The Electric Radish and Other Jokes

Selected by Susan Thorndike and illustrated by Ray Cruz

Copyright 1973

What is red, has a tail, and hums?

An electric radish, of course.

Here is my very first book of jokes.  Apparently my sense of humor hasn’t developed much, because these jokes still make me laugh.

How does a hippopotamus get down from a tree?

He sits on a leaf and waits for the fall.

What is the best way to catch a squirrel?

Sit in a tree and act like a nut.

It’s still the short, simple jokes that I like the most.  Here’s one of my favorites not found in this book:

What do you call a straight boomerang?  

A stick.

And how about this one:

Why did Tigger have his head in the toilet?  

He was looking for Pooh.

Have a great week, and make sure you take time to laugh!

The Black Stallion

By Walter Farley

Copyright 1941

A lot of girls spent their childhoods dreaming of owning their own horse, but I was never one of them.  That’s probably why I somehow missed reading the classic horse books and have never been interested in horse-themed movies.  However, when I saw this book at the local Goodwill store, I couldn’t pass it up.  I was pleasantly surprised at this story. 

   

Farley tells story of a teen age boy who is shipwrecked on an island with a wild horse that was also on board.  As the only two survivors, Alec and Black come to depend on each other.  Alec’s patience and kindness give him the ability to build a trusting relationship with the powerful horse.  After getting rescued, Alec brings Black home with him to New York.  A neighbor, who is a former racehorse trainer, sees the incredible strength and power in Black, and along with Alec, attempt to harness his energy in order to race.

This is an exciting, descriptive story of adventure that shows a loving relationship between a boy and a horse. More than that, though, this is a story of respect and trust in any relationship. Black was a wild, uncontrollable, potentially violent horse.  It is only with Alec’s understanding of this, along with extreme patience and kindness, that Black is able to trust only him.  

This story reminds me to accept the innate traits that each person possesses.  To try to reign in someone’s personality to fit what we think they should be is futile.  Understanding, patience, kindness.  Next time I come across a person who exasperates me, I’ll have to try to remember those words!

A Tiny Family

Story and pictures by Norman Bridwell

1969

 

Here is another of my favorite childhood books, perhaps giving an explanation of my current fascination with the world of miniatures and fairy gardens.  A tiny family lives peacefully in a garden, with flower pots and a watering can for their home.  The girl plays leapfrog with an actual frog and her little brother plays on a teaspoon slide with a comb for a ladder.  The laundry is washed in an old broken teacup. One day, the children see a giant girl with her dog.  The dog unfortunately has Grandpa’s umbrella stuck in its paw.  The children embark on a dangerous expedition to retrieve the umbrella from the giant’s house.  Fortunately, though the tiny children were discovered, the giant girl turned out to be friendly, and brought them back home to their garden.  

 

This summer, I have a special place for an imaginary tiny family in my backyard.  It is complete with gardening tools, a campfire for cooking, and a little table and chairs in the shade of the tall plants.   

Will I ever grow up?

Lives of the Saints

With twelve years of Catholic schooling behind me, I’ve perused many Lives of the Saints books.  Each year in school, I would have to write a report on a Saint who I could somehow relate to.  I clearly remember having trouble finding a relatable saint.  To me, these were scary, brutal books telling either of horrible mutilations and murders or of young virgins who spent their entire lives alone and suffering in a convent.  These stories were meant to be inspiring, but to me they weren’t.  If that was what being a saint was all about, I wanted nothing to do with it!

 

Now, so many years later, I have an idea of what sainthood is really about.  

I will miss my brother Nick forever, but I will always carry with me his example of how to live.  Humility, generosity, an easy smile and laugh, a gentle soul.  He followed his heart, regardless of what the world expected of him.  And by following his heart, he touched so many lives.  If all who knew him could carry with us just a part of his spirit, this world will be a better place.  For inspiration of how to live, I don’t need to look in a book.  I only need to look to my memories of my brother.  

Professional Guide’s Manual – Volume I and II

Written for North Star Guide Association

By George Leonard Herter and Jacques P. Herter

Copyright 1962

 

I picked these two books up at a local thrift store not too long ago.  They caught my eye because at a quick glance through one of the books, I noticed a fishing map that includes Northwest Wisconsin, an area where, through the years, we have spent many summer vacations.  I just picked them up to take a better look this week and have decided to share a few important bits of information I’ve learned from them.

1)  If you want to keep deer away from a camp or resort, just get a sack of lion manure to scatter around.  The deer will not go near it.

2)  Pond scum soup is a delicious, healthy meal.  If your ponds are frozen over, just chop some pond scum out of the ice and melt it over a fire.

3) Your car radiator usually collects a nice assortment of insects that can be used for bait.

4) Mayonnaise is better than butter for winter camping because it is high in food value and spreads more easily.

5) Do not run over dead or alive porcupines with a car or truck.  The quills might cause a blowout.

6) Never pull a string hanging over a bar in Alaska.  If you do so, you will have to pay for drinks on the house.

I hope you will find this information as helpful as I have!  Now, it’s time to go outside and look for some pond scum.  Care to come over for dinner?