Friday, March 30, 2018

Hedgehog Baby Shower

In my last post about party planning, I shared a guideline and an example of my plans for a hedgehog themed baby shower. A couple of days ago, I held that party in my home.
As we all know plans and real life have their differences and this party was no exception, with it’s odd little quirks and overlooked details. I’m still ironing out the process, but...oh my word!...writing everything down in my guideline format helped so much! The day went by much smoother, partly due to a friend babysitting my three little musketeers, but mainly because I had a plan and knew what to expect. When I normally would’ve panicked at finding the 20lb bag I was going to use for baked potatoes had gone soft and were too small, I just set them aside and made a quick trip to the store to get large and fresh potatoes. Everything from there went smoothly and I was prepared before the first guests arrived. (That's when I realized one little detail I forgot: to dip cream puffs in chocolate and brown sprinkles and add eyes and a mouth so they looked like miniature hedgehogs. But with the amount of completed desserts, I just set the cream puffs out plain.)
It was a great time for all 15 guests and the mother gathered a good stock of diapers and wipes, plus several adorable gifts.
Here are the pictures and menu of what we had:

Baked Potato Bar!


Toppings: butter, cream cheese, feta cheese, sour cream, chives, chili, beans, cooked broccoli, olives, and bacon bits. A friend also brought a broccoli salad. 
 

Dessert: Dark Chocolate Hedgehog Loaf, Cream Puffs, Fresh Strawberries, and a White Chocolate Hedgehog Cake with Nutella Buttercream Frosting.


Recipe link: 
Easy Melt & Mix Hedgehog Slice 
I used Nilla Wafers, a bag of mixed nuts, and a bag of dried cranberries, cherries and white raisins/sultanas with the dark chocolate and sweetened condensed milk.



Sunday, March 11, 2018

Party Planning Guide


I don’t know half of you half as well as I should like; and I like less than half of you half as well as you deserve.”

This is a favorite, funny quote I enjoy from the first book of the Lord of the Rings trilogy, The Fellowship of the Ring. It reminds me that, while party planning is enjoyable, the purpose of parties is NOT to showcase how much time we spend on Pinterest, how crafty we can be, or the amount of sweets we can fill up on. It’s about TIME spent with others and getting to know them. Let’s not make the same mistake as Bilbo and get to know the people around us. (Except for the Sackville-Bagginses of course. Read the books, lol.)

So, in an effort to get to know others, here is a simple guide to make party planning simple.

I’m an outline, bullet points and lists kind of person, so this type of system works best for me.

PARTY PLANNING GUIDE
Event
Date & Time
Venue/Location
Theme
Schedule
Assistants
Guests
Menu
Desserts
Games
Specials/Extra
Shopping List
Prep Schedule
Thank You Credits

I like writing down my ideas on paper first, something about the ease of brainstorming and scribbling it out before I finalize plans. It’s also simpler to navigate Pinterest without changes pages or applications on my computer or iPad, lol.

Here’s an example of my party planning in progress:



Event: Solo Baby Shower
Date & Time: 3/15 @ 6:30pm
Venue/Location: Henry home
*The main information needed, especially for invitations, regardless if it’s a printed formal invite or just an announced event. This is easy to find and share if any guests need a reminder or ask about it again (because we all forget things every now and then). 

Theme: Hedgehog, Woodland Animals
*Having a theme, color, etc, helps narrow down ideas on Pinterest and keeps events fresh and different. I’ve had to plan LOTS of baby showers, especially for boys, so this makes it unique and personal, especially for the family. 

Schedule: 6:30-9pm; 6:45 - Dinner; 7:30 - gifts and diaper raffle; 8:30 - Clean up
*Know your guest list! Punctuality is a gift (one that I have always struggled with) and few excel. So,
 I always, always, always plan a 15-30 minute window before beginning any type of activity. By doing this, you ensure that most people have arrived and guests can allow themselves to get comfortable. (Want to know a secret? For my wedding, the invitation stated the ceremony began at 12:30, when we really planned for it to begin at 1.) Also, any event with kids gives times for bathroom breaks, snacks, dropping them off at nursery/babysitter, etc. Parents will thank you! 

Assistants: Gina - Salad
*Don’t forget to list your assistants! Delegating jobs relieves your stress and allows others to be involved and show their love for the guest of honor, etc. Allow others to help you, no one can do everything alone! This list provides an easy way to share the load and not getting bogged down by too much to do. Also, as a side note, although it doesn’t happen very often, but sometimes people forget what they committed to doing or bringing. Listing it here can help you send out friendly reminders, or just get help with something that isn’t critical if missed. The key is to share the workload with as little stress as possible. 

Guests: church ladies, about 10-15, no rsvp
*This part can be tricky, depending on the event. Most of mine are open invitations to the church. Sometimes they are specific to “ladies only” or “family event”or “adults only”. Many times I don’t know who will come and what they’ll bring, if it’s a potluck, but usually it’s worked out for the best. Only once did I have a baby shower where less than 8 ladies showed up, and there was barely any food. I had to raid the church fridge for something to serve (frozen taquitos, lol) and find out that most guests were gluten-free. I was stuck with a full size cake that only 2-3 of us could eat. 

Menu: Baked Potato Bar (potatoes, Butter, cheese, sour cream, bacon bits, feta, cream cheese, chives, olives, pepperoni, etc.) 
*Raise your hand if you’ve ever prepared a dish for an event but you forgot it in the oven/microwave/fridge? I’m raising both hands. This list can help you make sure you plan for every meal need. Don’t forget to include any dietary restrictions. 

Desserts: Hedgehog cake, hedgehog chocolate loaf, hedgehog cream puffs
*I always separate dessert from the rest of the meal because its the best part! 

Games: Diaper Unwrap Raffle
*Ive been phasing out games for most baby showers, since the ladies’ groups enjoy sitting and talking more. I’m including one game for this event because it was requested. (This is a game I made up: Everyone who brings a box of diapers or wipes, gets a wrapped diaper. They get to open it to find a prize: nail polish, jewelry, candy, etc.)

Specials/Extra: Devotional led by Monica
*With church events, we always include a devotional. Other special events can include party favors, picture slideshow, craft, etc. 

Shopping List: White cake, sour cream, dark chocolate, chopped nuts, dark sprinkles, white chocolate, pudding, heavy whipping cream, wafers, sultanas, coconut shavings, diaper prizes
*This makes it much easier at the store. Also, don’t spend on useless items that you don’t need or may already have.  

Prep Schedule: Shop Tuesday, Make cake & loaf on Wednesday, Clean house & set up Thursday
*Planning and preparing ahead make the day of and event less stressful! 

Thank You Credits: Monica, Gina, thank you list for gifts
*An important, and often overlooked aspect of party planning is officially thanking everyone who made the event possible. People are more willing to help if they feel appreciated and that their contribution is worthwhile. 


I hope you find this Party Planning Guide helpful! What parties are you going to plan now?



Saturday, February 24, 2018

Moosen’ Around Cupcakes

Things have been getting exciting around here! Cupcakes have become a common centerpiece on my table and countertops. I’m fired up to make new cupcakes and try different recipes and combinations. So, the newest Moosen’ Around announcement is our new menu!

Moosen’ Around: Build-your-own-Cupcake!
Cupcake:
Chocolate
White Chocolate
Lemon
Lemon Blueberry
GF Chocolate
GF Lemon

Filling:
Nutella
White Chocolate Pudding
Peanut Butter
Oreo Filling
Raspberry Creme
Blackberry Creme
Your pick jelly

Frosting:
Buttercream Frosting
Cream Cheese Frosting
Creme Frosting 

Frosting Flavors:
Plain
Nutella
Peanut Butter
Oreo
White Chocolate
Raspberry

Topping:
Chocolate drizzle 
Chocolate chips (mini)
Fresh fruit
Chopped nuts

*Check out our menu frequently as new flavors will be added frequently. 

Order details: 
Visit our Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/moosenaroundak/ and message your orders and requests! 

Standard cost: $2.50/cupcake with a minimum order of a dozen. 
*Extra $0.50/dozen for fresh fruit toppings.

Ask about our Friends & Family discount. 


And to leave you drooling, check out Moosen’ Around on Facebook for photos of our favorite and most recent cupcakes...
Chocolate Nutella with Nutella Buttercream Frosting
&
White Chocolate Cupcakes with White Chocolate Creme and a fresh Raspberry

Purchase links:

Monday, January 22, 2018

It's been awhile...

Hello again!

It's been awhile...

I haven't done much writing, in the blog or my novels, throughout this last pregnancy and recovery. Funny how "recovery" takes longer with each one. (Other mom's out there know there's nothing "funny" about that!)

Sixteen months later and I'm finally beginning to feel like myself again!

I'll kick start this post with some sugary goodness! I had the wonderful opportunity to get back into baking with a 100 cupcake order for the Freedom House fundraiser. If you don't know what Freedom House is, check it out here: http://www.freedomhouse907.com/.

The entire event was amazingly successful with God bringing in the victory! The cupcakes were half gone before dinner even started and disappeared soon after. I think next year, we'll need to make double! I say "we" because I couldn't have done it without the jolly Julia babysitting my three musketeers on baking day and magnificent Mary helping with filling, frosting, decorating and selling. (Photo credits also go to Mary! Thanks so much!)


Without further ado, I present to you...


Chocolate Peanut Butter Cupcake
Chocolate Crème & Reese’s

These cupcakes were the first to go! Apparently the Chocolate/Peanut Butter combination is a weakness for many, my husband especially. I started out with my basic chocolate cupcake recipe, also found on the back of the Hershey's Cocoa, and filled it with a gooey glob of peanut butter. What set it over the top was the perfectly complimenting chocolate creme frosting: 1 qt heavy whipping cream and 1 box Hershey's chocolate pudding mix. The last glorious touch was half a Reese's. So many compliments on this one, with several people saying this was the BEST cupcake they have ever had!



Lemon Cupcake
Raspberry Crème + Fresh Raspberry

The lemon cupcake with the raspberry frosting and fresh raspberry was divine! I'm still working out the kinks on the lemon cupcake; I want a little more tang and a fluffier texture. The frosting, however, made me want to get a spoon and just eat it right out of the bowl! (For sanitary reasons, I didn't of course, but I did taste test a couple cupcakes just to be sure the flavors went well together). The frosting involved a little prep ahead of time with the raspberries. I used frozen raspberries, warmed over the stove top with a splash of lemon and mashed to the consistency of a thin jam. It needs to be completely cool/refrigerated before adding 1 qt heavy Whipping Cream and 1 box Hershey's White Chocolate Pudding.



Chocolate Nutella Cupcake
Cream Cheese Frosting & Mini Chocolate Chips

The Chocolate Nutella Cupcake with Cream Cheese has been a favorite for many for awhile now so I had to include it. Once again, it did not disappoint! You can always find the recipe here but it's up to you to enjoy eating! (Excuse me while I stuff my face with one of these yummies I stashed in the fridge for later ;)




White Chocolate Cupcake
White Chocolate Crème & Blue Drizzle


These cupcakes are my FAVORITE! Although I usually lean toward chocolate everything, these give the hint of chocolate but without the overpowering sweetness. You can find the recipe for these White Chocolate Cupcakes here.

Tuesday, September 6, 2016

Announcements!

I can't believe it...but its true!

ANNOUNCEMENT #1: I finished a novel in a month! I'd like to introduce SPACE DRAGON to the world!

Liej always starts trouble, so it's no surprise when he sneaks around a spaceship. No one expects him to discover a magic orb, granting him superpowers. He better shape up or the universe may pay!


Space Dragon is a MG scifi/fantasy genre mashup, complete at 34k words. Told in the POV of two pre-teens, Liej and Ollia face real and fantastical challenges that make them stronger in their own talents and question the adult world. If Star Trek/Wars, Avengers and dragons were thrown into a blender and their story told by an ADHD 12-year old boy with a voice as unique as Diary of a Wimpy Kid.
 
Would you, or anyone you know, be interested in reading this and giving me feedback in the next two weeks? I am going to enter it into #PitchSlam and hopefully present it to literary agents! If so, email me or comment. 

Now, for the announcement you're really waiting for...

ANNOUNCEMENT #2:

 Our family is growing! Baby #3 is expected in April! Whoopee!! Yay!

What do you think about my announcements? ;)

~Beca


Monday, August 22, 2016

Distracted + Alaska History Timeline

Hello!

Lately, I have been too distracted with writing: Duchess of the Seas and Space Dragon (new project,  reveal coming soon!), editing/revising: Speak and Pitch Wars (picks are revealed August 25!) to focus on some important things:
-like dishes
-vacuuming
-eating healthy
-dishes, again
-SCHOOL!!

I have to finish two Alaska history classes to gain my Alaska Teaching Credential. Why is this important if I'm just a stay-at-home mom (oh no you didn't! :P) or I want to be an author? Well, because being a teacher has always been one of my dreams. Teaching 3rd grade in Colorado was SO rewarding and a wonderful year of my life. Sometimes I really miss it (mainly in August when everyone is getting ready to go Back to School). This year I went a little crazy and now I have a mini preschool classroom set up in my house for Ben to home school! :) Also, I want to keep my credential updated. I'm losing my CA credential next year because I haven't taught 2 years and completed BTSA in the state. And I DO NOT want to go through the credentialing program again. Last, I want to work as a sub with the school district (and having my credential pays better, lol). But, really, I LOVE working in schools. I already feel fulfilled with the life I have chosen - being a mom is one of the greatest careers! - but giving to the community and supporting schools and students is great too! I wasn't made to do just one thing; I want to use the gifts and talents God has given me in many ways! So, I am never just a teacher, a mom, a wife, a writer, a student, a daughter, a sister, a hair-brained wild dreamer; I am ALL of those things.

Bleh, I didn't mean to go on a mini-happy rant. :P I was supposed to introduce one of the interesting projects I completed for my class (and maybe will help others who stumble on this blog, but please don't plagiarize-use it as a resource).

Over the past couple months, when I actually did schoolwork, I organized a timeline on the history of Alaska. And, boy! this state is INTERESTING! This only holds a smidgen of the happenings in this great state but I hope it gives you an appreciation on how we got where we are. (Or convince my family and friends to move up here too!) (P.S. I was a grade school teacher, I LOVE color-coding ;)


AA: Alaska Timeline (1741-2016)

A timeline on the land, people and education of Alaska

?-1740: Aleut, Inupiat, Yup'ik, Athabascan and Tlingit Haida native groups live a hunting and gathering lifestyle.
1741: Bering & Chirikov Voyage (Russian)
1774-1791: Spanish Expeditions; trace names as Malaspina Glacier and Valdez (Spanish)
1778: Cpt. Cook Explores Coastal AK & creates maps of northern North America (English)
1784: First Permanent Russian Settlement on Kodiak, Shelikov, fur trader, forces Natives on Kodiak into submission (Russian) Fur trade hits big!
1789: American expeditions set out to compete in fur trade (US)
1794: Baranov builds first ocean-going vessel in northwestern America on Kenai Peninsula at Voskressenski (Russian)
1799: Baranov named First Russian Governor; builds ship with Shields, an Englishman, and calls it the Phoenix. Used in American waters and made two voyages to Siberia. Russian post Old Sitka established.
1802: Battle of Sitka
1804: Russian warship Neva under Baranov, destroyed the Native village & people. Rebuilt settlement of New Archangel, now known as Sitka.
1805: 1st cargo of Russian furs from Russian America delivered to China
(1812: Napoleon invades Russia, isolating colonies.)
1821: Russian Trading Charter (Russian) & Hudson’s Bay Company (British). British continue presence for the next 30 years.
1823: Monroe Doctrine
1824: Russia & US sign treaty -> Anglo-Russian Treaty Establishing AK’s borders; Veniaminov begins deciphering, writing and translating the Aleut & Tlingit & Yakut languages, Bible first & other books, plus personal compositions
1835: First Mission School for Eskimos at Nushagak
1842: Aleut born Netsvetov developed & translated Yupik
1853: Oil in Cook Inlet discovered by Russian-America Company
1857: Coal mining begins at Coal Harbor on Kenai Pen; Russian-American company looses out on fur trade, coal mining and whaling; ice trade not enough; ends. (Russian)
1861: Gold discovered at Telegraph Creek at Stikine River
1865: Survey for Telegraph line Begun, Last Shot of Civil War Fired in AK waters
1867: Seward negotiates purchase of Russian America -> 375 million acres for $7.2 million [-2c per acre]. General Davis assumes command of the Department of Alaska, beginning a decade of military rule.
1868: First Alaskan Newspaper, “The Sitka Times”
1870: Schools built on St Paul & St George as provisions for 20 year seal hunting rights on Pribilof Island led to 48-pg primer of American Values in the English language
1877: US troops withdraw from AK. School opens in Wrangell, mainly for Tlingit near Sitka, becomes a girl’s school
1878: First AK fish cannery opens in Klawock. First Sitka Industrial Training School opens.
1880: Gold on Gastineau Channel. Juneau founded (first Harrisburg, then Rockwell, and finally Juneau) after Joe Juneau and Richard Harris.
1881: Commander Henry Glass, the Senior Navy Officer required the native children to attend school.
1882: 1st salmon AK canneries built in Central AK. 1st commercial herring fishing begins in Killisnoo.
1884: Steamers begin bringing 1st tourists to AK. Congress passes First Organic Act; $15,000 appropriated to educate AK Native children. (Sheldon Jackson prodding)
1885: Sheldon Jackson federal education agent for AK, bringing schools to region – boarding schools/mission schools
1887: Indian Reservation of Metlakatla on Annette Island & taught trades.
1890: 1st oil claims in Cook Inlet. Reindeer introduced into AK. Large corporate salmon canneries begin to appear.
1893: Gold is discovered on Birch Creek
1896: Klondike Gold Rush begins.
1898: Nome Gold Rush begins.
1900: Capital moves from Sitka to Juneau. White Pass & Yukon Railroad is completed. Congress provided for the establishment and local control of independent schools for whites within incorporated towns. (Segregated school system)
1900: Unalaska tri-lingual newspaper printed in Aleut, Russian & English
1902: Oil production in AK. Fairbanks town named after US president. Roosevelt est Tongass National Forest.
1903: AK-Canada border settled.
1904: Washington AK Military Cable & Telegraph System (WAMCATS) begins to lay submarine cable between Seattle, Sitka, & Valdez, linking AK to “Outside”.
1905: 1st message is telegraphed from Fairbanks to Valdez. Nelson Act the federal government assumed responsibility for the education of Alaska Native: “of white children and of children with ‘mixed blood’ who led a civilized life”.
1906: Native Allotment Act, allowing Natives to obtain land under restricted title.
1911: Morgan-Guggenheim Corp builds railroad. US, Canada, Russia, GB, & Japan sign to preserve fur seal in North Pacific.
1912: Mt. Katmai explodes massively, forming Valley of Ten Thousand Smokes.
1913: 1st AK Territorial Legislature Convenes with 1st law passed granting women voting rights.
1914: Surveying begins for AK Railroad. Anchorage starts as construction camp on Ship Creek.
1917: Amendment to the Alaska Organic Act, the Territorial Legislature was empowered "to establish and maintain schools for white and colored children and children of mixed blood who lead a civilized life in said territory . . ."
1920: Anchorage city gov’t is organized. Alaska Air Expedition from New York to Nome is successful.
1922: AK Ag College & School of Mines, later University of AK, opens with 6 students.
1923: Alaska Railroad complete. Naval Petroleum Reserve No. 4 is created.
1924: Congress extends citizenship to all American Indians. William L. Paul, a Tlingit, is first Alaska Native elected to Territorial Legislature.
1925: The federal government initiated a program of establishing vocational boarding schools within Alaska. Mt. Edgecumbe - main
1926: AK Native Townsite Act allows Natives to obtain restricted deeds to village lots. Design for the AK flag was won by 13-yr old Benny Benson, through a school contest. (AK students grades 7-12)
1927: New flag for the Territory of AK.
1928: Court case resolves the right of Native children to attend public school.
1935: 202 farmers colonize Matanuska Valley. Salmon pack peaks at 8.4 million cases.
1936: Congress extends the Indian Reorganization Act to AK. Nell Scott of Seldovia becomes 1st woman elected to the Territorial Legislature.
1938: Kennicott Mine closes at McCarthy.
1939: Home study (homeschool) an option for Alaskan students.
1940: Military sets up in AK with Elmendorf Air Force Base.
1942: Japan bombs Dutch Harbor, invades Aleutians, takes Attu & Kiska; relocated all islanders (extended-temporary time). Pioneer Service Road (AK-Canada military Highway) is built from Dawson Creek, BC to Delta Junction, AK.
1943: Upgrading and bridge building on AK Highway. US Forces retake Aleutian Islands, Attu & Kiska from the Japanese. Venetie Reservation.
1944: AK-Juneau Gold Mine shuts down.
1945: Territorial legislature passed an antidiscrimination act
1946: Boarding school for Native high school students opens at Mt. Edgecumbe.
1947: AK Command establish; 1st unified command of the US Army, Air Force & Navy. 1st AK Native land claims suit, by Tlingit & Haida people.
1948: AK Highway opens to civilian traffic. Vote to abolish fish traps.
1951: 34 public secondary schools; only 5 enrolled over 100, 24 under 50, 12 had 10 or fewer; only 6 were in communities at least 50% native.
1952: Johnson-O’Malley Act: “The states' responsibility lay in their obligation to educate all residents"
1953: Plywood op begins at Juneau & pulp mill at Ketchikan. AK TV broadcast
1955-1956: Constitutional convention held at Univ of AK.
1957: Oil discovered at Swanson River on Kenai Pen, beginning AK modern oil era.
1959: AK becomes US state #49. British Petroleum begins to explore for oil on AK North Slope.
1960: Amoco finds offshore oil in Cook Inlet.
1964: Good Friday earthquake of 8.6: property damage = $500 million. Valdez destroyed.
1965: State revenues total $82.9 million; Elementary and Secondary Education Act for low-income & Native students
1966: The state adopted a policy of constructing regional secondary schools and dormitories and developing boarding home programs.
1967: Chena River floods Fairbanks. 1st bill intro to settle AK Native land claims.
1968: Prudhoe Bay exploratory well oil reserves est at 9.6 billion barrels. Civil Rights Act for Title VII Bilingual Education legislation.
1969: AK pop totals 295,000. $900 million in lease bonuses to state treasury through Prudhoe Bay.
1970: State revenues hit $1 billion; bill intro for PFD. Environmental studies of pipeline effect on wildlife begin. State began a program of providing local secondary schools.
1971: Congress passes AK Native Claims Settlement Act; transfers ownership of 44 million acres of land to newly est Native corps.
1972: Molly Hootch, et al., Plaintiffs, vs. Alaska State Operated School System, et al., Defendants, the lawsuit challenging the separate and unequal system of education in Alaska (Edu). Indian Education Act.
1973: Trans –AK pipeline begins. Oil prices skyrocket from Middle East war. National Study of American Indian Education & John Collier, Jr.'s book Alaska Eskimo Education (1973)
1974: Construction on pipeline brings thousands of workers.
1975: The Indian Self-Determination and Education Assistance Act became law with the outward intent of providing increased opportunities for local control
1976: PFD constitutional amendment established. Population passes 400,000. The Governor of Alaska signed a consent decree as an out-of-court settlement of what had become the Tobeluk v. Lind case because Molly Hootch was no longer in school. In the settlement, the state of Alaska agreed that it would establish a high school program in every community in Alaska where there was an elementary school (which required a minimum enrollment of eight students) and one or more secondary students, unless the community specifically declined such a program
1977: Pipeline construction completed and oil arrives. 30 new high schools est, +90 more in the next 7 years. Currently over 120 small high schools in AK villages. (Regional Educational Attendance Areas; REAA – operated locally)
1978: More options for local control were then reinforced by the federal Education Amendments Act
1980: AK legislature approves PFD program & repeals AK income tax. Carter signs AK National Interest Lands Conservation Act. State of AK agrees to provide high schools in all Native villages of student pop of +15
1982: Oil Boom! State revenues peak at $4 billion after OPEC fixes oil at $34/barrel. AK Legis enacts inflation-proofing to PFD. 1st PFD check is distributed: $1,000.
1985: Bureau of Indian Affairs passes operation of rural schools to State Board of Edu & Early Dev
1985-87: Recession, nearly 1 in 10 jobs disappear from AK economy, oil prices drop. AK Railroad transfers from Federal to State.
1988: International efforts to rescue 3 whales caught by ice off Barrow gain attention. Soviets allow a 1-day visit of a group of AK to Siberian port city of Providenya. Oil peaks at 744 million barrels.
1989: Exxon Valdez spills 11 million gallons of oil into Prince William Sound.
1990: AK pop reaches 550,000. Over 800,000 visitors come to AK. Mining ranks as fastest growing industry. PFD invests in stocks & bonds outside US.
1991: 8 billionth barrel of oil arrives in Valdez. PFDs paid for 10th consecutive year.
1992: AK Highway & Denali National Park = 50 years old.
1996: PFD 20th anniversary.
1997: AK High School Graduation Qualifying Exam implemented
1998: Quality Schools Initiative
2000: Alaska signed an administrative order directing state agencies and officials to "recognize and respect" the 227 federally recognized tribal governments in Alaska.
2013: Lowest recorded King Salmon run
2015: 1.7 million salmon run up Kenai River, stable population
2016: Change of policies in regards to Transgender students in some Alaskan schools



Extra Resources:
Alaska's History--(pp. 54-55): Sheldon Jackson: Christian Soldier to the Great Land.
Including class materials and provided books.

Thursday, August 11, 2016

SPEAK ~ Visualized

Recently, I have seen other writers post pictures that visualize what their book is about and I love the idea! A picture really is worth a thousand words...or 90k in this case. ;)

If I could walk through the world of my novel Speak it would look like this: