Treasure Jar

Archive for November, 2008

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The Eight

The Eight is Katherine Neville‘s first novel.

I have read this book a few years ago, twice. It is not a light reading, no, not exactly what one would bring for a day of relaxation at the beach. The book is full of history (though they have five erroneous events there) that parallels to a modern day story whose setting was the year 1972 with simultaneous events happening during the French Revolution.

The novel has real-life historical figures whose lives are intertwined with the two strong historical female characters. The modern-day main character, Cat Velis is an enigma herself too but Carioca the dog steals the limelight a few times 🙂

This book had me traveling to Algeria, which seem an exotic country with a rich and colorful history.

And now “The Eight” has a sequel, entitled “The Fire” and I can’t wait to get my hands on that book. I am thinking though if I still need to read “The Eight” again before I do so just to refresh my mind 😀

Tags: books, Katherine Neville, reading

Posted by Treasure Jar on Nov 6th 2008 | Filed in Pages | Comments (0)

Play-Doh

Play-Doh by Hasbro is a non-toxic and non-staining modeling compound for children. It comes in different colors in small containers with lids matching the color of the Play-Doh.

Children can play with these Play-Doh for hours. They can be taught to identify colors as well mixing colors to form other colors. The basic yellow, red, blue and white set can yield other secondary colors like green, purple, orange, and pink, and a host of other colors that will be produced when these are mixed and matched.

Their imagination can also be enhanced when they try to make copies of things around them. Or better yet, create things and creatures out of their imagination.

Fine-motor skills like rolling, pinching, pounding, pulling, cutting and kneading.

They also get to experience sensory stimulation through feeling the modeling compound, sometimes using the environment as their tools.

Click here to make your own modeling clay using basic baking ingredients.

Tags: fine-motor skills, play, play-doh

Posted by Treasure Jar on Nov 5th 2008 | Filed in Arts and Crafts,For Little Hands | Comments (1)

Lessons Learned from the Ants

Ants are social insects that live in colonies that has a hierarchy of positions and duties.

Ants are very industrious insects. They labor when the sun starts to rise and continue their work until the sun goes down.They get all the food they can get for the colony and stuck these for the rainy days.

Ants know how to adapt to situations like when a block to their foraging ways happens, they try to find new routes to overcome the block. Crushed ants emit a scent that will make other ants scamper for safety.

They foster cooperation among themselves in foraging for food and fighting their enemies.

Humans can learn a lot from observing ants, starting with being industrious and saving for the rainy days.

Tags: ants, industrious, NaBloPoMo, nature photo

Posted by Treasure Jar on Nov 4th 2008 | Filed in Through the Lens,Trivia | Comments (0)

Bubba Gump’s Spicy Jambalaya Pasta

This is my first entry (and hopefully not the last) for Lasang Pinoy , Sundays which is sponsored by a dear (virtual) friend, Ces.

When I got an invite last week to go to TriNoma’s Bubba Gump Shrimp Company to have lunch with “Forrest Gump” I just needed to check what day the lunch date falls on and when I saw that I do not have to go to work that day, I replied with a “YES!”

Well, not exactly just that word but of course, I said “yes, I will be glad to accept the invitation…”

I know “Forrest Gump” was from Alabama which is one of the Southern states, known for their spicy, hearty and creamy Southern, Creole and Cajun cooking. Looking at the simple ingredients incorporated to make the dish Spicy Jambalaya Pasta, one can only wonder why Filipinos have not really thought about using seafood with pasta, not until the introduction of Italian and yes, Southern cooking style.

Jambalaya means cooking all ingredients, meat and vegetables and stock in just one pan. Isn’t this how our grandmothers made Paella and (my father’s favorite) Arroz Valenciana?

Seafood is one of the many riches of the country although sad to say, these are expensive, especially the shrimps and crabs, that ordinary home makers may find too expensive for everyday cooking.

Filipinos love spicy food so it is not a question at all that this dish is one that can be appreciated by those who love both seafood, pasta and anything spicy.

Tags: Bubba Gump, Cajun cooking, jambalaya, Lasang Pinoy Sundays, pasta, shrimp, Southern cooking, spicy

Posted by Treasure Jar on Nov 3rd 2008 | Filed in Plateful of Fun,Socials,Through the Lens | Comments (6)