These Boots Were Made for... Me!

A cowboy without a good pair of boots is like a sailor with no ship, like a baseball player with no glove, like a saxophonist with no saxophone …well, you get the idea. Boots are an important part of any respectable cowboy.

My boots came from M.L. Leddy’s in Fort Worth, Texas. They’re legends in the handmade boot and saddle biz. They also make clothes, belts, buckles and a bunch more, and have been doing it since 1922.

In my book Johnnie’s Missing Boot!, I got to meet Wilson Franklin, the owner of M.L. Leddy’s. He’s the grandson of the real M.L. Leddy, and he helped me pick out the boots that were just right for me. I wear ‘em everyday!

If you want to learn more about M.L. Leddy’s boots and the history of their business, visit their web site: www.leddys.com

Time for boots to be moseyin’ on down the road!

WEEKEND ACTIVITY:
My boots have a big star and a cactus and a horseshoe on them. Here’s your chance to design your own pair of fancy boots. Have your mom or dad help you print out this sheet below, then draw things that are important to you on them and color them.

When you’re all finished, scan the picture and send it to my special helper Michelle at michellebain@thumbsupjohnnie.com, so I can share them with my other friends here and on my Facebook page! Don’t forget to sign your name and write your age.

Visit the link to download and print your boots to design!
Cowboy Boots!

Turkey Time! Get Your Gobble On!

Did you hear about the Thanksgiving turkey that got into a fight? He had the stuffing knocked out of him!

Don't look now but Thanksgiving is just next week! I can already smell L'il Pinky baking pumpkin pies at the Rumblin' Tummy bakery! Mmmm! Might have to drop by and see if she needs anyone to sample up a slice or two to make sure she's got it just right!

Turkey and stuffing and veggies and pies are my favorite Thanksgiving treats. What are yours? Do you have Thanksgiving traditions? Where will you enjoy Thanksgiving dinner?

Every year I like to cook a big ol' dinner at the Long Horn Diner and invite all of my friends over for a feast! I even make pumpkin flapjacks for Thanksgiving breakfast!

Here's my recipe! ALWAYS REMEMBER TO COOK WITH A GROWNUP!

JOHNNIE'S PUMPKIN FLAPJACKS
Ingredients
2 1/3 cups Original Biquick® mix
1/3 cup canned pumpkin (not pumpkin pie mix)
1 1/4 cups milk
1/4 cup vegetable oil
2 tablespoons sugar
1 teaspon pumpkin pie spice
2 eggs

Directions
1. Mix ingredients in a large bowl and stir until well blended.
2. Pour batter by slightly less than 1/4 cupfuls onto the hot griddle (grease griddle if necessary). Cook until edges are dry.
3. Turn; cook until golden brown. Serve with syrup.

HAPPY THANKSGIVING FROM THUMBS UP JOHNNIE AND FRIENDS!

WEEKEND ACTIVITY:
Take this quiz to see how much you know about turkeys! Study the answers (found below) and then quiz your family members around the table at your Thanksgiving dinner!

1. The average weight of a turkey is 15 pounds. How much was the heaviest turkey ever raised?
a.) 26 pounds
b.) 36 pounds
c.) 56 pounds
d.) 86 pounds

2. A full grown turkey has about how many feathers?
a.) 100
b.) 1,000
c.) 3,500
d.) 100,000

3. What is the term for a large group of turkeys?
a.) A flock
b.) A brood
c.) A covey
d.) A wattle

4. Which turkeys make a gobble sound?
a.) Only the females
b.) Only the males
c.) Both males and females
d.) Neither, they actually bark

5. What is a 16-week old turkey called?
a.) A tom
b.) A giblet
c.) A fryer
d.) A drumstick

6. What is the name of the flap of skin that hangs over the turkey's beak?
a.) The wattle
b.) The gobbler
c.) The carbuncle
d.) The snood

7. What American patriot wanted the wild turkey to be the symbol for our country, instead of the bald eage?
a.) Thomas Jefferson
b.) Benjamin Franklin
c.) Abraham Lincoln
d.) George Washington

8. What is the only state that doesn't have wild turkeys?
a.) Michigan
b.) New York
c.) Alaska
d.) Texas

9. How long does it take turkey eggs to hatch?
a.) 7 days
b.) 28 days
c.) 2 months
d.) 9 months

10. Turkey skins are tanned and used to make what?
a.) Cowboy boots and belts
b.) Umbrellas
c.) Baseball gloves
d.) All of the above

ANSWERS:
1. = d.) 86 pounds, about the size of a large dog!
2. = c.) 3,500 feathers
3. = a.) a flock
4. = b.) only the males gobble; the females make a clucking noise
5. = c.) a fryer
6. = d.) the snood
7. = b.) Benjamin Franklin
8. = c.) Alaska
9. = b.) 28 days
10. = a.) Cowboy boots and belts

Happy Veterans Day and 11-11-11!

Today is Veterans Day. It's the day we honor those brave men and women who have served in a branch of the military for the United States.

- Army
- Navy
- Air Force
- Marines
- Coast Guard

We celebrate Veterans Day on November 11th, the anniversary of the signing of the Armistice that ended World War 1 at the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month in 1918. So we proudly salute those people who have given so much to help us be safe and free in the country we love.

Do you know someone who has served in the military? A grandparent, parent or aunt or uncle or older brother or sister? If you're not sure, ask a parent. Then thank that person or draw them a picture for helping to protect our country! And give 'em a big ol' thumbs up and a hug!

WEEKEND ACTIVITY
Today is also 11-11-11! November 11th, 2011. It's the only 11-11-11 we'll see in our lifetimes!

Let's keep the number 11 in our mind this weekend and count things up to 11! What can you find 11 of? Get a piece of paper or a notepad and make a list of things you can count up to eleven.

For example:
11 cars
11 trees
11 fallen leaves
11 squirrels
11 birds
11 friends
11 socks

Can you fill up a whole page?

Then draw a picture of yourself wearing a sports jersey with the number 11 on it. E-mail it to me and I'll post it on my blog: michellebain@thumbsupjohnnie.com (She helps me out with my mail!)

Signs, Signs, Everywhere Signs!

My friend Miss Tiptop teaches kiddos at the Happy School lots of good stuff. She knows a lot about a lot of subjects! Recently she taught my nephew Little Digit and his best friend Zipp Handy about sign language. Sign language is a great way for people with hearing trouble to communicate.

The sign language alphabet is a series of hand signals. You spell out letters using your hands. For people who can't hear, signing can take the place of your voice! In my book, Zipp, Little Digit & the Happy Signs!, you can learn about different signs and ways to communicate.


WEEKEND ACTIVITY
Learn some simple sign language words this weekend. Sign the word HELLO...



Sign the word FRIEND...



Look at the chart below and learn to sign your first name. Then show your family and teach them how to sign their names.