The Ben Wheeler Libary

Well, today I've been preparing for the Ben Wheeler Library contest. The contest happens to be tomorrow!!We actually volunteer at this library, stocking shelves and manning the desk. Also the books are free & you can keep them forever! So far I've read one hundred and five books!!   

The library is open two to five on Thursdays & ten to two on Saturdays.

 

The top four books someone going into 4th grade should read this summer - by a fourth grader

 

Hi! I'm Andrew, a nine year old boy here to tell you what books I think all fourth graders should read!

1. Let's start with The Mysterious Benedict Society, by Trenton Lee Stewart.

It's a series! TMBS is the first one.

Why you'll like this book:

It's filled with action, adventure, and fun. The book focuses on four kids; Kate, Reynie, Sticky, and Constance, who help a man named Mr. Benedict investigate a secret school ran by the terrible...MR. CURTAIN. Mr. Curtain is trying to hypnotize everyone into thinking nothing is happening while the U.S is in its darkest hour. Why is it in its darkest hour? Read the book!

 

2. The next book is Adventures of Tom Sawyer, by Mark Twain.

 

 

This is a can't-put-down- book like the one above.

Also this is one of my favorite books because it is classic and yet also exciting.

It is about a boy named Tom Sawyer who has all kinds of amazing adventures. He runs away to an island where he and his friends become pirates,  attends his own funeral, solves a murder, and is trapped in a cave!

 

3. The A to Z Mystery series by Ron Roy

The books are about two boys named Dink and Josh, and a girl named Ruth Rose. They solve mysteries in cool places and their mysteries could actually happen in real life!

4.
Charlotte's Web
Why you'll like this book:
This is an adventure packed book about  Charlotte, a spider & Wilber a pig.

They become friends and Charlotte helps Wilber live when he is doomed for bacon!! It has funny characters, and it will make you laugh and cry.

How to make roasted chicken

 Today my wonderful mother let my brother, sister, and I help prepare some amazing roasted chicken! Yum! 

Lemon, Garlic & Rosemary Roasted Chicken

Ingredients

·            5 lb whole chicken, washed & dried

·            2 Tablespoons olive oil

·            ½ cup butter, softened

·            2 large springs fresh rosemary, diced finely

·            4 garlic cloves, minced

·            zest of 4 lemons

·            salt & pepper

·            Fresh lemon juice (2 to three lemons )

·            Cavity stuffing (sliced lemons, sliced onions, spring of rosemary)

Instructions

1.     Preheat oven to 425.

2.     Add butter to a medium sized bowl.

3.     Add in olive oil, rosemary, garlic, and lemon zest.

4.     Stir to combine. Set aside.

5.     Generously season chicken with salt and pepper, including inside of the cavity.

6.     Brush butter mixture onto the chicken generously covering up all of the chicken.

7.     Squeeze the juice of 2 lemons all over the chicken.

8.     Stuff the chicken with lemon slices, rosemary and onions. ( we use garlic)

9.     Tie together the legs if desired.

10.  Place chicken in roasting pan.

11.  Cook for 45 minutes and then baste.

12.  Return to oven and cook for another 15 minutes or until golden. Lightly
 tent with foil if chicken is browning too quickly.

13.  Let chicken cool for 15 minute before carving.

How to prepare a Strawberry Spinach Salad!

ONE day I went to a clover kid meeting. Clover Kids is a group of younger 4-H'ers ages 5-7. Since I'm 8, I'm not a Clover Kid anymore, but I was asked to give a speech/demonstration to the Clover Kids.
   My speech was on the Food Show. I taught about what you do and say in the Food Show. At the Food Show, you don't give a demo on your dish but  I decided to tell the kids how to make my salad because I thought it would be fun for them to see it.Well lets get to it, you probably want the recipe and you want to know what it is called so I've listed it below.

Start with the toasted almonds. Just melt down a tablespoon of butter, add the sliced almonds and sugar, and cook over medium-high heat until they have lightly browned, about 4-5 minutes. They'll start smelling really good when they're done; that's how you can know when to take them off the heat.

    Once you've got the almonds done, go ahead and start the chicken on the grill. While the chicken is cooking, prepare the dressing. Minced onion, apple cider vinegar, white wine vinegar, sesame seeds, paprika, sugar, and olive oil!We like to use purple onion. After you've got the dressing mixed up, slice the strawberries and set aside. Slice up the chicken and get a nice little assembly line ready.

   For each salad, just plate up some spinach, strawberries, almonds, chicken, and feta cheese. Drizzle it all with as much dressing as you like, and dig in!

Strawberry Spinach Salad with Chicken

Servings/Yield

4 entree servings, 8 side dish servings

• For the almonds
• 1 tablespoon butter
• ¾ cup sliced almonds
• 1 tablespoon sugar
• For the salad
• 1 bag baby spinach leaves
• 1 quart strawberries
• 4-oz. crumbled feta cheese
• 1 lb. boneless skinless chicken breasts
• salt & pepper
• For the dressing
• ¼ cup finely minced sweet onion
• 3 tablespoons apple cider vinegar
• 3 tablespoons white wine vinegar
• 2 tablespoons sesame seeds
• pinch paprika
• 2 tablespoons sugar
• ½ cup extra virgin olive oil

Method

For the almonds, melt the butter in a small skillet over medium-high heat. Add the almonds and sugar, and cook, stirring occasionally until toasted and fragrant, about 5 minutes. Set aside to cool. For dressing, combine all ingredients in a jar or sealed container; shake vigorously to combine. To prepare the salads, grill the chicken. Season chicken breast with salt and pepper and grill over medium-high heat until done. (Alternately, you could cook on an indoor griddle or on the stove.) Wash strawberries and cut into thin slices. To assemble, place baby spinach leaves on plate. Top with grilled chicken pieces, sliced strawberries, toasted almonds, and crumbled feta cheese. Drizzle with dressing, and serve!

Who wrote 'It is Well With My Soul'?

 As part of our homeschool, we have been learning about famous hymns and their writers. In 1860 , Horatio G. Spafford, his wife, Anna ,  son, & daughters were living in a Chicago suburb. He was a rich lawyer. His faith was tested by God when his 4 year old his son died of scarlet fever. Still  he had faith . During   the  Great Chicago Fire all of the houses he had invested in burnt down .  Still he had faith in God.  Horatio, Anna & his 4 girls were going to Europe to relieve their stress. Before they could leave, Horatio had some late business to attend to, so he sent his wife and children there alone. As they set sail a iron boat hit the boat they were in. Anna struggled to hold on. She grasped part of the boat, and  she was finally rescued. the rescue ship took her to Carbon, Wales. There she sent  her husband six  simple words : "Saved alone .. What shall  I do?" Horatio came immediately. As his ship passed the spot where his daughters died, he sadly penned the words to 'It is Well With My Soul'. He knew that, even though he was sad, all his children were Christians and he would see them again in Heaven someday. He and his wife started a ministry in Jerusalem. They eventually had 3 more kids. The video above will tell you a little more, and then you can hear the song.

It's great to be 8 !!!

I turned 8 a few days ago. I had a great birthday.  For my birthday  we went to a place called The Villages. It was an indoor waterpark. You  get a big tube that can seat one or two people. It's called an inner tube. They have two big slides that go all around the building and you ride tubes through. They also have a lazy river and wave pool. A wave pool has waves that rush over you. They had a bunch of smaller body slides (that means you lay down and water carries you through them), and this big bucket. When it is filled with water it dumps and soaks you!

                                           

I got a lot of nice presents from my family and friends. My brother got me a police playset. My mom and dad got me some books, a tow truck, and sticker books. My sister got me gummy worms and and Magic Treehouse books!! My birthday was really fun.  Here are some pictures:

My birthday cake!