Beginners.
During the summer, my family and I took a trip to a beautiful and fascinating place. It was a zoo and an aquarium at a place called Point Defiance, near Seattle. A friend of mine had been there, and told me that it was worth a trip. We were staying close by, on the coast, in a friend's house. It took about an hour and a half to get there by car which was fine. When we got there, it was quite a shock. The huge parking area was completely full. Infact, cars were parked on the side of the road because there were no more parking spaces available. When we got inside, I understood why it was so full. It is an incredible place. The aquarium is very large and varied. We saw penguins, seals, otters, walruses, and a huge amount of smaller sea creatures. I loved the jelly fish. They were a small, see-through species. They were in a dark tank with lights shining up. They looked like pretty little ghosts as they moved through the light. We spent a lot of time looking at the walruses. Gosh they were enormous. One swam up to the window where we were and stayed there, yawning, snorting, and looking at us. It was quite a show.
Grammar notes.
Preterite and pluperfect of : to be, to tell, to swim, to take.
Exs:
He was a very handsome man; he had been a pilot in the war.
I told you we needed new batteries. Jim had told you too.
He was tired of swimming. He had swum a mile in total, so he swam to the beach, got out, and fell asleep on the sand.
I took the car to the service station to have the oil changed. I didn't realise that you had taken it in already.
Advanced.
Point Defiance is on the coast right near the city of Tacoma. As we walked down the hill towards the entrance, we could see the sea. It was quite spectacular. The children were dying to sea the tigers, so we walked through the 'Asian Forest' area, through paths of bamboo, and into a cave-like area where we could look through glass into the large living area of the tigers. The adults were napping, laying on grass, barely moving. The babies, though, were right up close the glass, just relaxing, not seeming to take much notice of any of us. It was a thrill to see them. It was after the tigers that we went into the aquarium. There was so much to see. Again, we walked through a cave-like area that was dark, past windows of different fish, until we came to a huge aquarium. In it were sharks! I'm not sure what kind they were, but they certainly were intimidating. They circled around and came right up to the glass to check us out with their cold, black eyes. I wasn't sure who was observing who. I certainly wouldn't want to find myself swimming anywhere close to them.
Grammar notes.
Useful vocabulary: cave-like, to be dying to, barely.
I found the house cave-like; it was dark and had low ceilings.
I am dying to try that cheesecake; that bakery makes the best dairy treats.
As the child slept, he barely moved. You could just see his chest rising and falling as he breathed.
Beginners.
It's great to be back podcasting for you, my listeners. And what an exciting time of year it is! Back to school. For some of us, it is back to work. It seems that for most of July and August, here in the States, there are advertisements everywhere for the children's clothes and supplies for school. Unlike in England, here each child has a long list of supplies that their parents must buy for them for the start of school in September. The list includes: pencils, paper, books, pens, kleenex, sanitary wipes, coloring pens, paints, and the list goes on and on. My children were very excited when I came back from the store with lots of bags full of their stuff. They took them and ran up to their bedrooms to make piles of their new supplies under their desks, or in a special place. It is quite funny to see them on the first day of school, because their backpacks are crammed full. They can hardly zip them up! I think that it is exciting for them because it helps them feel prepared for a new school year with new friends, a new teacher, and a new schedule. They probably feel a little nervous about the newness of it all, and so, getting organised with their stuff makes them feel ready.
Grammar notes.
Useful vocabulary: supplies, kleenex, sanitary wipes, piles, to cram.
Exs:
Our most important emergency supply is bottles of water.
You must use a kleenex if you have a runny nose.
Instead of using bleach water to clean the countertops, I use sanitary wipes.
There were piles of dirty clothes all over the laundry room. Can't people just put them in the washer?
The little boy crammed the blueberries in his mouth.
Advanced.
So, I found myself a few weeks ago in Fred Meyer. It is a huge, general store in East Wenatchee where you can buy anything from milk to shoes, plastic bags to eye drops, or toys to trees. It's a great place if you want, what they call over here, 'a one stop shop' experience. They also have a wonderful place called 'Playland' where you can drop off your little children in a safe, supervised, 'kids only' room, so they can play and have fun while you do all of the boring shopping. What a great idea. But I wasn't doing normal shopping that day. I was on a mission. School supplies. To be honest, with four kids, it's all a bit of a headache. Thankfully though, these shops are not only ready to receive our money, but they are also ready to help us find what we need very easily. There were two very long aisles of school supplies, organised very clearly, to direct the grumpy, unwilling mothers, like myself, into the full shopping experience. I had sheet of paper in my hands with lists for each age group. Pencils first I think; okay, a pack of ten or a dozen. Is there an important difference. What's the big deal if I get the wrong one? Okay Anna, let's keep a good attitude. Next, paper. Young kids need wide ruled paper, not college ruled which is narrower. That makes sense. And so, I spent about an hour choosing, browsing, picking things up, putting them back, comparing, and selecting. And, finally it was done. Well, that wasn't too difficult after all.
Grammar notes.
New expressions and vocabulary: 'a one stop shop', to drop off, to supervise, grumpy, narrow/ narrower.
Exs:
It's so easy to shop in that store. It's my one stop shop.
I will drop the kids off at my mother's tomorrow.
Those rowdy boys really need to be supervised.
I wish he wasn't so grumpy. It's difficult to talk to him; he's so negative.
That road is narrow, but the other one is narrower.
Beginners.
We are continuing our study of different countries, with Croatia. It is a realtively small country in Central and Southeastern Europe, that is sandwiched between Slovenia and Hungary to the North, Serbia to the Northeast, Bosnia and Hertzegovina to the East, and Montenegro to the Southeast. Just opposite, to the West, across the Adriatic Sea, is Italy. It is shaped like a crescent moon. The geography of this country is quite varied. It has a very long rocky coastline, plains, lakes and rolling hills to the North and East, and very dense forests and mountains in the Dinaric Alps. Certainly there is a lot of variety in an area of 56 and a half thousand square kilometres. There are over 1000 islands in the Croatian territory, many inhabited, and enjoyed by tourists. Croatia is famous for its national parks and for having 49 caves, three of which are deeper than 1000 metres. It is also home to seven Unesco World Heritage sites. It has certainly become a hot spot for tourist in recent years. If you are looking for natural beauty and history at a reasonable price, apparently you need look no further.
Grammar notes.
Useful vocabulary: to be sandwiched (in) between, rolling hills, a hot spot.
Exs:
Our house is sandwiched between a butcher's and a baker's.
The rolling hills look smooth because they are not very high, nor do they have jagged rocks.
That night club is the city's main hot spot.
Advanced.
The earliest inhabitants of Croatia have been found to be Neanderthals. Several tribes of different regions lived in various areas of what now forms Croatia. In 9 AD, it became part of the Roman empire. However, in the 7th century AD, European Avars invaded and destroyed nearly all of the roman towns. The Croats organized themselves into 2 areas, and missionaries set about christianizing the people. Pope John V111 recognised Branimir as the Croats first leader in 872, but it did not become a kingdom until a century later. The Hungarian and Croatian royalties were related, and Hungary took over for 400 years, though Croatian independence was recognized. A Sabor, or kind of parliament ruled for the next 400 years. Croatia joined the Hapsburg empire in 1527 but then became independent in 1918. At this point Serbs, Croats, and Slovenes united to become Yugoslavia, much to the outrage of the majority of Croats; they wanted state independence.
Yugoslavia was quickly overtaken by Nazi Germany and a puppet Croatian ruling party, the Ustache, was set up. It was a brutal regime. After the war, Yugoslavia became socialist, and later a major war between the Croats and the Serbs took place between 1991 and 1995. Croatia was finally recognized in 1992 as an independent country.
Beginners.
The unfortunate thing about cooking is the cleaning up that you need to do afterwards. Oh drudgery! The endless pile of cups, plates, cutlery, and pots and pans can spoil an otherwise fun evening. I am used to cleaning the kitchen. I do it every day, sometimes without even realising. My goal is to get the dishes done as soon as possible. Even my mother has commented on the speed with which I unload and load the dishwasher, clean the countertops and put clean crockery away. Well, if I don't like doing it, then why do it slowly? Get it done as soon as possible, so I can move on to doing something more interesting. I know that I can't complain; I do have an automatic dish washer, so the job isn't really that difficult. I remember when I was a little girl and nobody really had dishwashers. They were extremely rare. My mother would wash everything by hand in very hot soapy water. Then, she would rinse every item in the sink off in very hot, clean water. The pots and pans and everything else would sit on the draining board for a while. A short while later, when the water had run off, we would each take a kitchen towel and help her dry and put it all away. It seemed to take forever. I think, though, that back then, we had less to do; we didn't seem so busy. I can't imagine life without my automatic dishwasher.
Grammar notes.
Related vocabulary: drudgery, crockery, cutlery, to rinse, the draining board.
Exs:
The class I just had was pure drudgery. It was slow and boring.
I need crockery. I hardly have any cups, plates, bowls, or other dishes.
Our silver cutlery needs to be polished with a special liquid.
After lathering up the car, the couple rinsed it off thoroughly with the hose.
My draining board is too small to hold all of the pots and pans; water runs over the edge onto the countertop.
Advanced.
Okay, roll up your sleeves and get on with it. Don't just stand there contemplating. It is a necessary evil, a daily duty, a pain in the rear. To do this successfully, make sure that you don't have any distractions; you need to focus. This is how I clean the kitchen. First of all, I scan the room to see if there is anything that needs to be thrown away. Then, I put away any clean cutlery or crockery that hasn't been used. I move all of the items that need to be washed close to the sink. Plates that still have food on them are scraped off over the pedal bin, (I have a really cool one that is extra big, and can be kept open if you are using it alot). I try to stack plates and bowls according to size so everything looks organised, even if it is still unwashed. I fill up the sink with these stacked, dirty items, making sure to put the cutlery in one pile, and anything delicate up on the countertop by itself. Wine glasses can easily break in the sink with the heavier items. I turn on the tap, switch the fosset head to spray rather than stream, and I rinse each item quickly before I load up the dishwasher. Once I reach this stage, it all goes very quickly. I try to arrange everything in the dishwasher to get maximum exposure to soapy water and rinsing. Nobody likes to open a dishwasher and find that it hasn't done its job. Then, I pour the soap powder into the little, plastic compartment, close the door, push a few buttons, and viola!, my favorite maid leaps into action. After that, I simply need to wipe down the countertops, and sweep the floor, and then pat myself on the back for a job well done.
Grammar notes.
Verbs: to contemplate, to scan, to scrape, to switch, to wipe.
Exs:
It was my day off, so I spent some time contemplating the flowers.
The robot scanned the building and detected an unexploded bomb in the corner of the lobby.
The girl fell down in the playground and scraped her knee.
I switched from regular coffee to decaf, but I was tired all the time, so I switched back.
She wiped the tears from her eyes with a handkerchief. His train had already left; she wouldn't see him for another month.
There's no podcast today. Sorry! I'm suffering from summer fatigue. Is it an illness? No. It's called needing a good vacation. I'll catch up with you on Wednesday. See you then. Anna.
Beginners.
The other day, I took the children to the local library. It is only a ten minute drive from our house. We had a lot of books that were overdue and needed to be returned. It's one of those great places to go when it is too hot to do anything else. Another benefit of going there is that it forces the children to be quiet. Ha-ha, that was my plan! We actually stayed there for over two hours. The library here in Wenatchee is divided into three sections. The main floor has most of the books, reference books, magazines, seating areas, and librarians' area. Downstairs has lots of computers for researching files of all sorts. Around the corner from this area is a quiet row of desks with internet access. You can take in your own laptop, plug it in, and search the web, or do any kind of work you need to. It is a very handy place. The top floor is dedicated to children. I love going there. The first thing you see as you go up the stairs is a huge, metal, green frog with a crown on it. There is a computer for children to do various learning games on. And then, the main room has a big fantasy mural, lots of toys and books, a tent with big pillows and stuffed animals, blocks of all sorts, and a fish tank. It is fun, imaginative, and cozy. There are two other small areas, amongst rows of book shelves, where children can sit and play with games, puppets, and puzzles. It was in the puzzle area that my children discovered a box of dominos. They were hooked. They absolutely refused to leave. I stopped asking them to get ready to go, because I could see that they were totally engrossed in the game. Dominos are fun, great to hold, and quite addictive.
Grammar notes.
Related vocabulary: overdue, benefit, reference, handy, stuffed animals, to be engrossed.
Exs:
The pregnant lady is overdue; she should have had the baby two weeks ago.
One benefit of being a teacher is that you often learn a lot from your students.
I can't take out that book from the library. It is a reference book.
This new cell phone is so handy! It fits in my pocket, has the internet, and even charges the car battery.
My little girl has loads of stuffed animals in her bedroom.
I was talking to my husband, when I realized that he was engrossed in his book, and hadn't heard a word that I had said.
Advanced.
When we came home from the library, my children found our box of dominos, and immediately started to play. However, they didn't want to play the traditional game of number sequencing. Their goal was to set up a domino course that would all fall down at the slightest, deliberate touch. It wasn't as easy as they were hoping. They had visions of dominos all over the house, up and down the stairs, in and out of rooms, under chairs, through doors etc etc. Well, to start with, they didn't have enough dominos, so they had to settle for an obstacle course of medium size. They became very quiet and very industrious about the project. The whole thing took at least an hour. About half way through, I had to walk away and leave them alone because they were accidentally knocking down the arrangement, and becoming quite frustrated. It's always best for Mum to leave the room at that point and not say anything unless asked for advice. Finally, though, after a lot of trial and error, the domino course was ready for an audience. We all gathered around and waited for the count down. "Three, two, one, go!" Cass put a small, plastic ball on a shoot that pointed at the first domino. Success! It fell over and all the others did the same. They fell up a small stack of dvd cases that were positioned like stairs, then down the other side. They fell over in a circle shape, down an incline, and, for the grand finale, pushed two balls over to a wall of dominos that came crashing down!
Grammar notes.
Uses of the past participle as an adjective: asked, questioned, reminded, beaten, left.
Exs:
She will help you only if asked (only if she is asked to).
They were questioned by the police.
I am reminded every day of my friend who moved away.
The rugby team entered the changing room, tired out, and beaten by their opponents.
The kitten continued to sleep, left alone by the children.
Beginners.
A few days ago, we had a yard sale. I actually held it over two mornings, out of my garage. Yard sales are very common in this area, and very popular too. Do you know what they are? I suppose the name explains the meaning; a sale of household items which takes place outside on your driveway, or inside your garage. With it being so hot, I arranged everything inside my garage so prospective buyers wouldn't leave quickly because of the blast of the sun. The shade in the garage would keep them looking at the items a little longer. Amongst all the 'stuff' was a box of craft items and bits and pieces of little importance. I had marked the box with "$1 each or best offer". When the sale was finally over, I took most of the left over things to a charity organization, leaving just one box in the garage. I happened to look in the box today, and found something that I had long forgotten about: two ears of Indian corn. I had bought these a few years ago as a decoration for the house at pumpkin time, or late autumn. It is a reminder of the harvest, of the change of season, and of the richness of creation. But Indian corn has a unique look, and a unique history. All corn, I suppose, could be called Indian corn, but, in general, we give that name to the multicolored variety of corn that is used mainly for decoration rather than food.
Grammar notes.
Useful vocabulary: houshold items, to arrange, a prospective buyer, 'bits and pieces'.
Exs:
The shop sells household items, no farming equipment.
She is very good at arranging flowers in a vase.
If the entryway of the house is attractive, we will attract prospective buyers.
"What's in your bag?" "Oh, just bits and pieces."
Advanced.
Corn, or maize, was originally an american plant, grown by the Native American indians throughout Mesoamerica. It was a staple food for many of the tribes, and still is for many people. In Mexico, for example, corn is ground up into a crumbly flour, and made into 'masa' which is rolled out and cooked into tortillas, a round, flat grain wrap eaten with meat and vegetables. About three hundred and thirty two million metric tonnes of corn are grown in the U.S every year, more than in any other country. A lot of it is exported, but much of it is made into corn syrup which is added to many processed and premade foods. In hot climates it is quite easy to grow, and there are many varieties. A couple of years ago I grew corn, and was quite impressed at its performance. It got to about seven feet tall and produced a lot of ears. Mind you, the corn kernels were not consistently shaped. Some were swollen, and others were non existent. Some ears had a lot of flavor, others had very little. It'll take a bit of research for me to get it right, I think. However, when the Europeans first came over to the Americas, the Native Indians gave them some very good advice as to how to survive by growing successful corn. They taught them to put salmon in the earth where the corn was to be grown. This increased the nutrients of the earth greatly and gave good yields. Corn is a fascinating and delicious vegetable, and though used world wide, it is distinctly american. I'm glad I didn't manage to sell the two ears of corn. I think I'll keep them as a decoration and a reminder for a few more years.
Grammar notes.
Related vocabulary: staple, a grain, processed, research.
Exs:
Corn is a staple in Central and South America. Wheat is more of a staple in North America.
The farmer grows lots of grains: wheat, corn, and barley amongst others.
The hot dog is a very tasty but highly processed food.
Research indicates that A Cup of English is the best podcast on the internet......
Beginners.
You will probably get tired of me writing about how hot it is. Yes, yes, Wenatchee is always hot in the summer. However, this year, it has been exceptionally hot, like an oven. The past few weeks have each had several days of temperatures up to 106 degrees. You don't really see anyone around in the streets during the day, unless they are crazy....The early morning is wonderful, and late evening is very pleasant for a barbecue, a get together, or to do some gardening. I look out of my kitchen window during the day at my vegetable garden, longing to go over there and check things out, but there is no way that I can. When you walk in this kind of heat, you feel like you are cooking. My temperature gauge has been much busier than usual, going up into the hundreds during the day, and then back down at night. Mind you, even at nine and ten o'clock at night, recently, it has stayed about 90 degrees. Even with a breeze, the temperatures can be problematic. Because the hills are so dry this time of year, there is a great risk of fire. All it takes is a careless action of throwing a cigarette out of the window, or perhaps a fork lightning strike, and a hazardous fire is on our hands. The sky around Wenatchee has been hazy towards the North for a few days, which means that there is probably a sage brush fire or a forest fire somewhere close by. It is similar conditions to those of the Mediterranean where the fires are raging. It's a hot time, and full of danger.
Grammar notes.
Related vocabulary: a gauge, to rage, problematic, exceptionally.
Exs:
The temperature gauge on my car said that it was 120 degrees. I don't think that is accurate.
The bull went into a rage when he saw the red flag.
The situation is problematic. Not everyone will be happy about it.
That boy is exceptionally talented. He plays the piano like a master.
Advanced.
Don't you just long for shade in the middle of summer? I do. Am I a whimp? Should I be tougher and able to put up with the heat? But heat, I think, is almost more difficult to deal with than the cold. At least when it is cold, you can put lots of clothes on. When it is boiling hot and you are only wearing a bikini, there is nothing else you can take off! You have to escape and find air conditioning. And just pray that the electrical connection doesn't fail. I can't imagine what it is like at the moment in Greece where it is so, so hot, and where the fires are so many, and out of control. What can be done? What could be done? How could a government ensure that those kinds of disasters stop happening. In our area, we have fires during the summer most years. One thing that I have seen put in place are the fire barriers. They are long areas of land that have been cleared of trees and shrubs, and which divide planted or forested areas into sections. They are just like wide, dirt roads. The object is to contain a fire. The wide, empty, dirt length stops fires blowing over into more planted areas. It works, in a preventative way. Another preventative measure that is quite common and inexpensive, is to clear forest floors of dead wood, which is often extremely dry and burns quickly. I remember hearing the news last year about fires in Greece which were believed to have been started deliberately. There was a huge reward for information leading to the arrest of the arsonists. I hope they were caught. They should spend the rest of their lives planting trees.
Grammar notes.
Useful verbs: to long for, to spend (time/money), to put up with, to clear.
Exs:
I long for the cooler days. In a month they will be here.
We spent all morning together just walking and chatting. Then we went to the shops and spent all of our money.
I don't know how you put up with your neighbors. They are so noisy in the evenings!
The land was cleared of trees and bushes because an office building was going to be built there.
Beginners.
This time of year the summer flowers are fully in bloom. In most gardens you can see different kinds of lillies, daisies, roses, and bulb plants. It's great! I am quite choosy about the kind of flowers I have in my garden. One which I have grown for many years is the Morning Glory. It is a climbing summer flower. It needs plenty of sun and growing space. It is perfect if you want to cover a fence, trellis, or an ugly wall. I grow them every year. Last year I grew some in a large pot that had a metal trellis in it. This year, I decided to grow a variety of them up one of our fences, and it worked beautifully. You can get several different colors and sizes of Morning Glory. The most common kind are bright pink, but they also come in blues. They are also quite strong, though they don't look like they are. They have curly, sticky stems that climb all over the place. When it is windy they manage to hang on and not break. The best thing about them, of course, is the flower. True to it's name, it gives new flowers each morning that only last for that morning. However, it gives many of them, and they are quite spectacular. Often people buy the shocking pink variety, but this year, I have blue. If you check out the photo on my blog page, you will see just how blue. It is really quite a treat to see a new set of flowers each morning, especially if you are not quite sure exactly what you will get.
Grammar notes.
Related vocabulary: plenty, common, trelllis, sticky, a treat.
Exs:
Last year we didn't make enough money; this year we made plenty.
Those shoes are very common; you can find them in every store.
The climbing rose grew and became very heavy. Luckily it was supported by a strong, metal trellis.
Those candies are so sticky! After eating them, you have to wash your hands and your face.
I bought myself a piece of cheesecake. I deserved a treat.
Advanced.
Morning Glories, Morning Glories, ah, so beautiful. However, you have to be careful with them too. Early this summer, when I was planning on planting some, I bought several packets of seeds, and read the instructions. They recommended that seeds are soaked over night before planting. Why? Well, that helps the hard exterior to pop open and allow the seed to root. I followed the instructions, put them in a little tea cup half full of water, and put it on the kitchen window sill until the next morning. Sometime during the following day, I managed to plant them in two different places in the garden. I came in, washed my hands, and sat down and had a cookie. About an hour later, my throat started to feel very sore. About an hour after that, I found it difficult to swallow. I went to the bathroom and had a look at my tongue and throat in the mirror. To my horror, I saw that the inside of my mouth was covered in sore lumps. What on earth had I done? I tried to think back to the food I had eaten during the day, wondering if I had eaten anything unusual that perhaps had caused an allergic reaction. But, I hadn't eaten anything out of the normal. I suddenly remembered reading, however, that the seeds of Morning Glory have a toxic natural oil, and that you have to make sure that children don't swallow any. Well, that was it. After planting the seeds, I hadn't washed my hands properly before eating. It was a good reminder for me to be extra careful when dealing with seeds, no matter how beautiful the flowers are.
Grammar notes.
Related vocabulary: to swallow, sore, toxic, to soak, an allergic reaction.
Exs:
Jello is so easy to swallow.
Yesterday my throat and my eyes felt sore.
There is a toxic chemical spill in our town.
I will soak this blouse to see if the stain will come out.
She had an allergic reaction to the medicine.
Beginners.
This summer, my brother has come to visit from New Zealand. We are having such a fantastic time together. He is wonderful person, and also a complete goofball! That is an american expression for a person who jokes and fools about. He has a very dry sense of humor, but he can also make children laugh very easily. When we went to Lake Roosevelt recently, he travelled in the car with us. We chatted away, observed the countryside, talked about old times, and stopped a few times on the way to stretch our legs and have a drink. My children are not really used to travelling in the car for three hours at a time, and the car was really packed with luggage and beach equipment, so they got 'squirmy' as they say here. You know how a worm wiggles when it is uncovered, well that is squirming. They started to bicker and argue until it became unbearable. Well, my brother sprang into creative action. He taught the kids in a few seconds about pulling a 'museum face'. They each had to act like a statue, but a very wierd, ugly one. It instantly made them laugh and stop bickering. Fantastic! I just had to write a podcast about the museum face to help my podlisteners who have children. That's my excuse. Check out my brother's museum face; it is utterly goofy. Hey, this is my podcast after all. I can't be professional all the time. Enjoy the photo!
Grammar notes.
Related vocabulary: to pull a face, goofy, old times, to bicker, to squirm.
Exs:
My children were pulling the most awful faces infront of the mirror.
That man is so goofy! He does the strangest things and makes us all laugh.
It was great to see my friend from college, and to talk about old times.
I wish that couple would stop bickering. They argue senselessly!
The worm squirmed until I put it back under the earth.
Advanced.
Sometimes driving in the car with the kids is quite difficult. Any of you who have children will probably understand. At times my kids will drive me completely crazy. They fight in the car, or rather bicker. Bickering, in my opinion, is far worse than an all out fight. "Mum, he's looking out of my window!", "Mum, his leg is touching mine!", "Mum, he said that I'm ugly!", "No I didn't!", "Yes you did!" And it goes on and on. If I was a robot, and always responded the same way to their bickering, perhaps it would stop. If I would consistently talk reason to them and convince them that it is better to stay quiet, or work things out together, then bickering might become a thing of the past. The trouble is, I'm not a robot. I'm an emotional human being who sometimes acts differently from one day to the next. Sometimes my response is an easy, " If you are all quiet, I will buy you a candy." Or, I get the guns out, "I'll tell Dad about you being naughty in the car," or "Don't even think about having a play date with your friend if you're acting like that!" I have a catalogue of responses which vary in effectiveness. One thing I've found, though, that truly helps, is having help from another adult, especially if that adult is imaginative. My brother's museum face is a wonderful solution to the kids' bickering. It distracts them, it cheers them up, and it brings out their goofiness. If you see my brother's photo on my blogpage, you will understand that goofiness is definitely an inherited thing.
Grammar notes.
Related vocabulary: to convince, to inherit, naughty.
Exs:
I am convinced that we should go on vacation for at least a month.
When my grandmother passed away, I inherited a silver tea set.
That boy is so naughty! He broke a chair, and then smashed a window!
Beginners.
The color yellow is very 'in' at the moment, mainly because of the Tour de France. It is a spectacular event that my husband and I follow every year. Infact, now that it is over, we are in mourning. "What are we going to do now, Babe?" I asked my husband this morning as we turned on the taped version (we are about eight hours behind France where we live). "I really don't know..." he answered, sadly. Happily for us, though, we have a DVR, so we have the whole tour recorded, and we can skip through all of the commercials in just a few seconds. What a relief! I can't imagine having to watch hours of the same commercials just in order to see the bicycle race. Anyway, we sort of celebrated Alberto Contador's win today, and Mark Cavendish's successful entrance into Paris, by going on a bicycle ride around one of the local parks. My husband is a serious cyclist, but I am just a beginner. I suppose I'm not particularly competitive; I don't really care about racing. When I ride my bike, I like to only push myself a little bit. All the straining and pain, I think, are overrated. I like to look at the trees and birds and enjoy the wind in my face. I would make a terrible professional cyclist. First of all, no one would sponsor me because I would lose all the time. Secondly, I just don't have the build for sprinting or climbing.
Grammar notes.
Related vocabulary: spectacular, to mourn, commercial, to strain.
Exs:
The firework display was spectacular!
We are mourning the loss of our grandmother.
Some commercials are downright irritating.
The weight lifter strained his leg. He was too concerned about winning.
Advanced.
Alberto Contador was quite incredible to watch this year. It is amazing what you learn about these competitive athletes by listening to the commentators over the course of three weeks. We have all heard about Lance Armstrong, the amazing physical animal that he is, overcoming horrendous cancer, and winning seven times. But did you know that young Contador also had quite a scare. Apparently, during a race, he collapsed. It was found that he had a brain haemorrage. He was immediately operated on, and had a titanium plate put in his head. It sounds awful doesn't it? Well, he is obviously fine now. Infact, he is so fine, that he has won three major tours this year: Il Giro D'Italia, The Tour Down Under, and the Tour de France. Three in seven months is really quite incredible. "This is like watching a James Bond movie," says my husband every time we sit down to watch the Tour. You have the incredible athletes with thighs like tree truncks, flying up steep mountains at a rate that makes me feel dizzy. Then, you have the spectacular views of France, and all the historic information of buildings and towns. All that is lacking is a good gun fight and perhaps an explosion or two. But James Bond or no James Bond, I'm celebrating Contador's win. I am a half Spaniard, after all. My loyalties lie in that part of the world. I know the Spanish culture well, and I can guarantee that there will be huge celebrations all over the country. So, I will join the party from my little corner of the planet, lift a glass of Rioja, and say, "Well done, Alberto!"
Grammar notes.
Related vocabulary: horrendous, commentators, dizzy, loyalty.
Exs:
This cheese is horrendous. It stinks and tastes awful!
The commentators of this soccer match are very biased towards their own country's team.
The ride at the fairground spun us around so much that we all got dizzy.
My dog has the greatest loyalty towards our family.
Beginners.
What sort of things do you like to do during the Summer. Are there any activities that you are particularly fond of? What about when you were a child? If I could sit down and chat with all of you, I would probably be able to write a long list of things that people like to do in the Summer months. Here, our time is mainly spent around water. It's really too hot to do anything else. It's too hot even to go for a walk. Yesterday I took my kids and my brother to a nearby riverbank. The beach area was just the right size for us. It was sandy, but had enough rocks and tree debris to keep the young ones entertained. We took the dogs; it would be a treat for them to be next to the river. Buckets and spades were an essential part of the trip. I remember when I was little, we always had buckets and spades around. They are so very useful. Castles and forts can be built by using them, but then, of course, they can carry water, pretty stones, and even slimey creatures. They can be used for standing on to help you get something that is out of reach. They can even be used as hats, if your head is small enough. Well, when I was little, I used buckets for just about everything, and my kids do the same. Our trip down to the riverbank became very creative and fun because of those simple, plastic tools.
Grammar notes.
Related vocabulary: riverbank, out of reach, debris, to chat.
Exs:
The fishermen fished quietly from the riverbank, and eventually caught a trout.
My two year old got into the flour bag and made a terrible mess; thankfully, the medicines are out of reach!
After the bombing, it took hours to clear the debris.
I was on the phone with my sister for two hours; we chatted about all sorts of nonsense.
Advanced.
Thankfully, the weather turned out to be a bit overcast, and therefore cooler than normal. It was perfect weather for sitting on the beach. In between overseeing the dogs, making sure that they didn't run off, and watching a group of fish jump for flies, I observed my children constructing all sorts of sandy projects using their buckets and spades. Whenever they would get too hot, they would fill up their buckets with water and dump it on eachother. At times this was good, but at other times a fight would ensue, and I would have to quickly step in as referee to keep the peace. Then everyone would settle down and get on with their projects. Nobody wanted to build sandcastles, so they carved long channels that forked towards the river instead. When these were ready, they would fill up their buckets with river water, run up to the top of the channel, and start the waterfall. They did this countless times, and didn't grow tired. Only occasionally would the work stop to the sound of," Hey, where's my bucket?" Everyone would look around, and invariably it would be found floating down the river. There would be a huge splash of bodies, and the thing would be retrieved. It would be handy to train the dogs to go after those floating buckets; mind you, it would be handy to have the dogs trained in any way at all! One of our dogs, Foxy, loves to swim and retrieve sticks from the water. Rosie, on the other hand, prefers to sniff around in the debris for mice and rabbits, one of which she almost caught. It was a great day! It was full of activity. By the time we came home, hosed everyone and everything down, and vacuumed out the car, I was exhausted. It was time to put my feet up and have a very needed cup of tea.
Grammar notes.
Related vocabulary: to retrieve, overcast, to oversee, to ensure, to sniff.
Exs:
I dropped my book in the river, but, thankfully, a nearby dog retrieved it.
Yesterday was sunny until the clouds moved in and it became quite overcast.
The teacher had to oversee the science project for safety reasons.
Please ensure that you shut the gates; I don't want the goats escaping again.
The bear sniffed the air; he could smell the dinner that the hunters were preparing.
It was dark by the time Thomas Black got home that night. He had lingered in the workshop, putting final details on cabinetry and tables. He had needed the time to be alone, and to digest Theo's words. He was disturbed by her account of the Whitcome tragedy, and by what he had learned about that family's misfortunes, resentment, and growing hatred over the generations from the time of Peter Whitcome. A curse was something that Thomas refused to believe in; it was fantasy, irrational. A man made his own way, good or bad, according to the Blacks. But something about the way Theo had spoken to him, the clarity of her eyes, the intensity of her voice, made him believe that there was danger in the village.
At dinner, he had shared his thoughts with Annette, his wife. "For God's sake love, tell the vicar and the police, and have done with it," she said, irritated that he had been carrying this concern. "Tom, it's not our business. This village is fine; nothing ever happens here. One incident and an old woman's words don't mean anything." She took up the dinner plates and put them in the sink. Leaning against the countertop, she folded her arms and looked at him, half smiling, " Don't tell me you need more adventure in your life. You'd look good in a Sherlock Holmes outfit." Thomas stood up and pulled her to him, wrapping his rough, muscular arms around her waist. He chuckled, "Ay, and all the clues would lead to my wicked wife!" They kissed, and immediately he felt freer. He knew he would just by touching her. If he was reasonable, she was much more so, and he relied on that.
Later that night, he left the house to tell the police and the vicar what he had heard. He was going to hand over this stupid, complicated mess to the people who could deal with it, or dismiss it. The first place to visit was the Crowlies. He was the local policeman, wiry, efficient, and conservative, not much of a Sherlock Holmes, but suited to village life. Thomas expected the conversation to be short, and that he would be put at ease. If there was any more to be said, Crowlie could talk to Theo, after all, it was nothing to do with him. "I wish I'd been told all of this sooner, Tom," said Crowlie, sitting back in his chair in his home office. "We've had no amount of trouble with the Whitcomes since I can remember: fights, stealing, arson.." he trailed off. "What!" said Thomas, almost in a whisper, a sudden thump of forboding in his stomach. "Look Jim," he continued, "I don't know about any of this or the Whitcomes; this is the first I've heard. And somehow, trying to help, I've got involved. Now, I don't know if what Theo says is true, but I just want the whole thing laid to rest." "Well, don't we all Tom," replied Crowlie. "Ninety-five percent of good folk want the same. Look, I know Theo. She's the last truth teller of what's left of the Whitcomes. She's what's kept them alive, and out of the worst of it. But their generations have gone from bad to worse. The last of them are spoiled, selfish, and senseless." "So, there is danger to the village?" asked Thomas uncomfortably. "There's always danger to the village Tom. Don't be deceived, just because it's quiet and bonny. We're just good at keeping what goes on on the outskirts quiet." There was a long pause. "What has any of this got to do with me, Jim? Why did Theo come to me?" "So you haven't figured that one out yet, Tom," said Crowlie standing up and leaning towards Thomas. "It was a Black who sent Peter Whitcome to his grave."
Beginners.
Now that it is hot, I think a lot about the fridge. What is in there that will cool me down? Actually there are things lurking in the back of the fridge that have been there for a while. It's time for a cleaning. We seem to go through gallons of juice and milk in these hot, thirsty days of Summer. But what about cold food?As I look in the fridge I can see what you probably see in your own fridge: a vegetable drawer at the bottom, a fruit drawer next to it, then lots of shelves with bottles of milk, yoghurts, cheeses, butter, wrapped meats, jars of various sauces and jams, and those wonderful leftovers. Out of everyone in my house, I think I'm the only one who loves leftovers. Sometimes I will bung a few of them together, add some spices, and make a leftover stew. You can't beat it! The other fussy individuals in the house will have to eat fresh food instead of trying my imaginative creations. But, cold is the focus at the moment. Whether it is a salad, a cold soup, cold cut meats or a dessert, it is what we are all looking for. I recently bought seven boxes of jello from the supermarket to make a dessert especially for the kids. It is quite a show piece if it is done correctly. It actually doesn't have a name, but it is like a seven layer cake, except it is made entirely out of jello. Perhaps you can follow the recipe and instructions with me, and make one for yourself.
Grammar notes.
Fridgey vocabulary: to lurk, vegetable drawer, leftovers, stew, cold cut meats.
Exs:
As I cleaned out the fridge, I found an old, moldy piece of cake lurking in a dark corner. I think it had been there for several years!
The vegetable drawer is stuffed with salad vegetables.
I still have some leftovers from the roast dinner: potatoes and meat.
There is nothing better than a beef and vegetable stew on a freezing winter day.
They had the most interesting cold cut meats: slices of salami, ham, roast beef, and bologna.
Advanced.
The seven layer jello dessert is a simple project, but it does take some time, as you will see. You will need:
7 packets of different flavored jello
1 large glass bowl
1 plastic or wooden mixing spoon
water according to the instructions
fruit and/or whipped cream (optional).
Making sure that the bowl is completely clean and free of dust, mix up the first packet of jello with boiled water (from a kettle or a saucepan). Make sure that the jello is completely dissolved. It speeds up the process if you add a few ice cubes to the mixture. Pour into the glass bowl and put immediately in the fridge. Go about your normal business. When the first layer of jello is just about set, repeat the steps for the second layer, making sure that it is cool enough to pour on the first layer without melting it. Put back in the fridge. Repeat these steps for the other five packets of jello. If desired, to make it more interesting and healthy, add fruit to some of the layers. When the final layer has been added, allow the dessert to cool until it is very firm. Take out and run hot water over the sides of the bowl in order to loosen it. Put a large plate over the bowl and quickly flip it upside down. Decorate with fruit and whipped cream on top.
This is a very popular dessert with children. Try to buy varying flavors that differ greatly in color. For example: raspberry (purple-red), then lime (green), then blueberry (blue), then lemon (yellow) etc etc.
If you try it, let me know how it turned out.
Grammar notes.
Related vocabulary: free of dust, dissolve, to go about one's business, firm.
Exs:
My new cleaner is fabulous. My house is completely free of dust for the first time ever.
The washing powder didn't dissolve, so when I took the clothes out, they had clumps of soap all over them.
Look, I'm really busy right now. Please, just go about your business until I'm available.
The body builder's bicepts are really firm, but his stomach is still wobbly and soft like jello.
Beginners.
Today I will start at the end of a story to tell you a story. It was at the very end of our stay at Lake Roosevelt, that we stopped at an oasis. I say oasis because The Homestead Cafe is one of very few great restaurants in a remote area. There are not many shops or restaurants in the Lake Roosevelt area, so you have to bring most of the food you eat with you. It is also quite far away from any major towns. Though we had plenty to eat in the house that my mother had rented, our choices were limited. When you are living in someone else's place, sometimes it is hard to get used to the kitchen, as well. The coffee maker that was there was a mystery. The three of us: my mother, my brother, and I couldn't figure out how to turn it on! Now, trust me when I say that we are three intelligent individuals, but still, it's a bit worrying to admit that we couldn't do it. Anyway, after our relaxing vacation we headed out on Highway 2 back towards Wenatchee. On the way, we travelled through the little town of Wilbur. Right there on the main road was The Homestead Cafe, and it was breakfast time. As soon as we walked in, we felt at home. The interior was casual and very homestead-like, very woody and basic. It was clean and smelled like fresh food, a good sign. We had a big breakfast of gammon, eggs, hash browns, pancakes, and what seemed like gallons of fresh coffee. It was just what we needed. After travelling over miles and miles of flat wheat fields, the Homestead Cafe was truly an oasis.
Advanced.
One of the things that I love most about going on vacation is the surprise factor. When we stopped in Wilbur to have breakfast, I had no idea that I would discover a fascinating local artist. She wasn't actually there, but many pieces of her art were on display in the Homestead Cafe. After chatting with our waitress, I learned that the local artist's name is Katie Densley, and she happens to be the mother of the owner of the restaurant. We ate breakfast in one room, and her art was displayed in the ajoining room. She paints landscapes and also makes sculptures out of black wire. The theme of her art showed that she very attached to Eastern Washington, the terrain, the seasons, and the climate. The cafe was the perfect setting for her art. Apparently, she has her own gallery in Wilbur, but unfortunately we didn't have enough time to visit it. It just goes to show that art is everywhere, even in remote, dry areas of Eastern Washington. One of the themes running through Katie Densley's art is the light. She shows the special colors of the setting sun on farm landscapes, and also the many abandoned farmhouses and little shacks are lit up beautifully in the evenings. It was quite a discovery.
Beginners.
Fishing seems to be a sport that you either love, or have nothing to do with. My father is a fisherman, and has been for most of his life. My husband also enjoys fishing during salmon season. It would be nice, though, if he caught a fish at some point.... Well, my kids love messing about in rivers and streams, as I'm sure most kids do. They have buckets and nets and kids' fishing rods. They also have the real thing. Infact, my youngest son, Robert, bought himself a tackle box with his pocket money. It is one of his treasures. Inside are various compartments for the little rubber worms, the shiny metal spinners, and the colorful floats. He proudly brought the box with him on our latest trip to Lake Roosevelt. I found it stuffed into the back of the car with the rest of the luggage. Well, it turned out that that little box was a very important part of the vacation. My brother took the three boys down to the beach each evening to fish. About the time that the sun was setting, the flies would start to come out, and the fish would start jumping. I would stay at the house with my mother and my daughter and play cards. The second to last evening, about the time that it was dark, I heard excited voices coming up the road from the beach. It was all the boys; they had caught a fish, and my goodness, they were celebrating.
Grammar notes.
Fishing vocabulary: spinners, floats, worms, to cast, hooks, the reel, bait, tackle.
Exs:
When we went fishing, the fish didn't go for the worms, but for the spinners.
After I bought my new fishing pole, I cast out, and immediately I caught a salmon.
I would have caught the fish, but the reel got stuck. It didn't turn because there was a knot on the line.
Our fishing trip was hopeless. We had brought all the fishing tackle but we had forgotten the bait!
Advanced.
The fish was presented to me as if it were a box of treasure that had just been discovered. It was a rainbow trout, only about one pound in weight, but a great prize for the boys. They begged me to let them help clean the fish. "No problem," I said, "it's a good education." So, after washing the fish, we cut it open. Then the fascination for the insides of the fish could be seen on the childrens' faces. I asked them if they wanted to see what the fish had been eating. "Yes!" they cheered in unison. So I removed the fish's stomach and very delicately cut it open. Wow! It was completely full of flies. Infact, we could see that the fish enjoyed catching and eating one particular type of fly. They were very recognizable in the top of the stomach, and further down had become mashed and mixed up. It was very interesting. Then we continued to examine the intestines. The liver was obvious, but boring compared to the colon. I hope these details are not too disgusting for you, my dear podlisteners. My kids looked on in amazement while Robert ran the knife along the fish's colon and squeezed out the....um....the digested fish. "Eww!" they all said, like a little choir. That is the same expression as "Yuck" in the U.K. Well, we finished our gory examination, washed and wrapped the fish, and put it in the fridge. By the next morning, by the time the kids were awake, their uncle Richard had it on a plate, fried up with butter and lemon.
Grammar notes.
New vocabulary: in unison, to mash, gory, recognizable.
Exs:
When I asked the boys who had broken the vase, they pointed at eachother and said, "He did it!" in unison.
To make the potato dish, the vegetable needs to be boiled and then mashed.
The film was too gory. There was too much violence, and blood and guts.
The criminal was barely recognizable. He had disguised himself very effectively.
Beginners.
As you can see, I'm back from my trip to Lake Roosevelt. We were there from Wednesday until Friday, and the time flew. It took a lot of preparation to get there; typically I overpacked some things and underpacked other things. For example: I took enough food to feed an army, but I forgot to pack toys or coloring pens for the kids, which are essentials for the evening when we have all returned from the beach. When we arrived, I opened the trunck * door, and saw that my children had thrown in fishing poles and nets, which I would have forgotten, and which happened to be very useful. The journey took about three hours. We travelled through countryside that is unusual for me: huge, flat wheat lands that seemed to go on forever. Then we passed through a massive, dry, rocky gorge. It was the type of place you imagine dinosaurs to be roaming around in. Finally, the countryside changed to more hilly and green. The trees were all pine as we approached the lake. It was beautiful, in a very Western, rugged way. After we unpacked everything, we went to the beach. The children ran and splashed, built sand castles and dug for pebbles and anything interesting. It was towards the end of the first day that one of my boys pointed to an unusual collection of objects piled in a shady area of the beach. Bones!
Grammar notes.
Preterite: fly (flew), forget (forgot), seem (seemed), go (went).
Exs:
The bird flew away from the hawk, and hid in a bush.
I forgot that I had left the car running. When I came out in the morning, the petrol and the battery had run out.
My uncle seemed tired last night. I think he has a lot on his mind.
I didn't want to go to the beach; it was too hot. So I went to the mall instead.
Advanced.
Bones! What bones! I mean, what or who did they belong to? There weren't enough of them to reconstruct a complete skeleton, so my kids and I had to deduce whose they were, and what had happened. First of all, they were not human, thank goodness, so we weren't playing on a crime scene. Secondly, one of the bones had a certain kind of fur attached to it. Conclusion, it must have been a baby deer, a foal. The poor little thing could have died in a number of ways. The area of Lake Roosevelt is quite wild, really. There are not only lots of deer, but also moose, and the occasional predators, like coyotes. Also, the winters are very snowy, cold, and long. Unless deer come down to the human residences and eat up garden plants, their food sources can become quite limited. One of the neighbor ladies who was on the beach told me that it is difficult for the younger deer to survive the winter. Thankfully, there are so many of them, that future generations continue to thrive. But there is obviously a toll every year. My kids were fascinated with all of this, so they decided to bring the bones home. Oh great! Something else that's yucky in the house. Mind you, it could have been worse. The lady also told me that she was going for a walk one morning, and a moose walked right past her! Now, those bones would have been far too big for the car!
Grammar notes.
Would have/ could have.
Exs:
If I'd have known that they were going to spend the night with us, I would have put clean linen on the beds.
It could have been worse. They usually bring their dogs and insist that they also sleep in the beds!
I would have loved to have taken some photos of the wheat fields, but we didn't have time to stop the car.
I'm sorry but I am away today, Friday. I have taken my children and my brother, who flew in from New Zealand recently, to a rental house on Lake Roosevelt. I have never been there before, but I will let you know all about it when I get back. Have a great weekend! Anna.
Beginners.
On the sixth of this month, I took my children to Seattle to go to the Pacific Science Center. We do not go to Seattle very often, so I thought that, now that it is summer, I should make the effort and make the three hour drive over the mountains to spend some time in that fantastic city. My children were so excited. Part of the journey was to pop in and visit my sister-in-law and her five children. Yes five! Phew! She's a smart lady; she has a nanny four days a week to help her with all the children and their busy lives. We arrived at their house at about one o'clock in the afternoon, chatted for a while, the kids played with their cousins, and then we left for the Science Museum. Three of the cousins came with us and the nanny, called Amy. I was relieved that Amy wanted to go also because I have no idea how to get around Seattle. It really helps to follow someone else who actually has an idea where they are going. I am sure that in future podcasts I will be telling you about areas of the museum that we visited; there was so much to see. However, the last section of the museum that we experienced was the butterfly sanctuary. It wasn't very big, but it was so, so beautiful. There were tropical type plants all over the place, lots of blooming flowers, protective netting walls, and most importantly, stunning butterflies fluttering around all over the place.
Grammar notes.
Preterite: to pop in/ out, to be, to chat, to come.
Exs:
My mother popped in to see me this morning to help me bake some pies.
I was ready to go to the shops early in the morning, but my children weren't.
We chatted nearly all night. It was so good to catch up with my friends.
My cousin came to visit us for Christmas.
Advanced.
As we walked into the high, humid room, I breathed a sigh of relief. Most of the day had been exhausting for me, even though it was also fun. Bringing four kids on a three hour car journey over the mountain passes, trying to negotiate my way through a city that I don't know, and then going into a museum where they took off and ran in all directions like mice that had been let out of their cages, had just about finished me off. But, then we walked into the butterfly sanctuary, and it was all stillness and quiet. "Oh, mummy look!" I heard countless times as my kids would see a delicate, fluttering beauty float past our eyes just as if we were parts of the scenery. The "oohs" and "ahs" that I heard reminded me of the "oohs" and "ahs" from the night of the 4th of July. And the reasons were similar. Surprises of sudden beauty. There was a collection of a large, brilliant blue species, some tiny, pretty black and white ones, and a black and red beauty that I was really taken with. It was such a pleasure to be quiet and take in the sights. There were very strict rules to follow inside the room: no running, no touching the butterflies, no eating or drinking, and no leaving until we had been thoroughly checked. Why would we need to be checked? Because the butterflies have the habit of landing on people without them realizing, and if those people are not checked, they could walk off with a precious creature!
Grammar notes.
Expressions: to be in the habit of, to breathe a sigh of relief.
Exs:
He was in the habit of sucking his teeth after every meal. Yuck!
I breathed a sigh of relief after the exam; it was something that I had been very concerned about.
Beginners.
Oh my goodness, we're all tired today. Thankfully it's Sunday, and there are not a lot of pressing things to do. Yesterday was the 4th of July, Independence day, here in the U.S. As you can imagine, it is an important and fun national holiday, and a great excuse to make a lot of noise. We started the celebrations, by going to a local golf club for lunch. My in-laws were there and three of our nephews. It was close to 100 degrees, so we were all pleased to jump into the swimming pool that overlooks the golf course. The children had a great time. There was also a barbecue. Hamburgers, hotdogs, baked beans, coleslaw, and tonnes of things to put all over the meat: onions, tomatoes, chilis, mustard etc etc. That and an ice cold drink hit the spot! I lazed by the swimming pool and watched the children splash about, giggle, and in the case of my daughter, squeal at a pitch that is not humanly possible. It was actually too hot for this english girl, so I jumped in the pool a few times to cool off. I 'hogged' the parasol, as they say here. That means that I absolutely made sure that I could be completely shaded; I was not about to be generous with the little bit of shade that was available. At about four o'clock, it was actually hotter than when we first arrived, so we headed home. I cleaned a few rooms, and my husband and our boys prepared the entertainment for the evening.
Grammar notes.
Expressions: pressing, to hog, to hit the spot, coleslaw.
Exs:
I have some pressing business today. I must get to the office early and be thoroughly prepared!
He hogged the whole sofa! He didn't let anyone sit on it!
I was really hungry before we got to the restaurant. Gosh, that fish and salad hit the spot. It was exactly what my body needed.
To make coleslaw you must do the following: shred cabbage and carrots. Add raisins, and mix with mayonnaise. It's that simple.
Advanced.
As night fell, it became beautifully bearable outside. The harsh sunshine was no longer beating down on everyone, so friends, family, and neighbors started to gather in our cul-de-sac to let off fireworks. This is a job for the men, ladies. And it's no job for the faint hearted. Each of the men had a large box or several, of all kinds of terrifying looking explosives. Rockets, blasters, bangers, screamers, and, just for those of use who actually enjoy seeing something beautiful that doesn't go "BANG!", some pretty, colorful fireworks. Chairs were lined up for people to relax and watch the show. There was pizza, cake, homemade icecream, and fresh cherries sitting on the back of a pick-up truck for anyone who fancied a bite to eat. So, one by one, the men put a firework in the middle of the empty cul-de-sac, lit it with a lighter, and quickly got out of the way. "Boom! Bang! Crash! Flash! Boom!" The noise went on and on. Some of the children would hold their ears, and the others just loved the noise, and jumped up and down with excitement. My daughter and her younger cousin wanted to stay in my house and watch from a window. I was actually pleased about that, as my head was throbbing from all the explosions. Supervision was the word for the night, I think. My sister-in-law, Lisa, watched the children like a hawk, making sure that none of them got too close to hot fireworks. In the dark, lots of accidents can take place, of course. But, thankfully, everyone was fine, and a lot of fun was had by all.
Grammar notes.
Vocabulary: cul-de-sac, faint hearted, to fancy, to throb.
Exs:
The street where we live is not a through street, it is a cul-de-sac.
My neighbor is very faint hearted. She doesn't like loud noises, scary movies, or anything that moves quickly.
Beginners.
One of the things I really enjoy is gardening. I have a patch of vegetable garden in one of the corners of our back yard. It has four raised beds. Two of these are wide wooden boxes which my husband put together. In these I put a mixture of manure, compost, and soil, a perfect combination to grow healthy vegetables. The other two raised areas are just piles of earth, but still, they are packed with tomatoes, peppers, and raspberries. My two favorite raised beds are quite organized. They have rows of all kinds of vegetables which will very soon produce a harvest. Here's the list: beets, tomatoes, onions, peppers, strawberries, collard greens, carrots, and lettuces. And that's only the first raised bed. Then, in the second, I've got rows of green pole and bush beens, parsnips, and loads of sugar snap peas, or 'mange tout'. Now that everything is growing up nicely, I love to visit the area, pull weeds out, pick whatever is ready, and then just sit in the shade of the nearest tree and contemplate. My children help me sometimes with the watering and weeding, but most of the time I actually prefer to do it myself; it's the one area of my home that I seem to have control of!
Grammar notes.
Veggy vocabulary: parsnips, beets, collard greens, manure.
Exs:
I love to have a roast dinner. Especially when those wonderful, white, winter parsnips are available.
Beets are a very healthy, colorful vegetable. But be careful! The purple juice stains terribly.
If you cut out the main stem of collard greens, boil them, then stir fry them in garlic and butter, you will have a meal from heaven.
It's handy having goats and chickens next door. I can ask our neighbor for some of the manure for my vegetable garden.
Advanced.
Have you ever eaten sugar snap peas? They are one of my favorite snacks. When they are in prime condition, they are green, crunchy, juicy, and sweet. Yummy! You can eat them raw or cooked. Chinese stirfries are especially good with them, as long as you don't overcook them. At the moment we have plenty growing in our vegetable patch, and only a small percentage have been harvested and eaten. A key to keeping the production up is to fertilize and give extra water just after picking the ripe ones. If you do that, the plants are strengthened to continue production. There are all kinds of tricks to getting the most out of the vegetables. My mother has always grown vegetables, and so she always has great advice for me and my garden. "Lay the tomato plant down, as if it is in bed, when you plant it. The more the stalk goes underground, the more tomatoes you will get." Wow! Is that true? Well, it's worth a try. My intention is to eventually grow the majority of the vegetables that we eat, so I need all the advice I can get. One thing that I would love to have as part of my garden is a green house, or perhaps plastic house would be better, so my kids don't break it. We have such snowy, freezing winters that it is impossible to grow anything. I could lose myself planting seeds, transplanting, tending, and harvesting.
Grammar notes.
More vegetable vocabulary: to tend, advice, transplant, percentage.
Exs:
The lady tends to her flowers while her husband tends to the sheep.
My advice to you is to go out and get a job.
Yesterday he transplanted a sapling oak to his front garden. The next day, he had a hair transplant.
I will give fifty percent of the profits to the local orphanage.
Beginners.
Grab your swimming trunks or your swimming suit and head to the nearest park to cool off this summer. Just up the road from here, a new park, paid for by Rotary, has been set up for the locals. It is in a residential area where there are lots of young families, so it is a perfect spot for kids to run around, play, and get rid of excess energy. The place is actually supposed to be a frisbee park. There is a large, oval, open area, similar to a valley, where people of all ages come and play with frisbees. Often dogs are there. Some of them are real acrobats. They jump expertly for the frisbee and return it to their owner. There is also a long cycling path all around the frisbee area. But the main attraction of this park is the huge water sprayers, a water cannon, and giant water flowers. When the temperature gets up into the nineties the children come out like bees, swarming all over. There are lots of squeals and screams, running around, laughing, and occasionally crying. In general, everyone has a great time getting wet. The parents usually avoid the water, and just sit and watch the goings on. However, every now and then, a giggling child will throw a wet piece of clothing at a mum or dad, just to make them share the experience.
Grammar notes.
Useful vocabulary: to grab, residential, acrobat, to swarm.
Exs:
Quickly, grab the child before he runs out into the road.
This area of town used to be residential, but now it is commercial; there are offices everywhere.
He climbs the tree just like an acrobat; he can jump, bend, swing, and, flip.
The bees were swarming over the field. It was a scary sight.
Advanced.
By the time we had arrived at the park, it was already full of people. I went there to meet up with my friend, Mijung, and her two boys. Two of my boys took bicycles, one took a ripstick, and my girl took her tricycle. For those of you who don't know what ripsticks are, they are similar to a skate board, but the two ends swivle in opposite directions, and that action drives the ripstick along. It's good exercise, very cool, and perfect for the frisbee park. They went around and around the park, heads down, helmets on, with look of concentration on their faces. But after a while they got hot. It was in the upper nineties, after all. So we headed over to the water area for them to cool off. Mijung and I didn't fancy getting wet, so we stayed in the shaded seating area, watching the children. After about a half hour, we heard some pleasant music. It was coming from an icecream truck. "Hey mum, can we have one please, please!" It had parked at the side of the park, and a line of children was forming to buy a cold treat. The little truck was actually painted like a cow, which was a cute idea. They brought their icecreams to the seating area and chatted with us until they finished eating. Then it was off to the playground area to climb and slide. They had cooled off enough, so they didn't need to go back in the water. It'll get hotter and hotter this summer, so there will be plenty of opportunies to come back and cool off.
Beginners.
Father's Day is celebrated here in the United States on the twenty first of June. It is a day when special attention is given to fathers. Shops are filled with cards of all sorts, thanking the fathers and grandfathers for being great people. Young children especially celebrate this day. Just as with Mother's Day, in school, the children will read about families, make cards, pictures, paintings, and small gifts for their parent. Sometimes songs will be learned and sung in a special assembly for the parents. As with any holiday here, the commercial side of it is huge. You can see this reflected in the advertisements in the newspapers and on television. "Father's Day sale at your local hardware store. All drills 50% off!" Fathers are supposed to like and use drills more than anyone else, so it is a good time to advertise and encourage gift buying. Restaurants, hairdressers, clothing stores, and even golf courses advertise special discounts on gifts or services for these special guys. My husband gets hand made cards from our children, usually with a gift of milk chocolate, his favorite. The words of appreciation in the cards are very cute. They range anything from, "I love you dad for playing baseball with me," to "When I grow up, I want to mow the lawn just like you do."
Grammar notes.
Useful words: assembly, commercial, hardware, drill, discount.
Exs:
The children put on a special assembly for the end of school. They sang songs, danced, and read about what they had learned.
This national holiday has become so commercial that I don't like it any more. It's all about spending money!
I need to make a trip to the hardware store. I need a lot of tools.
I need to make some holes in the wall to hang the curtains. Get the drill, would you please?
There is a wonderful sale in the local clothing store. All the clothes are at a 50% discount.
Advanced.
Warning: the next section of this podcast is fast and crazy. Don't panic, I will slow it down the second time so you can pick up some of the slang and humor. This dialogue is actually taken from the Father's Day card that my children bought for my husband. The two characters are called Yo-yo and Hoops. They are reading a checklist of the father's good qualities. Try to read the text while you listen, especially the second time when I slow it down. Good luck!
"Okay, fertilize lawn in a timely manner." "Check!"
"Sees to our plumbing needs." "Check!"
"Expert bug squasher." "Check!"
"Master griller of all manners of meat." "Check!"
"Most loving, caring, do anything for us dad in the whole wide world?"
"Check!"
"Duh! Man! Oh-ho! Checkarooni! Was that even a question? I don't know. Check waiter!"
Grammar notes.
Yo-yo and Hoops' vocabulary: fertilize, timely, plumbing, squash, to grill, the whole wide world, duh.
Exs:
Our lawn is looking very yellow. I think we need to fertilize it.
They arrived at work everyday in a timely manner.
Our tap is leaking. Honestly, the plumbing in this house is terrible.
She accidentally dropped the bananas as she was walking. She squashed two of them.
Put the barbecuer on please. I want to grill some hot dogs.
Even if I travelled the whole wide world, I would never find someone who I love as much as you.
Person 1: "Is the weather nice?"
Person 2: " Duh! It's July. Of course it's nice!"
Beginners.
Ellensburg is a town that is about an hour and a half's drive from Wenatchee. If you take the main road towards Seattle, you will find it on the way. The town is situated in a very wide valley that is pretty and green, especially at the moment because of spring rains and snow melt. We spent this last weekend there because my second son,Cass, took place in the All Stars Championship tournament. It was all very exciting. There were quite a few other teams from different towns, all sporting their different colors. They all looked very smart. All the parents and other family members turned up in the seating areas with baseball hats, fold-out chairs, blankets, snacks, and lots of energy to cheer the teams on. The matches took place at a facility called the Rotary Park. Rotary had raised many funds to pay for this large area of fields to be converted into a sports ground for baseball and soccer. It was all very nicely done, neat, clean, and organized. Well, the matches took place, and our Wenatchee team got into the final. The boys were so excited! Oh, but the emotions were up and down. Sometimes the ball was hit well, and other times it wasn't. Sometimes the opponents' balls were caught out, and other times they were dropped. We parents cheered and moaned, moaned and cheered. Finally, the last inning came and went, and our team took second place. But well done to them! They had worked hard all weekend.
Grammar notes.
Preterite practice: to spend time, to take place, to turn up.
Exs:
We spent a lot of time with our cousins this vacation.
The concert took place out in the open, near a forest.
The guests turned up an hour early; the party wasn't ready at all.
Advanced.
One sight that you may be lucky enough to see near Ellensburg, in Kittitas county, is that of wind turbines. They have become a familiar feature in that area, and are giving the town the reputation of green and forward thinking. On visiting Ellensburg recently, I realised just why wind turbines are a good idea on the surrounding hills. The wind, out on the plains of the sports facility, was unyielding. It literally didn't stop. Spring, I know, in many towns, is windy. But the wind around Ellensburg is a power to be reckoned with. That is exactly why state incentives have pushed for the setting up of these giant, white wind machines. There has, of course, been some resistance to the project. Some locals believe that some views are ruined because of these great whirling towers. But, the question is, are they worth it? How much clean energy do they actually produce? Bearing in mind that the average U.S. household uses 10,000 kWh of electricity per year, a 5-MW turbine can produce more than 15 million kWH of electricity per year. That is enough to power about 1,400 houses. Excess electricity can be sold back to the national power grid (which is the national supply). Apparently, if the wind speed is 12 miles per hour or more, it is worth installing a wind turbine. It is certainly a growing trend here in the U.S. There is a lot a land on which turbines can be placed, and a lot of windy areas, like the West coast and Texas, where this energy can be produced. With the need for alternative sources of energy, these large, spinning statues are quickly becoming a welcome source of power.
Grammar notes.
Useful vocabulary: a trend, a feature, unyielding, a force (power) to be reckoned with, to bear in mind.
Exs:
Jeans with a very low waist-line are still the trend in jeans.
Her eyes are her best feature.
The army was unyielding; it continued to press forward all day, inspite of casualties.
That boxer is a force to be reckoned with; he will be a challenge to anyone.
He will help you fix your car, but please bear in mind that he has a bad back.
Beginners.
Welcome back to The Tour of Homes. We are still in the kitchen, but today, instead of going over vocabulary related to furniture and appliances, lets get on with some cooking. Now, what is cooking without herbs and spices? They make our food so interesting! I have a variety in my kitchen cabinet, all in one place. Often people will have a spice drawer. It's a way to organize all of the spices so you can find what you are looking for immediately. Some of the dishes I cook are fairly simple and don't require herbs or spices, but the most interesting ones always need a few. My Spanish mother cooks a traditional tomato sauce which you may have read about. As far as herbs and spices, it has oregano, parsley, pimiento and chili powder. If you look further back on the blog page you will find a podcast all about it. Another dish that we eat often is a chicken and rice dish. I actually don't have a name for it, but if you listen more, you can learn the ingredients, and try it for yourself.
Advanced.
The ingredients you will need are:
2 cups of rice
3 cups of water
1/2 lb lean chicken breast
1 1/2 cubes of chicken stock
1 medium onion
3 tbs oil
salt, pepper, turmeric, and chili powder to taste
You start by peeling and chopping the onion into very small pieces, as small as possible. Cook on low heat in the oil, stirring occasionally, and cover with a saucepan lid. Do not allow to brown. On the chopping board, remove any skin from the chicken, and chop into very small pieces, slightly larger than the onion pieces. Optionally, you can cut into short slices. Stirfry with the onion until there is a slight browning. Add the dry rice and stir. Add water and chicken stock. Add salt, pepper, turmeric, and chili powder, reserving some turmeric and chili powder for the top. Stir thoroughly and let simmer with lid on top until rice is cooked. Do not stir while it is cooking. Every few minutes, check the water level, making sure that the frying pan does not lack water. Top up with water until rice is cooked. When cooked, sprinkle with more turmeric. Serve while hot or chilled.
This is the kind of dish that can be served as a side dish, with a salad, or even a main dish. If you can think of a good name for it, let me know.
Grammar notes.
Related vocabulary: to brown, to stirfry, reserving, thoroughly, to lack, top up.
Exs:
The mushrooms we ate last night were browned to perfection.
In my favorite chinese dish, about twenty vegetables are stirfried.
After I made the cake, I reserved some of the chocolate for shavings for the top.
We walked home in the storm. By the time we reached the house, we were thoroughly soaked.
I think, what this soup lacks, is salt.
At the service station I topped up the car with gas/ petrol.