Cajun Cottage Under the Oaks

This Week's Vitamins

Get ready for this week's Book Walk.  The cakes vitamins being offered are:

Daughter #2 will draw the winner of Catholic Mosaic.

Daughter #3 will draw the winner of A Picture Perfect Childhood.

Let me know if you want your number put in both drawings or in only one, for those of you who aren't Catholic or already have Catholic Mosaic.  Just email me your name and mailing address.  The winners will be announced Friday (January 18th) morning.  Good luck!

Speaking of literature, don't miss this article series by Margot Davidson on literary analysis:

Part One: Purposeful Literature Study

Another Christmas Mosaic Review

Thank you, Dawn!

And, while we're talking about gingerbread men, Ami is offering a FREE Gingerbread LapBook here: Gingerbread Baby

Remembering that I did a Gingerbread unit/notebook with Chelsea when she was in Kindergarten, I am printing the free printouts to do next week with Annie. 

Enjoy!

My Writing Projects

I have just printed out the rough draft of A Picture Perfect Childhood and am sending it to two proofreaders/editors.  I'm waiting on some artwork and am hoping it'll be complete by the end of September. 

  We have exciting news about Catholic Mosaic.  The new printing has ALL the pictures in color!  It is available from my publisher at Hillside Education.  It is also offered at Amazon.com  and we would really appreciate buyers leaving a review there.  Just scroll down towards the bottom and click on the button that says:  Write Your Own Review.  We really appreciate you taking the time to let others know about Living the Liturgical Year with Their Children Through the Use of  Picture Books.

(Please note the Mosaic listed at Amazon is only the black and white version.  A colored version will be listed soon.)

If you are interested in ordering a copy of Literature Alive! you can print out this form and mail a check or money order to: 

Literature Alive, P.O. Box 993, Sulphur, LA 70664-0993

This way you will receive an autographed copy with free bookmark AND a free library packet.  Please let me know if you have boys and/or girls at home so I can select a library packet that suits your family's needs.

Literature Alive! can also be ordered using credit card or paypal by ordering from:

• Adoremus Books
• Sacred Heart Books and Gifts
• Hillside Education

Other wonderful news is that Christmas Mosaic, the second book in the mosaic series, available from Hillside Education is on the editing and lay-out floor.  So save a dollar a day and get ready to be the first to order this beautiful Christmas wreath trimmed with picture books to embrace during the soft, starlit days of Advent and beyond...through Epiphany.  Books, essays, recipes, and more are categorized as follows:

• Advent/ Decoration/Preparation
• Giving
• Santa Claus
• St. Nicholas
• Family
• Hanukkah
• The Nativity
• Epiphany
• Angels
• Christmas Around the World
• Older Children and Family Read Alouds
• Just for Fun
• Family Viewing (movies)

I also want to let you all know that my book on Rose Wilder Lane, the daughter of Laura Ingalls Wilder, is being looked at by another publisher.  The contract negotiations with the first publisher did not work out due to illustrator issues.

So your prayers are appreciated here too.  Knowing that God's will always reigns makes things easier to accept and to move forward.

My next project, as soon as Christmas Mosaic and A Picture-Perfect Childhood have come out, will be finishing the book on The Lacemaker's Shop about the mother of St. Therese of Lisieux, Zelie Martin.  I think, because of the delay and patience in finishing this book, it will be even better than ever.  I have gotten new feedback and ideas and know exactly which path to go down in the writing.  Again...God's will and timing always proves better than mine.

Have a lovely weekend, dear readers. 

Easter Basket Bonanza!

My publisher is offering an Easter Basket Bonanza.

Go here to see what it's all about: Easter Basket Bonanza

Mosaic Book Package Available

While we're talking about Christmas I have exciting news for all book lovers and users of Catholic Mosaic.

My publisher (Hillside Education) is now offering the first-ever Mosaic book package!

Those families wanting to get a headstart on their Advent/Christmas study can now order the complete Advent / Christmas package of books that are featured in Catholic Mosaic.   It's one-stop shopping at its best.

You can see the complete listing of books here. If there are any books that you already have, you are offered the option of requesting a substitute book in its place.   Hillside Education also has the books available to be ordered individually.

So if you have a family member or friend who has been interested in Catholic Mosaic and/or the Catholic liturgical year but didn't know when to start or how to start, now is the time to share this offering with them.

Advent begins on Sunday, December 3rd so don't delay in setting up a holiday spot on your bookshelf and getting ready to explore the feast days with Catholic Mosaic as your guide.

Order now and you will receive a FREE book with your package.  The FREE book is also related to the Advent/Christmas season.  Your child will also receive a FREE coloring book pamphlet featuring the flowers of Maryfor Advent and Christmas.  Read more about it here.

Depending on the response to this package offer, Hillside Education may offer a Lenten/Easter package next year.

Get Ready for Advent

<p>Count Down to Advent:&nbsp; <strong><span style="color: #990033;">90 Days to Go</span></strong></p> <p>Hillside Education (publisher of <em>Catholic Mosaic</em>) is planning to offer a package deal of Advent/Christmas books found in the <em>Mosaic </em>guide:<br /><br />St. Francis and the Christmas Donkey<br />Clown of God<br />Miracle of St. Nicholas<br />Lady of Guadalupe<br />Legend of the Poinsettia<br />Donkey's Dream<br />The Crippled Lamb<br /><br />as well as one other &quot;surprise&quot; book.</p> <p>Go <a href="http://hillsideblog.blogspot.com/2006/09/book-packages-for-catholic-mosaic.html"><span style="color: #5e5443;">here</span></a> for <a href="http://hillsideblog.blogspot.com/2006/09/book-packages-for-catholic-mosaic.html"><span style="color: #5e5443;">more information.</span></a></p>

Get Ready for Advent

Count Down to Advent:  90 Days to Go

Hillside Education (publisher of Catholic Mosaic) is planning to offer a package deal of Advent/Christmas books found in the Mosaic guide:

St. Francis and the Christmas Donkey
Clown of God
Miracle of St. Nicholas
Lady of Guadalupe
Legend of the Poinsettia
Donkey's Dream
The Crippled Lamb

as well as one other "surprise" book.

Go here for more information.

This Animal is for Sale

I will not reveal the name of the wonderful person who wrote this metaphor but, for some strange reason, her words tickled my funny bone in a most delightful manner.  At a certain unnamed eloop, discussion came up about my new book Catholic Mosaic and how to use it in making a Liturgical Year Notebook.  This sweet lady (who has my book) wrote to the inquiring person, who does not yet have it, and was wanting a comparison of it with two other Catholic resources:

"Catholic Mosaic is really an animal all unto itself."

That's too rich!!!  I love it! Again, it tickles me in a delightful way.  I really do take it as a compliment.  I'm as proud as proud can be...and not in the sinful manner.  It must be the motherly instinct within me that beams with pride at her little orphaned child.  I've created something...not sure what kind of "animal" yet, but I like to think of it like that cute doggie in the window which causes people to stop and smile and want to hold it in their arms and bring it home to share with their children.   Because that's exactly what I hope they'll do!!!

This animal is for sale and people are talking about it here and here and here and here and here and especially here,  and it's just too WILD...even for an animal.

Thank you all to everyone out there who has bought this little "animal".  I hope it brings you, your children, your nieces and nephews, and your grandchildren many years of happy reading and happier memories.

Mosaic Book

<p>Incase you've had a hard time locating <em>Juanita and Our Lady of the Angels</em> to complete your <em>Catholic Mosaic </em>for the August booklist...go <a href="http://caygibson.typepad.com/catholicmosaic/2006/07/juanita_and_our.html">here</a>.</p>

Mosaic Book

Incase you've had a hard time locating Juanita and Our Lady of the Angels to complete your Catholic Mosaic for the August booklist...go here.