Book Review–Play, Mozart, Play! by Peter Sis

Title:  Play, Mozart, Play!

Author/Illustrator:  Peter Sis

Publisher:  Harper Collins

Length:  [26 pages]

ISBN:  0061121827

Synopsis:  This picture book is a simplistic telling of Mozart’s childhood as a child prodigy.  While light on text, the real story is told through pictures.  Peter Sis’ pictures do not disappoint as they reveal the fantastical world Mozart’s music created in his own mind.  The emphatic command of “Play, Mozart, play!”, which begins as a command from his father, takes on double meaning as Mozart’s musical ability becomes the play of his childhood.  This book can be enjoyed on all levels, from preschool to adult.

My Thoughts:  I know there is probably much more to Mozart’s home life than is revealed in this short book.  However, what I glean from it is that indeed, Mozart’s musical ability became a source of entertainment and enjoyment him as well as others.  The story aside, the illustrations make this book worthwhile.  Animals, musical instruments, and furniture take on lives of their own because of Mozart’s music.  There is plenty to look at and talk about in the illustrations of this book alone.  I really enjoyed this book, and so did my girls (ages 2 and 3 1/2).

Frugal Friday–Natural Oven Cleaner

  It’s Frugal Friday over at Biblical Womanhood, and while I certainly do not consider myself an expert at all on frugality, I am trying to make small decisions that reduce our mouthly outgo.  Since I have declared January The Month of the Kitchen in my home, I knew it was time to finally tackle the oven which was in dreadful condition after too-long-to-mention between cleanings and several boil-over episodes.  I wanted to try something besides a commercially available cleaner with its harsh fumes and unnecessary cost, so I “googled” natural oven cleaner and came up with a plethora of options, most of which contained baking soda, salt, water, and vinegar in some combination or another.  I really did not follow any specific recipe after the first application.  What I ended up doing, which I think was actually the most effective, was dumping a layer of baking soda on the bottom of the oven and spraying it with a 50/50 solution of vinegar and water.  This achieved the nice reaction of foaming and boiling you usually get from mixing baking soda and vinegar, only it was much reduced because of the added water.  I left this on the oven as long as patience would allow, and then I cleaned it off.  Actually, Steady Eddie cleaned it off, since he had gotten home by then and he is my right-hand man when it comes to cleaning and homekeeping.  We finished this cleaning off with a short cycle of self-cleaning.  The oven is still not PERFECTLY clean, but I am trying to let go my perfectionism, so I am happy with it.  Besides, it is an old oven and was probably not perfectly clean when we first moved in. 

Daily Scripture Share

20.  My son, give attention to my words; incline your ear to my sayings.  21  Do not let them depart from your sight; keep them in the midst of your heart.  22.  For they are life to those who find them and health to all their body.  23.  Watch over your heart with all diligence, for from it flow the springs of life.  24.  Put away from you a deceitful mouth and put devious speech far from you.  25.  Let your eyes look directly ahead and let your gaze be fixed straight in front of you.  26.  Watch the path of your feet and all your ways will be established.  27.  Do not turn to the right nor to the left; turn your foot from evil.      Proverbs 4:  20-27 Amplified

Lord, help me to see that wisdom and actions that please you both stem from learning and meditating on Your Word.  Help me to also see that as my heart goes, so goes my health, my speech, and eventually, my life.  Help me to not look to the right or to the left; help me to not be distracted by what is around me as I walk out the plan and the purpose You have for my life.  Amen.