Hippopotamus birthday cake!

My daughter is hippo crazy! So I came up with this cute pond for a hippo to lounge in, complete with grass near the shore. The only problem was when we lit the candles. The heat from the flames started to curl the grass and I was afraid we might catch it on fire, but all was well when the birthday girl blew out the candles! Good thing we sang extra fast. If you plan to use this idea, please be very careful with flames near plastic grass.

Mineral Point

We took the girls on a hike called Mineral Point. It was a 4 mile round trip hike which I thought my girls could handle. Only, I didn't plan on the wasp sting that LuLu got, on her neck, about one and a quarter mile into the hike. I wanted to see what mineral point was and ran until I got to this sign. I thought once we got to Mineral Point we would see Lost Lake. This sign states that Lost lake is still 3 1/2 miles from Mineral Point. I realized at that point we will have to give the trail to Lost Lake a try another time.

This trail was very fun and scenic. We went through patches of red cedar trees and then back out to the ridge where we could see Lake Pend Oreille.

Near the parking area is a location for camping and this beautiful beach.

New City

We moved to a city that has three grocery stores (not counting that big box store whose name I can't mention).  The dog was allowed to come with us.  The cat on the other hand was left in the caring hands of a good friend.  My husband thinks we should just sneak the cat here.  The town is on a lake, a big one.  Here we are at Garfield Bay, but without any lasagna or Odie.  We unpacked out belongings, met some of the neighbors, went swimming, hiking, biking, and got the kids enrolled and started at a new school.  I'm proud to be back in the potato state!

Sunny Baudelaire

My daughter went through a stage where she bit things. Random things, like the foam in her bike helmet, the nose on her stuffed elephant, and the Magic Eraser? What kid bites magic erasers? It reminded me of Sunny Baudelaire from the series written by Lemony Snicket. If you have a grade school aged youngster, these books may interest you, but "If you are interested in reading a book with a happy ending, you would be better off reading some other book." After reading the books we enjoyed the hilarious movie, where Jim Carey plays Count Olaf.

Swirling in terminology.

I need respite from the vast lexicon required for taking the GRE. Words like syncopated, venal, unstinting, sinuous, promulgate, and insipid are taking up space on my i-pod. I am too lethargic to deselect my podclass files. The girls are taking swimming lessons, we drive daily to town and on the way home, stop at the orchard to pick cherries. I feel relieved to have my test out of the way, but wish that I had a couple more months of preperation under my belt before I took it.

Here's to lovely summer evenings, I hope yours are great. Wouldn't it be fun to make a chair like this?

My First 5k!

I entered the local 4th of July 5k run. It was such a great run and my daughter joined me too! My man was kind enough to be my paparazzi. The course was down to the Columbia River and back. The weather was gorgeous. Here's wishing you all a spectacular 4th of July.

New?

My favorite cook book is Better Homes and Gardens New Cook Book.  It's not really new, it was copyrighted in 1989. 
I love a good potato salad, not like the kind you buy at the store, too gooey.  I changed the recipe a bit to suit my tastes, but basically it's

Creamy Potato Salad
6 medium potato
2 stalks celery, diced
1/3 cup chopped onion
1 1/4 cup mayo
1 tbs vinegar
2 tsp mustard
1 tsp salt
1/2 tsp pepper
6 hard cooked eggs
chopped sweet or dill pickles

In a covered saucepan cook potatoes in boiling water for 20 to 25 minutes or till just tender; drain, cool.  Peel and cube potatoes.
In a very large bowl combine celery, onion, mayonnaise, vinegar, mustard, salt, pepper, and chopped pickles.  Add potatoes and eggs.  Toss lightly to mix. Cover and chill for 6-24 hours. (If you are like me and want to eat it straight away go ahead- it's too good to wait that long!)

Summer time and the living is easy...

We are spending time with family, looking at the bluebirds that are nesting in the bird box, walking in the forest, and dipping our toes in the frigid, mountain run off, filled lake.

Spring in the Northwest

This bear came up to our neighbors house to sniff out their garabage. My daughters were playing outside when I heard screaming and then the dog barking. I jumped out of my chair, I was studying for the GRE, and ran outside as fast as I could. I thought something had happened to my youngest, the way the oldest was carrying on. I found all my children safe. They were in the bed of my husbands truck, and the dog chased the bear away. My oldest daughter had been yelling, "Brown bear," "Brown bear," and the dog had taken after it. I was sad that I didn't get to see it. We were standing outside for awhile and Lulu said, "There he is again." So we grabbed the camera and held onto the dog's collar so we could get this picture.

Refreshing

This is a list of Summertime Smoothies that can be enjoyed on a hot day.  The weather here is not cooperating.  It feels like it might snow, but that doesn't stop me from enjoying a glass. Today I had the grape banana smoothie.  It was luscious.  For each Smoothie listed below, mix all ingredients in a blender and serve in cups! Enjoy!
Grape Banana Smoothie

1 medium banana sliced
1/2 of 12 oz. can of grape juice concentrate or 1 cup grape juice
2 cups cold milk
2 cups ice cubes


Peach Smoothie

2 cups apple juice
1 cup vanilla frozen yogurt
1 banana
1 cup peach yogurt
1 1/2 cups frozen peach slices

Mango Smoothie

1 cup pineapple juice
1 cup orange juice
1 banana
1 cup pineapple sherbet
1 1/2 cup frozen mango slice

Raspberry Smoothie

1 cup orange juice
1 cup rasberry yogurt
1 cup vanilla frozen yogurt
1 banana
1 1/2 cup frozen raspberries

Strawberry Lemon Smoothie
2 cups lemonade
2 cups frozen strawberries
1 cup strawberry yogurt

Strawberry-Banana Smoothie
2 cups strawberries, frozen or fresh
1-2 bananas
1 1/2 cup juice
1/4 cup sugar
2 cups ice

Orange Julius
1/2 can frozen o.j. concentrate
1 1/2 cup milk
1/4 cup sugar
2 cups ice

Pina Colada
Bacardi frozen Pina colada
1 1/2 cup cold water
ice

Berry Blast Smoothie
1 cup apple juice
1 1/2 cup lemonade
1 cup frozen raspberries
1 cup frozen strawberries
1 cup raspberry sherbet