What I Learned In July

I am linking up with Chatting at the Sky - What I learned



1. Steven Tyler released a COUNTRY single. Wow!  I still have a hard time watching him sing. I like the song though.

2. Canadian Milk

Recently my youngest son told me, " I am glad I don't live in Canada because I would have to cereal without milk."   We live close to the Canadian/ US border so it is quite common in the grocery store and Costco to see Canadians carts loaded with milk.  He was just being silly. Aren't all 13 year olds, right?  He went a step further to see why Canadian Milk is so expensive.  Guess what it all boils down to is more regulation. Canadian milk is more expensive because of more regulation.

3. I am not cut out for tank wars. I lost tank wars AGAIN.  We have an annual tradition on the 4th of July of racing our firework tanks and I actually got zero points.  I came in last in every heat. I got the big fat zero.

4. I learned how to make plum jam.  Delish!   Nonna and I used this recipe minus the cinnamon. The jam set and it has a nice tart taste.

5. Ferry rides are Magical especially when it is nice and clear. We rode the Edmonton/Kingston Ferry.

Photo by Giant Man Child
You can just barely see the space needle and Seattle Skyline

Middle of Summer Linky Love

Charlie with his friend Nick aka Bob/Fred Minion
Pioneer Days Parade

As a parent, the middle of the summer week always seems the longest.  I don't know why but it does.

15 Places You Must See in Washington before You Die

Why Adults are buying Coloring Books (For Themselves) - I myself did a bit of coloring check out my post.

Explore the PNW: 12 places you must camp - If I camped this would be an awesome list.

LOCAL LINKY

6 Popular Places to Watch a Sunset in Whatcom County

Wild Life at Whatcom Falls

Princess of Quite A Lot and Chuck

Our little summer adventure crew took a walk in the Whatcom Falls area.  We managed to see both human and animal wildlife.

 

Photo by Cheezer

 

 We saw these two immature bucks.  We also spent some time looking at the ducks in the derby pond.

  

Proof the Cheezer was with us

This is the first time I had been here and saw anyone jumping.  There were a lot of teenage boys giving it a go and one old guy.  I definitely don't have the guts to do this.  IT looked very shallow and just not a smart thing to do.  Of course, there are all kinds of signs saying don't do this.

 

 

 



Diary of a Mediocre Homemaker - Adult Coloring, REALLY?

No one was more shocked than me to see Parade Magazine  had their issue on Adult coloring- The New Joy of Coloring.  I love to color with my kids but is this something that adults are really into.  Coloring is suppose to be stress relieving So in the interest of science, I decided to give it a shot.

Okay, I admit I might have completed the above coloring sheet while watching a movie and it was relaxing.  My children were not impressed.

Some Adult Coloring Resources

Super Mommy Club - lots of links to free pages
Alisa Burke - Subscription Coloring Pages

What I Read July

 

I don't often stumble across a book and say, " YOU GOTTA READ THIS."  Well, I stumbled across and read this book, The Orchard House: How A Neglected Garden Taught One Family How To Grow  by Tara Austen Weaver and I want to tell everyone!!! This is the one time that the hot reads table actually pays off at the library.

Growing up were you intrigued by the book the Secret Garden?  Do you have complicated relationships?  Do you enjoy gardening?  Do you love to help the little people in your life explore the outdoors?  Well this book hits all of these sweet notes. Tara writes a moving memoir about her and her mom's garden in Seattle.  Her mom purchased a distressed property with an amazing overgrown garden.  Tara discusses how her relationships changes and how it relates to the garden that her mom and her are creating.

Tara reminds me that gardens have stories and those stories are about us. I  read this while at my mother in law's house. I felt like I was inside this book in some ways. I felt a strong personal connection to Tara's story even though it doesn't really mirror my own . While I read this story I was in my mother in law's garden doing a little of this and that.  My youngest and I were picking her cherries. Tara spends a lot of time with her nieces and nephew in the garden.

So I thought I would share a little story of my mother in law's garden. She bought a house with a large yard that she has been making her own.  We call the house the butter house for the yellow color. My mother in law is the ultimate seed saver and distressed plant buyer.  Here back yard is not ideal but she has terraced and made the best of yard she has. She added a cherry tree, blue berry bushes, lots of cool plants,  a container garden on her deck etc. She has transformed it. The book Orchard House reminds gardens are work and so are relationships.

Tara blogs at Tea and Cookies. This book also checks off my read something from 2015 in the Reading Challenge.

I am linking up with Modern Mrs Darcy's Quick Lit. Check out what everyone is reading.

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Dare to Draw

Last week, my youngest has been taking a dare to draw class at a local community college.  I am amazed at some of the wonderful work he has come home with.

 

Owl with Fez

 

 

 

It's Summer! I'm Bored, Mom - Linky Edition

You know it is going to happen the dreaded words, " I'm bored."

Dear Children: Let Me Explain - Oh so good

How to Encourage Summer Reading

Let Them Read What They Want- Annie Barrows on Books and Kids - I love the commentary about how kids want instant gratification and adults want improvement.

Hiking with a Toddler - This is actually a good read for anyone with children.

Let Your Kids Tackle Some Meaningful Work - Modern Mrs Darcy

21 Harry Potter Quotes That'll Help You Survive Your Day

Reclaimed Wood Half Sun

We have all this shot up target wood laying around which we use to make our matchstick frames.  I had a spot in my entry way that needed something.  So I was discussing this with my husband and this is what we came up with. 

Everyone Admiring their Work

Details
I cut out a half circle out of cardboard to help with the layout. 

Then I went through our wood pile.  We used gray shot up wood for the base beams and lighter wood for the in-between beams. My husband made a little jig to help in getting the miter just right for each beam. He also ended up cutting a much smaller half circle out of plywood to attach the sun beams to.  The beams were glue and brad nailed to the base. I love the roached wood.  

Ideas for Local Adventure (Washington State)

Are you on the look out for some fun stuff to do with kids/teens in Washington. Here a few ideas for local adventures if you live in Washington State or live in Whatcom County to get outdoors.

Kids Hikes in North Cascades - Lots of good stuff there.

Mt Rainer GeoTour  I am a big fan of  geocaching.  I was so happy to see there was a new tour.  The Washington State Park GeoTour is still alive as well .  Geocaching in Whatcom County with Kids

Discover the NW Bucket List - local places in Whatcom County on the list - Oyster Dome Trail

5 Hikes in the South Sound for Kids

Washington Waterparks from Thrifty Northwest Mom

Cultural Enrichment and Geocaching

Alpha Helix
Made from WWII submarine buoy's
part of the Mt Vernon Community Art Geocoin Hun

Once again Mt Vernon Parks hosted a Geocoin Challenge and once again we weren't able to complete on the day of the actual event.  So we spent a much cooler Sunday visiting 10 Mt Vernon parks and collecting stamps and viewing 10 different art pieces. 

Rusty Tree
On Mount Vernon High School Council
Part of the Mt Vernon Community Art Geocoin Hunt

The bonus to this year was they also had Mt Vernon Community Art Geocoin Hunt and coins were still available so we checked out some of the cool community art in Mt Vernon, WA. So we not only geocached but got our cultural enrichment as well.

Mt Vernon 2015 Geocoins

Last year's adventure -2014 Mt Vernon Parks Geocoin Challenge