Elf

I am sure many of you have heard of Elf on the Shelf.
I vaguely remember hearing about it many years ago...
but it had never really caught my interest ....until now!!! 
The jist is that the elf reports to Santa every night on the
activities of the children that live in the household. 
These reports allow Santa to determine if the child/children
should be on the "naughty" or "nice" list.  Every morning
when the children wake up they are suppose to scramble
around looking for where their elf has relocated himself/herself
within the household....that is the really fun part.  There are so
many wonderfully creative people out there who have posted
pictures of their house elves (so Harry Potter ish....)  getting
into all kinds of fun predicaments.  My children are in their
20's now....so there really isn't any real discussion about what
list they will be on...."NAUGHTY"...and of course their is
no mad scramble in the morning to find the elves.  One
morning I asked one of my sons (yes, they still live at home)
to look in the frig....as I had set the elves up in there...he did...
but he was looking forward to a favorite food...and was
disappointed to find the elves...although I did get a smirk out
of it!    It is just odd that I have picked now of all times to
begin this tradition.  My reasoning is that I wanted to hand
off to them something that is fun, creative, and that they might
enjoy doing with their children one day.  So I adopted not one,
but two elves....named Tully and Declan O'Brien (very Irish.
and intentional...).  I forgot to mention that you register your
elves and their names on line.  You can even print out a certificate
of adoption and a letter from Santa too....FUN!  As you can see

from my pictures I am having WAY to much fun with this. 

The Secrets of Mary Bowser

     Just read The Secrets of Mary Bowser.  What a great book!  I had picked up the book from Target (they have a pretty good selections in their book club) and once I read the inside cover I was hooked. 

 The book begins and ends in Richmond, Virginia; which is where I am from.....anytime a book is placed in an area I am familiar with I've got to read it as I can easily visualize all the writer is describing and then some.  The book is about a slave who is freed in Richmond, educated in Philadelphia, then returns to Richmond to spy (eventually) for the Union during the Civil War.  Lois Leveen (see picture above) is an incredible writer. 

  My only regret is that I am not in Richmond now - as I would love to visit many of the wonderful buildings still standing; such as St. John's Church, and the Confederate White House (now, I believe it is called the Museum of the Confederacy).  The real bonus to this story is that it is based on some true accounts.  I love a little fiction with my history; especially because we all know that women, and especially women of color are almost missing from American History.  This would make a great read for a book club (if you're not in one - make one, if only for this book!)....then go on a field trip to some of those old stomping grounds mentioned in the book.  If you go....let me know if any mention of Bet Van Lew or Mary Bowser is found anywhere.  Oh, and please post pictures as well!