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BUTTERFLY

Here’s a butterfly from Costa Rica who’s a real fan of Granny Vee!!

Can you see why?

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CRAB

This colorful crab lives in holes dug in the sands.

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DEER

There was also a dear deer on the beach in Costa Rica.

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MONKEY

What do you think of this real monkey face?

WILD PIG

Another critter who lives in Costa Rica.

Friendly Philemon Frog, or “Phil” for short, was a Striped-Belly Green Frog. One day Friendly Phil was leaping along singing a cheery little song:

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“La-la-la-la-la!”

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Phil was happily and hurriedly leaping along. Happily because he was going to meet his friends to play baseball. Hurriedly, because he was a bit late.

“Boy, oh boy! I positively can’t wait to get to the ballgame!” thought Phil. But on this particular day, he first happened to bump into an old toad named Thaddeus.

Now Thaddeus Toad, at one time, had been a world-class jumper. He could leap over a big old moose with just a single bound, a pretty hard feat for a toad. Of course, there are other animals that can jump higher than toads. Do you think you can name some? Kangaroos! Bunnies! And grasshoppers! Grasshoppers?! Grasshoppers can’t hop higher than toads, can they? Yes, some can! Who would believe?!

But let’s get back to our story! On this particular day, Thaddeus Toad was moaning and groaning.

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Mmmoooooooan. Grrooooooan.

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Thaddeus Toad was moaning because he was hurt. His leaping leg was hurt very badly so that he couldn’t leap – not one little bit. So there he lay moaning in a pile of brown and orange autumn leaves. And because he, too, was brown and orange, it was very hard, almost impossible to see him without looking very carefully!

Why earlier a hiker had almost stepped on him by accident! Thaddeus had shuddered, imagining himself being squished under the big heavy boot. It had been a very close call, a very close call, indeed! Yes, Thaddeus Toad knew he needed someone to help him. So he moaned and groaned.

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Mmmoooooooan. Grrooooooan.

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But no one heard him. He was getting very hungry there, too. Not one bug crawled close enough for him to snatch it with his long tongue. Not one fly flew near. Thaddeus longed to be back home by the pond where there were always lots of bugs to eat. So he moaned and groaned.

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Mmmoooooooan. Grrooooooan.

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Then the toad heard the leaves rustling. His little heart started pounding thump-thump with the hope that someone had come at last to help him. Suddenly, a bushy-tailed squirrel ran right by him!

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“Help! Help!”

croaked the toad. The deep voice startled the skittish squirrel and he stopped and looked around to see if he was in danger. At first, the squirrel didn’t see the toad who blended in so well with the leaves.

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“Help! I’m here! Help!”

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croaked the toad. The squirrel finally saw the brown and orange toad almost buried in all those brown and orange leaves. “Sorry. No time to help. I am very, very busy. You see I must collect all my food for the winter. Sorry.”

And with that the squirrel darted off. Sadly, he wouldn’t even take the time to help the poor, crippled toad. So Thaddeus Toad went back to his moaning.

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Mmmoooooooan. Grrooooooan.

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Then the toad heard the leaves rustling again. His little heart started pounding “thump-thump” with the hope that someone had come at last to help him. Slowly, a snake slithered towards him.

“Help! Help!” croaked the toad.

“Hello!” hissed the snake. You look as if you can’t leap.”

“I can’t!” said the toad. “Please, can you help me get back to the pond where I can find some bugs to eat? I am soooo hungry!”

“You just stay right there and I’ll see what we can do about a little dinner,” hissed the snake. But the sneaky snake was not really planning on helping the toad at all. Actually, the snake was planning on eating the toad! The snake slithered dangerously close to the toad.

Suddenly a beautiful eagle swooped down from the sky and caught the snake.

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“Whew! That was close!” croaked the toad. He breathed a little prayer of thanks. Just then the toad heard something. It was someone singing in the distance.

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La-la-la-la-la!

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“Hmmm. That sounds like a frog voice to me,” thought the toad out loud. “And it sounds a lot like… Phil the Frog! He’s always singing that cheery little song! Why I can hear him sometimes clear across the pond. Maybe he’ll help me…… But then again, maybe he won’t. Sometimes those Striped-Belly Green Frogs don’t like us Brown and Orange Speckled Toads. But then again, that is Friendly Phil the Frog. If he’s truly friendly, he will help! Won’t he?”

Phil was leaping quickly along singing quite loudly.

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La-la-la-la-la!

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“How will he even hear me?” thought Thaddeus. “He’s singing at the top of his lungs! I got it! If I sing louder than he’s singing, he just might hear me.” So the toad started singing as loudly as he could.

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La-la-la-la-la!

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And guess what? Friendly Phil heard him! Phil leaped closer and closer towards the sound of the singing. He stopped and listened. The old toad continued croaking out the chorus.

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La-la-la-la-la!

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Phil looked around but he couldn’t see the toad because he blended in with all the orange and brown leaves!

“Positively peculiar!” remarked Phil. “I don’t see anyone. Maybe it was only an echo of my singing. It was certainly a deep echo, though…. hmmm …. maybe the leaves are singing!”

“Of course, the leaves aren’t singing!” bellowed the toad. “Can’t you see me here in all these leaves?” The toad waved his arms to draw attention to himself and the leaves flew up in a flurry of fall colors.

“Oh, it’s you! Why it’s Thaddeus Toad! Positively peculiar!” exclaimed Phil.

“Just what’s so peculiar?” croaked the toad.

“I’ve never heard of a singing toad!” replied Phil. “You all do a lot of croaking, but I’ve never heard one ‘la-la’ out of you … or from any toad for that matter.”

“Well, of course, toads sing!

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Rrribbit! Rrrribbit!

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See?” Thaddeus Toad chimed. “But la-las are not particularly our style. However, I kind of like it, now that I’ve tried it. It’s rather catchy.

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La-la-la-la-la!”

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“But now to the matter-at-hand,” continued the toad. “I am sooooo glad you’re here! I hurt my leg and I can’t leap and I’m sooooo hungry! Do you think you can help me? Please?”

“Positively!” replied Friendly Phil who was almost always ready to help a friend in need.

But then Phil remembered that he was late. “I’ll miss my ballgame!” he thought. “Who will play second? What should I do? I want to go play. But what if it were me lying there hurt? Wouldn’t I want someone to help me?” Phil was torn. He really wanted to play ball but he knew in his heart that the kind thing to do was to help this poor, crippled toad. So Phil decided to do the right thing.

“Positively, I’ll be glad to help. I’ll start by catching you a snack!”

So Friendly Philemon Frog darted off to catch a fly for the hungry toad to eat.

The toad was ever so grateful for the juicy morsel. Yummm!

Then Phil helped the old toad stand up. Thaddeus leaned on Phil and together they slowly made it back to the toad’s home near the pond. Next, Phil called on his friend the Bard Owl to come and bandage the toad’s sore leg.

Afterwards, Phil came every day with flies for the toad to eat until his leg was healed and he could catch them for himself. Meanwhile, Phil and Thaddeus became good friends and together they would sing in two-part harmony:

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La-la-la-la-la!

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One day, when Phil was approaching Thaddeus’ home, he could hear a lot of croaking.

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Rrribbit! Rrribbit! Rrribbit!

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Many, many toads were leaping around Thaddeus. Phil wondered about all the excitement. He was a little worried because it was rumored that Brown and Orange Speckled Toads didn’t particularly like Striped-Belly Green Frogs. Every time Phil had come to this side of the pond, he had wondered if the toads would chase him away.

But today to his surprise, as Phil hopped closer, the toads all started cheering happily. Then one of the Brown and Orange Speckled Toads, the biggest one, jumped towards Phil. For a second, Phil was worried. But then the big toad smiled broadly.

“It is an honor to meet you finally, Friendly Phil,” said the big toad who was wearing a crown. “We have heard of your great kindness towards Thaddeus Toad in helping him while he was hurt.”

“Hey, what are friends for?” Phil shrugged off the compliment. “I was only doing what I would have wanted someone to do for me, if I had been in the same predicament.”

“Well, nonetheless, as the Toad King, I would like to present you with this token of our appreciation,” continued the big toad.

He pulled out a heart-shaped gold medal. He placed it on Phil’s chest. “We present you, Friendly Philemon Frog, with this Gold Heart award because you followed the Golden Rule: “Treat others as you’d like them to treat you!’ You truly have a gold heart on the inside! By helping a toad in need, you put the Golden Rule into practice and have set a good example for all toads and frogs everywhere to follow. We all would be honored to have you as our friend.”

So from that day forward, the Brown and Orange Speckled Toads and the Striped-Belly Green Frogs lived happily together as friends sharing the same pond. They learned to croak and sing in beautiful harmony together.

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La-la-la-la-la! Rrribbit! Rrribbit! La-la-la-la-la!

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And that’s how the Green Frog got his Gold Heart by keeping the Golden Rule:

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“Treat others as you’d like them to treat you.”

THE HAPPY ENDING

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♥ For a fun party, have children “hippity-hop” and dance to  our “Happity Birthday!” song.  (Order under “Buy Children’s Products” on side bar.)  Another fun song to do is “The Zoo Song”.

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♥ Look at the “Birthday Bunny” cakes, we had made out of cupcakes!  Just take a picture of Buttons and Bows into the bakery!

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♥ Play “Pin the Tail on the Bunny”.  Cut out a bunny shape out of posterboard.  Use the Post-It notes that are shaped like a cottontail.  You can write each child’s name on the Post-It before they try to “pin” it on the bunny, blindfolded.  Have fun!

grannyvee@grannyvee.com

Memory Aid

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Mid-dle 2 Out, Out

Mid-dle 2 Out, Out

Mid-dle 2 Out, 3 Out, 4 White, White

Mid-dle 4 White, White

Mid-dle 4 White, White

Mid-dle 4 White, 3 White, 2 Out, Out

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Mid-dle 4 Out, Out

Mid-dle 4 Out, Out

Mid-dle 4 Out, 3 Out, 2 White, White

Mid-dle 2 White, White

Mid-dle 2 White, White

Mid-dle 2 White, 3 White, 4 Out, Out

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Detailed Instructions:

These instructions may seem more complicated written out than actually played.  My students have been demonstrated this little ditty which is really quite simple and fun!  The “lyrics” will help them to remember what to play.

Flats tires go down. Flat notes go down to the next key: in this song, the black keys.

In this song, all notes are played on black keys (flats) except for the “White, White” part.

Right Hand:

Finger  #1 on b-flat, #2 on d-flat, #3 on e-flat, #5 (pinky) on g-flat.

Fingers #2&3 are positioned in the middle.

“Mid” = finger #3 (Middle finger)

“dle” = #2

“Out” = b-flat & g-flat, played together. (Thumb w/pinky)

“White” = b & f, played together.  (Thumb and pinky “fall in” to white keys.)

Left Hand:

Numbers are finger numbers of left hand: #2 on g-flat, #3 e-flat, #4 on d-flat.

Mid-dle 2 Out, Out

Mid-dle 2 Out, Out

Mid-dle 2 Out, 3 Out, 4 White, White

Mid-dle 4 White, White

Mid-dle 4 White, White

Mid-dle 4 White, 3 White, 2 Out, Out

(Second part:  Right hand remains in position, Left hand crosses over to next higher octave with this fingering:  #4 on b-flat, #3 on d-flat, #2 on e-flat.)

Mid-dle 4 Out, Out

Mid-dle 4 Out, Out

Mid-dle 4 Out, 3 Out, 2 White, White

Mid-dle 2 White, White

Mid-dle 2 White, White

Mid-dle 2 White, 3 White, 4 Out, Out

Note:  I am not the composer of this melody but have assumed it is traditional.  However, I did dub it the “Black Key Bounce” for my students and gave it the words (© 2000 CAVenable) above as an aid to memory.  If you know the original name and author, I’d be happy to acknowledge them, although no “music” is really written here.  It is a memory aid.

by the Bard Owl

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There once was a lassie named Hannah

Who picked from a plant a banana

But it gave her a fright

When it glowed in the night

So she wrapped it within her bandana.

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This type of poem is called a limerick.   Limericks, possibly named after the Irish town of Limerick, are meant to be cute and funny.

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bandana, bandanna = scarf or kerchief

Do you know what a scarf is called in Russian?  A babushka (accent on “ba”).   Because so many of the grandmothers in Russia wear scarves upon their heads, ‘babushka’ also means ‘grandmother’.   So ‘Granny Vee’ in Russian is ‘Babushka Vee’ spelt ‘Бабушка Ви’.

‘Б’ or ‘б’ is like an English ‘b’.

‘y’ is like an English ‘oo’.

‘ш’ is like an English ’sh’.

‘В’ is like an English ‘V’

‘и’ is like an English long ‘e’.

As you can see, the Russian alphabet is different from the English.  Granny Vee is learning Russian because she visits children in Belarus and Russia.

Standard Memory Aids for the Lines of the Treble (top) Staff are:

Every Good Boy Does Fine

Every Good Boy Deserves Fudge

but if you like bunnies, use Granny Vee’s:

Every Great Bunny Does Flips.

For the Bass (bottom) Staff use the bunny one:

Good Bunnies Do Flop Around

or the standard:

Good Boys Do Fine Always

Remember the “basement is in the ground” so the bass staff phrase begins with “g“.

THE SPACES SPELL FACE ON THE TOP (Your face is on the top part of your body and it’s on the top staff, too!)

The first three bottom/bass staff spaces spell ACE.

Or you can use:  All Cows Eat Grass to remember the spaces on the bass.

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On the ship dubbed Mayflower, Pilgrims sailed o’er the sea

To a land where these Christians would seek their liberty

To live in obedience to God Almighty above:

It would take their sacrifice, their courage, their patience, their love.

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After a hard and long voyage, they were “brought safe to land”

Through perilous seas by the Lord’s gracious hand.

They fell to their knees on the cold shores of Cape Cod

And lifted their voices in thankful blessings to God.

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The Pilgrims settled down in Plymouth, after weeks of exploration

And built a common house, the start of their plantation.

There was good fertile soil and water flowing from fresh springs

And forests filled with nuts and berries and other tasty things.

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That first winter was harder than most humans could bear

But the Pilgrims, without complaining, trusted in God’s care.

Though sickness took near half of them to their heav’nly destination

God forged these hardy Pilgrims, and destined a new nation.

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That first spring was welcomed and they planted the rich fields

And prayed for a harvest of a hale and hearty yield.

Kindly native Indians offered ‘know-how’ and their aid

So over that first summer, lasting friendships were gladly made.

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So greatly was appreciated the harvest of that fall

That the governor named Bradford sent forth a public call

To thank the Lord Almighty in a very special way

With a time of prayer and feasting – a Thanksgiving Day!

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The chief of the Indians came and brought ninety more

Feeding all those people would really be a chore!

But the Indians didn’t come empty-handed in the least

They came loaded down with goodies to add to the feast!

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The Indians brought plump turkeys and plenty of deer meat.

The Pilgrims cooked fresh veggies: carrots, onions, turnips, beets.

Dessert was not forgotten: they made puddings and pies so sweet

And the Indians popped popcorn! Yes! For the Pilgrims, a new treat!

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They ate and ate, then had some sport and took some time to play

But Thanksgiving is more than food and fun: it is a time to pray.

So the Pilgrims and the Indians humbly bowed their heads

Remembering God’s goodness, a prayer of thanks was said.

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So it came to pass in that year, sixteen-hundred twenty-one

In the beauty of the autumn, this celebration was begun.

One more fact about this fine feast of gobble-gobble glee:

That very first Thanksgiving was not one day … but THREE!

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© 2008 CAVenable