Blog
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Mourner, the Mourning Dove
We have the tendency to overlook animals that we see often, and that includes Mourning Doves. I’ve heard people confuse them for Pigeons, and that’s okay! Let’s get a few things right about them. Thornton W. Burgess actually clears up some things about Mourner in Chapter 34 of The Burgess Bird Book for Children. Peter…
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Penderwicks Book Club
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May-mester Sewing Classes
I’m excited to announce my next round of classes for kids in the Northwest Suburbs of Chicago! Sewing is something that I started when I was quite young. I want to inspire a new generation of sewists and quilters to experience the beautiful things that they can make and the joy that comes along with…
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Chicoree, the American Goldfinch
American Goldfinches are a great bird to try and attract to your backyard bird feeder. They love seeds, especially nyjer and sunflower seeds, which makes it easy for them to be year-round in many places around the United States. One thing that Peter Rabbit picks up on in The Burgess Bird Book for Children are…
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Linnet, the Purple Finch
The name Linnet and why Burgess would choose it, caused me to pause and think this morning. Amazingly in my research, I discovered that it comes from Welsh, French origin and means “songbird.” I am always encouraged by Thornton W. Burgess’ thoroughness when delivering natural history to children. To think about how much thought and…
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Indigo, the Indigo Bunting
Why are Indigo Buntings blue? Do you have any idea? If a bird is blue it’s because it doesn’t have blue pigment. Isn’t it so interesting how that works? As Cornell Lab tells us, Their jewel-like color comes instead from microscopic structures in their feathers that refract and reflect blue light, much like the airborne…
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I’m Sew Glad We’re Friends
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Scrappy Heart Card
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Chewink, the Eastern Towhee
We find Peter Rabbit having to make a brave choice as he sees Chewink, the Eastern Towhee for the first time in The Burgess Book for Children, by Thornton W. Burgess. As he is observing Chewink scratch along the ground for food, he sees Reddy Fox preparing to capture Chewink. Peter doesn’t want to be…