SURPRISE, SURPRISE

Here is the cover of Toby's Tales........

We came in from seeing Sonny last night and Shirl ‘called’ thru the rain,” you have a package”. I went to get I and it was a short shipment of Toby’s Tales. I will sell those on the Blog for $7 until they are gone. I have another shipment coming in later.
I had planned to do one of these short stories just before Christmas, but I cannot get my timing right. I am too anxious to see them in print. There are promotions in which you can enter a book, but most are limited to unpublished books. The promotional contests sometimes take six months. Young authors can wait that long, but I don’t have than many years to write, so I will publish as many as I can. Maybe, after I am too old maybe gone, some will bring in royalties for the kids. Maybe up to $10 a month. Hahahaha!
This was sorta of a loose correlation between the Cowgirl Paula and us. It was fun writing the stories and looking through her poems they seemed to fit each case. I hope they are liked. The vocabulary will make a child up to the fourth grade strain a little, but not much. I think I mentioned it is hard for me to separate children’s stories from adults at this time of my life.
Reading stories to children under five YEARS OF AGE improves their ability to learn by a good percentage. Our son Jack has a very good vocabulary and carried very high grades in school. We read to him a lot. We did not read as much to Mark, but he did not seem to care. Mark has been very good and successful in business, but admits to a deficiency in paperwork.
On my visit to Sonny LAST NITE, first thing he said was, “Get a pencil and paper want a material list.”
“Ready!”
“Two pieces 2x8x8 treated, note cut 16” off ends of each.”
“Plywood, ultra marine, treated 19”x80”,”
“3 inch decking screws from my shop.”
Now I NEVER ask anyone else how many screws, but he is always precise.
“How many?”
“20.”
Wait, what are we building a casket? Or a flower box.
“I am going to grow some tomatoes! Maybe some cucumbers.”

I just relayed that because a few weeks ago he was lucky to know what day it was. We are all proud of him and glad to see him doing so well. We want to thank you for all your comments, concerns and prayers. It is always good to have a Buddy.
It is good to see him his old cantankerous self.
Night Shipslog
PS:
*_Goat for Dinner _*

The young couple invited their elderly pastor for Sunday dinner.

While they were in the kitchen preparing the meal, the minister asked their son what they were having.

"Goat," the little boy replied.

"Goat?" replied the startled man of the cloth, "Are you sure about that?"

"Yep," said the youngster. "I heard Dad say to Mom, 'Today is just as good as any to have the old goat for dinner."

(THERE IS NO REFERENCE HERE TO AN OLD CHAPLAIN, LOL)