Reindeer Fun and William Blake

Join in on some reindeer fun by getting a jump start on holiday planning. 

http://www.thetomkatstudio.com/free-printables-reindeer-food-tags/

Here’s what you need:

• Baggies
• Oats
• Sprinkles
• Glitter
• …and anything else you might want to add!

TIE WITH RIBBON AND OUR FREE PRINTABLE LABELS! follow the link above for 
printable labels.

peanut butter cookies decorated with chocolate covered pretzels
and M & M's



peanut butter and jelly reindeer sandwiches 

great link below on ideas to host a  reindeer party with making gingerbread houses
http://andeverythingsweet.blogspot.com/2011/12/reindeer-party.html
Reindeer Root Beer

or could switch the idea up for the grown-ups with an assortment of craft beers.
Last but not least there is always the pinterest site-just type in reindeer ideas 

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William Blake ( November 28, 1757 – August 12, 1827) was an English painter, poet and printmaker.  Largely unrecognized during his lifetime, Blake is now considered a significant figure in the history of the poetry and visual arts of the Romantic Age. He is held in high regard for his expressiveness and creativity. Reverent of the Bible but hostile to the Church of England, he was influenced by the ideals and ambitions of the French and American Revolution.

A Visit to William Blake's Inn: Poems for Innocent and Experienced Travelers is a children's picture book written by Nancy Willard and illustrated by Alice and Martin Provensen. 

The title alludes to Willard's inspiration by 'William Blake's Songs of Innocence and Songs of Experience.'

The book was published by in 1981. In 1982 Willard won the Newberry Medal. The Provensens were one runner-up for the Caldecott Medal from the professional children's librarians the same year. William Blake's Inn remains the only Newbery-winning book that is also a "Caldecott Honor Book".

‘The Tyger’ is perhaps the most famous of all Blake’s lyric poems. First published in 1794 in the collection 'Songs of Experience', it has thrilled children and has had academics arguing for over 200 years as to its meaning. Whether the poem is simply a delightful lyric for children or a political allegory of the French Revolution remains a hotbed of discussion. Whatever the case, it remains an evocative piece by Blake at his most inspired.

I was quite taken with these two pages. The simplicity of the words evoke strong images for me.

 

One last word on The Grapes of Wrath.

Uproar continues...

Tonight Minnesota made the national news on the NBC Nightly News with Brian Williams. They featured a follow up segment over the controversial move of the New York Times food critic picking the grape salad as the most representative dish of the state. Apparently New York Times Facebook site had some 10, 000 negative comments.  Goes to show Minnesota is not embracing the grape salad as their own. I guess we are not always Minnesota Nice!