Foggy owls and lions and lambs, oh my! Blogionaire ❤

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Spring 2014 

Britain woke up to find their cars covered in dusty sand from the Sahara Desert, 2014

and this is no April fool's joke. Unusual occurrences are blowing in from a sandstorm from Africa. Covering the whole of the country! The met office have forecast a ten out of ten for air pollution for London. This dust will cause one of the worst smog's of the year and you can't deport any of it back now, as some of it is full of cat hairs.

You need the correct combination of elements to create this sandstorm, the wind from the South, and the right sort of rain.

Whatever next, and what exactly is the right sort of rain?

Well the right sort has to be light, not too much, just enough to bring down some dust or sand to cover everything. This rain dries quickly leaving the sand residue. Apparently it is not dangerous but warnings are going out to people who are aerobically fit outdoors as there has been more widespread news of respiratory problems among the fittest who work-out in the outdoors.  

Bring back the lions and the lambs is what I say! You know the old ditty, March In like a lion, and out like a lamb.  READ THAT BLOG HERE kidliteraturetoday.blogspot now-in-march-as-saying-goes

March winds and April showers bring forth May flowers.

whether the weather be cold, or whether the weather be hot, weather the weather, whatever the weather, whether you like it or not!

'not'

March and April are good months for me, it is the debut of my long awaited book, my fully illustrated children's book...get it this week for 77p only!

Yes that is right 77p! I am on a mission to RT as many twitters as possible, and all that RT me. 

http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B00JDG8T3M

https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/424518

  News from 10th March 2014 !

Children's book website is up, and if you tweet me on twitter, a few hours later it comes up on the website, on the page 'what I have been up to today via social media.'

It looks so cool, and if you have a book out and I retweet it, then it also goes up there!

Check it out !   

All illustrations are complete! I added three more illustrations and a really cool index profile page of the owls names and pics at the back. This lets readers get a good look at all the characters in the book and become familiar with them. 

All of the owls will not be in the first book though, rather they will be in the next book in the series of the little magic owl and his friends. 

http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B00JDG8T3M

https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/424518

A lot of work has gone into designing the owls for my book. I am so grateful for all the help sharing and  supporting.

Check my progress in my past blogs to read about me, my cats, my owls, and what I have been up to. 

Lord Snoots from my book (The real Lord Snoots is Sooty cat 

being mischievous at home) 

First book sketch - Hello Teeny Pheeny 

18/Jan/2014

Welcome into the world of the magic owl Teeny Pheeny! 

Pencil sketch is of the first draft of the Magic baby owl That will be going into my book. 18/jan2014

I am working on articles for a health magazine at the moment. So that is taking me away from the book publishing. So I became guilty and set my mind to finishing some illustrations off. I have so enjoyed creating them even though they have took me ages. I am getting some help to complete the formatting in order to get them up as quick as possible. Like I say I have dragged my feet in publishing the children's owl book. The very special children's Owl book. The first in the series. (They are all penned ready to go) sitting like impatient children in the back of a car shouting 'are we there yet!'

Well there is a light ahead. All the illustrations have been chosen out of the hundreds I have drawn. Done! yes done! woop.  They are now all ready for the first book, so watch this space, January looks like the month they go out to the public in book form.

So this week I have really enjoyed learning more about health and fitness. It is also making me want to start my yoga classes up again, not partaking but actually taking classes. I can't do everything I want, so I will be have to be content to do my own yoga solo. It was a few years ago I took classes. To remember things that you had put on the back burner and  and re-enforce what you used to know and learned was so rewarding. I am so pleased I found the time to research this time, instead of being at college studying it! (Very little computer use in practical studies even in the late 90's).

Adventures of the Magic Owl Land. Hello Teeny Pheeny Out now! >http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B00JDG8T3M

If you want to know anything about Yoga, back pain, and treatments and exercises to consider then look at my articles here> more are updated regularly  http://www.backpaininfo.co/

Spring forward Fall back.

   

If I had any spare time at all, spare time, what's that I hear you cry! it would be to go bungee jumping in Honolulu, scuba diving in the Maldives, climbing up Mount Kilimanjaro, or some such getting the juices going activity. In fact it is a bit of a shock to me that people who say they are bored, are not at the very least learning how to speak Swahili, Mandarin Chinese, or knocking out Mandarin Caprioska for breakfast Mary Berry style.

I do not have the time, and especially spare time. 
I would love to sit out in the garden on a sunny afternoon, lazing the day away thinking of which wall in the house I fancied painting next, then watching it dry. 

Time is indeed going quicker and quicker, for me anyway, and I thought it was because my life was so fulfilling, but apparently it isn't! 
The reason it seems as if time goes quicker can be explained scientifically. (Leans to sceptic side here) Scientists can explain it like this: As you get older your memory capacity shrinks and you have less memory cells so you don't hold as much information.

Therefore the older you get the less time you think you have, because you don't store it as well. But you wouldn't remember all that anyway, so let's not worry too much.
I still feel as if I am missing out, hmm.
It doesn't impress me  and thank you Miss Know it all, who was so keen to tell the 'oldies' she worked with. 
We had only happened to mention how Christmas/Easter comes around so much quicker these days (when you are over 40).

   An extra hour's Luxury 

In October, when the clocks went back, this is what I wrote.

 'As I sit writing a blog on the day the clocks go back in October just gone, (yes, and time has flown by since then) I realised the day had once again completely flown by. I could have sworn I was only onto my second cup of coffee since awakening from a refreshing sleep, which was an hour longer so I had to have noticed that surely. 

Nope, I slept right through that particular luxury. On checking times on mobiles and clocks and so forth when I first awoke, the time showed the usual time I get up: Which was 7.30am, and first thoughts were good. 
I still had to change the clocks back as I had forgot to do so before retiring to bed. Oh how lovely, I thought, an extra hour to do what I wanted to do, in a time that I had to do it, and all at a leisurely pace. I had really looked forward to this time all week, as I am always rushing about and never ever have enough time in the day etc. So this was going to be me right back on track, this extra hour. I would spend it meditating, soothing my mind (and it needed soothing) and easing it into the day with a leisurely lie in and an even longer coffee time before the world started to nag at me.  But the clocks had tricked me, they had automatically changed back themselves! How very dare they! Wasn't I in control over when they changed. I could set it 2 hours back if I saw fit. I didn't. My mind still lives in the days where you had to manually change them back yourself, none of this internet signal lark. Otherwise we will be sitting up waiting at 2.00am to see if they have changed automatically, because we will not be entirely sure that they will do so! 

So I would like to decide what goes on in my house thank you very much Greenwich Mean Time, and you can take your signals through the airwaves, or whatever changes the time automatically these days and put your heads together to think of something more useful to do, like tell the correct time, and not adjust it twice a year.'

So where does this time go? The time leaves us and goes to the young ones, as they seem to have oodles of the stuff. 

I'm not entirely sure if  they even have the talking clock now.
When you need to know the precise time to the second. I hope I find the pause button soon, because it is definitely on fast forward at the moment. Time is a game played expertly by children, and over too soon for many. 

Now it is March, and in March we are told, it should came in like a lion and out like a lamb ...but mostly it always seems to go out like a lion too. But they say the UK is going continental now. The little tin island is looking uncannily like the continent in a manner of speaking in regards to the weather. And who listens to the weather forecast these days anyway? Well, we still find ourselves looking it up online, or listening to it on the TV or radio. But we know they are mostly wrong. We know we have as much chance of getting it correct as those in the know with their satellite systems.
Because they are always wrong, and we are always right. You should always listen to your Auntie Mary when her arthritis plays up. You know there is a storm heading your way when she hollers.  
  

Years gone by were totally different. It rained all the time. That all started the year that number 1 tune came out about 'brella ella's' I will not mention the full title in case it.. you know.. changes the weather again.
 Although that year we did get a freak week of sunshine somewhere in the middle. So I will try not to be too English and complain about the weather too much. I shall complain about the time instead. Yes those sleep robbing gits! Have done us out of an hours sleep again! That's a vital hour for most people. The farmers these days have a lot more high tech equipment so they do not need an extra hour daylight! What do they do with it anyway? 
I know!
They are spending the extra hour in bed! 
It is high time we went back to normal hours and not adding and taking hours away willy nilly (at ones whim). 

Thank you for taking the time to read this. Now get to bed, It is bedtime! ;) Go save up those extra hours again. 

Watch out for the first few copies of my first book out in print. The first batch is signed and dedicated to your reader. This will be shown on my Author page from the 12th of March 2015!
Keep your owly eyes open on my twitter page and facebook page, which are on links in the menu above. 
Hope to catch you soon. 

Hello Teeny Pheeny by Karen Emma Hall. 

The magic owl book and toy out for the very first time in print and extremely plush cuddly. All ready for an Easter gift.

 Go to the facebook link in menu for details from 12th of March 2015.  

Pancake day

A Mums dilemma as pancake day approaches.
You know it is pancake day when you have to buy a new pan, (tefal this time) because you can't bear to see the kids eat another scraped offering from the old stick pan again, the ones you have to soak overnight to get the burnt bit off the bottom. You hold onto them still for emergencies. I never know why I hold onto them though as I have never had a pan emergency..still time though, so back in the cupboard they go.
 So you go out and you buy a non-stick one. Or you get someone else to go like I did, because if you like a good non-stick toss to your pancake then a non-stick pan is the only way to go.
That is why in the supermarkets the lemons are next to the frying pans for a good month throughout February.

Do not go for the pancake mix, it tastes 'vanillary' and it goes thick in the pan and you are left with a claggy mess rolled up in the centre of your new non-stick pan.
Get some flour, (100gms) throw in a dash of salt, 2 eggs and half water(155mls) half milk (155ml)until it is quite runny. If it is runny it makes a better pancake.

So a big no no! for old pans, shop pancake mix and not having your homemade pancake mix runny enough!

As pancake day is more than 1000 years old and the idea behind it is that it was the way to get rid of the leftover scraps.
A genius idea to eat all the goodies without feeling guilty.
And as Ash Wednesday comes straight after, the first day of the fasting, make sure you eat your fill because you don't want to go hungry. gulp.

Once pancake day is out the way we know that Easter is around the corner, and that means yummy eggs again, only chocolate this time. The supermarkets as ever are way ahead, they have had creme eggs in since Dec!


'My pancakes too thin! I shouldn't have to put up with this crepe!'
Written by Karen Emma Hall.. found here most days 
and here 

Why do we have pancake day? see here explained easy to understand for children. 

More pancake stuff!

Check out more fun activities and free colouring pages. 

Check this link for video on making pancakes into a work of art pancake art making

Fun sheets to copy and print out.
What about colouring in some pages from Teeny Pheeny owl series? Check them out here for the colouring sheets  and read about the magic owl Teeny Pheeny for free on KINDLE UNLIMITED here 

Get these 2

Teeny Pheeny owl colouring pictures here 

                       

the runaway pancake on amazon

More pancake books to view and buy  prices from lowest first.

Copy and print out this fun sheet

Make it a happy Pancake day and enjoy your pancakes whatever treat you have with them! yum 

I believe in magic so therefore catch it and trap it in books!

I like to combines skills of illustrations and words to draw children into the magic world of stories and reading.
 I believe in magic, so therefore try to get it down in a book, a bit like trapping it in a bottle so when you open the top out it pours. You have to catch it of course. This is the hard part.
How do you catch it? If you cannot see it!
Well I have always been a believer in thinking.. just because you can't see it, does not mean it is not there!
It is in all of us, but to release your potential you have to enjoy your art as a writer or illustrator, or whatever field you are creative in.
But once you have mastered this magic trick then you are hooked! The magic soon comes after this point. Keep a pen and note pad to hand at all times, so when the magic thoughts come.. trap them! and write them down straight away!

I have been writing a long time, around the time when I started reading to children as an auxiliary nurse and a nanny. I loved helping children in the classroom with their art, and soon decided to put the two together - writing stories with illustrations for children.

Eventually I started working with the elderly, and found that they loved art and painting as well, so my stories are not just for the young but everyone, aged one to one hundred.
As you can imagine my first series of children's stories are a little bit magic. They leave readers with that magic feeling after reading them. If you love owls and you love cats, then you are going to adore (hopefully) these fully illustrated books. All the illustrations in the books are hand drawn and painted.
The very first book in the Teeny Pheeny Tales series is very appealing, as it is the introduction of the main characters, Mrs Phoenix and Teeny Pheeny, (Pheeny coming from the word Phoenix) and the owl folk of Boohoo Village. This series brings you teeny bits of teeny magic. The owls are almost living and breathing as they're very endearing, funny and even a bit grumpy! It's all about the owls!
I have four daughters and two special cats (who turn up in the stories)I am currently illustrating more sketches and starting on her next children's amusing stories about cats... but I can't give away too much about that just yet!
The next book in the Teeny Pheeny tales will be out at the end of May, so if you love this first story you will not have long to wait for the follow up.

'Follow' said the pied piper, and they did follow

The following has been re written as it is under contract soon and the books are to be print published. Find out when that all is and everythign about Teeny Pheeny and the Author here https://www.facebook.com/AuthorKarenEmmaHall

The


                       A little peek into the Book World of the magic Owls. 

In a quaint little cottage in Boohoo Village 
there lived a beautiful owl called Mrs. Phoenix. 
It was a very owly sort of a cottage as you can imagine,

 with a large roof and two owl eyes for windows.
 The roof was made of feathers.
 And because it was so magic, even the rain couldn't get in.

To get there you have to go down the garden path of course,
 turn a sharp right at the first hedge, 
walk on till you can't go any further, otherwise you'll bump into the fence. 
If you're too big it's best if you could try to climb 
over the fence, but if you're small enough you can always try to squeeze 
yourself through the gap that nobody ever fixes.

You will also meet some funny and unusual owl characters in the world of Boohoo village. 
 One of them goes by the name of Lord Snoots, 
(who has a blog to himself.)

Lord Snoots, the Sooty Owl, is as black as the night, and wears spectacles on the end of his owly beak! He is a good friend to Mrs Phoenix, and it is a very special day for him, in this first book of a series about Teeny Pheeny. 

Children will endear to him quickly, as he is lovable, funny, and sometimes grumpy. 
A bit like a daddy or Grandad.

and Teeny Pheeny? Well you will have to wait until the book is out until you know about this little character. The newest addition to Boohoo village. This book is all about Teeny Pheeny
 after all and he is a very special owl indeed.


The colourful pictures below is on the front of the new book. 
The pencil sketch is also in colour  on the new book,
 but you will have to check it out to see it!

 Details of what I get up to daily is on my twitter page linked below   https://twitter.com/KidLiterature also https://plus.google.com/u/0/112611950486257406926/posts
and will be putting web site up soon :) A new childrens literature website where we promote your books! Kid Literature facebook page

There is also a series of these stories to follow on from Hello Teeny Pheeny! 

If anyone require a proofreader, please get in touch with https://twitter.com/ProofreadJulia

What a proofreader can do for you? 

http://juliaproofreader.wordpress.com/2013/11/27/what-can-a-proofreader-do-for-you-faqs/

Funny texts Parents send.

The mobile phone has changed the world as we know it, and the poor parents/grandparents, are left behind. For those lucky enough to know what life was like before skype, wasapp, sms, internet, the mobile can be seen as a mixed blessing. Now you can be reached at all times, and woe betide you if you don't instantly pick that phone up! You have to be available on tap! on demand. No rest for the wicked. Well not any more. Unless you didn't succumb to buying or receiving a mobile phone. Even if you have pay as you go, don't think that lets you off the hook.. nope, you still more than ever need to be on demand, never ever miss that call to the sound of Tiffany's, 'I think we're alone now'. Only your not, and you never will be again. 

Have a chuckle at these random funny and snortingly amusing texts, genuinely sent, from folk of that certain age, and some from my mum as well. Enjoy. 

DAD:	Where are you? YMWTK
ME:	I’m at Starbucks. What is YMWTK?
DAD:	Your mother wants to know.

---

DAD:	You know how I like to stop and stoplights and bark at the dogs next to me to see if they’ll start barking? I just did that and the lady driving looked over and caught me in the act.
ME:	…I did not know that that was something you liked to do…
DAD:	Really? You can bark silently- act like your barking- and about 50% of dogs will bark back
DAD:	Try it

MOM: did you get the tequila out?
MOM: the dogs r probably hot and need a drink.
ME: You give the dogs tequila?
MOM: oh… I meant water
ME: You cant type “tequila” and actually mean water
MOM: ahem, autocorrect


                             

ME:If there are a bunch of ants on my floor, is that cause for concern?
DAD:Any uncles?

MOM: the house down the street got busted for a meth lab. There is caution tape and it is quarantined and everything.
ME: That is crazy! Do you know the people?
MOM: No, but they didn’t water their lawn so I was not surprised.

Anniversary Dinner

ME: How was the steak by the way!?
MOM: Dinner was good. Sadly, dad was not able to get his straw paper to work but I am proud to report that I zinged him good with mine!!!

MOM: Please take the children out of the freezer if still frozen.
YOU: I don’t even want to look in the freezer now.
MOM: CHICKEN!!!!1!

MOM: Your sweetener came
MOM: Swaddler
MOM: Sweat
MOM: Swatter
MOM: Sweater...

ME: A place I am applying for an internship said on their site that they actively try for a diverse staff. How can I sneakily mention that I am Mexican in a cover letter or resume?
MOM: Hola?

mum: dinner ready at 1one
me: lovely. What is it? 
mum: Foxpots
me: MMM Is that made with real foxes? 
mum: WHAT are you goign on about. Are you stil COMING OVSRr?  

Me:   what you shouting for

mum: I AM NOT ShoutING  LOOK :) 

me:So what's for tea? 

mum: I tols you, FOXPOSTS

me: You mean hot pot?

mum: I SAID THAT! dont be funny Its hard typing with 1! hand.

me: Why one hand? 

mum: ve got the foxpots i nthe other! 

Me Hi, can you pick me up from school? 
Mum YES
ME   Will be at the front gates at 3.15 
MUM: OK
Me: Sure its ok 

MUM   OK

see you then 

 MUM OK 

5 MINS LATER

MUM: Why did you NOT REPLY

Me: To what text? 

Mum: OK

Me: ermm ok back, is that ok! 

MUM YES OK

DAD: Hello…
ME: Hi!
(1 day later)
DAD: Why are you texting Mom today instead of me?
ME: Because I had a question to ask her
DAD: But you are my texting partner so text me and i will give her the message

ME: I got a 54/54 on my history test!
MOM: Alright. Moving in the right direction.
ME: Please try to sound a little happier next time I get a 100.
MOM: YIIIIIPPPPPPPEEEEEEEEE!!!! YYYYYIIIPPPPEEEEEEE! KKKKKKIIIIIIYYYYYYYYYAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA!!!!!!!!
MOM: !!!!!

Mum you ok? 

GRANDPA: I finished the harry potter movie. Couldnt hear half of it because my hearing aid fell out but it was visually stimulating. But not as visually stimulating as Avatar. What is Voldamert’s purpose in life?

Mum: I want

Mum: I want an owl for Christmas

Me: There is one hanging in our back garden

Mum: OMG Can you CATCH it for4 me

Mum: I will buy the cage then u don't need to spend money

Me: I promise I will

Are you joking? you cant joke about things liek that bwt

Me: I cant catch it, its huge!LOL

Mum: Is it really there, Im on my way as im textn

Me: Its HUGE

Mum:  iT HUGS! OMG Dont frighten it!