VeggieTales Review: Celery Night Fever

Stars: 5 out of 5

Pros: Great message in fun story and songs

Cons: Weak Silly Song

The Bottom Line:

These divided friends

Must come together again

But can they forgive?

Groovy Lesson in Forgiveness

Maybe it has happened before, but right now I can’t think of a time that VeggieTales covered a lesson a second time.  But that’s the case with Celery Night Fever, the latest offering from this long running series.  And with how long it has been running, I’m only surprised they haven’t circled back around to forgiveness before now since they last tackled this topic in their second video.  Anyway, this is a great new story.

We open on the countertop as Bob the Tomato and Larry the Cucumber are about to introduce the new story.  Only they are interrupted by Jerry and Jimmy Gourd who are upset because Larry ate the entire pie that the trio had made together and were supposed to share.  (And since Jerry and Jimmy and their appetite were introduced in that long ago third episode, I find it appropriate.)  Jerry and Jimmy are furious and say they will never forgive Larry, but Bob thinks he has just the story for them.

And so we roll film to hear the story of Laura Carrot who is fighting to save Celery Park from a developer.  After Junior Asparagus doesn’t follow through (again) with his part of the plan to save the park, she breaks off her friendship with him and tries to come up with a new plan on her own.

That plan involves her grandfather (Larry the Cucumber, and I don’t think I want to know how that is possible).  See, back in the day he was one of the leads in The Groovy Brothers, a disco band who got their start in Celery Park.  If Laura can reunite the band, maybe they can raise the funds to buy the note from the developer.  But why did the group break up?  Will it keep them from coming back together?  Can Laura save the park?  And what about her friendship with Junior?

The story really shows how unforgiveness can keep you apart from people you love, and I like that.  The actual forgiveness part seems to happen pretty quickly and for no real reason, but that’s a minor complaint.  Overall, the message is clear and strong without being too preachy.

Along the way, we get plenty of fun moments, most of which the adults will probably enjoy more than the kids.  There are lots of references and throwbacks to the 70’s since this is a disco themed episode.  While still not the peak of the series, I grinned several times throughout the story.  Heck, I got a huge kick out of Archibald being one of the other members of the Groovy Brothers.  Plus they brought Kalil back as well.

The music certainly adds to the fun.  There are quite a few new songs, and they are all good.  Several of them have a disco flavor, and they will get stuck in your head, so be forewarned.

Unfortunately, the new Silly Song is the weak point of the disc.  “Perfect Puppy” actually does star Larry and Bob as Larry is anxious to get a new puppy.  (I really thought it might star Achmetha who has been obsessed with puppies since Esther.)  It’s amusing, especially at the end, but it’s not one of the better ones.

One word of warning.  There is a brief interview with Terry Crew, who plays the onion developer who is trying to buy and close the park.  As he is talking about how excited he was to get the call to play the part, he takes the Lord’s name in vain.  Now if you read my blog regularly, you will see positive reviews of plenty of things with swearing in them.  However, in something aimed at Christian kids, this was a surprise and totally out of place.  But if you just avoid that special feature (and it’s easy to do), you’ll be fine.

On the whole, Celery Night Fever proves to be entertaining and it shows why we need to forgive others.  Kids will definitely enjoy it and be singing the songs before you know it.

August 8th's Book Beginnings and Friday 56

It's Friday and that means I've got a book signing tonight and an ultimate Frisbee tournament tomorrow.  Lots of fun this weekend, but it will be very, very busy.

Unfortunately, I have to get through the work day first.

But enough about that.  It's time for Book Beginnings and Friday 56.  And do I have a fun book for you this week.

The book is The Hero's Guide to Saving Your Kingdom by Christopher Healy.  Yes, it's a middle grade book, but it was a pure delight.  It's another fractured fairy tale book, this time looking at four Princes Charming and sending them on a wild adventure together.  My review will be up on Sunday in time to be included in Marvelous Middle Grade Monday.

But enough preliminaries.  Let's get to the beginning.

Prince Charming is afraid of old ladies.  Didn't know that, did you?
Don't worry.  There's a lot you don't know about Prince Charming: Prince Charming has no idea how to use a sword; Prince Charming has no patience for dwarfs; Prince Charming has an irrational hatred of capes.

And that's exactly the kind of tone you can expect from the book.  And let's hear a bit more about one of those items listed from page 56:

"Wait," Frederic said.  "This witch - Zaubera - she's pretty powerful, right?"
"She's an old lady," Gustav tossed off.  "I'm not afraid of old ladies.  Are you?"
"Ones who can pick me up and throw me, yes."

And there you have it.  If you want to learn more, come back on Sunday for my full review.

Ornament Review: A Pre-Flight Snack - Once Upon a Christmas #4 - 2014 Hallmark Ornament

Stars: 5 out of 5

Pros: Great look, fun Magic Cord elements

Cons: I wish the lights on the ornament cycled on and off all the time

The Bottom Line:

Giving Dasher food

Preparation for big trip

Music, lights, and fun

Feeding the Reindeer for Their Big Trip

I’ve been a fan of Hallmark’s Once Upon a Christmas series since it started.  In fact, it was one of the reasons I caved and started buying Magic Cord ornaments at all.  However, this year’s entry, A Pre-Flight Snack, has proved to be surprisingly popular.  In fact, my favorite Hallmark store sold out of it before premier weekend was over, including both of their displays.  Of course, it does have a very appealing look.

All the ornaments in the series feature Santa getting ready for his trip around the world delivering toys.  This year, he’s getting the reindeer ready, too.  The ornament shows him visiting Dasher in his stall in the barn feeding him so he has the energy to make that long flight.  The ornament is a bit on the simple side for this series, but the detail in the brink arching around Dasher's head is pretty amazing.  Plus you really need to take a look at the hinges on the door.

Since this ornament connects to the Magic Cord (sold separately), it features a light and sound show.  The lights are the only thing I’m disappointed with.  As usual, the base of the ornament lights up with green and red, and that is on even when the ornaments are just plugged into power.  However, there is a white light that will shine on Dasher.  It only comes on with any of the ornaments on the string are creating a show.  Same with Santa's lantern.  Honestly, I wish those lights would blink on and off the rest of the time, like all the lights in the rest of the series do.  I like the lights on these ornaments; it’s one reason I buy them.

Anyway, when you press the button on this ornament, it starts the show.  Santa once again has a few lines of dialogue, encouraging Dasher to eat up for their big trip.  This part lasts 12 seconds, and seems shorter than his dialogue in previous years, although that might just be me.  However, overall the sound coming from this ornament lasts just about a minute, the rest filled with a fun orchestra version of "Jingle Bells" (yes, bells are a prominent part of the song, too.  It’s a good rendition of the song, nice and upbeat.

The ornaments in this series have all had nice, flat bases, and the trend continues here.  That’s nice since it means you can display these on a shelf or mantle.  I bet they’d look lovely with some garland between them to help hide the cord.  Of course, the flat base also gives Hallmark plenty of room for the 4 in a Christmas tree series marker on the bottom of the ornament.

Since the ornaments are on the large size, you will want to find a sturdy branch to hang the ornament on.  However, the ornament is balance, so when you hang it, you’ll find it hangs perfectly straight.  And the hook is right above Dasher's sign.

My issue with the light aside, I can see why A Pre-Flight Snack is so popular.  It looks great and Santa with a reindeer is not something that Hallmark does on a regular basis.  The light and sound show just adds to the fun.

And check out the rest of the Once Upon a Christmas series.

Original Price: $29.95

Book Review: To Brie or Not to Brie by Avery Aames (Cheese Shop Mysteries #4)

Stars: 4 out of 5

Pros: Characters and a good story

Cons: Sub-plots tend to slow down the mystery at times

The Bottom Line:

Ice cream as weapon

As we enjoy a visit

To killer cheese shop

To Read Brie or Not to Read Brie – There Is No Question

Earlier this year, I made it my goal to get caught up on Avery Aames’s Cheese Shop Mysteries in 2014.  Since I’ve now finished To Brie or Not To Brie, the fourth out of five published so far, I’m definitely on the right track.  However, when I sat down to start this book, I realized how much I’ve actually come to love these characters because I couldn’t wait to get started.

Autumn has hit the town of Providence, and it’s shaping up to be a busy but wonderful October for Charlotte and her friends and family in The Cheese Shop.  Her cousin Matthew is marrying her best friend Meredith, and Grandmere’s theater company is putting on an outdoor production of Hamlet that is bringing in the tourists.  If only Charlotte and Jordan could set a date for their own wedding, everything would be perfect.

Into this bliss come two strangers who are not part of the normal tourist crowd.  Then one of them is murdered inside the local ice cream shop – beaten to death with a tub of Charlotte’s Brie Blueberry Ice Cream.  His connection to people in Charlotte’s life puts her future in jeopardy.  Suddenly worried about what might happen to those she loves, Charlotte starts digging, hoping to find the killer.  Can she succeed?

Now, if you haven’t met the characters, I don’t recommend you start here.  There are several sub-plots you just won’t enjoy if you jump in.  Once you’ve gotten to know the characters better, you’ll appreciate how their various stories advance.

If you are already a fan, you’ll experience the joy I did of visiting old friends.  Everyone was in characters, which means that most of them are charming with occasional bouts of annoying – just like people in real life.  The new characters are equally as strong and provide viable suspects for the murder.  Of course, there are the characters we love to hate, and they are just as much fun to hate here.

The plot was good, and I never would have figured out who the killer was.  However, the pace was uneven.  There were just too many sub-plots, and they slowed down progress in the mystery.  It was still enjoyable, and I loved my time in Providence.  But this is another reason I think those who try to jump in here will be a little lost.

There are so many mouth watering descriptions of cheese in this book!  Reading it made me wish I had something other than my tried and true cheddar around the house (and I love cheddar cheese).  I really must get out and experiment more.  There are several delicious recipes in the back, including a grilled cheese sandwich and the Brie Blueberry Ice Cream that causes so much trouble in this book.

Fans will be delighted to revisit Charlotte and her friends and family.  If that’s you, don’t hesitate.  Dive right in and enjoy To Brie or Not To Brie.

And if you've yet to find this fun series, you'll want to read the Cheese Shop Mysteries in order.

Movie Review: Guardians of the Galaxy

Stars: 5 out of 5

Pros: A fun story expertly paced with great laughs throughout

Cons: Mostly the language for me

The Bottom Line:

This film is a blast

Will the galaxy be saved?

Fun the whole way through

"There's One Other Name You May Know Me By - Star Lord."  "Who?"

I haven't made it to the theaters much this year.  Part of it is I've just gotten lazy, and part of it is how expensive they have gotten.  As a result, Guardians of the Galaxy was on my list to see, but I was planning to wait for the DVD.  That is until a friend asked me if I wanted to see it with him.  I'm glad I changed my mind because it was a lot of fun.

Our story follows Peter Quinn, aka Star Lord, (Chris Pratt) a rogue retriever (or thief and smuggler depending on who you ask) who has headed out on his own to retrieve a sphere from a mysterious planet.  However, by double crossing the rest of his retriever clan, they now want to punish him.  Meanwhile, other people show up to try to get it from him.

The result is a chase across space and a fight when he tries to sell this sphere.  See, it turns out that the sphere is actually wanted in an intergalactic ethnic fight, and it could help one side destroy the other.  With so much on the line, Quinn must team up with the very people he was just fighting against, including assassin Gamora (Zoe Saldana), Drax (Dave Bautista), Rocket the Raccoon (voiced by Bradley Cooper), and Groot (voiced by Vin Diesel), to break out of prison and get the sphere into the right hands.  Can this new team learn to trust each other enough to succeed?

Having never even heard of these characters until I started hearing about the movie, I didn't really know what to expect.  But before I even got into the theater, I'd started hearing great things about it.  They were all correct.

Even without any background going into the film, I thought it did a great job of giving us the background we needed to fill in the pieces of the story.  I don't have all the species names quite down, but I could easily follow which side the characters were on, so it was easy to root for the heroes and against the villains.

The movie never bogs down in exposition.  The characters are introduced and the background given as the story unfolds.  While it meant I had to pay close attention early on to get everything, I found it entertaining throughout.

The characters are wonderful.  Over the course of the film, we get to know our five heroes quite well, and I like them and the relationships they form.  While I didn't quite feel the emotion we were supposed to at the end, that was a minor quibble.

Meanwhile, there's the wonderful humor.  There are tons of funny one liners, and at times even a character's expression got a laugh from me and the rest of the audience.

The acting was great as well.  Whether an actual actor or just a voice actor, there was not a false moment to take you out of the fun.

Likewise with the action and special effects.  Two of the main characters are computer generated.  The movie is set in space.  Plus there are several action sequences.  Never once did I stop to think about what I was watching; instead, I was pulled into the story and enjoyed every second of it.

Because Peter left Earth in the late 80's, he's got a cassette tape of music from the 70's and 80's.  This forms the basis of the soundtrack, and the producers use it perfectly to reflect the mood and draw even more laughs from the audience.

My one complaint was the crude language.  It wasn't swearing as much as it was other off color words.  I'm not quite sure why it bothered me so much here, but it did.  Just be aware of the PG-13 rating going in and you'll be fine.  (The rating also comes from the violence, which was about what I expected.)

If you are like me and have no real idea who the Guardians of the Galaxy are, don't miss your chance to find out.  This is a fun movie that will entertain everyone who goes to watch it.

This is an entry in the 2014 Funny Pages Write-Off.

Monthly Reading Summary - July 2014

Since we're now several days into August, time to get my monthly reading summary posted.  Thanks to some short kid's books, I got quite a few titles read this month.

As always, the links will take you to my full review if you want to read more.  And The Index for all my reviews has been updated for July.

All ratings are on a scale of 1 (bad) to 5 (great).

Death in Four Courses by Lucy Burdette (Key West Food Critic #2) - 5

Key West's annual literary conference is focusing on food this year, something that excites Hayley since she is now covering food for a local magazine.  However, when she finds the keynote speaker floating face down in a reflection pool, her weekend gets crowded with sleuthing as well as food.

I really did enjoy this book.  The characters are great and the plot is complex enough I didn't have a clue what was happening until Hayley did.  My only complaint is the relationship between Hayley and her mother, who is visiting during the book.  It's realistic, but at times the way they interacted drove me crazy.  I love how they grew as a result of spending the time around each other, however, so it was a great sub-plot in the end.

Death on Eat Street by J. J. Cook (Biscuit Bowl Food Truck #1) - 4

Zoe Chase has left behind a steady job at the bank to open a restaurant.  While she saves up money to bring it up to code, she is trying to make money selling her biscuit bowls out of her food truck.  However, the day she has a fight with one of the competition, he shows up dead in her truck's front seat.

This is my first book by these authors, and I did enjoy it.  The pacing was a bit slow at the beginning of the book, but I loved all of the characters.  Even Zoe's family, who doesn't get her new career path and are trying to change her, were very entertaining.

There's Treasure Everywhere by Bill Watterson - 5

The next to last collection of comic strips from Calvin and Hobbes features the nine month break creator Bill Watterson took.  There aren't as many stories, although the familiar themes are still present.  And the laughs for fans new and old are just as strong as they were 20 years ago.

A Tale of Two Biddies by Kylie Logan (League of Literary Ladies #2) - 5

In order to draw in tourists, South Bass Island is hosting Bastille Week, and Bea and her book club are reading A Tale of Two Cities as a result.  However, the added tourists bring chaos even before someone is murdered.

While I wasn't familiar with the Dickens classic, the parallels are pointed out for us, so that wasn't an issue.  Instead, I could focus on the mystery, which threw me completely several times, although I did finally get part of the solution correct.  The characters are strong, and the book just has a sense of fun that made it hard to put down.

Oliver and the Seawigs by Peter Reeve and Sarah McIntyre - 5

Oliver's parents are retiring from exploring, and Oliver is looking forward to living a life in one location and making friends.  However, they haven't even spent one night in their new home when his parents set off to explore some islands before they and the islands disappear.

This is a transitional book from easy readers to chapter books, and it's a lot of fun.  The illustrations are great, the story is fast moving, and the characters are fun and creative.  In other words, it's perfect for the target 2-5 grade audience.

NOTE: I received an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.

If You Give a Mouse a Cookie by Laura Joffe Numeroff - 5

A creative progression story that starts with a simple act of kindness, giving a mouse a cookie.  From there, however, things progress until they loop back around.

The book is simple but filled with great illustrations.  And the journey is so creative.  I missed this book until I read it with my niece and found it absolutely charming.

Drizzled with Death by Jessie Crockett (Sugar Grove Mysteries #1) - 5

When one of the competitors dies during the annual pancake eating contest, Dani finds her family's maple syrup business falling under suspicion.  After all, the contestant's syrup was poisoned.

I enjoyed the book from the very beginning, but the more I read the further I got pulled in.  The characters were complex and compelling and the mystery was great.  The humor was an added bonus.  Just watch out for those maple syrup cravings.

Earthquake Shock by Marlane Kennedy (Disaster Strikes #1) - 5

Joey and his friends are heading home from the skate park when an earthquake hits, separating them.  Can they find each other and get home?  What will they encounter along the way?  Is their home still standing?

This is a good early chapter book.  As such, I read through it quickly, although it will take the early elementary school target audience a little longer to get through.  The characters were real and showed some growth, and the plot had a couple of scenes that made me turn pages quickly.

My New Friend is So Fun! by Mo Willems - 5

When Piggie starts hanging out with Brian the Bat, Gerald and Snake worry that their best friends will not want to be friends with them any more.  Do they have something to worry about?

Those familiar with the Elephant and Piggie picture book series will be delighted with the latest entry.  There is a lesson here, but it is never preachy.  Instead, we get some laughs and fun as we watch Gerald and Snake overreact.  Plus there's the warm ending.  My only complaint, and it is minor, is that Brian really doesn't look like a bat to me.  But I'm being picky here.

The Good, the Bad, and the Emus by Donna Andrews (Meg Langslow #17) - 4

The action moves to a town about an hour away as Meg and her family head there to help her grandfather track down feral emus.  Meg is also hoping to learn more about the mysterious death of her recently discovered grandmother.

The antics of the emus and those chasing them overwhelmed the mystery at times, but fans of the series will certainly still enjoy the latest.  I especially enjoyed getting to meet a new group of great characters.  Overall, I had fun, and that's really all that matters.

The 101 Dalmatians by Dodie Smith - 5

Pongo and Missis are settling into their new married life with their newly wed pets - Mr. and Mrs. Dearly.  Missis is expecting puppies, but these puppies have caught the eye of their neighbor and Mrs. Dearly's schoolmate Cruella de Vil.  What will she do to get her hands on the puppies?

This is the book that inspired the Disney animation classic, and it is a lot of fun.  The basic story is the same, but there are lots of changes along the way, plus more about the de Vil family.  The humor is much more subtle than the film, but it still made me laugh and smile.  Definitely a charming, fun read.

The Sasquatch Mystery by Kathryn Kenny (Trixie Belden #25) - 3

Trixie and her friends are in Idaho camping with her cousins.  There's a rumor that a sasquatch has been spotted in the area, and then one wanders into camp.  Or does it?  As strange thing keep happening, Trixie needs to figure out what is really happening.

This is a very uneven book plot wise, with a slow start but a very suspenseful second half.  The characters are mostly good, except for poor Diana who comes across as a whining scaredy cat - not one of her better books.  Overall, this one is okay at best, and then only for die hard fans.

A Question of Death - A Phryne Fisher Treasure by Kerry Greenwood - 4

This collection of 13 short stories finds Phryne solving several murders as well as a few other crimes.  Set in Australia in 1928, Phryne is a strong woman with lots of intelligence to solve some pretty strange puzzles.

This was my introduction to the character, and I do feel I missed some things not know more about her background and the rest of the obviously recurring characters.  However, I did enjoy the stories since they provided good puzzles.  Phryne is a really smart detective, and the trip back in time was fun.

The Tower Treasure by Franklin W. Dixon (Hardy Boys #1) - 4

When their friend Chet's jalopy is stolen, Frank and Joe think it is their chance to prove they can be detectives.  But when they find his car, it just leads them to more mysteries.

This is my first time reading a Hardy Boys book in years, and I found it interesting.  The characters were still as shallow as I remembered, but I was surprised to find the plot was episodic and their father did some big chunks of the investigation without them.  Still, I enjoyed it and think kids today will, too.

Book Review: The Tower Treasure by Franklin W. Dixon (Hardy Boys #1)

Stars: 4 out of 5

Pros: Decent fast moving mystery

Cons: A few plot weaknesses and fairly flat characters

The Bottom Line:

Frank and Joe start here

Definitely flaws present

But overall fun

Meet Frank and Joe

Before I found Trixie Belden (who is obviously still my first middle grade sleuth love), I was a fan of the Hardy Boys and to a certain extend Nancy Drew.  I devoured all the books I could find in the library and even owned a few.  I've been meaning to revisit some of those books for a while, and finally sat down and reread The Tower Treasure, the Hardy Boys' first case.  While the flaws were more obvious to me this time around, I did still enjoy this walk down memory lane.

Frank and Joe Hardy are the sons of famous detective Fenton Hardy.  They occasionally make deliveries for him, and that is just what they are doing when they are almost driven off the road - twice - by a car they later find crashed on the side of the road.  When they stop to visit their friend Chet, they learn that his jalopy has recently been stolen.  Anxious to prove themselves detectives, they begin to investigate, but as they go along, even more crime begins to hit their town of Bayport.  Is there a connection?  Can they solve the crime?

I didn't remember much about this book when I sat down to reread it, and for the first third of it, I was confused.  What does Chet's car have to do with a treasure?  I promise you, there is a connection, but the result is a plot that feels a little episodic in nature.  I'll be curious to see if I feel that way with others in the series because the fact that this book could be split into three sections was a bit of a surprise to me.

I was also surprised that some of the key bits of the story happened off the page while Fenton is investigating.  However, don't misunderstand - Frank and Joe do play a significant role in the book and actually solve the case in the end.

Overall, the story is very entertaining with several good twists and actually a few set backs before everything is resolved.  Pieces of the story came back to me as I read, but a few of the twists surprised me as well.

The one thing I definitely remember about the series was weak characters, and that is still true today.  I didn't notice for years, but eventually I realized that these main characters just didn't have much depth to them.  That's still the case here as even when a friend is directly impacted by the main plot, I didn't feel much even if the rest of the characters did.  Probably the biggest surprise was that Chief Collig, who I remember supporting the Hardys, was actually on the other side of this case.  Also, Aunt Gertrude wasn't around, but Mrs. Hardy actually had a few scenes as a result.

I certainly found it interesting that, at least here, Frank and Joe's reasons for getting involved were to help out friends, something I find true in most of the cozy mysteries I read today.  While I don't seem to remember much in the way of their motives in later cases, I would bet this went away and they solved these mysteries just for the love of solving mysteries.

Today's kids will hit a few road bumps with the language, chums instead of friends for example.  They might or might not notice that the money discussed in the book is very cheap by today's standards.  Either way, these won't be an impediment to them enjoying the book.

And I think kids will still enjoy meeting Frank and Joe in The Tower Treasure.  While I can see the flaws better as an adult, the kid in me can still see why I enjoyed them when I was in middle school, and I think that combination of action and mystery will still entertain kids today.

This review is part of Marvelous Middle Grade Monday.

August 2nd's Weekly TV Thoughts

And you wonder why I say summer is just as busy for me these days as the rest of the year TV wise.

Wipeout - Most of the times with teams, I get it since you pick your team mate.  I always feel sorry for the couples in the blind date edition since they could wind up with a really bad partner.  Still, the two couples in the Wipeout Zone at the end were amazing.

American Ninja Warrior - Speed kills.  I said it during the Miami qualifying round, and it happened again tonight.  Shocking, but still, you need to slow down and respect this course.  Also shocking was seeing people go out on the spider climb - haven't seen that in a long time.  Probably because of the humidity there that night, but it was still a shock.  Glad both of those people were able to move on.

Royal Pains - Wow, so much happening yet again.  The sister is about to be in way over her head and her time taking pictures for the gossip blog is going to blow up in her face.  I'm interested to see where this relationship with Hank goes.  And poor Divya now has the wrong impression about a simple, innocent date.  That won't be awkward at all.

Covert Affairs - I really don't like it when Annie is tortured and almost killed during an episode.  I get that it is part of the spy life, I just don't like it.  So many wonderful complications, and I'm curious to see how these various storylines are going to resolve themselves.  Not before plenty of heartache, I'm sure.  And I do like how they used Paris again two weeks in a row.  Save on travel budgets.

Mystery Girls - Nice twists there with the fake kidnapping and the real drug deal.  The sister stuff was a bit shallow and predictable, but I really did enjoy the episode.  I'm not becoming a fan, am I?

Suits - I feel like such a broken recorder, but that was so good.  I'm glad they didn't resolve the Mike/Rachel thing right away.  I was expecting Mike to go back to work at the firm again, but I like the idea of him getting away from there.  I wonder how they will go with the storylines of the season now that everyone is on the same team again.

Graceland - A definite step down from last week, although they are keeping the balls in the air and the stories going forward.  Considering just how many they've got, that's pretty impressive.  I'm so with Paige.  They need to do something now.  Those are humans there we are talking about!

The Quest - So apparently, I was one of the few who watched it.  It wasn't bad, but it wasn't all that great either.  It was definitely better than last years' Whodoneit?  Still, I will probably give it one more shot and then pass on the rest, but we'll see.

Girl Meets World - The importance of telling the truth delicately.  Always a good lesson to learn, although poor Cory seems like he was tested to me with that chicken.  I like how he's in some ways still making the mistakes he made from the previous series and yet at other times able to impart some great wisdom.  So much fun.

Ornament Review: School Time for Chipmunks! - A Year of Disney Magic #2 - 2014 Hallmark Ornament

Stars: 5 out of 5

Pros: Fun scene with great attention to detail

Cons: None

The Bottom Line:

Heading back to school

Differing emotions for

These two cute chipmunks

Chip ‘n’ Dale Show Differing Reactions to the First Day of School

When it comes to the first day of school, there are two distinct camps. Some kids are excited to start a new year of learning.  Most of the kids, however, are sad to see the freedom and sleeping in of summer end.  (And yes, I was part of both camps at various times over the years.)  Both reactions are captured in School Time For Chipmunks!, the second in Hallmark's A Year of Disney Magic series.

As you can guess from the title, this ornament features Chip 'n' Dale, the only ornament in the series to do so.   Chip is leading the way, and he's looking straight ahead, wearing a green backpack, and has a huge smile on his face, obviously quite excited to get back to learning.  Dale is following along behind him wearing a blue backpack, but his red nose is looking down and his arms are hanging at his side.  He's obviously not at all happy to be up and awake already, much less dealing with school.  Centered behind them at the edge of the sidewalk is a yellow "School Zone" sign.

And that sign's placement is the key to the ornament hanging level.  The little brass ring is sticking out from the front of the sign, and it is at the perfect center because this thing is level front to back and side to side.  It is also turned perfectly to face the room if you are displaying the series in the optional Mickey's Head ornament stand that Hallmark sold separately.

Because Chip 'n' Dale are walking on a sidewalk, the base of this ornament is also flat, meaning you can set this out to display anywhere you want in September as you decorate for back to school.  You'll also find the 2 in a Christmas tree on the bottom, denoting it's place as the second in the series.

At first glance, this ornament seems smaller than the others in the series, but that's appropriate since Chip 'n' Dale are smaller than the rest of the Disney gang.  However, when you actually start looking, you'll see the size is in proportion to the others in the series.  After all, we've got two characters (the rest feature just one) and the sign.

Plus we can't fault the detail.  You can see expressions on both Chip and Dale's faces.  Not only that, but you can see the texture and cracks in the sidewalk.  That's the attention to detail I love so much.

I can't help but compare to last year's Peanuts back toschool ornament.  It was actually my least favorite in the series since it was essentially just Lucy and a backpack.  This one is so much better because of the contrasting expressions on the characters and the attention to detail I just mentioned.  In fact, it might wind up being one of my favorites in the series.

Whether you are heading back to school now or if those years are long behind you, School Time For Chipmunks! is an ornament you'll be able to appreciate.  I'm thrilled to add it to my collection.

What could be more magical than the entire Year of Disney Magic?

Original Price: $12.95

August 1st's Book Beginnings and Friday 56

August 1st?  Seriously?  How did it get to be August already?  At least it's a Friday, which means it is now time for Book Beginnings and Friday 56.  (Freda is currently on vacation, so the link may not be up, but I'm still doing it anyway.)

This week, I'm featuring To Brie or Not To Brie, the fourth Cheese Shop Mystery by Avery Aames.  I just started it today, but I am certainly enjoying it.  It's wonderful to be back with these characters.

The book starts with:

"Charlotte Erin Bessette, you're a goner."

That gets your attention, doesn't it?  Especially since Charlotte is our main character.

Moving ahead to page 56, we find:

"By the way, did you see Sylvie?  She's outside her shop wearing a sandwich-board sign and not much else.  What is that woman thinking?"

I haven't made it much past page 56 myself, but this is shaping up to be another winner.

You can now read my review here.