Cape Disappointment

Last week we spent a couple nights at Cape Disappointment in a borrowed RV (thanks much, DL, for the loan). The boys were very much in favor of the whole RV experience. We played in the sand, visited the Lewis & Clark Interpretive Center, and cooked two decent dinners on the teensey RV stove. I recommend the interpretive center. It's a beautiful facility that sits on a bluff overlooking the Columbia River Bar - one of the world's most treacherous river bars. You can watch boats, small and large, try to cross the bar. May I never.

En route home, we stopped at Dismal Nitch. You can read here about how the place got its name.

Struggles of the Somnolent

Out of the Mouths

Over the past several months, I've written down some of the droll, clever or downright bizarre things I hear from my family. Here we go.

R, from backyard: "MOM, I JUST NEED TO CUT SOME BRANCHES OUT OF THIS TREE TO MAKE ROOM FOR ALL THE BRICKS AND MORTAR I NEED FOR MY TREE HOUSE."

J, holding large moth between thumb and forefinger: "We can roast this."

R: "Mom, if you were a kid, you would do this all the time."

R (on bicycle): "This is called the Wheelie of the Kings."

R: "Mom, you are a demanding lady."

Me: "I have a surprise for you."
R: "I know what you're talking about."
Me: "What am I talking about?"
R: "I won't tell you."

J: (imitating someone?): "I already swept the floor this morning!"

Spouse: "Two boys are exponentially louder than one boy. It's not a linear equation. On a logarithmic scale it would be a straight line."

Odd Projects

There are a million things I should be doing this afternoon. Blogging does not top the list. So why am I sitting here?

Long Pause.

Things are getting done around here, and I have photographic evidence. The problem is, I am not responsible for any of this activity. These projects are not mine; they weren't even my idea. I stumbled upon them this week, usually in progress, but sometimes during the aftermath. Enjoy.


Trying to make Parachute Man surf in the bathroom sink.


Making sure the fish has company.


Cooking (note rat's expression of distress).


Freezing beetles in cups of water.

Grist Mill

Last week, the boys' science book discussed hydropower. We built a little water wheel with paper plates, egg carton cups and Tinker Toys. On Saturday, we rounded up Grandma, Grandpa and GG's (Great-Grandparents) and headed to the Cedar Creek grist mill.

Here's the sluice. No water wheel on this mill - rather an underwater turbine.


Whole wheat flour.


Mill and mossy trees.


Big maple leaves.