Bookng It - Book Club Selection

Why do you lie to me?

I always thought I told the truth.

Why did you lie to me?

Because the truth lies like nothing else and I love the truth.

Mark Strand, "Elegy for My Father"

For our book club, we read for March the book "Old School" by Tobias Wolff. This book was the chosen book for Whatcom Reads this year. The book is about a Prep School Student who plagiarized another student's work for a literary contest. The book is set in the 1960's. Most of us agreed that we wouldn't have picked out "Old School" on own. There was only 1 who really enjoyed the book. Out of 6 participants only 4 read the entire 197 pages but everyone had read most of it. The book did generate a whole lot of discussion. It was perhaps the most spirited discussion we had yet. We used the discussion questions found here. The above quotation is the dedication to the book that I failed to read until the discussion. If you read the book with this quote in mind, it really changes your perception of the events. Check out Life as a Mom and all the other Mom's Booking It 2010

The US Mint

We visited the US Mint in Denver during Spring Break. We tried last summer but were unable to get a reservation. This time I planned ahead and got a reservation. If you just show up, you can try to get a spot on a tour as a stand by. None of us had ever visited the US Mint.


There are no pictures because the Mint doesn't allow you to take pictures inside. There are no pictures outside because basically you walk almost naked inside the Mint. We left everything we could in the car trunk. You are allowed a very small wallet and all batteries from cell phones had to be removed. You have to walk through a metal detector and I thought the screening was more thorough than the airport.


While we were there no coins were being made. They were at lunch. There were plenty of displays to look at as well as guide to lead you through the various rooms that looked into the production areas. The Guide was very informative and really pretty funny.


Coins are the only thing made at the US Mint. I guess I thought paper money was made there as well. The Denver Mint also hold as small portion of the gold reserves - 14%. We didn't get to see the gold. The new pennies that are being minted could take up to 6 months for the average consumer to see depending on the economy. The newest Lincoln Penny to come out is called "Preserving the Union." The US Mint is also one the Departments of the Federal Government that actually makes money. They sell the coins to the Federal Reserve which buys them at face value but it cost the Mint very little to make the quarter, dime, half dollar, and dollar coins. So the Mint makes a profit. Isn't that interesting?


My kids are still talking about the tour especially about how the mint has never been broken into but there is a robbery called the Great Mint Robbery that happened on the US Mint steps but no coins were stolen only paper money from the Federal Reserve. We had talked about the pennies that depicted Lincoln's life - Lincoln's birth, Lincoln's Youth, Lincoln's Career, and Lincoln's Presidency. So my kids are really interested at looking at the coins.

They have a nice gift shop. The jewelry made out of coins really caught my eye. I love that you can see the actual coin image in the back of the piece. The jewelry was out of my price range but really cool.

Spring Break Recap

We spent Easter and the following week in Loveland, Colorado. We had a really good time at my parent's house. Chuckle's was thrilled to spend time with his cousins and I love hanging out with my parents. #1 Son loves to travel and the Giant Man Child got a vacation, too.

Some of the things we did were-

My hubby decided he was old as we couldn't find 1 of the Easter Eggs he had hid. He couldn't remember were he hid it. LOL

We ate a very delicious Easter Dinner with my 1st grade Teacher. We sat and talked and laughed for over 4 hours.

I got to harass my older Nephew. (not pictured) We got to see his skater look. Did I mention I harassed him every opportunity?

Chuckles, Grandma, and I got to see my nephew in his play. It was so sweet. It was fractured fairy tales.

We visited the US Mint in Denver (Post to follow)

We visited the Forney Museum (Post to follow)

The Giant Man Child won $11 on a Colorado scratch ticket. I lost a dollar.

We visited 3 thrift stores, 2 pawn shops, 1 garage sale, and 1 flea market and all we have to show for it was 2 juice glasses and 1 Nancy Drew Book.

We enjoyed some snow. I don't think we remember what that looked like. In Washington we have been having such a mild winter. The good news is the snow melted by the afternoon.


We got to visit Rocky Mountain Park and see it all in it's winter beauty. It looks so different during the winter. We managed to see some Elk and Mule Deer.



We got to go to my Nephew's Art Show. There was some pretty amazing stuff including his stuff.

This is just a glimpse into our trip.

It's Monday

I'm trying to get back into the swing of things. Spring Break was fabulous but it is time to get back into the non vacation mode if you know what I mean. I have a couple of spring break posts coming. I know you can't wait. I have about a zillion photos to down load.

I want to give a shout out to my Sister, the Polyester Princess, and my Nephew - Happy Birthday!!!

It is also National Licorice Day so I made sure that the kids had lots of red food dye. What is back to school without a little red food dye?

Spring Break

Long time no post. We are currently on Spring Break. It was about time as all of us have Spring Fever. At our current vacation location, we have snow right now but we had been enjoying some sun. I can't wait to post all about it next week.

Easter Vignette

OK, I love candlesticks. I like to use them for everything but candles. I am weird like that. I usually put plastic eggs sitting on top of candlesticks but this year my thrifting buddy, Mrs Epi, found these cool ceramic eggs at VV, value village. For $2.99, I couldn't resist. We found these right before Christmas and I have been dying to get them out. The eggs didn't balance the greatest on the candlestick holders so I have been using Clear Mounting Squares by Scotch to help hold them in the candlestick holders. I know that is not it's intended purpose but it is working and you can't see the adhesive.

No, I am not a spokesperson for Scotch but the Removable Clear Mounting Squares rock. For the final touch, I added the pipe cleaner wreath.

Talking about outstanding egg displays you've got to check out Eddie Ross and his Easter Table Display. If that isn't inspiring I don't know what is. You are amazing Eddie Ross!

Banana Farm

I have a confession. I have a banana farm in my freezer. The picture above is short about 6 bananas. My kids love bananas but we can't seem to eat them fast enough before they become overly ripe. I just freeze them in their skin. The first step to recovery is admitting you have a problem,right. Here is my go to recipe lately for banana bread. I got it from an Albertson Ad and Albies got it from Dole.

Banana Bread

2 cups all-purpose flour

1 tsp baking powder

1/2 tsp baking soda

1/2 tsp salt

1/2 tsp ground cinnamon

1/2 cup margarine, softened

3/4 cups packed brown sugar

2 eggs

2 medium, ripe bananas, mashed (about 1 cup)

1/4 cup sour cream

1 tsp vanilla extract

1 cup chopped almonds or walnuts, toasted



1. Combine flour, baking powder, baking soda, salt and cinnamon in medium bowl; set aside

2. Beat margarine and sugar in large bowl until light and fluffy. beat in eggs. Beat in banana, sour cream and vanilla until just blended. Add in Flour mixture; beat until just blended. Stir in nuts.

3. Pour into 9x5 inch baking pan sprayed with vegetable cooking spray.

4. Bake at 350F, 55 to 65 minutes or until toothpick inserted in center comes out clean. Cool in pan 10 minutes.