Fun

My Birthday Surprises

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I’ve had a nice birthday, facilitated by sweet friends and family. My surprises started a week ago Saturday when my husband, who is notably NOT birthday oriented, got a bee in his bonnet that he wanted to do something specifically special for me. Both kids were at Robotics that day and he happily hijacked me … Read more

Loving Bananagrams

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I first played the Bananagrams game last fall at Creative Arts Camp and knew then that I’d be buying it as a gift to put in my husband’s stocking. Wow, has this game made a hit in our home! Fast moving and addictive, well made, mentally stimulating, relaxing, portable and tactile… We highly recommend it … Read more

NOT Black Friday

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We are not out buying anything. We are home having quality time, playing games (Labyrinth, Monopoly to loud tunes, and Settlers of Catan.) See the video below and join us in this important paradigm shift. Let’s do this! (And if you are dubious about the importance of clean water click here to see it discussed … Read more

My Painting Sent to Charity Exhibit in Moss, Norway

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I love to paint. I love children’s books. And I love twitter. This project is an intersection of these three. David Sandum, a twitter friend (@DavidSandumArt) has a heart that went out to his library in Moss, Norway whose funding for buying children’s books was cut. He has an active twitter life with fellow artists … Read more

College Waltz Party

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When I was in college, I would never have had my parents stay in my off campus housing, nor were there any waltz parties that they would have been welcome to. But here we are staying in my daughter’s house and welcomed at her waltz party, like that is normal. For some reason this gives … Read more

Cowboy Boots

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Wall Drug is what my extended family would call a “TT,” short for “tourist trap.” But Wall Drug isn’t just any TT, it’s a superlative example of one. Their advertisements span hundreds of miles in advance of arrival; we counted 81 different signs. They offer free ice water (not for nothing in 106 degree temperatures), … Read more

Beautiful Badlands

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We had a lovely time at Badlands National Park, viewing it at sunset and sunrise on the edges of clear 106 degree days. We were also treated to a magnificent full moonrise, along with coy rabbits and interesting insects. Our first night in the tent was balmy and delightful. The evening and morning glow on … Read more

Dried Apples

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Last February, as some readers of this blog may remember, my 12 year old daughter asked for and got a food dehydrator for her birthday. Since then it has been living on our kitchen counter, and has just finished duty until next June when we can crank into drying strawberries again. Strawberries and apples are … Read more

A Dance and a Dorm Room

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Apparently St. John’s College, Annapolis is easier to get in to than to stay in. There is a major exodus of freshman before Thanksgiving; they decide either they can’t cut it or don’t want to. This is also true at other points in the four year process as well, I am told, where either students … Read more

Jack-o-lanterns

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My town has one of the largest celebrations of Halloween around. See the Bethel Pumpkin House YouTube videos here (toward the end) to see what the sight in the photographs below looks like at night when you don’t see the scaffolding or the wires and only the glowing faces. The party goes from dusk to … Read more

Great Card Game: Phase 10

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My sisters and their families just left after being here since Friday for my daughter’s homeschool graduation. While they were here we played this game called Phase 10 a lot, given to us by one sister last Christmas, but not taken out of the cellophane and learned until her visit here. The tin says for … Read more