Project

Our front door was looking pretty shabby. Here is the door after I did a little sanding on it.



finished door!


After the door was painted we got the trim on the little roof over the door replaced. It looks so much better!

Book I just read

From School Library Journal

Starred Review. Grade 7–10—Exploring Indian identity, both self and tribal, Alexie's first young adult novel is a semiautobiographical chronicle of Arnold Spirit, aka Junior, a Spokane Indian from Wellpinit, WA. The bright 14-year-old was born with water on the brain, is regularly the target of bullies, and loves to draw. He says, "I think the world is a series of broken dams and floods, and my cartoons are tiny little lifeboats." He expects disaster when he transfers from the reservation school to the rich, white school in Reardan, but soon finds himself making friends with both geeky and popular students and starting on the basketball team. Meeting his old classmates on the court, Junior grapples with questions about what constitutes one's community, identity, and tribe. The daily struggles of reservation life and the tragic deaths of the protagonist's grandmother, dog, and older sister would be all but unbearable without the humor and resilience of spirit with which Junior faces the world. The many characters, on and off the rez, with whom he has dealings are portrayed with compassion and verve, particularly the adults in his extended family. Forney's simple pencil cartoons fit perfectly within the story and reflect the burgeoning artist within Junior. Reluctant readers can even skim the pictures and construct their own story based exclusively on Forney's illustrations. The teen's determination to both improve himself and overcome poverty, despite the handicaps of birth, circumstances, and race, delivers a positive message in a low-key manner. Alexie's tale of self-discovery is a first purchase for all libraries.—Chris Shoemaker, New York Public Library
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swimming

We got to have our own little "private" swimming pool this week while the neighbors where on vacation. It was really nice of them to let us use their pool!

Kids in Mission 2010

Our second week of Kids in Mission the kids learned about homelessness in our community. The first day they made cookies to take to our local homeless shelter and then the next day we shopped the local farmer's market for fresh produce to also take to the shelter. Finally on Thursday we took a tour of the shelter and brought our food and cookies to give to them.

Tractor

My dad let me drive the big John Deere tractor for the first time last weekend! When I was younger I always was asking to drive one of my grandpa's tractors but my dad would say my reflexes were not good enough. I guess at 44 my reflexes have gotten better. LOL

What we are reading...

Deborah Ellis’ trilogy has been a phenomenal success, both critically and commercially. Now young readers can experience this entire epic story in one volume. The Breadwinner is set in Afghanistan, where 11-year-old Parvana lives with her family in a bombed-out apartment building in Kabul. When her father is arrested for the crime of having a foreign education, the family is left with no money or resources. Forbidden to earn money as a girl, Parvana must transform herself into a boy and become the breadwinner. In Parvana's Journey, her father has died and the family has scattered. Parvana, now 13 years old, is determined to find them. Again masquerading as a boy, she joins a group of wandering children, all refugees from war, who exist mainly on courage. In Mud City, the focus shifts to 14-year-old Shauzia, who lives in the Widows' Compound in Pakistan and dreams of escaping to a new life in France. Deborah Ellis uses simple, compelling language, memorable characters, and a wealth of imaginative detail in this wrenching look at the human cost of war that is also a surprisingly hopeful story of survival. (from Amazon)

Jammin in their jammies!

Keith and Collin 'jamming' late into the night.

Five years ago

July 31st 2005 we got the call about Little m and got to see his sweet face for the first time. Here he is with his referral picture!

Flower and garden update late July

gu


gourd plants. They have gotten a lot bigger and have been taking over the garden. However the deer thought their leaves would make a tasty meal and they are not looking as well as they once did. I am getting a lot of gourds. They look really cute when they are tiny!


A new kind of sunflower plant. This one makes flowers all over the plant instead of just one on top.




I am still getting kale, garlic, tomatoes, yellow squash, carrots, watermelon.