Blueberry time

So this morning my daughter convinced me it was time to go picking, blueberry picking that is! Last year we went 3 times, freezing it all. A few weeks ago we used our last ziplock baggie up. We enjoy crepes and smoothies all fall/winter with our horde. It was actually perfect weather for it and the kids are much better this year then last at actually putting blueberries in their containers.

So tonight we eat CREPES.

By the way, for those of you who want to go, there are a few weeks left out at Olsons. Their berries are still pretty green. (And they are $1.00 a pound u-pick.)

SYTYCD or "So You Think You Can Dance"

Summer may mean the ending of a lot of our favorite television shows but it means the beginning of one of my favorite seasons. SO YOU THINK YOU CAN DANCE. I really don't care for reality shows about dance or singing or skating. They bore me. So I was surprised to really fall in love with SYTYCD a few years ago. Last night was the night where the 12 dancers, down from 20, dance to see who will make the Top 10. I picked two favorites the first night, Evan and Caitlin. To me they seemed to have good stories and I liked their styles of dance. I am afraid though that they both could be going home tonight. I liked their personalities but last night the other contestants showed much more skill. The very last dance of the evening was so good I even rewinded my DVR to see it again, never done that before. It was two thieves about to steal some jewels and was really really well done. I think it was so good because I don't really like the guy, Brandon. I didn't think he was that good. BUT I was WRONG. He is very talented, just doesn't have that personality I can grab onto.

Anyway I am going to be sad to see my favorites go but I don't think they are the best dancers. :( Sadly I don't think many of the guys this season or worthy of staying. The young ladies are much better. (That is a switch from last year when I thought the guys were much stronger.)

Happy Birthday Amy

Happy Birthday my friend. Wish I could see you more often.

Jeff Foxworthy and "Living in Oregon"

THIS IS WHAT JEFF FOXWORTHY HAS TO SAY ABOUT 'LIVING IN OREGON!

If someone in a Home Depot store offers you assistance and they don't work there, you live in Oregon.

If you've worn shorts, sandals and a parka at the same time, you live in Oregon. Think this could be me.

If you've had a lengthy telephone conversation with someone who dialed the wrong number, you live in Oregon.

If you measure distance in hours, you live in Oregon. Doesn't everyone do that?

If you know several people who have hit a deer more than once, you live in Oregon. I like this one, probably because I can think of a few people.

If you have switched from 'heat' to 'A/C' and back again in the same day, you live in Oregon.

If you install security lights on your house and garage but leave both doors unlocked, you live in Oregon.

If you can drive 75 mph through 2 feet of snow during a raging blizzard without flinching, you live in Central, Southern or Eastern Oregon.

If you design your kid's Halloween costume to fit over a 2 layers of clothes or under a raincoat, you live in Oregon.

If driving is better in the winter because the potholes are filled with snow and ice, you live in Oregon.

If you know all 4 seasons: almost winter, winter, still winter, and road construction, you live in Oregon.

If you feel guilty throwing aluminum cans or paper in the trash, you live in Oregon.

If you know more than 10 ways to order coffee, you live in Oregon.

If you know more people who own boats than air conditioners, you live in Oregon.

If you stand on a deserted corner in the rain waiting for the "Walk" signal, you live in Oregon.

If you consider that if it has no snow or has not recently erupted, it is not a real mountain, you live in Oregon.

If you can taste the difference between Starbucks, Seattle's Best, and Dutch Bros, you live in Oregon.

If you know the difference between Chinook, Coho and Sockeye salmon, you live in Oregon.

If you consider swimming an indoor sport you live in Oregon.

If you know that Boring is a city and not just a feeling, you live in Oregon.

If you never go camping without waterproof matches and a poncho, you live in Oregon.

If you have actually used your mountain bike on a mountain, you live in Oregon.

If you think people who use umbrellas are either wimps or tourists, you live in Oregon.

If you buy new sunglasses every year, because you cannot find the old ones after such a long time, you live in Oregon. I like that one too.

Summer Tuesdays

So Tuesdays are fun days. Alicia has private swim lessons and our town pool is right next to the library and park. Today we went to the library and picked up some movies and books I had reserved, then to the park for about 45 minutes and then to her lesson. After that the city has free lunch for kids under 16 so we walk out the door from lessons and go about 6 feet for the kids free lunch. We sit there in the park with lots of good friends or cousins and then head home. It is a great way to spend Tuesday mornings. This afternoon we plan to finish our paper mache globes! We went grocery shopping earlier this morning and I bought some liquid starch. I really did not want to buy anything for this project but I did not have a good experience making the flour-based glue for the first layer and have heard this will work better. We will see. Cannot be worse then the burnt stuff I made. :)

Now I am trying to think of something for dinner. My nose crinkles at the thought. Some days I like cooking, some days it is more of a chore I like to put off. Like today.

FREE is the word of the day

So a friend let me know about some free paint at Glidden a few days ago, and then I have seen it advertised everywhere but just in case you don't have a friend to tell you or haven't seen it everywhere, like I have, here is the hint for the day.

Glidden is giving away a quart of paint. FREE!! Go to glidden.com and choose your color and they will ship it to you within 3-4 weeks! WOW.

I have been wanting to paint some more rooms. I actually ordered paint to do our bedroom but if I don't care for the color once it comes I may use it for the laundry room. You can only order one per household but I have been heaing people have been using their mothers and sisters to get more paint so they can actually do a whole room.

SO there you go!

Summer School 2009

So last week we studied Australia and this week we are doing Africa. This week has been cut short a bit with swim lessons and then the zoo yesterday(the zoo has animals from Africa you know!) but we are learning. They at least can show me where the continents are and I am not sure they knew before this summer. And we are also having fun and are less bored. There are so many good books out there about each continent for kids. AND it has worked out nicely to help the kids in their summer reading program they are doing through our library. We also went to the Outback Steakhouse last week and it was really fun for the kids to see the decorations there.
Anyway I thought I would let you all know how it is going. There have been some things I have decided not to do, some are half done, and some I am so looking forward to doing later this summer. The paper mache globe is one of the half done things. After letting the first layer dry I just haven't been in the mood for that kind of mess again. I think I am going to try liquid cornstarch for the next layer and just haven't bought that yet. I will finish before the end of summer. So this is the progression of the "globe." The last picture is where they have sat for the last week. Out of the way of little kids reach.





The last picture is of some projects or work we have done since school has been out. The funny looking thing in the picture is a camel. Though, I guess to you, the koala may be funny looking too.