When purchasing an airline ticket, have you ever made the mistake of choosing a city of the same name in a different state? Such as choosing Portland, Maine rather than Portland, Oregon? They are on completely opposite sides of the country, so it’s a blunder you would deeply regret.
But what if your mistake landed you in outer space? If space travel ever becomes readily available, we’ll have to ensure we don’t make that same mistake with Hawaii.
There is, of course, the lush big island of Hawaii that we know and love. Then there is the minor planet named after Hawaii, which is similar to a big rock — definitely not a tropical paradise. (Its formal name is ‘48575 Hawaii’.)
A minor planet is an astronomical object that orbits the sun. It is larger than a meteorite but smaller than the eight major planets. Minor planets include asteroids, dwarf planets, and distant objects. As minor planet discoveries are confirmed, they receive a number from the Minor Planet Center, and the discoverer can submit a planet name. If you’d like to see a list of all the minor planets named after places, click here.
And as you’re planning your space travel itinerary, here’s a list of minor planets named for various places in the state of Hawaii, including volcanoes:
48575 Hawaii (Big Island of Hawaii)
284891 Kona (Kona District, Hawaii)
342431 Hilo (Hilo, Hawaii)
34901 Mauna Loa (a volcano that forms the largest part of the Big Island of Hawaii)
171183 Haleakala (a volcano on the island of Maui)
188534 Mauna Kea (a volcano on the island of Hawaii)
I stumbled upon these minor planets during my writing research, which prompted a story that I’m currently refining and polishing to submit for traditional publication as a picture book.
In this story the main character, Kai, lives in Hawaii, and the wrong package is delivered to his home. Kai attempts to return it to the galactic delivery driver, but the contents are quite slippery (and there are so many snapping teeth!). After numerous mishaps, they end up in outer space, attempting to get the dangerous package (pssst… it’s a shark) delivered to its intended destination on the minor planet, Hawaii. But there’s no water there. In the end, they discover a solution, one with an ocean of water and the ability to track that slippery shark!
While I enjoy visiting the Hawaiian islands, I have no desire to visit a minor planet that lacks oxygen and pineapples. So, unfortunately, the minor planet of Hawaii is not on my travel itinerary. (But if you ever trek your way there, please take lots of pictures and share them with me.)
If you love coconut, you’ll adore these soft cookies that melt in your mouth. Coconut Buttons are gluten free and dairy free!
This cookie recipe was developed by accident… I was making cookies and realized I didn’t have flour, so I scoured my pantry, looking for an alternative. I found coconut flour and discovered how quickly it absorbs liquid while mixing. I made some adjustments, and voila!
Tips for success:
Use only coconut flour. (Don’t substitute with a different kind of flour or a mix of flours.) Coconut flour absorbs a lot of liquid, which is what you want for this recipe.
If the dough is too wet/sticky to roll, let the dough sit longer to absorb more liquid.
Run. Rock. Read! was a fun-filled day celebrating Beverly Cleary’s contribution to children’s literature. The iconic author is known for her captivating books, such as Ribsy, Runaway Ralph, Henry Huggins, Ramona the Pest, and other titles. Her first book was published in 1950, and since then, 91 million copies of her books have sold worldwide.
Beverly was born in Yamhill, Oregon, a small town that played a significant role in her life. Her deep connection to Yamhill helped shape her identity as an author. And now, her remarkable legacy is honored every year by the community. The Yamhill Downtown Association hopes this annual event will inspire a new generation of young readers. The May 13th, 2023, event included the following:
5K Race: The downtown fun started with a family-friendly 5k race that took participants through Yamhill’s charming countryside. Leading the race was the Running Rocker, Jason Moore – he was shredding on an electric guitar while keeping an 8-minute-mile pace and taking song requests along the route! Awards were provided to top runners.
Post-Race Party: The Larson House hosted the event on their back lawn at 190 S Maple Street, where there were local children’s authors (Carole Marie Shelton and Susan Maas) showcasing their books, as well as a community tent featuring Beverly Cleary-themed merchandise. Inside the Larson House, the restaurant offered a Beverly-Cleary-themed brunch.
Children’s Writing and Art Contest Winners: Every April, honoring Beverly Cleary’s birthday, Amy Lamae hosts an online children’s writing and art contest. Children from all over the USA entered this year’s contest, then winners were announced at the post-race party.
Madeline’s Library: All kids were welcome to take home a copy of Emily’s Runaway Imagination by Beverly Cleary, courtesy of local nonprofit Madeline’s Library. Families were also encouraged to donate a new or gently used children’s book to Madeline’s Library for a chance to win a prize!
Beverly Cleary Walk: During the event, families took this fun historical walk through downtown Yamhill together, including an outdoor viewing of Beverly’s beautiful childhood home. (You can take this self-guided walking tour anytime throughout the year.) Each plaque on the walking tour displays Yamhill’s rich history and highlights fun, whimsical characters from Beverly’s books.
Dog Friendly: There were many four-legged friends at the event! Treats and waste bags were provided.
Overall, the Run, Rock, Read! event was a fantastic tribute to Beverly Cleary and her contribution to children’s literature. The event provided a fun and engaging way for fans to come together and celebrate her life and work. Beverly’s legacy will continue to touch readers’ lives for years to come.
If you’re looking for a yummy chocolate dessert that is high in protein, gluten-free, and dairy-free, you’ll want to try these Choco-Mountain Cupcakes!
A few tips for success:
Use only coconut flour. (Don’t substitute with a different kind.) Coconut flour absorbs a lot of liquid, which is what you want for this recipe.
Refrigerate overnight. Don’t skip this step. As the dough sits overnight, the chocolate flavor is enhanced, and the bean flavor is reduced.
Most kids love chocolate and would welcome a Chocolate Tasting experience at home! This is an easy and fun activity that can create wonderful memories as well as an opportunity for your family to learn more about chocolate.
Many factors influence the flavor of chocolate, such as its origin. Both the country and region where the cacao is grown has an amazing effect on its taste.
Below is a sample map of Chocolate Tasting Notes Around the World. Of course, there are many other countries around the globe producing chocolate that are not included on the map, but this gives a general view.
Chocolate comes from the seeds of the fruit of cacao trees, which grow near the equator. They thrive in hot, rainy tropical forests. These trees can live for over 200 years! Most cacao trees are grown on small farms in developing countries, where they do the work by hand.
Cacao has a rich history, having been enjoyed for thousands of years. Long ago, Mesoamerican native cultures used cacao in many different recipes. One recipe was a frothy drink, only consumed by the elite, as it was considered sacred. Due to its high value, cacao beans were used as an early form of money. Later, the cacao seeds were brought to Europe, where different technological advances, and adding sugar and milk have created the chocolate we know and love today.
A few fun facts about how cacao grows and is eventually turned into chocolate:
The cacao flowers are tiny. They are pollinated by midges (tiny flies).
Cacao pods are about a foot long and sprout directly from the trunk and branches.
Cacao pods take 5-6 months to grow and ripen. They start as green or red and eventually turn yellow or orange.
Each pod holds 20-50 cacao seeds about the size of almonds. They’ve also been nicknamed chocolate beans.
The seeds are so bitter that animals won’t eat them.
Farmers ferment the seeds, which changes the flavor. The seeds also change in color, from purple to dark brown.
The seeds are dried and then shipped worldwide, ready to be processed for chocolate-making.
Preparing for Your Chocolate Tasting
For this fun activity with your kids you’ll want to prepare ahead of time:
Purchase 5 bars of chocolate. Instead of buying the types of chocolate your kids are used to, find fancy or unique bars for them to try. It will be so much more fun! There are many different flavors and add-ins. Younger kids may enjoy unusually flavored chocolates such as potato chip, peanut butter, pretzel, or confetti. Older kids may enjoy subtle flavors of cashew butter, sea salt, lemon, coconut, firecracker, or honey. If adults would like to participate, they may enjoy experiencing the varying degrees of cacao percentages.
Print the free Tasting Key. Write down which kind of chocolates you’ll be using. Turn the key over, so participants can’t read it.
Print the Chocolate Tasting Mat.
Print one Chocolate Tasting Evaluation for each participant.
Set up Your Chocolate Tasting Activity
Place the Chocolate Tasting Mat into the middle of the table. Break a chocolate bar into pieces and place them on square #1 of the Mat. You won’t need to use the entire chocolate bar – just use enough that each participant can have a taste. Repeat this process for each type of chocolate, placing the pieces into boxes #2, #3, etc. (Ensure they match the Tasting Key).
Provide a Chocolate Tasting Evaluation for each participant, along with a pen.
Time for Chocolate Tasting!
Invite the kids to taste the chocolate from box #1. Ask them to eat it slowly, taking time in their evaluation to engage their senses and enjoy the flavors.
Have them fill out the Evaluation Form and give an overall score.
Before moving on to the next sample, encourage them to cleanse their pallet with fruit, nuts, or pretzels, along with a sip of water.
When you are finished tasting chocolates from each box, discuss which chocolate you enjoyed most.
Show them the Tasting Key to reveal what kind of chocolates they’ve sampled.
Fun questions to ask kids:
What were your favorite flavors and textures?
If you were a chocolatier, what kind of chocolates would you make?
Looking at the Chocolate Tasting Map, where would you want to grow your chocolate and why?
You can also pair this activity with fun read-alouds such as:
Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, by Roald Dahl
The Candymakers and the Great Chocolate Chase, by Wendy Mass
YourFree Chocolate Tasting Activity packet with the forms below can be downloaded here:
Chocolate Tasting Notes Around the World
Tasting Key
Chocolate Tasting Mat
Chocolate Tasting Evaluation
We hope you enjoy this Chocolate Tasting Activity as much as we have!
I’m excited to announce that my middle-grade novel, Cosmic Chaos, is a ‘Book of the Decade’ semifinalist! The semifinalists are moving into the next round of judging, and the finalists will be announced by Serious Writers in August. Congratulations to all the semifinalists!
Finalists will be announced on August 5, 2022, and winners will be announced in early September. Grand prize winners receive an incredible awards dinner, a beautiful statue, and an Orlando experience.
Are you looking for a space adventure for your kid’s summer vacation? Cosmic Chaos is excellent for older elementary and middle school readers!
Twelve-year-old Logan lives inside the Luna Biodome on the moon. Not only is the moon dust making him sick, but it also sets him apart from the other kids. While Logan is inside his new robot’s interactive program, his illness disappears, and mysteries occur that he can’t explain. Logan meets an annoying yet undeletable program character named Amy. Their misadventures awaken him to a glitch—a secret that could return him to Earth to track down his missing mother. But only if Amy will cooperate before the moon’s lockdown and before the robot destroys him.
Do you want your home to be a place of warmth and good memories? A place to anticipate love and belonging? Consider the five senses – sight, touch, sound, taste, and smell. They all affect your overall feel and memories of a home. The right atmosphere can ease tensions, encourage rest, and lift your mood.
Soothing scents go a long way in creating a peaceful, relaxing, and welcoming atmosphere. But having a home with an inviting aroma takes effort and intention.
When the aroma of baking bread is in the air, I’m immediately taken back to a childhood memory. When I was ten years old, we lived in a house that had a steep hill right behind it. My brothers and I would grab our sleds and race to Lovelock Hill on snowy days. We would sled for hours in the freezing temperatures with neighborhood friends. By the time we returned home, we were exhausted, cold, and very hungry. And when we opened the door, we would be greeted by the scent of homemade bread that my mom would have waiting for us.
We would sit by the crackling fire with a mug of hot chocolate and a huge slice of crusty bread with the soft insides, slathered with butter and honey, warming us up from the inside out.
My mom could have been doing anything while we were gone for hours. Yet, she intentionally chose to take the time and effort to create a welcoming and cozy home for us to return to.
I love having those memories. And I want to create pleasant memories of home like this for my children.
One of my favorite books about creating an environment of love in your home is Family Fragrance, by J. Otis and Gail Ledbetter. This is what they have to say about scent:
The more prominent senses like sight and sound get greater press than the others. But it might surprise you to know that the sense of smell is the vanguard of the senses. Think of it! Whatever we cannot see, taste, touch, or hear is recognized and interpreted through our noses. There are only three genes in each cell that control eyesight, but one thousand genes in each cell control the sense of smell. Experts say that the nose can differentiate between a thousand aromas. As the most direct sense, it can immediately enter the inner core of the brain, which governs emotions.
Fragrance in the home implants memories that our brains return to over and over. Another scent that brings me back to childhood? Fresh linens on the bed. My mom would dry our sheets on a clothesline in the hot sun. I remember snuggling into bed at night as a kid, falling asleep to the sunny scent of summer on the sheets. Ahhh… I smile now, just thinking about it.
There are many ways that aroma can make our homes more pleasant while instilling warmth and a sense of comfort and belonging. If you’d like to create a home so inviting that you and your family can’t wait to get inside when you pull into the driveway, consider these ten scents that can make your home feel more welcoming and impart good memories:
1. Freshly Baked Goods
Cookies – Whenever I’m baking cookies, the kids come running from their rooms with anticipation of a hot, delicious treat. Cookies also make for a quick and easy dessert to serve to guests – both children and adults.
Cinnamon rolls – My mom taught me how to make cinnamon rolls at a young age, and I remember those happy moments in the kitchen with her and the intoxicating scents of yeasty dough mixed with cinnamon and butter.
Bread – Homemade bread is the ultimate comfort food! We never tire of having a variety of scratch-made breads with our meals.
2. Essential Oils
Aromatherapy can naturally reduce stress and anxiety, prompting your brain to engage in a state of calm. My favorite essential oils are lavender, cedarwood, lemon, chamomile, sandalwood, jasmine, and ylang-ylang.
3. Scented Candles
It’s easy to create a relaxed mood and memorable moments by lighting candles. Every Christmas eve, my family dines by candlelight. The soft light adds beauty and warmth, while the scent of vanilla is pleasing. Even a simple meal is more special and memorable when eaten by candlelight.
One of my favorite candles is the wood wick candles in a jar. They produce the soothing sound of a crackling fire and are available in a variety of luscious scents.
4. Bouquets of Fresh Flowers
One of my favorite spring and summer activities is planting seeds and growing a flower garden. It adds to the beauty of the backyard, creates a gorgeous space, and the scent is divine. The most fragrant flowers that I enjoy are jasmine, lavender, lilacs, and daphne. Plant these with colorful, easy-to-care-for flowers like marigolds, zinnias, and sunflowers. They are steps away to cut and create a beautiful bouquet for indoors that fills a room with its pleasant aroma.
5. Meals that are Cooking
The scent of your favorite meal cooking can create feelings that make you feel cared for and loved. You eagerly anticipate dining at the table with loved ones to enjoy the mouth-watering taste and experience the comfort of good food together.
6. Fire in the Hearth
A crackling fire is always cozy and welcoming. Especially with wood that smells pleasant while it’s burning. Great-smelling firewoods are birch, apple, pine, cherry, and cedar. (Make sure your wood is fully seasoned.) Some woods burn faster than others (e.g., pine is a softwood that smells wonderful when it’s burning but won’t last long), so you want to combine fast-burning wood with long-burning hardwood like maple or oak to keep the comfy smells and heat going all night.
7. Drinks
Good drinks tantalize the senses.
Hot drinks can comfort the soul. Some favorite aromas come from coffee, hot chocolate, eggnog, hot apple cider, herbal teas, and gourmet coffees.
Cold drinks are refreshing on a hot day, and it’s easy to make them scented with slices of lemon or sprigs of fresh mint.
8. Spices and Herbs
Fresh herbs are amazingly flavorful and add wonderful scents to home-cooked meals, as well as your home garden. Fresh herbs have powerful health benefits, are full of vitamins, can help boost your immune system, and emit an incredible fragrance.
I like adding rosemary sprigs to the bouquets in my home. The rosemary provides an aroma of freshness.
Cinnamon always smells wonderful in foods that are baking in the oven.
My family enjoys adding freshly picked basil to our homemade pizzas for flavor and the pleasing taste.
9. Popcorn
Whenmy kids smell popcorn popping, they know it’s time for a family movie and snuggling on the couch!
10. Citrus
Fresh cut citrus releases a vibrant scent that awakens the senses. Cut oranges for a snack, put lemon slices in water, or squeeze oranges for fresh juice.
As you intentionally ensure your family experiences home through the five senses, you create lasting memories. Having an atmosphere where family members and guests feel at peace, and want to linger and experience the homey delights of comfort, is a place they’ll long to return to time after time.
Cinnamon has been prized as an extravagant spice since 2,000 B.C. The cinnamon, harvested from a thin layer of tree bark, is dried for transportation and later ground to a fine powder for use in cooking and baking. It was imported from Egypt to China as a gift for royalty in ancient times. And Roman spice traders brought cinnamon to Europe from Sri Lanka.
Sweden began using cinnamon in its pastries, developing the first cinnamon bun (kanelbulle). The Scandinavians like to refer to them as ‘edible hugs’.
Cinnamon rolls in the U.S. are sweeter, richer, and more indulgent than in Sweden. Our cinnamon rolls are dripping with cinnamon, sugar, and butter and we certainly enjoy having these gooey, mouthwatering pastries any chance we can get.
I’ve created a dairy-free version that is just as delectable and satisfying as the original. Wake your family one morning with these delicious, pull-apart rolls for breakfast. Or enjoy them for dessert one evening! They are best when warm, topped with frosting, and served with a smile.
1/3cupvegan buttersoftened or melted (but not hot)
1/2cupgranulated sugar
1 tspsalt
4 1/2cupsflour
Filling:
1cupbrown sugar
2TBLScinnamon
1/2cupvegan buttersoftened
Just before baking:
1/2cupwarm coconut cream(not coconut milk)
Frosting:
6ouncesvegan cream cheesesoftened
1/3cupvegan buttersoftened
2cupspowdered sugar
1TBLSvanilla
Instructions
Combine the warm plant milk with the yeast in the bowl of a stand mixer. Add eggs, butter, sugar, and salt. Mix well. Add 4 cups of the flour (save the remaining ½ cup to add later, only if needed). Mix well, then allow the dough to rest for 5 minutes.
Using the dough hook, knead for 5-7 minutes until the dough is elastic and smooth. Add in up to ½ cup of remaining flour if needed.
Transfer dough to a greased bowl, cover, and allow the dough to rise until doubled.
While the dough is rising prepare the filling – combine the brown sugar and cinnamon.
After the dough has risen, sprinkle the work surface with flour. Roll the dough into a 24×15 rectangle, or as close as you can get it.
Spread the softened vegan butter evenly over the dough. Sprinkle the sugar-cinnamon mixture evenly over the butter.
On the long end of the dough, roll it tightly. Cut into 12slices and place into a greased 9×13 baking pan. Cover and allow the rolls to rise until nearly double in size.
After the rolls have risen, remove the cover and pour the warm(not hot) coconut cream over all the rolls.
Bake at 375 for 20 minutes. Rolls should be lightly browned and center rolls cooked through.
While rolls are cooling, prepare the frosting. Mix the softened vegan cream cheese and softened vegan butter with an electric hand mixer. Add vanilla and powdered sugar. Beat until blended well.
We’ve searched high and low for great dinosaur fiction for kids, specifically books that don’t promote evolution. When I asked a large homeschool group if they had recommendations, they all said there is NO dinosaur fiction (without evolution) available – there is only nonfiction. I was certain there must be options, so I scoured the internet. It took a while but we found them!
Each of the books shared here compliments Creation Science and promote a Biblical world view, in that:
Dinosaurs were included during the first days of God’s creation
Dinosaurs and man lived on the earth together
Most dinosaurs died during Noah’s flood
There are reading options for a variety of ages, from younger elementary readers to teen readers. Take a look below:
Noah Drake and the Dragon Killer, written by Ben Russell, is recommended for younger elementary readers (ages 8 and up). This is a fun and funny adventure about a boy named Noah who vacations with his family and ends up finding a real dinosaur in Lake Champlain. Noah sets out to protect his discovery from the Dragon Killer, keeping the plesiosaur from extinction.
Detective Zack and the Danger at Dinosaur Camp, written by Jerry D. Thomas, is recommended for younger elementary readers (ages 9 and up). This mystery and adventure story has Zack attending a dinosaur camp with his family. They are hoping to reconcile the Bible’s Creation story with the evolutionary account of dinosaurs but get mixed up with all the strange mysteries occurring at the camp. With determination and a little detective work they not only use the clues to solve the cases, but they also discover the amazing truth about dinosaurs.
This book may be harder to find, as it is out of print. But you can still buy copies from used booksellers online.
Cosmic Chaos, written by CM Shelton, is recommended for older elementary readers (ages ten and up). When Logan utilizes his new robot’s technology to help him with his evolution homework, a glitch in the robot’s system sends him time traveling to the days of Creation and dinosaurs. As he navigates this discovery, he’s also on a mission to find his missing mom.
This science-fiction adventure has a sequel forthcoming.
The Truth Chronicles: The Time Machine, by Tim Chaffey and Joe Westbrook, is recommended for middle school and teen readers (ages 13 and up). When Jax and his three friends discover their science fair project gives them the ability to time travel, they find themselves face to face with dinosaurs. As they explore ancient times, they find clues that indicate Jax’s dad may still be alive.
There are quite a few books in the series and we’ve been working our way through them.
In the sixteenth century, Queen Elizabeth of England wanted cakes spiced with ginger to be baked in the shapes of her friends. Since then, gingerbread men have been a popular holiday treat for households and as gifts to those we care about.
Early December, we have an annual Christmas tradition of baking gingerbread men – but we make them GIANT! They are about the size of a dinner plate and are so fun to decorate that every year we invite friends over for a party.
Each guest receives their own freshly-baked giant gingerbread man on parchment paper. They are instructed to cover the soft gingerbread with vanilla icing as a base. In the center of the table we provide a plethora of candies to decorate the iced gingerbread men. We listen to Christmas music, turn on the Christmas lights and make it a festive and memorable time for all.
Our favorite decorative toppings are:
Chocolate chips
Licorice/Twizzlers
M&Ms (both with and without peanuts)
Skittles
Gummy worms
Gum drops
Sour Patch Kids
Jelly beans
Caramel bits
Mini marshmallows
Sprinkles
To make your own giant gingerbread men from scratch, use the recipe below. Once the dough is mixed, roll about a 1/4 inch thick on a floured surface.
Print this template. Cut out the shape, then place it over the rolled dough. Using a knife, carefully cut the dough around the template. Peel the paper template away (save it for the next gingerbread man), then use a spatula to move your gingerbread figure to a cookie sheet.
Once the gingerbread men are baked, remove them from the cookie sheet. Once cool, stack them between squares of parchment paper until you are ready to decorate them.
It’s always fun to see the final results – we’ve ended up with our gingerbread men looking like celebrities, zombies, fairy tale characters, the president and more. It’s so easy, and it’s a great reason to have lots of friends over to celebrate the Christmas season!
Mix brown sugar, softened butter, molasses and water. Stir in remaining ingredients.
Heat oven to 350. Grease cookie sheet lightly. Roll dough 1/4 inch thick on a floured surface. Cut into desired shapes. Place on cookie sheet. Bake 10-12 minutes. Let cool. Decorate.Makes approximately ten giant gingerbread men.
