A DAY AT THE BEACH

We climb in the car.
Are we there yet?
Can I spend a sand dollar?
Do I have to wear a lifejacket?

We eat lunch.
When can I go back in the water?
Can I ride a Seahorse?
Do I have to wear a lifejacket?

We build a sand castle.
Are STARfish in the movies?
Can I see shells?
Do I have to wear a lifejacket?

We swim in the water.
Are crabs grouchy?
Can an ocean wave?
I know, I have to wear a lifejacket.

We need to go home.
Are you tired too?
Can jelly fish?
I’m glad I can take off my lifejacket

Fiction is a Lie - And That's The Truth

Any story you tell, won't be the same story someone else would tell-even if it's true.

For example, look at the first four chapters of the New Testament, in the Bible. Matthew, Mark, Luke and John were all telling the same old story - just in different ways with different words and from different perspectives. So the story might be the same but it will never read that way - or not quite.

The secret to writing a good story is to make the lie believable. Think of creative-writing as creative-lying. It might seem a little more fun when you think of it that way ;-) or at least it will make you feel more like a super-sleuth, searching for the dangerous, exciting, or emotional impact inside the mundane reality of every day.

So what makes writing fiction interesting to you? Share your thoughts in the "comments" section.

COME BY THE HILLS - CELTIC THUNDER

CELTIC THUNDER IS COMING to the Rose Garden

November 12th at 8:00 p.m. (If you're interested, check it out here.)

Ape Cave

SO YOU WANT TO DO SOMETHING DIFFERENT THIS SUMMER?

Just GO APE! At Ape Cave.


Have you ever wanted to go exploring or travel to the center of the earth? Have you ever wondered what it would be like to be a mole, rabbit or even an ant; all these creatures burrow away beneath the surface, down deep, inside holes in the ground. They travel through tunnels – never seen by human eyes.

If you have ever wanted to go exploring beneath the surface of the earth, then maybe you’re a natural spelunker and simply wanting to go spelunking.

A spelunker is someone who travels inside the earth by visiting caves and tunnels. One of the best places in the world to visit, if you want to explore these natural wonders is the Pacific Northwest.

And, Ape Cave is always about 45 degrees so it doesn’t matter whether you visit in the summer or winter.

Just visit Mt. St. Helens and you can enter Ape Cave or travel over to Bend and you can visit Lava River Cave, Wind Cave, Arnold Ice Cave, Boyd Cave and more. And not too far away, in Northern California, The Lava Monument offers stories of the famous Indian known as “Captain Jack” and the Modoc War.

Listen to tales of Captain Jack’s standoff and this little known war. Then learn about stalactites, stalagmites and the bats and other inhabitants inside these underground dwellings.

And with The Oregon Cave near Cave Junction, the opportunities for underground exploration are nearly limitless.

As you wander these underground sites, you’ll learn the answers to questions like:

How old is Ape Cave and are there monkeys living inside?
Where is Ape Cave?
How long is Ape cave?
Why is it called “Ape Cave” and not “Chimpanzee Cave”?

Maybe it should really be called Gorilla Cave because it’s the second longest lave tube in the entire world (almost 2 and ½ miles long!) And when you explore Ape Cave you can travel 4000 feet beneath the surface. Luckily, the floor is covered with sand, which makes walking easy inside this cave. This is a great first cave for any wanna-be spelunkers to begin exploring especially since it only takes a little over an hour for a round-trip walking tour.

This is one very old Ape. Can you guess how old this hole in the ground is?

The lava tube was formed when Mount St. Helens erupted about 1900 years ago and molten lava ran through the earth to form Ape Cave.

Ape cave wasn’t even named after an animal. It was named after a youth group called the St. Helens Apes.

So travel via the web or your welcome to come to the Pacific Northwest and explore all the caves we have to offer. Just go APE

Earth-Friendly Friday: Salt, Fire and Time

You've probably heard of community gardens but have you ever heard of a community kitchen?

Salt, Fire and Time is such an organization. Their "menus change weekly and focus on regional, seasonal organic cuisine with an emphasis on the highest quality ingredients in traditional preparations that satisfy, nourish and support healthy bodies and communities."

They also offer classes. I'm going to the community feast tonight, Friday, July 17th and I'm thinking of signing up for the Fermented Beverages Class.

If you're in Portland or the surrounding area, you might be interested in checking out this list of classes and feasts for the next month and a half.

There are drop in hours for food items at the kitchen on (monday) and wednesday 11-4pm.

Community Feast 7/17 — 7:30 pm (please RSVP, spaces are limited) Speaker: TBA

Fermented Beverages Class 7/21 –6:30pm at the kitchen, demonstration and partial participation. Cost: $30/person, limit 15 people: This will focus on lacto-fermented sodas, kvass and kombuchas. You will have a chance to taste them all, learn how they are made and ask all of your troubleshooting questions.

Weston A. Price Meeting at the Kitchen 7/23 — 7pm, everyone is welcome

Sauerkraut Making Class 7/28 @ 6:30. Cost $25/person. Limited to 15 people. This will be a class to explore salted and unsalted fermentations. I will explain the processes, demonstrate the techniques and sample a variety of products and equipment.

Community Feast 8/7 @ 7:30pm (cost $20/person, please RSVP due to limited spaces) Speaker: TBA

And, look for them at the Hawthorne Days celebration on 8/16, with The Herb Shoppe

Community Feast 8/21 @7:30 in the kitchen. Cost $20/person, please RSVP, space is limited. Speaker: TBA

They will also be at Portland’s Fermentation Festival 8/27

Community Feast 8/28 @7:30 pm in the kitchen. Cost: $20/person. Speaker: Dr. Allison Seibecker

Answer to Thought for Thursday

You might think it's a romance writer--right?

But NO - that would be too EZ-Smeazy. I've got to work harder than that so you do.

Answer: Stephen King, my all-time fav writer

Thought for Thursday - Who Said It?

Quote for today: "French is the language that turns dirt into romance."

WHO SAID IT?

Take a guess, come play with me.
It is easy as can be?