After a slow and manic start to summer weather, it appears it has finally arrived. Longer days coax us outside and clear blue skies with fresh air lure us out of bed in the mornings. We are inclined to put carpe diem into practice when we are invigorated by a beautiful day. Some of the […]
How does that idiom go? “The best laid plans of mice and men often go awry,” or so said Robert Burns, but in my opinion that’s no excuse to at least have a few ideas in your back pocket for that stretch of two-and-a-half months once school gets out. Yes, it is June and there […]
Who doesn’t like a treasure hunt? And with kids involved, the delight of adventure is intensified. Maybe you have heard of a certain world-wide activity that blends creativity, clues and observation, and exploring the outdoors, all in one. It is called letterboxing. It’s a lower-tech version of geo caching, if you will. According to one […]
It’s already March. How are you doing on your New Year’s resolutions? A friend of mine has latched onto Chinese New Year because she says it’s sort of like a “re-do” opportunity if you don’t stick to your calendar year resolutions. Chinese New Year usually falls at the end of January or early February and […]
They have as much fun with the box as they do with the toy that came in it! If you have been around toddlers at a birthday party then you know it is true. That’s not much consolation to friends or relatives who poured valuable time and deep thought into finding the perfect gift for […]
I just saw it on my neighborhood blog. One of my favorite local bakeries has closed. The lease was up and, while the bakery had successfully existed in its location for twenty-five years, the property owner and the bakery owner could not come to terms on a new lease. Sadly, the bakery’s two other locations […]
Recently my family and I drove to Mount Rainier for a long weekend of camping, and a long weekend of camping grime and dirty fingernails – it goes with the territory. The weather smiled upon us and the mountain proved itself as spectacular as ever. We encountered a lot of snow low on the mountain […]
Last year I wrote about Letterboxing as an enthralling treasure-hunt style activity and public library summer reading programs as methods to fill time and keep the edge on those nine months of education that your child just completed. I also consistently mention how much our children simply want to spend time with their parents. They […]
Wildlife Agent – First Mission I am issuing an assignment for you and your kids, nieces and nephews, grandchildren, or play date friends. This mission, if you choose to accept it, will lead you to information online that is critical to the deployment of forthcoming spy tasks. You and your agents will follow directives with […]
Venturing Out to Discover the Great Northwest – By Paula Olson East County is full of treasure undiscovered by many. Natural beauty and recreational activities abound, just east of Portland, but with a lot more elbow room. Apartment buildings have long-since filled in the fields where berry bushes thrived when I was a youngster. And […]