Category: National Read Across America Day

National Read Across America Day ~ 2022

~ Tails Around the Ranch ~ 43 Comments

Today is Ash Wednesday and marks the beginning of Lent; a time of sacrifice, self-discipline and reflection leading up to Easter. Christians across the world often decide to give up something they enjoy like chocolate or alcohol for instance or  they agree to do special works of service/goodness. The Ranch Hands said “No dice!” on giving anything up but they assured me they would step up and be better doggos on their walks after kind of forgetting what a loose leash walk really means following the recent extended cold spell when walks were impossible. Apparently short term memory can be a problem with dogs.

In addition to Lent, today also marks a different kind of celebration. Today is “Read Across America Day,” created in 1998 by the National Education Association (NEA), as a way to encourage children to read. This annual day is typically held today on Theodor S. Geisel’s birthday, a longtime proponent of reading. You may know him as the estimable, Dr. Seuss. The NEA endorses and promotes the importance of reading and decided to combine their efforts every year on his birthdate.

Dr. Seuss

Little known fact: did you know Dr. Seuss created the word nerd? The first documented use of the word was in his 1950 book, “If I Ran the Zoo” about a boy named Gerald McGrew who visits a zoo and wonders how it might look if he ran it.

We hope you’ll join ‘Thing One and Thing Two’ along with the cats and dogs of Blogville today by reading a book as we celebrate National Read Across America day.

Live, love, bark! 🐾

National Read Across America Day ~ 2021

~ Tails Around the Ranch ~ 43 Comments

Dr. Seuss

 

Welcome to “Read Across America Day.” Created in 1998 by the NEA, the celebration was created as a way to encourage children to read. Yesterday marked the start of National Reading Month which focuses on motivating kids to read. The annual reading day has typically been held on March 2, Dr. Seuss’s birthday. Even Blogville is celebrating today so be sure to check your favorite blog.

Around the Ranch, “Thing One” and “Thing Two” will celebrate (as soon as they wake up from their latest naps). I recently ordered a couple new dog books and today seems like the perfect time to begin reading them. Having Thing One and Thing Two in my lap will make it all more fun.Dr. Seuss

We hope you’ll celebrate today by reading a book to a child but a fur-kid will work too. Happy Birthday, Dr. Seuss.

Live, love, bark! 🐾

 

National Read Across America Day

~ Tails Around the Ranch ~ 69 Comments

Dr. SeussNormally we don’t post on weekends, but we didn’t want to miss an opportunity to join the blog hop celebrating Dr. Seuss’ birthday hosted by our fur-iends Chimera ❤Jakey ❤ Molly. You can click on the links for other Dr. Seuss blog fun.

March 2 is National Read Across America Day, where we celebrate one of our most favorite activities, reading. Created by the National Education Association (NEA) in 1998 as a way to encourage children to get excited about reading and it occurs every year on Dr. Seuss’  birthday. We think the perfect way to celebrate is to don a Dr. Seuss hat like Sam and read any one of his famous stories, like the 2015 bestseller, “What Pet Should I Get.” Today  students, teachers, parents, and community members around the country will come together to read books and celebrate the joy of reading. 

The best news about Dr. Seuss is there will be a new book coming out later this year (September 2019), 28 years after the author’s death, according to a press release from the publisher. The new book is about a friendly horse who takes a group of students on a tour of an art museum. Artists and non-artists will appreciate the timeless theme that “there is no one right way to interpret the beauty we encounter every day,” as indicated in the press release.

Dr. Seuss

So what are you waiting for…grab a book and join us! And happy birthday to the good ‘doctor.’

Dr. Seuss

Live, love, bark! 🐾

Nature Friday ~ March 1, 2019

~ Tails Around the Ranch ~ 79 Comments

Nature FridayIt’s Friday which means we are joining our fur-iends Rosy and her brothers from LLB in Our Backyard for this week’s edition of the Nature Friday Blog Hop. Be sure to click on the link to check out nature around Blogville.

Mother Nature seems to be very confused judging by the bizarro weather she’s dishing out. Severe rain on the West Coast, tons of snow on the East Coast with warm temps followed by bitter cold and snow in the Rocky Mountains. I can’t remember when I experienced such yoyo conditions.

When we were out on our afternoon walk yesterday, we discovered positive signs that Spring really is around the corner. Check out Exhibit A.

Irises

These blue beauties are called reticulated irises. Growing only to about 4-5 inches tall, as early blooming Spring bulbs they provide the promise that Spring really is being worked on for a soon-to-be roll out. Reticulated irises are hardy down to USDA planting zone 4a (with temps as low as -34.4 °C/-30 °F). Beware though, they are toxic if ingested and should not  be planted where pets could inadvertently snack on them.

Reticulated irises are a huge favorite of mine, yet my eagle eye always scans the landscape for my other early blooming Spring crush, crocuses. These striking tiny gems caught my eye and for good reason…they are fabulous.

Purple crocus

Seeing these lovely blooms gives me hope that Spring will arrive soon, despite a winter storm watch for our region. I hope they don’t mind being dumped on by the white stuff. Ignorance is truly bliss, isn’t it?

Have a great weekend, especially celebrating National Read Across America Day, which is Dr. Seuss’ birthday tomorrow, March 2.

Live, love, bark! 🐾

National Read Across America Day

~ Tails Around the Ranch ~ 52 Comments


Today is National Read Across America Day and would have been the 113th birthday of the beloved Dr. Seuss where people are invited to host local events to celebrate and promote children’s reading and in honor of all who read, Sam wholeheartedly agrees and is ‘pawticipating.’ Click on this link to join the hop.

Sam here. Oh yessiree..you betcha, I totally support National Read Across America Day. See the Dr. Seuss quote I found. I told mom should use it in our post. And anyone who knows me, knows I definitely follow any direction I choose. Sorry ’bout your shoulder mom, but in my defense, it must be okay because Dr. Seuss told me to do it.

Mom here. Umm, Sam, I don’t think you’re suppose to ‘bogart’ an expression for your self-serving ways. And my shoulder will be just fine so long as I tie your leash around my waist. I have too much ‘ballast’ for you to go gallivanting here, there, everywhere, young man.

Sam: Heavy dog sigh. Oh well, it was worth a shot. We hope you are able to do some great reading today and everyday, and while you’re at it, you should add it to your list of fun things to do for a super weekend. Now why Mom is winking and smiling at some bottle of red liquid on the counter next to her Kindle?

Live, love, bark❣