tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-258791782011-10-26T13:51:15.348-07:00kid updates, house updates, an occasional recipe, random ramblings and a little of everything elseJenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14182930303545312702noreply@blogger.comBlogger5711100tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25879178.post-47224105845131820132011-01-04T23:02:00.000-08:002011-01-04T23:45:26.634-08:00

Cribbed from Jen Pondo.1. What did you do in 2010 that you’d never done before?I participated in a sprint triathlon. That means swim, bike, then run. I can't make this stuff up! I was glad when it was over and will probably never do it again. Quite possibly the most terrifying, painful, emotional, and adrenaline-fueled experiences in my whole life.Aside from that whole giving birth thing, that is

Jen Fhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09176764752895151973noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25879178.post-60939960181222627902010-12-30T14:30:00.001-08:002010-12-30T14:33:19.021-08:00

I have to admit, for a while I've been a doubter. Maybe even a hater... But I think that's pushing it.I just didn't get it. Why would anyone spend hundreds of dollars on... A ginormous iPod touch? I'm a bit of an Apple fangirl and have several devices, and we love us our iPods (nano, shuffle, or touch flavor) at the casa de Fiveforefun. But the iPad? Just seemed a little... Overboard.And then

Jen Fhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09176764752895151973noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25879178.post-42314753533084599282010-12-19T20:39:00.000-08:002010-12-19T20:46:30.873-08:00

Things I should blog about but haven't... what do you want to hear about?My first triathlonLinden Lake hike & the Mt Scott fireLearning to knitMaking bagelsRunning for beerCyclocross (watching, not participating)Ignite BendHomemade tamalesFall at the coastLogistical NightmareGirls' weekend in PortlandHome-grown vegiesDiamond LakeTowel backpacksSo... whaddya think?

Jen Fhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09176764752895151973noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25879178.post-25444974196280405042010-05-31T23:30:00.000-07:002010-06-01T00:04:37.388-07:00

May turned into sort of a "travel" month for me - a perfect storm of planned and impromptu nights away from home. The first week of the month we had a hiccup of sorts, and on our wedding anniversary of all days. The RHPB had some health problems. He's all better now... back to golfing during every free moment. But we ended up spending a few days at SCMC. We had a room with a wonderful view of the

Jen Fhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09176764752895151973noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25879178.post-18657836287955568152010-05-10T21:04:00.000-07:002010-05-10T21:13:57.370-07:00

I have a lot of fabric, and many patterns. So when I saw the "Kids Clothes Week" challenge on Elsie Marley's blog I figured, why not? Most of this stuff is just sitting around, and maybe this will keep me motivated and help me finish a few projects.It also helps that Boo is interested in learning to sew, so hopefully she will lend a hand. Tonight we sorted through an enormous pile of patterns and

Jen Fhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09176764752895151973noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25879178.post-44007834809844167682010-03-30T14:06:00.000-07:002010-03-30T14:33:29.864-07:00

I've been running for a year. March 16th was officially my first "runniversary". Wow!Guess what? I still don't like to run, but I don't hate it any more. It's wiggled into my life and become part of my routine. If I skip a workout on a "running day" my body knows it. If the weather is bad, I find a way to do it anyways. Even if it means running in the snow.I've registered for the Deschutes Dash

Jen Fhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09176764752895151973noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25879178.post-35661251330410331622010-02-14T16:45:00.000-08:002010-02-14T22:49:28.066-08:00

Have you ever tried a macaron?Don't confuse these with macaroons... a soft cookie with coconut popular in the American South. Macarons (with one "o") are delicate little cookies made with almond (or other nut "flour") sandwiched together with a bit of ganache, curd, or jam.They are delicious.Many experts agree that the best macarons in the world are made by Pierre Hermes. These were the first I

Jen Fhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09176764752895151973noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25879178.post-50706877978369024132010-01-30T11:11:00.000-08:002010-01-30T11:19:47.872-08:00

It was with trepidation that I stepped out into the cold this morning, with Yak Traks stretched over my running shoes. It was a beautiful morning though. The clouds were burning off and blue sky was taking over.Crunch, crunch, crunch ... we walked the first few blocks. The cold air filled my chest and, at first, shocked my lungs and chilled me. But soon the coolness started to feel good. Then we

Jen Fhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09176764752895151973noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25879178.post-45145234395794841722010-01-04T20:38:00.000-08:002010-01-04T20:50:41.964-08:00

I think "resolutions" are too formal for me. So instead I'm setting a few goals. Some of these should be no brainers... and this list is a work in progress. Let's see how this goes, shall we?Go to the dentist, regularly. What was that I said about no brainers? The last time I went to the dentist was, well, I don't know when. Clearly it was too long ago. I am dental phobic due to a string of bad

Jen Fhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09176764752895151973noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25879178.post-45695300194994604052009-12-31T14:03:00.000-08:002009-12-31T20:23:03.033-08:00

“For an athlete to function properly, he must be intent. There has to be a definite purpose and goal if you are to progress. If you are not intent about what you are doing, you aren't able to resist the temptation to do something else that might be more fun at the moment.” ~John WoodenIn 2009 I accomplished a lot, and lived with as much intention as one can muster.Possibly my biggest

Jen Fhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09176764752895151973noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25879178.post-70594610908078350152009-12-28T12:51:00.000-08:002009-12-28T21:39:43.251-08:00

This week's theme on the I ♥ Faces blog is "Hilarious Outtakes". Here are a few of my favorite funny faces...I'm not sure if he swallowed a bug, or what...Right as I took this picture, he put her in a headlock. Way to show the love!Apparently, hand-knitted items are scary. Huh.Some people have LOLCats... I have LOLKidz! When I look at this I think, "I can haz pointy tongue" and "Diz iz mah noggun

Jen Fhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09176764752895151973noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25879178.post-11691740907617104232009-12-17T10:40:00.000-08:002009-12-17T21:57:10.202-08:00

If you don't use ExpressionEngine, this post will probably be mostly Greek to you. If you do use ExpressionEngine... cool! Hope you find this information useful. :-)I've started working with ExpressionEngine CMS for some smaller web properties. If you've never checked them out, they are a great company located right here in Bend, OR. I needed something flexible and easy to use, without costing an

Jen Fhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09176764752895151973noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25879178.post-22768943224886331692009-12-14T10:48:00.000-08:002009-12-14T10:52:34.527-08:00

This week's theme on the I ♥ Faces blog is "Pet's Only". While he isn't my furbaby, Kinley is a much better super-pet-model than my precocious little beasties. Here's my entry:Clearly, he's seen "Zoolander" a few times. And he has been practicing "Blue Steel" in the mirror at home.

Jen Fhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09176764752895151973noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25879178.post-60772474473854855702009-12-12T20:00:00.000-08:002009-12-12T20:19:15.382-08:00

If you are anywhere near Bend, Oregon this weekend, I hope you have checked out at least one of the events happening in conjunction with the Cyclocross National Championships... if not one of the races!We went to the "Crossculture" gallery walk downtown last night. It was amazing to see a great blend of locals and athletes mingling and enjoying what the town had to offer. This afternoon we caught

Jen Fhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09176764752895151973noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25879178.post-64982521364978316442009-12-06T21:26:00.000-08:002009-12-07T15:39:20.883-08:00

I've really enjoyed checking out the great photos on the I ♥ Faces blog... and figure it's finally time to enter one of their challenges. This week's theme is "Sleepy Time". Here's my entry:I took this picture of Lil B when he was still in the hospital... the tender age of one day old. This photo was immediately titled "I Surrender!" by Lil B's dad. Lil B's mom, Shannon is a good friend and

Jen Fhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09176764752895151973noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25879178.post-14568903290518539822009-09-15T08:08:00.000-07:002009-09-16T12:49:49.096-07:00

The continuing saga of a mother attempting to entertain her teenage son... while still managing to do things that she finds fun!I'm not the best match for a teenage boy. Video games aren't my thing. (Especially games like HALO... they make me feel motion sick.) I'm not into robots or gizmos or wacky inventions. Manga? Also not my thing. Overall, you'd think that I couldn't manage to find

Jen Fhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09176764752895151973noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25879178.post-46692961431550342792009-09-07T20:37:00.000-07:002009-09-07T21:24:33.814-07:00

a.k.a. Things to know when hiking with a teenage boyToday (Labor Day) Stinky and I went hiking. Specifically, we hiked from the Jack Lake trailhead to Booth Lake. Originally we wanted to take the Canyon Creek Meadows trail but a big group arrived at the trailhead right behind us. So... we hiked the opposite direction. Because we could.Unfortunately that meant we didn't know much about the trail.

Jen Fhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09176764752895151973noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25879178.post-34220980989375916432009-08-31T10:33:00.000-07:002009-08-31T10:59:07.087-07:00

For a Monday morning, it's pretty clear and beautiful. The skies are blue and there's no haze from wildfires. On my drive to work I could see five peaks - Mt Bachelor, Broken Top, and the Three Sisters.And when I looked at the top of South Sister (also known as "Charity") I thought, "I've been there!"I hiked to the top of South Sister with several friends on August 10th. Yes, in Oregon some of

Jen Fhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09176764752895151973noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25879178.post-14751084452288889702009-08-29T16:16:00.000-07:002009-08-29T17:42:49.602-07:00

a.k.a. Road Trip 2009 - The "What We Ate" EditionSomewhere in South Dakota my husband commented that we eat better when we're camping than when we're at home. I think he's right! Based on that comment, you might assume that we ate out a LOT during our road trip but we didn't... except for our road days. We hit many fast food joints on those to make things a little more interesting and fun for the

Jen Fhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09176764752895151973noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25879178.post-30425608931584556862009-06-14T18:52:00.000-07:002009-06-14T19:31:26.004-07:00

Got a slow start on cooking my way through week 2 of my produce box from Groundwork Organics. But that doesn't mean that we had a slow start eating!Here's what I picked up on Wednesday:We got Italian parsley, kale, carrots, beets, potatoes, zucchini, shelling peas, salad mix, broccoli, and strawberries....The carrots were munched and crunched away by my hungry kids....I ate the strawberries that

Jen Fhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09176764752895151973noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25879178.post-1279796143824814102009-06-10T17:06:00.001-07:002009-06-10T17:26:28.490-07:00

Drat! Week one was actually last Wednesday... I'm already a week behind!So here's the deal. In the interest of eating healthier and trying new things I purchased a CSA share from Groundwork Organics. Actually part of it is also due to general laziness and fear of crowded places (i.e. the Farmer's Market). And technically? I bought half a share, since I am sharing with a co-worker. Since this is a

Jen Fhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09176764752895151973noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25879178.post-51596000266432100952009-06-09T16:41:00.000-07:002009-06-09T16:50:37.384-07:00

Over the weekend we finished setting up some raised planter beds. I filled them with dirt and planted a few things I had grown from seed along with my booty from the OSU Master Gardener plant sale. When I left this morning things looked good. The plants I had been growing inside were starting to perk up, and it looked like everything was getting the right amount of water from the sprinkler system

Jen Fhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09176764752895151973noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25879178.post-23133279779546487662009-06-01T15:05:00.000-07:002009-06-01T15:13:05.289-07:00

This is Boo.She likes to be silly.She likes to swim.She likes to try on hats.And (to my dismay) she LOVES to climb.We had a great girls' weekend in Ashland!

Jen Fhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09176764752895151973noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25879178.post-72992118576016552792009-05-02T16:14:00.001-07:002009-05-02T17:27:45.616-07:00

Today I ran the Salmon Run 5k with some girl friends... Melinda, Kate, and Shannon. It was breezy and cool, but we warmed up quickly once we started running. I was definitely grateful for my new arm warmers! I did better than I thought I would, especially since training for the last week has been a little erratic for me.Melinda, Shannon and I have been running together on a fairly consistent

Jen Fhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09176764752895151973noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25879178.post-91489607590037019592009-04-30T15:20:00.000-07:002009-04-30T16:46:26.178-07:00

I can sum up Kauai in one word. AMAZING.We loved it there. So much, that I cried when we had to leave. It was wonderful. It was beautiful. The people were friendly. It was, well... amazing.Since the RHPB and I hadn't been on a honeymoon yet and are coming up on our first anniversary, we decided to take advantage of some "recession airfares" and go somewhere warm for a few days. I love Hawaii and

Jen Fhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09176764752895151973noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25879178.post-61295111623124315402009-04-19T12:38:00.000-07:002009-04-19T12:50:28.399-07:00

Today I participated in the CASA "Light of Hope" 5k with Shannon and Fawn (well, for the first leg then she left us in the dust...). Shannon and I did our "regular" Couch to 5k workout rather than kill ourselves trying to run the whole way. One of my big goals is don't get hurt... which is sometimes easier said then done. Especially when you are a klutz like me.So we didn't set any land-speed

Jen Fhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09176764752895151973noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25879178.post-81018527808592828942009-04-09T21:50:00.000-07:002009-04-09T22:04:54.217-07:00

It's cooled down outside, I notice, as I begin my journey home. My shadow, long and stretched out, rides in front of me.The wind that had chilled me while running still blows, but now it cushions my ears against the sound of the traffic rushing along Franklin Avenue. I make my way along the side of the road slowly, timing my pace with the traffic light ahead. I'm tired, and wonder if I have to

Jen Fhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09176764752895151973noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25879178.post-61969655918028154272009-04-06T18:28:00.000-07:002009-04-06T18:44:32.093-07:00

I am home from running, and weary. It's unseasonably warm outside and I want a cool shower. First I must attend to the dog's needs - she's happy to be home and in her yard, where she is comfortable doing her business. Waiting for her, I notice the lilac bushes are budding out with green leaves. I wonder if they will finally bloom this year.Inside, the dog is grateful for the large bowl of cool

Jen Fhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09176764752895151973noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25879178.post-2358992562480829912009-04-04T15:28:00.000-07:002009-04-04T15:38:01.716-07:00

Don't get me wrong... I think chickens are OK and I loooove fresh eggs. If I didn't work full time and we had a little more space, I'd probably have my own. Raising chickens is a lot of work and responsibility and work. And it's all very worth it. At the very least I hope my friends that are first-time chicken raisers are practicing good hand-washing every time they handle a chick... and keeping

Jen Fhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09176764752895151973noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25879178.post-39952824079736255182009-03-02T10:59:00.000-08:002009-03-02T12:42:56.141-08:00

This year I will be celebrating my 35th birthday. I have been working hard to get into better shape, and take better care of myself in general this year. In particular I've been eating better and exercising more regularly.It's time to kick it up a notch, though. I am going to start running again.If you know me, you probably know that I am not a huge fan of running. I used to run a LOT in my

Jen Fhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09176764752895151973noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25879178.post-2292389216378927822009-02-07T23:48:00.000-08:002009-02-08T00:18:43.260-08:00

Well, it still isn't snowing and it really isn't all that cold outside. In fact, from my friends' Twitter posts it's almost like spring because there are complaints of sinus aches and juniper allergies all around (myself included). But tonight some good winter comfort food seemed like just the ticket, anyways. I love myself a good chicken potpie. However today I was feeling too lazy to make a

Jen Fhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09176764752895151973noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25879178.post-13281768264477481022009-02-01T12:35:00.000-08:002009-02-01T15:13:51.406-08:00

Boo's tenth birthday is today. She's TEN. Double digits. I can barely believe it...Here's lesson one about ten year old girls. They like to shriek. They shriek when they are happy. They shriek when they are excited. They shriek about pretty much anything. And the more of them you have, the more they shriek. We're in for an ear-splitting year.Anyways, to celebrate this momentous age she had an

Jen Fhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09176764752895151973noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25879178.post-19505709631282124472009-01-20T10:02:00.000-08:002009-01-20T10:21:50.761-08:00

Happy Inauguration Day!This morning as I drove my daughter to school, I searched the radio bands for a station that might be playing a feed of the swearing in of our nation's new President. Boo was curious about this and realized out loud, "Oh, Barack Obama turns into the President today!" I told her yes, and that the big ceremony would be happening right about the time I dropped her off at the

Jen Fhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09176764752895151973noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25879178.post-83943934235910201502009-01-07T13:03:00.000-08:002009-01-07T13:28:40.589-08:00

One of my family's favorite restaurants in town is Baldy's. And one of our favorite meals is their Smothered Fries. It's actually on the appetizer menu but it's a meal (or two) on it's own - a huge plate of crispy, hot fries topped with pulled pork, bbq sauce, and grated cheddar cheese. YUM!But frankly, ordering up Smothered Fries for a family of five hungry people gets a little spendy. I figured

Jen Fhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09176764752895151973noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25879178.post-35473186274306608772009-01-06T12:05:00.000-08:002009-01-06T12:12:08.118-08:00

Some of you have heard me talk about Ignite, or seen some chatter about this on Twitter. I attended Ignite Portland 3 last year and it was a blast. I'm proud and excited to announce... Ignite Bend 1! Getting to this point has taken a lot of work and energy from some very talented local folks. I am so excited that this is finally happening...Burning ideas are spreading across Central Oregon as the

Jen Fhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09176764752895151973noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25879178.post-2660038905914784982008-12-21T21:40:00.000-08:002008-12-21T21:46:49.688-08:00

Who's black and white and goofy all over?Divot! She just loves the snow, and will go out to play in it every chance she gets. She loves catching snowballs, digging up her toys, rolling in it, and just plain running around. I think she is enjoying our rounds of storms more than anyone else in our household. Glad someone is having some fun!

Jen Fhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09176764752895151973noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25879178.post-20123796808258747002008-12-15T23:11:00.000-08:002008-12-15T23:32:36.428-08:00

It's getting dark early, and that winter chill has hit with full force. Evenings at our house are full of activity - kids heading to this or that, homework that needs checking, and all the other day to day stuff that I fall behind on far too easily.As a result I am ashamed that lately our family dinners have been an afterthought. It's one of my goals to build up a good variety of recipes that are

Jen Fhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09176764752895151973noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25879178.post-55450582920849014252008-12-06T08:37:00.000-08:002008-12-06T17:07:13.754-08:00

I love squash. Almost any kind, really. Acorn... Gold Nugget... Butternut... Squash is just good. Though I love it roasted, and mashed with a little butter, up until a few weeks ago my favorite way to eat squash was in a Baked Squash Gratin. Then I found a recipe for Butternut Squash Lasagna (with bechamel sauce and lots of cheese) and knew I had to try it. Since hardly anyone in my household

Jen Fhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09176764752895151973noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25879178.post-30204556286051926022008-11-30T21:09:00.001-08:002008-11-30T21:09:54.675-08:00

It's that time of year, again...Send your own ElfYourself eCards

Jen Fhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09176764752895151973noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25879178.post-19362561545038876522008-11-17T06:59:00.000-08:002008-11-17T07:03:35.366-08:00

I am down in San Francisco for the Adobe MAX conference this week. The trip down here was very uneventful - just the way I like it. I arrived yesterday morning and have already seen a few old friends and met some cool new people. The folks who can't make it? I'm sorry... and I miss ya already.Looking forward to a week of learning, networking, and lots of fun. And general "getting my geek on".

Jen Fhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09176764752895151973noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25879178.post-36644612766966295272008-11-04T11:49:00.001-08:002008-11-04T11:49:46.353-08:00

Printelect---I-Voted-TodayOriginally uploaded by nkristisI voted today.This morning I gathered up Scott's and my ballots. I assembled them into the proper envelope-within-an-envelope order. Then on my break I walked them over to the County Clerk's office and dropped them into the collection box. Bingo! I voted! No line for me!!But that doesn't count the hours (YES, hours) of work it took for me

Jenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14182930303545312702noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25879178.post-30100503610884099702008-10-29T13:21:00.001-07:002008-10-29T13:32:39.081-07:00

On a lighter note... I just received this invite from Film Oregon Alliance(Bend, OR) – The Sisters Movie House, Film Oregon Alliance and Sisters Art Works are excited to welcome "Twilight" director Catherine Hardwicke to Sisters, Oregon for "A Conversation with Catherine Hardwicke" and the screening of her romance/thriller "Twilight" which was filmed in its entirety in various locations

Jen Fhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09176764752895151973noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25879178.post-82937389278211936442008-10-29T11:47:00.000-07:002008-10-29T13:14:51.088-07:00

I'm assuming that you've already decided who to vote for in the US Presidential election, so rest assured this post has nothing to do with that. It's the rest of the elections that I am addressing in this post. In particular, I want to encourage each and every one of you to read the Voters Pamphlet. (If you don't have one for some reason, pick up a free copy from any post office or download one

Jen Fhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09176764752895151973noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25879178.post-45388830014655080822008-10-27T22:19:00.000-07:002008-10-28T14:40:47.869-07:00

Just in case you were wondering, this is what 42 bucks will get you at the Central Oregon Pumpkin Company. But that's not including admission to the corn "Maize"! It was a good day - though a little hazy. We could just make out the silhouette of the Cascade Mountains to the west. The peaks of Smith Rock State Park loomed over us from the North. We left home early and arrived at the pumpkin

Jen Fhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09176764752895151973noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25879178.post-34661851387077872352008-10-25T11:12:00.000-07:002008-10-25T12:25:09.470-07:00

I really wasn't going to blog about this. But most of you know about this and so many people are asking for updates... this just seems like the easiest place for it.For those of you unfamiliar with the situation, here's a quick catch-up version. Boo has had issues with her parotid gland for the last two years. It's bothered her off and on, but since late this summer it's turned into a persistent

Jen Fhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09176764752895151973noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25879178.post-72867046458571861872008-10-13T11:42:00.000-07:002008-10-13T13:44:18.605-07:00

Mrs. G over at Derfwad Manor asked her readers to share a photo documentary of a day in their life. Here's mine.It's always a little too early for me. So I hit this button. Sometimes I repeat this four or five times. (Hint: on Mondays it's usually more.)While I laugh at the kids for having to leave for school at a ridiculously early hour, I catch up on email messages and read up on important

Jen Fhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09176764752895151973noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25879178.post-6667158421274104192008-10-11T22:40:00.000-07:002008-10-11T23:47:46.579-07:00

Like many others in my circle of friends (both local and "virtual") I have been making an effort to get into better shape. Let's face it - I don't have the most active job. This summer I started walking on a somewhat regular basis with a group of friends. Now that it's cold and dark in the morning, it's getting harder and harder to be motivated to roll out of bed early for a walk. In the meantime

Jen Fhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09176764752895151973noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25879178.post-10686711211137326012008-10-09T21:40:00.001-07:002008-10-09T21:42:56.126-07:00

Yeup...It's SNOWING!Is it really that time of year, already? Wow...

Jen Fhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09176764752895151973noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25879178.post-34865608537175242602008-10-06T09:10:00.000-07:002008-10-06T09:13:03.844-07:00

I don't know these people. But they are pretty clever, make funny faces at each other, and can carry a tune...I'm going to hum this all the way to Election Day.Link via my friend Aaron.

Jen Fhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09176764752895151973noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25879178.post-3303274691288279432008-10-03T01:52:00.000-07:002008-10-03T02:17:32.831-07:00

Where does the time go? I swear, a few days ago this big gangly dude was just a little peanut. When I cradled his tiny head in my hand, his little feet didn't even reach to my elbow.Lots of changes since then. Now he talks back. He has braces on his teeth. I don't even try to beat him at strategy games. He's attended college. And his feet are bigger than mine. (And that is saying a lot... I have

Jen Fhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09176764752895151973noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25879178.post-56593797013506703372008-10-02T12:31:00.000-07:002008-10-02T13:18:53.089-07:00

I was just called out by Jack Leblond (@Web_Guy) to make sure I was registered to vote; Yes, Jack, I am. I registered to vote the day I turned 18, and have kept my registration current ever since. One think I have never done? Voted at a "polling place". Since I was an out-of-state student I registered to vote by mail. When I moved back to Oregon, the state started conducting all elections by mail

Jen Fhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09176764752895151973noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25879178.post-36787990898511124132008-09-22T06:36:00.000-07:002008-09-22T12:13:55.807-07:00

A few years ago I purchased a little digital camcorder from someone over eBay. I did a little research, and the unit I selected was "good enough" and was something that I could afford at the time. I really wanted to see how often we used a camcorder before dumping a lot of money into one. Turned out this was a good move, since I rarely use it. Turns out I am not a moviemaker. There are a few

Jen Fhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09176764752895151973noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25879178.post-27890999440298304332008-09-21T17:59:00.000-07:002008-09-21T18:32:25.490-07:00

Oregon's a pretty big place. Even though I grew up here, there are still many places I haven't been to yet. And even though I have lived in Central Oregon for more than six years, I still haven't made it to some of the more popular areas.Including Paulina. Until today.This afternoon we bundled the kids and the dog into the car. First we had to stop and get gas and decide where to go. Until I

Jen Fhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09176764752895151973noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25879178.post-74292435043367224822008-09-16T16:49:00.000-07:002008-09-16T16:59:01.391-07:00

Remember when mowing the lawn was fun?? Yeah... I know it's hard. But it was a little easier to remember, watching Scott teach Boo the other night.Going up hill is a little hard for her, but she got it. What a tough little cookie!!

Jen Fhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09176764752895151973noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25879178.post-41162450444501283542008-09-09T17:16:00.000-07:002008-09-09T17:43:52.631-07:00

Coldfusion is a web server technology from Adobe (via Macromedia, via Allaire). I have developed web applications using Coldfusion for about ten years. I know absolutely nothing about cold fusion (note the very important space), the scientific field.New servers are a good thing. It's like a blank canvas for an artist, and very exciting to geeks. They can also be very frustrating - much like I

Jen Fhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09176764752895151973noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25879178.post-76951090002618526372008-09-07T23:12:00.000-07:002008-09-07T23:19:49.097-07:00

This is me, riding the zipline at the Mount Hood Adventure Park (aka Skibowl during summer):Scott and I did pretty much everything that was open. (Yes, I bungee jumped - twice - and have the pictures to prove it!) The kids each got to pick one "premium" activity. QP also bungee jumped! Boo rode the zipline (she wanted to bungee but didn't meet the minimum weight requirement). Stinky went rock

Jen Fhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09176764752895151973noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25879178.post-77096622668654766332008-09-06T12:41:00.000-07:002008-09-06T13:13:17.090-07:00

Finally. I know...Surely you have been on the edge of your seats after reading this post, and then this one. Heh... or you could have just gone over to Missy's blog and read her account of our drive home from Baker City. Was it really all that bad? No... actually I think it was worse. Basically, we spent all day in this:That would be the burning hot sun we sat in for hours. And the scenery at the

Jen Fhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09176764752895151973noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25879178.post-26334800865396181282008-09-04T10:06:00.000-07:002008-09-04T11:22:20.958-07:00

Stinky beat me at Jenga last night.It's getting harder and harder to find games where I get to win. Checkers, chess, backgammon, Risk, Loot... he wins them all. He can solve a messed up Rubik's Cube in a matter of minutes, while I still pop the corners off and reattach them in the proper configuration. He even beat me when we went bowling the other day... and he didn't have gutter bumpers! Now

Jen Fhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09176764752895151973noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25879178.post-53353455834626008102008-09-02T21:56:00.000-07:002008-09-02T22:14:24.313-07:00

You know, kinda like lunch? Hot lunch, that is. Remember school food?It's hard to remember all of those details on the first day of school. There are supplies to gather, forms to fill out, physicals to schedule, and lunch money to send.That's right, my kids are school lunch junkies. We tried the healthy, home-packed lunch thing in the past and it just doesn't "happen". Either I have to pack it (

Jen Fhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09176764752895151973noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25879178.post-54155138675498404602008-09-02T21:43:00.000-07:002008-09-02T21:48:16.177-07:00

Where the heck did summer go?? Time flies whether you are having fun or working your tail off, apparently.So... can you tell who is excited, and who isn't? Happy back-to-school!

Jen Fhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09176764752895151973noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25879178.post-56088087989085317982008-08-28T09:22:00.000-07:002008-08-28T10:16:14.556-07:00

Via Very Good Taste, there is a list of a hundred items that every omnivore should try in his or her life. Some of them are easy (PB&J, anyone?), while others are a bit more unusual. The rules are simple... copy the list and post it to your blog, bolding the items you've tried and crossing out any you would never try. I'm adding a star to the ones I had to look up!1. Venison2. Nettle tea3. Huevos

Jen Fhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09176764752895151973noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25879178.post-2118945625550881132008-08-27T20:59:00.000-07:002008-08-28T08:38:14.154-07:00

1. My attitude towards blogging2. Saturday in Baker CityOK, picking back up where I left off, from this post. When we walked into Paizano's and asked for Kina, the gal at the counter looked a little confused. Turns out Kina had just left with a delivery for someone at our hotel... and she thought it was Missy and I that had called. Oops! One entertaining phone call and case of mistaken identity

Jen Fhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09176764752895151973noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25879178.post-71566703839856504912008-08-23T23:52:00.000-07:002008-08-24T00:04:26.149-07:00

More about the Baker City trip soon, I promise! But until then, enjoy these faux-yearbook pictures. These are the results for 1960, 1966, 1978, and 1984... I think I totally rock those cats-eye glasses... And the 'fro! What do you think?Pics were created at this site, which I found via this post. Try it yourself, and please share your results... or just enjoy the laugh.

Jen Fhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09176764752895151973noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25879178.post-80368813723504273032008-08-19T17:07:00.000-07:002008-08-19T22:37:38.755-07:00

If you are planning a road trip and it turns out that you will be driving long distances during the hottest weekend of the year? Take my advice... don't. If, however, you do decide to throw logic out the door and hit the road then make the best of it. Like Missy and I did.I think both of us were dying to try Kina's pizza. Plus we both wanted a few days away from homes, husbands, kids, and dogs (

Jen Fhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09176764752895151973noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25879178.post-53715794247760342662008-08-13T08:29:00.000-07:002008-08-13T11:40:34.162-07:00

Last night we went to the Jonny Lang concert at the Athletic Club of Bend. Our next door neighbor buddies came with us and offered to drive. So we got there in style - riding in their red convertible Slug Bug. It was a great night for a short ride with the top down. When we got there my hair was a little worse off but hey, when isn't it? We arrived about 45 minutes early but it was already

Jen Fhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09176764752895151973noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25879178.post-74334825395830252512008-08-08T10:39:00.000-07:002008-08-09T00:52:32.315-07:00

"There is no other product that gives me as much fear and respect for the power of mass culture as the hula hoop."~ Dan Rodick, director of sports promotion at Wham-OAnd so, the addiction continues. After a fun and successful first hoop class I attended another beginner class and then faced facts. I really needed my very own hula hoop so that I could practice (er, show off?) at home. It is really

Jen Fhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09176764752895151973noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25879178.post-72485318160654436592008-07-29T22:38:00.000-07:002008-07-29T22:58:08.229-07:00

When I was a kid, one of my favorite parts of summer vacation was the time I spent at my grandparents' house in California. It was Northern California, not too far from San Francisco, so I didn't come home with a fabulous tan or spend days lounging on the beach. But my there was a pool to swim in, bikes to ride, and a big yard where we played. Grandma cooked us wonderful meals and Grandpa told us

Jen Fhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09176764752895151973noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25879178.post-54665682200066804872008-07-28T22:02:00.000-07:002008-07-28T22:28:59.855-07:00

When you asked your kid what they wanted to do on their summer vacation, what did they say? Mine (well, one of them) said, "More school, please!!"Stinky is away at Evil Genius School this week... thanks to some extremely generous local folks. We got a little sneak peek at what college tuition is like in the 54F household, and without a nice scholarship from the University, support from the

Jen Fhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09176764752895151973noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25879178.post-81860256732334850472008-07-14T23:12:00.000-07:002008-07-14T23:38:45.459-07:00

It's not a really big secret that I am not a big fan of exercise.This is not to say, I am not active. I enjoy getting outside for a nice long hike or a walk with friends. I like golfing and swimming too. What I find difficult is exercise programs.Lately I have felt like I could stand to "firm up", if not drop a few pounds. So I have been walking several days a week with a group of friends. But I

Jen Fhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09176764752895151973noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25879178.post-24999326072407817422008-07-10T20:41:00.000-07:002008-07-10T20:54:28.406-07:00

Sure, the Twilight Crit is tomorrow, and we have the Summerfest and Sisters Quilt Show to look forward to this weekend.But let's face it... you know why mid-July is really the best time of the year. Admit it!Free Slurpee Day is tomorrow! (Cuz it's 7-11, geddit?) Don't forget to run the kids down to your closest store and get them a free 7.11 oz cup-o-summer. And if you have been living under a

Jen Fhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09176764752895151973noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25879178.post-74682688713594153792008-07-08T21:55:00.000-07:002008-07-08T22:04:04.492-07:00

Are your kids bouncing off the walls? Then take your kids to Bouncing off the Wall this summer. You too can experience results like this:

Jen Fhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09176764752895151973noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25879178.post-87544946902208537182008-07-06T22:21:00.000-07:002008-07-06T22:40:59.005-07:00

I didn't go wakeboarding this weekend. Don't get me wrong... I tried. But through a nasty combination of age and total lack of athleticism I never quite made it fully out of the water and vertical.Anyways... it was fun to try something new. And it was a blast to hang out at the lake, ride on the new boat, and soak up some sun. Our kids were elsewhere so we got to play with the nephews for a

Jen Fhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09176764752895151973noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25879178.post-80734902730523398252008-07-04T09:22:00.000-07:002008-07-04T09:31:04.893-07:00

Kent Couch is going to try again!This morning I received the following note:Okay so we need a little buzz... This is really exciting! Kent Couch is taking off Saturday [July 5th] at 6:00 from the Stop and Go Mini-Mart on 27th and 20. We will hopefully be posting a few post from the chase crew thanks to the folks at the wireless source.So, if you have ever been interested in seeing our local

Jen Fhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09176764752895151973noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25879178.post-21394730774623188962008-07-03T23:29:00.000-07:002008-07-04T00:00:08.912-07:00

I've meant to blog about several things lately, but I haven't. If I had found the time to post you might have enjoyed reading about......My trip to Ignite Portland 3. Kate and I had a fun time. Afterwards we went to dessert at Rimsky's with Ana's mommy and daddy. But hey, at least you can look at my photos from the event....Eating dinner at the new Flatbread Community Oven in the Old Mill

Jen Fhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09176764752895151973noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25879178.post-54946597777331913202008-06-18T08:06:00.000-07:002008-06-18T08:21:26.146-07:00

From my good friend Chubby Mommy, for all of us geek girls in Central Oregon... Cupcakes in the ParkMany of us are liking Le Cakery on Galveston, but they don’t have anywhere to sit. How about we get some cupcakes and meet everyone at nearby Harmon Park? Not where the baseball fields are, but just a bit beyond the fields, near the footbridge by the river. There’s a lovely grassy area and picnic

Jen Fhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09176764752895151973noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25879178.post-46541576944593387412008-06-12T16:48:00.000-07:002008-06-13T08:56:23.489-07:00

School's Out! I don't know about you but two of my least favorite words are "I'm Bored!" Lately I have been looking around to see what types of free activities are out there for the rug rats... and it turns out there is a lot going on for the kids in Bend this summer. So in addition to what I am sure will be weekly (daily?!) trips to the pool I made a list of all of the different activities that

Jen Fhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09176764752895151973noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25879178.post-6762068461719807062008-06-09T21:09:00.000-07:002008-06-09T21:21:33.430-07:00

When I was little my dad always wanted me to call him "pop". But I wouldn't do it - in my mind "pop" was something sweet and bubbly, or a goofy noise. He was always dad or daddy to me. Looking back he might have been a "pop" though, I just didn't realize it back then. Though he was often misunderstood he had sweet intentions. Around friends he was a charmer and had a bubbly personality. And was

Jen Fhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09176764752895151973noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25879178.post-9467485453560931792008-06-07T15:42:00.001-07:002008-06-07T15:44:18.991-07:00

This morning I woke up early - though not as early as I would have liked. When I walked out my front door at 6:15am after rushing to dress and grab my gear...The sky was filled with balloons! Like this one... And this one...I hopped in the car and instead of heading to Jewell (where the balloons were lifting off) I drove and parked a short distance away, off 15th Street just east of the school. I

Jen Fhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09176764752895151973noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25879178.post-69429205331070289802008-06-01T23:42:00.000-07:002008-06-01T23:51:33.092-07:00

We are home from our trip to Ashland! When we arrived the house was empty - the girls were playing at the park and Scott was wrapping up 36 holes of golf. Gave Stinky and me a couple of minutes to unload the car and shake off a loooong drive.This morning after breakfast we said "goodbye" to Ashland and headed east on the Green Springs Highway. Stinky slept for the first part of the drive, until I

Jen Fhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09176764752895151973noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25879178.post-49266978387211034032008-05-31T23:26:00.000-07:002008-05-31T23:43:47.255-07:00

Day two of our Ashland trip is in the books. It was very rainy so I didn't get many pictures today. I did get a nice shot of Stinky and his new friends though:We got to go to a special dinner with some of the actors and staff of the Oregon Shakespeare Festival. Stinky was seated next to Christopher Rivera and they hit it off pretty well. Actually they spent most of dinner talking about "Family

Jen Fhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09176764752895151973noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25879178.post-31429072321300998462008-05-31T00:30:00.000-07:002008-05-31T00:33:45.131-07:00

Stinky and I are enjoying a weekend in Ashland, Oregon. Today was our first full day after arriving late last night. We wandered the town, had a couple of very nice meals, and saw an excellent play (The Clay Cart).

Jen Fhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09176764752895151973noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25879178.post-40765246569007230282008-05-27T19:23:00.000-07:002008-05-27T19:40:30.825-07:00

Since it's almost my birthday AND my name changed, I went to the DMV today to renew and update my license. They gave me this:Yeup... it's a paper card. With a black & white photo and the word "INTERIM" stamped across it in huge letters. I also had to surrender my current/expiring plastic "permanent" license. The nice DMV lady warned me that only a friendly OREGON police officer will accept this

Jen Fhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09176764752895151973noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25879178.post-11747048476790107672008-05-24T21:11:00.000-07:002008-05-24T21:17:05.432-07:00

Typical Memorial Day weekend weather - raining off and on, with a thunderstorm tossed in for good measure!On the other hand my yard is loving that extra water and a break from the intense heat! We're gearing up for a gorgeous summer. Any guesses when it will be here?

Jen Fhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09176764752895151973noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25879178.post-540759877578134062008-05-20T19:17:00.000-07:002008-05-20T19:23:32.648-07:00

I really, really wanted to like the Bungalow. I'd seen the "coming soon" sign for months (which begs me to question, how long is "soon"?) when shopping at the Cascade Village Mall. The tropical theme looked appealing - similar to Rainforest Cafe but a little more low key and upscale.The ambiance is right on. When you step inside you are surrounded by tropical flowers, etched glass, waterfalls,

Jen Fhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09176764752895151973noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25879178.post-90877247426087146672008-05-12T09:54:00.000-07:002008-05-12T10:40:29.502-07:00

I like me some good fried chicken. Most everyone around here thinks it's weird but one of my favorite "comfort food" meals is actually fried chicken & waffles. Yes, this is legit. There are a lot of restaurants that specialize in this delightful combination of foods, but sadly none of them are in Bend. And judging from the funny look on your face right now it probably wouldn't go over well here

Jenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14182930303545312702noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25879178.post-33047572305988373282008-05-11T19:57:00.000-07:002008-05-11T20:11:03.455-07:00

Yesterday afternoon I noticed that some very brave pansies made it through our long, snowy winter and have started to bloom! Pansies are my mom's favorite flowers and whenever I see them I think of her so it was nice timing for them to make an appearance since it's Mother's Day weekend.Today we spent a few hours doing some spring cleanup in the yard. The kids helped me pull weeds and I cleared

Jenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14182930303545312702noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25879178.post-46690532508233656542008-05-11T10:26:00.001-07:002008-05-11T10:26:59.336-07:00

Happy Mother's Day!

Jenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14182930303545312702noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25879178.post-36590535210380039082008-05-10T18:07:00.000-07:002008-05-10T18:31:54.977-07:00

While the "town hall meeting" was great, I will leave the political commentary to those who are better suited to writing about those topics. It's definitely not me - when I asked my kids if they knew anything about Barack Obama they thought he was a singer or a basketball player. Oops! My favorite quote? Actually, from the child in front of me who during the National Anthem asked, "Is this his

Jenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14182930303545312702noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25879178.post-40596779762753711832008-05-04T15:38:00.001-07:002008-05-04T16:34:59.410-07:00

RIP Jen B... long live Jen F! :) I've updated the ILY post accordingly...Thanks to our wonderful families who shared our special day with us!

Jenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14182930303545312702noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25879178.post-25615700696127466122008-05-02T16:07:00.000-07:002008-05-02T16:26:05.299-07:00

I have to be brutally honest right now, and share that I don't care for gin. At. All. My grandmother used to drink gin martinis and once she let me try a sip. It made up my mind that martinis are nasty, undrinkable concoctions.And then one day I tried my first vodka martini. And then a lemon drop. And the downhill spiral continued. I like me some martinis now, often the "foofier" the better. Bend

Jenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14182930303545312702noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25879178.post-76007401817017415202008-05-01T00:08:00.000-07:002008-04-30T22:34:17.181-07:00

My friend (and fellow blogger) Shannon is pregnant. Last night Annie and I hosted a shower for her at my house. Since she is having multiple showers we wanted to do something a little different. Not long ago Kate sent me a link about making "candy sushi". Since Shannon has been craving actual sushi, we decided that would be a fun alternative to cake. It was a hit!These tasty treats are made with

Jenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14182930303545312702noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25879178.post-29785500187230315932008-04-30T07:50:00.000-07:002008-04-30T07:52:11.988-07:00

It's Wednesday night, a "school night". You want to hang out with some cool people but you aren't sure where to go. Why not head down to the...Central Oregon Blogger Meet-upWednesday, April 30, 5:30ish at the Summit, Downtown BendTo RSVP visit this event's page on Upcoming and click "I'm Going!", leave a comment, or email me at jenblackledge at gmail.comThe first blogger meetup was a big success!

Jenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14182930303545312702noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25879178.post-36171797928634502552008-04-26T16:41:00.000-07:002008-04-26T16:51:13.431-07:00

Is it spring? If not, it sure feels like it! The birds have taken over our backyard, much to the delight of our cat. He seems to think that the dining room window is a "bird TV". He will sit on the sill for hours, chirruping and singing to the jays, robins, and other backyard visitors. He has no desire to actually go outside and chase them though. Thank goodness, he's way to fat and lazy for that

Jenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14182930303545312702noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25879178.post-47529411632069560912008-04-22T21:54:00.000-07:002008-04-22T21:59:08.097-07:00

In (better late than never) honor of Earth Day... Take this quiz from Earthbound Farms. If you score 9 out of 10 (or better) they will send you a free shopping tote. I don't know about you, but I love using these types of shopping bags. We have several from various stores in town and (when I remember them) they are great - they hold more than the cheezy plastic bags that most places have, and are

Jenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14182930303545312702noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25879178.post-46208668258142447282008-04-21T22:57:00.000-07:002008-04-21T23:06:16.469-07:00

I like flowers. Not necessarily the kind sent in a bouquet. Usually the kind that I can enjoy in my yard, and occasionally snip to bring inside. I wish these were from my garden, but they're not. I bought these at Trader Joe's (only $2.99 a bunch!) about a week ago. I think tulips are at their most interesting and beautiful just before they drop their petals, like these!Yes, you read this right.

Jenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14182930303545312702noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25879178.post-10285140033704120892008-04-20T19:36:00.000-07:002008-04-20T20:15:20.011-07:00

Christopher Robin: You're next, Tigger. Jump! Tigger: Jump? Tiggers don't jump. They bounce.Bouncing... it's not just for Tiggers. Or for toddlers and "little kids". Today, we all bounced. Sometimes, we bounced up high. We bounced on slides, steps and mushrooms. We bounced in castles, elephants, and an obstacle course. They bounced balls, bounced on hippity-hops, hula-hooped, and balanced on pogo

Jenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14182930303545312702noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25879178.post-68462575137123839132008-04-12T20:31:00.000-07:002008-04-12T20:37:06.343-07:00

We went to Pepe's for dinner tonight. When I expressed my sadness that they were closing to Pepe's daughter (the owner) tonight, her jaw dropped.Pepe's in Bend is not closing. At least, not yet. She said they have considered a change, but nothing is a "done deal". We had a wonderful dinner there tonight - great food and friendly service as always.I know not all Bendites feel the same way about

Jenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14182930303545312702noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25879178.post-4787521826299105292008-04-09T20:40:00.000-07:002008-04-09T20:53:58.180-07:00

Boo takes classes at a gymnastics facility up in Redmond. It's right up her alley... she's a bouncy, bendy little gal. Not like me, since I never could do the splits even during my younger and bendier days. One of the best parts is between school and gymastics class we get to have a little "girls' time". There isn't enough time to come all the way home, we'd just have to turn around and come

Jenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14182930303545312702noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25879178.post-37926528068386312472008-04-09T13:39:00.000-07:002008-04-09T13:50:00.073-07:00

It's been a rough spring, weather-wise. No... I am not necessarily complaining. And I am not surprised either. But after a "warm snap" in February caused us to cancel the ice skating portion of Boo's birthday party... you can definitely say the weather is keeping us on our toes.And I am SO glad I haven't attempted to "put up" the winter clothes yet. Just to give you an idea of the roller-coaster

Jenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14182930303545312702noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25879178.post-25357684810628929572008-04-04T22:52:00.000-07:002008-04-04T23:02:52.610-07:00

Just a quick hair update... thanks to Laura at Curl Up & Dye for the great new 'do! :) If you are looking for someone new, I highly recommend her!Not a huge difference but she added some nice "spring-y" highlights and some layers. Enough of a difference to make me happy, but not so different that Scott changed the locks on the house. Yeah!The front:The back:Jen, happy to finally get a legit

Jenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14182930303545312702noreply@blogger.com8