Word for Wednesday

Word: Canoodle

Take a guess - what can it be
Come back at 3:00 - so you can see

Is it a noodle taken out of a can?
Is it a paper folded into a fan?

Is it a bird with an extra long beak
Come back at 3:00 and take a peek

Tip for Tuesday - Writing Related

We all get confused by word usage some times or is that sometimes . . . ?

Here are some A to Z's of Writing Words or maybe the A to E's - beginning with "A"

Accept, except

Accept is to agree
Except is to leave out

Advice, advise

Advice is a noun and means a recommendation
Advise is a verb that means to give advice

Affect, effect

Affect is a verb that means "to cause a change in" or "influence" (however, it's a noun in psychology which means "emotional impact"
Effect as a noun means "result or conclusion" as a verb effect is to "bring about".

Hope these tips are helpful to some of you writers out there.

Providence Bridge Pedal

Sunday I woke up with a sore throat and was worried that I wouldn't be able to make the ride but, after a hot shower, I was ready for another busy day.

The Providence Bridge Pedal has a bike ride for every skill level. There is a 38, 24, and 14 mile bike ride option.

We signed up for the easiest of the three. And it helps that it's a party atmosphere here in Portland on the bridges, with live bands, balloons and families riding tandems. I always have a lot of respect for Moms and Dads but I have even more respect for the parents riding with baby buggies attached to the back of their bikes. Of course they had to be in super shape, which I'm not.


I was wishing I would have pulled my bike out earlier than the morning of the ride - if not to get in shape, then at least to check the tires, which were flat.

But 14 miles later we stopped at Starbucks and had an iced coffee - Yummy reward. Then we rode the six miles back home. It was tiring but a lot of fun.


The Providence Bridge Pedal supports the Heart and Vascular Institute at Providence Medical Center. It's a good cause and a fun ride over a lot of the bridges in the city. Plus, if you aren't a bike enthusiast, you can walk a five mile Bridge Stride for the cause.

Did you know that Portland is the number one city for biking in the country? If you're planning a trip to Portland in the next year, you should plan it around the Bridge Pedal/Bridge Stride, you'll end up getting the best views of the city and be heart healthy too.

Julie and Julia (Child) - the Move

Went and saw the movie. It was super cute. I LOVED it. A great show to go see for a girl's night out.

First, a couple girlfriends came for dinner. We had fondue - or more like fondon't. I took the recipe out of Julia Child's Mastering the Art of French Cooking and I wouldn't add Nutmeg again. I love how she said add "a pinch" I guess I pinched too large a peckle of nutmeg 'cause it sure tasted a tad too sweet. Maybe it's because I use Nutmeg more for the holidays but it just didn't taste like it belonged in a cheese dip - which is what fondue is supposed to be.

Then we had artichoke's, I didn't quite make it to the Hollandaise sauce, which was supposed to be served in the center. I just used melted butter and mayonnaise -similar but not the true thing.

So we ate and had a glass of wine and we were on our way. Great night.

Re-Crafting for Kids

We all want to have cute clothes and fancy footwear for our kids, especially as they head back to school. I remember back - and it was a long time ago - to the first day of school and how I wanted to wear my BEST new outfit. But in my Real World, Mom and Dad didn't have a lot of money and, with nine kids, we were lucky to have a new pair of shoes and a couple pairs of underpants - which I always thought was strange, Mom wanted us to have new underwear.

"But, no one even sees that," I'd whine.

Grandma would say, "You might end up in the hospital with soiled, torn underwear."

Like that would be the worst thing if I was in an accident. I'd tell her, "Besides, if I'm in an accident, that new, clean, underwear might be soiled anyway."

Anyway, it's not always EZ to buy those cute clothes we want our kids to have. So, I learned a few things about recrafting what I had. And, here's a great idea for all you knitters/crocheters out there. Just knit or crochet a little rim around plain socks to make them stand out.

And, if you can't knit or crochet just buy a short yard of ribbon or beading at your local fabric store and handstitch it in place.

It will make multiple pack-socks look like designer wear and you can personalize those socks even more with buttons or charms. It's EZ and a fun project to do.

Earth-Friendly Friday-Knitting My Way to a Better World

Maybe some of you know, I love to knit (see the two hats I knitted over this summer, while I was riding in the car to Eastern Oregon). Nothing complicated 'cuz I'm not that good at it. Just learning so maybe one day I'll be able to knit a sweater. For now, it's hats, scarves, baby blankets and booties. Simple projects.

But, the other day I found some recycled silk yarn. Way excited about that!

Here's a link that might help you other knitters find some eco-friendly yarn. Organic wool can be expensive but I've bought some and made hats and it was super soft, so worth the extra money.

Answer to Thought for Thursday

Answer: "Mack the Knife" Bobby Darin's version