Blog – March 2023

• St. Patrick’s Day – Show off your Irish… add a comment.
• Book Review – Pilot Ray: The Crow Strikes Back by Jana Broecker
• Photo Contest Corner – Jan|Feb|Mar|Apr 2023 challenge
• Positively Said – Inspirational quotes
• Arizona Trek – Phoenix, Scottsdale, Prescott, and beyond.

HAPPY ST. PATRICK’S DAY

“Top o the morning to ya!” | Corned beef sandwiches, green pints, Gaelic lilts… however you put your Irish on, it’s a day to appreciate the Emerald Isle ancestry and embrace the culture. I’ve never set foot in dreamy, lush Ireland, but I’ve known my fair share of folks of Irish descent. Whether one has a spot of Irish or deep-rooted heritage, partakes in a load of Blarney, recites silly limericks, or has a pint of the ye old black stuff, the gastro delights can make anyone shout Erin Go Bragh! And perhaps, a wee bit of luck of the Irish will be upon us throughout the year.

Irish Joke | The Doctor

An Irishman goes to the doctor. After examining him, the doc says, “You have some problems with your heart, but if you take these tablets, I think it will be okay.” So the doctor gives the man the tablets. The patient asks, “Do I have to take them every day?” The doctor replies, “No, take one on Monday, skip on Tuesday, take one on Wednesday, skip Thursday, and so on.” Two weeks later the doctor walks down the street and sees the patient’s wife. “Hello, Mrs. Murphy,” he says, “how’s your husband?” The wife replies, “Oh, he died of a heart attack.” Well, the doctor says, “I’m sorry to hear that. I thought if he took those tablets, he would be all right.” She shook her head, “Oh, the tablets were fine,” Mrs. Murphy says, “but all the bloody skipping killed him!”

And that about sums up fun, clean Irish humor. Got a clean Irish joke you care to share? Please send your celebratory thoughts in the “Leave a Reply” (Comment) section at the bottom of the page. I enjoy reading them!

Book Review

Pilot Ray: The Crow Strikes Back by Jana Broecker

Author Broecker loves everything about rhymes! From metering, poetic styles, alliterations, beats, and playful narrating, she covers it all with a professionalism second to none. With several published books on her author shelf, along with editing for other authors, she has a proven track record of being a successful, award-winning children’s book writer. In the Dream BIG Series, Pilot Ray is quite the mighty snail who overcomes his petite stature through relentless stamina, perseverance, and one very huge heart.

In a nutshell or should I say, in a snail’s shell… when a vengeful crow attempts to snatch up all four snails, he misses one, young Ray. Sad to say, the mean black bird did manage to snag his three brothers. Undeterred, the tiny unshielded snail vows to save his siblings. Mounting his trusty homemade airplane, he attempts to swoop in to scoop them up. During their scramble, there is an unforeseen cost to their foe. In true Pilot Ray spirit, he turns a long-held spitefulness into a cautionary learning experience.

The poetic rhymes and the playful vivid illustrations complement the underlying lessons of empathy and forgiveness. The author’s snail tale is a wonderful teaching guide for inspiring emotional growth for kids of all ages. Five Stars to Author Jana Broecker!

Find out how one little snail sets a shining example by discarding hateful revenge and replacing negative feelings with compassion and kindness. Terrific for the kiddos’ bookshelf!

Note: There are no spoilers in my reviews and I am not paid to write my analysis of the story. This is a simple no-nonsense perspective of my reading experience.

Photo Contest Corner

Below is my updated Bingo card for Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr #2023picoftheweek and one of the more recent Saturday IG posts. Fun being an amateurish photographer!

THEME | Flowers

After the rain stopped for a moment, I quickly snapped this shot while walking one morning by a planter in my area. A dazzling, pale yellow flower, it seemed to strike a pose as though to say, “Hey, over here. Peer down closer to see all my bursting buds.” I thought this might be of the genus Agapanthus but the petal color and size threw me off. So, I looked up both Agapanthus and Lily varieties but couldn’t find anything close to this petite blossom. It is a bulb of sorts, grows in rocky soil, and appears rather hearty. It stands about a foot tall, and the blossoms are slightly larger than Agapanthus but with shorter stems and smaller than a lily. UPDATE: My gardening friend just confirmed this beautiful product of nature is an Agapanthus. Thank you, Lili!

Pretty, delicate flowers are always worth mentioning, yes? Let me know your thoughts by commenting in the “Leave a Reply” (Comment) section at the bottom of the page. Check out my fun posts on Saturdays with the story behind each unique snapshot on Instagram @thebrookelynnadventures or @tobyawilliams.

Note: I am not affiliated, only a participant, with the above-referenced photo challenge created by @ofmariaantonia.

Positively Said

Here are a few of my hand-picked memorable and thought-provoking quotes. You can see more on my Instagram @thebrookelynnadventures or @tobyawilliams.

Please feel free to pass along any inspiring and positive quotes in the Leave a Reply (comment) section at the bottom of the page with your Insta address for appropriate credit and tag.

Arizona Fun

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