Thursday’s Tale: Heungbu and Nolbu

Thursday’s Tale: Heungbu and Nolbu

by Carol3 Comments
Image credit Today's tale comes from Korea, first written down 300 years ago. It seems to be a well-known story in Korea, one every child is told. Heungbu and Nolbu are brothers. Nolbu, the older, is a mean nasty man, greedy and vicious, but very rich. Heungbu, the younger, was a hard worker, kind and generous, but poor and he, his wife and children were always hungry. One day whem Heungbu returns home from work, he finds a snake devouring a nest full of swallows. Only one swallow escapes being killed, but it's leg was injured in the fall from the nest. Heungbu takes care of the little bird's leg, covering it with ointment and then wrappig it. The swallow heals and flies south in winter. The following spring, however it returns to Heungbo's and drops a gourd seed on the ground. Heungbo of course plants the seed. Soon the plant grows and produces five unusually large gourds. Heungbo and his wife cut them open. The...
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I is for Illuminated

I is for Illuminated

by Carol4 Comments
Illuminate has so many definitions. First, and most obvious, it means to supply or brighten with light. Or it can mean to make lucid or clear, to throw light on a subject. But today I'm using the definition: to make resplendent or illustrious, illustrated manuscripts to be precise. An illuminated manuscript is a manuscript, from the Western or Islamic traditions, in which the text is supplemented by the addition of decoration, such as decorated initials, borders and miniature illustrations. The manuscript may be decorated with gold or silver, but the term usually refers to any decorated or illustrated manuscript. Most of the surviving examples come from the Middle Ages and Renaissance period, although examples from as early as 400 AD exist. Image credit: Lost and Found It amazes me the amount of work, time, and love went into these works. Not only are they artistically gorgeous, they helped save these writings, mostly religious works. The very existence of illuminated manuscripts as a way of giving stature...
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H is for Hat

H is for Hat

by Carol13 Comments
Next year, I need an Easter bonnet, something frilly and flowery. I could even make one, like the little girl's above. The directions for how to make it are at Piggy Gigggles. Miss Hunnicutt has an wonderful hat, even thought it's not one I would wear into a church, or any building for that matter. Miss Hunnicutt's Hat by Jeff Brunbeau is not really an Easter book, but it always feels like a Spring story to me, full of hats and pastels, flowers and frills. It was one of my favorites when Amber was younger, and it's still on the bookshelf. The prim little town of Littleton is in a tizzy preparing for a visit from the Queen. So when Miss Hunnicutt steps out in her new hat, the stuffy townsfolk are scandalized. The chicken has to go! But plucky Miss Hunnicut stands up for her right to wear what she likes. And when the Queen's arrival prompts a surprising turn...
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Happy Easter

Happy Easter

by Carol4 Comments
Christ the Lord Is Risen Today Charles Wesley,1739 Christ, the Lord, is risen today, Alleluia! Sons of men and angels say, Alleluia! Raise your joys and triumphs high, Alleluia! Sing, ye heavens, and earth, reply, Alleluia! Love’s redeeming work is done, Alleluia! Fought the fight, the battle won, Alleluia! Lo! the Sun’s eclipse is over, Alleluia! Lo! He sets in blood no more, Alleluia! Vain the stone, the watch, the seal, Alleluia! Christ hath burst the gates of hell, Alleluia! Death in vain forbids His rise, Alleluia! Christ hath opened paradise, Alleluia! Lives again our glorious King, Alleluia! Where, O death, is now thy sting? Alleluia! Once He died our souls to save, Alleluia! Where thy victory, O grave? Alleluia! Soar we now where Christ hath led, Alleluia! Following our exalted Head, Alleluia! Made like Him, like Him we rise, Alleluia! Ours the cross, the grave, the skies, Alleluia! Hail, the Lord of earth and Heaven, Alleluia! Praise to Thee by both be given, Alleluia! Thee we greet triumphant now, Alleluia! Hail, the resurrection, thou, Alleluia! King of glory, Soul of bliss, Alleluia! Everlasting life is this,...
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G is for Guest

G is for Guest

by Carol2 Comments
G is for guest and today I'm pleased to welcome Lisa April Smith, author of Exceeding Expectations, to my notebook. Today, she's sharing a little about her writing process. My Approach to Writing by Lisa April Smith I’m often asked at book events, “Are you ever stymied by writer’s block?” And I am delighted to reply that I’ve never experienced writer’s block. I think the reason for that has to do with my concept of work. When I was at IBM I didn’t ask myself if I was in the mood to do something. I looked at the tasks at hand, prioritized them and got to it. In the process of constructing a book, I have many varied ways to be productive. Editing. Plotting. Incorporating my latest epiphany. Creating a calendar so that I know how old characters are during the time frame of the story. I maintain a separate file that has the physical appearance, ethnicity and traits of every significant character. Except when...
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