Title: The Wind in the Willows
Author: Kenneth Grahame
Narrator: Shelly Frasier
Format: 6 cd's
Published: 2008 by Tantor Media, originally published in 1908
Genre: classic, adventure
Obtained: library
Summary: This is a collection of stories about the adventures of the unlikely friends Mole, Rat, Badger, and Toad.
Thoughts: The author has created loveable characters and a setting that is perfect to retreating into when you are looking for a calm, quiet, contemplative, relaxing kind of book. He does a great job of transporting you to the river, meadow, and the "wild wood". This book tells of the adventures of animals (who have human traits and emotions), but focuses on simple pleasures and ordinary lives. Much of the book is about hospitality and friendship. These friends spend much time going on picnics, boating, and enjoying long talks in one anothers homes.
Toad is the character that does not have a life that is thought of as ordinary, so the little excitement in the book is the adventures of Toad. When the friends visit the "Wild Wood" this may be seen as scary to children, but also adds a little excitment to the book.
The narrator was able to speak calmly during the day to day activities of the characters, but was able to put enough energy into her reading to grab your attention when something more exciting was about to happen. She was also able to bring life to the characters by giving them distinct voices which added to their personalities.
If you are looking for an action packed book, you will not be happy with this one. This is a book to read when looking for loveable charcters and a cozy read with just a little adventure to hold your interest. It would be great to read while sipping tea or on a picnic. This book did not hold my kid's (ages 8 and 14) attention. There was simply not enough going on for them that they did not consider mundane.
Summary: This is a collection of stories about the adventures of the unlikely friends Mole, Rat, Badger, and Toad.
Thoughts: The author has created loveable characters and a setting that is perfect to retreating into when you are looking for a calm, quiet, contemplative, relaxing kind of book. He does a great job of transporting you to the river, meadow, and the "wild wood". This book tells of the adventures of animals (who have human traits and emotions), but focuses on simple pleasures and ordinary lives. Much of the book is about hospitality and friendship. These friends spend much time going on picnics, boating, and enjoying long talks in one anothers homes.
Toad is the character that does not have a life that is thought of as ordinary, so the little excitement in the book is the adventures of Toad. When the friends visit the "Wild Wood" this may be seen as scary to children, but also adds a little excitment to the book.
The narrator was able to speak calmly during the day to day activities of the characters, but was able to put enough energy into her reading to grab your attention when something more exciting was about to happen. She was also able to bring life to the characters by giving them distinct voices which added to their personalities.
If you are looking for an action packed book, you will not be happy with this one. This is a book to read when looking for loveable charcters and a cozy read with just a little adventure to hold your interest. It would be great to read while sipping tea or on a picnic. This book did not hold my kid's (ages 8 and 14) attention. There was simply not enough going on for them that they did not consider mundane.
Company: Joy's Teaspoon
Tea: Blue Beauty Oolong
Obtained: purchased
Joy's Teaspoon is located in Las Vegas, Nevada. This company gets their teas from more than a dozen sources including both growers and blenders. Joy's Teaspoon promotes fair trade and environmental protection. It is named after the owner's mother.
I purchased a Top Tea's Sampler pack for $10.49, plus shipping. The samples came in good quality tins packed in a gift box. Blue Beauty Oolong was one of the eight samples. Blue Beauty Oolong consists of Se Chung Oolong, licorice root, and ginseng. The good quality tin was easy to open. The leaves looked like gray pebbles (really cool), as can be seen in the above picture. They had a grassy scent.
I steeped one teaspoon of leaves in eight ounces of water for one minute. The website recommended steeping for 50 seconds. The liquid was a light gold with a very mild earthy scent. The taste was mild as well. The tea had an earthy taste with a background that was fresh and subtly sweet. I could not taste the licorice, but I am assuming this is where the sweetness came from.
This is a refreshing tea. If you are looking for a licorice flavored tea, this is not the one for you. If you are looking for an earthy tea with a subtle sweetness, this is the one. A bonus is that the leaves can be steeped at least four times. I didn't try more than four, but I did steep the same leaves 3 times and the flavor was the same each time.
Toad got on my nerves; he was so impulsive and reckless! But I still enjoyed it (I read it as an adult).
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