Snappy Snippets

Hippopotamus birthday cake!

2012-01-20T16:19:00.000-08:00

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

2011-10-04T21:18:00.000-07:00

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

2011-10-02T23:30:00.000-07:00

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

2011-08-04T23:20:00.000-07:00

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.

2011-07-27T22:03:00.000-07:00

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!

2011-07-04T18:53:00.000-07:00

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?

2011-06-27T20:35:00.000-07:00

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...

2011-06-25T20:02:00.000-07:00

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

2011-06-16T10:55:00.000-07:00

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

2011-05-25T14:28:00.000-07:00

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

Tulip Girls

2011-05-23T22:42:00.000-07:00

Lu Lu thought of this creative activity all on their own. Her older sister joined in to make one too. I love that the girl in the first picture even has petal slippers.

Hard Work

2011-05-22T21:58:00.000-07:00

On our way to Twin Lakes this weekend, we passed Round Lake and saw the construction of some new tepees. The poles are stripped of bark except for the tops, which still have the needles, which adds a contrasting effect. They seem to glow in the setting sun.

Perennials

2011-05-21T22:37:00.000-07:00

Venerate

2011-05-20T13:06:00.000-07:00

Nature and all it's beauty, gets my deepest respect. The further from shore and the deeper the water, the bigger the exposure of tree roots. My daughters climbed under and through the roots. Sitting on top as if queens on thrones.

Foundation!

2011-05-19T22:19:00.000-07:00

This is the foundation we found as the water level fell.
Education is a good foundation for life. This weeks quote comes from Nelson Mandela, "Education is the most powerful weapon which you can use to change the world."

Ring around Lake Roosevelt

2011-05-18T22:14:00.000-07:00

It looks like a big ring around the bathtub. The water is so low, that we did indeed, find the old town that was underwater. We use to be scared to swim out very far because we didn't know what was under the water, it was so deep and dark down there. Now I see, there was no reason to be scared. The only thing we found since the water abated were some rocks and tree stumps. Sorry for the lack of posts recently. I am currently studying for the GRE. That stands for: Graduate Record Exam, so I can apply to graduate school. There are three sections and I am terrified of the math! It's been so long since I was in math class. Hopefully it comes back to me, just like riding a bike, here's to wishful thinking!

Fun eggs!

2011-04-18T12:01:00.000-07:00

I really want to try this version of eggs for our egg hunt this year. What a riot it would be to see the girls eyes when they found these.

Point of view

2011-04-16T13:06:00.000-07:00

A pessimist sees the difficulty in every opportunity; an optimist sees the opportunity in every difficulty. -Winston Churchill

The Lake is getting low!

2011-04-15T21:01:00.000-07:00

Here is a comparison of the lake when the water is high and when the water is low. There are lots of rocks exposed and sometimes we walk and look for treasures. We have found rusted horseshoes, clams, balloons with their strings, rocks, shells, crayfish, an old rusted hot water heater. We imagine if it gets any lower we might see the old town that got swallowed up when they made the Grand Coulee Dam.

Dear Malfoy....

2011-04-15T20:36:00.000-07:00

I found these notes after my girls played a game in which they attend Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. They say,

"Dear Malfoy, Help! We got tied up by that girl that loves you. I'm stuck in the dungeons. From Goil and Crabb."

"Dear Malfoy, The ball is tonight. Who are you going with? It is at 1:00. From, the Manager."

Rustic Cabin

2011-03-29T23:53:00.000-07:00

To measure a man, measure his heart. -Malcolm Forbes

Emerging Spring

2011-03-15T10:58:00.000-07:00

Put the uncommon effort into the common task. Make it large by doing it in a great way. -Orison Sweet Marden (1850-1924)

White Chili

2011-03-13T10:44:00.000-07:00

I tested out a new recipe last month. I found this one in the Pillsbury Best of the Bake-off cookbook. My family is getting sick of my soup. I told them that once summer came, I won't make them anymore soup. I promise. I don't think I will make this again until next year. It was good, but not great and I had so much left over soup to eat all by myself. Also, my family might revolt if they see another avocado. They don't like those either. If you want to give it a try here is the recipe for White Chili with Salsa Verde:

Salsa Verde
2 cups coarsely chopped fresh tomatillos or 2 (11oz) cans tomatillos, chopped, well drained.
1/2 cup chopped onion
1/2 cup chopped fresh cilantro or parsley
1 pickled jalapeno pepper chopped
1 garlic clove, minced
1/2 tsp lemon pepper
1/2 tsp dried oregano leaves
1/2 tsp adobo seasoning or garlic powder
2 to 3 tbs lime juice

Chili
2 1/2 cups water
1 tsp lemon pepper
1 tsp cumin seasoning
4 chicken breast halves cooked, chopped into cubes
1 garlic clove, minced
1 cup chopped onion
2 (9 oz.) pkg. shoepeg white corn (I used canned)
2 (4.5 oz.) cans chopped green chile's, undrained
1 tsp cumin
2-3 tbs lime juice
2 (15 oz.) cans great northern beans, undrained
2/3 cup crushed tortilla chips
1 1/2 oz. shredded Monterey Jack cheese

Combine all salsa ingredients in medium bowl; mix well. Refrigerate 30 minutes to blend flavors.
Meanwhile, in a large soup pot, combine chili ingredients, bring to a boil. To serve, place about 1tbs of tortilla chips and cheese in 8 individual soup bowls; ladle hot soup over cheese. Serve with Salsa.

This is my version of the soup topped with sour cream tomatoes and avocado. It's me breaking out of the recipe.

Attitude

2011-03-09T13:12:00.000-08:00

Attitudes are contagious! Is yours worth catching? -Author Unknown

Enjoying a Classic

2011-03-08T15:11:00.000-08:00

In my queue: Little Dorrit; a rags to riches miniseries based on the novel by Charles Dickens. I was searching for a good movie and this one had been nominated for an Emmy award. I ordered the first disc to see if it was any good and now I have to wait for the next three discs which are in my queue. I recommend this series if you enjoy a good classic story.

Cat!

2011-01-27T19:45:00.000-08:00

Kids art makes me smile. I love the colors. I love the faces. Under this picture the caption reads: "My cat goes on my part of the bunk bed." You can see the little cat on the bottom bunk, snuggling up to the little girl in the bottom bunk. So cute.

* Yum!

2011-01-25T19:32:00.000-08:00

A recipe card recently fell out of an old book I found. It was written in my high school handwriting with large bubble letters. Next to the title it said, "* Yum!" with a star and everything. I had to give it a try, it must have been a good recipe if I liked it as a teen. So I made a big pot and it was actually pretty tasty.
Hamburger Bean Pot
Cook together until beans are tender
1Cup dried white (or pinto) beans, washed, drained and soaked overnight.
1tsp. salt
3 quarts cold water

Brown 1 lb hamburger with 1 chopped onion then add to beans
also add:
1 quart tomatoes
1 cup chopped celery
1 cup chopped carrots
1 cup chopped potatoes
2 beef bullion cubes
1/4 tsp pepper
1/4 cup uncooked rice
1 tsp. chili powder
Cook for 1 1/2 hours or until everything is done. Just before eating, add some frozen peas.
Makes about 6 quarts.

*When I made this I used beans in a can. The ones that are already cooked. I used kidney and butter beans. I was going for fast and easy and didn't plan ahead for soaking dried beans overnight. It still turned out fabulous.

Snow for the new year.

2011-01-20T23:29:00.000-08:00

Looking ahead!

2011-01-20T23:13:00.000-08:00

There are some interesting signs that I have noticed around our community. This one is on the way into town. Someone turned the intersection sign in to a large "J" and added the letters "ake" after it. Even though I live far away from my brother I always think of him when I see this sign. He is my brother that is always doing something adventuresome and daring. Like the time he tried to burn his school papers at the end of the year. He went outside and put them in a pile, added what he thought was diesel, and lit a match. It turns out, he really had gasoline and the papers ignited into a ball of fire. If I recall he was leaning over the papers to light them and so his head ended up inside the flames. His hair was singed clear to the back of his head. Even the hairs in his nose were singed. Of course, since I was the oldest sister, being left to watch my younger siblings while my parents were out, I had to come to his rescue. I remember calling 911 and filling the bathtub with water. He made a full recovery, but still had a few more pyromaniac experiences to add to his resume. Each one a little more dramatic, and with more pizazz, but those are stories for another post. So, to end this post, I give a shot out to my risk-taking, thrill-seeking, audacious, exploratory brother and I'm sure who ever vandalized this sign must have also had a few of those qualities.

Gratitude

2010-12-24T20:59:00.000-08:00

This is what I found on the table next to the mint chocolate chip cookies for Santa. There was also a pie pan full of carrots for the reindeer.

Frosty Trees

2010-12-10T21:13:00.000-08:00

Winter Berries

2010-12-09T21:16:00.000-08:00

Out my window

2010-12-08T21:11:00.000-08:00

Icycle

2010-12-07T21:08:00.000-08:00

Snow on a post!

2010-12-06T21:02:00.000-08:00

My Exercise Partners

2010-12-05T21:32:00.000-08:00

In this picture I am enjoying the fall weather, just before the snow came. During Thanksgiving it snowed and snowed and snowed. So much so, that the weatherman declared it the snowiest November, EVER! I will post some snow pictures this week and let you see what we are enjoying. The only problem is that my outdoor exercise has been greatly reduced.

Lake Roosevelt, November 2010

2010-12-05T21:04:00.000-08:00

Rail Fence

2010-11-16T21:25:00.000-08:00

Fallen Leaves

2010-11-15T21:28:00.000-08:00

Dew Drops in the Pines

2010-11-14T21:30:00.000-08:00

Hall Creek

2010-11-13T21:32:00.000-08:00

I decided to take the photowalk challenge. I saw this challenge from Darcy, she says, "Have you ever done a photowalk? Have you ever challenged yourself to walk around with your camera and consider the world around you differently through your lens? I challenge each of you, if you’ve never done one before – load up the kids in the wagon or stroller, strap that camera on and be intentional about seeking photo opportunities in your own backyard."
I realize I am behind in my Everyday Beauty posts for this year. I am suppose to post a picture weekly of something I find beautiful from where I live. I guess with the cold weather, the leaves falling off the trees, the flowers in my garden black with frost, got me in a rut. Then I read this post and was inspired again.

Owl Cookies

2010-11-02T21:27:00.000-07:00

We brought treats to the school Halloween party. We are fortunate enough to live in such a remote area that kids are still allowed to bring homemade treats. This was prohibited at all the other schools my kids have attended. Everything had to be prepackaged and from the store. We made these owl cookies with candy corn beaks and mini chocolate chip eyes. We were fortunate enough to have a cookie cutter, but if you don't, you can make them with an owl template. They would be wonderful for your family or friends, a Halloween party, or owl themed birthday. We got this idea from Sunset magazine.

Homemade Halloween Costume

2010-10-27T14:33:00.000-07:00

My daughter wanted to be popcorn for Halloween. This was after she saw me looking on the Pottery Barn website for Halloween costumes. I did not want to pay over fifty dollars for a costume. Besides, my mom always made my costume for me growing up and I loved wearing them. So I did a little research, surfed the web, and came up with this...

I used an old box, cut a hole in the top for her head and holes in the sides for her arms. Then we painted the box white with acrylic paint. I was going to paint the stripes on with red acrylic paint, but noticed that the paint seemed to scratch easily since it was a glossy box. I went the colored duct tape route. Next, I opened up my computer program; the print shop deluxe, created the popcorn banner, and printed it out with my color printer. I attached it to the front and back using packaging tape.

For the finishing touch, we popped some popcorn and hot glued it onto the top! Let's just hope she doesn't eat the popcorn while at her school Halloween party.

The other daughter started reading the Guardians of Ga'hoole books at the start of school this fall. Then the movie came out and she changed her mind from wanting to be a witch for Halloween to a Barn Owl. So I turned again to my trusty Google search and found these easy directions for an owl costume. I put my own spin on this by creating wings. She does not like the mask on the original website so we will create our own.

Everyday Beauty

2010-10-27T14:18:00.000-07:00

I really love the yellows that are popping out this fall against the deep green of the pines. This is my weekly post for something beautiful in my town. Happy Fall everyone.

In the spirit of Halloween

2010-10-16T22:44:00.000-07:00

Just adding a little bit of black and white for this month!

Peter, Peter Pumpkin Eater

2010-10-16T20:05:00.000-07:00

The colors of fall are arriving, along with cooler temperatures and crisp autumn mornings. My girls were able to take a field trip, with their school, this week to the pumpkin patch. We have made applesauce, from the tree in the backyard; tomato sauce, from produce in the garden; and canned pears, with fruit from Sherman Creek Orchard.

One Hip P.E. class!

2010-09-30T14:44:00.000-07:00

When I took physical education class at my Jr. High, the coolest thing we did was walk to the bowling alley and knock down some pins. Here the kids get to shoot a few arrows. This is right below my house. Flying arrows from a bunch of kids. I think it is totally cool. Only the most respected P.E. teacher could pull this off. When I took bowling class the teacher gave us our grades based upon our bowling score. Let me tell you, had it not been for those gutter balls, I would have gotten straight A's. I missed straight A's for the semester because of my bowling score? Couldn't she take into account my willingness to participate and my enthusiasm for the game?
I don't think I would be any better at archery.

Mother's Day Flower

2010-09-21T14:28:00.000-07:00

My daughter planted this for my mother's day present. It is finally blooming in mid-September. There have been several rain-showers to soak the ground and scare the girls. (They don't like the thunder.) I love the dimension of the water drops on the petals.

School Daze

2010-09-21T13:55:00.000-07:00

I have been in a daze with the start of school. Where did my summer go? When did my girls get so mature? I always tell them to stop growing, but they never listen to me. Homework is plentiful around these parts with two full time students. Last night my daughter said she didn't like homework. I tartly reminded her she better get use to it. She will be doing it until she graduates from college!

Llama, Llama

2010-09-07T13:44:00.000-07:00

One of our favorite books is Llama, Llama red pajama. We talk about how the baby llama sits in bed waiting for his mama. Baby llama wants tucked in, he wants a drink, and then, he gets so impatient, he yells! Boy, have I ever been there and done that. A thousand times. I tell my kids that even Mama llama needs some time. She has to do the dishes and lots of other chores when the baby is in bed. Then I tell them how important it is to go to sleep! But, not without a hug first.

Buck

2010-09-02T14:12:00.000-07:00

Let's hope his name does not predict any future catastrophes. I rode this beautiful horse and it was amazing.
I list it as one of the funnest rides I have had. I felt comfortable, at ease, and not uptight like I did when I rode another horse last month. Buck and I were a good match. We didn't compete for boss status, he knew I was boss. He executed my commands with precision. I will miss you, Buck when riding season comes to an end.

Eat it up: Spinach-Stuffed Shells

2010-08-21T11:03:00.000-07:00

This is the second of two recipes from the July/August 2006 edition of Simple & Delicious. These recipes that I am sharing have been tried and approved by my family. I have made them more than once. This means that my husband likes them and the kids will eat them. (Small issue with the 5 year old and spinach.) Both the enchiladas and stuffed shells are recipes that I made in the morning, put in the fridge and then popped in the oven right before dinner.

Spinach-Stuffed Shells from Debbie Herbert

15 uncooked jumbo pasta shells
1 envelope white sauce mix (I used a package of Alfredo sauce since I couldn't find white sauce at my grocery store or you could make your own white sauce.)
1 cup cottage cheese
1/2 cup shredded mozzarella cheese
1 egg
1/2 tsp. dried basil
1/4 tsp. garlic powder
1/4 tsp. pepper
1 package fresh spinach
1 tbs. shredded Parmesan cheese

Cook pasta according to package directions. Meanwhile, prepare white sauce according to package directions, set aside. Cook spinach, drain and set aside.
In a bowl, combine the cottage cheese, mozzarella, egg, basil, garlic powder, pepper and spinach. Pour half the white sauce into a greased 8x8 inch baking dish.
Drain pasta; stuff each shell with 2 tbs. spinach mixture. Arrange over sauce. Top with remaining white sauce. Cover and bake at 375 degrees for 25 minutes or until heated through. Sprinkle with Parmesan cheese. Yield: 5 Servings.

Rope Swing

2010-08-19T09:59:00.000-07:00

We love going to the lake and using this rope swing that someone fastened in a tree that grows out over the lake.

Eat it Up

2010-08-18T09:47:00.000-07:00

This recipe is from a magazine called Taste of Home Simple & Delicious. I have had a subscription to this magazine since 2006 and it still saves the day, on many occasions. I keep all my copies in the pantry next to my cookbooks and when I am stumped for dinner ideas I pull out all the old copies of whatever the current month happens to be. For example, the magazine comes only six times a year, so if it is August, I pull out July/August copies from 2010, 2009, 2008, 2007, and 2006. Then I pick my favorite recipes and make a shopping list for the week. Some times I don't really like any of the recipes in an issue and other times I find myself making recipe after recipe of a certain issue. It happens that the July/August issue of 2006 is one of my favorites. Here is a link to the website with archives of recipes from past issues, but the archives only go to 2007. The best features about this magazine is that they have minimal advertisements in their publications. There may be one or two ads in the entire thing. My other favorite part is that they have a picture of every recipe. I need pictures. I will share a couple favorite recipes from the July/August 2006 issue with you.

Easy Chicken Enchiladas from Kristi Black
1 can (10 ounces) enchilada sauce, divided
4 ounces cream cheese, cubed
1 1/2 cups salsa
2 cups cubed cooked chicken
1 can (15 1/2 ounces) pinto beans, rinsed and drained
1 can (4 ounces) chopped green chilies
10 flour tortillas
1 cup (4 ounces) shredded Mexican cheese blend
Shredded lettuce, chopped tomato, sour cream and sliced ripe olives, optional

Spoon 1/2 cup enchilada sauce into a greased 13in.x 9in.x 2in. baking dish. In a large saucepan, cook and stir the cream cheese and salsa over medium heat for 2-3 minutes or until blended. Stir in the chicken, beans, and chilies.
Place about 6 tablespoons of chicken mixture down the center of each tortilla. Roll up and place seam side down over sauce. Top with remaining enchilada sauce; sprinkle with cheese.
Cover and Bake at 350 for 20-30 minutes or until heated through. Serve with lettuce, tomato, sour cream and olives if desired. Yield: 5 servings.

Everyday Beauty

2010-08-18T08:39:00.000-07:00

Photo # 27. An old dead tree near the North Twin Lake.

Card made with love.

2010-08-18T08:32:00.000-07:00

Supplies: Stickers: Jolee's Boutique; Paper: My Mind's Eye, Deena's Penny Lane and Tiny Dancer 'Chasse" Graceful Circles Paper; Ribbon: recycled from a birthday package.

Will it make you happy?

2010-08-16T10:40:00.000-07:00

I found this article in the New York Times. I wanted to remember it, so I am leaving the link here on my blog so I can find it again. Will It Make You Happy?

Dog days of summer!

2010-08-10T23:27:00.000-07:00

My dog is very protective of her family. She growls at strangers and barks at cars that come in our driveway. She loves to chase anything that will run. Lately the magpies have been gathering round the dog dish in the morning, they chatter and tease her, and then steal her dog food. One magpie will lead her on a wild chase while the other closes in for the steal. I guess I can't blame her for chasing fowl birds. They would get on my nerves too. That doesn't excuse her for her poor behavior today. She should know better than to chase innocent chickens.

A Horse is a horse, of course of course!

2010-07-19T22:23:00.000-07:00

Two girls who love horses+ a beautiful lake + and clear skies = a dream come true.

another card

2010-07-15T14:53:00.000-07:00

supplies: paper-wild asparagus, ribbon-achievers

Wild Tiger Lilly

2010-07-11T19:29:00.000-07:00

Wild tiger Lilly's grow in the woods. My daughter calls them the pumpkin flower. She can see them out the car window, they look like little round pumpkins as we whizz by.

4th of July

2010-07-11T18:32:00.000-07:00

I tried my hand at getting a picture of fireworks. I didn't have a tripod so I set the camera on my knee. Then I used a long exposure and low ISO. I took about twenty pictures and only two turned out. These fireworks were over Payette lake and the reflection in the water was so beautiful.

Research

2010-06-28T13:28:00.000-07:00

I am doing a little research project. It is all about finding the sweet, juiciest watermelons. My theory is: If the watermelon has scars, it must be from the bugs (not sure what kind) trying to taste it. The watermelon in the picture had a huge, almost hole-like, scar with little scar lines running along the big one. It was one of the best watermelons we have eaten. Please tell me your secret to finding a good watermelon.

LaFleur Lake

2010-06-27T12:35:00.000-07:00

Everyday Beauty Challenge # 22: Does anyone know the name of this flower? It had a beautiful fragrance and was growing near the banks. We took a little family outing to go fishing. It was very peaceful and the lake was calm. The girls wanted to swim, but it was a bit overcast. Notice, everyone beside the sunbather are wearing jackets and long pants.

Mysterious

2010-06-23T16:33:00.000-07:00

I didn't plant this flower, but it just bloomed in my garden and I love it. The colors, the shape, the leaves. It is so vibrant and beautiful. This is my everyday beauty picture for this week!

The BABIES are here!

2010-06-21T21:50:00.000-07:00

We are so excited to announce the arrival of our baby swallows. In my previous post I called them sparrows. The adults are a blue/green color on their backs and a white color on their breast. The mom and dad have been swooping around in the evenings eating the bugs. I hope they get all the mosquitoes. I have already felt them swarming my head and arms in the garden when I am trying to weed. I know I really wanted blue birds to nest here but I am enjoying the swallows and am glad that they don't mind me taking pictures of the brood.

Will it float?

2010-06-15T00:22:00.000-07:00

My path through the woods today! We have had so much rain that everything is such a lovely green.

If a bird sits on a Lilly pad will it float?

Everyday Beauty #18

2010-06-08T11:25:00.000-07:00

A clutch of eggs. Count them. 1,2,3,4,5. I can't wait to take a picture of what is inside.

Nesting

2010-06-02T20:49:00.000-07:00

My daughter made a bluebird house in her 4-H class. We hung it near an open field away from trees. We hoped a lovely bluebird couple would move in and enjoy it, but the sparrows seem to have signed the mortgage papers first. It has a lid with hinges so that at the end of the season we can remove the nest and hopefully a bluebird will come in. I looked inside last week and saw nothing. Two days later my daughter looked in and saw an egg!

My surviving perennials

2010-05-24T22:41:00.000-07:00

Last year I planted those pink flowers. Two years ago I planted four ivy plants. This is the lone remaining ivy plant that has emerged triumphant this spring. I love perennials and the changes that occur in the flower garden as they grow and spread, or as in my case, die. It's like a surprise party every year.

Snipping paper

2010-05-23T22:44:00.000-07:00

I really do like making my own cards. I also realize that my sidebar says this blog is dedicated to the aforementioned hobby. Alas, I rarely find time these days to actually sit down and get all crafty. What with a baby crawling around, eating dirt, pulling the cats tail... I do realize this is her research. Believe me my baby does a lot of research. She is all about discovery, cause and effect, textures, tastes, sights, sounds, smells, laughter, crawling, and reading. She will sit and turn the pages of any book she can get a hold of. She is very careful with paper books and actually prefers them to board books that are made for people her age. If it has to be a board book then she prefer it have flaps to lift. This all along the theme of discovery and research. Lift the flap and see whats hiding behind it.

With all the graduation announcements arriving in the mail I thought I should make some personal cards. Thanks baby, for not eating my craft ribbon.

All the little birdies

2010-05-17T15:16:00.000-07:00

Here are the hummingbirds in the evening. They are all getting a drink before they head off to bed.

Sweet nectar

2010-05-17T14:30:00.000-07:00

The hummingbirds have returned. This means I make nectar once a day. We now have two feeders and in the evening when dusk settles in, they come for a drink before retiring to bed. There can be anywhere from 10-20 at the feeder at a time. My husband calls them little piggies. I don't mind feeding them because last week I scored a great deal on a ten pound bag of sugar at the grocery store. Lucky little birds.

I planted a tree.

2010-05-17T14:19:00.000-07:00

This post is a little late, but its never too late to mention taking care of the earth. Our school celebrated earth day on Friday May 7th. The community members, along with the school teachers and students combed the grounds of the town cleaning up litter. I volunteered to walk with the second grade class. We were assigned the football field and the bushes that line the parking lot of the school. We found wrappers, plastic water bottles, soda cans, paper, and bits of plastic. The strangest items we found were a pizza and a full unopened carton of chocolate milk. Now I understand why my dog likes to sniff around in the bushes. The kids throw their uneaten food there.

Our community has a paper bin at the post office where patrons can put their magazines, weekly newspaper ads, and other recyclable papers. This saves a ton of paper going to the landfill. When I moved here they were seeking a volunteer to empty the small post office bin each week to the large county bin. I found this task manageable and volunteered for the position. I usually ride my bike with my bike trailer, or push my stroller to the post office, fill up the back with the papers and take them to the county bin. In appreciation of my efforts, I received this little tree which I planted in my backyard. Is it going to grow tall like those other trees? It's little and tiny and I think its cute.

Memory Flowers

2010-05-10T23:19:00.000-07:00

When I was a little girl we picked irises and took them to the cemetery on Memorial Day. I would carefully wrap the cut stems in wet paper towels so we could transport them in the car. They carry special meaning for me since my mother past away. I think of her when I see them. How I would love to cut some and carefully place them on her headstone. I would look at her name etched on rock and remember how she loved her babies. I'm her baby, only all grown up now, with little ones of my own. I think of how she loved to make handcrafted gifts and pick irises to remember her loved ones by. I was so elated to see that there were some irises growing here when we rented this house. In the fall I transplanted them to my flowerbed. I can't believe the blossoms this spring. I'm off to kiss my baby because they grow up way to fast.

Linking up with:

Kee Kee

2010-05-04T20:36:00.000-07:00

For my everyday beauty shot this week I followed the cat around like the paparazzi follows a movie star. She was full of spunk and zest and tried to pounce on every moving blade of grass. Here she is in crouch mode...

50,000 Strong!

2010-05-02T22:52:00.000-07:00

I did it! I entered my first race. I picked the Bloomsday Run, a 12K... call me ambitious or crazy, but I set a goal, worked at it, and ran the entire thing without stopping. I thought of my Mom at mile 4 and got choked up. She would have loved to run again. She passed away at the age of 37 from a rare form of heart disease. The closer I get to that age the more conscious I become of keeping my heart and mind strong. There were approximately 50,000 runners. My daughter wanted to know what place I got.

I bet you do too...

I was 11,159th!
Just to give you some perspective: I grew up in a town that had less than 8,000 people in it. It was amazing to be part of this group of runners. Amazing!
So get out and get fit! Find something that inspires you and run with it!
(Did I mention that I use to loathe running?)

Everyday Beauty #12

2010-04-25T22:21:00.000-07:00

We drove to Ephrata Washington for another bike race. On the way we stopped at this scenic overlook. This is Dry Falls State Park. I had no idea we would pass this on our way. We just had to stop and soak in the view.

p.s. The man of the house placed 1st in his race!

Linking up to:

Brilliant

2010-04-17T16:13:00.000-07:00

The weather has been so nice this week. Into the 70's yesterday and the 60's today. The tulips opened and to our surprise we have red and pink. Our neighbor gave us the bulbs and told us to wait until spring to find out what color we had. The flower garden looks pretty with the mixture of colors.

Blooming

2010-04-15T22:36:00.000-07:00

The tulips have emerged and we are waiting for them to unfold and show their colors.

On the nightstand...

2010-04-07T07:26:00.000-07:00

Currently reading Charles and Emma The Darwins' Leap of Faith. Written by Deborah Heiligman. On the jacket flap, the author is described as having majored in religious studies. She married a science writer and fell in love with science, too. In this book she combines her interests in science, religion, and her belief in the importance of human connection.

I am really enjoying reading about Charles Darwin and how thoughtful and kind he was to his wife and children. One of my favorite quotes from the book comes from something Charles wrote to Emma:

I wish you knew how I value you; and what an inexpressible blessing it is to have one whom one can always trust, one always the same, always ready to give comfort, sympathy and the best advice. God bless you, my dear, you are too good for me. ~1859

If only we could all show such love and respect to differing points of view like Charles and Emma did.

Off To The Races

2010-04-04T18:14:00.000-07:00

Mountain bike racing looks really challenging. The steep climb, dusty single track, and flying downhill at breakneck speed. We went to Lewiston to cheer on the participants in the Devil's slide race. We are huge fans of one rider in particular... the man of our house! The girls and I love to climb up the hill and find a spot to cheer him on. It's kind of like our own mini version of the tour de France except they don't ride road bikes, and it only last a couple of hours. Maybe at the next race I should bring a bright colored sign to wave and a cow bell to ring, but I promise I won't be sporting any helmet with antlers.

Lewiston, ID

2010-04-04T17:56:00.000-07:00

This was a spontaneous picture of my girls climbing on rocks during our recent trip to Lewiston Idaho. They love to explore together and are best friends. (Most of the time). They have their fair share of squabbles and arguments as I am sure all sisters do. I cherish my sisters, but it wasn't until I was off on my own that I appreciated them like I should.

Eat it up!

2010-04-02T20:16:00.000-07:00

I have never loved cooking. I use to try when I was young, to make cookies... but my brothers seemed to have a cookie sonar and came running with spoons in hand to eat the dough. I tried cake, but managed to put in too much baking soda, or powder or too much of both. That stuff was discouraging. Then I heard a quote by Bob Hurley the basketball coach for St. Anthony High School in Jersey City. His 2007-08 team, which went 32-0, was featured in the documentary "The Street Stops Here" on PBS this week. He told his players, "Take something you can't do and turn it into a strength." I instantly thought about cooking. That is something I am turning into a strength. I thought I would occasionally share with you recipes that I come across. This feature will be titled, "Eat it up!"

Egg Salad Sandwich- (can be *chicken or tuna*)

5 large eggs

something crunchy: celery, apple, radishes or 1/2 cup sweet or dill pickle

something oniony: 1/4 small red onion, 2 scallions, or 1 large shallot

1/2 cup mayonnaise

salt and pepper

bread

*Boil eggs for fifteen minutes
*Cool and peel them
*Chop the eggs

*While the eggs cook, chop "something crunchy." Add 1/2 cup to a bowl. Chop whatever onion you choose and add to the mix. Add the mayo and salt and pepper.

*Add eggs to the bowl. Toss evenly to coat.

This should be enough for 4 sandwiches.

Birds Eye View

2010-03-30T11:43:00.000-07:00

Everyday Beauty #8: We hiked the butte and got this view of our town. It's right on the edge of Lake Roosevelt, the northern end of the Columbia River. It took us almost two hours to get to the top and back, but it was worth the view.

Deviled Eggs

2010-03-21T21:34:00.001-07:00

Fresh eggs from the farm + boiling water = deviled eggs! Delicious, divine, delectable.

Five Days Old

2010-03-15T22:38:00.000-07:00

Our Neighbor invited us over to her farm so the girls could see the new babies that have been arriving this spring. The highlight of the day was feeding the baby lamb warm milk from a bottle. Both girls took turns holding the bottle for the baby, even though LuLu was a bit shy at first. Nothing says "Spring" more than the emergence of new life. Blossoms unfold, grasses emerge from the long wintry slumber, and ewes are born.

So sweet, soft, and new.

Rainy Seattle Morning

2010-03-14T11:57:00.000-07:00

Now that's thinking green!

2010-03-08T10:59:00.000-08:00

Got some extra Huggies wrappers from buying diapers? No problem just send them to TerraCycle and they will make them into a bib. They also work with schools on fund raising! For each bottle collected from students they send the school 5 cents.

From Trash to Treasure!

Moccasins

2010-03-06T16:44:00.000-08:00

Handmade moccasins perfect for baby feet.

Everday Beauty #4

2010-02-28T14:29:00.000-08:00

This is the football field which I can see while washing dishes at my kitchen sink. Each evening the sun sets behind the hill and creates brilliant pinks, oranges and blues. Hall creek runs down into Lake Roosevelt on the north side of the field. The fog rolls up and out of the creek creating these low laying clouds.

Eight Months

2010-02-25T10:27:00.000-08:00

Note to self... be sure to check daughters pockets after nature walks. This will help avoid pine cones and their pieces strewn throughout the wash.

Everyday Beauty #3

2010-02-21T12:51:00.000-08:00

I came across this paper from my daughters stack of school work. It was a list of vocabulary words in which she choose five words to use in sentences of her own. I found it charming along with this picture of her hands and a bird egg.

In my neighborhood in a tree a baby bird hatched out of an egg. We went by the swamp and saw the baby bird. It was about to fall out of its nest! The bird was about to hit the ground when I rescued the bird! Later we got hot so we went in the sprinkler. It was delightful! ~Zelda

Lichen

2010-02-14T09:30:00.000-08:00

Everyday Beauty challenge #2. I am so glad I decided to take on the challenge to post one picture per week. I would have missed out on a enjoyable walk I took with my daughters to find this lichen in the woods. They kept picking up things and saying, "Take a picture of this... Take a picture of this!"

Everyday Beauty #1

2010-02-08T16:46:00.000-08:00

I have decided to join the "Everyday Beauty" photo challenge this year. Each week will feature a photo of something beautiful from the place where I live.

A little bit of this...

2010-02-08T16:39:00.000-08:00

Cards with hearts on them. Who doesn't love a good homemade card? This is just a little peek at some of the cards that may be in the mail to you right now!

Flock of Valentines

2010-01-28T19:47:00.000-08:00

This is what my girls are making for their friends on valentines day. I think they are super cute! Go take a look and tell me what you think!
Flock of Valentines - National Wildlife Federation

Dog in the Fog

2010-01-27T19:35:00.000-08:00

When I walk to the post office I am often joined by the neighborhood dogs. It reminds me of an episode of Fetch with Ruff Ruffman when he send Harsha to New Mexico to learn about Pow Wows. She gets to the reservation and sees lots of dogs running around. Watch at minute 7:43. Sunday I took a walk and ended up with five dogs joining me but my record is eight. I look like the pied piper of dogs whenever I go anywhere.

Bingo

2010-01-25T14:23:00.000-08:00

This is what our little community is doing to raise money for the victims of the earthquake in Haiti. Our community is very remote without many resources, yet the people here do lots of good things when a need arises. The common bond that unites us as human beings seems to grow when we share what we have. To donate visit the Red Cross.

Rail Fence

2010-01-17T19:33:00.000-08:00

Quilt #2 is finished! I used the ladder stitch on the binding.
I found this great tutorial....

The owl fabric is from the pow-wow. What do you think? I am not too happy with the color scheme. I wish I had incorporated some of the yellow fabric in the fence part of the quilt. I guess I will live and learn.