Stories from a Quill Pen

Top Ten Tuesday: My Favorite Books

Catz@onceuponamuffin.com (Catz) — Wed, 06 Apr 2011 01:43:00 +0000

I love to read books. I especially love to read ones about adventure! I’ve told my family that if I had no schoolwork, chores, or family-stuff, I would read a book in literally one day. And actually, I’ve done it...twice! (Reading a book in a day that is…not telling my family that I can do it) ;)

Here are some of my favorite books.

1. The Kingdom Series ~ By Chuck Black

2. The Knights of Arrethtrae ~ By Chuck Black

3. Viking Quest ~ By Lois Walfrid Johnson

4. The Terrestria Chronicles ~ By Ed Dunlop

5. The Chronicles of Narnia ~ By C.S. Lewis

6. Journey to Freedom ~ By Gilbert Morris

7. Passages ~ By Paul McCusker

8. The Great & Terrible Quest ~ By Margaret Lovett

9. Nancy Drew books ~ By Carolyn Keene

10. The Official Guide to Adventures in Odyssey ~ By Nathan Hoobler and the Adventures in Odyssey team

For more Top Ten Tuesday visit Amanda.

Sweet Shot Tuesday: Daisy Duck

Catz@onceuponamuffin.com (Catz) — Tue, 05 Apr 2011 07:00:00 +0000

Recently my mom & I went to Epcot for their Flower Festival. We both LOVE to take pictures and I love to photograph flowers…especially when they are in the shape of Disney characters! Here’s one of my favorite pictures of the topiaries.

Daisy Duck

1000 Gifts: Week 1

Catz@onceuponamuffin.com (Catz) — Mon, 04 Apr 2011 07:00:00 +0000

“You have got to be kidding!”

Says Memom as she’s coming down the stairs. My sweet grandmother, who has been with us a week now, likes to take a nap every day.

“I thought that I went to take a nap an hour ago, but it’s only been ten minutes?!?”

This is only one of the many fun moments that happen in my family that I’m so thankful for. You see, if we never did or said or saw things that we end up laughing about, life would get pretty dull indeed. That’s why God gave us people in our life that are so cool to hang around with. He also puts them in our life to help us to realize how blessed we are and thankful we should be.

Speaking of which, here are some more things that I’m thankful for...

1. Ella, my cat, who has finally learned to be quiet when I first wake up

2. Lilbear, my mom, who is teaching me how to take good pictures and write good blog posts

3. Memom, my grandmother, who is so fun to be with

4. Techdaddy, my dad, who is teaching me to drive

5. my new Passages books (by Paul McCusker), that arrived last week

5 Minute Friday: A few of my favorite things...

Catz@onceuponamuffin.com (Catz) — Sat, 02 Apr 2011 02:54:00 +0000

This week I'm linking up with Lisa-Jo at The Gypsy Mama for her 5 Minute Friday. The writing prompt is "a few of my favorite things..." Here are the rules...don't worry, they're pretty easy.

1. Write for only five minutes. Don’t edit. Don’t over think. Don’t stifle your creativity.
2. Link back here and invite others to join in.
3. Go leave some comment love for the five minuter
who linked up before you.

Ready...set...go!

#1 the sound of rain on the roof

#2 my family

#3 my kitty, Ella

#4 wind blowing through the trees

#5 brainstorming with my mom

#6 photographing nature

#7 reading books that make me feel as if I were there in the story

#8 going to Disney

#9 crosstitching

#10 learning new Spanish words from Rosetta Stone

Okay...stop.

See, that was easy! :) For more 5 Minute Friday go check out The Gypsy Mama.

Pastor Funnies

Catz@onceuponamuffin.com (Catz) — Tue, 22 Jun 2010 10:00:00 +0000

Sometimes my pastor tells jokes during the sermon. Here is my favorite:

Helicopter Ride
One day a husband and wife were driving along when they saw a sign that said "HELICOPTER RIDES" and decided to go. Unfortunately it would cost $100 for each of them. But the pilot said that if neither one said a word during the whole flight it would be free. The couple agreed and soon they were off. No one spoke even though the pilot took them through loops, corkscrews, and everything that you would find on a rollercoaster! Eventually they were about to land when the pilot said "I can't believe it, how did you do it"?
"Oh it was preety easy keeping quiet", said the husband. "But I admit I almost spoke when my wife fell out the window"!

If your wife falls out of a flying helicopter you'd better scream!

Shirt-Wreckers & Egglish Muffins

Catz@onceuponamuffin.com (Catz) — Mon, 21 Jun 2010 18:01:00 +0000

Here are some of my favorite ways to eat eggs!

Shirt-Wreckers:
I call it this 'cause the first time I took a bite of it, the yolk flew out and landed on my shirt (Don't worry' my shirt wasn't wrecked!).

You'll need a toasted and buttered English muffin, a cooked "flippy egg" (over easy) that's really runny, and a cooked sausage patty.

Assemble the "sandwich" as so: put the egg on the bottom side of the muffin with the sausage, and then top it with the other side of the muffin.
                                      The End :)

Egg-lish Muffin:
You'll need a cooked scrambled egg, a toasted and buttered English muffin, and your choice of cheese (I usually use American cheese).

Assemble the "sandwich" as so: put the egg on the bottom of the muffin and top it with the cheese and other muffin half.
                                         The End :)

Shawl & Gratefulness Journal Giveaway

Catz@onceuponamuffin.com (Catz) — Sun, 08 Nov 2009 02:18:00 +0000

Miss Trisch from Never a Dull Moment is having a giveaway for a beautiful shawl and journal (with a pen).
Just looking at that shawl makes me want to learn how to knit...but unfortunetly I'm "yarnly challenged"! (he he)
Miss Trisch also has a great idea for the journal. You can use it to write about what your grateful for in your husband or father so go and check it out!

Book Review: Mystery of the Roman Ransom

Catz@onceuponamuffin.com (Catz) — Wed, 30 Sep 2009 16:37:00 +0000

*I wrote this on the 24th of September*

I just finished reading Mystery of the Roman Ransom by Henry Winterfeld, the first on my list for the Fall Into Reading contest, and it was soooo good! It’s set in ancient Rome and it is about seven young boys (Mucius, Caius, Publius, Julius, Flavius, Rufus and Antonius), their teacher (Xantippus), a slave named Udo, and a whole bunch of other fun characters.

It all starts when the boys buy a slave for their teacher’s 50th birthday (he’s really 72), but it turns out that Udo “is actually a secret courier [who is a good guy], running for his life; and the message he’s carrying requests the assassination of a Roman senator- the father of one of the boys. But whose?!” (From the back of the book). Udo says that he doesn’t know who it is and that he overheard the bad guys that the letter is for say they will kill him when he delivers it! When the boys find the letter that Udo lost, they figure out from the code that it’s Caius’s father, Vinicius, that is to be killed. Caius, unfortunately, runs off to tell the prelate so he can protect Vinicius but gets captured by a one-eyed ex-gladiator, one of the bad guys, who imprisons Caius in the catacombs!

I won’t tell the rest of the story; you have to read it for yourself. And if you do ask me what happens next I’ll just tell you that the “Purple Bunny” swoops in and saves everyone. My parents say something like that every time my brother & I ask questions about a movie we have never seen before. If we wrote down all the adventures of the “Purple Bunny” we would have a whole book! Hey that gives me an idea... :)

Seven Sisters Apron Giveaway

Catz@onceuponamuffin.com (Catz) — Tue, 22 Sep 2009 22:37:00 +0000

Seven Sisters, a cute blog that I've recently checked out, is having a (very cute!) homemade blue Edwardian apron giveaway! It's made from Sense and Sensibility's Edwardian Apron pattern and it's sooooooooooooooo* pretty!!!
I really hope I win! :)

*I would have put more "o's" but there's not enough room :)

Fall Into Reading Contest

Catz@onceuponamuffin.com (Catz) — Tue, 22 Sep 2009 19:53:00 +0000

My mom told me about this contest at Callapidder Days, and because I love to read I have decided to partake of it.

The books that I will be reading are:

a. For History

The Roman Ransom
The Eagle of the Ninth
The Ides of April
The Bronze Bow
Black Horses for the King
Flame Over Tara
The Samurai's Tale
A Single Shard
The Great and Terrible Quest
Otto of the Silver Hand
Master Cornhill
A Proud Taste for Scaelet and Miniver
I, Juan de Pareja
Shadow of a Bull
The Second Mrs. Giaconda
Leonardo da Vinci
The Westing Game
Luther: Biography of a Reformer
The Shakespear Stealer

b. For Fun

I won't name them all but I have 15 Boxcar Children books that I will also be reading.

A B See Photo Meme: B is for Squirrel Feeder Birdfeeder

Catz@onceuponamuffin.com (Catz) — Mon, 09 Feb 2009 18:38:00 +0000

For my 2nd photo for the A B See Photo Meme here's one of our cute ~~squirrel feeders~~ birdfeeders.

Book Review: The Princess Adelina

Catz@onceuponamuffin.com (Catz) — Mon, 26 Jan 2009 21:20:00 +0000

My parents gave The Princess Adelina (by Julie Sutter) to me for Christmas and I simply adore it! Once I started reading I almost couldn’t put it down!

In this beautiful tale the Christian maiden, Adelina, lives in Germany around the year 703 A.D. in her Irish missionary community. Her life is simple until Heden, the new pagan ruler, falls “head over heels” in love with her and orders her to be his bride. As a gift to his new wife, Heden allows the Christians to worship God and evangelize without barriers, sharing the Gospel with his people. But the ruler’s mother despises Adelina, the Christians, and their God; wanting instead heathen practices and false god worship.

Here is an excerpt from the back of the book:

“Based on a true story, this Esther-like tale recounts the deeds of the courageous Adelina of the ancient German Culdee church as she endures and overcomes persecution, slander, exile, and the impending destruction of her people, being used by God as Princess Adelina, to see the hope of the Gospel of Jesus Christ shine forth and prevail!”

I liked that even when things got tough Adelina trusted God and persevered. I also enjoyed how the book was set in the times of kings and queens in the middle ages. Another thing I liked was that Adelina acted like a Proverbs 31 woman by being faithful and honorable to her husband, also by “opening her arms to the poor and extending her hands to the needy”.

I rate this book with 5-stars and recommend it for all women and young ladies.

Movie Review: Brigadoon

Catz@onceuponamuffin.com (Catz) — Tue, 13 Jan 2009 20:44:00 +0000

My family loves to watch old movies! Here's a review of one we like.

Brigadoon
In this musical two friends, Tommy & Jeff (Gene Kelly & Van Johnson), go on a hunting trip to Scotland when they get lost and stumble out of the mists into the beautiful village of Brigadoon, which only appears every 100 years. While there the friends meet a variety of people; one of them is the lovely Fiona (Cyd Charisse) whom Tommy falls in love with! But things get complicated when Tommy & Jeff are told by the wise Mr. Lundie, another villager, that once someone decides to stay and live in Brigadoon he can never leave, lest the village should vanish into the mist and never be seen again. However he also says "Anything is possible when you love someone. Even... miracles."

This movie has lot's of singing and Scotish dancing in it that the whole family can enjoy!
I rate this movie with 5-stars.

Once a week (or more) I will try to write a movie review (like this one!).

*As always parents should check out a movie first to see if it is appropriate for their family.*

A B See Photo Meme: A for Almond

Catz@onceuponamuffin.com (Catz) — Sat, 10 Jan 2009 00:40:00 +0000

I decided to take part in the A B See Photo Meme. This is my first photo.

It looked easy enough so I decided to take a "crack" at it!

New at Blogging!

Catz@onceuponamuffin.com (Catz) — Fri, 09 Jan 2009 16:22:00 +0000

Well, as the title says I'm "new at blogging!" My mom already has a blog and it looks like lots of fun so she set up a blog for me too! But I have to ~~confess~~ say only 85% of my blog will be actual blogging. The other 15% will be...DOODADS! You know, links, shelfari, cute little pix with words or bible verses on them. Things like that.

But I'm getting off topic. I wanted to write about the name of my ~~playpen~~ blog not its ~~cute accessories~~ doodads. The first word "Stories" represents my love of thinking-up stories; it also represents that my posts will be stories, both non-fiction (real life) and fiction (tales I think-up). The last two words "Quill Pen" represent my love for old-fashioned things such as "quill pens", hand-held fans, 18th century ballgowns, old classic movies, those sort of things.

HOORAY!!! I wrote my first post!!! I hope you enjoy my blog and please send me comments.