The Sewing Mom

I just returned from what I call a “mini” vacation. I spent 5 days (including travel days) in Paducah at the National Quilt Show and visiting my sisters and mom. We had the trip planned for months, paid for our hotel and airfare in advance, and had to budget for meals and all of our fabric purchases. Let me tell you, even a “mini” vacation can be expensive, so, the thought of a FREE full size vacation is extremely appealing! Yes, you read correctly, a FREE vacation!

Kissimmee, Florida is having a vacation giveaway and the prizes include three (3) weekend getaways (3 days/2 nights) for two (2); and two (2) week long vacations for four (4). Besides winning a free trip, there are also free things to do while visiting Kissimmee, including car shows in Old Town, and the car show includes live entertainment. While in Kissimmee, why not visit the historic Courthouse, the oldest courthouse in continuous use in the State of Florida or visit the Kissimmee Sculpture Experience. Personally, I’d love to go bird watching at any one of these parks: Lake Lizzie Nature Preserve, the Osceola County Environmental Center, and in the Wildlife Management Areas of Bull Creek, Prairie Lakes, Three Lakes, and Triple N Ranch—all Great Florida Birding Trail sites. Birds that can be seen could be anything from Whooping Cranes to Bald Eagles, all beautiful and awe inspiring.

I’m definitely entering to win, and there is a drawing on or around 5/1/09 and 6/1/09 and you might want to enter the Kissimmee sweepstakes yourself.

As a member of Parent Reviewers, I was recently given the opportunity to read a very special book, The Mighty Queens of Freeville and this is my review of the book.

When I was first asked if I would read and then write a review of The Mighty Queens of Freeville, I was under the impression that it was a fictional novel. To my surprise, the book is not a novel, but the memoir of Amy Dickinson, the syndicated advice columnist and contributor to NPR. So, it was with a bit of trepidation that I opened up the cover of the book and began to read the experiences of Amy Dickinson, both as a child and as an adult woman.

Amy’s story as a child, growing up on a small farm, is one that many of us can relate to. Amy’s skill at writing makes it enjoyable to read and drew me in making me feel that I was right there, experiencing it right alongside Amy. Her childhood experiences in a small town in upstate New York built Amy’s character and shaped who she is as an adult and, more importantly, as a mother. You see, Amy is divorced and has been raising her daughter on her own, following in the footsteps of her own mother and aunts, something of a family tradition.

Amy shares her experiences as a child, adult, wife, single mother, daughter, niece, and friend, and does it in such a witty way that she draws the reader right into the stories she’s telling. Amy’s stories are touching, tearful, joyous and sometimes, downright humorous. I haven’t had so much fun reading a book in a very long time and I highly recommend anyone who enjoys reading, to pick up a copy of The Mighty Queens of Freeville for themselves.

• Hardcover: 240 pages
• Publisher: Hyperion (February 3, 2009)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1401322859
• ISBN-13: 978-1401322854