Shine Issue 01

Shine Issue 01

Dec 22, 2019 | Shine

December’s Moment...

Thank you all who participated this month. Enjoy the pictures from various parts of the world.

Shine places for December: Florida - USA, Texas - USA, Virginia - USA, Maine - USA, Australia, Cypress, Dubai, Italy, United Kingdom, New Zealand

Whats that Noise?

Kingwood, Texas by PB

Train tracks from a window in the Marriott Hotel

Alexandria, Va, USA by PB

Sunset Clouds over the Mountains 1

Italy by JN

Sunset Clouds over the Mountains 2

Italy by JN

Squirrel’s Nest

Kingwood, Texas USA by Bryan Floyd

Snowing Day on a Train Ride

Maine, USA by PB

Rooster Lost in the Woods

Kingwood, Texas by PB

Rainbow over the hills

Near Grasmere, United Kingdom by LL

Magical Sunrise

Pines Beach, New Zealand by Lorraine Taylor

Fall Path

Kingwood Texas by JB

Fall Leaves

Italy by JN

Fall Leaves

Alexandria VA by RB

Fall colors

Italy by JN

Fall River 1

Kennebunk, Maine, USA by CF

Fall River 2

Kennebunk, Maine, USA by CF

Burj Al Arab

Dubai, UAE by Diann Floyd Boehm

A storm is coming

Florida by EC

A roman bridge

Limosal Cypress by JC

For January... send in your holiday picture!

Fun with Words 2019 review

Fun with Words 2019 review

Dec 15, 2019 | Words

Dear Readers. Enjoy the 'Fun with Words' and 'Biographies' in review for the year. Thank you so much for all your support. 

Words in Review

Amazement

I chose this word because of all the wonderful possibilities waiting for you just around the corner. Things that will leave you amazed. Learn more about the word ‘amazement’.

  • How many ways can you use ‘amazement’ in a sentence?
  • How many synonyms can you name for the word ‘amazement’?
  • How many antonyms can you name for the word  ‘amazement’?
  • How would you describe being in the state of ‘amazement’?

Dramatic

How many ways can you use ‘dramatic’ in a sentence? How many synonyms can you name for the word ‘dramatic’? How many antonyms can you name for the word ‘dramatic’? Can you act in a ‘dramatic’ way?

Empathy

The action of understanding

Do you have empathy for a person or a cause?

What can you do to help if possible the situation or is it better to stay at a distance, understand but let things work out on their own without interference? It is easy to confuse the word sympathy and the word empathy.

Hope

Being up north the past week I noticed the word ‘Hope’ seemed to pop up in lots of different ways.

  • I hope the weather warms up.
  • I hope I can see the starts tonight.
  • I hope my friend wins the game.
  • I hope she can stop worrying so much.

So it only seemed fitting that HOPE became the word of the month. Four little letters build a powerful word, HOPE.

Dipsy-Doodle: A fun word: dipsy-doodle - keep changing direction!

Enjoy Tom Dorsey's Dipsy Doodle -Music Changing Direction 

Homonyms

  • Role or Roll - I have the role. * The roll was delicious.
  • Blue or Blew - Blue is my favorite color.  The little boy blew his mommy a kiss.
  • Vane or Vein or Vain - I like the rooster on the weather vane. His vein is so thin that I cannot seem to find it.  She is a very vain person.
  • Patience or Patients - I have the patience to wait it out.   The nurse had many patients to attend to that day.   
  • Right or Write  You are right he is coming today. I need to write it down. 
  • Broach or Brooch - He broached the subject with caution.  Her new brooch was admired by all her friends. 
  •  Wood or Would - The grains in the oak wood is beautiful. Would you go to the store for me?
  • Ate or Eight - Charlie ate the whole pie by himself. Rebecca's mom told her to be home by eight. 
  • Medal or Meddle - Patrick won a medal for swimming the backstroke. Please do not meddle.
  • Coarse or Course - The fabric was very coarse. The English literature   course is very interesting.
  • Cellar or Seller - We store potatoes in the cellar. The seller of the house was not interested in dropping the price. 
  • Edition or Addition - He came out with a new edition to his book. You need to do your addition homework.
  • Flower or Flour - The flower has a beautiful fragrance. We need to add flour to our recipe.
  • Effect or Affect - The hurricane had a terrible effect on the city. The weather will affect if we have the party outside or inside.

Opposites

  • Above: His grades are above average.
  • Below: His grades are below average.
  • Clean: The house is clean.
  • Dirty: The house is dirty.
  • Cool: The water is cool.
  • Warm: The water is warm.

Synonyms

ducts / duck - I am having the ducts cleaned today. I fed a pretty white duck today.

Biographies

  1. Alexander the Great
  2. Jane Adams
  3. Emma E. Akin
  4. Buzz Aldrin
  5. B.R. Ambedkar
  6. Maria Baldwin
  7. Ida B. Wells Barnett
  8. Rachel Carson
  9. Augustus De Morgan
  10. Charles Drew
  11. General William Floyd
  12. Galileo Gallie
  13. Lloyd Hall
  14. Milton Hersey
  15. Hippocrates
  16. Mary Kenner
  17. Percy Laavon Julian 
  18. Rene Laennec
  19. Ada Lovelace   
  20. Florence Nightingale
  21. Prince Philip
  22. Charlotte E Ray
  23. Betsy Ross
  24. Helena Rubinstein
  25. Robert Small Story
  26. Marie Curie, Nee Maria Sklodowska
  27. Booker T Washington
  28. Dr. Carter G. Woodson
  29. Betty Williams

  1. Aloud or Allowed - He was aloud to speak.   *  Mini dresses are not allowed in school
  2. Alter or Altar - Will you alter your decision. * The altar was prepared for the  service.
  3. Coffers or Cougher - Please put the remaining blankets in the coffers.  * He is a cougher.
  4. Graphed or Graft - He graphed messaures to move forward.  The graft on the plant allowed the sap to run out.
December Updates 2019

December Updates 2019

Dec 15, 2019 | News

Wow! December seemed to come super fast this year...

This month I would like to remind you of the upcoming changes based on your feedback.

The monthly newsletter has become bite sizes so that you will have 'SHINE', 'Fun With Words' and 'Biographies' as independent updates. PLUS just around the corner, the You Tube channel 'Story Garden' will be up and running. Watch this space...

SHINE!

The SHINE newsletter is yours or your student or child’s opportunity to SHINE with their artwork, photography, a favorite poem, or tongue twister.

There is still time to send in your favorite for December.

  • January send in your favorite holiday picture
  • February we are looking for your favorite winter scene

Remember, we want to protect your identity, so no pictures of yourself. We only use your initials, not your name. Remember to state the location of the photograph.

November Updates 2019

November Updates 2019

Nov 19, 2019 | News

November is here and you can smell the fresh air as the seasons change and the coolness of winter approaches

Wait to hold the fort...
For some a winter cold blast hit, for others, summer is here and the fresh warm sun and family picnics. Wherever you are in the world, enjoy your seasonal change.

A Question

A question I am asked a lot is what inspires me. It always makes me smile as it is so easy to answer, my family. I do not go into detail as I am about to share with you. I want you to have a little insight into who I am as the words were not always there. So here is a small window into my life. I have been blessed with the three wonderful children who grew up to be amazing adults.

I have a new beautiful, inspiring strong daughter-in-law, and of course, my husband, who continues to be the best friend to go through the journey of life. Then, of course, I draw ideas from experience, my beautiful mom and dad, and my five brothers. We are a close family. We have our ups and downs, but we are always there for one another.

Inspiration

In my newsletter, I posted a picture of a beautiful sunset in the clouds. I hope you check it out. I find inspiration in the sky and all its beauty. 

Experiences

This month was mostly a month of experience. The weather is beautiful in Dubai with winter approaching, so the air is clear and refreshing, so lovely walks take place. I have friends coming and going for visits, and how can you not be reinvigorated with friends you have shared so much life.

Busy

I have written a few stories, and now it is time to be inspired to paint. My mind is spinning on who to bring the words to life. So I listen to music and warm up my vocal cords to help bring the pictures in my mind. I know the inspiration will come.

I mentioned Johsua in Alyssa, who painted me a picture of Harry and shared how much they loved the book. Check it out in my newsletter.

Harry the Camel is now available at the Book Stop

Sweet Potato Pie

Based on the recipes from a taste of home

Note: Preheat oven to 425

Ingredients

  • 1-2/3 cups of pie crust mix
  • 1/4 cup of finely chopped pecans
  • 3 large eggs
  • 3 to 4 tablespoons of cold water
  • 1 1/2 - 2 teaspoons of pumpkin pie spice
  • 2 cans (15 ounces each) of sweet potatoes, drained
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract

Topping

  • Whipped topping (cool whip)
  • Chopped pecans; you can toast the pecans before you garnish

    Directions

    Prepare crust

    • In a small bowl, combine pie crust mix and pecans
    • Gradually add water, tossing with a fork until dough forms a ball
    • Roll out in a 9-in. deep-dish pie pan
    • Flute edges

    Filling

    • In a mixing bowl combine, sweet potatoes, milk, eggs, pumpkin pie spice, vanilla, by hand stir till smooth (you can use a mixer or a food processor, but I prefer the good old fashion way by hand. I think it makes it lighter)
    • Pour into pie pan

    Baking

    • Place pie in the 425° oven for 15 minutes
    • Reduce the heat to 350° and bake for 30 -35 minutes longer or until you insert a toothpick and it comes out clean
    • Cool on a wire rack
    • Garnish with whipped topping and (toasted) pecans
    Click to read my answers after GoodReads asked me a few questions about being a writer...

    "Ask the
    Author Answer"
    by Diann Floyd Boehm

    Announcement

    I am breaking my newsletter up into three sections, so you have more time to enjoy the various parts. Be watching for;

    1. Shine
    2. Fun with Words and Biographies
    3. Newsletter with updates.

    I believe you will enjoy the bite size news.

    Remember to send in your favorite of one or all of the following (clean please); tongue twister, joke or picture about 'Fall/Autumn'. Watch for it in 'Shine'!

    Shine

    Shine

    Oct 23, 2019 | Shine

    A moment to show off your literary skills...

    Share your favorite (clean!) tongue twister, joke or saying by sending it to me along with your name and state or country and I may share it in my newsletter or blog. 

    Here is one I like from around 1813 by John Harris:

    Peter Piper

    Peter Piper picked a peck of pickled peppers;

    A peck of pickled peppers Peter Piper picked;

    If Peter Piper picked a peck of pickled peppers,

    Where’s the peck of pickled peppers Peter Piper picked?

    I can't wait to read your favorite or your child’s favorite one and the most entertaining will be displayed here soon ...