Ganymeder

This book, third in the “Percy Jackson and the Olympians” series, has only one flaw – It leaves you wanting more. Fortunately the fourth book in the series is due to come out soon, so the wait won’t be too long.

Of course, its always better to have read the earlier books in the series and have a general knowledge of Greek mythology. However, I’m willing to bet that if you were to pick up this book by itself you would fall into the plot and characters fairly quickly. The books follow the “half blood” mortal children of the Greek gods who, after centuries, still haven’t learned self control and consequently continue having multiple affairs with humans. The gods retain the same offices they did in ancient times, although they upgrade the tools of their trade. Hermes caduceus transforms into a more socially acceptable and portable cell phone. Ares, complete in biker outfit, rides a motorcycle instead of fire breathing stallions. That sort of thing.

The series follows the exploits of one particular half blood hero, Percy Jackson, son of one of “The Big Three.” Zeus, Poseidon, and Hades made a pact years earlier to not have any more children with human women. Motivated by self interest, they intended to avoid a prophecy that said one of their children would make a decision capable of destroying the Olympians. If you’re at all familiar with Greek mythology, you can imagine how well that worked out. Add to the mix the Titan Kronos and his growing army, new half blood heroes, monsters, and plot twists. The result is a wonderfully funny, adventurous, imaginative book geared to entertain children and adults alike.

In my opinion, this book is suitable for all ages.

I recommend you read this. Right now. Go on. What are you waiting for?

Fresh spinach and/or mixed fresh greens

fresh strawberries

raisins (and/or dried dates, any kind of small chopped dried fruit)

sliced almonds (or you may substitute crushed walnuts)

*Assemble ingredients in order listed. Add dressing. Either an Asian ginger vinaigrette or a poppyseed dressing will go well with this salad. It’s yummy!

1/4 cup Raspberry balsamic vinegar

4 teas sugar

2/3 teas salt

2/3 teas mustard

2 teas lemon juice

2/3 cup veg oil

1 Tab Poppyseeds

Mix all ingredients. Enjoy!

*Note:  I looked at a bunch of recipes for this at different websites, and tweaked one of them (but I honestly can’t find the one I tweaked)!  Anyway, this is really, really good!

Recently I just finished reading “The Dark is rising,” the second book in The Dark is Rising sequence, as a bedtime story for my little boy. For any Anglophiles out there, the author tells of an eternal battle between The Light and The Dark based largely on British mythology.

Will Stanton finds out on the Midwinter day of his eleventh birthday that he is the last of the “Old Ones” – champions of The Light that eternally battle the forces of The Dark that threaten to take over the world. He must seek out the six signs of The Light to aid in the ultimate battle of Good versus Evil.

The characters in this book are very engaging and well fleshed out. Prophetic bits of poetic verse, which reminded me of Tolkien, add more depth to the story. Danger, Intrigue, magic, devotion, sacrifice and betrayal drive the plot to its ultimate conclusion.

My seven year old son loved this book which dealt in themes not necessarily meant for his age group. Nevertheless, the plot enchanted both of us, and I have no reservations recommending this read to other parents of young children. The only caveat I offer is this; some parts of the novel are a little sad. Pathos not withstanding, I still recommend this book. We could hardly put it down.

Unfortunately, I didn’t read the first book in the sequence, “Over Sea, Under Stone.” My husband read that story to our little boy, but he assured me that I didn’t need to read the first book to enjoy or “get” the second. He was absolutely right. But I should warn you. Once you read Ms. Cooper’s writing, you’ll want to go back and read more.

*The next book in The Dark is Rising sequence is Greenwitch.

I was shocked when my seven year old asked me not to use the word “boo boo” anymore when he got hurt. It’s an “injury.” Then, when he saw the look on my face, he said “boo boo” was fine as long as it wasn’t in front of other people.

I’m happy his vocabulary’s improving, but yet I can’t help missing all the mistakes he made when he was younger. Wrong tenses. E an D tagged on to make past tense words like “eat-ed” instead of “ate.”

His language skills have improved as he’s become more literate. He doesn’t always want me to read to him, because he can read for himself. “Boo boos” seemed to be a holdover from an earlier time when I could make everything better with just a kiss.

Maybe its just the thought that one more stage of his childhood is ending. I love the little boy he’s become just as much as the baby and toddler he used to be. I can play games with him now that I never could when he was younger. Heck, he’s even tied me at chess (not that I’m a Master, but still)! We play ball, have tickle fights, and cook together. We bake cakes, and I mix. He stirs. Then he licks clean the spoon and the bowl.

But I still want to make his boo boos better with a kiss. I miss the mistakes he’s outgrown, though its fun to watch him ask “Liquid refreshment, please?” instead of just asking for water.

His growing vocabulary, while impressive, still occasionally misuses the words he’s learning. It doesn’t happen often. Actually it happens less and less as he grows up, but it does always make me smile.

Here’s an example. The other night we were watching a movie where the hero referred to the heroine as “belonging to him.” My son was indignant! He rounded on me, exclaiming, “Hey! She’s not an OBSTACLE to be owned by someone! She’s a person!”

So…I think I may still have a little time left. Those boo boos aren’t going to go away without my help just yet.

* 1 cup sugar

* 1/3 cup nondairy margarine

* 1/2 teaspoon salt

* 2 1/4 cups sifted flour

* 1 teaspoon baking soda

* 1 1/4 teaspoons baking powder

* 1 cup water

* juice from 1 lemon

DIRECTIONS

1. Cream together the sugar and margarine.

2. Use a sifter to add the rest of the dry ingredients to the creamed mixture. Mix thoroughly.

3. In a separate bowl, mix water and lemon juice.

4. Slowly add liquid to mix, and stir together to make a fluffy batter.

5. Bake at 350 degrees F (165 degrees C) for about 45 minutes.

6. When cooled, top with your favorite icing. This recipe goes best with lavender icing.

*altered by MeowieAllieCat and ganymeder from recipes at allrecipes.com

2 Tablespoons ground lavender

1/2 peppermint tea bag

2 1/2 cups sugar

1/2 cup margarine

1/2 cup of flour

—Grind together (in a spice blender or with a pistol and mortar) the lavender and mint.

—Mix the lavender and mint into the sugar. Keep in sealed container an hour or more to ensure the flavors blend nicely.

—Sift the sugar into the margarine, and cream together. *

—Mix in the flour.

—Use on your favorite cake or cupcakes! This goes perfectly with Lemonade cake.

*You sift to get out the little flower bits that might not have ground up too much.

**MeowAllieCat at Vegan freak forums has given me her kind permission to tweak and reprint this recipe. Thanks again, Meowie!

Cemeteries are some of the most beautiful places in the world. Hospitals are not. So why is it we go to Hospitals to get better and cemeteries when we die? In my not so humble opinion, it should be the other way around.Fresh air, sunshine, trees and flowers freshly ordered by Mother Nature, are all lovely inducements for recovery. How many times have we heard on sitcoms the actor (who is not a doctor but plays one on t.v.) tell a patient they need to go outside and get some fresh air? What higher authority do we need? Isn’t the outdoors itself enough to lure us?

There are other enticements as well. Cemeteries appeal to our love of the outdoors, like parks, with the additional advantages of statues, mausoleums, and other wonderful examples of art and architecture. They combine parks, history, and art. Tombstones tell stories to anyone willing to listen. And there’s never a fee.

However, Hospitals almost ALWAYS charge a fee and aren’t nearly as alluring. Experiences there are almost always painful, in practice as well as when you get the bill. It’s never relaxing being poked and prodded by doctors and nurses while you’re imprisoned inside starkly sterile white walls. And yet their chief incentive is to treat you to keep you out of the cemetery. No, give me cemeteries every time. They’re much more cheerful.