Let’s Meet at the Beach

About a month ago, we went to one of the Seattle Aquarium’s Let’s Meet at the Beach days. It was great to have a tour guide of the low tide experience.

Looking for the beach…

 

Mina finished the year studying Oceanography at school, so she was rather eager to  meet the beach naturalists. We dug through the rocks to get a good view of crabs, sea stars, limpets, chitons, a gunnel fish, and a fun range of seaweeds.

 

Turkish towel

SAM at Olympic Sculpture Park

Seattle’s Bag Fee

 

Don't let the plastics industry win! We donated $5,000 to the campaign.  You can help, too! In the six years this company's been around, Seattle's bag fee (up for vote Aug. 18) is the most important piece of legislation we've seen to dramatically reduce the consumption of use-and-toss bags. Based on Ireland's extremely successful PlasTax, the plastics industry has been fighting it tooth and nail. If passed, this model will take hold in the U.S., providing a proven, market-based solution to the plastic bag problem. "We're following the lead of Ireland... not just for Seattle, but to provide a model for other cities as well." - Seattle Mayor Greg Nickels When Mayor Nickels called us for help, we saw an historic opportunity to drive real change, & we gave our full support.  Here are 3 ways you can help right now: 1. GET INFORMED Check out our easily-digestible overview of this issue, including a simple outline of Seattle's bag fee & why it makes sense, the Green Bag Campaign's short video, a bag fee myth-busting article & more. 2. SPREAD THE WORD Forward this e-mail along to a friend. If you're a blogger or reporter, cover the story. 3. VISIT OUR STORE Help support our efforts so we can continue to support causes like this.  Your purchases count! This is an urgent opportunity to get behind a groundbreaking initiative, significantly changing society's use-and-toss mentality. Help make it happen! "I applaud ReusableBags.com for raising awareness and empowering people to kick the bag-habit." - Seattle Mayor Greg Nickels Leading the way since 2003, our carefully selected family of safe, high-quality "reusables" has now grown to hundreds of products in 30+ categories. We've guided and empowered our 190,000+ customers to reduce their consumption of use-and-toss items by more than 700 million units. Visit our store today. Want to learn more about what makes us so different? Click here. Your purchases count! As of 2009, we've donated over $140,000 to environmental organizations.  Together, we are making a difference! As always, thanks for your support. Vincent Cobb -- Founder, ReusableBags.com

Twin Falls

 

Chasing big sister on the trail…

Stopping in for refueling at our favourite chocolate shop.

Big Chicks

The chick-ens are happy to eat up the bolting sorrel.

Mother hen

Crazy hair day during heritage week

Jenny and the Cat Club

One of Mina’s friends recently introduced us to a new book series which our entire family is LOVING. Jenny and the Cat Club. Sweet, simple and wonderfully written. We’ve read the first book as a family and Mina is reading it again on her own. Her goal for today was to read the entire book. I love to see a little person so excited about the big world of chapter books.

Weekend of Coop Roofing

We’ve been fighting the rain with our tarp-covered coop. So we dedicated this weekend to finishing up the roof. It got off to a good start with some tea and dancing.

 

The chickens have been jumping up on the frame of the coop, so we added in some higher roosts. The weather was great for coop work.

The kids largely entertained themselves in the backyard. They had a pretend sale.

 

Went camping.

and ate homemade blueberry popsicles. I think that it was a pretty good deal.

 

The coop with a roof! Whew. Bring on the rain. Bring on the break from coop building!

Lime and Peanut Coleslaw

Here’s a 101coookbook recipe for an awesome side dish:‘Lime and Peanut Coleslaw.

I make it with purple cabbage, no tomatoes, way less peanuts and i added in avocado. It is pretty, easy and absolute yummy!

I'm also having fun with tagging. I've tagged all the recipes and family photos. Check out the sidebar.

Take A Hike

I love spring ferns.

Well, he’s too big for the Kelty backpack. How did we carry Mina in that thing till she was four? He’s a great hiker and wanted a backpack like his big sister. We are gearing him up with the kid-friendly ten essentials – including his new emergency whistle which he happily tested out the whole car ride home.

Miss Mina testing out her new monocular. Thanks Uncle Hot Dog and Becca!

Scooter Races

Some serious wind meant that we got the kite up. I’ve had this kite since i was a little girl. My aunt gave it to me for my birthday probably sometime in elementary school.

Every chicken farmer needs a toy coop.

His new Japanese rice bowl – complete with owls on the outside and inside.