blog stalking

Deb's friend Michelle has a link to this Seattle based (mostly canine, I think) photographer - Bark! (Kate! You should call her! She has a contest running for a free doggy shoot.) A few posts back she has pics posted from a trip to the Olympic Game Farm in Sequim, WA. (Kate! When we visit, we are totally going there!) You can hand feed bison, yaks, llamas, goats, bears... Well not the bears. I guess they wave and you toss them bread. The pictures totally crack me up. I wonder if you're allowed to do stuff like that in a rental car... I wonder if bison saliva is hard to clean off car interiors...

Lunch with Lil

Spent the afternoon with my little 4 yo niece Lily. We missed her birthday this summer so I took her out for a belated celebration. We lunched at Friendly's where she colored happily, politely ordered for herself, and chatted nicely with strangers. (But not to the extent that she was bothersome or freaking me out...) Then we went to Build-A-Bear. Lily has never been. Being a weekday afternoon we had the place to ourselves. She took lots of time deciding between the Hannah Montana teddy and the elephant. Since she has never been to BAB she had no idea bear clothes/accessories were an option. I did not feel the need to point them out. She was so sweet and easy. As the baby of five kids she kind of just needs to go with the flow, I guess. Fun, easy outing. Now I have to plan something for her 2 sisters, who also have summer bdays we missed. Not sure how we became the lame-o bday forgeters. Oh well, hopefully made up for it with Lil at least.

Corn Dogs and Footsie-Wootsie

A Big E tradition...

You'd never know by Jack's attire that it was blazin' hot outside. It was also crazy crowded, but we had a good time anyway. The kids loved the (fake) milkable cow, the (real) hatching chicks, the food and the rides. Nana is such a good sport...

jack cam...

Just found these on my camera. There were lots of pet pics and nearly 50 Bionicle shots. All in focus and nicely composed. I actually couldn't bring myself to delete them. Maybe the boy has a future in Lego photography...

What Jamie looks like...

According to Diana Gabaldon's blog, this is a pretty close match. Not sure if he's exactly what I had pictured. Maybe I'd have to see him in a kilt... Or hear him say "Sassenach."

My house plan du jour...

This is the new one I like. I like that the garage opens into a mudroom with bench and closet. I like the first floor master with access to the porch. The downstairs bedroom would be a den/guest room. The kids would get the two massive upstairs bedrooms. I'd probably do a bonus room upstairs instead of the 2 story family room. That loft upstairs is kind of a waste. Not sure what I'd put there. Also not sure if I care that there isn't a tub in the master bath. I love that there are basement stairs. Love the built in desk in the kitchen. And the HUGE pantry. A good house plan makes me happy...

The Trouble With Boys

From the Today Show this morning. (Yes, I'm aware I need to get out of the house more.) I think this totally makes sense. I have had that conversation the book author describes - the one with other moms about which teachers are "bad for boys." I like how she points out that it is not anti-feminist to worry about how we teach boys. Good story and interview...