Sarah McClendon

(Picture Source is Wikipedia, other picture sources are http://uttyleruasc.files.wordpress.com/2012/06/ford003.jpg andhttp://www.confederate.org/newsletter/2001news/bush.jpg)

So a few days ago, my mom took us to a historical home for a tour. It is called McClendon house because it was the home of Sarah McClendon. She was born July 8, 1910 and died January 8, 2003 at the age of 92. She was a White House reporter who covered  politics for over 50 years. She started her own free-lance news service as before WWII, and was known as a model for women in the press and as a supporter of good wages and better care of  American military veterans. Sarah was best known for her questions at presidential press conferences, which were often slightly rude or blunt. She once shook her pen at the then President  Nixon and demanded "Why aren't you doing anything to help the veterans?"!!! She interviewed with presidents from Franklin Roosevelt all the way to Bill Clinton. After she left the house, her two spinister sisters lived there for many years they were recluses and let the home fall to ruin. After their death, a fire that would've ruined the home had it not been for it's good construction,made everyone realize what a great historic home was there. It was restored and you can tour it at this address:
806 W. Houston Street
 Tyler, TXP.S' Check out my friend Anners' amazing blog here. Be sure to comment and follow!

Review of Daily Life in a Covered Wagon

We've been doing a pioneer study, and this book, Daily Life in a Covered Wagon,has been very informative and fun! It follows a fictional pioneer family, the Larkins, on their 2,000 mile journey from Independence, Missouri, to Portland, Oregon in the 1850's. The Larkins have three kids- Rachel, Abe , and Rebecca. Their hired hand is also with them. What makes this book different from other books on the pioneers is that, as you read, it has real life pictures and inserts describing what certain words (such as "alkaline water" or "river ford") mean. Also, when the Larkins face a problem, the book explains how early settlers would've handled it, how the Larkins handled it, and how later settlers handled it. It's really quite fascinating!

Night Flying(a poem by yours truly:)

Source for picture:

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/6/62/Starsinthesky.jpg/300px-Starsinthesky.jpg

In my dreams,
I can fly.
I spread my arms
And touch the sky
I chat with the owls
and laugh with the moon.
I sparkle with the stars,
and I wake up all too soon.

Happy Thanksgiving 2!

Well, hi again! Last year I did a post on what I was thankful for, and enjoyed it so much I'm going to do it again! This time my challenge is to find things other than what I did last year!
Everyone came to our house this year, and I had a lot of fun! My cousins' little cousins came with them this year, and they were soo cute! Their names are Charlie, Evan, and Corbin. Corbin is 1, Charlie is 6, and she's so cute. Evan is 8. Charlie and I played Groovy Girls, Barbies, American Girl dolls, hula hooped, Blongo Ball, and a bazillion other games. So, it was fun, but now I am exhausted :). I've never played that many games in my life! My Mom made(every thing was homemade)turkey, ham,wheat rolls,crescent rolls, cheesy olive cakes, turtle cheesecake,apple cake, relish trays, mac & cheese, and tons of other things! I made green bean casserole, yams, and grated mounds of cheese, and helped out in  the kitchen.

I'm thankful for:

1. The Bible!I enjoy reading it because I always see something new.

2. Family. This is my Mom and my cousin Corbin.

3.Music! I 'm glad I can listen to Taylor Swift anytime I want! I just finished reading a book, Hurt Go Happy, and it made me very thankful I can hear.

4.  My camera

5. I'm thankful my parents give their time to help 4-H, Teen Court, drive me to theater,and my candy striper program. I wouldn't be able to do anything if it wasn't for them! (BTW, I'm getting super excited about our upcoming performance.

Happy Thanksgiving, everybody! What are you thankful for? Let me know!
Sources:https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5vMzGT6a9ikibIHMwW578AXUykIs1WhUNZUz-KEbKlD8rhu24aUtBGB9gPpX0fZbMKDF9skFIyUzqNgEd1ljpPumPtcIO0gQVM9wlKuxeaRFbx3vpjtzPkd9GyxNlrsW77uLvAklODyKB/s320/thanksgiving-day-bible+verse.jpg http://www.netbiblestudy.net/worship/Bible-.gif http://www.ephotozine.com/articles/kodak-easyshare-c1530-digital-camera-announced-16096/images/kodak-easyshare-c1530-front-red.jpg http://www.cmt.com/sitewide/assets/img/artists/swift_taylor/taylorswift65-430x250.jpg

Counselor at YES camp

This weekend I was a counselor at YES camp, which is a camp 4-H holds every year for 8-12 (and some 13) year olds. I worked with five 8-10 year old girls from my county. The theme was "Wild About 4-H!" We had a camo costume contest, and one of the little girls, K, from my group won! Her costume was so cute! I was glad she won, because she's really sweet.
We then broke into our"color groups". One of the other girls - I'll call her R-from my group was with me in the green group. It was fun working with her. she really liked painting and told me all about how she wants to be an artist.We all made birdhouses as part of the activities, and R decided all the girls should paint my birdhouse for me. It was so sweet of them, and i turned out really cute! I enjoyed being a camp counselor for many reasons, one was that it allows me to be a good role model and a mentor to the girls, like helping them pray at meals and playing games with them. Have you ever been a camp counselor? Did you enjoy it?
 Oh, yes. Be sure to check out my other little brother, Andrew's new blog here!

Thoughts of a goose:)

Well, I've learned almost all my lines and the scenery is coming along rather nicely for Charlotte's Web, and yesterday I got a sneak peek at my costume. It is ADORABLE!!!It is a bunch of lacey white skirts( like a hoop skirt), a long white shirt, and a little brown vest. Plus some ancient (but pretty!)glittery shoes from 

previous shows. I found these pictures on the internet to give you guys an idea of what  it looks like...

This

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This

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This

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This

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A goose!

Best ever Gingersnaps

2 and 1/4 cups all purpose flour
1 cup packed brown sugar
3/4 cup shortening
1/4 cup molasses
1 egg
1 tsp. baking soda
1 tsp ground ginger
1 tsp ground cinnamon
1/2  tsp ground cloves
1/4 cup sugar

 Preheat the oven to 375 degrees. In a mixing bowl, combine half the flour. Add the
brown sugar,shortening,molasses,egg,baking soda,ginger,cinnamon, and cloves. Beat with an electric mixer on high till thoroughly combined. shape dough into balls and roll into sugar. Place on an ungreased cookie sheet and bake for 8 to 10 minutes.Voila! You have 48 yummy gingersnaps!