Ice Cream, Black Eyed Peas and Collards

Hello January! Hello 2021! I welcome you into my life with arms so open that it hurts.

Flashback to ALA 2018. I was waiting in line to grab coffee, a muffin, some hard unripe melon for a seat for the Geisel/Sibert/Batchelder award ceremony when I met Jacquelyn from Alabama. We chatted a bit, sat together, exchanged cards and that was it.  I had no idea that we would keep in touch as strongly as we have and that she would be one of a few colleagues to get me through the past spring and beyond. The random personal connections gained from attending in person national conferences are so powerful and long lasting. Will we be able to meet again IRL in 2021? 

Flashback even farther to ALA 2015. Carole, from LA, had an empty seat at her table during a reception for Ashley Bryan. I sat down and the rest is really history. It was lovely to wish her a happy new year last night (and I won't complain that I got to admire a cloudless, blue sky behind her when we FaceTimed). It's Carole's Sabrina who will be competing against Trenton Lee Stewart on Monday in our Face-Off.

Today: Jacquelyn was wondering about our New Year's food traditions. Uhhh, ice cream? She eats black eyed peas for good luck, collards for money and cornbread for gold.  Since I can't resist luck, money and gold, I stopped at Hannaford on our way home from getting our annual sweet cream treat and I made the soup and corn muffins.  Because of our exchange today, my phone actually thought I was having dinner with Jacquelyn.  It was sort of right?

I chose The Lion of Mars as my first book of 2021. Perfect. Chocolate cake. Carrot cake. Ping Pong. Friendship. Family. First love. Grief. Toilet paper. A virus. Scrambled eggs. Mascara. Board games. Ahhh...Jenni Holm has yet to disappoint me.* Happy almost book birthday!

Took my first leap of the year at Schodack Island State Park on the banks of our beloved Hudson River. The sky doesn't look like Carole's did last night and the sun really wasn't shining, but that didn't stop us (and a whole lot of other people) from getting outside and taking our #ForestFriday #FirstDayHikes #AdventureNY of the year.  So with fresh air in my lungs and good luck in my belly, I'm ready for ya, 2021. Bring. it. on!

 

 

*ICYMI: Here's our Author Fan Face-Off with Jenni

 

 

Ice Cream for Breakfast

A styrofoam cooler was delivered on my doorstep yesterday filled with a dozen pints of ice cream straight from Cincinnati. I know. I know. Do you need ANY more proof that I am insane? Yeah, so when I found out that Loren Long painted the famous hippo, Fiona, for one of the pints of Graeter's ice cream I just went a little crazy.

Shhh...don't tell anyone but Loren and I filmed a short bit for the morning announcements right after the box arrived and since it was "morning" I ate the Chunky Chunky Hippo for breakfast. Super Yummy.  I can't wait to try Loren's favorite, Black Raspberry Chip.

What else is there to say?  Sigh.  I wish Loren could come to Castleton IRL but this will definitely do for now.  Grade level choice boards are posted and kids have the opportunity to draw trees, visit a local farm, watch read alouds, create music, problem solve a hole in the log, run around a tractor, and so much more!

We'll conclude the day with a visit by Loren himself. Yay! Fingers crossed technology cooperates and all goes according to the best laid plans.  A huge thank you to Loren for putting up with all my craziness.  Just think--most visitors only have to put up with me once.  He will have to twice! How can I make it up to him?  A styrofoam box on his doorstep, to start?

And if all goes well, I will look forward to a celebratory pint (no shortage of those in my freezer). Ice cream for breakfast and dinner? Most definitely!

We All Scream for Ice Cream!

I've been craving ice cream.  Right at this moment it's a Reeses Peanut Butter Cup Sundae from our local soft serve seasonal place, Lickety Split. Ahhh...But I could for anything.  Down the shore, I love Peanut Butter Ripple--vanilla ice cream with frozen ripples of peanut butter throughout. Ahhh...Last weekend I treated myself to Brew Ha Ha from Stewarts and it was quite refreshing.  And in honor of our upcoming "Loren Long Day" on Thursday, I'll be splurging later today and buying a half dozen pints from his local ice cream shoppe, Graeters.

Monday is Peter Sis's birthday so we'll begin with a read aloud of his book, Ice Cream Summer.

Here are a couple of activities to go with the book thanks to RIF: A word search that can be used on the computer or printed out, a memory match and a crossword puzzle. RIF also has this one page activity guide with more ideas to do at home. 

Here's another fun ice cream read aloud:

Want to make your own ice cream at home? Follow this  recipe  or this video:

I can't write a post about ice cream without including a shout out to my friend, Elisha Cooper.  Have you checked out his Instagram lately? He posts short, fun videos daily about painting, his cats, the ocean, his cats...https://www.instagram.com/elisha__cooper/ Maybe he'll do one on ice cream for us?

If you weren't craving this treat before, I'd be surprised if you aren't now. For your sake, I hope you have some stashed in your freezer.  

Oh, and back to Graeters--Loren Long designed the carton for Chunky Chunky Hippo. I was glad when that flavor appealed to me lol because I knew I had to buy it. So a couple of these pints are in my cart.  Anyone want to splurge and go in for a dozen with me ;-) Happy ice cream eating! 🍨🍦