This picture of an Oregon Russian woman and her husband were posted last year when we showed you pictures of our visit to the 2008 Oregon State Fair.
A few weekends ago we attended the Salem World Beat Festival, where there was a booth about/for Old Believers. There, they promoted their website RobesNorthWest. Written for its members, there's a link to a newsletter which gives you an interesting little glimpse into their life.
Incidentally, their calendar of events lists the Hubbard Hop Festival, which I thought was intriguing. I clicked the link to view the City of Hubbard website and it mentioned the Hop Fest. (This is hops, as in making beer. A quarter of the world's hops supply are grown in Oregon and Washington.) There was a link to the Hubbard Fire Dept's website for more info about the fest.
I clicked the Hubbard Fire Dept website and received an error message. The website is blocked for: Pornography.
Huh? Either that's an error or those firemen are also selling one of those calendars...
Friday, July 31, 2009
Old Believers - and ... racy firemen?
Thursday, July 30, 2009
Drive-by Shots in PDX
(PDX is what Portlanders call Portland, Oregon to you non-NW folks.)
We try to remember to take a camera as often as possible, too. You never know what you'll see.
Here are some scenes from a recent trip, when we spent most of our time around SE 82nd Ave. It sure is visual culture shock to us Midwesterners.
Sure, let's stop in and get one of those... uh, something to eat.
It's everything you need on date night 
Do they sell wings?
Rachel shot these as we were heading out of Portland.
Wednesday, July 29, 2009
Wordless Wednesday
I just wanted to take a break from summer heat to show you this:
Mount Hood from Timberline Lodge, originally uploaded by ksbuehler.
Today the forecasted temperature is 105F. Ugh.
When it gets unbearably hot here in the valley, I turn to the northeast to look at Mt Hood and remind myself that even if it's 90 degrees... or 109 degrees like yesterday, I can still see real snow. With an elevation over 10,000 feet, year-round snow up on Mt. Hood is common.
Ok, it's far away, but I can see snow from my neighborhood.
And no, I am not kidding about 109 degrees here in mild-weather Oregon, where most people do not have air conditioning at home.
{{...panting and gasping and wilting in the heat...}}
(Ok, this really did start as a Wordless Wednesday but I couldn't help myself.)
Tuesday, July 28, 2009
True Redneck tube top!!!
For some reason people have been calling this a tube top; technically it's a tank top.
I call it charming, and what a nice way to re-use the re-useable parts!
{{sarcasm!!}}
True Redneck Tube Top!!!!
This was taken in front of the Gardendale, Alabama, Walmart while she was going to the Flea market.
This is hysterical! Look at it closely.
Now I ask you...
Who but a redneck... stands and looks at a pair of men's briefs and says hummmm...I can make a nice summer top from these!!
On the other hand...$6 for a three pack is a good price!!
Saturday, July 25, 2009
Rachel's Adventure on Cherriots
Salem is pretty long, north to south, and I work in the far SW corner of town and live in the far NE corner of town, so this is quite a trek for her. She's got a youth pass and I left her $10 for lunch (she wants to have lunch at the mall downtown.) She's going to text me when she gets on and off the bus, etc.
When she gets here, we're heading over to Costco for some shopping. They have lots of samples at dinner time, so we should be able to get dinner for free as we wander around the store. If not, the $1.50 hot dog with 20 oz drink will help.
This last school year she was continually picked on and harrassed by lots of kids. She missed over 90 days of school because she'd get so stressed out about having to face more crap at school that it would make her physically sick. So now, along with the beginning stages of agoraphobia she's got a huge lack of self confidence. I figured that since I can trust her to handle herself well when she's downtown (we have a really nice downtown) this might be a good boost to her self confidence and help her feel more confident in general about getting out of the house.
We had the usual talk:
What if a guy tells you he can't find his puppy or his kid? Do you help him?
No, Mom, I know. I'm not a dork.
Ok, what if a guy asks you for directions.
Mommmm. I know.
Ok, so what if he doesn't say anything but he grabs you.
Then I yell FIRE!!
Why not yell for help?
Nobody pays attention to HELP. C'mon Mom, I know this stuff already.
Ok, one more. What if he sneaks up behind you and sets you on fire?
Then I yell FIRE!
No. You Stop, Drop, and Roll. ...Gotcha!
Yeah, then I kick him in the nuts.
...She's ready.
Friday, July 24, 2009
This weekend at the Salem Saturday Market...
This candy design is brand new and will be available at the Salem Saturday Market this weekend - our first time at this market.
Thursday, July 23, 2009
Come see us at Salem Saturday Market!
After a nail-biting wait during the jury selection process at the Salem Saturday Market, Pass It On Plates will have a booth at the market. Whoo hoo!
Our first day there will be Saturday July 25, 2009.
This coincides with the unveiling of our new product line - HAND-PAINTED plates.
If you're in the area, please come see us and say hi. We'd love to meet you.
Mention this blog post for 10% off your purchase.
Wednesday, July 22, 2009
Poopy's
Subscribe!
Monday, July 20, 2009
Here's a little teaser
I have a fun tutorial coming up for you and your sewing machine. And a pair of pants. And a fat quarter of some fabric that looks great with those pants.
This is pretty easy and requires only basic sewing skills.
Sunday, July 19, 2009
Blogwarming party - Day 7
We're having a bloggy open house all week to show off our newly renovated blog.For more info on everything we've done this week, check our our party invitation here.
Today's party foods are:
- Chicken Breast, Dried Tomato and Mozzarella Panini
- Oven-Dried Tomato Tart with Goat Cheese and Black Olives
(It's summer. Go get some gorgeous tomatoes from your farmers market and make both of these.)
Here are two more recipes that Frank posted on his own blog, Deaf Chef at Large:
Grab a plate and come along for the tour of our new place. Don't forget to sign our guestbook!
Today we can't wait to show you Crafty Stuff:
Most of my crafty things are quick, simple, and don't require a lot of supplies. Partly because I'm impatient, and partly because I just don't have the space for a lot of craft supplies, so I'm forced to keep things simple and basic.
Today's party activity is crafts day!
You've seen some of my recent craft projects. Now I want to see yours!
Post a link to one of your recent craft/DIY project or a tutorial in the comments below.
Today's door prize is another recent craft project I did: Fancy Chocolate Bars
($10 value)
Milk Chocolate,
Special Dark Chocolate,
and the Cookies and Cream
with White Chocolate.
Don't forget to enter today's giveaway!
Here are four ways to enter:
+1 comment below just to say hello
+1 follow our blog and comment
+1 subscribe (with the little orange thingy or by email) and comment
+1 post the URL where you have a recent craft/DIY project or tutorial in another comment.
(Again, all comments made here are "Do Follow")
Only comments from today's date (ending at 11;59pm PST) are eligible for this prize. Be sure to include a way for us to let you know if you're the winner. You don't need a blog to enter, but you'll need to have a mailing address in the US or Canada. If you have already won a prize during this party, you may continue to participate but you will not be eligible for other prizes from this week's party. Thanks for understanding.
Today's badge:
This is separate from today's door prize.
*For rules and complete details, click here.
That's it!
We hope you had a LOT of fun at our party!
Did you grab all seven badges?
If you did, click here to post the URL where you have all seven. Make sure all seven are visible on the URL you share.
After we verify that you have all seven, you'll be entered to win the GRAND PRIZE!
If you don't have them all yet, it's not too late to get them. There is one badge (with the code) in each Blogwarming Party post.
We'll post the Grand Prize winner here on July 21!
Did you grab all seven badges?
Post your comment by 11:59pm PST on July 20, 2009.
After we verify that you have all seven, you'll be entered to win the grand prize: Two hand-painted plates of your choice, loaded with Rice Krispy Treats.
One plate will be mailed to you and the other will be mailed to any address in the US or Canada. Just tell us where you want your second plate shipped.
We'll also include a gift card from you.
If you don't have them all yet, it's not too late to get them. There is one badge (with the code) in each Blogwarming Party post.
Saturday, July 18, 2009
Blogwarming Party - Day 6
For more info on everything we're doing this week, check our our party invitation here.
Pear Gorgonzola Salad with Dijon (shown here)
Here are two more recipes from this blog and Frank's blog:
Grab a plate and come along for the tour of our new place. Don't forget to sign our guestbook!
Today we can't wait to show you The Pam Cam:
- Interesting newspaper categories
- Which one is it?
- A pipe smokin' dude and his Critter-In-A-Filebox
- No Thumbs Up
- Almost Magical
Today's bloggy activity is Super Family Fun Day!!
One day, the three of us and the dog went over the mountains to get to Lincoln City on the Oregon coast. While there, where we did some beach combing, picked up some really cool rocks, found a huge 8" fossil, froze our tushies off (it was windy and gloomy and co-o-o-o-old,) then went to a nearby restaurant to have supper before heading home.
You can read the blog post and see all the pictures here.
Please share your own Super Family Fun Day with us? Please comment below with the URL to a post where you have stories and pictures from a recent fun day with your family. The link must go to the post, not your general blog address.
Today's door prize is a box of Chocolats Christina
($20 value)
I love chocolates. Who doesn't? Today's door prize is a box of Chocolats Christina with a variety of beautiful chocolates inside. Yummmm...
Don't forget to enter today's giveaway!
Here are four ways to enter:
+1 comment below to say hello
+1 follow our blog and comment
+1 subscribe (with the little orange thingy
or by email) and comment+1 post the URL to your own blog's Super Family Fun Day in another comment
(BTW, all comments here are "do follow")
Only comments from today's date are eligible for this prize. Be sure to include a way for us to let you know if you're the winner. You don't need a blog to enter, but you'll need to have a mailing address in the US or Canada. If you have already won a prize during this party, you may continue to participate but you will not be eligible for other prizes from this week's party. Thanks for understanding.
Today's badge:
This is separate from today's door prize.
*For rules and complete details, click here.
+ + + + +
That's it!
Be sure to come back tomorrow for more blog party fun!
Friday, July 17, 2009
Blogwarming Party - Day 5
For more info on everything we're doing this week, check our our party invitation here.
Chix Satay
Here are two more recipes from Frank's blog and from this one:
- Lemon Dill Pasta - great with seafood
- Tiramisu - not heavy or gluey at all. (You can tell we've eaten some pretty nasty tiramisu in the past.) Absolutely incredible.
Today we can't wait to introduce you to Pam:
- Phone Etiquitte
- Pam & Frank's Shenanigans
- Our 15th Anniversary
- Wordle, a short story in two parts
Today's party game is called "With a Chicken"
Rachel convulsed with hoots of laughter at this one.
You know how after you read a Chinese fortune cookie, you're supposed to add the words "In bed?" We recently decided it's much funnier with the words "With a chicken." Plus, then you can tell your grandmother why you're snickering.
This new game uses the same concept: Take any song title and add the words "With a chicken" I'll start with a few...
- Queen: We Will Rock You With A Chicken
- Brittany Spears: Hit Me Baby One More Time With A Chicken
- David Bowie: Major Tom With A Chicken
- The Beach Boys: Surfin' USA With A Chicken
- John Lennon: Imagine With A Chicken
- Elton John: Tiny Dancer With A Chicken
- Santa Claus is Coming to Town With A Chicken
There is another version of this game that's not great for little little kids but my teenager goes into gigglefits... replace "With A Chicken" with "In My Pants"
The Beatles: Yellow Submarine...
... uh, ok, maybe not.
...Let's just stick with the chicken.
($21 value)
Just like an Original Pass It On Plate, each one of these plates has a tracking number on the back, and we donate money to FeedingAmerica.org every time your plate is passed to another person.
The only difference is that these plates are a more snacky-sized 9" across instead of the larger 11" plates.
These are not available online and are a limited edition, so you can't get these just anywhere.
Don't forget to enter today's giveaway!
Here are four ways to enter:
+1 comment below to say hello
+1 follow our blog and comment
+1 subscribe (with the little orange thingy
or by email) and comment+1 play the "With a Chicken" game on your blog and share the URL to your post in another comment
(BTW, all comments here are "do follow")
Only comments from today's date (ending at 11:59pm PST) are eligible for this prize. Be sure to include a way for us to let you know if you're the winner. You don't need a blog to enter, but you'll need to have a mailing address in the US or Canada. If you have already won a prize during this party, you may continue to participate but you will not be eligible for other prizes from this week's party. Thanks for understanding. The winner will be announced on Monday 7/20/09.
This is separate from today's door prize.
*For rules and complete details, click here.
If you tried the badge earlier and had trouble with the code, try it again.
It should be fixed now.
Thank you to Crafterella for the heads up!
That's it!
Be sure to come back tomorrow for more blog party fun!