A Wild Saturday Night

The kids left the sliding door wide open tonight. Almost 20 minutes had passed before we caught this error. By then our house was covered with fruit flies, which are rampant around here this time of year. We have had them in the past and they are very hard to get rid of, especially since they take up residence in the kitchen where we most definitely do not want to use pesticides.

But we found a new solution, and I must admit it is a good time (that is as much fun as you can have exterminating the house!). Our secret.... my old blow dryer.

So we chased the fruit flies around the house pointing the back end of the hair dryer at the tiny insects. They are then sucked into the dryer and promptly fried up by the hot element inside. I couldn't help giggling a little as I took my revenge on these pests, regardless of the gross fried flies stuck to the screen of the dryer. That's okay as this dryer is officially no longer a beauty aid. It has now been designated as a weapon.

Feeling sorry for the little guys? Well take a look at how gross they are, (granted this is a greatly magnified photo. I myself had no idea these creatures were so hideous before this post.)


So what did you do on Saturday night?

We went fruit fly hunting. Beat that!

This week's sob story

It has been a sad few days in our home. Our dryer died late Saturday night. It will still turns on and heats but the drum no longer tumbles. The fact the dryer was purchased brand new only two years ago has me fuming. It is that M****G brand that advertises it's repair men never have anything to do as their appliances work so well. Yet we have had multiple problems with both the dryer and washer. Maybe I should sue for false advertising!

I have been hanging our clothes outside all week. Bro is terribly embarrassed to have his undies fluttering around on the line in the breeze. I feel like I should be donning a long prairie dress, bonnet and apron. I keep thinking I am really glad that I was born in this century as I don't think I would last long without modern day appliances.

I was sure that I could fix it so I did a little research on the Internet and pulled the dryer all apart. I went to the appliance store and picked up a new belt which I installed all by myself. I was feeling a little smug as I plugged our reassembled dryer back in. Then I opened the door and realized the interior light wasn't turning on. I rearranged some wires and now the light turns on...when you close the door. Oh and the dryer will also start only with the door wide open. To make matters worse, it still does not tumble.

So much for the home-based appliance repair business I had dreams of opening.

Did she know I was listening?

I was doing the dishes when I heard Little Sis talking to her brother.

"I think mama is the bestest mom in the whole wide world," she said.

Aahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh!

Suddenly my extremely trying day with my hardheaded little girl seems a lot better now!

Mammoth Zucchini

We picked this from the garden this week, along with two more of about equal size that I have given away. And there's more ready to be plucked. Anyone have a need for a mammoth-sized zucchini or two?

Mammoth Bones

About five years ago a mammoth leg bone (photo below) was discovered nearby. Every summer since archeologists have been out digging for additional remains. So yesterday I took the kids to see the little tour that had set up.

I found the information fascinating and Bro was extremely interested as well, asking question after question.

Sis, however, found the whole experience to be a bit dusty and hot for her tastes. However she was quite amazed at the toes bones that were uncovered this summer, probably just because they were almost as big as her head!

Oh, A New Toy!

Yes, yes, that would be the one, the only, the original Thighmaster. You may remember them from the early 90's. Maybe I need to jog your memory... Suzanne Somers. Got it now?

Well the kids found it collecting dust under my bed, (where this piece of excerise equipment has resided since the early 90's), and now think it's the greatest toy ever. What a fabulous catapult it makes!

I have vowed that this machine will now be used to slim my thighs. Therefore, I am squatting, instead of merely bending at the waist, every night as I pick it up to put it away!

Our new tricks

This summer has been a whirlwind of lessons for the kids.

Bro is taking golf for the first time and absolutely adores it.



Sis enrolled in a week long princess dance camp, which I believed she got nothing from until she performed this for us the other night.

Veggies Galore!

Our little garden has taken off. It has been producing so much that I am giving away produce left and right. (This photo is from June. The garden does not look nearly as neat now but it's fully functioning. Hey looks aren't everything!)

This is a photo of what we picked on Sunday...
1 Zucchini, 3 Cucumbers, an Onion, 2 Bell Peppers, a bunch of Tomatoes

On Monday we picked a mass of Tomatoes and 3 more Cucumbers

And this is what was picked on Tuesday...1 Large Zucchini, 3 Cucumbers, a bunch of tomatoes

I gave away another cucumber today, along with a giant zucchini.

I had no idea such a small space could produce so much but it has been glorious! Maybe we have the heat to thank for this...at least something good is coming from it. It was still 83 when we went to bed at 11:30 last night, the night before beheld a similar heatwave and tonight it continues. Not that I'm complaining...at least not too much!

Another One Bites the Dust

Deuce destroyed another swimming pool last week,
the second one this summer.
Check out the damage. It's rather impressive.

Did I mention how much I dislike this dog right now?

To the West side

We took a little trip over to Seattle last weekend. It started with playing on the beach. Well, this is as "beachy" as it gets in Seattle. Not exactly the white sand, blue water but the kids had a GREAT time. Bro jumped right in the water...for a minute until the temperature hit him. It was dang cold. Sis was disappointed by not swimming, "I want to swim but that's crazy water"! Yet both kids had a wonderful time in the sand.

The next day we took a trip up the Space Needle, as the kids have been begging to see it from the top for a while now. Bro thought it was the coolest. He spent about an hour trying out all the telescopes and chatting about the mountains. Sis kept asking when the real ride was going to start, apparently the 45 second elevator ride just didn't do it for her!
We also got a chance to stop at Snoqualime Falls on the way home. Super cool. I'd like to stop and spend more time there next time. You can actually walk down to the river and wade a bit but after all the walking we did in Seattle our legs (and backs from carrying kids on and off) were just not up to it.
It was so much fun seeing all these sights through the eyes of children. We arrived home late and totally beat. But what an unforgettable trip full of good times and smiles we now have to share.