Archive for the ‘Karen’s Journal Notes’ Category
Life on a Family Farm
Cheyenne milking one of our Nubian dairy goats
Here at Mountain Valley View Farm, we feel continually blessed. Our farm is relatively small, encompassing only 30 acres here in the Spokane Valley, and is entirely operated by the Hood family. We are lucky to have a large family that enjoys helping out with all the chores and tasks involved in keeping the farm running. Last weekend when we harvested our first crop of organic rhubarb, everyone got involved–and a good thing too, because the haul was so large it would have taken forever without all that help! We are proud of our children’s diligence and cheerful helping hands, for they are growing up with strength of character and fortitude that will make them into wonderful adults.
Keisha and Rosy with one of our Icelandic horses
All of our children love animals, and we have taught them to be be respectful of all life and this great planet we live on. Growing up on a farm is a wonderful experience for them, and they learn so much each day about responsible, sustainable ways of living that are good for the earth and all its creatures. We have a great variety of animals on our farm, from horses and goats to chickens, ducks, geese, and even turkeys. The kids love interacting with all these different animals and are eager to help feed and take care of them.
Corbin feeding two of our baby Nubians
For our family, running Mountain Valley View Farm is not just a job: it is a way of life, one we take great pride and pleasure in. Although planting, harvesting, and taking care of our many farm animals takes a lot of hard work and can be very demanding at times, everyone enjoys seeing the fruits of our labor when we bring in a harvest or watch the goats and horses frolic playfully in the pasture. We also know that in providing fresh, nutritious organic produce and dairy to the public, we are filling an important role in our community and helping others enjoy a healthy lifestyle. We love getting to know the people who purchase from and support our farm, so please take a moment to stop by and see us at one of the local farmers’ markets–we’d love to meet you and tell you more about our family and farm!
You can find us at the following area farmers’ markets:
Spokane Public Market
32 W. 2nd Ave
Spokane, WA 99210
10 a.m. – 6 p.m. Wed – Fri
Spokane Farmers’ Market
5th Ave between Division & Brown
Spokane, WA 99210
8:45 a.m. – 1 p.m. Wed & Sat
Spokane Northside Farmers’ Market
315 E. Francis
Spokane, WA 99205
Wed 3 – 7 p.m. and Sat 9 a.m. – 1 p.m.
Liberty Lake Farmers’ Market
1421 N. Meadowood Lane
Liberty Lake, WA 99019
8:45 a.m. – 1 p.m. Sat
National Pet Dental Health Month
Did you know that February is not only National Children’s Dental Health Month but is also National Pet Dental Health Month? I was surprised to learn this as I drove past a veterinarian’s office that had this message posted on a sign in front of the building.
Having a National Pet Dental Health Month is a good reminder to focus on what keeps your pet healthy. You see, pets need to have their teeth cleaned, too. Bacteria can lead to a buildup of plaque, which in turn harms your pet’s gums and teeth. I’ve been told that scheduling teeth cleanings for your pet is highly ridiculous and very expensive. That may or may not be the case, but some people do choose professional dental health treatments for their pets. Another way to help keep your pet’s dental health in good shape is to clean their teeth at home.
A problem we have in today’s culture in the United States is the growing dental health problems in pets, which is often due to feeding a diet which is not natural for your specific breed. This contributes to gum disease and tooth decay. It has been proven that bacterial infection can adversely affect the health of humans as well as pets.
Be sure to feed your pet a healthy diet specific to your particular pet, and then make sure they have the appropriate items needed. For example, dogs have evolved from canines that were used to chewing on bones. This naturally helped clean their teeth. It is also worth it to use a soft, small toothbrush to brush your pet’s teeth from time to time. This will protect your animal’s dental health. This in turn will save you from having to pay for more expensive treatment later.
The American Veterinary Medical Association encourages us to celebrate National Pet Dental Health Month by checking with your local veterinarian for the best methods of keeping your pet’s mouth, teeth, and gums healthy.
Our Dogs’ Health News: I am worried about one of my beloved pet dogs, Dromi, who is a 14-year-old male Icelandic sheepdog. Dromi was actually my daughter’s dog, but we inherited him when she went away to college and was unable take him with her. He was imported from Iceland and has a wonderful character. He has been a terrific dog, but his health is failing. His eyes are still bright and alert, but he is definitely getting worse. He has tumors that are spreading all over his body, and I’m afraid that he doesn’t have too much time left. Losing a much-loved pet is always difficult. He has had a great life so far, and yes, he chewed on lots of bones to keep his teeth clean!
National Children’s Dental Health Month
Greetings to all my family and friends and those who simply like to read blogs. Today is February 1, 2011, the beginning of a new month. Each month I plan my new resolutions to have a more productive and peaceful month. Today is no exception.
Today is also the beginning of National Children’s Dental Health Month. The entire month is devoted to promoting children’s dental health, which is extremely important for the overall healthy growth and development of any child. Since my husband is a dentist and devoted to helping children, he wants to make sure that everyone takes the time to call their family dentist and make an appointment for their children. Remember, if you haven’t made an appointment for them since school started, now is the time. Be sure and ask your dentist about the latest protocol in giving children x-rays, fluoride, and any type of dental treatment. To make sure your visit to the dentist is pleasant, avoid using any negative words when taking your child to the dentist. As a resource to help parents with this, I developed an activity and coloring book, Adventures of My Dentist and the Tooth Fairy, which introduces children to the fundamentals of healthy teeth and mouth: fluoride, toothpaste, and brushing.
If you need any more information, please visit my husband’s dental blogs: Dr. James G. Hood’s Blog and Dental Care Associates of Spokane Valley Blog. He is constantly adding information that is helpful about the dental industry.
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On February 8, 1949, the American Dental Association (ADA) held the first national observance of Children’s Dental Health Day. This was only a one-day observance. In 1955 the observance was lengthened to a week-long event. Then in 1981, the program was extended to a month-long celebration known today as National Children’s Dental Health Month. February was the month chosen to raise awareness about the importance of oral health. Through the efforts of the American Dental Association, National Children’s Dental Health Month messages and materials have reached millions of people in communities across the country.
To continue this education, the ADA has free online coloring and activity sheets that can help you as a parent teach your child about good dental health in a fun, entertaining manner. Click here to access these coloring and activity sheets.
Heading Home from The Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators Conference
It is Monday morning and I am in New York City getting ready to go to the airport and return to Spokane, Washington. I just attended The Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators (SCBWI) Winter Conference that was held in New York City at the Grand Hyatt Central Hotel. The conference attracted visitors from all over the world. This was my first time at this particular conference, and it was very worthwhile. I had never attended any children’s book writers conferences before, as I had been enrolling in writers conferences for books for adults. They are two totally different markets, and as an author and writer, it is important to keep up with the trends and what is going on in each market.
I met a lot of wonderful writers as well as the teachers and speakers at the seminars. They talked about what is going on in the world of illustration, picture books, chapter books, middle grade books, and of course the ever-popular and growing teenage and young adult market. The expansion of the market of these books was also discussed, with everyone trying to find the next breakthrough topic.
I was inspired by the wonderful keynote speakers that they had scheduled for the conference. Author R. L. Stine, the children’s book writer of the Goosebumps series turned out to be quite a comedian. Everyone had expected him to look like a person who writes horror stories for children (whatever that would look like), but instead everyone was surprised by his refreshing sense of humor and his inspiring thoughts for children’s book writers. His message to all writers was to only think “yes.” By saying “yes” writers are exposed to many different possibilities in the writing industry. For example, he worked as an promotional writer for the bottling industry in the United States, which was something he never set out to do. This job led him to other writing jobs. His goal was to become a comic writer and to have his own magazine, but he had to go through different hoops and jobs to get there. He never thought he’d be an author of horror fiction for children, and yet that is what he ended up doing. R.L. Stine has sold over 450 million children’s books, and they are currently becoming more popular on the international scene. “You never know what life has in store for budding authors” was his message. That will now be my plan … that is to say “yes” to all writing possibilities out there, including contests that I find.
Well, it is time to zip my bags and head downstairs to the taxi. The taxi will take me to LaGuardia Airport. From there I fly to Denver. After a short layover in Denver, I will board a plane to Spokane, returning to the wonderful Northwest, the land I appreciate so much.
It is unfortunate that New York City is going through such difficult times. When I was there they were arguing over budget cuts and were talking about laying off 15,000 teachers! That put people up in arms, as they didn’t think that’s where the cuts should be. The cold snap had caused problems with garbage pickup. They had gotten the streets plowed but the garbage was still stacked up on sidewalks. I heard that people were complaining about garbage on some sidewalks, but I must say I was pretty shocked to see it when I was visiting there. New York City is wonderful for the busy, exciting life, but it’s definitely going through some stressful times now as they try to figure out how to run the city with a small budget. But of course those problems are being dealt with in other cities of the country. It’s just that in New York City budget cuts are on a much larger scale.
I compliment all of the people of New York, but I must admit I’m a Northwest country girl, born and raised in Montana and currently living in Washington State. I enjoyed my time and the education I received at the writers conference in New York City, but I’m very glad to return home. You’ll be seeing more news about my children’s writing and children’s book releases in the near future. Thanks again, and please comment and join in on my blogs. Hope to hear from you soon.
Thank you.
Karen Jean Matsko Hood
The Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators Conference
Good morning. Today is January 18, 2011, and I am busy planning for the Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators conference. This conference takes place in New York City later this month, which I will be attending.
The Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators (SCBWI) was founded 1971 by a group of Los Angeles-based children’s writers. It is an international organization based in Los Angeles, California, representing professionals in the field of children’s literature. It is the world’s largest children’s writing organization and the only international organization for people who write, illustrate, or have a professional interest in children’s literature. There are currently more than 22,000 members worldwide, in over 70 regional chapters, writing and illustrating in all genres for young readers from board books to young adult (YA) novels. The SCBWI facilitates communication between writers, illustrators, editors, publishers, agents, librarians, educators, booksellers, and others involved in the field.
Membership in this society provides many benefits for writers, including information and support, access to awards and grants, networking, local workshops and get-togethers, inside publications, online resources, manuscript and illustration exchange, member discounts, and more.
The SCBWI sponsors two annual conferences, on the west and east coasts of the United States, usually in Los Angeles and New York City, as well as many regional conferences and events throughout the world. It publishes a bi-monthly newsletter, has an interactive website, and gives out a number of awards and grants. Among these are the annual Golden Kite Award for the best fiction and nonfiction books and the Sid Fleischman Humor Award.
At this year’s winter conference there will be a panel discussion on Creating and Recreating the Picture Book: Three Views. There are also three workshops about What Makes Your Work Publishable: Today’s Market in Children’s Books.
I am looking forward to all the other authors I will meet at this conference, as well as all I will learn from the speakers and workshops.
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