National Read Across America Day!

To celebrate Dr. Seuss's birthday - it is National Read Across America Day!
Like millions of other children, my kids learned how to read by reading Dr. Seuss books. I love the witty words and the lesson's these books teach. We have a whole collection of these books, but my favorite is one that not many people know about. It was written in 1938 and it is called the 500 Hats of Bartholomew Cubbins.Unlike most of Dr. Seuss's other books, it was written in prose rather than rhyming.
It talks about a poor boy named Bartholomew Cubbins who takes off his hat as the king passes by, because that is the law, but another hat magically appears on his head. The king's procession stops and the king tells him to take off his hat, so he does and then another one appears. This keeps happening so he is arrested and taken to the castle. Several wise men are brought in and no one can figure out what to do because each time Bartholomew takes off his hat, the new hat is even better than the last one. In the end, the 500th hat is magnificant and the king offers him 500 pieces of gold for the hat.
As we go through life, each of us takes off one hat and another one automatically is put one. When I took off my graduates cap when I graduated from college, I got married and immediately put on my wife crown, and then I added a mother crown and so on. The remarkable thing is, each new hat gets better and better!

So grab a book, maybe, "The Power Of A Penny," and cuddle up with a blanket - you don't have to have an excuse, because the government is telling you to sit down and read today!

Another great use for a penny!

I've heard my mom ask my husband, "How do I know when I need to get new tires?" I found a great way to answer this question and of course, it has to do with a penny.
Insert a penny between the treads of a tire. If you can see the top of Lincoln's head, it's time for new tires. The more of his head you can see, the sooner you should get new tires!

The Man With The Most Books Written About Him

Did you know that our 16th president has been the subject of more books than all of our other President's combined? The only other historical figure who has been written about more than him was Jesus. More than 10,000 books have been written about President Lincoln. He was and still is the common man's president. He had great standards and was willing to stick with them, even when he was being criticized and this led him to be elected the president. People are still amazed at his standards and are looking to him as an example. That's why we honor him with a National holiday and why his profile is found on the front of the new penny. Every time you get a penny, remember this amazing man and the virtues which he held.

Don't expect to get one of the new pennies anytime soon. Unlike the state quarters program, which allowed collectors to find the new quarters at their local banks, the new Lincoln pennies won't be available for banks to order. If they are available at your local bank, it will just be a fluke.

I would love to get a couple rolls of these pennies just to circulate them and imagine how some people would be excited to have happened upon one of these new treasures!

A full set

I just received a full set of the new pennies from 2009 and the brand new 2010 penny. Most people would say what is the big deal, it's just a bunch of pennies. The thing is, over the last two years, I have spent so much time talking about pennies to promote my book, that I have really grown to love pennies and appreciate the history that goes along with them. Plus during this time, every penny counts!

Friendship Stew

I recently put together a bunch of my favorite recipes and gave them as a gift to my friends and family. I am not a great cook and I don't have much time to make fancy meals because I am busy taking care of a ranch and trying to promote my book, "The Power Of A Penny." So when I do cook, it has to be fast and easy or I won't make it.

I decided to start a another blog telling about my adventures, my friends and also to share some of my favorite recipes with those I love. My new blog address is:

www.friendship-stew.blogspot.com

I will continue to blog on "thepowerofapenny.blogspot.com," about my book and penny news, but the other blog will be more personal.

Tomorrow is the big day!

At 9:30 A.M. Central time tomorrow, the U.S. Mint director will unveil the new, "Preservation of the Union," penny at the Abraham Lincoln Presidential Museum in Springfield, Illinois. Children under 18 will receive one of these new cents for free while adults who are in attendance can trade in their old pennies for up to six rolls of these new coins. They will also be available at the counters of Union Station in Washington, D.C. or at the Senate's credit union after 10:00 A.M.
If you can't make to any of these locations you are out of luck until they start being circulated. I still haven't seen the last of new pennies that were released in 2009.

If you are one of those collectors who just has to have one of these new treasures, you can purchase them on Ebay. Several sellers are advertising that they have them in hand. How is that possible when they haven't been released yet? Hmmmm.... seems suspicious to me, especially the guy who says he has the first penny with a die mistake. The starting bid for one penny is .20 cents or your can "Buy it now!" for 1.99. I found rolls of the new pennies for sale from $35.00 on up to $150.99 plus $6.00 shipping. One seller states that only 60 million of the 2010 P were minted, so you had better act fast if you want to get one of these collectible coins before they are all gone!

Don't expect to make any money!

My advice to anyone who writes books, don't expect to make any money!

I got a check from my publisher, Tate Publishing, the other day. They sold $422 worth of my book, "The Power Of A Penny," and guess how much I got from that? A whopping $39.89. So much for the power of a penny!

I imagine the Tate executives are celebrating by sitting on a tropical island somewhere enjoying a fruity drink with a cute little umbrella in it thanks to me!I hope they get a sun burn!