Thursday, December 13, 2012

Book Review: Best Friends

Best Friends (Main Street, #4)Best Friends by Ann M. Martin

My rating: 4 of 5 stars


This book in many respects is excellent, but there are several things that are left to be desired. It has characters that I will remember and a story I believe the intended audience will enjoy. It addresses many of the issues that girls in 5th and 6th grade face in their friendships and other relationships. Working at an international school where students are constantly faced with transition I believe that my students will relate to having to make new friends in a new situation.

I found the over all flow of the book confusing in regards to the interviews that Flora did with her neighbors. At first I wasn't sure why she was doing them; once I did find out why she was doing them I wished there had been a little bit more of mystery. They could have been integrated into the story better or left out all together. This is why I am rating the book a 4 instead of a 5.



View all my reviews

Saturday, May 26, 2012

Picture Saturday: Wedding Season

We are quickly approaching Wedding Season and last Saturday I had the honour to attend my friend's bridal shower.  Since she loves aprons I decided to make matching his and her aprons with my sewing machine:


My Hungarian friend gave her beautiful Hungarian embroidery and a two cook books:



Saturday, May 12, 2012

Picture Saturday: Sewing with friends

In February a friend of mine had a baby in India and another friend when to help her with the baby.  Here is a picture of my friend with the present she made on my sewing machine to take to India.  It was going to be a wall hanging, but turned into a nursing pillow named "elephanté"


Monday, April 30, 2012

I love ice cream!

Within the last two weeks the temperature in Hungary has gone from 10 degrees Celsius to over 30 degrees Celsius.   It feels like July, but it is only April.  I have had my share of ice cream the last few days.  My favorite ice cream shop in Budapest is Dr. Gelato and my favorite flavor is 'After 8'.   This post is dedicated to ice cream lovers everywhere!  What is your favorite flavor?

Saturday, April 14, 2012

Picture Saturday + Video: Spring break fun!

Last Tuesday a friend and I visited an open air museum near Budapest.  I discovered this beautiful spinning wheel:


Also in Hungary it is the tradition of men to sprinkle women with water on Easter Monday.  I was walking to the bus stop on a major road last Monday and saw a horse and wagon driving up the road.  This is what happened:

Saturday, March 31, 2012

Picture Saturday: Happy (late) Birthday Dr. Seuss!

Earlier this month on March 2nd was Dr. Seuss's birthday, so we celebrated with reading Dr. Seuss books in grade 1 library.  My  grade 6 helpers made this bulletin board in Dr. Seuss's honour:




Saturday, March 24, 2012

Picture Saturday: the Nagycsarnok

Occasionally on Saturdays I go downtown Budapest to the Nagycsarnok (translated at the great hall and better known in our the English speaking community as the Covered Market.  Although there are many 'covered markets' in Budapest).  At the Naygcsarnok shoppers can find many fresh fruits and vegetables, meat, cheese and souvenirs.   Last week I bought 'medve hagyma' translated as bears onion which after a little bit of research I discover is a called wild garlic or ramsons in English.  While I was out shopping I also took a photo from the top of the market hall:



Thursday, March 22, 2012

Why I Love My Job: Two of Everything

Last week I read Two of Everything to my grade two students.  Every year each new class thinks it is hilarious that the woman falls into the pot and two women come out.  Read the book and you will understand what I am talking about!   I had the students draw pictures in response to book.  Here are some of them (I had my very helpful grade six students hang them up):







Two of EverythingTwo of Everything by Lily Toy Hong
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

This book is a perennial favorite with my grade 2 students.

View all my reviews

Saturday, March 17, 2012

Picture Satuday: Tomatoes

For everyone who read my prayer letter (for those who didn't receive it, but would like to send me your email address) here is a picture of the tomato plants I am growing.  I am excited that is is spring and I am looking forward to eating some fresh tomatoes in the future. 



 

Friday, March 9, 2012

Book Review: Roots

Roots: The Saga of an American FamilyRoots: The Saga of an American Family by Alex Haley

My rating: 5 of 5 stars


This book is thought provoking.  Although it is long and somewhat detailed this only adds to the enjoyment.  Roots speaks to the human desire to understand from whom we have come.



View all my reviews

Wednesday, January 18, 2012

Tanulok Magyarul - I study Hungarian III

This year I have greatly increased my Hungarian language skills, but I make many funny mistakes when I go out and try to speak to people.  Here are some examples:


In the midst of cleaning up water that had poured all over my kitchen from my broken water heater I told my neighbor that the washer was in the cloths.


When shopping for fabric to make pajama pants I told the lady the I was making night pants, only to look up the word for pajama in the dictionary and find out it is the same in Hungarian as in English.

I hope that you can find the humor in these stories as much as I can!

Saturday, January 14, 2012

Picture Saturday: Sewing Machine!

Welcome to the New Year.  As usual I did not make any offical resolutions this year, but I do have a goal to learn how to sew better.  I want to eventually be able to make some of my own clothing that actually fits, but I have started out small making some gift bags for my friend's Christmas presents. 

Last fall I bought a sewing machine downtown Budapest at Varrógép Centrum to help me with this goal: