Bedtime Stories: The Book With No Pictures

Post by Mark T. Locker.

The-Book-With-No-PicturesThe Book With No Pictures by B.J. Novak

Word of warning to parents/readers of books to children: DON’T OPEN IT. IT’S A TRAP You will be bound to saying some very silly things out loud if you read it.

True to its title, this book has no pictures but that won’t stop kids from clamoring to have it read to them over and over. The premise of this book is that the words can be as fun as the pictures, if handled correctly. See, whoever reads the book out loud HAS to say what the words tell him to say. Even if the book makes the reader say, “I am a monkey using my monkey mouth to read!” the reader is bound by the laws of book-reading to say this out loud.

The book is basically a dialog between the reader and the mean book making him say all kinds of silly things out loud. Like:

BLARRRRRRFF!!
-Wait! I didn’t want to say that! Don’t make me read any more!

I’ve read this twice in as many days to my son and he’s read it once to me so far. It’s a good concept. It reminds me of Mo Willems’s We Are In a Book! in which the characters have a moment of clarity in which they discover they are in a book and use the opportunity to make the reader say “Banana”. To kids, this is hands-down the funnies part of the whole book. Good concept to build on. I think if you are an authority figure it’s even more fun. You get to see the teacher say, “My head is made of blueberry pizza!” Definitely worth a read or six.

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Bedroom Design: Plaids in a Bedroom

Post by Tracy Kaler.

Mix It Up: Plaids in a Bedroom

With winter weather upon us, there’s no better time to break out the plaids. I love how these understated geometrics mingle well with checks, stripes, or even florals. A plaid-on-plaid scheme might sound buttoned-up, but a room can appear cheerful, fun, and even whimisical depending on the colors selected. Get inspired by these five fab bedrooms with plaids.

This comfy, cottage-like twin room is a space saver with built-in shelving and beds. The plaid gives a slight grown-up feel to the compact hideaway, which is perfect for boys of any age.

A darling Burberry plaid covers this sweet bed. Plaid-flanged shams coordinate nicely. Notice the ticking on the reverse side of the comforter. The monogrammed Greek key accent pillow completes the look.

Who doesn’t adore a good plaid on the windows? Roman shades, side panels, and pillow shams are done up right in plaid. A botanical rug provides contrast and a touch of femininity. Although not a likely color combination, the blue and brown create a calming space ideal for rest.

I bet you’re oohing and aahing at this clean and elegant bedroom. I am. Brown and white tartan covers the structured headboard, the shams wear a fun pattern, and the accessories are clean and classic.

Here’s an example of mixed plaids in different scales and colors, and they work beautifully. There’s nothing I dislike about this room, but my favorite accessory happens to be asleep on the bed.

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Breakfast in Bed –Mrs. O’Callaghan’s Irish Scones

Mrs. O'Callaghan's Irish Scones 11

Post by Alison Hein.

My mother-in-law, Jeannie, obtained this traditional Irish scone recipe from Mrs. O’Callaghan herself in 1961. Jeannie began baking Mrs. O’Callaghan’s delicious scones as a young newlywed, and has continued to do so for the past 50 years! My husband and his siblings still clamor for them whenever they visit their mother.

Who was Mrs. O’Callaghan? She was my mother-in-law’s sister-in-law’s mother-in-law. Funny, I know, but true. Jeannie has modified Mrs. O’Callaghan’s recipe slightly over the years – she adds 1 tablespoon of caraway seeds instead of the original teaspoon, bakes the scones in round cake pans instead of an old-fashioned cast iron frying pan, and skips the buttermilk brushed on top after baking.

Mrs. O'Callaghan's Irish Scones 2

I decided to keep Jeannie’s extra caraway seeds, use Mrs. O’Callaghan’s frying pan, and add my own twist of golden raisins. Even with variations, this is a remarkably easy and wonderful recipe. It takes only minutes to mix up the butterless batter, and the long baking time is made easier by the heavenly, wafting aroma that emanates from the kitchen. The scones rise high in the oven, and finish with a consistency light and even, and a flavor balanced by sweet raisins and savory caraway.

While I never had the good fortune to meet Mrs. O’Callaghan, I recently came to know some of her grandchildren. They too have slightly modified their Nan’s recipe over the years, but all still continue to bake, infusing their homes with delightful aromas and making wonderful memories for the next generation. A breakfast in bed to remember.

Mrs. O'Callaghan's Irish Scones 3

Ingredients

3 cups flour
¼ cup sugar
1 tablespoon baking powder
1 teaspoon salt
1½ cups buttermilk
½ teaspoon baking soda
1 egg, lightly beaten
1 cup raisins (or golden raisins)
1 tablespoon caraway seeds

Mrs. O'Callaghan's Irish Scones 5

Preparation

Preheat oven to 350°. In large bowl, mix together flour, sugar, baking powder and salt. Stir baking soda into buttermilk. Pour buttermilk mixture and lightly beaten egg into dry ingredients and mix just to combine. Batter should be thick but spreadable. Stir in raisins and caraway seeds.

Grease and flour a 10-inch cast iron frying pan. Spread batter evenly in pan. Place in oven and bake until scones are nicely browned and a toothpick inserted in top comes out clean, about 50 to 60 minutes. Alternatively, grease and flour two round 8-inch cake pans. Divide batter evenly between the two pans and reduce baking time to about 45 minutes.

Remove scone from pan and brush top with a little buttermilk, if you like. Wrap immediately in a tea towel so scones remain warm and soft. When ready to serve, cut scone in wedges. Serve warm with good Irish butter.

Makes 12 to 14 scones.

Mrs. O'Callaghan's Irish Scones 8

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Bedtime Stories: Arthur’s April Fool

Post by Mark T. Locker.

Arthurs_April_Fool-220x300Arthur’s April Fool by Marc Brown

Now that my boy is such a voracious independent reader, we don’t sit and read as many picture books as we used to. Maybe that’s a shortcoming as a father. I know that some day he will just not want me to read to him again. And that will be that. Be that as it may, I wouldn’t want to have to choose between never reading to him again or reading him books from the “Arthur” series ad infinitum. There is nothing wrong with Arthur per se. He’s a nice bespectacled weasel, or aardvark, or whatever he is. Naturally, lots of low-hanging lessons to be gleaned throughout the series. Perfect for adaptation to the PBS screen for kids.

Anyways, we were away for my birthday weekend staying at the coast with friends. My boy found a box full of picture books. As it was already past bedtime, he naturally chose the longest book he could find for me to read. As is happens, it was Arthur’s April Fool. I’ve never known him to read anything from this series, but that’s fine. He cozied up to me (another thing he’ll never do again, some day) and we read about the trials and tribulations of everyone’s favorite capybara.

I don’t remember the plot much. Some bully picked on Arthur. Arthur pulled some pretty harmless practical joke on him, the ol’ kaleidoscope-gives-you-a-black-eye gag. I’m not sure what the message was for this particular installment. Revenge is a dish best served cold?

If you are looking for some decidedly wholesome and lesson-teaching picture books, these are a good choice. There are about 100 of them and they have a TV show to complement the series. Good for kids that aren’t my son’s age, probably 4.

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Bedroom Design: Covers and Blankets for a Warm Winter

Post by Tracy Kaler.

Get Cozy and Cover Up with Bedding This Winter

Now that cold weather has arrived, it’s time to bundle up in the bedroom. Choosing the appropriate topper will keep you warm on the chilliest nights. Depending on where you live and your preferred bedroom temperature, consider one of these four bedding options to keep you toasty this winter.

Down comforter with duvet cover
The ultimate in warmth, a down comforter will keep you snug and comfy on the coldest nights. Know that it’s best to use a duvet cover to protect the outside of the comforter. Duvets are available in many fabric types and patterns. You can also have a custom cover made with designer fabric.

Coverlet
Most often constructed of matelassé, a coverlet is light to medium in weight and one of the most practical of bed coverings. Sometimes filled with a light batting, coverlets may not be warm enough in a chilly house, so consider adding another layer: perhaps a down comforter on top or a warm blanket underneath.

Bedspread
Pre-filled bed coverings fall under this category. Practical from the standpoint of layering since bedspreads are available in different weights, this type of bed topper could be a good solution if you like the layered look. Also a good idea if you have a range of temperatures, a bedspread offers many design options too, since you can style your layers differently each season.

Quilt
Believe it or not, quilts can successfully be used in a traditional room or a modern one. With a woven (usually cotton) top with at least two colors and sometimes several, expect a layer of batting and a woven back. Quilts are not as heavy as a down comforter, but often heavier than a coverlet.

It’s fairly common to use different types of bed coverings on one bed. There are no rules. Try combining a coverlet with a down comforter at the foot of the bed or with a coordinating quilt folded halfway down the bed. Add an extra blanket and coordinating shams or throw pillows, and your bed will be look and feel pleasant for the winter months.

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