Shew! fly, don't bother me...

Because we have a compost bin in the kitchen, I have to be careful not to attract those damn little fruit flies (or kitchen flies - whatever they're called). I've heard a few tricks before, but this is a new one that I thought I'd share. I read it this morning on Green is Sexy.

To Make: While assembling your trap, boil a pot of water to pour down your drains. Fruit flies and their kin like to breed in the pipes, so a good amount of boiling water poured down the drain will help stop future generations from hatching.

While the water’s boiling, grab a can or jar from your recycling. Fill your container with an inch or so of something sweet from your fridge. Juice and wine work really well. Cover the container’s opening with plastic wrap and tape securely. Poke some holes in the plastic with a toothpick then place your trap someplace high and out of the way (like on top of your fridge). After a few hours, you’ll see more flies in your trap than you even knew you had. After a day or so, dispose of your trap in the greenest way you know how.

If weekly boiling-water treatments don’t keep your flies at bay, keep refreshing your trap. It really works!

Hope it helps.

Why I Smiled

Why I smiled this week...

I've been adding frozen strawberries to my water. Yum.


Our new toothbrush holders arrived in the mail. They are UV light holders that sanitize your toothbrushes when you've finished using them! I've been looking at them for a while now and finally decided on one.


Well, I guess I decided on two because Makena got one too.


And, my favorite of all, the Germguardian UV light wand! You hold this baby over an object for approx. 20 seconds and it kills the germs! I've scanned the keyboards, phones, cutting boards, shoes, pillows and whatever else I could find. Just doesn't get any better than that!


Jamie said that he can just see me standing outside of the bathroom door, waiting with my wand, when company is over. I'm not that bad. Yet.

Can't wait to travel with it though!

We also picked up some new Ikea furniture for Makena's room. Just gotta smile when you see their instructions.


A new dresser (and nightstand) for Makena. The fun, striped paper is even included!

And out with the old dresser. Even though I'm kind of sad to see it go, it's time. I've had this dresser for almost 20 years. I don't remember what color it was when I got it, but my mom and I painted it white. I later added distressed red drawers. Then when Makena got the dresser, we painted it purple and added new pulls. It just got too small (and old) for a growing teenager.

And it doesn't really "fit" in her new room anymore.

Her room is coming together. Because she's been gone for the past week, the painting has been put on hold. The wall with her desk will remain purple, but the others will be splattered with a teal paint. And, of course, several posters will then be put on top of that.

Side Note: The color of this paint is actually called Houdini Blue. But, it's about as purple as you see in this photo. A beautiful, deep purple. Jamie calls it 'Ravens Purple'. Makena doesn't really like that. : )

Don't miss out!

Don't miss out on another great fundraising opportunity! Try this (YUMMY) wrap and support the OEC.

You won't regret it.

Walden Island Tea/Beef & Brew

We are happy to be helping out again this year at the Walden Island Tea and the Beef & Brew.
Jamie and I donated some of our Alaska Salmon that will be grilled. And we're doing what we can to help set up the night before and day of.

All of the proceeds are donated to a local kids' closet and community charity.

You can see the post from last year's fundraiser here.

Let us know if you'd like to join us!

Walden Island 8.7.10

We got up to the lake early Friday evening. We were able to enjoy a bit of sunshine before going in to watch some tv. Did I mention that Jamie bought a new tv for the shed? Yep, the 19' just wasn't big enough he said - now we have a 32'.

We started digging out the boat house on Saturday morning. Fortunately it was only around 65 degrees - good "manual labor" temps. Unfortunately, it started raining in the afternoon.

And didn't really stop.

Which makes digging, in the mud & clay, even less fun than it sounds.

It also makes the ground a little more slippery and dangerous. And we all know what happens when I slip and fall. So I was very careful, and Jamie was constantly reminding me to be very careful.

First we dug out the right side of the deck. Then we tore up the deck - the new boat house will have a new deck inside of it.

Then we dug out from under the deck.

Until it was just too slippery to get anything else done. Plus, we had worked almost 7 hours and were pretty tired.

You can see when we first started digging here. It's pretty much the same - the wagon can take 4 or 5 scoops from The Monster before we have to drive it up the hill and empty it. Then we drive it back down, fill it up, drive it up the hill, empty it, drive it back down...

Our wonderful neighbor KC kindly offered her shower to us. We made sure that we hosed off before going in to her house though.

After we had some dinner, we headed back over to KC and Steven's house. I helped KC get the menus ready for the Walden Island Tea next weekend. We didn't get back home until almost midnight and went straight to bed.

We woke up to it still raining on Sunday. We watched some more tv before deciding to pack up and go home. It, of course, started to clear up as we were getting ready to leave.

Good Things #24

Kiss My Face will donate 10% of profits from its new line of soap to Seeds of Peace, a non-political nonprofit dedicated to bringing together and empowering teems from regions like the Middle East and South Asia.

Walden Island 7.31.10

Another relaxing weekend at Walden Island. TeaLee joined us this weekend.

Before we left for the lake though, Jamie says "Make sure you bring a check."

"For what?" I ask

"That bike."

"Huh? What bike?"

"The one I told you about. I like it - I'm going to buy it."

While I look for the checkbook, I'm wondering where I was when we had the conversation about buying the motorcycle. I'm thinking it was around the same time that we 'discussed' buying the boat (a surprise), the wave runners (another surprise!) and the Vita-mixer.

He already loves the bike of course. A kid with a new toy.

We had a late dinner that night, but called it an early night.

It was overcast for most of the day Saturday, so we mostly just relaxed. Makena and I both read a book, TeaLee spent 4 hours on my iPad and Jamie fixed the ditch-witch. (I foresee much digging in my future...)

Jamie made us dinner on his 'new, free grill' as he likes to call it.

Then we started a fire and made yummy s'mores.

It was a bit warmer out on Sunday, so we did some swimming. For some reason none of us had thought to bring an iPod charger or an extra book - yikes! I already have a few books packed for next weekend.

Relay For Life of Beaverton 2010

I was able to stop by the Relay For Life of Beaverton last Saturday. My friend, Kathy Cina, took over as Event Chair in 2009. (Yes, she was originally at Hillsboro and we miss her VERY much!) What an amazing job this group has done in the fight against cancer! Kathy's leadership has really brought this community together.

The Committee was introduced. (YEAH!!!)

And then there was a 12 year old Survivor that spoke during their opening ceremony. She was such a beautiful, inspiring girl! I should have known better than to have left my tissues in my camera bag (in my truck)!

Then the Survivor Lap.

The two ladies/Survivors also participate in the Relay For Life of Hillsboro. They bring a smile to my face every time I see them.

Again, amazing what Beaverton did this year!! Their goal was $58,000 (I think - Kathy will let me know if not) and they were at $97,000 raised before their Relay even started. I believe they are now at more than $124,000!!!

In the wagon here is Charlie, Kathy's daughter. This is how Team Captains should be treated at Relay...being pulled in a wagon around the track! (I'm gonna work on this for next year - thanks for the idea Charlie!)

Beaverton is quickly catching up to Hillsboro and it is very exciting for them to have grown this much in one year! They had 37 $1,000 Club members that raised more than $54,000. HOPEfully Beaverton's spirit will become contagious!

I did have a few people ask me if Beaverton had recruited me to their committee. "No" I smiled "I'm here to enjoy their Relay, be supportive and bid on silent auction items!"

Then, about 5 hours later (as I was just getting to the lake) I received a text saying 'pick up your silent auction item'. Ooopppss...I knew there was something that I forgot! I immediately called Kathy to work out the details. She kindly picked up my item - I had won a photo shoot! Just in time too, I was looking at our family pictures the other day and realized that they are 5 years old.

Oregon Brewers Festival - three of my favorite words

Jamie and I went to the Oregon Brewers Festival on Friday. We took the Max downtown - Jamie said he'd like to try some of the beers.

Jamie doesn't drink beer.

Jamie doesn't like beer.

But Jamie loves Amber.


There were thousands of other people enjoying the Brew Fest. (Who wouldn't?!?) We went at the perfect time though - it was warm out, but there was a cool breeze and it was early evening so it wasn't too crowded.

Jamie said he couldn't really tell the difference in most of the beers. Huh??

I, of course, found many to love. My favorite this year - HUB Organic Raise Up Red. Yum.

Then we went to dinner before going home on the Max. Thanks for the fun night Honey! You+Me+Beer = very happy Me.

Things I've learned

There were a few things that I learned on our road trip last week.

1. My bladder just can't hold what it used to.


2. Wearing a bra is apparently overrated in Aberdeen, Wa.


3. Makena will need to learn to read a map before out next road trip.


4. Fighting traffic and going 60mph in a 70mph zone on I5 pisses me off. Going 60mph in a 60mph zone and driving behind a log truck on Hwy 101 doesn't.


5. When driving in a new town, "One Way" signs can really throw me off.


6. Having an iPod and satellite radio is much better than having to find local radio stations or continuously switching cd's or tapes.


7. Having an iPod while on a hike also makes the hike a little more fun. (I also believe that listening to Queen scared the bears away from us. Thanks Freddie.)
   
8. Even Verizon Wireless doesn't get service out in parts of the Olympic National Forest. (Which makes my 13yr daughter have to talk to me.)
   
9. There are still a lot of trailer parks in the PNW.
   
10. Cruise Control was one of the best additions ever added to the vehicle. (A close 2nd - a/c, power windows, blue tooth, keyless entry & heated seats.)

So happy about this & can't wait for all of the stores to follow!

From today's KGW news article:

PORTLAND, Ore. -- Beginning August 1, plastic bags will no longer be an option at Fred Meyer stores in the Portland Metro area.

Fred Meyer spokeswoman Melinda Merrill said paper bags will still be available, but they will no longer have plastic bags as of August. She said the 10 stores in the Portland market were a test group as the retailer prepares for the possibility of eliminating plastic bags at all of its stores.

More: See complete list of Fred Meyer "test group" stores

Merrill said that once Fred Meyer stores scrap the plastic bags, customers would be urged to email comments and suggestions to Fred Meyer.

"We're looking for customer feedback, because we just need to prepare ourselves and make sure the stores are running efficiently and smoothly," Merrill said.

Fred Meyer already got rid of plastic bags at its store at SE 39th & Hawthorne Blvd. in Portland last year while the building was being renovated. Merrill said feedback about the bag ban there has been mostly positive.

Earlier this month, Portland Mayor Sam Adams introduced a draft ordinance that calls for a citywide ban on plastic bags by January 2012. The ordinance would not only ban single-use plastic bags from some stores, it would also require stores to charge five cents for paper bags.

"Many cities are already doing this," Merrill said. "Whether you think banning plastic bags or charging for bags is right or wrong, it's inevitable."

Road Trip - Day #6

I woke Makena up a bit earlier this morning because we were having breakfast downstairs at the B&B. Hot Chocolate and coffee went really well with our breakfast out in the sunroom!

Then we walked around the property for a bit so that I could take a few more pictures.

We stopped by City Hall and the Police Dept.

Then we did some final shopping before heading out of Forks.

We decided to stop at the Hoh Rain Forest and do one final hike. After driving 18 miles in, we found out that it's $15 to park at that state park. Wow...we turned around and drove 18 miles back out.

Then I found another park marker and decided we'd stop there for lunch. Another 7 miles out of our way...

This is my new Emmett hat - it also says Forks, WA on the back.

We were back on the road, headed home, around 2:30pm. We stopped for an energy fill about and hour in and then arrived home just before 7pm.

Jamie, Moxie and Brandi were very happy to see us.

Thanks for hiking with me Pook (even when you didn't want to) and for coming along with me on this fantastic road trip. I get to pick the place for next year - I'd better start planning now. ; )

Road Trip - Day #5

I decided that I wanted to have breakfast in Port Angeles. We hadn't really had much more than instant oatmeal or muffins for breakfast so far. We had to drive around for a while to find a restaurant serving breakfast...

Then we headed back to Forks. The beautiful Lake Crescent is on the way.

And then we found the Marymere Falls that we had missed the day before, so I talked Makena in to hiking up there too.

This tunnel runs under Hwy 101.

This is the first bridge we crossed. Makena was not very impressed with the sturdiness of it.

And then there was a second bridge just like it, but longer. I think she's hanging on for dear life. : )

I think the "falls" were more like a "trickle" but the scenery was still beautiful.

Makena felt safer on the bridge while I found my way down to the water.

She just kept reminding me to be careful and not fall.

On the way to Forks, is Beaver, WA. There are about 4 people, and this beaver, living there.

We stopped for lunch when we made it back to Forks. And Makena had hot chocolate again...one of her faves.

After lunch we headed back out to La Push. We stopped at Jacob's house this time to get a few pictures.

I wanted to hike in to Third Beach. I hadn't read anything about the trail, but there were always a bunch of cars parked in the lot so I knew it had to be popular for some reason.

It was a beautiful hike in, but much farther than we thought it would be. In the end, it was a little over 3 miles and quite the hill to get back up from the beach to the trail.

There were so many people because they were actually camping out there. Great place to stay (if you only bring the bare necessities) and can carry it all in. Makena was so happy to see the car again!

Our next stop was the B&B that we would be staying in our last night in Forks. It is also the Cullen House.

There are messages left on the front porch from Esme each week.

The 'Twilight Room' has the graduation gown caps on display (I thought that was funny) as well as several pictures and Twilight items.

Our room was wonderful and relaxing. It really made the last night of our stay memorable.

The kitty followed me back in the room one time and took a nap while I was reading.

Makena and I watched Twilight later that night, in the Twilight Room of course.

Side Note: If you visits Forks you should read the books first (Hailee). The houses and area around Forks are described in the books, not really seen in the movie. For instance; In the book, the Cullen house is a 100 yr old house with a huge front porch - in Forks. In the movie, it's a very beautiful, but modern house that is in Portland. The people of Forks put time in to creating this little journey for Twilighters to enjoy. Forks is a real town, with real people, but you can almost envision a vampire or wolf sitting next to you at the local cafe.