Word for Wednesday

Word: agoraphobia

Write the meaning in the "comments" spot
then come back to see if you're "write" - or not.

The answer will be posted around 3
come back then and you will see

Here Comes Halloween

Frankenstein stops to say "Hi"

Ghosts appear passing by

Witches fly through the sky

Now it's time to say good-bye


(Painted pumpkins by Shawna Puckett)

Carved pumpkins by Shay and Kara

Remember to wash your pumpkin seeds and spread them on a cookie sheet with a little olive oil and salt - bake at 450 for about a half hour and you'll have instant munchies. Hope you have a Happy Halloween.

1st Anniversary!!!

We celebrated all weekend long.

Between the Portland Nursery Apple Festival,

where they gave away free popcorn and had great strudel topped with ice cream, bands playing and even face-painting: Shay was brave enough to volunteer to be the model:

The Sauvie Island Pumpkin Patch,
the hayride, and the birthday dinner for Luke, it was a weekend filled to the hilt with activity.

Luke came home for the weekend to celebrate the 1st anniversary of his 21st birthday!

We spent the "anniversary" weekend celebrating by doing all the things we've been doing since Luke was just a little guy. And, now, that he's 6'5" and 22 years-old, I think he enjoyed this birthday weekend with all the fun-filled blasts from his past.

Plus, we made caramel apples, ghost and pumpkin cookies--how could anyone not enjoy that sugarfied fun?

We topped off the birthday celebration with a family movie - okay, maybe the horror/comedy Zombieland isn't a movie for most families but . . . we enjoyed it.

And, I don't mind admitting that I was a little irritated with Jacob for trying to ruin my family photos but, if you look at the dinner photo above, you'll see that I was able to PhotoShop him out of there. But here's the way he would have looked - had I left him in.

I hope your weekend was filled with fun, festivals, and feasts!!!

Zombieland

Okay, I have to admit, I like scary movies: vampires, werewolves, zombies they don't bother me. So, when the kids wanted to go see Zombieland, I was all for it.

It was a little gorey in the beginning - and that wasn't needed. But the movie had its hysterical moments. Like the clown crawling underneath the stall - I laughed at that frightening moment. And when we were all encouraged to get some cardio exercise - a teachable moment. But the funniest thing was when Bill Murray got mistaken for a zombie and shot--all because he was playing a practical joke. That's something I might have done--not the shooting--the stupid practical joke.

Anyway, the show was good - if you could get past the gore, which was done in excess. I never like gore - but I liked Zombieland.

Next will be Paranormal Activity and then Legion. I have a thing for scary movies - which is funny since I write stories for kids and am such an all-time soccer mom. ;)

Wordstock Weekend

This weekend is the weekend for word lovers in Portland, Oregon. If you are anywhere near Portland, you might want to check out this two-day annual event for writers and lovers of words at Wordstock.

Sharing Solution

Emily Doskow gave, what she called, a prehistoric powerpoint presentation at Broadway Books in Portland, Oregon
When we were young, Mom and Dad tried to teach us to share. With nine kids in the family, sharing wasn't even an option it was a requirement.

I shared a room with two of my sisters my entire single life--well, until Brook got married and moved out. Plus, with nine kids, we only had one bathroom - that's unheard of today.

So sharing isn't a new idea - it's old school. But sometimes we need to look back to move forward. The Sharing Solution is a great book to give you some hints, tips and tricks on how to save money and share at the same time.

If you'd like to get some ideas on how to do some community sharing and create a sustainable environment, stop by Broadway Books at 1714 NE Broadway in Portland, Oregon and pick up a signed copy of The Sharing Solution.

Lips Touch Three Times by Laini Taylor

Laini Taylor writes magical prose.

She can weave a web of goblins, vindictive spirits and love starved ladies that is so intriguing her fans come to her book signings dressed as the characters.


And, she and her husband Jim DiBartolo make a fabulous pair. Together they create art with the pen and paintbrush.

And who wouldn't be compelled to read a story about goblins who want "girls who dream so hard about being pretty their yearning leaves a palpable trail, a scent goblins can follow..."

If you're interest is piqued, check out Powell's Books.