The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society

Yay!  We finally had another book club get together and I think this one was my favorite by far.  Any excuse to have a legit tea party is always great!


For the evenings ACTIVITIES, I kept things pretty simple-

1.  Thanks to Pinterest those who didn't come wearing TEA TIME HATS made one.  Here's mine...(directions included below)

SUPPLIES NEEDED:

Wrapping or Butcher Paper (I got some from the $ store)

Tape

Embelishments (flowers, ribbon, tissue paper, anything to create some pretty fru-fru)

DIRECTIONS:

• Cut your wrapping/butcher paper into large squares (approx 3'x3')
• With the paper on your head, have someone tape around the crown of your head (this creates the hat part, keeps the paper on your head, and distinguishes the brim)
• Trim pointed edges of square to be round if you like (you can start with a round piece, but I found it to be easier to cut a square and then just trim)
• Tape the brim of the hat up in the front
• Add embelishments (I used a ribbon to cover the tape around the crown, and made a bow with long tails hanging down in the back, and then added a pretty flower in the front)

2.  We took a short QUIZ to refresh our memory of what happened in the book (we had a longer lapse between reading and actually meeting this time) and for an excuse to give fun little prizes.  

*side note* Prizes included: a small letter writing kit-since the book is written in letter form, a tea cup and saucer candle-reminiscent of our tea time and those had in the book, and a small candle with an artistic interpretation of the eventual relationship development at the end of the book.

3.  As Isola, one of the books characters did, we EXAMINED OUR OWN HEAD BUMPS using this Phrenology map.

4.  Then we discussed the book

As for FOOD-

• We just had to represent the roasted pig which brought the society to fruition, but lets be real, I wasn't about to get too literal so we had thick deli sliced ham with swiss cheese on entertainers crackers. 
• I selected some nice assorted berry tea to represent the plentiful berries that were available post war
• And as for everything else, (Pecan Sandies, Cranberry Shortbread Cookies, and Watercress Mini Sandwiches) they were simply great tea time treats.
• I did provide a couple alternate beverage options for those who don't fancy tea- Apple Cider, Hot Cocoa, and water infused with lemon and orange slices.

Now the best for last...DECORATIONS-

I must give credit where credit is due, and I couldn't pull this together without great neighbors and a sweet momma.  Most items were gathered from them.  Thank you ladies!

I had to come up with a tea time theme, which seemed easy after reading this selection from the book:

“In every nook, I find little things that tell me about her… shells, bird feathers, dried sea grasses, pebbles, eggshells, and the skeleton of something that might be a bat”

So there you have it...my work was done!

Hooked on a Feelin'

Twodles has a nasty habit that he frequents way too often...HITTING!  It's his go-to reaction to just about anything.  The other day he hit me in the face so I asked him why he did it.  With a scrunched up nose and blushing face he said that he was angry.  HALLELUJAH...PRAISES BE...HE FINALLY CORRECTLY IDENTIFIED WHY HE HIT!  I'm pretty sure he won't do that any time soon, but it provided me a good opportunity to teach him about his feelings and expressing them appropriately.

Thanks to Grammy we have this little gem to give us some help:

Shop for this book here

We have had it for a while, but have been reading it quite a bit more lately.  Twodles can say all the feelings described in the book just by looking at the pictures.

Along with reading this book, I have taught him that instead of hitting he can say what he is feeling.  He hasn't quite mastered the switchover yet, but I'm going to keep at it.  

Even more fun than reading the book or practicing saying "I feel ________" instead of hitting we sometimes sit around and practice the facial expressions that go along with the feelings in the book.

This just so happened to be what we decided to do while we were snuggling in bed one morning.  We hope you enjoy, because we sure did!

SAD

SCARED

ANGRY (the feeling Twodles prefers most)

And best of all...HAPPY!