So DS16 and I participated in part of "The Great Race," from Evanston to Ogden yesterday, and it was something else! Like game day traffic! We alternated between following along on frontage roads, or the freeway, or zooming ahead and getting out at vantage points so DS could get his photos. But we talked to rail fans from all over the world who came just to see the Big Boy under its own steam for the first time in 59 years. We shared a table at breakfast in our hotel with a man who came all the way from Italy, and he'd met people who came from Japan and Germany. I talked to a fellow special needs parent at the depot in Evanston, who'd brought his son from New Jersey to do the whole chase (they started in Cheyenne), and tried to eavesdrop on two German guys standing near me (the train was loud, and they were using a lot of slang....) I'm not a great photographer, and I was more interested in capturing the number of people and the excitement of my son, but anyway... https://photos.app.goo.gl/nVw3Bkt9qLFrd8cs8 https://photos.app.goo.gl/kLnKBpP7bJqoW4hP6 https://photos.app.goo.gl/rcoa4Dmab1mpahCa9 https://photos.app.goo.gl/CAncLX84qJJA9jnq5 (DS16 is right in the middle - two-tone blue coat, blue jeans, and you can just see his tri-pod.)

This year (May 10th) is the 150th anniversary of the completion of the Transcontinental Railroad, if anyone wants to work that in to your history lessons. Here in Utah, it's such a big deal, with all kinds of special events and art exhibits, and history lectures at all the universities, that we are going to have to pick which we have time to take part in. We just got back from a trip to Cheyenne, Wyoming, where they are making a pretty big deal out of it, too. If you are anywhere in Union Pacific territory, check to see what might be happening. I know Utah, Wyoming, Nebraska, and California, at least, are celebrating. https://www.goldenspike150.org/national-golden-spike-events https://www.up.com/media/releases/170510-great-race.htm https://www.californiarailroad.museum/events/transcontinental-railroad-event https://events.stanford.edu/events/829/82927/ https://www.up.com/heritage/steam/ https://www.unleashcb.com/sites/anniversary/?utm_campaign=social2019_rr_anniversary&utm_medium=organic_social&utm_source=twitter https://spike150.org/statewide-events/?gclid=Cj0KCQjw5J_mBRDVARIsAGqGLZDPcX8jzTlS7OAqu01CuFDYTlAeffb1Y3-qSmU-cAi0FBIzYZr1RL0aAn1DEALw_wcB

I'm slacking a bit. Every time I sit down to read lately, I end up taking an accidental nap instead. 20. "Silent Souls Weeping: Depression, Sharing Stories, Finding Hope" by Jane Clayson Johnson. (LDS) She addresses Post-Partum Depression, teen depression - which doesn't always look like "sad," how hard it is to feel spiritual feelings when you are depressed, how perfectionism contributes to depression, and other kinds of important issues, some of which are specific to our faith, but many of which are universal. 19. "Leap of Faith" by Bob Bennett. (LDS) Interesting take on apologetics, since the late Bob Bennett was one of our state's senators, and not an apologist, per se. He wrote it in response to questions he was getting from reporters and colleagues in Washington, D.C. when Mitt Romney was running for president. 18. "Covenant Keepers" by Wendy Watson Nelson. (LDS) 17. "Manga Classics: MacBeth" adapted by Crystal S. Chan. 16. "One Dead Spy" by Nathan Hale. 15. "Stellar Science Projects About Earth's Sky" and "Wild Science Projects About Earth's Weather" by Robert Gardner. 14. "Stuff Matters" by Mark Miodownik. 13. "Led by Divine Design" by Ronald A. Rasband. (LDS) 12. "Forensic Science Projects with a Crime Lab" by Robert Gardner. 11. "Manga Classics: The Jungle Book" adapted by Crystal S. Chan 10. "Donner Dinner Party" by Nathan Hale. 9. "Manga Classics: The Stories of Edgar Allan Poe" adapted by Stacy King. 8. "Bodies We've Buried" by Jarrett Hallcox and Amy Welch. 7. "The Forensic Casebook" by N.E. Genge. 6. "Shaken Faith Syndrome" by MIchael R. Ash. (LDS) 5. "Fingerprints: Crime-Solving Science Experiments" by Kenneth G. Rainis. 4. "Forensic Investigations" (6) by Leela Burnscott. & ("Bones Speak" by Richard Spilsbury) 3. "A Reason for Faith" edited by Laura Harris Hales. (LDS) 2. "Left Standing" by Mason Wells, et al. (LDS) 1. "Camino Easy" by B. G. Preston.

Wow! I'm actually finding it difficult to keep up with DD14. I may have to abandon my own books. 17. "Manga Classics: MacBeth" adapted by Crystal S. Chan. DD14 is still ahead of me. She just finished Scarlet Letter. MacBeth is all original language, right down to the "Is this a dagger that I see before me?" and all that great stuff. DH asked DD what it was about, and her reply was, "He ends up with his head on a stick!!!" She's a bit morbid, so I think that means she liked it. 16. "One Dead Spy" by Nathan Hale. One of the two series DD14 is reading that I'm trying to keep up with. 15. "Stellar Science Projects About Earth's Sky" and "Wild Science Projects About Earth's Weather" by Robert Gardner. These are for younger readers than the other one by him that I read, so I'll count the two together. These should be just about right to try with DD9. 14. "Stuff Matters" by Mark Miodownik. Loved this! We were fans of James Burke's Connections back in the day, and I love seeing connections between things. 13. "Led by Divine Design" by Ronald A. Rasband. (LDS) 12. "Forensic Science Projects with a Crime Lab" by Robert Gardner. 11. "Manga Classics: The Jungle Book" adapted by Crystal S. Chan 10. "Donner Dinner Party" by Nathan Hale. 9. "Manga Classics: The Stories of Edgar Allan Poe" adapted by Stacy King. 8. "Bodies We've Buried" by Jarrett Hallcox and Amy Welch. 7. "The Forensic Casebook" by N.E. Genge. 6. "Shaken Faith Syndrome" by MIchael R. Ash. (LDS) 5. "Fingerprints: Crime-Solving Science Experiments" by Kenneth G. Rainis. 4. "Forensic Investigations" (6) by Leela Burnscott. & ("Bones Speak" by Richard Spilsbury) 3. "A Reason for Faith" edited by Laura Harris Hales. (LDS) 2. "Left Standing" by Mason Wells, et al. (LDS) 1. "Camino Easy" by B. G. Preston.

DD14 finished another (Jungle Book) and is well into a fourth (Macbeth). I'm enjoying feeling like I need to try to keep up! (I'll read Macbeth as soon as she finishes.) 12. "Forensic Science Projects with a Crime Lab" by Robert Gardner. I liked the layout of this. I'll have to try out some of his others. 11. "Manga Classics: The Jungle Book" adapted by Crystal S. Chan. I'm not sure this one is using the original language. I'll have to get the original and refresh my memory. 10. "Donner Dinner Party" by Nathan Hale. 9. "Manga Classics: The Stories of Edgar Allan Poe" adapted by Stacy King. 8. "Bodies We've Buried" by Jarrett Hallcox and Amy Welch. 7. "The Forensic Casebook" by N.E. Genge. 6. "Shaken Faith Syndrome" by MIchael R. Ash. (LDS) 5. "Fingerprints: Crime-Solving Science Experiments" by Kenneth G. Rainis. 4. "Forensic Investigations" (6) by Leela Burnscott. & ("Bones Speak" by Richard Spilsbury) 3. "A Reason for Faith" edited by Laura Harris Hales. (LDS) 2. "Left Standing" by Mason Wells, et al. (LDS) 1. "Camino Easy" by B. G. Preston.

Finished a few more! 10. "Donner Dinner Party" by Nathan Hale. As with the book below, read this after my DD did so we'd have a common talking point. We'll look for more of these, too, though they are "younger" than the Manga Classics by quite a bit. 9. "Manga Classics: The Stories of Edgar Allan Poe" adapted by Stacy King. This falls into the "reading so I know what my kid is reading" category, but I have to say my dyslexic non-reader (DD14) disappeared into her bedroom with this and didn't come out until she'd finished it. The only other thing she's ever done that with is the Beast Academy Guidebooks. And then she said that she'd noticed in the end notes that there are other books in the series, like the Count of Monte Cristo, so could we see if the library has that? I almost cried. I haven't read Manga myself before, so I wasn't sure what to expect, but I was delighted that it uses Poe's own words, rather than a simplified version. 8. "Bodies We've Buried" by Jarrett Hallcox and Amy Welch. Fascinating, but gruesome! The subtitle is "Inside the National Forensic Academy, the World's top CSI Training School," and that's what it is! The two authors are the two administrators of the program who are responsible for staging the "crime scenes" for the classes, and they are pretty detailed about flinging real blood around and arranging cadavers at the body farm and stuff like that. I think it would be too intense for my teens, but I found it hard to put down. 7. "The Forensic Casebook" by N.E. Genge. I think I'll get my own copy of this one. I liked the "real case" inserts that illustrated what the book had been teaching. 6. "Shaken Faith Syndrome" by MIchael R. Ash. (LDS) 5. "Fingerprints: Crime-Solving Science Experiments" by Kenneth G. Rainis. 4. "Forensic Investigations" (6) by Leela Burnscott. & ("Bones Speak" by Richard Spilsbury) 3. "A Reason for Faith" edited by Laura Harris Hales. (LDS) 2. "Left Standing" by Mason Wells, et al. (LDS) 1. "Camino Easy" by B. G. Preston.

This is the first time I've posted my reading this year! I have been reading; I just haven't been finishing. I have so many markers in so many books right now, including some forensic books for adults that I'm enjoying, and a book about the Jakobsweg. I need to hustle because I've already renewed them once! I have finished a few: 5. "Fingerprints: Crime-Solving Science Experiments" by Kenneth G. Rainis. This I really liked, enough to track it down on eBay and order my own copy. I want to try the experiments that are included for our science study. It's written for about the same age range (10-12), but is quite a bit longer. There are four, but I haven't finished the others yet. 4. "Forensic Investigations" (6) by Leela Burnscott. These are six short books (~30 pp) for upper elementary (ages 9-12) that I read in advance before I read them with DD9. I liked them. She thought they were okay. My older two have been enjoying Elizabeth Murray's course on Great Courses Plus, so we think our next science study as a family will be forensic science. Our library has two shelves in the children's section of books on the topic! (I also read another short one called "Bones Speak" by Richard Spilsbury that appears to be part of a series. It was okay, but it didn't appeal to me as much.) 3. "A Reason for Faith" edited by Laura Harris Hales. (LDS) A collection of essays on church history by some Latter-day Saint scholars. 2. "Left Standing" by Mason Wells, et al. (LDS) The memoir of one of the Latter-day Saint missionaries who was injured in the Brussels airport bombing. He also witnessed the Boston Marathon bombing, too, when he and his dad went to cheer on his mom. 1. "Camino Easy" by B. G. Preston. I have this notion that I'd like to do the Camino and/or the Jakobsweg (Austria) in 2023. This book is for the "mature walker (over 50)," so I thought it would be suitable advice! It's a good, all in one place, overview, and emphasizes that you don't have to rush and walk mega-mile days.

This lovely chef used to be my neighbor! When they heard we homeschooled, her husband told me he was educated at home for a couple of years, too. Really awesome people! She went culinary school, which shows. And she once taught a neighborhood class on how to grill pizza that I got to go to. I hope she'll do a video on that, 'cause I'm a slow learner and could use a repeat. Zested Foods

I don't know why I keep thinking summer will be low-key and relaxed. We are always so busy! It's been almost a month since I logged in to report my reading, so I hope I don't forget anything. 56. "Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince" by J.K. Rowling (Audio) Also continuing on with our family bedtime listening. DH sets up his bluetooth speaker in the hall between all the bedrooms, everybody is supposed to turn off all electronics (some sneaking in that regard!), and we listen until anyone is too drowsy to follow. He just left for Harmony University in Nashville, though, so we'll wait to start book 7 until he's back. (I'm waiting for him to text how he liked the Deke Sharon keynote this evening.) 55. "The Mighty Miss Malone" by Christopher Paul Curtis. (Audio) I really liked this, and so did my older two. The youngest complained that it wasn't as good as "Bud, Not Buddy," but she still was quick to point out we needed to change CD's so I know she was following. 54. "How to cheat a Dragon's Curse" by Cressida Cowell. Yep. She's still letting me read aloud, but I need to convince her that it's a good daily routine. She still turns me down when she's "not in the mood." 53. "Understanding Temple Symbols through Scripture, History, and Art" by Jack M. Lyon. (LDS) 52. "Temples" by David J. Ridges. (LDS) 51. "Setting the Record Straight: Mormon Temples" by Dean L. Larsen. (LDS) 50. "The Help" by Kathryn Stockett. 49. "Hidden Figures" by Margot Lee Shetterly. 48. "Charlie and the Chocolate Factory" by Roald Dahl. 47. "Frindle" by Andrew Clements. 46. "Poppy" by Avi. 45. "The Tale of Despereaux" by Kate DiCamillo. 44. "Bud, Not Buddy" by Christopher Paul Curtis. 43. "Candy Bomber" by Michael O. Tunnell. (Jr) and "Christmas From Heaven" by David T. Warner 42. "After the Train" by Gloria Whelan. (Jr) 41. "Nora Ryan's Song" by Patricia Reilly Giff. (Jr) 40. "Breaking Stalin's Nose" by Eugene Velchin. (Jr) 39. "The Book Whisperer" by Donalyn Miller. 38. "The Man in the Brown Suit" by Agatha Christie. 37. "How to Speak Dragonese" by Cressida Cowell. 36. "Reading Magic" by Mem Fox. 35. "Murder on the Links" by Agatha Christie. (France, London, Warwickshire) 34. "The Grave's a Fine and Private Place" by Alan Bradley. (Fictional England) 33. "The Read-Aloud Family" by Sarah Mackenzie. 32. "Poirot Investigates" by Agatha Christie. (London, Northamptonshire, Derbyshire, Lancashire, Sussex, Kent, Devonshire) 31. "Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix" by J.K. Rowling. (London and Surrey) . 30. "The Skull Beneath the Skin" by P.D. James. (Dorset, London) 29. "How to Be a Pirate" by Cressida Cowell. 28. "Simply Classical" by Cheryl Swope 27. "Partners in Crime" by Agatha Christie. (London, Surrey, Sussex, Berkshire, Suffolk, Devon) 26. "Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire" by J.K. Rowling. (London, Surrey, and Devon) 25. "Give Your Child the World" by Jamie C. Martin. 24. "Vanishing Girl" by Shane Peacock. (London, Cambridgeshire, Huntingdonshire, Bedforshire, and Hampshire! -- I'll have my choice, and I've finally left London on my Brit trip!) 23. "Honey for a Child's Heart" by Gladys Hunt. 22. "How to Train Your Dragon" by Cressida Cowell. 21. "Death in the Air" by Shane Peacock. (London) 20. "Her Royal Spyness" by Rhys Bowen. (London) 19. "Teach Like Your Hair's On Fire" by Rafe Esquith. 18. "Every Falling Star" by Sungju Lee. 17. "The Nature Fix" by Florence Williams. 16. "Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban" by J,K. Rowling. (London and Surrey) 15. "Why Don't Students Like School?" by Daniel T. Willingham. 14. "Thrice the Brinded Cat Hath Mew'd" by Alan Bradley. (London and fictional Bishop's Lacy) 13. "Eye of the Crow" by Shane Peacock. (London) 12. "Secret Adversary" by Agatha Christie. (London, Dorset, Kent, and fictional England, and WWI at the beginning -- The opening scene is set on the sinking Lusitania.) 11. "Mysterious Affair at Styles" by Agatha Christie. (London, Essex, and fictional England, and WWI -- Hastings is home from the war for convalescence. So to go with it, I read the poem, "In Flanders Field" by John McRae, and several of the other poems on the same site.) 10. "Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets" by J.K. Rowling. (London or Surrey) 9. "An Unsuitable Job For a Woman" by P.D. James. (Mainly Cambridge, some London) 8. "Creative Schools" by Ken Robinson and Lou Aronica. 7. "CopShock: Surviving Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)" by Allen R. Kates. 6. "Rethinking School: How to Take Charge of Your Child's Education" by Susan Wise Bauer. 5. "Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone" by J.K. Rowling. (London or Surrey) 4. "Guerrilla Learning: How to give your kids a real education with or without school" by Grace Llewellyn and Amy Silver. 3. "Monkey Mind: A Memoir of Anxiety" by Daniel Smith. 2. "Mother had a Secret: Learning to love My Mother & Her Multiple Personalities" by Tiffany Fletcher. 1. "Life's lessons Learned" by Dallin H. Oaks. (LDS) Agatha Christies's settings in Everyman's Guide to the Mysteries of Agatha Christie.

Zion is our favorite NP. Yeah, you only need permits for backcountry hikes. Also, unless you are there off season, you will not be allowed to drive in. You park at the entrance (or in town outside the entrance), and use the shuttle system, which has stops for most of the hikes. Pros and cons. Con -- you have to allow a little extra time to move between hikes, since you'll have to wait for the shuttle, and the shuttle will stop at all the stops. Pro -- you don't have to find a parking spot at each hike, and there is narration on the shuttle that tells you what you are seeing. We overhear lots of tourists talking about seeing Grand Canyon yesterday and going to Bryce tomorrow, so that's doable. Arches is a bit more distant. Arches is best visited Spring or late Fall. The formations and the hikes to them are up on a Mesa, not in a canyon, and it's REALLY hot. Summer, you want to go early in the day, as soon as they open, and avoid midday and afternoon. Beautiful, though!

PSA I have now driven the tow vehicle in two parades for the float/trailer for the Barbershop Chorus DH and DS are in. The tow vehicles that pull floats in the parades tend to be large trucks (ours is an F-350). Parades tend to be first thing in the morning or last thing in the evening, which often means at least part of the route, the driver is driving straight into the sun. These two things in combination mean it's really hard to see your small (and not so small) children when they run into the road. Just sayin' Close call both parades I've driven, though today's wasn't quite as scary as the one a few weeks ago. That one, a tiny little guy, only about two, darted right in front of the truck, and I only saw him as a flash of movement out of the corner of my eye. He was completely invisible once he was in front of the truck, lower than the hood and only inches away. I hit the brake more out of instinct than anything else. Even at 1 mph, with our big truck, he could have been very badly hurt. Even killed, if he'd gone under the wheel. His very pale dad/granddad paused at the truck window to thank me. I was so shaken, I could respond only with a nod. (Today's child was a little older, and a little further in front of me, so I had more reaction time. It still required a more abrupt stop than was ideal for the guys standing on our float, but no harm done.) The first child was looking for candy and slipped away from his family. That parade allowed entrants to throw candy, and a group two or three up from us was doing that. Today's child probably saw the group of adults who had decided to cut across the parade route a minute or so earlier, and thought it was okay for her to do that, too Please, watch your kids and stay out of the route yourselves.

50. "The Help" by Kathryn Stockett. Really enjoyed this. 49. "Hidden Figures" by Margot Lee Shetterly. A history of the whole program, NOT the story of the women in the film, but it's really fascinating. Just returned from a road trip, and we got some audio books in. 48. "Charlie and the Chocolate Factory" by Roald Dahl. (Audio) 47. "Frindle" by Andrew Clements. (Audio) DD13 loved it; DD8, not so much. 46. "Poppy" by Avi. (Audio) 45. "The Tale of Despereaux" by Kate DiCamillo. (Audio) 44. "Bud, Not Buddy" by Christopher Paul Curtis. (Audio) DD8 must have liked it more than she seemed, as she asked me if there was a book 2. 43. "Candy Bomber" by Michael O. Tunnell. (Jr) and "Christmas From Heaven" by David T. Warner 42. "After the Train" by Gloria Whelan. (Jr) 41. "Nora Ryan's Song" by Patricia Reilly Giff. (Jr) 40. "Breaking Stalin's Nose" by Eugene Velchin. (Jr) 39. "The Book Whisperer" by Donalyn Miller. 38. "The Man in the Brown Suit" by Agatha Christie. 37. "How to Speak Dragonese" by Cressida Cowell. 36. "Reading Magic" by Mem Fox. 35. "Murder on the Links" by Agatha Christie. (France, London, Warwickshire) 34. "The Grave's a Fine and Private Place" by Alan Bradley. (Fictional England) 33. "The Read-Aloud Family" by Sarah Mackenzie. 32. "Poirot Investigates" by Agatha Christie. (London, Northamptonshire, Derbyshire, Lancashire, Sussex, Kent, Devonshire) 31. "Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix" by J.K. Rowling. (London and Surrey) . 30. "The Skull Beneath the Skin" by P.D. James. (Dorset, London) 29. "How to Be a Pirate" by Cressida Cowell. 28. "Simply Classical" by Cheryl Swope 27. "Partners in Crime" by Agatha Christie. (London, Surrey, Sussex, Berkshire, Suffolk, Devon) 26. "Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire" by J.K. Rowling. (London, Surrey, and Devon) 25. "Give Your Child the World" by Jamie C. Martin. 24. "Vanishing Girl" by Shane Peacock. (London, Cambridgeshire, Huntingdonshire, Bedforshire, and Hampshire! -- I'll have my choice, and I've finally left London on my Brit trip!) 23. "Honey for a Child's Heart" by Gladys Hunt. 22. "How to Train Your Dragon" by Cressida Cowell. 21. "Death in the Air" by Shane Peacock. (London) 20. "Her Royal Spyness" by Rhys Bowen. (London) 19. "Teach Like Your Hair's On Fire" by Rafe Esquith. 18. "Every Falling Star" by Sungju Lee. 17. "The Nature Fix" by Florence Williams. 16. "Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban" by J,K. Rowling. (London and Surrey) 15. "Why Don't Students Like School?" by Daniel T. Willingham. 14. "Thrice the Brinded Cat Hath Mew'd" by Alan Bradley. (London and fictional Bishop's Lacy) 13. "Eye of the Crow" by Shane Peacock. (London) 12. "Secret Adversary" by Agatha Christie. (London, Dorset, Kent, and fictional England, and WWI at the beginning -- The opening scene is set on the sinking Lusitania.) 11. "Mysterious Affair at Styles" by Agatha Christie. (London, Essex, and fictional England, and WWI -- Hastings is home from the war for convalescence. So to go with it, I read the poem, "In Flanders Field" by John McRae, and several of the other poems on the same site.) 10. "Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets" by J.K. Rowling. (London or Surrey) 9. "An Unsuitable Job For a Woman" by P.D. James. (Mainly Cambridge, some London) 8. "Creative Schools" by Ken Robinson and Lou Aronica. 7. "CopShock: Surviving Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)" by Allen R. Kates. 6. "Rethinking School: How to Take Charge of Your Child's Education" by Susan Wise Bauer. 5. "Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone" by J.K. Rowling. (London or Surrey) 4. "Guerrilla Learning: How to give your kids a real education with or without school" by Grace Llewellyn and Amy Silver. 3. "Monkey Mind: A Memoir of Anxiety" by Daniel Smith. 2. "Mother had a Secret: Learning to love My Mother & Her Multiple Personalities" by Tiffany Fletcher. 1. "Life's lessons Learned" by Dallin H. Oaks. (LDS) Agatha Christies's settings in Everyman's Guide to the Mysteries of Agatha Christie.

I've been checking out some of the book recommendations from "Give Your Child the World." I think someone responsible for ordering children's books at my local library must be a fan, because our library seems to have most of them. Now if she'll just write a teen version.... 43. "Candy Bomber" by Michael O. Tunnell. (Jr) and "Christmas From Heaven" by David T. Warner. The second is a lovely picture book with a DVD included featuring Tom Brokaw reciting the book for the Mormon Tabernacle Choir Christmas concert, and then welcoming Gail Halversen to the stage. Mr. Halversen is still alive. He participated in an air candy drop (with the help of his son) at an elementary school next town over from me a year ago, and was the guest of honor at a 4th of July event here not long after. 42. "After the Train" by Gloria Whelan. (Jr) Set in Germany in the '50s in a community still rebuilding and recovering from the war. 41. "Nora Ryan's Song" by Patricia Reilly Giff. (Jr) I knew about the Irish potato famine, but more from working for my dad and other professional genealogists. I don't think we ever covered it in school, and this is the first book I've read set there. 40. "Breaking Stalin's Nose" by Eugene Velchin. (Jr) This will be great for helping my kids understand life behind the Iron Curtain. 39. "The Book Whisperer" by Donalyn Miller. Doesn't have much of a recommendation list, but I like how she got buy-in from her class. 38. "The Man in the Brown Suit" by Agatha Christie. 37. "How to Speak Dragonese" by Cressida Cowell. 36. "Reading Magic" by Mem Fox. 35. "Murder on the Links" by Agatha Christie. (France, London, Warwickshire) 34. "The Grave's a Fine and Private Place" by Alan Bradley. (Fictional England) 33. "The Read-Aloud Family" by Sarah Mackenzie. 32. "Poirot Investigates" by Agatha Christie. (London, Northamptonshire, Derbyshire, Lancashire, Sussex, Kent, Devonshire) 31. "Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix" by J.K. Rowling. (London and Surrey) . 30. "The Skull Beneath the Skin" by P.D. James. (Dorset, London) 29. "How to Be a Pirate" by Cressida Cowell. 28. "Simply Classical" by Cheryl Swope 27. "Partners in Crime" by Agatha Christie. (London, Surrey, Sussex, Berkshire, Suffolk, Devon) 26. "Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire" by J.K. Rowling. (London, Surrey, and Devon) 25. "Give Your Child the World" by Jamie C. Martin. 24. "Vanishing Girl" by Shane Peacock. (London, Cambridgeshire, Huntingdonshire, Bedforshire, and Hampshire! -- I'll have my choice, and I've finally left London on my Brit trip!) 23. "Honey for a Child's Heart" by Gladys Hunt. 22. "How to Train Your Dragon" by Cressida Cowell. 21. "Death in the Air" by Shane Peacock. (London) 20. "Her Royal Spyness" by Rhys Bowen. (London) 19. "Teach Like Your Hair's On Fire" by Rafe Esquith. 18. "Every Falling Star" by Sungju Lee. 17. "The Nature Fix" by Florence Williams. 16. "Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban" by J,K. Rowling. (London and Surrey) 15. "Why Don't Students Like School?" by Daniel T. Willingham. 14. "Thrice the Brinded Cat Hath Mew'd" by Alan Bradley. (London and fictional Bishop's Lacy) 13. "Eye of the Crow" by Shane Peacock. (London) 12. "Secret Adversary" by Agatha Christie. (London, Dorset, Kent, and fictional England, and WWI at the beginning -- The opening scene is set on the sinking Lusitania.) 11. "Mysterious Affair at Styles" by Agatha Christie. (London, Essex, and fictional England, and WWI -- Hastings is home from the war for convalescence. So to go with it, I read the poem, "In Flanders Field" by John McRae, and several of the other poems on the same site.) 10. "Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets" by J.K. Rowling. (London or Surrey) 9. "An Unsuitable Job For a Woman" by P.D. James. (Mainly Cambridge, some London) 8. "Creative Schools" by Ken Robinson and Lou Aronica. 7. "CopShock: Surviving Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)" by Allen R. Kates. 6. "Rethinking School: How to Take Charge of Your Child's Education" by Susan Wise Bauer. 5. "Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone" by J.K. Rowling. (London or Surrey) 4. "Guerrilla Learning: How to give your kids a real education with or without school" by Grace Llewellyn and Amy Silver. 3. "Monkey Mind: A Memoir of Anxiety" by Daniel Smith. 2. "Mother had a Secret: Learning to love My Mother & Her Multiple Personalities" by Tiffany Fletcher. 1. "Life's lessons Learned" by Dallin H. Oaks. (LDS) Agatha Christies's settings in Everyman's Guide to the Mysteries of Agatha Christie.

I guess I never thought about the Newbery and Caldecott awards being a United States thing. I just learned the British equivalents are the Carnegie and the Kate Greenaway. And I see one of my all time favorites, "I Will Never Not Ever Eat a Tomato" on the Kate Greenaway list. Are there others? (Especially English language, or German, since I read those!) There must be! How awesome would it be to read great books across boundaries!

38. "The Man in the Brown Suit" by Agatha Christie. I can't decide if I missed these last two years ago when I thought I'd read every Agatha Christie ever, or if it's just been so long that I'd forgotten the stories. One advantage of aging, I guess! I was struck by the differences in our eras. The story takes it absolutely for granted that the older bosses want pretty young secretaries with "liquid eyes" who are willing to hold hands with them. But because they are single, and therefore, eligible bachelors, the girls don't necessarily mind. 37. "How to Speak Dragonese" by Cressida Cowell. DD8 and I are continuing our read-aloud streak. 36. "Reading Magic" by Mem Fox. I didn't care for this one, even though it promotes reading aloud. For one, she makes a few comments about parents sticking to reading aloud to their children and leaving the actual teaching of how to read to professional teachers. But one claim she made really annoyed me. She gives an antidote about the eleven-month old son of a friend, and talks about how much they read aloud to him, and how much interaction they have over books, and then she makes this statement: "Because of this interaction, it's unlikely that Ryan will ever need the services of a speech pathologist." That's a nice thought, but.... ... I read aloud to my son constantly, starting before he was born, even. We talked, and encouraged him to talk, and never used baby talk. He had a huge vocabulary and knew the proper names for everything. And totally needed speech therapy, for many years. 35. "Murder on the Links" by Agatha Christie. (France, London, Warwickshire) 34. "The Grave's a Fine and Private Place" by Alan Bradley. (Fictional England) 33. "The Read-Aloud Family" by Sarah Mackenzie. 32. "Poirot Investigates" by Agatha Christie. (London, Northamptonshire, Derbyshire, Lancashire, Sussex, Kent, Devonshire) 31. "Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix" by J.K. Rowling. (London and Surrey) . 30. "The Skull Beneath the Skin" by P.D. James. (Dorset, London) 29. "How to Be a Pirate" by Cressida Cowell. 28. "Simply Classical" by Cheryl Swope 27. "Partners in Crime" by Agatha Christie. (London, Surrey, Sussex, Berkshire, Suffolk, Devon) 26. "Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire" by J.K. Rowling. (London, Surrey, and Devon) 25. "Give Your Child the World" by Jamie C. Martin. 24. "Vanishing Girl" by Shane Peacock. (London, Cambridgeshire, Huntingdonshire, Bedforshire, and Hampshire! -- I'll have my choice, and I've finally left London on my Brit trip!) 23. "Honey for a Child's Heart" by Gladys Hunt. 22. "How to Train Your Dragon" by Cressida Cowell. 21. "Death in the Air" by Shane Peacock. (London) 20. "Her Royal Spyness" by Rhys Bowen. (London) 19. "Teach Like Your Hair's On Fire" by Rafe Esquith. 18. "Every Falling Star" by Sungju Lee. 17. "The Nature Fix" by Florence Williams. 16. "Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban" by J,K. Rowling. (London and Surrey) 15. "Why Don't Students Like School?" by Daniel T. Willingham. 14. "Thrice the Brinded Cat Hath Mew'd" by Alan Bradley. (London and fictional Bishop's Lacy) 13. "Eye of the Crow" by Shane Peacock. (London) 12. "Secret Adversary" by Agatha Christie. (London, Dorset, Kent, and fictional England, and WWI at the beginning -- The opening scene is set on the sinking Lusitania.) 11. "Mysterious Affair at Styles" by Agatha Christie. (London, Essex, and fictional England, and WWI -- Hastings is home from the war for convalescence. So to go with it, I read the poem, "In Flanders Field" by John McRae, and several of the other poems on the same site.) 10. "Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets" by J.K. Rowling. (London or Surrey) 9. "An Unsuitable Job For a Woman" by P.D. James. (Mainly Cambridge, some London) 8. "Creative Schools" by Ken Robinson and Lou Aronica. 7. "CopShock: Surviving Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)" by Allen R. Kates. 6. "Rethinking School: How to Take Charge of Your Child's Education" by Susan Wise Bauer. 5. "Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone" by J.K. Rowling. (London or Surrey) 4. "Guerrilla Learning: How to give your kids a real education with or without school" by Grace Llewellyn and Amy Silver. 3. "Monkey Mind: A Memoir of Anxiety" by Daniel Smith. 2. "Mother had a Secret: Learning to love My Mother & Her Multiple Personalities" by Tiffany Fletcher. 1. "Life's lessons Learned" by Dallin H. Oaks. (LDS) Agatha Christies's settings in Everyman's Guide to the Mysteries of Agatha Christie.

34. "The Grave's a Fine and Private Place" by Alan Bradley. I love Flavia! 33. "The Read-Aloud Family" by Sarah Mackenzie. Loved this. I saw a lot of my old favorites, and I'm excited to have some new recommendations. 32. "Poirot Investigates" by Agatha Christie. (London, Northamptonshire, Derbyshire, Lancashire, Sussex, Kent, Devonshire) A collection of short stories. 31. "Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix" by J.K. Rowling. (London and Surry) Continuing on in our family bedtime audio book. 30. "The Skull Beneath the Skin" by P.D. James. (Dorset, London) 29. "How to Be a Pirate" by Cressida Cowell. 28. "Simply Classical" by Cheryl Swope 27. "Partners in Crime" by Agatha Christie. (London, Surrey, Sussex, Berkshire, Suffolk, Devon) 26. "Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire" by J.K. Rowling. (London, Surrey, and Devon) 25. "Give Your Child the World" by Jamie C. Martin. 24. "Vanishing Girl" by Shane Peacock. (London, Cambridgeshire, Huntingdonshire, Bedforshire, and Hampshire! -- I'll have my choice, and I've finally left London on my Brit trip!) 23. "Honey for a Child's Heart" by Gladys Hunt. 22. "How to Train Your Dragon" by Cressida Cowell. 21. "Death in the Air" by Shane Peacock. (London) 20. "Her Royal Spyness" by Rhys Bowen. (London) 19. "Teach Like Your Hair's On Fire" by Rafe Esquith. 18. "Every Falling Star" by Sungju Lee. 17. "The Nature Fix" by Florence Williams. 16. "Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban" by J,K. Rowling. (London and Surrey) 15. "Why Don't Students Like School?" by Daniel T. Willingham. 14. "Thrice the Brinded Cat Hath Mew'd" by Alan Bradley. (London and fictional Bishop's Lacy) 13. "Eye of the Crow" by Shane Peacock. (London) 12. "Secret Adversary" by Agatha Christie. (London, Dorset, Kent, and fictional England, and WWI at the beginning -- The opening scene is set on the sinking Lusitania.) 11. "Mysterious Affair at Styles" by Agatha Christie. (London, Essex, and fictional England, and WWI -- Hastings is home from the war for convalescence. So to go with it, I read the poem, "In Flanders Field" by John McRae, and several of the other poems on the same site.) 10. "Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets" by J.K. Rowling. (London or Surrey) 9. "An Unsuitable Job For a Woman" by P.D. James. (Mainly Cambridge, some London) 8. "Creative Schools" by Ken Robinson and Lou Aronica. 7. "CopShock: Surviving Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)" by Allen R. Kates. 6. "Rethinking School: How to Take Charge of Your Child's Education" by Susan Wise Bauer. 5. "Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone" by J.K. Rowling. (London or Surrey) 4. "Guerrilla Learning: How to give your kids a real education with or without school" by Grace Llewellyn and Amy Silver. 3. "Monkey Mind: A Memoir of Anxiety" by Daniel Smith. 2. "Mother had a Secret: Learning to love My Mother & Her Multiple Personalities" by Tiffany Fletcher. 1. "Life's lessons Learned" by Dallin H. Oaks. (LDS) Agatha Christies's settings in Everyman's Guide to the Mysteries of Agatha Christie.

30. "The Skull Beneath the Skin" by P.D. James. (Dorset, London) 29. "How to Be a Pirate" by Cressida Cowell. Continuing on the the How to Train Your Dragon series with DD8. She has really gotten into being read aloud to with this series. 28. "Simply Classical" by Cheryl Swope. Fantastic! Wish it had showed up on my radar when my first child was diagnosed with ASD; I would have stressed less. I'll be coming back to this often. 27. "Partners in Crime" by Agatha Christie. (London, Surrey, Sussex, Berkshire, Suffolk, Devon) 26. "Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire" by J.K. Rowling. (London, Surrey, and Devon) 25. "Give Your Child the World" by Jamie C. Martin. 24. "Vanishing Girl" by Shane Peacock. (London, Cambridgeshire, Huntingdonshire, Bedforshire, and Hampshire! -- I'll have my choice, and I've finally left London on my Brit trip!) 23. "Honey for a Child's Heart" by Gladys Hunt. 22. "How to Train Your Dragon" by Cressida Cowell. 21. "Death in the Air" by Shane Peacock. (London) 20. "Her Royal Spyness" by Rhys Bowen. (London) 19. "Teach Like Your Hair's On Fire" by Rafe Esquith. 18. "Every Falling Star" by Sungju Lee. 17. "The Nature Fix" by Florence Williams. 16. "Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban" by J,K. Rowling. (London and Surrey) 15. "Why Don't Students Like School?" by Daniel T. Willingham. 14. "Thrice the Brinded Cat Hath Mew'd" by Alan Bradley. (London and fictional Bishop's Lacy) 13. "Eye of the Crow" by Shane Peacock. (London) 12. "Secret Adversary" by Agatha Christie. (London, Dorset, Kent, and fictional England, and WWI at the beginning -- The opening scene is set on the sinking Lusitania.) 11. "Mysterious Affair at Styles" by Agatha Christie. (London, Essex, and fictional England, and WWI -- Hastings is home from the war for convalescence. So to go with it, I read the poem, "In Flanders Field" by John McRae, and several of the other poems on the same site.) 10. "Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets" by J.K. Rowling. (London or Surrey) 9. "An Unsuitable Job For a Woman" by P.D. James. (Mainly Cambridge, some London) 8. "Creative Schools" by Ken Robinson and Lou Aronica. 7. "CopShock: Surviving Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)" by Allen R. Kates. 6. "Rethinking School: How to Take Charge of Your Child's Education" by Susan Wise Bauer. 5. "Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone" by J.K. Rowling. (London or Surrey) 4. "Guerrilla Learning: How to give your kids a real education with or without school" by Grace Llewellyn and Amy Silver. 3. "Monkey Mind: A Memoir of Anxiety" by Daniel Smith. 2. "Mother had a Secret: Learning to love My Mother & Her Multiple Personalities" by Tiffany Fletcher. 1. "Life's lessons Learned" by Dallin H. Oaks. (LDS) Agatha Christies's settings in Everyman's Guide to the Mysteries of Agatha Christie.

And what was the conclusion?

Social groups I'm currently listed in, but never joined: 1. Hampton Road Ho... 2. Narcissistic... Social groups I was subscribed to (titles probably not exact) : 1. Moms of teen aspies 2. LDS Homeschoolers

Just discovered a lovely list of Agatha Christies's settings in Everyman's Guide to the Mysteries of Agatha Christie. 27. "Partners in Crime" by Agatha Christie. (London, Surrey, Sussex, Berkshire, Suffolk, Devon) A collection of short stories featuring Tommy and Tuppence, husband and wife detectives. 26. "Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire" by J.K. Rowling. (London, Surrey, and Devon) Listened while we traveled to and from our spring break trip. 25. "Give Your Child the World" by Jamie C. Martin. Definitely going to try the books recommended here. 24. "Vanishing Girl" by Shane Peacock. (London, Cambridgeshire, Huntingdonshire, Bedforshire, and Hampshire! -- I'll have my choice, and I've finally left London on my Brit trip!) 23. "Honey for a Child's Heart" by Gladys Hunt. 22. "How to Train Your Dragon" by Cressida Cowell. 21. "Death in the Air" by Shane Peacock. (London) 20. "Her Royal Spyness" by Rhys Bowen. (London) 19. "Teach Like Your Hair's On Fire" by Rafe Esquith. 18. "Every Falling Star" by Sungju Lee. 17. "The Nature Fix" by Florence Williams. 16. "Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban" by J,K. Rowling. (London and Surrey) 15. "Why Don't Students Like School?" by Daniel T. Willingham. 14. "Thrice the Brinded Cat Hath Mew'd" by Alan Bradley. (London and fictional Bishop's Lacy) 13. "Eye of the Crow" by Shane Peacock. (London) 12. "Secret Adversary" by Agatha Christie. (London, Dorset, Kent, and fictional England, and WWI at the beginning -- The opening scene is set on the sinking Lusitania.) 11. "Mysterious Affair at Styles" by Agatha Christie. (London, Essex, and fictional England, and WWI -- Hastings is home from the war for convalescence. So to go with it, I read the poem, "In Flanders Field" by John McRae, and several of the other poems on the same site.) 10. "Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets" by J.K. Rowling. (London or Surrey) 9. "An Unsuitable Job For a Woman" by P.D. James. (Mainly Cambridge, some London) 8. "Creative Schools" by Ken Robinson and Lou Aronica. 7. "CopShock: Surviving Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)" by Allen R. Kates. 6. "Rethinking School: How to Take Charge of Your Child's Education" by Susan Wise Bauer. 5. "Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone" by J.K. Rowling. (London or Surrey) 4. "Guerrilla Learning: How to give your kids a real education with or without school" by Grace Llewellyn and Amy Silver. 3. "Monkey Mind: A Memoir of Anxiety" by Daniel Smith. 2. "Mother had a Secret: Learning to love My Mother & Her Multiple Personalities" by Tiffany Fletcher. 1. "Life's lessons Learned" by Dallin H. Oaks. (LDS)

So happy to be back! 24. "Vanishing Girl" by Shane Peacock. (London, Cambridgeshire, Huntingdonshire, Bedforshire, and Hampshire! -- I'll have my choice, and I've finally left London on my Brit trip!) Third in the Boy Sherlock Holmes Series. He chases his suspects by train out of London through several other English villages and towns. 23. "Honey for a Child's Heart" by Gladys Hunt. Looking for some great new read-alouds. 22. "How to Train Your Dragon" by Cressida Cowell. Our first successful read-aloud chapter book with DD8! She actually begged for more each time we read, so we got through the whole thing in only three sittings. 21. "Death in the Air" by Shane Peacock. (London) Second in the Boy Sherlock Holmes Series. An unusual writing style, as it's in the third person, but in the present tense, so that instead of being full of "Sherlock remembered," it's full of "Sherlock remembers." 20. "Her Royal Spyness" by Rhys Bowen. (London) My mom recommended this. Clever premise. I'll be trying the next in the series. 19. "Teach Like Your Hair's On Fire" by Rafe Esquith. I'm searching for less traditional ways tp engage my three, who are all 2E. I'll have to give some of his methods a try. 18. "Every Falling Star" by Sungju Lee. Compelling story about his life, first as the only child of a favored military official in North Korea, then as impoverished citizens when his father falls from favor, then as an abandoned street kid. Eventually he escapes through China to South Korea. 17. "The Nature Fix" by Florence Williams. 16. "Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban" by J,K. Rowling. (London and Surrey) 15. "Why Don't Students Like School?" by Daniel T. Willingham. 14. "Thrice the Brinded Cat Hath Mew'd" by Alan Bradley. (London and fictional Bishop's Lacy) 13. "Eye of the Crow" by Shane Peacock. (London) 12. "Secret Adversary" by Agatha Christie. (London and fictional England, and WWI at the beginning -- The opening scene is set on the sinking Lusitania.) 11. "Mysterious Affair at Styles" by Agatha Christie. (London and fictional England, and WWI -- Hastings is home from the war for convalescence. So to go with it, I read the poem, "In Flanders Field" by John McRae, and several of the other poems on the same site.) 10. "Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets" by J.K. Rowling. (London or Surrey) 9. "An Unsuitable Job For a Woman" by P.D. James. (Mainly Cambridge, some London) 8. "Creative Schools" by Ken Robinson and Lou Aronica. 7. "CopShock: Surviving Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)" by Allen R. Kates. 6. "Rethinking School: How to Take Charge of Your Child's Education" by Susan Wise Bauer. 5. "Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone" by J.K. Rowling. (London or Surrey) 4. "Guerrilla Learning: How to give your kids a real education with or without school" by Grace Llewellyn and Amy Silver. 3. "Monkey Mind: A Memoir of Anxiety" by Daniel Smith. 2. "Mother had a Secret: Learning to love My Mother & Her Multiple Personalities" by Tiffany Fletcher. 1. "Life's lessons Learned" by Dallin H. Oaks. (LDS)

I've been checking the local papers and news stations, following this story, because we are also in the Utah National Parks Council, and my aspie son is also in scouts. (I'm a den leader in cub scouts.) It's the Associated Press who is reporting that "the national organization voided every merit badge he had earned," not the family. In their lawsuit, they are suing only "for blocking his son from becoming an Eagle Scout and revoking some of his merit badges." I saw one quote this morning (which I can't find again) where the dad is supposed to have said that National "effectively took away" his badges, which isn't the same as actually taking them away. Revoking them doesn't even seem likely logistically. National got back to him in 24 hours. There's no way they challenged all 22 badges in 24 hours. That would require tracking down and interviewing all 22 Merit Badge counselors, many of whom probably aren't in scouts anymore. (Otherwise, how would they even know he hadn't done every badge as written?) National says they did not take away any badges in their newsroom post. They also said it in a eZine for adult BSA leaders that I got in my inbox just this morning: "Logan is still registered as a Boy Scout, and the merit badges he earned are still listed in the BSA’s advancement records." What I suspect really happened is that he was missing some of the badges required on the eagle path, as outlined in Margaret's post. (For instance, maybe he hasn't done Swimming or Hiking or Cycling, and has instead substituted something else from the required list, but from an unrelated category. National probably told them those substitutions don't count as required badges (they'd still count as electives), and Dad probably took that as saying they were revoking them. When his dad was interviewed on KSL, Utah's main news radio station, what he said there was, “When National (BSA) was contacted about possible alternates, we were told that for Star Life Eagle Ranks, there are no alternates. The young man must do the requirements as written, including leadership responsibilities.†I can see Mom and Dad taking that as meaning you must do each Merit Badge exactly as written, but National actually meaning you have to meet all the rank requirements. From the eZine: Logan’s story raised some questions about this line from Page 79 of the Guide to Advancement: “Alternatives are not available for the Star, Life, and Eagle rank requirements. Scouts may request approval for alternative merit badges, but the other requirements for those three ranks must be fulfilled as written.†That's a whole different thing, having nothing to do with Merit Badges. I know, because my Aspie son is heading for Star, that one of the requirements for that rank is serving for four months in some kind of youth leadership position, such as as a Den Chief, or Patrol Leader. The wording of what National is supposed to have told this boy's dad suggests he hasn't met the leadership requirement. ,

17. "The Nature Fix" by Florence Williams. Loved this! It matches our personal experience. Our kids have a huge reduction of OCD symptoms and are even less autismy when we are out hiking. 16. "Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban" by J,K. Rowling. (London and Surrey) 15. "Why Don't Students Like School?" by Daniel T. Willingham. 14. "Thrice the Brinded Cat Hath Mew'd" by Alan Bradley. (London and fictional Bishop's Lacy) 13. "Eye of the Crow" by Shane Peacock. (London) 12. "Secret Adversary" by Agatha Christie. (London and fictional England, and WWI at the beginning -- The opening scene is set on the sinking Lusitania.) 11. "Mysterious Affair at Styles" by Agatha Christie. (London and fictional England, and WWI -- Hastings is home from the war for convalescence. So to go with it, I read the poem, "In Flanders Field" by John McRae, and several of the other poems on the same site.) 10. "Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets" by J.K. Rowling. (London or Surrey) 9. "An Unsuitable Job For a Woman" by P.D. James. (Mainly Cambridge, some London) 8. "Creative Schools" by Ken Robinson and Lou Aronica. 7. "CopShock: Surviving Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)" by Allen R. Kates. 6. "Rethinking School: How to Take Charge of Your Child's Education" by Susan Wise Bauer. 5. "Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone" by J.K. Rowling. (London or Surrey) 4. "Guerrilla Learning: How to give your kids a real education with or without school" by Grace Llewellyn and Amy Silver. 3. "Monkey Mind: A Memoir of Anxiety" by Daniel Smith. 2. "Mother had a Secret: Learning to love My Mother & Her Multiple Personalities" by Tiffany Fletcher. 1. "Life's lessons Learned" by Dallin H. Oaks. (LDS)

Well, I need to login in more regularly. I'm getting library books ready to return and realized I haven't reported my reading for several weeks. 16. "Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban" by J,K. Rowling. (London and Surrey) We've been continuing our bedtime audible listening as a family. 15. "Why Don't Students Like School?" by Daniel T. Willingham. Excellent! 14. "Thrice the Brinded Cat Hath Mew'd" by Alan Bradley. (London and fictional Bishop's Lacy) I missed this one, and was delighted to see it listed when I went to the library catalog to reserve the latest one. 13. "Eye of the Crow" by Shane Peacock. (London) A young adult series featuring the boy Sherlock Holmes. Not quite what I expected, but I liked it. I'll try the next in the series. 12. "Secret Adversary" by Agatha Christie. (London and fictional England, and WWI at the beginning -- The opening scene is set on the sinking Lusitania.) 11. "Mysterious Affair at Styles" by Agatha Christie. (London and fictional England, and WWI -- Hastings is home from the war for convalescence. So to go with it, I read the poem, "In Flanders Field" by John McRae, and several of the other poems on the same site.) 10. "Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets" by J.K. Rowling. (London or Surrey) 9. "An Unsuitable Job For a Woman" by P.D. James. (Mainly Cambridge, some London) 8. "Creative Schools" by Ken Robinson and Lou Aronica. 7. "CopShock: Surviving Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)" by Allen R. Kates. 6. "Rethinking School: How to Take Charge of Your Child's Education" by Susan Wise Bauer. 5. "Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone" by J.K. Rowling. (London or Surrey) 4. "Guerrilla Learning: How to give your kids a real education with or without school" by Grace Llewellyn and Amy Silver. 3. "Monkey Mind: A Memoir of Anxiety" by Daniel Smith. 2. "Mother had a Secret: Learning to love My Mother & Her Multiple Personalities" by Tiffany Fletcher. 1. "Life's lessons Learned" by Dallin H. Oaks. (LDS)

Dead give away that they got their information from a census! And sometimes it's so obvious, like there's a ten year gap in the middle of the kids, and "Mom" would only have been ten years old when the oldest was born. A little logic goes a long way in genealogy!