Each week we can meet here to talk about a topic related to reading, baking and cooking with spices or dipping oils. I am very enthusiastic about baking and cooking, but you will find that I am also determined that children should all have books to read, and many do not. We will also talk about that!
Looking at Sharing: What do I see?
First, let me introduce myself. You can read my biography on the author page and that tells you about my education and my professional accomplishments, but I want to tell you why I started Rolling Pin Production. We can look from a more personal lens to learn more about each other.
Sharing with others
“Bake the world a better place.” – Unknown
Like many of you, I care about others and think it is important to give back. I love sharing with family and neighbors. In fact, in my family growing up we learned to always share what we had with others. During the holidays we made cookie trays or bread to deliver to neighbors and special friends each year. It was so much fun to plan this each year. We spent weeks baking and organizing the cookie trays that were delivered. And who would deliver them? Of course, as we were old enough, the children. What a terrific way to get to know neighbors! I have continued this practice in my adult life and with my own children. Each neighborhood we have lived in we have baked and shared. We have had the pleasure of meeting wonderful new friends in these neighborhoods. What about you? Do you bake or cook and share with friends or neighbors? Is this a practice of the past? If you do, what do you share? Tell me your stories about food and friends!
Gardening is growing blessings!
“I like gardening – it’s a place where I find myself when I need to lose myself. Alice Sebold
I also love to garden. Gardening is like being in the kitchen. All the scents in the garden are akin to those we encounter in the kitchen. Herbs like basil, rosemary, mint, thyme, cilantro and so many more. We grow tomatoes, peppers, lettuce, cucumbers, zucchini, yellow squash, onions, all those herbs I mentioned and more. It is so relaxing to work in the garden, enjoy the bounty of the harvest which enhance our cooking. I can have a garden all year; and like my cooking and baking, share the wealth of the garden with friends and neighbors. What a pleasure to share these blessings with others.
What is growing in your garden? Do you have an herb garden in the windowsill or a garden box in the backyard that you started? You do not have to have a big garden to enjoy using herbs or a few items in your garden. If you have not started a garden and have thought, you might want to then read future blogs. However, If you are a teacher or a volunteer at a school check out my Tips for starting a School Garden Blog!
Music brings a room alive!
“Where words fail, music speaks.”
Along with baking, cooking, and gardening, music brings me great joy. Not just one type, but all kinds of music from classical, rock, country, and my favorite is jazz. I would much rather listen to music than watch TV. In fact, we have a small music room in our house with two pianos, two drum sets and a few smaller instruments for visitors. Perhaps, we will meet up sometime to listen to some great tunes. We love listening to live music and dancing any chance we get.
Reading Paradise
“Books give a soul to the universe, wings to the mind, flight to the imagination and life to everything.” Plato
Reading is like an escape to paradise. The worlds we explore among the pages of a book expand our thinking. I cannot imagine a lifetime without books. They take us on a new journey and open our minds to new possibilities. Books are a gateway to learning and new skills. Reading makes me smile, it relaxes me, and it helps me learn! I want all children to enjoy the benefits of reading.
Through my years of education, teaching, curriculum development, writing, research, entrepreneurship, management, motherhood and learning life skills, it has become more than clear to me that our future lies in our children. We must prepare them for the challenges they will face. Reading literacy must begin at an early stage so they are not the child who enter kindergarten already behind, or the fourth grader who is not reading at grade level. These are the children that must come to love reading and believe that books will sharpen their minds, help with self-discovery, improve language skills, build focus and concentration, improve writing skills, among other benefits. You may not be a veracious reader, but you can recognize the need to support future generations of readers to build a literate world. At Rolling Pin Production, we intend to do a small part by creating Rolling Pin Reading Rooms in underserved areas where children may not have easy access to books or reading materials. Please consider a donation to a Reading Room with a book or funds to help create a Reading Room. You can find more information in the Reading Room section of our website.
Family Treasures
“The Family is one of nature’s masterpieces.”
By now you are getting to know me better. I have shared my passion for sharing with others, gardening, and music. Now I want to talk about the most important part of my life, my family. Family unites us all. This is where I learned to share, to cook and bake and read with my brothers and sisters. I had a wonderful childhood and treasure my relationships with my siblings. We are remarkably close and though my parents have passed, we stay connected and see each other as often as possible. My children are gifts and though they are now adults, time with them is precious and treasured.
Family is also where I learned important life skills. Sharing, caring, resilience, empathy, problem solving, decision-making, coping, and many more. What important life skills did you learn from your family as a child? What basic life skills do we expect children to have today? Are we teaching them these skills at home? It must be done to ensure successful families, and communities.
Now you have the answer!
Now you understand why I created Rolling Pin Production. My life’s work has prepared me to write and share these products and resources with you and others. Children can access books with underlying life lessons and have fun reading. Teachers and parents will be able to download free resources for the classroom and home. And while the kids are having fun reading, parents can cook and bake and enjoy the seasonings and rubs I have created to enhance your meals. As a special treat, I have also created dipping oils for your homemade breads! Delicious!! And when you are done eating you can think about contributing to a Rolling Pin Reading Room to help children in underserved areas have access to books and reading.
Thanks for reading and visiting today. I look forward to our next visit. We will be talking more about topics surrounding reading literacy, cooking and spices, dipping oil tips and much more!! I have some baking to do, the kitchen is calling!
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