2013 Summer Movies: #17 Gifted Hands the Ben Carson story

Cuba Gooding Jr. stars as Ben Carson, the world renowned neurosurgeon, in this biopic from 2009. The film is not rated but would probably warrant a PG for for violence and some language.  Ben Carson worked on controlling his temper and with his religious convictions overcame his outbursts.  With the support of his mother he overcame his beliefs that he was dumb.  He went on to Johns Hopkins and became one the most famous brain surgeons of our time.  

In the film his mother eventually realized the hold and constraints that the  tv viewing had on her boys.  She limited the tv that he and his brother could watch to two tv programs a week.  When they asked what they would do with the rest of their time she told them she wanted them to read two books a week and  to give a report on each book.  

Carson went on to study music and art in addition to reading numerous books. I though this was an excellent example of how to balance reading and tv to some extent.  One of the shows they watched both before and after the tv restrictions was a quiz game show.  At first they didn't know the answers back when they watched tv everyday.  They started handily answering the questions during the nights that they did watch the quiz show after the switch to more reading time.   Thank you to one of my aunts for suggesting this wonderful movie!  

Author #116: Bil Lepp and the needfulness of little things

The King of Little Things written by Bil Lepp and illustrated by David T. Wenzel.  Published 2013 by Peachtree Atlanta.  What happens when King Normous wants to rule all the world including the King of Little Things?  Read and find out!

Clever illustrations with a wonderful storyline made this a stand out book for how much we rely on little things both alive and inanimate. 

And how wonderful it is to know that there's a God who is aware of each of us and each of us is important to Him just as little things were important to the good king in the story.

Author #115: About CVD with Julie Anderson

As I grew up we called it color blindness but now the more accurate term is CVD-Color Vision Deficiency.  And, just as it was then, there are varying degrees.  A college roommate had a boyfriend who only saw shades of gray  (monochromacy).  I really liked how this book, Erik the Red Sees Green by Julie Anderson and illustrated by David Lopez (published in 2013), describes one form of CVD and how to help.    Here's an example from the book of what Erik sees:

 

You can find more information on the web and specifically at:http://www.colourblindawareness.org/ 

Sunday Randomness #219 Angel Wings

Who are the Angels in your life?

Have you thanked any of them recently?

Author #114: Maryann Cocca-Leffler teaches us with truth and tact

One of the best books we've read on tact.  Princess Kim and too much truth  published in 2011  by Maryann Cocca-Leffler.  After having a lesson in honesty, Kim resolves to always tell the truth with some unkind consequences.  Her teacher shares with her that "Telling the truth doesn't mean you say everything you're thinking."  Kim also learns ways to tell the truth without hurting other people's feelings like finding one little thing that she likes.

Slow Cooker Baked Beans for winter time warmth

 Top picture with some of the ingredients including molasses, kidney beans, pork and beans and butter beans (also sometimes known as lima beans)

Bottom picture of the finished dish topped with cooked bacon.

Baked Beans p. 34 in the VV5th cookbook from 2008
1 lb. ground beef, browned
1 small onion, chopped and sauteed
2/3 c. brown sugar
1/4 c. molasses
1/2 c. catsup
2 T. mustard
1/2 c. BBQ sauce
1/4 tsp. chili powder
1 (16-oz.) can kidney beans
1 (16-oz.) can lima beans
1 (16-oz.) can pork and beans
3 slices bacon, browned and crumbled

Combine all ingredients except bacon in a slow cooker.  Cook on low for 5-6 hours.  Top with bacon.

(Cook's note:  Lima beans and butter beans have a mixed definition- some people say they are the same others that they are different.  I could only find butter beans so that's what I used and we liked them in the dish.  Also, the cans of beans are now 15-oz instead of 16-oz.) 

Author #113: Trees in Israel with Sue Alexander

Text by Sue Alexander with illustrations by Leonid Gore, Behold the Trees chronicles the history of trees in Israel and the Holy Land from thousands of years ago to the present.  Written in 2001, the book tells of the changes in the trees through the years.  With the creation of the independent state of Israel in 1948, the return of trees has greatly increased.  The book also tells of some of the benefits of trees.

I've written about the value of trees before with a post about Wangari Maathai of Africa that can be found here: http://cookingandorscience.blogspot.com/2013/05/authors-107-109-plant-trees-of-wangari.html

Leonid Gore has illustrated many books with his beautiful artwork.  See more at http://www.leonidgore.com/