Home Away From Home

Lately, I (along with my friend Rose, the girl in the blue hat in My Young Eagles Flight animoto) are into all kinds of special agent stuff like FBI and spies, but mainly CIA. So we have decided to practically tear down my fort and build a new one. So we called up my uncle, who loves a good project, and told him what we were doing and asked if he would help. Of course, he said yes, and now we’re on our way to a fancy, realistically rustic fortress/everything room. The fort itself is going to be 6′ by 6′ in area, and aproximately 7′ tall. In that space (I know it’s hard to imagine, but it’s true) there are going to be two hammocks (one over the other), a fold-up table, two folding chairs, a trap door on the ceiling and floor, two swing chairs (low enuogh to be able to control with your feet), hooks on the ceiling to hang the swings on when not in use, a safe-like compartment in the wall, a fold-down desk/table, a shelf to put pots and other things on, and a fire pit outside it. Now thats a lot of things! Oohh yeah, and I forgot the zipline going over top, and the fold up/down/coverable windows. By the way it’s gonna have insulation. As I was saying that’s a lot to fit in a 6′ by 6′ area, but because it’s all fold up, it IS possible. Soon I’ll post some animoto photos.

« Everest Book Share

Everest Book Share

Want a cool way to share your latest summer reading challenge book?  Try playing Bananagrams, making only words that have to do with your book.  Here is my “Everest-ogram” using the book Everest by Gordon Korman.  Proper nouns are allowed, and notice my snow around Mount Everest!  Ha ha!

Home Away From Home »« Botswana Research

Botswana Research

Botswana

“The No. 1 Ladies’ Detective Agency” is a TV show  about an African detective who lives in Botswana and solves all kinds of mysteries.  Does Botswana actually exist?  If so, where is it?  What’s it like?  A little research leads to some interesting answers. Botswana is a unique country whose ways are distinctly African.

Botswana is land locked, with South Africa below, between Namibia and Zimbabwe, with Zambia above. It contains 231,805 square miles(a little less than Texas). Botswana is obsessed with water, water, water. Three- fourths of the land is the Kalahari Desert, sometimes called “the great thirst land”. Botswana is mostly plateau, which is high, flat lands. The hilly eastern side of Botswana is where most of the population lives and thrives. Most of the country’s boundaries are made by rivers.

In the 13^th century the people from central Africa migrated because of political uprisings and the lack of water. The first whites came to Africa in the 1800’s. First came explorers, then naturalists, then last but certainly not least, the missionaries. Around the 1870’s Boers, who are Dutch farmers, came to take over the good farm lands. To prevent the Boers from taking land, the British came to “protect” Botswana, and fought the Boers in a war in 1880. The British won. A British protectorate was established, and although it did give protection, it also brought unfair treatment, and loss of sovereignty. Eventually, even though it took about eighty years, Botswana became an independent country in 1965.

Botswana has a multi-party republic, which is a government with Republican, Democratic, and Independent parties. It also has a president and national assembly. Botswana is the most democratic country in Africa. Half of the population is under fifteen years old. Botswana is one ethnic group–Tswana.  The population is 1.3 million. There is no national religion; there is freedom of belief. The top religions are traditional African beliefs, followed by Christianity. The official languages are Setswana and English. Botswana is the largest producer of diamonds in the world (seventy-five percent of total exports). Other exports are copper, nickel, and meat. The country produces some of the best baskets in the world! Botswana’s main food staples are sorghum porridge, and corn. Seventy-three percent of the population can read and write. The people are peaceful and like to govern themselves.  The Botswana flag is blue, white, and black. The white represents purity, the black represents the importance of Botswana’s deltas, and of course, the blue represents water.

The answers are found.  Yes, of course, Botswana exists, and because it does, the world has astonishing straw baskets, and Africa has its most democratic country.  Just like an episode of “The No. 1 Ladies’ Detective Agency, the ultimate mystery of Botswana has been solved.

Everest Book Share »« Spy Kids: chapter 4 Found Out and Found In

Spy Kids: chapter 4 Found Out and Found In

Chapter 4—Found Out and Found In

I immediately ran away towards a large pile of granite slabs, when Trevor said, “Come back!  We’re not mad!”

“Don’t be a coward,” said Avery when I didn’t stop.

So I turned around and blurted out what I’d wanted to say the whole time.  “Who are you really, and what are you doing here?”  What is this place?  Who is that guy?  Why am I here?”

“You’re here ‘cause you came by yourself.  This is the home base of the Spy Kids.  I’m really still Trevor Pauling.  I’m a spy kids with your other friends here, and this is York, our trainer, mentor, and supervisor,” he said.

“The questrion is,” said Britta,” Who did you follow here, and how did you manage everything you just did?”  She finished.

“I dunno,” I answered.  “I  just did,” I said.

Then York said, “Girl . . .”  He paused dramatically.  “If you could sneak around like that, you,” he paused again for effect, “have spy kid talent!”

Botswana Research »« Spy Kids: chapter 3 York

Spy Kids: chapter 3 York

Chapter 3—York

I was heading through the tunnels due north, but still down, down underground.  Then I saw a—you’d never guess—road sign!  It read, “Home base—12 km.  Trilopod—6 km.”

“Weird,” I said. 

Then, with a jolt and a creak, the machine stopped.  I stepped out and saw all my friends talking to a man who had a long, wide scar along his right arm and a limpl in his left leg.  Other than that, he was tall and strong, and he was saying, “Trevor, you thought one of your friends was watching you leave?”

“Yes, her name is Carly, and she’s in this room.”

And his head turned to look at me.

Spy Kids: chapter 4 Found Out and Found In »« Spy Kids: chapter 2 The Adventure Begins

Spy Kids: chapter 2 The Adventure Begins

Chapter 2:  The Adventure Begins

As I followed Britta out of the room, I realized she was headed out of the house!  When we got out the door, I found she was walking to the old hollow tree in the back.  When we got there, she said, “Must’ve  . . . .”

Then another voice said, “Been a . . . . “

Then one more voice, “Toadstool.”

Then, “Tough luck.”

“Okay, we’re good,” came Anna’s voice! 

“Everyone here?” 

That was Avery’s!

“Yep,” came a deep voice I recognized all too much—Trevor Pauling!

“I hope so.  I haven’t seen Nelson lately.”

“I’m here,” came a voice.

I was thinking, who had spoken?  First, Britta, then Anna, Avery, then Aiden, Anna again, Avery, Trevor, —Evan?”

“Cool.  I thought you had been carried away with the Blacks!”

Definitely Evan.  Then Nelson spoke, then Evan again.  Then everyone crammed into the hollowed tree with ethe occasional, “OW!” or “What was that for?” or “Hey!  That was my toe!” or “Does not anyone respect my legs?”

Then a flash of light like a traqin going by appeared, and then nothing.  They were gone.

“What was that?” I said out loud, hopijng someone would still be there.  But no one.  I decided ot go too, so I sat in the tree.  Then all of a sudden, a tube came up and enclosed me in the tree.  As quick as lightning it whisked me away under the tree through a bunch of tunnels, and I thought to myself, “I’m doomed!”

Spy Kids: chapter 3 York »« Spy Kids: chapter 1 The Sneaky Sleepover

Spy Kids: chapter 1 The Sneaky Sleepover

Chapter 1:  The Sneaky Sleepover

Me.  Lame.  Dorky.  Weird.  I hope that’s just for now.  I’m Carly Violett Brown, and I live in the universe, galaxy Milky Way, planet Earth, on the continent North America, in the state of Massachusetts, in the town of Andover, on North Street, in a house, in my room, on my bed, in the dark.  Pitch black.

“I’m thirsty,” I think.

So now I’m getting out of my bed so I can get a drink.  When I step on something Disgusting.  Very disgusting.

“What?”  I look down.then i half scream half ew, “Aahheeww!”

Because it looks like the guts of someone from the dark.

“OOOWW!”  the voice comes again.

“Who was that?” I say, alert.

I hear a groan, then quiet.  The only person who does that is Anna. 

Then a head pops our from a sleeping bag and says, “No, it’s not Anna.  It’s Britta.  By the way, that was my chest you stepped on!  Now go get lost in your own bed.”

“What was that squishy thing that looks like guts?” I said.

“Oh, that’s Bobbie, my gel-filled lizard,” she said.

“Oh,” I said.

Just then I see a dark-haried shape slip out of my room followed by another, and another.

“Just go back to bed,” said Britta with a strange sense of urgency in her voice and a glance at the moving shapes.

“Okay, okay.  Sor-eee.”

And with that, I went to bed, but only got in halfway because I wanted to see if she went anywhere.  I waited and waited until she thought I was asleep, and followed her, sure enough, out of my room.

Spy Kids: chapter 2 The Adventure Begins »« Best Day

Best Day

The best day I’ve ever had was with the Fantauzzos for James’ birthday party.  James has one brother and two sisters.  James is the oldest, turning ten now.  Ellie, the next oldest, is eight.  Jack is next; he’s six.  Last but not least is Molly, who’s four.

The first day of the trip we drove three hours from Andover, NH, to Lake George, NY.  When we got there, we went to our extremely fancy hotel room (We were spending the night.) and unpacked.  That took about fifteen minutes.

Then we DOVE into fun in the water park, which included a lazy river, water slides, and a regular pool.  We were at the place, “The Great Escape Amusement Park”, and this was only the hotel!  Instead of a pool, they had a water park!  We didn’t go to the amusement park.

After we swam, we went to the hotel restaurant, Jonny Rockets, and had some awesome burger sliders.  Then we went back to our room.  At about 9:00 p.m., Daffy Duck came with a plate of huge, I mean HUGE, chocolate chip cookies.  The other kids ran away from him, but I stayed.  I had a good time.

We swam again the next day until about 2:00.  Then we returned home.  Home, sweet home.

Spy Kids: chapter 1 The Sneaky Sleepover »« Over the Ocean

Over the Ocean

I stand here all alone

By the ocean, the rocky, rocky ocean.

Not a single person here

But me.

I look out at the crashing and booming waves,

And I start to daydream,

I’m over the ocean!

A castaway, I’m sure!

Just standing there,

Looking at the waves.

What am I supposed to eat, this castaway?

Oh, I know–fish!

I’ll have to make a fishing pole

Out of sticks, and twigs, and vines.

But what if I don’t like fish?

I wonder if I’ll find some berries in the forest by the shore.

I’m sitting down to dinner of berries and fish and seaweed.

I find that I’m in my  hut,

Not at the sea anymore.

It’s not that yummy, now that I think.

Mom made spinach!  Pllleeehhh.

Best Day »« My Imaginary (chapter 4)

My Imaginary (chapter 4)

The lion started to talk.  ”I–”

Then he was interrupted by Peppermint, who said for him, “He’s a friend of mine, the great ruler of this land.”

The lion protested, “I am not the ruler.  I am only the caretaker.”

Peppermint puffed, “I am the co-caretaker then!”

Trevor, very foolishly, said, “Uhh, the caretaker and co-caretaker of WHAT land?  All this seems like is clouds and mist, rain and sun.”

Then the lion roared.  Every single second of it, their ears were pierced with pain, it was so loud!

Peppermint, through all the noise, yelled, “He’s just mad.  He’ll get over it, but you’d better stop saying things such as that.”

“My father is the great king of all the lands,” answered the lion.

I interrupted, “What do you mean, lands?  There is more than one?”

“Yes.  There was once a time when the witch was not here.  The witch was mere dust.  When my father came along, everything was happy.  When he left this land to check on the land of Dragons, then that mere piece of dust that was the witch turned into massive, massive chaos.

She decided she was going to rule the land instead of the great leader, my father.  So she found slaves to make them work for her, those pauns that you came upon.  They remained her servants for many years, and may be for years to come.”

“I don’t think so.  Not on his watch,” interrupted Peppermint.

“I am yet only the son of the great leader, my father.  But there are things that I can do that are more powerful than the witch.”

Suddenly, Peppermint said, “Ahhh, I hear something.  What’s that?”

The lion said, “It’s probably nothing.”

But I could see that he was looking around very cautiously, trying to hide what he was thinking.  I didn’t know what he was thinking.

Trevor decided to be a little foolish again, and burst out, “What exactly is your name?”

“My name is Kaisar.”

Before he could finish saying any more about himself, out came the witch!  Before Trevor or I had time to count, the witch gloated, “I have two hundred warriors with me, ready to fight to the death to win this land from your friend ‘the lion.’”

“My name is Kaisar!” the lion declared

“Why would I call you by your real name, when all you are is a puny lion?”

Then he turned his humongous head over to Trevor and me, and said, “You may want to cover your ears.”

“RRRRRRRRrrrrrrrrrrrOOOOOOOOOOAAAAAAAAARRRRRR!!!!!!!!!!!”

After the roar, he shouted, “Guards!”

Over the Ocean »« My Imaginary (part 3)