A Nice Place In The SunA Nice Place In The SunA Nice Place in The Sun is a family blog with articles of interest to grown-ups, children's book reviews and children's stories.This blog does not accept paid reviews. Articles
One Day It Was A Perfect Noodle, And The Next...
2007-11-16 15:54:00 Mary Chapin Carpenter wrote the the following lyrics to her song, The Bug, "Sometimes you're the windshield, Sometimes you're the bug" and this noodleknows what that means. Because one day it was the perfect noodle... and the next it was a dud!I have a great post coming today, ... so do come back, o.k? TEXT Posted by Ann Clemmons More About: Perfect
Superman Dominates Tuesday's Question: What Fictional Character Do You Wish
2007-11-14 20:47:00 Link to Superman 's image obtained from public images Yesterdays Tuesday Question was fun, and I thank everyone who contributed!I knew I would get many different comments from this question, and boy did I, all the way from Superman to Sherlock Holmes. Sandee at Comedy Plus, was among the first to suggest Superman, followed by Marja, and Dawn, then Christy so I was beginning to think the character was going to remain the only answer. Although things began to change for the super hero about mid-day, when an array of impressive literary characters began to appear. (I sound like a sports commentator covering a football game, don't I?)Anyway, I bet Wonder Woman, Spiderman, Batman, etc... had their feelings hurt because Superman was the only super hero suggested. Superman does have a certain boy next door charm, but the other super heroes have their special talents as well, so I felt sorry for them- but I guess the imagery associated with Superman is hard to resist. You know, the i... More About: Character , Char , Mina
What Fictional Character Do You Wish Would Come To Life?
2007-11-13 09:35:00 Hello and welcome to another Tuesday's Question. I love today's question: If you could make the actions and story behind the life of a fictional character in a book or movie come true, what character would that be? For example, what character do you think would've made the world a better place had they really existed? The two characters who immediately came to mind for me, were Char lotte from Charlotte's web and Atticus Finch from To Kill A Mockingbird.You can choose any fictional character from a novel, movie, poem, situation comedy, even a cartoon... Just think of the story behind the character and the choices they made. What kind of people were they and what might they have given to the world? Don't forget, I'll post your comments with a link as always, to give your blog exposure, in addition to give other blogs an opportunity to engage in conversation with you or post a link to your comment. Like, for instance, what happened last week, when Misty and Sandee's comments ... More About: Life , Character , Hara
BeTheBlog!
2007-11-12 23:05:00 BeTheBlog! I love the name of this award created by Mark of MeAndMyDrum, who said that the BeTheBlog phrase stuck in his head from a meme Tish from TheKatHouse sent him about what it means to be a successful blogger.Actually to quote his words to BeTheBlog, "really sums up what a successful blogger does. And what I mean by successful is that they make it their own, stay with it, are interactive with their readers, and just plain have fun."I apologize for another award acceptance post, but when your fellow bloggers recognize you for blog themes close to their heart, it doesn't seem right to put it off.Especially, when you've been nominated by more than one blog for an exceptional award, an example of which is this one by a few fellow bloggers to me! I'm grateful to be nominated by the following outstanding blogs for a badge that awards bloggers for being most themselves, and having fun! What an honor, and I can't thank the following bloggers enough...My best buddy and co-author o...
Mels Award for Winning Attitudes
2007-11-12 22:35:00 This is Mel at Monday Morning Powers new feel good award for the blogs who display winning attitudes on their blogs! And he was right when he said, "seems like a natural given what my site is all about."Thank you Mel at Monday Morning Power for your up-lifting posts and kind attitude toward everyone within the blogging community, and thank you for thinking of me. You're an encouraging force within the blogging community everyday with your up- lifting posts and thoughtful contributions, for example, this new award. In addition, it's an honor to be one of the recipients at all, much less one of the first.Thank you again for including me, and as Tina Turner would say you're, "Simply the best."Here are Mels reasons for passing out this award:" This award seems like a natural given what my site is all about. This award is based on positive thinking and is meant for those blogs who base their existence, in part or in whole, on Positive Winning Attitudes ."The following are the blogs... More About: Award
The Colors Of Friendship Award
2007-11-11 08:08:00 I would like to thank Misty from My Dogs Keep Me Sane for this sweet award honoring blogging friendships. Misty received the award from her friend Tammy with Mom Knows Everything although, I'm not sure who created it, so I can't pass the link. If you know the awards original creator please let me know and I will be happy to pass along the recognition. In addition, thank you again Misty for your friendship. I'd like to pass this along to the following bloggers. Christy at Writers Reviews Sandee at Comedy Plus Marja at DutchcornerMeghna at Delve Into The Mind Of A BloggerBob at Bobbarama Paula at Polliwog's Pond Dan at dcr blogs Eric at Speedcat Hollydale Santa at Santa's Community Blog Judd at The Rising BloggerAussie at Little Aussie Cynic Patois at Whee! All The Way HomeTEXT Posted by Ann Clemmons More About: Friendship , Colors , Award
Happy Saturday Movie Classic!
2007-11-10 10:08:00 TEXT Posted by Ann Clemmons More About: Movie , Classic , Happy , Saturday
I love You More
2007-11-10 07:36:00 "Mommy, just how much do you love me?" a little boy asked his mother in the beginning I love you more, by Laura Duksta and Karen Keesler. Well, that is in the beginning of one side of the book, however, on the flip side this line is in the beginning, "A mother turned to her son and asked "So, just how much do you love me?" The reason for two different beginnings is because the book is a flip-sided book. Mother and son's perspective and declarations of their love for each other begin on opposite sides of the book, their stories ending in the middle on a beautiful double page spread illustration of the globe, with this passage around it- "I love you more than anything in the world." The illustrations are bold and alive detailing the individual characters down to the birds and trees Laura Duksta metaphorically uses to represent their devotion to each other. The sing song rhythm of the verse sets a warm and happy atmosphere, drawing the reader into a mother and child's wa... More About: Love , I Love You
The Laughing Azaleas
2007-11-10 01:05:00 Christy, from Christy's Coffee Break tagged me with her Freaky Friday meme in September, as embarrassing as that it is to admit. It took me this long to respond because I couldn't think of one weird or interesting thing that happened to me, until I found this old picture of my grandmothers Azalea bush. This is a story I've never told anyone.This meme was written with the option to tag, but if you have a bizarre memory I would suggest you write about it. Because I may not have remembered this experience if I hadn't been wondering what to write for this meme, and I'm glad I remembered. In addition, it would be sad to see this meme die out just because no one can think of anything. So do some brain storming and try to think of a bizarre experience that happened to you, I think you'll be glad you did. The Laughing AzaleasMy grandmother’s house rested behind a circular driveway made of gravel. I remember the gravel changing the color of bicycle tires when I was a child, w...
I Love You More And Freak Friday Tag
2007-11-09 16:40:00 Good Morning! If you've stopped by to read today's post they're on the way! I will post both Christy, from Christy's Coffee Break's Freak y Friday Meme she tagged me for some time ago, and a book review of Sourcebooks children's picture bookI Love You More I'm excited about sharing both posts. My review copy of I Love You More just arrived on my doorstep, and it's fantastic. In addition, I have a really creepy happening planned for Christy's Freaky Friday meme. Both will be posted today! These links will give you a preview of the book and a link to Christy's site. Both Christy's Coffee Break and the links to the author and illustrator of I Love You More are great reads. Come back and my posts will be up verrrrry soon! Sourcebooks brings us Laura Duksta and Karen Keesler's I Love You MoreChristy's Coffee Breaks Freaky Friday MemeTEXT Posted by Ann Clemmons
A Magnificient Noodle
2007-11-09 02:22:00 I found this magnificent noodle while cooking dinner tonight. I wonder what this could mean. This royal noodle could mean that good or bad luck is on the way... I’ve decided its good luck because it resembles a horseshoe. This week I found a moth above my doorway, and walked through a few cobwebs... both of which mean you will acquire money, and that would be good luck. Yep, good things are on the way, that must be what this magnificent noodle is trying to tell me. Why else would I find such a magnificent noodle? Any ideas?TEXT Posted by Ann Clemmons
Happy Birthday Christy!
2007-11-08 09:15:00 Today is my closest sister/ friend confident, partner in crime, partner against crime, and all around blogging real life hero pal Christy from Christy's Coffee Break’s birthday. Whew! I’m not finished, I just had to catch my breath…I'm honored to have such a kind, generous, big-hearted, funny, warm, and all round fabulous friend! Happy Birthday Christy!There! Well, I’m still not finished, but I suppose I could never say enough good things about my friend Christy. Here are the links to Christy's Blogs . Please stop by and say Happy Birthday if you have the chance. The Birthday girls sites:Totally FabulousChristy's Coffee BreakWriter's Reviews Illusion of MagicA Hint Of PoetryTEXT Posted by Ann Clemmons
DONA NOBIS PACEM
2007-11-08 03:14:00 I'm a part of the Mimi Writes Peace Globe Project thanks to Paula from Polliwog's Pond. I've noticed these peace globes on other bloggers blogs, but I didn't know much about the project. Until Paula offered to make a peace globe for me, and make a peace globe she did, a beautiful peace globe. Thanks to Polli's generosity and friendship I have a peace globe for my blog with the inscription of my sunshine, and one of my favorite inspirational quotes.I copied and pasted the quote The Pilgrim for you to read along with another favorite, by Peter Straub. I think that creating and maintaining friendship is a great way to make our own personal contributions to world peace- and Polli and Mimi are doing a fine job of showing us how. Thank you Polli, I think the globe is great and I love the inspirational quote, Peace Pilgrim"While we watch the storm clouds gather and prepare for the storm, let us never forget that the sun still shines behind those dark clouds and may some...
What is Your First Memory? Readers Comments
2007-11-07 22:44:00 Yesterday was the sixteenth question that I've asked as part of Tuesday's Questions-a post question and link party I've been posting every Tuesday. I'm having a blast, mainly because of my readers and friends heartfelt contributions. You are in a spectacular group of people, who for the last sixteen weeks have contributed warmth and fun to this weekly post. All of you are the ingredients responsible for the flavor of Tuesday's Question. By offering honest, thoughtful, and most of all heartfelt comments every week, every reader who answers a question is helping build A Nice Place In The Sun. - a figure of speech meant to metaphorically represent the warm atmosphere created by friendship. These post questions are gracefully carried by each of you each week, and I thank you. And your charm certainly couldn't have been more apparent yesterday when I asked, the following question, What is your first memory?I found the following comments some of the most touching I've read since I... More About: Memory , Readers , Comments
What Is Your First Memory?
2007-11-06 18:51:00 What is your first memory? My immediate family is going to kill me for this picture! And I hope you will forgive me for all of these old black and whites I've been posting lately. I've been going through my mothers old photos, baby books, graduation pictures, wedding dresses, etc...My father popped into town a few weeks ago and surprised me with a new scanner and it's wonderful. My other scanner died and went to live in scanner heaven, and I was sad, but now, I'm happy again thanks to a really great Dad. This is a picture of my first memory, only kidding, but, it is a picture of my family caught off guard one morning by a local photographer. My mother was furious because it was so early in the morning she hadn't had time to get us all dressed. Incidentally she will kill me for posting this picture.Anyway, I thought it would work nicely with this Tuesday's Question which is;What is your First Memory ? ...
Happy Monday! A Favorite Movie Moment Returns
2007-11-06 04:02:00 This past Saturday I played this favorite movie moment from Notting Hill with sound was down. I thought something was wrong with the video so I replaced it with Micheal J. Fox's Back To The Future skateboard scene. Many of you thought you were losing your marbles when you returned to find a different movie. Well, I've had a few special readers ask what happened to this clip, so I decided to see what would happen if I played it again. Happy Monday and Smile! I hope you enjoy it!TEXT Posted by Ann Clemmons More About: Movie , Moment , Favorite
What's Behind A Smile? Is It Real Or Fake?
2007-11-05 13:20:00 Can you tell the difference between a real and fake smile? And what's going on in the mind of a person when they're smiling?While sitting at a reading table in the children's department of Barnes and Noble yesterday, I noticed an employee watching me out of the corner of her eye.She acted as if she had to keep an eye on me, because I had plans to rob the place, and had a getaway driver in the parking lot. Then she walked over to where I was sitting, flashed a fake smile, and began to wipe the table. There was something about this employees fake smile that made me think of my third grade teacher Miss Keysler, and the picture I posted the other day. I was surprised at how kind and sweet Miss Keysler looked in the photo. The picture reflected a different Miss Keysler than I remembered. Was my memory playing tricks on me?I couldn’t tell whether Miss Keysler’s smile was fake or genuine, although when I got home and magnified the picture, there was no doubt, it's genuine. I g... More About: Fake , Smile , Real
Get a Free Potrait At Santa's Elf Club Blog
2007-11-05 07:17:00 Last month Polli from Polliwog's pond won my Whose Answer is this? post question. One of my Tuesday's Questions a few months ago was What Is Your Favorite Line of Dialogue From a Book or Movie? A few weeks ago I posted a video of one of the bloggers answers to that question, and asked if anyone could guess which blogger gave the answer?I promised a free blogging favor to whoever answered the question correctly.Well, Santa is lucky that Polli from Polliwog's Pond answered the question correctly...Because, Polli asked Santa if he could use some help, and...well, ...this is it! Isn't that the nicest thing? Polli from Polliwog's Pond is one of the sweetest bloggers out in the blogosphere. And speaking of nice, the blogger whose favorite line of dialogue I posted was Sandee from Comedy Plus. Her answer was the scene in which Rhett Butler informs Scarlett that he could "give a damn" at the end of Gone With The Wind, i Win a FREE portrait for ChristmasThis is a spectacular contest,... More About: Free , Blog , Club , TRAI
Happy Saturday! A Favorite Movie Moment with Michael J. Fox
2007-11-03 10:06:00 I haven't officially announced this but you may have noticed that every Saturday I've been posting favorite movie moments, while I recharge my creative battery! I hope you enjoy this scene from Back To The Future when Michael J.Fox takes some bullies on the ride of their life! Thank you for stopping by and I'll have an exciting week of fresh posts here for you when you return. Again, I hope you enjoy the video. Have a great weekend.TEXT Posted by Ann Clemmons More About: Movie , Happy , Moment
I Have A Picture Of Dexter, My First Crush
2007-11-02 18:56:00 Me Mean girl in yellow Dexter (Get a load of my hair)This is my third grade classroom, the scenery of my first post(after "read more" below) to receive a lot of comments. The popularity of the post has remained consistent throughout my months of blogging. Maybe because it's about a first crush, even if the theme is recyclable. I guess people can relate because we never forget our first crush. I noticed when I read the comments that we seldom forget our first loves name, others things , but not their name. For example, I forgot what Dexter looked like until I went through my mothers pictures last weekend looking for him.I decided to repost this post to celebrate and thank google for my first report card.(PR page rank) You know, third grade, report card, I know it's corny, but I also bought a new scanner and found a picture of Dexter. In addition, I wanted to publicly thank my best friend Christy, from Christy's Coffee Break for encouraging me to blog and for letting me in on the go... More About: Picture , Crush
Happy Halloween!
2007-10-31 16:26:00 This is Taylor, my son, when he still went trick or treating with me. He is lucky Luke in the bottom picture, and obviously Superman in the top one. That's me in my witches costume in the tip top picture. Taylor is now 21 and refuses to go Trick or Treating with me anymore. So now my Halloween 's are more about tricks, than candy and stuff. That is if you don't count the times I really wanted to go, and went on my own. I actually did get lots of candy those times, because no one knew that my son wasn't at home in bed with a bad cold.Happy Trick or Treating!TEXT Posted by Ann Clemmons More About: Allo
If You Could Choose A Magical Power, What Would It be? My Readers Response
2007-10-31 11:46:00 Way to go Samantha! Wouldn't it be great to be Samantha, I Dream Of Jeanie, Wonder Woman, etc... just for one day? For one thing, I wouldn't have to regret the way I phrased yesterdays Question. I complicated it by including "super hero" and "magical power" in the same sentence. Which would have been a problem at all if I could "stop and start time" as Patois from Whee All The Way Home suggested as her magical power. I need to remember to stick to the original Tuesday's Question format, and ask one question every week, instead of three!Oh well, fiddle de de dum, "I shan't think of it today, I'll think of it tomorrow" or whatever Scarlett said, another super hero of mine, besides Samantha, of course. Wait a minute... there I go again, Samantha was not a super hero, she had magical powers, geez... Although, I guess she too can be my super hero, as all of you who play Tuesday's Question are my heroes.Anyway, If I didn't scare everyone off for next week, I plan on r... More About: Power , Readers , Choose , Magica , Response
If You Had The Chance To Choose A Super Hero Or Magical Power What Would It
2007-10-30 15:42:00 Hello, and welcome newcomers and regular readers to Tuesdays Question.For those of you who aren't familiar with Tuesday's Question, it's a weekly post I started a few months ago, in an effort to connect with you, my readers, and spread a little link love. Also, I hope by posting your comments the following day it will work like a blog review. This way, while everyone is learning about your blog, we're also learning about the author behind your blogs title, which is you. That's right, I post the comments to my Tuesday's Question post the following day with a link back to the responding blogs.Plus, I want to remind and encourage all of you to comment on each others comments as well, you know, as if we're engaged in conversation. But most of all I want you to be sure and have fun!Although, I didn't use it for the main title, today's question asks how you would respond to three questions from a magical Wizard, which are...If you had your choice of a super or magical po... More About: Power , Chance , Super , Hero , Choose
Aussie Cynics Integrity
2007-10-30 04:08:00 I thought,The Little Aussie Cynic deserved its own post title, because this blog is one of the happiest places to visit on the internet. Aussie is one of my first blogging buddies in the blogosphere. I met her on blog catalog when I hardly knew anyone, and knew less about what I was doing than I do now. Can you imagine that? It was a scary experience, and the blogs author, Aussie, was so kind, reaching out to me then, as she is reaching out to me and others now, in a rare and personable manner, a manner that could put a wild boar at ease. She is responsible for a lot of my early happy memories writing A Nice Place In The Sun.Plus, have you seen Aussie's blogs new template? The ocean colored background is warm and inviting, very much in keeping with the atmosphere the author has consistently portrayed since I first read her blog.I hope I didn't embarrass you Aussie, I just wanted to publicly thank you for thinking of me, and I was blown away by a nomination for creativity.Here'... More About: Integrity
Need to Feel Like A Genius?
2007-10-29 23:27:00 My brother sent me the funniest e-mail. He wanted to make me feel smarter, plus he said some of these were actually funny. It never ceases to amaze me how foolish people in the public eye can sound at times. I posted the ones that will really make you feel smart by the time you are finished... I f you ever feel a little bit stupid, just dig this up and read it again; you'll begin to think you're a genius. ,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,, ,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,(On September 17, 1994, Alabama's Heather Whitestone was selected as Miss America 1995.)Question: If you could live forever, would you and why?Answer: "I would not live forever, because we should not live forever, because if we were supposed to live forever, then we would live forever, but we cannot live forever, which is why I would not live forever,"--Miss Alabama in the 1994 Miss USA contest. ,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,, ,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,"Whenever I watch TV and see those poor starving kids all over the wor... More About: Genius , Feel
My Sister Is A Bad Little Girl
2007-10-28 19:36:00 Some psychologists believe a person’s birth order has a strong influence over the development of certain personality traits. Do personality traits come from a person's order of birth, and their families perception of their personalities? Or do personality traits from birth influence a families insight into each family members persona? The above letter is from my brothers second grade journal, and I am his only sister. I've listed at the bottom of the page a list of personality profiles for birth order from Wikipedia, so that you can see the differences. Pay close attention to the last sentence in both the middle and youngest child paragraphs. Then read my brothers letter again, and see if you can guess our birth orders. While your reading them also see if you can match Wikipedia's definitions with the members of your family. My answers are after the link that says "Read more" that my friend Sandee from Comedy Plus installed for me. Please note, that the theory that b... More About: Girl , Sister , Little Girl
What Would We Do Without Friendship?
2007-10-27 18:11:00 A really nice person helped me with my web site clean-up by installing the peek-a-boo posts for me. Now, if you like the summary of what might be a long post you have the choice to either continue reading, or move on to the next post. The peek-a-boo posts also offer bloggers an opportunity to post more material on their title page each day. Because, I'm a complete techno nin com poop, this blogging buddy rescued me and you, my readers, from long title page posts! Can you guess who this friend is.... It's Sandee from Comedy Plus! In addition, I'd like to thank google for my very first ranking! Now, I feel like a real webmaster; a member of the google team, and that's something to celebrate. That is thanks to friends like Sandee, my best bud Christy, from ChristysCoffeeBreak, without whose blogging tips I would have be lost long ago. I've been real lucky in these first months of blogging, to have these friendships, in addition to many others not mentioned here. I hope you know... More About: Friendship
My Fall Clean-up
2007-10-26 00:00:00 I'm having a fall clean-up this weekend that's why I posted, It's off To Work We Go which I know is actually titled, Hi, Ho, but I'd rather call it, It's off to work we go, because that's the way I remember it.I'm going to still post everyday, but I'll be moving everything around, so the title page will look messy and disorganized. Get ready for the beginning of next week though, because things will be as shiny as a new penny, and more pleasurable to read.My title page has been so busy and crowded I've had dizzy spells, so I 'm gonna move some stuff to it's own page, in addition to introduce new categories. I thought I ought to beg your pardon and patience, since I'm not as lucky as Snow White, and haven't any dwarfs to help out.The one dwarf I did have has gone to college and isn't home long enough to take out the garbage, much less help me relocate my web site or blog, or web log.When it's all said and done, I think you'll like the changes, because the c... More About: Clean , Fall
The Mariuca Super Star Award!
More articles from this author:2007-10-24 05:22:00 My very best buddy Christy from Christy's Coffee Break nominated me for the Mariuca's Super star award! I love it, love it, love it Christy!When I read the title of this award I thought of a Saturday Night Live character who says I love it, love it, love it, as she kicks her legs in the air! She's kidding, well actually overacting to be funny, but I'm not, as I dance around the living room with my groovy new award, reciting I love it, love it, love it! Evidently, Mariuca's readers missed her enough to leave comments when she was away, so she created this award to thank them. As I read Mariuca post, I realized how considerate and kind bloggers can be, or I should say friends can be. Good bloggers use their opportunity to write in a positive way, a way that makes a real difference in the lives of their fellow bloggers each day. I think those are the bloggers Mariuca is referring to as Superstars! Thank you Christy for thinking of me as one of those bloggers, and thank you Ma... More About: Star , Award , Super Star 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7 |
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