Though I'm absolutely dreading the snow that's coming, this photo made me happy.


SNOWMEN by OLAF BREUNING

(thanks, swissmiss!)

Sesame Letterpress Harvest Entertaining Platters.

I love the old school-yness of these new platters and plates at West Elm. (Especially the turkey, which reminds me of every Thanksgiving at home while I was growing up.)



Sesame Letterpress Harvest Entertaining Platters | west elm

Remember, remember the Fifth of November...

Remember, remember the Fifth of November,
The Gunpowder Treason and Plot,
I know of no reason
Why the Gunpowder Treason
Should ever be forgot.
Guy Fawkes, Guy Fawkes, 'twas his intent
To blow up the King and Parli'ment.
Three-score barrels of powder below
To prove old England's overthrow;
By God's providence [or By God's mercy] he was catch'd
With a dark lantern and burning match.
Hulloa boys, Hulloa boys, let the bells ring.
Hulloa boys, hulloa boys, God save the King!

There is also a second verse, though it may not be considered politically correct, that completes the poem which is:

A penny loaf to feed the Pope.
A farthing o' cheese to choke him.
A pint of beer to rinse it down.
A faggot of sticks to burn him.
Burn him in a tub of tar.
Burn him like a blazing star.
Burn his body from his head.
Then we'll say ol' Pope is dead.
Hip hip hoorah!
Hip hip hoorah!


Happy Guy Fawkes Night, where ever you are.