I'm the only one!

Did you know that I am the only parent who restricts her childs TV and video time?! It's true, Joe said so.

The federal government and health care

~If you put the federal government in charge of the Sahara desert, in 5 years there'd be a shortage of sand.

~The government solution to a problem is usually as bad as the problem.(!)

~ There's no such thing as a free lunch.

Milton Friedman

More about the week at the lake house

The big news is that Lily learned to play backgammon and cribbage!!!!! Yea! No more Monopoly for me.

I read, The Sparrow, a book recommended by my sister. Many reviewers say it's science fiction but it's really about the nature of good and evil. It's about doing the right thing for the right reasons and causing catastrophic harm. It was a good choice. The author is Mary Doria Russell.

I didn't water ski. The water was cold and I was lazy. I'm sorry I didn't make myself go. I remember being at the houseboat and waterskiing as many times as my dad would take me. Lily was like that with knee boarding. She couldn't get enough. It's a "passing of the baton" moment, I suppose.

We had several bear sightings, including the mama bear I got the picture of and 2 of her 3 cubs. Needless to say, I didn't venture out on any solitary walks.

There are bears near Barrier Lake. I can prove it.

NOSEEUMS - neverheardofum, until...

Lily and I had a great time at the Hewson's lake house last week. No phone (cell or land), no TV, no Internet and noseeums. Noseeums, I learned fast, are very tiny bloodsucking flying bugs that attack exposed skin like mosquitoes but you rarely...see....um. Poor Lily has strips of skin ripped from her shin by her own fingernails trying to end the torment. It's not pretty. But, as you can see from the exuberant smiles, it was well worth every bite. We had 7 days of reading books, knee boarding, water skiing, playing games, watching the girls make chocolate cake, cookies and apple crisp and did I mention no phones, TV or Internet?.......It was REALLY nice.

Not to belabor the point...

I just made(and ate) "Gobblers". They are so good. Even the dough is addicting. This weekend, Lily and I will be off for a girls week away to a remote lake in Canada. In appreciation for the gracious invitation to our friends lake house and for feeling guilty about leaving JT and Joe home alone, I made the supreme cookie for all of us to enjoy. They are so delightful.

Starvation Heights

Book club met last night to discuss my pick, Starvation Heights. It's a true crime story that caught my eye because the crimes happened in Olalla, Wa., near Seattle and they were committed by a woman "doctor" at the turn of the century. I was intrigued.
It's a very interesting and gruesome tale. Read more about it and see pictures here :
http://www.starvationheights.com/

Lily 1 and Lily 2

Lily's mom came to get her after a long day of playing at our house. When the girls spotted Karens car driving up our drive they quickly dashed off to camouflage themselves in an attempt to hide out and prolong their fun day together.