Valentine's Day

Instead of my usual flowers, my husband sent me a pajamagram. The pajamas were packaged in a cute mesh hat box and the pajamas were adorable. Much better than the flowers! He ordered them from PajamaGram.com. These are EXCELLENT gifts for anyone that loves pajamas!

My son, on the other hand, sent his girlfriend a Cupid Bear from Vermontteddybear.com. She thought the bear was cute, but it arrived damaged. The company agreed to ship another one to her immediately. She seemed satisfied, but it seems kind of bad to have to wait for your perfect Valentine!

My daughter and my son's girlfriend got together and decided to send big chocolate chip cookies to their boyfriends. There is a local shop here that does wonderful work. They make cookie lollipops, gift bags, etc. In fact, they do just about anything that you can imagine you could do with a cookie. Check out Lou Anne Takach at cookiesbydesign.com. You won't be disappointed!

What did I get my husband? Well, I picked out this mushy card which he loved because it had a nostalgia look that reminded him of the town where he grew up. Then I picked out a bagfull of goodies that I know he likes--turtles, peanut butter cups, and special cookies. It being food, he was pleased. Next time, though, I think I'll let cookiesbydesign handle it for me!

I hope that everyone had a wonderful Valentine's Day!

Steps to Writing a Successful Composition

Steps to Writing a Successful Composition

Writing is a process. If you know the steps, it is easy to write a decent composition. With practice, the quality of the writing will also improve. If you can, choose a writing partner who is qualified to offer suggestions and proof read for you. A student who excels in English classes, a teacher, or a professional who uses writing at work are good choices.

First, organize your thoughts. Choose 3-4 main points to discuss in your composition. If you can’t write a paragraph about the point, then choose another one. Outline the information that you will be covering for each point.

Then, write your opening paragraph. This should be made up of a main idea sentence that covers your topic. Write a sentence for each main point that you will be covering in the order that they will be covered. Then write an ending sentence that restates your main idea or leads into the next paragraph. In education, we call this the hamburger method. The main idea is the top bun and the concluding paragraph is the bottom bun. The major points, or meat of the paper, are sandwiched between the two buns!

Your second paragraph will be about your first major point. The third paragraph will be about the second major point. The last paragraph will be about the third major point. The concluding paragraph is the one that most often is not clearly written. It should summarize the main points and restate your main idea.

A sample composition is below:

My favorite time of the year is summer. One reason for this is the vacation that we take each summer. I also enjoy going to the nearby beach. The best thing, though, is that I do not work during that time since I am a teacher. In my opinion, it is the best season!
Each year, my family goes on a nice vacation. We try to visit a different place each year. We attempt to find interesting places and events. Sometimes, we visit family or friends that we do not normally have a chance to visit. Vacations make summer time really special.
The beach is one of my favorite places. Since we live near the ocean, it is easy to spend the day at the beach. Friends and family members frequently go with me. We bask in the sun, build sandcastles, take long walks on the beach, and play in the water. I am able to take advantage of the beach during the summer.
Best of all, I do not work during the summer because I am a teacher. I catch up on all the things that I do not have time to do during the year. It is an opportunity to spend more time with my children and my parents. Each year, I try to complete a special project during the summer.
Because of the opportunities listed above, I consider summer to be the best season. The vacations, visits to the beach, and time off during the summer make each one special. I look forward to that time of year and try to take advantage of every minute! What is your favorite season?

Notice that I closely follow the major points that I state in my opening paragraph. You should stay focused on your topic. Be sure that you do not include information that is not part of your topic. It is easy to become sidetracked and include extraneous information. For example, if I started writing about my children in the second paragraph, it would detract from my overall topic. If you follow the steps, you will be a successful writer. Remember that the more you practice, the more your writing will improve!

Check out the following link for education books related to writing:
http://www.astore.amazon.com/scberrysblog-20

Fraud on the Internet

I want to write about something that is of great concern. As you all know, my 18 year old son and his girlfriend have been selling their Pomeranian puppies. They advertised on the Internet and had many inquiries. Snowball sold earlier to a woman in California and seems to be settling in well.

Then they received an email from Iowa requesting that a puppy be held for them. Then they received the exact same email from another person wanting 2 puppies. When my son questioned them via email, he was told that it was a married couple and that the husband had decided he wanted a puppy, too. He was also told that they were deaf. Thus began a series of "relay calls" regarding the purchase. My son requested that they send a cashiers check. We have since learned that even these can be forged. You should ask that they use paypal, a US Postal Money order, or a Walmart Money Gram.

My son received a check that LOOKED like a cashiers check, but wasn't. It was written off of a California bank even though these people lived in the midwest. The kicker, though, was that it was written for $2000 more than it should have been. My son was also told that he didn't need to worry about shipping because they owned their own store and had a shipper who would pick up the puppies personally. When questioned via email, he was told that they were buying farm implements for the store and that the extra money was for the shipper. My son was given instructions to wire the money to the shipper at a different address.
My husband took the check to our local bank manager and was told that it was probably fraud. The bank deposited the check with a hold and we found out yesterday that it was indeed fraud. During the period of time while we waited for the check to clear, we were inundated with relay calls instructing my son to go ahead and follow the instructions. The last call before it cleared stated that he could just send 50% while he waited for it to clear. This morning the final call came in. When I told the relay operator to let him know that the check was no good, he disconnected the call.

It is a shame that someone like this can run a scam that makes Internet sites like puppyfind.com look bad. My son and his girlfriend could have lost the original amount of the check PLUS the amount that they would have wired the shipper--$5000! Thank goodness they trusted my husband and I to help them with the situation!

The lesson learned is that everyone should be safe rather than sorry. Use the payment options listed above. If someone sends more money or has a deal that seems too good to be true, then it probably is! I hope that someone else learns from reading this.....

Death and Visiting Pets

This was a really sad and strange weekend. My husband's step-mother died last week. The visitation was Thursday and the graveside funeral was Friday. She was old and sick, but as the minister said, "Another spoke from my memory wheel is gone." What a neat way to put it. You send flowers, visit with family members and friends that you don't normally see, and relive old memories. That's what we did this weekend.

With all the visitors, we also had some pet visitors (see the picture above). A black and white cat named Abe, a cute little peek-a-poo named Cierra Dolce, and a Pomeranian puppy named Bubby graced us with their presence. It is amaizng how person-like some animals can be. Abe sat in that same position for a long time, just like he was part of the conversation flowing around him. The little Peek-a-Poo kept getting her blanket and pacifier (I think she has over 20) to make sure that the others didn't get them. The puppies that came by seemed the most normal, but they too were carried around just like little babies.

People have truly gone pet crazy! We have four dogs, seven cats, and assorted goldfish ourselves. Thankfully, half the dogs and most of the cats are outside or I'd have to call us a zoo! Below is a site that gives you tips to allow you to take your small dog ANYWHERE. Just what is the world coming to?

http://scberry.spencerdog.hop.clickbank.net/

Helping Your Child Choose a Book

Children do not always know how to select an appropriate book that they find interesting. Often the cover of the book or the topic of the book attracts their attention. They check out the book from the classroom, school, or community library without ever opening the book to see if it is going to hold their interest.

We can foster a love of reading by helping them choose appropriate books that they find interesting. Begin with a list of possible books or authors. Librarians and teachers are good resources for this. You can also find reading lists online. Do not forget to take their interests into consideration. Find three to five of the books on the list. Then have the child choose one.

Once the book is chosen, open the book to a random page and have the child read it out loud to you. If it is a picture book, have them read a page. If it is a novel, have them read about one hundred words.

Use the five finger rule as the child reads. For each mistake, raise a finger. If the child misses five words (five fingers), then the reading level is probably too difficult. Gently point this out and go back to the other books that were originally selected. Repeat the process until an appropriate selection is made.

You should also check their comprehension. Many children can read the words without understanding their meaning. If the material of the book is too complex or sophisticated, encourage the child to choose a different book.

Reading often increases a child’s knowledge base and vocabulary. By helping the child choose appropriate, interesting books, a parent can help the child develop a life long love or reading that can directly impact their success as a student and even their career choice later in life.

Encourage children to talk about the books that they read. Read the same book as your child and you will find that you can have some really interesting conversation and make more of an impact on their comprehension of the reading material!

Book Giveaway Information

I will be giving away this book to one of the people who comment on one of my educational blogs or articles during the months of January or February. I will announce the winner on March 1, 2008 so be sure to check it out. If you comment, please leave an email address where you can be reached should you win. I will contact the winner by email to obtain mailing information.

The book is very informative and gives tips and suggestions on such topics as learning styles, preparing for tests, collaborating with teachers, and helping children with homework in the different subject areas. If you are having difficulty with your child completing his/her homework assignments, then this is the book for you! Even if you are not, it is still a must have. For other educationalresources, you can go to http://astore.amazon.com/scberrysblog-20.

Crate Training Your Puppy

Missy, our female Pomeranian, plays with one of her puppies.

Some Thoughts and Suggestions about Crate Training Your Pet:

What is the biggest concern about bringing home a pet? You got it—housetraining! My family has dealt with this numerous times and we now have it down to a science. It helps that my son works for a local pet resort which boards and grooms animals. In this job, they have housed cats, dogs, birds, and even a monkey.

The best way to train a dog is to crate train them. Choosing a crate is essential. I like the wire crates with the plastic bottom that slides out. You can see your pet and it can see you. It is also easy to clean. Most of them have exits on the side and the front. Some even fold up for easy storage. The size of the crate is also important. Animals should be able to turn around. However, if the animal can isolate a part of the crate, it will be tempted to use the bathroom in that isolated area.

Some essentials to remember when crate training your dog:
1. Choose the right size crate.
2. You can put a small blanket in the crate, but do not leave food and water in the crate. Many people feed their puppy in the crate, but these should be removed after a short period of time. I prefer not to feed mine in the crate. I do not put toys or chew bones in the crate, either.
3. Puppies should sleep in the crate. When the puppy is small, you might want to put the crate in your room or bathroom. If the puppy wakes up, take it to the bathroom and put it right back in the crate. Do NOT take time to play with it or feed it!
4. When you are not home, the puppy should be in the crate. Also, leave the puppy in the crate if you can not supervise it. Do not allow the puppy to have too much freedom in your home or you will find that it messes up. Close supervision of the animal is essential when it is not in the crate.
5. When you take the puppy out of the crate, walk it immediately. Praise the puppy for using the bathroom outside.
6. Always walk the puppy just prior to putting it in the crate. Start training the puppy to go into the crate on its own. You will find that the puppy will go to the crate when it is tired or feels threatened. My dogs will go to the crate upon command. They do not mind being in the crate.

Once the puppy is completely housebroken, you may choose to let the puppy sleep with you or a child. The puppy needs to know that he does not leave the bed or sleeping area unless you take it. Again, take it out immediately if it wakes you up or when you get up.

We still leave my dogs in the crate when someone is not home. We have two Pomeranians and the crate that we use is large enough for both of them. They do not mind being in the crate together. However, you should make sure that the pets are compatible before doing this.
Pets who are crate trained can travel easily by car or plane, even for long distances.

For more pet information, I invite you to visit the following sites;
http://scberry.netads.hop.clickbank.net/
http://scberry.dogpuppy.hop.clickbank.net/
http://scberry.dogtrain12.hop.clickbank.net/