“Heather” PSA from First Star – www.firststar.org

I interviewed 14-year-old Heather Wilder in the course of writing my book. She is an inspiring young woman, former foster child, and now an advocate for child’s rights.

Please watch this short public service announcement – it will change your perspective about the rights of youth in our country.

Other Torch-Passers:
Mommysecrets – Thoughtful Family Project

What does passing the torch mean to you? Is it teaching? Passing traditions? Or good news about youth? Join us each week for Pass the Torch Tuesday.Former PTT posts.

CONGRATULATIONS Aimee (comment #49) and Ginny (comment #70)! Please contact me within 48 hours to claim your prize. Thanks to all who participated!

I’m thrilled to offer two lucky readers a Roots of Time Family Tree Kit for free! (Each is a $40 value!)

The Roots of Time Family Tree Kit is an easy and attractive way to display your family genealogy. You can create a unique and professional-looking family tree that you’ll be proud to display in your home.

I’ve seen one of these family trees completed – it really is a beautiful way to celebrate “family.” The family tree is made of quality archival materials and can be assembled in your home quickly and easily. I’d like one for our own home.

The kit consists of one tree serigraph, a set of two-tone adhesive leaves, four legal-sized leaf imprint templates, one leaf placement guide, one family tree reference guide, and how-to instructional booklet, including tips on family research, and access to online leaf personalization system.

You simply write your family names on the leaves, or use the online leaf personalization system to do it with your printer. Place the self-adhesive leaves to the tree and voila! All you need to purchase is a frame.

To be considered for the contest, please visit the Roots of Time site and then come back here to comment about how you would use the Roots of Time family tree. You can participate even if you don’t have a blog. Just make sure you leave a working email when you leave your comment. US addresses only. I’ll choose the winner at random after 5 p.m. CST on Friday, October 31.

We host regular giveaways for parents and educators. Please consider signing up for updates by email or feed. We will never spam you or give out your address.

More giveaways at the Bloggy Giveaways Quarterly Carnival!

I’m loving Wisconsin more and more, each autumn we live here. I took this photo at about this time in 2006 and could have done so again this past weekend, had I brought my camera along.

The fall colors are just one of the gifts we receive in Wisconsin, and though I must admit the dismal-looking November that always follows, the changing seasons force me to enjoy what we have, when we have it.

A good lesson in general.

Our family had so much fun letterboxing this year, we thought we should place one for other families to enjoy as well. So while spending time in Turtle Lake, Wisconsin, we found the perfect spot and hid our family’s first letterbox.

Directions:
1. Take Hwy 8 to everyone’s favorite ice cream shop. Order a Blizzard (optional.)
2. Continue on Hwy 8 a bit farther to the East and turn left (North) at the liquidation store.
3. Go north on this road (Tamarack to Canon Road to County Line) for approximately 1 1/2 miles. You’ll pass a sign that says “Enjoy our Wildflowers” and you’ll make a few sharp turns. First left, then right, and the rustic road snakes through the trees.
4. You’ll see Skinaway Lake on your left and come to a public boat launch. Park.
5. Start at the boat launch sign and begin walking forward. You’ll see the launch on the left, but keep walking straight.
6. Continue walking until you nearly run into swamp. Look to your left.
7. There will be an old dead tree with a convenient spot for a letterbox, in it’s rotted-out trunk.

Once you find this one, you may as well find the next letterbox as well!

1. Continue on county line road for another quarter mile until you see a sign for Skinaway Park.
2. Go all the way along the curved driveway to the clearing with the pavilion.

3. Pass the pavilion and signs and follow the pathway up and to the left.
4. At the fork in the path take a left and walk to the bottom of the hill, almost to the swamp.

5. Look to your left, for an out-of-place piece of bark. Under it you’ll find a letterbox in a hole.

Please let us know if you find them!

Letterboxing series:

Letterboxing in Turtle Lake, Wisconsin
Letterboxing in Mankato, Minnesota

Other Torch-Passers:
Powerful First Star PSA featuring 14-year-old Heather Wilder, former foster child and advocate for the rights of children.

What does passing the torch mean to you? Is it teaching? Passing traditions? Or good news about youth? Join us each week for Pass the Torch Tuesday.Former PTT posts.

I’ve written an article over at Blissfully Domestic. I address ways moms can relax about the whole costuming thing, while encouraging creativity at the same time. Go read it!

(And thank you to those of you who emailed me with concern about the site being down yesterday. It was a hosting issue and was thankfully resolved by afternoon.)