Jessica Haight's Blog

Just look at the snail on the cover. Who could pass up this book? Not my little sister, Margo, that's for sure. She almost walked by this book when we were at the Ashpot Library, but it caught her eye, and she snatched off the display. I am so glad she did! It's been a great book to read now that summer break is here. 

A little snail is trying to find its path. He leaves a silvery glow wherever he goes. He has quite the adventure! Snail has to cross rivers, climb mountains, and deal with all kinds of terrain. Sometimes it seems like he won't be able to make it. Luckily, he keeps listening to his inner voice telling him to keep going.  There are times Snail travels with friends, but he is on his own path, so sometimes he goes alone.

I love the messages in this book. It reminds us that the start of a new day, is in fact, a journey and a chance to get on our path. Being on summer break is the best. Thinking of each day as a path or adventure makes the days even better. Especially because, like Snail, I know that the day can be filled with adventures and new sights, or it can be calm and quiet- I am at least partially in charge of my journey. Margo has been pretending to be a snail and has been leaving crepe paper paths behind her in the house. She is having a fun time going round and round in circles and under tables and behind couches.  We've both been inspired in different ways from the same book! 



The illustrations are beautiful. They go perfectly with the text to help convey how Snail is feeling. I especially like the silver trail that is left behind as Snail continues his path. The pages have a peaceful flow as we journey with Snail. This is a book that reminds us to appreciate each day, even if it isn't where we saw the day going. A book that can be enjoyed by people of all ages!

I like the positive messages in this book.  We are each on our own path. Sometimes we need to travel by ourselves and sometimes with others. We will make mistakes and go in circles, but as we go we are experiencing wonders each and every day.
Has anyone else read My Path?  Or have you read another book written or illustrated by Jana Curll?

FEAR NOT THE UNEXPECTED

 After a super cold winter, spring was a treat. Even when the temperatures were still a little colder- it was nice to see signs of nature coming back to life.  It was a joy watching everything bloom and to see all the spring colors bursting around every corner. June ended with lots of sun and heat! Thanks for stopping by to see what's been happening at the pond the last few months. 

APRIL 2026

Love the reflections at the time of day.


I can't get enough of the reflections.

Lord and Lady Quackerly pondside.


Beautiful light streaming through in the morning before work.

That blue!





After school views! Love seeing how the light changes everything.


A windy day and blurry reflections!


Ducks having fun!

The trees starting to bloom- almost looks like fall reflections!


Ducks searching for food and swimming.

Love seeing the magnolia blossoms.



Hard to leave for work!



The moon lighting things up to send off April!


MAY 2026
Hello sunshine!


I could watch the ducks all day!

Love the light and the pink of the tree.

Spring colors all over the place!



Canada Geese. Luckily this was the only time they stopped by the pond. I know some local places have a hard time with the geese taking over.


Ducks in the rain.


Bobcat walking by.

Once the bobcat noticed me- it took off!

The yellow Pond Iris always make me smile
A burst of brightness to end May (and lots of weeds too). 



JUNE 2026
Junipers everywhere!

Night sky
A visitor.

Fox racing through the yard with food. 

Lush greenery!

June was busy with the end of work and indoor house projects, and the time by the pond was a little more limited. Lots of green this time of year. The brook has been babbling and views have been peaceful. Hoping for a heron sighting soon!
Thanks for stopping by. Hope you have a cool and comfortable July!~S






















FEAR NOT THE UNEXPECTED

 

Wisp & Ripple

Wisp & Ripple, water remembers~

Fluid coherence living asunder

Electrified bones strike amplified hearts

Feeling the whole in each little part

Wisp & ripple, water remembers~ 

A bright day to behold! Gazing at such colors Street flowers pop, passing by~feeling purely royal Soaking in a secret pond~ hidden by such treesSensing whispering dragonfly wings~ flower peeps & bees ✨ 

Sometimes I like to put a slice of onion out to freshen up the air. Looks like they had a good time!😂 FEAR NOT THE UNEXPECTED

                         "Twilight" Acrylic painting on wood canvas board  "Twilight" & "Storymaster" are the front and back of an 11"x14" arched wood canvas board. The lines really took me on a whirlwind adventure for these paintings! 
"Twilight" (above) began in June 2025 and I finished the painting in September & "Storymaster" (below) began in December 2025 and was completed in March 2026. 
                     "Storymaster" Acrylic painting on wood canvas board 

Here are some behind the scenes moments from the creation of the artwork~ (I used many more than just those two brushes. 😂)

Storymaster

Listen up! Eye on you. Knowing nothing much to do. 

In the middle, story space, casting looks upon your face. 

Gods and monsters, human stares, traipsing into devilish snares. 

None so ever shall be found; one is two, eternally bound. 

Mythos players shake their tines; blood and bone flesh out lines. 

Feasting stories pierce your core; you are master of all lore.

Create. 

Caution to the reader—this story found you. 

 

You think you seek the story, but the story seeks you. That is where it starts and ends. The story, that is. You, of course, go on. You don’t need the story, but you want one. You crave all sorts of them. Your eyes devour stories, your ears prick up to listen. Stories wrap you around their sticky, non- existent fingers. And despite your endless feast upon them, it is the stories that consume you. To remember yourself as Storymaster, you must know a story for what it is. But in order to do that, you must first recall how things came to pass~~~ Find out when you are in the BEGINNING

ENCHANTED POTION BOTTLES ✨
( & ethereal mood lighting)

"Eye of the Storm"

"Prism Spell"
"Laughing Leaves"

Conjuring Lines
Conjuring lines casting colors in the prism of our MINDStories here, stories there, but none that you shall findTo break the spell that binds you, open up your eyesPatterns found in nature show truth behind all lies 
Aether
Softer than water, Aether flowsAbundantly~By wind & bone~Locked inside a box of stone~Softer than water, Aether flows
Original art, words & soundscape audio "Conjure" by Jess Haight Cottagefive.com FEAR NOT THE UNEXPECTED

 

Looking back at the last three months- it is amazing how fast time goes. It was a long and cold winter here, with more super chilly days than I remember having in a long time. While snow is beautiful, I am definitely happy that spring is in the air, and flowers are starting to bloom. 

Although I saw deer, fox, possums, rabbits, and many kinds of birds- I took mostly mental snapshots.

 Hope you enjoy looking back with me!

January 2026

Hello 2026! 

[image error] What a blue!

Night views of the moon. 



A winter wonderland.

The pond on my way to work.

So many stars!



Love the way the snow looks right after a storm. So peaceful!

February 2026
The sun peeking out as I leave for work. 



So much snow- about 2 feet!

This snow was a lot to shovel!

So happy to see a little bit of grass!




Not my pond- but the colors as I rode with my husband to run an errand were just stunning! Love the reflections in the puddle andthe road! So special to see colors like this in the sky.

March 2026
[image error]Happy to have a delay and enjoy this beautiful morning time.



Love seeing the land below the snow and the bright blue sky. Spring is coming!

The brook is full after so much snow!

Lord and Lady Quackerly are back!



Nighttime visitor- hopefully eating some ticks! They look full (or pregnant).

Love the reflections- always a little different than before.


 



The last night of March with a face in the clouds! Goodbye March!
Thanks for stopping by for a visit. Nice to reflect on the days that have gone by so far in 2026. Here's hoping for a spring filled with beauty, kindness, and moments of appreciation.
~S







FEAR NOT THE UNEXPECTED

 

At the end of The Lucky Diamond, it seemed like the five siblings had helped restore calm to the land of the Diamonds. The second book of the series, Revenge of Queen Rose begins with Susan and Vicky being captured, and there is an attack on the Diamonds which traps them inside. With so much happening, twins Alan and Cathy set off to find their sisters and free the Diamonds. It is hard to know what to do without the help of their friend, Lucky, but they follow their guts and contact Charlie. He agrees to help them, and they embark on a journey filled with danger, new characters, and a venomous snake that is trying to attack them. While Alan and Cathy are fighting for their lives, Susan and Vicky are trying to escape imprisonment and the beings who are holding them against their will. Are the Diamonds trapped forever? Is there anyone who can break the magic spell? Will the siblings be safely reunited? You will have to read this superb sequel to find out!
I was lucky enough to listen to Revenge of Queen Rose on audio, and I really enjoyed the way the narrator brought the characters to life. The story was fast and exciting, with lots of tension and surprises. I like the way new characters were woven into the story, and it wasn't always easy to decide who Alan and Cathy should trust. There are also characters from book one that show up and we find out more about them and their kingdom. I love that all the characters and pieces tie together in the end. The way the author describes the action really made the story easy to picture. It was interesting learning more about the magical gifts that the children have and seeing how they used them.  I would recommend this book to anyone in third grade and up that enjoys fantasy books and lots of adventure. I always prefer reading a series in order, and while it is possible to read this book without reading The Lucky Diamond, I think reading the books in order will make the fantasy world clearer to the reader. I look forward to reading more about these spunky siblings and their adventures. 
Has anyone else read Revenge of Queen Rose? Or have you read another book by Valinora Troy? We'd love to hear your thoughts!

Happy Reading!
~L 

For other MMGM posts, please visit Greg Pattridge's blog.FEAR NOT THE UNEXPECTED

 

Three friends, Sunny, Vee, and Trev, start a secret club in order to reach their goals. They all have a common goal of winning. Trev wants to get the lead role in the upcoming musical, Vee wants to beat her nemesis in swimming, and Sunny wants to build the best junkbot and win the upcoming competition. Each of them has their reason for wanting to win, part of which is having others see them without their autoimmune conditions. They come up with plans to reach their winning goals. They agree that they’ll stop at nothing and tell no one. When a new girl named Josie asks to join their club, she tells them that she has an autoimmune disease just like they all do. Soon something seems amiss and their winning plans have a few hiccups. Is winning everything?  If you do whatever it takes, will getting what you want really make you happy? You’ll have to see what happens to this group of friends on their journey to win.

The Secret Winners Club by Donna Galanti is one of many books that I’ve read by her. I like how the story was told from different viewpoints, so we got to see what each of the main characters were thinking. Sunny, Vee, and Trev seemed very real because they had their good qualities, but they also had their flaws. I know a lot of kids that have a variety of autoimmune conditions, and I think this would be a book where they could see themselves. Two of my friends have alopecia, and there aren’t a lot of books with kids who are going through the same thing. Learning about vitiligo, psoriasis, and alopecia will help other kids learn about what life is like for some people and may answer some of their questions. It was interesting to see what each person did to try to reach their goal and how they felt afterwards. It makes you think about what you'd do to win. I would recommend this book to anyone in fourth grade and up who likes books about friendship. 

Has anyone else read The Secret Winners Club? Or have you read another book by Donna Galanti?
We'd love to hear your thoughts!

Happy Reading!
~L
For other MMGM posts, please visit Greg Pattridge's blog.FEAR NOT THE UNEXPECTED

Margo saw this book and the penguin was wearing the same hat she was donning. Of course, we had to borrow it! Clive Penguin by Huw Lewis Jones and illustrated by Ben Sanders was on display as a new winter read. So glad we picked it up and read about Margo's "twin".

Clive Penguin does the same thing, in the same place, day after day. He's also freezing. He doesn't want to be cold anymore in a place he isn't happy, so he decides to look for somewhere better. Somewhere warmer!



Clive sees amazing things on his journey! Amazing sights are around every corner. But will Clive be happy once the journey is over? Will the new place he finds be better than where he started from? 
The style of the illustrations was just perfect for this story. I love how we got to really see and feel Clive's expressions. 

We enjoyed this book- and Margo thought Clive was funny. We just had a snowstorm, with about two feet of snow- so we could easily relate to Clive's unhappiness with the frigid temperatures!
This was a great book to read more than once because there is a lot to look at in the pictures, and the words make you think. 

Has anyone else read Clive Penguin? Have you read another book written by Huw Lewis Jones? Or one illustrated by Ben Sanders? We'd love to hear your thoughts!

Happy Reading!
~F

FEAR NOT THE UNEXPECTED

2025 has come to a close, and I am thrilled to be actually wrapping up the Views from the Pond from the final two months of the year. I hope to stay on track in 2026 with two months per post. Fingers crossed!

In November, we got some more much needed rain, and the pond got back to a better level. The colors of fall were still mesmerizing, but the temperature was going down. We were able to get out and weed the brook, after it became overgrown during the drought. It was a lot of work- but worth it, as we got lots of rain right after we finished, and the water had somewhere to go. Fall went out with brilliance!

December was cold! There was some snow, which always looks beautiful. I do love the atmosphere of the pond and trees in the wintertime- there's a magical feeling for sure! We ended the month with super cold temperatures and lots of wind. I am ready for some warmer temps for sure. 

Sit back, relax, and enjoy some pond views of the end of 2025. 

November 2025

Still lots of colors to be seen!

Love the clouds in this one!

The sky and the trees look so beautiful together. 

Just look at that orange! Love it!

So vibrant!

The brook- overgrown with weeds from the drought.

The bottom of the brook still had a lot of weeds- just a different kind.


The colors and the reflection were so stunning. 

After the weeding!

So much better!

Finally, a place for the water to flow again. It started raining as we were finishing up. We didn't quite finish- but it is MUCH better!

Reflections in the rain.

So many stars out that night!

The leaves are mostly gone. Goodbye November. 


December 2025
The month began cold, damp, and some wet snow.

There's a nip in the air for sure!

The snow is calm and peaceful. 



Some water is back in the brook! Yay!

Chilly morning before work.


The snow gave a festive feel!

Brrrrrrrr



The last night of the year and the moon was out early. 

Goodbye 2025 and Hello 2026!

I have loved sharing pictures of my views from the last year. Thanks for stopping by and visiting. Cheers to a wonderful 2026!

FEAR NOT THE UNEXPECTED

 

Wishing our readers a happy new year and a vibrant 2026! Thank you for stopping by our corner of the book block.We look forward to spinning story magic and sharing our creativity with you. 📖✨ 

Jess & Stephanie

FEAR NOT THE UNEXPECTED