Beginners.
Haiti, as you all know, has suffered a terrible catastrophe recently. The 12th of January, an earthquake hit the nation. It registered 7.0, and there were many after shocks, about 33. Many countries have given assistance and money to help the Haitian people. The greatest need is to find people in the rubble, and then to give medical assistance and basic food and water to those who are alive. One of the many problems faced by the international help groups is the difficulty of getting to the people who need help. With buildings and roads destroyed, it is hard to transport help and supplies. Another problem is that government and infrastructure are almost non-existed. The president of the Dominican Republic, Leonel Fernandez, has already visited Port-au-Prince, the devastated capital of Haiti, and pledged practical help. People will be evacuated to the border in order to receive medical attention and vaccines. The Dominican Republic will help to set up supplies of water and electricity, and also it will help to organize all of the international help. Because these two countries share the island of Hispaniola, many Haitians will flee to their neighboring country. The global response to this catastrophe has been enormous, but the needs are even greater.
Grammar notes.
Related vocabulary: catastrophe, assistance, infrastructure, to evacuate.
1. The flood was a total catastrophe.
2. Further assistance is needed to solve all the problems we face.
3. We need better infrastructure: roads, refrigeration, water, and schools.
4. The Red Cross and other organizations helped to evacuate the people.
Advanced.
The history of Haiti is fascinating. The Taino people were the original inhabitants. In 1492, when Columbus came to the 'New World', he discovered Hispaniola, claiming it for Spain. Spain profited from the gold mined in Hispaniola by natives who had become slaves. In 1592 Spain created a set of laws called the Laws of Burgos which forbade the maltreatment of natives. African slaves were imported for labor. Hispaniola became a popular destination and stop-over for pirates. In 1697, a treaty was signed between the France and Spain, sharing Hispaniola; Spain would own the eastern side, and France the west. Subsequently, about 30,000 people from France emigrated; most of them came from Bordeaux. These settlers set up plantations of sugar, coffee, and indigo thanks to the skills of the African slaves. In 1791 the slaves revolted, slavery was abolished, and a long battle ending in 1804 brought about the independence and naming of Haiti. Since independence, Haiti has suffered cruel leaders, an attempt by France to re-take control, 32 coups, and international intervention to either change or help governments. The Haitian people are certainly resilient, and have had a tumultuous history. Their geographical location, and tremendous cultural mix give them the potential to be self sustaining and prosperous. Let us hope and pray that the devastation on Haiti can be quickly healed, and that its people can build a future with hope and peace.
Grammar notes.
Related vocabulary: to claim, to forbid, plantation, resilient, intervention.
1. It was only 150 years ago that men came from the East and claimed land here.
2. He forbade us entry; it was not allowed.
3. We used to live near a coffee plantation.
4. That family is resilient; they have gone through illness, losses, and tragedies, but they are still together and united.
5. She needs medical intervention; her wounds from the accident are quite serious.
Beginners.
Mango languages is an internet language learning program(me) that we get for free through our local library. I want my children to learn Spanish very well, so the program will be a useful tool to use at home on our computer. My three boys are in a bilingual program at school. They have about three hours of classes in Spanish. Their knowledge of the language has really grown. At home, I try to speak to them in Spanish at least 50% of the time. I am proud to say that they understand everything that I say. What needs to happen now is the 'speaking' part of it. I decided at the beginning of the year to not only speak to them in Spanish, but also to help them respond in Spanish. They can do it themselves about half the time, but they need help to do it consistently. I am so excited to see their progress. My mother is also delighted whenever she hears them speak her native language. We will go to Spain this year for a month, so I think it is a good idea to prepare the kids. The more they can communicate with their family the more comfortable they will feel. I remember learning different languages in school, all those centuries ago, and, though we had lots of oral practice, it was very time consuming. Nowadays, with computers, we can practice at any time of day or night, listen, read, repeat, and even hear ourselves speak the foreign language. What an advantage!
Grammar notes.
Related vocabulary: a tool, not only....but also, time consuming.
1. To build the shelves you will need to buy some tools from the hardware store.
2. Tomatoes are so healthy; not only are they full of vitamins, but also they have fibre.
3. This job is really time consuming; I hope it is worth it.
Advanced.
So, how does this Mango Languages system work? Well, in a similar fashion to other language programs, you log on, choosing a password. Then, you select your prefered level: beginners, intermediate, or advanced. You make sure that you are comfortable, because each session will last for about 15 to 20 minutes. Head phones are a good idea so you don't get distracted by surrounding noises. Then, the program takes you stage by stage, word by word, through a series of practices. You start at the easy stuff: letters, numbers, introductions etc. Then you move into slightly more complex practices of common sentences and dialogues, including questions and answers. It's all good stuff. I'm going to attach some kind of weekly reward for doing it. If they use the program consistently, we should see lots of progress within a few months. There are lots of these types of programs on the market, but because the local library is offering this for free, we will try it first and see how it works out. As, I'm sure you know, the key to language learning is being consistent. Let's see if my New Year's resolution of being more consistent pays off.
Grammar notes.
Practice of the subjunctive with related vocabulary.
1. If he was more consistent, he could complete his projects.
2. If the team practiced more, we would see progress in their performance.
3. If you finished your homework, you could go out and play.
4. If they advertised the program, the public would hear about it.
Beginners.
One of our favorite soups to eat is Tom Yung Goong. It is Thai soup that we first discovered in the local Thai restaurant. Someone recommended it to us. As with the rest of their food, the restaurant gives you the choice of the food being mild, medium, or spicy. We usually order the soup medium; I can't handle spicy. It's far too hot. This soup is a traditional recipe that is used to help people get over colds and flus in Thailand. It's ingredients are not only very healthy, but also extremely tasty, enough to make your mouth water. I decided to download the recipe and try to make it at home. I looked over the list of ingredients and got them out of the fridge. But I had one problem; an essential ingredient was missing. Instead of having fish sauce, I only had oyster sauce. "Well, that will have to do," I thought to myself, "I'll just have to make it work." The way the soup is made is basically mixing the bouillon, then adding raw vegetables, and some briefly cooked shrimp. I suppose you can add anything you fancy. I didn't have any shrimp either, so I used cooked chicken that was nicely browned and tasty. I cut it into short chunks and added it to the finished product. It turned out to be a different sort of Tom Yung Goong, but actually, my family enjoyed it.
Grammar notes.
Vocabulary: to handle, the choice of, essential, raw.
1. I can't handle this situation; it is too much for me.
2. We had the choice of roast beef or fried chicken.
3. Good sleep is essential for optimal health.
4. I love to dip raw vegetables in ranch dressing.
Advanced.
To make Tom Yung Goong you will need:
1-2 limes
lime leaves
Chile paste or flakes (to taste)
1 tablespoon of lemongrass
2 tablespoons of fish sauce
4 cups of water
fresh mushrooms, cilantro, green onions and whatever other vegetables you prefer
1-2 handfuls of raw shrimp.
Put the water, lime juice, chile, fish sauce, and a couple of lime leaves in a large saucepan. Bring to boil and then simmer for a few minutes. Add the shrimp and turn off the heat. Watch and stir the shrimp until they are cooked. They get rubbery very quickly, so they don't need to be cooked very long. When the shrimp are cooked, add the chopped, raw vegetables and serve. One of the things I like most about this soup is that it is so easy to make. It is extremely quick to make. You could actually make many variations of this soup, depending on your preferences. Would you prefer a fish based soup or chicken? Would you prefer asian type vegetables or regular. You could even make it more substantial by adding rice or noodles of some type. Yum! I actually looked for the fish sauce today in the local supermarket but they didn't have any. I need to find a specialty shop; it's hard to do so in this small town. I think that there must be a small asian supplier somewhere because we do have a small and varied asian community in town. I must ask where I can find the right ingredients.
Grammar notes.
Related vocabulary: your preferences, specialty, substantial, supplier.
1. When you join an on-line dating service, you have to tell the company your preferences.
2. That specialty shop sells only mechanical toys.
3. This German bread is so substantial; one slice and you are full!
4. He was a garden chemical supplier for many years.
Beginners.
When we travel, it is great to feel safe. If you travel by car, train, boat, or plane you want to feel secure. You don't want anything dangerous to happen, do you? One of the safest ways of traveling is by plane. It is true. Just think about it. There is not much that you can crash into. Other planes are easy to avoid, and birds don't cause a problem for a big, metal airplane. It seems a little scary to be flying around, thousands of feet up in the air, with nothing between you and the ground but thin air. But, you have to believe the statistics. Flying is much safer than driving. When you drive, there is a false sense of security. You feel that you are totally in control, and we know that that is not quite true. There are many other factors involved that can either make it safe or dangerous on the road, like other people. You don't know if the other people on the road are safe drivers or not. So, what do you do to stay safe? Drive defensively is the answer. Do all that you can to keep your distance from other cars. And stay alert! Keep your car in good condition, and make sure that everything works properly, especially the brakes. But, what can you do about safety on planes? Though they are one of the safest ways to travel, occasionally there can be a concern.
Grammar notes.
Related vocabulary: secure, to avoid, statistics, factor.
1. He had locks all over the house, but he still didn't feel secure.
2. You should avoid that part of town; it's dangerous.
3. Statistics show that 80% of women don't eat enough calcium.
4. The team's fitness was the main factor in their success.
Advanced.
On Christmas day, the 25th of December, there was an incident on a plane traveling to Detroit. Apparently, when the plane had almost landed, a passenger tried to let off a bomb. Thankfully, this plan went wrong. He only managed to burn himself and part of the wall. Flight attendants and passengers intervened and stopped him. The fire was put out, and the threat came to an end. It must have been a very frightening experience for the passengers, of whom there were more than two hundred and seventy. It just shows that being observant can save lives. The terrorist attempt was an international shock that has caused the closing of embassies, and the tightening of security in airports. Though safety measures and security checks are common in airports, especially those that have transatlantic flights, they are being increased. Metal detectors are not enough. Full body scanners are needed to see everything on a person's body. Some say that it is an invasion of privacy because your whole body will be visible on the screen to the security guards. What is most important, ensuring airline security or personal privacy? I think the answer is obvious. When lives are at stake, every security measure should be taken, don't you think?
Grammar notes.
Practice of 'should' and 'could' with related vocabulary.
1. Terrorist attacks could be stopped by increased security measures.
2. Airports should have full body scanners installed.
3. How can personal privacy be more important than safety?
4. We should do all that we can because their lives are at stake.
Beginners.
The other day, my friend Nataliya invited me to go cross country skiing with her. We don't see eachother very much, so I was happy to go. "Julia can babysit your two youngest, if you like, and we can leave at about ten o'clock." Julia is her eighteen year old daughter who often babysits my children. "It's okay, Nataliya," I said, "I think I'll take the kids with me." There was a pause on the phone, "Okay," she replied, "if you're sure, it's up to you." Nataliya also has a ten year old boy, so her plan was for the boys to play. Bringing all the kids changed the plans a bit. I packed our sled in the car, extra gloves, hats, and even slippers to warm up cold feet after the fun. The seven of us squeezed into the car and made our way to Leavenworth. The journey takes about half an hour, and before we knew it, we were at the cross country and skate skiing area. We got out of the car and looked around. The place was empty. It was cold, crisp, and sunny, the perfect conditions to ski a little, and to pull the kids on the sled. There was just one problem, Nataliya had brought the wrong skis, so we could only use my rentals. Oops. "No problem," I said, "we can take turns, and the kids can pull eachother on the sled." So that is exactly what we did. Everyone had a good workout, and a good slippery time.
Grammar notes.
Related vocabulary: to pack, to take turns, slippery, crisp.
Exs:
To pack: You need to pack plenty of clothes for the journey.
We were packed into the car like sardines.
To take turns: We took turns throwing the ball.
Slippery: The icy pavement was too slippery to walk on.
Crisp: The autumn mornings are lovely and crisp.
The apple was perfect: juicy, firm, and crisp.
Advanced.
After we had walked a short way through the forest, along the ski tracks, Nataliya took her turn with the skis and disappeared further into the forest. I stayed behind with the children who found a large snow hill to play on. They marched to the top of it, and threw snow balls down at whoever was unlucky enough to be at the bottom. They played and played until they were tired. I had to supervise a little so they wouldn't do anything dangerous, but they couldn't get up to much trouble, so I relaxed and wandered around the area, enjoying the scenery. It was a clear day; the sun was quite intense, and because there hadn't been any fresh snow for a few days, there were ice crystals all over the place. Every step made a loud crunch, and every limb of tree or branch of bush reflected the light. Even though I only have a wimpy camera, I took it out to capture some of the beauty around me. I kept trying to zoom in closely to some of the ice covered plants, but the photos would always get blurry. "I need to get myself a decent camera for close-ups," I thought to myself while I snapped away. After a while, Nataliya came back, and it was my turn to cross country ski. I'm just a beginner, so I slipped and slid all over the place. Back at the car, we had hot chocolate and something to eat. We warmed up as we drove home; the children were quiet while my friend and I chatted. After reviewing the photos at home, I realised that some of them had turned out well, showing the ice crystals of that wintry forest.
Grammar notes.
Multiple meaning verbs: to snap, lucky/unlucky enough, to wander/wonder, to capture.
Exs:
To snap: Snap the celery in half and share it with your brother.
The photographer snapped away while the models posed.
Lucky/unlucky enough: I was lucky enough to get the job immediately.
He was unlucky enough to lose his wallet and his keys in the same day.
To wander/wonder: We wandered through the rose garden for an hour.
I wonder why he didn't call me!
To capture: The rare monkey was captured and taken to the zoo.
The photographer really captured the mood of the demonstration.
Beginners.
It's that time of year again. I find myself rushing around with lists of things to do. I need to get the Christmas cards written and sent out to my list of friends and family. This year, we decided to send a family photo, which is what a lot of people do in this area. The photo is sometimes a Winter scene of the family next to some trees covered with snow. Or, you might get a family holiday picture that was taken in the Summer. These types of Christmas photos can be designed and printed very easily in places like Walmart. Well, there is a Walmart just around the corner from us, so I find myself there every two or three days. I went there yesterday to get the Christmas cards done. I took a little, plastic device called a 'Cruzer' which stores pictures or other information from your computer. I went to the photo area of the store and waited in line to use one of the machines. I must say, these machines are very cool. You can plug in one of many different storage devices, and print out photos, documents, calendars, key chains, and even permanent stickers for your cups. If you want to give Grandma a coffee mug with a picture of her grandchildren on it, then, that is the machine that you need to use. The lady in front of me finished and I touched the screen to start the process, putting in the Cruzer at the same time. I waited, and waited, and waited. Nothing happened. I examined the Cruzer and realized that it's edges were too big. The part of it that inserts could not go in properly. Hmmm. My only option was to buy another storage device.
Grammar notes.
Related vocabulary and expressions: a scene, a device, to find oneself...
Exs:
The artist's new picture was a Western scene of cowboys and horses.
The calculator is such a useful device. I can add up my expenses so quickly!
I find myself dreaming of a beach holiday quite often.
They found themselves lost in the cave and without a flashlight.
He found himself locked out of his house.
Advanced.
Okay, so I needed to buy another small storage device so I could download my photos onto it, go back to Walmart, and upload them into the printing machine. At least I was in the right place to buy a storage device. I either needed to buy something similar to a Cruzer, which is, wait for this, a flash memory data storage with a USB interface, or, more simply, a USB flash drive. Or, I could opt for a memory chip. So, I bought the latter. Gosh, I really need to learn more about computers; the vocabulary seems to be from another planet! Let's just look at the USB flash drive and try to understand it's title. USB is short for Universal Serial Bus; it is the standard connection between a computer and other devices, such as a mouse, or a digital camera. Okay, so what does flash memory mean? It means computer storage that you can erase and reprogram. It replaces a floppy disc, which, as you probably remember, was a disc just like a CD. Flash drives are tiny and can be carried conveniently, even in your pocket. I came back to Walmart after downloading my pictures, and slipped the memory chip into the machine without any problems. I scanned through the photos, chose the one I wanted, added a Christmas message, and printed out thirty of them. Simple! The next time I will know which storage device to use.
Grammar notes.
Practice of computer vocabulary:
Exs:
I uploaded my photos and documents onto the website; now everyone can see them.
I downloaded a new photo editing program from the internet for free.
We don't use floppy discs anymore; we use flash drives.
My computer is full of viruses; I need to buy an antivirus software.
My computer's hard drive has lots of space for programs and games of all sorts.
Beginners.
This morning, I went into the kitchen and checked the outside thermometer; it was two degrees. Two degrees! Now that is cold! I made my coffee and looked out of the window. It was still dark, dark and freezing. It's a good job I have my coffee; otherwise I would stay in bed. But there are bright and pretty parts to Winter, even on a dark morning. As I walked around our quiet house, I saw our Christmas lights outside that twinkled all different colours/colors. I went into the lounge and plugged in the Christmas tree. I smiled to see all of its pretty details. As I walked past the stairs I looked up at the wreath that I put up yesterday. It is a length of artificial greenery, that goes all the way up the stairs. Every three feet or so, there is a red bow. Then, I realized that there were faces smiling at me. Lots of them. All up the stairs, in between the wood of the banister, are snowmen and Christmas bears, all looking out with big smiles. I collect them. Some of them are a few years old, and some are quite new. They are all different sizes and shapes, colors/colours and textures, but they are all cuddly and cute. I tell people that I decorate the house for the children because they love it, but of course, I do it for myself as well. I'm a child at heart.
Grammar notes.
Vocabulary: wreath, banister, to twinkle, otherwise.
Exs:
That lady makes wreaths for every season, but her Christmas wreaths are quite spectacular.
Hold onto the banister; the stairs are slippery.
We looked out over the cityscape and watched the lights twinkle.
Use an oven mitt, otherwise you might burn yourself.
Advanced.
My yearly tradition of buying Christmas soft toys leads me to a place called Goodwill. It is a second hand shop that sells everything from clothes to televisions, furniture to ornaments. It has a large stock of the toys I look for. There is usuallly a huge wire box full of snowmen and bears, so you have to dig in and rummage through them until you find what you want. Each year, I buy two or three because, invariably, a snowman will get lost, and a couple will break. That is usually the result of my kids using them as footballs... It's a great place to shop if you want to save money. I have often bought Winter snow clothes for my children, such as boots, hats, gloves, and even snow pants in Goodwill, as well as other items during the year. Instead of spending two to three hundred dollars on their clothes for the season, I will spend only about fifty. Now that is a good deal! And, believe me, I don't buy the rubbish either. If you are willing to spend some time looking and searching, you can find clothes that are 'next to new' which means barely used. But yesterday when I went there, I wasn't looking for clothes; I was on a mission to find Christmas bears. After rummaging around for a few minutes in this huge box, I found four perfect individuals: two lady bears with pretty dresses, one tiny snowman, and a little, brown bear with a sweater and a hat who looked like he needed a good home. So, I brought them home, cleaned them, and put them up on the stairs where they will be for many Chrismases to come.
Grammar notes.
Vocabulary: to rummage (around), rubbish/ garbage, next to new.
Exs:
At these sales, you really have to rummage around to find anything good.
I thought the film was rubbish; really, I was very disappointed.
The car isn't brand new, but it is next to new.
Beginners.
I took a trip to Seattle last week for an appointment, and to do some shopping. I had arranged for my mother to pick up my kids from school, and stay with them until my husband got home from work. So, I was free for the day. Luckily, we have no snow yet, so the towns and highways are still clear and dry. Driving from here to Seattle takes about three hours, so, there and back, you are on the road for six hours. It sounds crazy to drive six hours for a brief visit. Mind you, Seattle is a beautiful city with everything imaginable available. There are many products and facilities that you just can't get in a small, rural town, so sometimes a trip to the big city is necessary. I don't go there as often as I would like, so I decided to treat myself to a day away. Another good thing about taking that road trip is the scenery. It is breathtaking. Most of the journey between Wenatchee and Seattle is through forest. You must go over one of the mountain passes that take you through the Cascade Mountain Range, and then you drop down towards sea level where you find the city. I am not used to driving in busy Seattle traffic. You have to be alert and keep your eyes peeled. Ironically, in the middle of the busiest traffic, two of my sons called me from their school, "Mum, I forgot to bring my homework to class. Can you bring it in?" and "Mum, we're low on lunch money. Could you come in a bring a check?" Sorry boys, Mum is unavailable, she's taking the day off, she is out of the office!
Grammar notes.
Vocabulary: an appointment, to arrange, available, to keep one's eyes peeled.
Exs:
I have three appointments today, one with the doctor, one with the dentist, and one with a chiropractor.
I arranged a get together with some friends. We had lunch and did some flower arrangements.
The receptionist told me that the boss is unavailable right now; he's in a meeting.
Keep your eyes peeled; if we're lucky, we'll see a deer or two in the field.
Advanced.
I had a great time in Seattle. I did some shopping in one of my favorite stores, an international import store that carries typical English foods: baked beans, digestive biscuits, and lots of different chocolates. It makes me feel connected with England when I go there, and when I get home, my children always look curiously in the bag at the products that their mum used to eat as a child. Well, I unfortunately, shopped for too long, and so, was late for my appointment. But the day was perfect for this time of year. Seattle, as you probably know is very, very rainy. But this day was perfectly clear, sunny, and the views of the Olympian mountains was spectacular. My day came quickly to an end and I headed home. I had to go East, back through the Cascades. In a town called Cle-Elum, I decided to stop, stretch my legs, and have a bite to eat. I went to the Cottage Cafe. It is a local favorite. It is a combination of casual restaurant, cafe, and truck stop. It has low ceilings, wood everywhere, and the smell of fresh food and coffee. I ordered a 'chop chop' salad which had a bit of everything in it. Typically, it was huge; I couldn't finish it. But I was satisfied. I warmed myself up with a cup of coffee and chatted a little with the waitress. "It is always really clean in here," I said, remembering the times I had been there before and thought the same thing. "Thankyou, we try our best," she said while wiping down the glass of a pie display. It was a cosy stop for me. The hum of conversation, the wood cabin feel, the cleanliness, and the good food, had all made me feel at home. I noticed two wooded plaques on the wall. One said, "Freshly baked pies," and the other said, "Home cook'n". Yes, this place is definitely a good American road-side restaurant.
Grammar notes.
Western American slang: Home cook'n, shoot, yep and nope in one word answers, gee's, to talk someone's leg off:
Exs:
She sure does some good home cook'n.
Shoot, I just broke the last light bulb!
"Do you like beans?" Answer: "Nope!" "Yep!"
Turn the music down! Gee's, I can't hear myself think!
I ran into my neighbor at the store, and she talked my leg off for about an hour!
Beginners.
Black Friday is the name of the day after Thanksgiving. Thanksgiving is the fourth Thursday of the month of November, and Black Friday is the following day. It is one of the biggest shopping days of the year. Stores open at 5am, and some even open at midnight. Typically, the shops are packed with people. It is a stressful event, and often, in the newspaper the next day there are stories of conflicts and fights. Too many people in a limited space, all trying to get the same cheap products, is a recipe for disaster. But, for a lot of people, it is worth it. They get all of their Christmas shopping done in one day, and, they believe, they save a lot of money. What a good deal! Presents, Christmas cards, wrapping paper, stocking stuffers, and decorations, can all be found and purchased. You have to be a committed shopper to get up early and squeeze through all of the crowded shops, especially after Thanksgiving. After celebrating the night before with friends and family, all the food, and all the clean-up, it is quite exhausting to get up at four thirty in the morning, throw on some jeans, and head out into the frosty darkness. But, every year more and more people do it. You suffer for a day, and then it is over, mission accomplished.
Grammar notes.
Vocabulary: stocking stuffers, a good deal, crowded, conflict.
Exs:
Stocking stuffers are the little presents that go in the Christmas stockings.
I bought those jeans at half price. What a good deal!
The shop was so crowded that I could hardly breathe.
I don't like conflict. I avoid it at all costs.
Advanced.
The first time I heard the name 'Black Friday' was a few days ago. I had never heard it before. A friend of mine explained to me that it is the official name for the shopping day after Thanksgiving. When I heard it, I was immediately reminded of 'The Black Death', when Europe suffered the effects of the Black Plague. Well, this is slightly different; okay, it's very different. It is a huge shopping day that designed to move shops financially from being in the red, to being in the black. That means that they will finish the year with a profit, and not a loss. Hence the word 'black'. The name started on the East Coast back in the 1960's in Philadelphia. There would be so much traffic on the streets that the name developed. There are well advertised incentives to bring shoppers in. Two of these are 'doorbuster' deals and 'loss leaders'. A doorbuster deal is a limited amount of very discounted items. After a certain time, the items will return to a regular price. Also a loss leader is a product that the shop sells at a loss in order to encourage shoppers. It could be something like ketchup, mayonnaise, light bulbs, or actually anything. Once the people are inside, they end up buying something else, and that way, the shop makes a profit. These good deals have a negative side to them aswell, though. People can go a bit crazy and get aggressive, even violent. There are cases of fights and even shootings on Black Friday. It's amazing what shopping will do to some people.
Grammar notes.
Related vocabulary: official, to remind, to suffer the effects, to be in the red/ black.
Exs:
It's official. The divorce papers were signed yesterday.
That young man reminds me of his grandfather in his looks and actions.
The workers suffered the effects of the polluted air in the factory.
Previously the store was in the black, but this year it is in the red.
Practice of the ordinal adjectives:
First, second, third, fourth, fifth, sixth, seventh, eighth, nineth, tenth, eleventh, twelfth, thirteenth, fourteenth, fifteenth, sixteenth, seventeenth, eighteenth, nineteenth, twentieth.
Beginners.
Cold fingers, cold toes, chilly shoulders, and a cold nose. When the weather gets chilly, sometimes you feel as if the inside of your body is as cold as your extremities. Some how, putting on lots of clothes isn't enough. You long to get into a deep, hot bath. That is our plan this Winter. We bought ourselves a very early Christmas present that, I'm sure, we will enjoy for years and years. It's a hot tub. I wasn't familiar with hot tubs until I came to Wenatchee, and got in a few during the first two Winters. That was a long time ago. My first experience was that they were too hot; I couldn't stay in them for very long. However, you can personalize your experience by adjusting the temperature so it is exactly what you want. There is a huge variety of tubs on the market. Some are just like big, hot baths. Others are the Jacuzzi variety that have jets of water for massaging. That is the kind that we bought. My husband tends to get tension in his neck and upper back, so this is the perfect solution. There are other benefits aswell. Our hot tub focuses time on family. The whole family can get in and spend some relaxing time together with no distractions, - no tv, no computers, no video games. You can float around, relax, and chat. Another benefit is being outside and enjoying nature. The first time I got in the tub was at 7am on Saturday. The kids were still asleep, so my husband and I quietly sneaked outside and got in. It was raining softly, there was a little mist over the lawn, and it was perfectly fresh and quiet. Wow. We giggled like children as we sat back and relaxed. This could become a daily habit.
Grammar notes.
Related vocabulary: to personalize, to adjust, to tend to, a benefit.
Exs:
He personalized his hat by having his name sewn on it.
I adjusted the oven temperature so the turkey wouldn't burn.
He tends to shout when he speaks, but his wife tends to whisper.
One of the benefits of exercise is improved circulation.
Advanced.
The hot tub that we know today was invented by an Italian family, the Jacuzzis, back in the sixties. They had immigrated to California and were responsible for inventing the first enclosed cabin monoplane. In the fifties, they invented the first hydrotherapy pump which sold to hospitals and schools. As engineering ran in their family, Roy, a third generation family member, invented the whirlpool in 1968. Those clever Italians. But we know that man's knowledge of the healing properties of water dates from pre-history. Early man utilized hot springs and pools. The ancient Egyptians used hot baths for therapy around 2000 BC, and about 600 B.C King Phraortes of ancient Persia built one of the first known hot tubs. Asian cultures from Japan to China celebrate water; the Japanese even have a saying that a person with a mind like water lives in harmony with the universe. The Greeks and Romans were known to place buildings around natural hot springs. In England, in the city of Bath, there are fully functioning Roman baths with multiple hot tubs and bathing areas. Infact, the first whirlpool was named 'Roman'. So, there you have it, lots of facts about the global appreciation of water. So, whether it's for an apres-ski warm-up, or just for relaxation, you can be sure that the hot tub is where you will find me.
Grammar notes.
Vocabulary and expressions: to be responsible for, enclosed, properties, to utilize.
Exs:
On this tour, you are responsible for your own safety.
Her rose garden is a beautiful, enclosed, secret place.
One of the properties of milk is calcium.
The solar panels can be utilized every day.
Practice of the preterite:
To build: The Romans built cities all over their empire.
To sell: He sold newspapers on the street for forty(fourty) years.
To say: They said they would meet us at 3pm.
To date: They dated eachother for six months.
To get: It got cold very suddenly last night.
To hold: We held on to the rope for our lives.
Beginners.
We have a mouse in our garage. There might be more than one. The one I have seen is small, grey, and causes a lot of mess. As much as I love animals, I'm afraid we have to put down a mousetrap. My husband bought a box of traps a long time ago, some of which we have used. So, he prepared the trap, put some cheese in it, and put it on the floor of the garage. My youngest son, Robert, wanted to make his own trap. He went into the garage and bashed about for a while, moving things, and arranging his special trap. "Mum, come and see," he said after a few minutes. He had the lid of a metal cage propped up with a stick which was attached to a string. Under the lid was enough bird seed to feed a hundred mice. Ingenious! "I'm just going to wait here until the mouse comes, then I'll pull the string and trap it!" "Okay," I said, and walked back to the kitchen. About ten minutes later he came back into the house to watch cartoons. Waiting for a mouse is not that entertaining.
Grammar notes.
Related vocabulary and expressions: to prop up, some of which, I'm afraid.
Exs:
The workmen propped up the fence posts before they secured them.
I bought five pounds of bananas, some of which are ripe and ready to eat.
I'm afraid we will have to cancel the barbecue; there is a storm coming.
Advanced.
The other day, I walked into our garage to put some cardboard boxes in the recycling bins, when I noticed a lot of bird seed on the floor. I looked up on the shelf above, and saw that a big bag of seed that we keep for the birds in the Winter, had a hole in it. As I looked around, I realized that the seed had been spread all over the shelf. This was not a case of an accidental tear in the bag; the hole had been made by an animal, a small one. My husband had warned me that as Autumn turns to Winter, small animals will try and get into the house, and will do so if we leave doors open for too long. This creature must be a mouse, and usually where there is a mouse, there are mice. The little thing must think that he is in heaven. He is in a nice, warm garage, and has a huge bag of bird seed all for himself and his family. My son, Robert, was very excited about seeing the mouse, so I picked him up, and very quietly and slowly walked into the garage, staring at the shelf. And would you know, we saw the little grey mouse running back and forth between the seed bag and a little hole in the wall. Robert and I looked at eachother and grinned with excitement. The mouse actually stood up on its hind legs and looked at us for a few seconds. It looked so tiny and cute. I actually wanted to let it live in the garage for the Winter, but I realize how unsanitary it is. I certainly didn't want to encourage mice to live in our house. That could end up being a real problem.
Grammar notes.
Vocabulary: a bin, to spread, to tear, unsanitary, hind leg.
Exs:
A bin is a kind of container for different storage needs.
Don't spread too much jam on your toast.
Be careful that you don't tear your new poster.
This bathroom is really unsanitary. It needs to be thoroughly cleaned.
One of the dog's hind legs is broken. It will have to wear a cast for a while.
Beginners.
I drove around town today, looking for 'Hello Kitty' posters. I couldn't find any. I was so frustrated. I have a project going on at home that I really want to finish. Last week I painted my children's rooms, and now I am looking for accessories like pictures, lamps, and rugs to make the bedrooms comfortable. I don't actually like shopping because most of the time I'm in a hurry. But, I'm making a special effort to get things just right. Robert is into fishing, so I would like to get a poster of someone fly fishing in a mountain stream. My oldest two are into music, architecture, and mythology, so I'm sure there are some interesting elements that I could add to their rooms. Domini's room is actually in need of posters to break up all of the pink of the room. The color I chose is exceptionally pink; a little overpowering. She thinks it's great. It's her 'girly' get-a-way from the boys and their stuff. "No boys allowed," is her rule for her bedroom, and of course the "no girls allowed" rule applies to the other bedrooms. At night, though, when it gets dark, and they know that it's bedtime, you can guarantee that two or three of them will be sleeping in the same bedroom.
Grammar notes.
Vocabulary: accessories, to be in a hurry, element, a get-a-way.
Exs:
Those pillows and pictures are perfect accessories for this room.
Gosh, I'm always in a hurry. I feel like a busy mouse!
The marriage scene was a necessary element in the film.
The spa was a perfect weekend get-a-way for both of us.
Advanced.
Don't ask me why I decided to spend a week painting the kids' bedrooms. The project doesn't sound too intimidating does it? Projects never do, though, do they? They just get more involved and trickier as time goes on. In retrospect, I can say that the rooms definitely look better; it was time that they had a fresh coat of paint. However, my back, my hands, and my patience are all the worse for wear. I had originally wanted to present new and improved bedrooms to my kids all at once, which would have meant getting all of the painting and decorating done in one day, - impossible. The 'extreme make-over' programs that we have on television inspired me too much. If I had made over four bedrooms in one day, I would have ended up in hospital! But, my kids know me. They know that I try my best, and they also know to not say anything if I give them 'the look'. You know, the look that means, "I'm exhausted, back off, you don't know what my day has been like, don't even think about moaning or asking me for anything ...etc...etc." Anyone who has had a mother will understand what 'the look' is. But, the worst is over; the work has been done, and is just about finished. I did some touch-ups today, and will probably do more tomorrow to make my little puppies proud.
Grammar notes.
Common expressions: in retrospect, to be the worse for wear, a fresh coat of paint, new and improved, back off, a touch-up.
Exs:
In retrospect, we should never have bought that car!
After fixing the appliances in the kitchen, all of my tools were the worse for wear; they were worn out and bent.
You don't need to do much to your new house. A fresh coat of paint is really all it needs.
Behold my new and improved grandma. She's lost thirty pounds, had a facelift, dyed her hair red, and bleached her teeth.
Back off mister! Take one step closer, and I'll call the police!
I touched up the paint in the hall, then I touched up my makeup because I was going on a date.
Beginners.
It's my favorite time of year, Autumn. I love this season so much that I could burst into song about all the colors, the smells, the angle of the sun, the pumpkins etc etc, but I don't want to bore you, plus, I don't sing very well. I will tell you about two great things that you can do with leaves. You can rake together a big pile of leaves and jump into them, with or without friends. Or you can do something a bit more artistic. I did this a few years ago with my kids, and it turned out very well. You find some freshly fallen leaves, some that are quite wide, not skinny. You take them home and lightly wash them. Dry them carefully with a paper towel and leave them on the countertop in the kitchen. In a saucepan, on a very low heat, grate your favorite chocolate. Let it melt a little, then take it off the heat and stir until it is all soft. With your finger, rub a tiny amount of oil on the underside of the leaf, then spread the chocolate. Put the leaves on a plate and pop them into the fridge. After about 20 minutes or half an hour they will be ready. Simply peel off the leaves, and you have a perfect chocolatey replica, great for decorating a cake.
Grammar notes.
Vocabulary: a pile, to grate, a replica, to rub, to peel.
Exs:
At work today, I had a huge pile of papers to read. It was so depressing!
Just before you serve the spaghetti, grate the parmesan cheese on top.
My grandma has a replica of the Sphinx in her lounge.
The boy fell out of the tree, and ran home crying and rubbing his elbow.
The mandarin oranges you can buy now are so easy to peel.
Advanced.
The other day I was pulling into the parking lot outside of the local library, when I looked over to the nearby park and saw a lot of activity. There were all sorts of people there, some of them working. It is the middle of Autumn, and you can be sure that anywhere that there are trees, there will be lots of leaves to clean up. The park is one of the oldest in Wenatchee, so the trees are some of the biggest. I got out of the car and walked past a huge pile of leaves.Ooo, it was so tempting to jump in them, but I didn't. There was a loud, whooshing noise in the air; it was the sound of the leaf-blowers. Three men, dressed in brown, were moving slowly through the park, blowing the leaves into piles which were then going to be bagged up and taken away. What would happen if the leaves weren't removed? They would eventually rot, forming a slimey layer on top of the grass. This wouldn't be a problem if they could dry out, crumble, and feed the ground. Soon, you see, we will get snow, and if a thick layer of snow sits on a layer of slimey leaves, the grass underneath will die. So, as part of the local council's cleaning machine, paid for by wonderful tax dollars, the group of happy men, spent the day blowing leaves all over the place.
Grammar notes.
Vocabulary: tax, council, layer, whoosh, to crumble.
Exs:
Income tax is going up again. It is getting harder every year for the middle class.
The council has decided to spend more money on local parks.
She made a ten layer chocolate cake. There was cream in between each layer. It was magnificent.
Whoosh! went the rain and wind against the window. It was quite a storm.
Add some blue cheese to the salad. It crumbles easily and so is evenly distributed.
More verbs as adjectives:
The criminal was thrown into the van and taken away.
All the food is ready to be cooked: the potatoes and carrots have been peeled, the turkey has been stuffed, and the gravy has been seasoned.
The lamp post was smashed by the hooligans.
I was blown away by his comments!
The baby was fed, bathed, and dressed by her new nanny.
My neighbor was operated on yesterday.
Beginners.
There are signs of the financial crisis in different parts of the town where I live. We hear on the news about people losing their jobs and their houses. Certain shops have closed, and so the buidings are empty. But, in another way, there is growth in the town. There is a lot of new buildings that are almost finished. Just down the road from my house, a new hotel is almost ready. I drive past it most days when I bring my children home from school, and we comment on the progress. "Hey, mum, they've put in the windows! Cool." They have asked me if we can stay in the hotel one night when it is finished. "But darlings, I don't want to spend two hundred dollars to sleep in a hotel, if our house is just around the corner." I don't think they understand my reasoning. So, in some ways we see the effects of the credit crisis, and in other ways we don't. Other, more industrial parts of the country, have clearer signs of financial problems. Here, we live in a rural community that is actually growing, as more and more people are moving away from Los Angeles and other big cities. When businesses close, it is usually a quiet thing. The people lose their jobs, and the building is emptied. However, there is one business here that is advertising its closing. It is making money out of 'going out of business'.
Grammar notes.
Related vocabulary: financial, rural, growth, reasoning, progress.
Exs:
I think he has financial difficulties; he has recently sold his business and his house.
This rural community was established by farmers.
That species of tree has rapid growth. In one year it will grow six feet!
We should finish painting the house, then go on holiday. My reasoning is that we will be able to totally relax after finishing the project. OR
There is no reasoning with him. He won't listen to anyone's opinion!
That little girl has made great progress in mathematics.
Advanced.
A few months ago, while I was driving around, I saw a person next to the main road, holding up a sign that read, "Going out of business. Everything must go!" followed by an address. I wondered if it was a business that I had gone to see a couple of years ago that was supposed to be going out of business. When I had gone in the buiding, which was poorly lit, like an old garage, I was immediately annoyed that I had taken the trip. Why had I bothered? It looked just like a yard sale, with cheap items badly arranged on shelves and on the floor. The advertising had caught my attention and made me curious, so I had taken the time to drive there. But this new 'going out of business' sign must be for a different business. I didn't think anything else about it, until, a couple of months ago, I saw the same sign, held up by a pretty young woman in the center of town. "Well, they haven't gone out of business yet!" I said to myself. Then, just a couple of days ago, another man, quite close to our street, was waving a sign that said the same thing. I wondered what the other passersby thought. Are they curious about the business? Will they be encouraged to go and find a bargain? And, more importantly, is the business going to close or not? I have a feeling that someone is making good money by pretending to be broke.
Grammar notes.
Related vocabulary: to arrange, shelves, a couple of, a passerby.
Use of the past participle as an adjective.
Exs:
The lady took a long time to arrange the flowers in the vase.
The shelves in the supermarket were nearly bare.
A couple of months ago we bought a sofa. It wasn't delivered until a couple of days ago.
As I drank my coffee in the cafe, I watched the passersby outside.
The medal was presented to the first place athlete.
The swimming pool wasn't finished in time for the summer.
The egyptian tomb was emptied of its treasures.
The building is being meticulously planned.
The statue will be designed with national hero in mind.
Beginners.
There is an invasion going on in our house. It started out as an unnoticed thing, but it has grown to huge proportions. Every room of my house is affected. Every corner shows a sign of this invasion. Even my friends and neighbors have mentioned it. And the scary thing is, is that it is unstoppable. It is Hello Kitty. Every time I open a cupboard, some Hello Kitty thing falls out. When I go to the shoe closet to get my sneakers, I have to shake them upside down, not because there might be a spider inside one of the shoes. Oh, no. But, because there might be a small, hard, Hello Kitty figure hiding inside. Even when I eat, I have no rest. The Hello Kitty cups, plates, and cutlery stare at me while my little girl eats away happily. The other day, when I was in the supermarket, I found myself humming a familiar tune. Can you guess what it is? It goes something like, "Hello Kitty, it's a lovely day. We'll laugh and sing in a very happy way...." and it never ends! Sometimes, when I'm in bed, trying to go to sleep, I see faces, of big, white, cute cats dancing about the room; it's terrifying! Will it ever stop? I don't think so. My daughter has a birthday coming up, and all of her friends have the same obsession. The day will be filled with Kitty!
Grammar notes.
Related vocabulary: obsession, to hum, sneakers, proportion, invasion.
Exs:
Egypt is her obsession. Her whole house is filled with egyptian replicas.
He is such a happy little boy. He hums happy tunes all day long.
I want to go for a run, but I can't find my sneakers.
That home looks out of proportion; the garage is huge, but the house is small.
After the invasion of Spain by the Moors in 711, they stayed for 800 years!
Advanced.
Okay, it's not that scary, I just wanted to get your attention. Hello Kitty is, however, a part of the U.S culture now. Originally created by Ikuko Shimizu, this Japanese character has taken the world by storm, won the hearts of little girls everywhere, and created a profit of one billion dollars a year. Not bad for a little kitty! Her appeal is on many levels. First, she is just absolutely cute. Her pretty face, the bow in her hair, and her girly clothes, all go straight to the heart. Also, the stories of Hello Kitty take place in the context of friends and family, adventures and fun. So children feel happy and comfortable watching the movies or reading the books. She first came to the U.S in the form of a vinyl purse in 1976, two years after her creation in Japan. Now, there seems to be no end to the products that depict her character. Even expensive jewelery and clothes for women are quite common here in the United States. In Tokyo Japan, there is a place called Sanrio Puroland, where you can find Hello Kitty in all her glory. It is like a theme park that includes other japanese anime characters such as Pokemon. It's a big business. There are theme park rides, restaurants, musicals, and big gift shops. It's amazing how a well designed and appealing character can create such a globally successful business.
Grammar notes.
Vocabulary: character, design, to depict, profit.
Common expressions: to take the world by storm, to win the hearts, to be common, not bad for....
Exs:
Mickey mouse is one of the most famous characters of children's entertainment.
The architect designed the biggest hotel in the world.
That picture depicts the rebuilding of London after the war.
The business will have to close. It doesn't make a profit.
The new french singer has taken the world by storm.
The politician has won the hearts of his people by his well written speeches.
It's very common to see deer walking around the town in Winter.
She won the gold medal. Not bad a disadvantaged girl who never had formal training!
Beginners.
When my computer doesn't work, or when I cannot get a good internet connection, I miss podcasting. I'm sorry that I missed last week, but it was one thing after another with computers. Do you ever have problems with them? They are so useful sometimes, and then, at other times, they can be a real pain. Well, I suppose the reason for me missing a couple of podcasts has given me a story for this podcast. A week ago, I showed A Cup of English to a friend of mine. While we looked at the computer, the battery sign flashed once. I checked that the cable was plugged into the socket properly. But the sign kept on flashing, twice, three times. "Battery failure, two minutes of power," it said. Then, "Battery failure, thirty seconds of power." Then suddenly the screen went black. "Oh, shoot!" as they say around here in cowboy country. Well, off to the computer wizard it went the next day. At home, we have another computer, but it is a bit of a dinosaur. It is big, and slow, and seems to eat important information, just like a T-Rex eats meat. But at least I had a chance to do a podcast, so I thought. I happily turned it on, put in my password, selected the big E sign for the internet, but no luck! "No connection available" was the message it gave me. "Sugar!" as we say in England and a few other places. "What on earth is wrong now?"
Grammar notes.
Vocabulary: battery, to charge, failure, to plug in.
Exs:
We bought a new toy for Tommy, but we forgot to buy batteries.
The car battery needs to be charged; I think someone left a light on all night.
Lack of study will lead to failure on your exam.
Of course the tv is not working. You need to plug it in!
Advanced.
The next day, when I woke up, there was a lot of noise in the neighborhood. I looked out of the window and saw lots of trucks of different kinds, a crew of workmen, a backhoe, and a roller. Hmm, interesting. I wondered what needed to be done. There didn't seem to be anything wrong with the road. Then, someone rang the door bell. "Hello. I'm from the local council. We're putting in a drain because of the excess water that gathers on the street." I thanked the man for letting me know. Our cul-de-sac does get huge puddles when it rains, so what they were doing made sense. The trouble was, as they were digging, they cut the internet cable for our area. Oops! They notified us and fixed the problem, but not until a few days had passed. So, what was I going to do? A friend told me that the local library has internet access for one hour for free. Great! The problem was that I didn't have recording access, or my sound editing software. After the workman told me that they had fixed the internet cable, I tried to get on again, but no luck. Nothing! So, I jumped into action, called our internet provider, and a technician came to the house to see what was causing the problem. He looked here and there, pulled out wires and cables, and put them back. "I think I've found the problem," he said. The plastic head of one of the tiny cables that plugs into the router kept on slipping out slightly, totally unnoticed by us. Oh my goodness! All this technology, and we depend on a little piece of plastic.
Grammar notes.
Computer vocabulary: router, screen, software, cable, high speed access.
Exs:
The router is a little box that connects to the computer and supplies the internet.
My baby squirted his milk on the computer screen.
I need a new software for virus protection.
The main power cable has been cut.
I'm tired of this slow computer. I need high speed internet access to do my job properly.
Beginners.
Have you had the flu this year? Do you know anyone who has had it? It can be a nasty illness. Usually you have a temperature, you feel weak, and sometimes you might have a cough also. There is a lot of talk about flus at the moment. You have probably heard about the new H1N1 flu. It seems to be scaring a lot of people. When I say that it is a new flu, what that means is that, though it is from the family of flus, it is slightly different than any that we are used to. It is cold and flu season here at the moment. Lots of children are staying home from school because they have a touch of this, or a touch of that. It's best to stay at home, get lots of rest, preferably stay in bed, and have nutritious drinks and food, if you feel like eating. Your body will fight the virus that you have, and it will eventually win. Thank goodness! Isn't it great that our bodies can do that! Doctors say, that to prevent illness there are some golden rules: wash your hands with soap and water regularly, avoid sick people, sleep well, eat well, and try not to touch door knobs and taps because they usually are covered in germs. Still, even if you do all these things, the viruses that float around in the air are difficult to avoid. Our local community has flu shots, or injections, every year. They say that the most vunerable people, such as the very young, the very old, and those who have weak immune systems, should have the shot. It is not a pleasant thing to have, but you can avoid a bad virus if you get the injection.
Grammar notes.
Related vocabulary: a virus, to float, to avoid, germs, immune system, a touch of (illness).
Exs:
I felt terrible for a week. I had some kind of virus, though I didn't know exactly what it was.
Look how the clouds float in the sky!
We avoid that area of town; it doesn't seem safe.
Wash your hands! They must be covered in germs!
His immune system must be weak because he gets one illness after another.
I have a touch of bronchitis; it's not too bad at the moment, and it's getting better.
Advanced.
The flu really has quite a history. Throughout history, humans have suffered because of various flus. One of the worst was the Spanish flu which caused the deaths of 100 million people around the time of the First World War. It didn't originate in Spain, and is only called the Spanish flu because Spain was the only country during the war that didn't have censorship in its newspapers. It is thought that the majority of those people who died, did so because of complications and infections after getting the flu. Now a days, we have access to antibiotics and better quality medicines and health treatment, so even if we get the flu, we can quickly intervene if our health gets worse. So, what is the panic about the H1N1? The World Health Organisation has called it a pandemic, which means that it has spread quickly all over the world. And, what does H1N1 mean, anyway? Well, flu viruses come from humans, pigs, and birds. Apparently, they all have two proteins on their surface, but each flu has a slightly different arrangement, and that is because the viruses can change or mutate. The H and the N are the first letters of the names of the proteins. It's fascinating, isn't it? Many people have had the H1N1 flu and not realised it, thinking that it was a virus that they had had before. Well, I suppose we will get used to it, because it is here to stay, unfortunately. We can only do our best to stay healthy and clean, and follow the golden rules to avoid contracting the virus. Let's hope that we all stay healthy this year!
Grammar notes.
Related vocabulary: censorship, to intervene, antibiotics, protein. Practice of 'though'.
Exs:
The Mexican press now no longer has censorship.
The Special Forces intervened and trapped the criminals.
The baby has an ear infection, so he needs antibiotics.
The body builder has to eat a lot of protein every day to keep his muscles big.
Practice of 'though'.
(similar to 'but' or 'however') I never got a long with him, though I did like his sister.
(short for 'even though') Though we were tired, we carried on dancing.
Beginners.
It's that time of year again. The days are rapidly getting colder. There is frost in the morning on the grass, the sun is mild, and the colors of the trees and plants are quickly changing. Around this time every year, my husband plans a trip up to a nearby mountain, called Sugar Loaf. What a pretty name! He goes there every year to dig up some trees, then he brings them home and plants them in the garden. You need a permit to do that. So he drives to the nearby town of Leavenworth which is close to the place where he gets the trees. There is a ranger station in Leavenworth where you can get all sorts of information about the wilderness area, camping, hiking, fishing, and the available trees. You must pay ten dollars per tree, and follow a map to a specific place where trees are going to be cleared. The mountain mainly has pine trees, Alpine Fir to be specific. Because the area where the trees are is quite high up, there is already snow up there, even though there is no snow in any towns yet. You must get wrapped up well, take good gloves, and maybe some hot chocolate in a thermos. Then, you park the truck, find the trees you want, and start the hard work of digging. I must say that it is always my husband who does the digging. Digging through snow, ice, earth, and roots is too much for me. But I help by wrapping up the root ball of the tree in burlap, a rough, degradable material. And then it is off to plant them at home.
Grammar notes.
Related vocabulary: to wrap, degradable, a thermos (flask).
Exs:
About a week before Christmas, I try to get the presents wrapped.
We put our degradable kitchen waste in a pile in the garden.
We take hot coffee in a thermos flask when we go fishing in the mornings.
Advanced.
Two years ago, my husband dug up about twenty trees from Sugar Loaf Mountain. It took him the whole day to get there, dig the trees, load them up, and drive home. It really is a tremendous amount of work. He had gone with two friends, a couple who works in his office. It's important to have company when you do something like that, for safety mainly. If your truck were to break down, you would be in trouble. You don't necessarily get any cell phone reception up in that mountain, so you would have to walk a long, cold way back to civilization. It is also a bit of a scary ride up there. The road is narrow and very windy. When it is covered in snow and ice, it becomes dangerous and slippery. So, if you go with someone else, you are definitely safer, and you will have a much more pleasant time. The man who went with my husband is strong and really helped him dig. By the time they came home, they were tired but happy. There was no way that they could plant all of the new trees the same day because it was getting dark and they were exhausted. So, they did that the next day. So far, the trees have survived. Often when you transplant trees, about twenty percent of them die from shock, but we have been lucky and have not lost any of them. Because the growing season is much longer down here than up in the cold mountain, the Alpine Fir get tall quickly. We have put several near our fire pit, and plan on making the rest of our back garden into forest-like retreat.
Grammar notes.
Practice of the subjunctive with 'if'.
Exs:
If you talked more clearly, the Japanese students would understand you.
If I could just spend more time studying, my French would be so much better.
If they had read the instructions properly, they wouldn't have broken the new carpet shampooer.
Beginners.
A couple of years ago, we bought a Leopard Gecko for our oldest son, Hudson. He didn't want any toys, just an animal. He is fascinated with reptiles and has read many books about them. So, we went to the pet shop and immediately found what we were looking for. A young, spotty, pretty Leopard Gecko, cool and dry to the touch, and easy to look after. It is surprising what you learn through your own children. I researched the Geckos a little, to make sure that his environment was as it should be. They need a ten to twenty gallon glass or plastic cage. They need a place to hide, some kind of paper or rock on the ground, a humid bed, a heat lamp, and several crickets or worms to eat every few days. They are nocturnal, so if you want to see them hunt and eat, it is best to feed them just before you go to bed. They are so interesting to watch when they hunt. They dart about, chasing their prey. They also lick the air to help them find the insects. After they have eaten, they will lick their lips, and their eyeballs! It sounds gross, but they are actually cute. As a pet owner, you can carry them around the house; they like the warmth of our bodies. However, they do move very fast, so it is best to keep them in their cages for safety. Another interesting fact about them is that they shed their skin and eat it! It supplies them with calcium. They are a very popular pet because they are very easy to take care of, they are quiet, and considered exotic because they come from Afghanistan, India, Iran, and Pakistan.
Grammar notes.
Expressions: it is/ was as it should be, to dart (about), prey.
Exs:
The wedding was just as it should be, elegant, happy, and beautiful.
The fish dart about in the water; it is hard to see them when they move so fast.
The lion was looking for prey. It went down to the water hole and spotted a zebra.
Advanced.
Leopard Geckos are certainly fun to watch. It's just not much fun when one of them escapes in your house! Yesterday, I had decided to get some reading done. I have signed up for a college course which requires quite a bit of reading. A little girl friend had come over to play with my daughter, so I thought, while they played, I could read. A few minutes into their play, I got the sneaky feeling that they were up to no good; it was too quiet. Suddenly, breathlessly, Domini comes downstairs and says that Anthony, the Gecko, had got out of his cage. "What?" I exclaimed, "And how on earth did that happen, Domini?" "I don't know, Mum," she said, shrugging her shoulders and looking guilty. I raced upstairs and to my horror found that the cage was on the floor with the lid off, and that the bedroom door was open. He could be anywhere! Great! He's probably under my bed! I could just imagine hearing scratching in the middle of the night, and seeing him run across the floor, or worse, my bed! Well, I tried to control my imagination, and I got on with the job of looking for him. My son's bedroom was a terrible mess, so I had to pick everything up carefully, and tidy up very gently, keeping my eyes open for a little spotted head or tail. And, by the way, they drop their tails when they are scared. So I shuddered at the thought of finding a Gecko tail in my son's dirty laundry or in his pile of Pokemon cards. After an hour of moving furniture, and tidying up, I found the poor little thing, in a corner, behind some shelves. Because he was away from the heat lamp, he was cold and sleepy, so I could easily catch him. Thank Goodness! I can walk around barefoot in my house again. I'll have to read some other time.
Grammar notes.
Common expressions: to get a sneaky feeling, how/ what on earth?, to shrug one's shoulders.
Exs:
I got a sneaky feeling that the water was left running all night. I checked, and the whole of downstairs had flooded!
How on earth are we going to replace that broken window tonight? It's freezing cold and snowing. What on earth were you thinking about playing golf inside the house?
The children didn't want to answer the question, so they kept shrugging their shoulders, as if they had no clue what was being asked.
Beginners.
I walked into the kitchen this afternoon, and I found my son, Robert, climbing through the kitchen window. "What on earth are you doing?" I asked him. "I wanted to open the window so I can pass you all my pumpkins." "Okay," I replied, still a bit confused about why he needed to climb through the window instead of just opening it. Anyway, he passed me all of his pumpkins, about eleven of them. He put them in the sink, washed them off, and then placed them on the mantlepiece as a decoration. He kept one of them in the kitchen. His plan was to open it, take out the seeds, and bake them. So that is what we did. He did most of the work. We have some little pumpkin knives that are not very sharp, but similar to miniature saws. They are good for cutting through the tough pumpkin skin. Next he took out the seeds and the gooey pulp. He picked out the seeds, put them in a pan of water, and washed them. When the pulp had been washed off, he dried the seeds in a paper towel, and put them on a metal baking tray. A sprinkle of salt, and into the oven they went, at 350 degrees. I actually forgot about them until I smelled something delicious. Luckily, they were not burnt. Yum, baked pumpkin seeds from our own garden! Well done, Robert.
Grammar notes.
Vocabulary: pulp, paper towel, baking tray.
Exs:
I like to buy orange juice with no pulp.
If you spill that milk, don't use a kitchen towel. Please use a paper towel instead.
We put the cookie dough, spoonful by spoonful, on the baking tray.
Advanced.
My son said to me yesterday that he wanted to pick his pumpkins. He had planted the seeds in early Summer, and much to my surprise, had had success. He had been shopping with me one day in June, and he saw an aisle with seeds of all kinds. The home store was gearing the sales around the garden, and planting vegetables. So he looked up and down the aisle. There were many kinds of seeds to choose from, but he stuck to the miniature and white pumpkins. He knew exactly what he wanted. "Now, we have to follow the instructions properly, or they won't grow, okay Robert?" I had said to him, knowing that he likes to do things his way, and not necessarily always the right way. "Okay, Mum," he replied. When we got home, after unloading the car of all of our shopping, we headed straight out to the garden. He chose to plant the seeds in a circular, built up area of soil where we have lots of trees and bushes. In the middle of this area is a firepit. "When we roast marshmallows over the firepit, we'll be able to look around and see pumpkins everywhere," he said excitedly as we opened the packets. However, he put both packets of seeds in one little hole. I told him that they probably wouldn't grow well at all and that we should follow the instructions, but he insisted on planting them his way. Well, wouldn't you know that out of the two of us, he is the one with the bumper harvest! So much for instructions!
Grammar notes.
Expressions: a bumper harvest/ crop, wouldn't you know, to my/his/our surprise. Practice of pluperfect.
Exs:
This year we had a bumper crop of tomatoes. The plants just kept producing and producing.
She bought a lottery ticket and, wouldn't you know, she won some money!
At first, the man and woman didn't like eachother at all. To our great surprise, they announced their engagement three months later.
Pluperfect.
He had planted many types of seeds, but had hardly harvested any crops.
Had he had enough of fighting, or did he want to box all night?
They had never been to Greece before; they had always stayed in the Americas.
Beginners.
We are continuing with our study of countries of the world with Afghanistan. As you know, it is in the news all the time, and has been for quite a few years. Let's try to understand why, and to learn a little more about the country. Afghanistan is located in the central part of South Asia. To the West is Iran, to the Southeast is Pakistan, and towards the North are Uzbekistan, Tajikistan, and Turkmenistan, with China to the East. It is what we call 'landlocked'. That means that it has no access to the sea. Most of its territory is mountainous, called the Hindu Kush area, with the highest peak, called Nowshak, reaching 7,485m. The land quality and shape is also very varied. Some mountains are very steep with narrow gorges and valleys, and others are more like plateaus. A very famous route through the mountains that was used as part of the Spice Route, is the Khyber Pass. The Northern Plains are very fertile and used for agriculture. The South, however, is dry and desert-like. The main rivers are the Amu Darya and the Oxus. There are also hydro-electric dams, but because of political problems, they have not been fully used for a while.
Advanced.
Historically, Afghanistan has had a life of turmoil. It's location has made it susceptible to invasion, and that is exactly what has happened throughout its history. Because it has been used as an important passage between Asia, Europe, and the Middle East, it has come under the control of wealthy and aggressive nations. The first settlers were Indo-Europeans, called the Aryans, who settled in the area about 4000 years ago. It became part of the Persian empire in the sixth century. Alexander the Great from Greece conquered Persia, followed by several other peoples. Khorasan, the original name of Afghanistan, was taken by Arabs in 7th century and from then on it adopted Islam as its oficial religion.The Turks invaded in the 10th century, and then the Mongols in the 13th century. Its prosperity was attractive to its aggressors. In the 18th century Khorasan was ruled by both the Moghuls of India and the Safavids of Persia, but in 1747 the Afghans revolted and separated themselves. Finally, it won independence from British involvement in 1919.
Afghanistan is an Islamic State that has a transitional government. In 1979 the Soviet Union invaded Afghanistan. They had planted a Soviet friendly government but met resistance from the population. The occupation continued for 10 years with the toll of 1 million Afghan lives. The opposing militia, the Muhajideen were supported by the USA and its allies. When the Soviets pulled out, the civil war followed. Then, the Taliban, a group sponsored by Pakistan, became their present occupier and aggressor. After the September 11th attacks, the U.S invaded Afghanistan with the aim of squashing Taliban terrorist activity.
This war ravaged nation is the focus of world attention. With untapped resources of oil and gas, and a strong sense of national identity, there is hope that the people of Afghanistan can regain independence and reach their true potential.
Beginners.
Today, Foxy had an appointment with the vet for vaccinations and a general check-up. She is about eight months old, so she needed her second set of vaccinations. The vet also needed to see if her growth was normal and healthy. I put her in her cage, in the back of the car, and drove about ten minutes to the Animal Hospital of Wenatchee. It is a lovely building, brand new infact, that is right in the center of town. The owner had had a pet shop which sold many different kinds of pets, and their supplies. The owner's husband is a vet. Now, they have changed their business, and they deal with the medical needs of animals. When you walk in the building you see that it is all about animals, and very tastefully arranged. Their is a fish tank, huge books all about animals, a statue of St. Francis of Asisi, and accessories all around that have images of dogs. There is even a special greeter. A little, fluffy dog that belongs to the owners spends its days in the animal hospital. Every time someone new walks in, it comes up to you, has a look and a sniff, checks out your pet, and then goes back behind the secretary's desk. It can't quite say,"Can I take your coat, sir? Please make yourself comfortable. The vet will see you shortly." But, it would be very fitting if it did. Anyway, we arrived on time and waited in the waiting area. Foxy was nervous, I think. She sniffed, and sniffed. And her tail wasn't wagging at all. We comforted her and cuddled her, but still, she was not too happy about being there.
Grammar notes.
The preterite: sniff/ sniffed, to need/ needed, to be/ was/ were.
Exs:
The movie was very sad. The audience sniffed through most of it.
I needed to tell the truth. I also needed to know if it was safe to do so.
I was waiting at the bus stop for half an hour. Where were all the buses? Were they on strike?
Advanced.
Poor Foxy had an ordeal today. It wasn't anything serious, but she thought it was. Talk about a nervous female! She whined all the way to the veterinary clinic. When she was inside the building, her tail was down and between her legs, a sure sign of being unhappy or scared. I had to keep a tight hold on her leash because she was a little out of control, pulling and wanting to get out. Eventually, the vet was ready to see her. She put her up on a table and examined her bones, and checked her heart, ears, and teeth. She gave Foxy the thumbs up for good health. And then it was time for her injections. I was so surprised that Foxy whined and made a lot of fuss. My other dog barely whined at all when she had her shots. But, Foxy is obviously much more sensitive. " Each dog is different, just like humans," said the vet. She had difficulty examining her paws also. The dog just wouldn't let her. She has been licking her paws for a couple of days, which could be a sign of injury. However, the vet ran her fingers over the surface and in between her toes, and found nothing. Perhaps, as she has been running, she has injured herself a little. But, she is recovering. All these things needed to be checked, and I was so glad that she was given a clean bill of health. It was a relief to get her home. She is not used to being away from our other dog, Rosie. So, she was happy to be reunited. Unfortunately for me, I had to hose out her cage when we got home. Nerves had got the best of her, and I had to wash out the consequences, if you know what I mean.
Grammar notes.
Vocabulary: an ordeal, a leash, a paw, a clean bill of health, to hose (off).
The strike was quite an ordeal. There was a lot of tension and bad feelings.
When I took the dog for a walk, the leash got tangled around her paws.
My grandmother had been really ill, but the doctor now gives her a clean bill of health.
Roll out the hose and turn the water on please. I have to hose off my children; they are covered in mud.
Beginners.
We are continuing with our series 'The Tour of Homes', highlighting all the everyday details of life at home. You are probably thinking, "When is she going to be finished with the kitchen?" I think this is the last kitchen episode, at least for now. You also are probably thinking, "We have already heard about drawers in the kitchen." Yes, you are right. However, the phrase 'The kitchen drawer', is actually quite famous. It has become an expression in English speaking nations. The reason is this: there is usually a drawer in any kitchen where junk of all sorts is found. The drawer starts out empty, or, at least quite organized, with just a few things in it. But, as time goes on, more and more bits and pieces appear in it. It is almost a mystery how things get there. When I am busy in the kitchen, and I find things that don't belong there, I automatically put them in the kitchen drawer. Small toys that my children leave in the kitchen, receipts from work, coupons, spare keys, all these things can be found in there and more. One of the books that I have that helps people get organized, talks about the kitchen drawer. It says that every now and then, that spot of the kitchen needs to be examined and organized. Most things inside it need to be thrown away, and the things that are left should be put in groups so they are easy to find. In superstores, you can even find 'kitchen drawer organizers'. It's part of the culture now.
Grammar notes.
Common expressions: bits and pieces, all sorts of/ all kinds of, every now and then.
Exs:
My handbag is full of bits and pieces. I don't know if any of these things are worth keeping.
The bakery had all sorts of miniature tarts! OR The bakery had all kinds of miniature tarts!
Every now and then my friend will come and visit, and we will talk about our college days.
Advanced.
Oh my, when I decided to write about the kitchen drawer, I cringed inside. I knew that I had to take a photo of mine, and I had the feeling that it would be bad. It was worse than I expected. The only reason I have opened it recently, is to chuck in a few more unwanted items. It has certainly been neglected. When I walk around Walmart, a large superstore that is very close to my house, I feel a little guilty when I walk past the shelf of drawer organizers. You know what they look like: rectangular wooden or plastic inserts that have different compartments for all the different sized objects. Maybe one day I will buy one. Some of the things we have in the kitchen drawer are important, or at least, useful, so they are worth keeping in there. It's just difficult to throw things away sometimes. Don't you find that when you do, a few days later, you need what you just threw away? Am I making excuses? Perhaps I could have a goal of spending five minutes a week sorting out the drawer. Let me have a quick look and see what has accumulated: pencils, tape measures, hair bands, bits of shells, a plastic Pez candy container, some screws, some keys, and a variety of coupons and books. Hmm, that's not too bad. I suppose I could put the coupons together in a zip-lock bag. I could also have the stationary and pens, pencils, erasers, and pencil sharpeners in one area for easy access. And then the keys; throw away the ones we don't use, and hang up the important ones somewhere safe. There, that looks much better. The process wasn't as painful as I thought it would be. The kitchen drawer looks much better now. Next time I won't leave it as long.
Grammar notes.
Vocabulary: to cringe, to chuck/ throw, an insert, a zip-lock bag. And practice of the future tense.
Exs:
I cringe when I think of singing in front of the school.
Chuck all of the garbage away! I'm tired of seeing it.
I need to buy inserts for my shoes to make them more comfortable.
I put the kids' sandwiches in zip-lock bags to keep them fresh.
Future:
Will you be coming to dinner tonight?
He won't enjoy the ballet. It's not the sort of thing he likes.
We will order pizza tonight, but tomorrow I will make roast beef.
The furniture will arrive in three days, so I'm going to get the room ready.
We're going to buy the house and fix it up. Then we will sell it.
Isn't he going to call you?
Beginners.
Do you like to eat fruit? What are your favorite kinds? I like all kinds of fruit, local and tropical. I am fussy about one thing, though, when it comes to fruit: it has to be fresh. There is nothing worse than biting into an old apple that is soft, or an old orange that is starting to lose its flavor. Because we live close to all kinds of orchards, we have the benefit of shopping at local fruit stands. Every year there seem to be more and more of them. Just around the corner, a block away from where I live, is a fruit stand. It sells most seasonal fruits from this area: apples, cherries, apricots, nectarines, peaches, and pears. The first fruit to be sold are the cherries. They are ready for harvest before the other fruits. Then come the apricots, followed by the peaches, nectarines, pears, and finally the apples. It's all colorful and delicious. The fruit stand, or stall as they say here, is a simple construction made out of wood, a shade, and a table. You can park your car next to it, get out, and choose from a number of different bags of different sizes. The owners also grow tomatoes, so, just like in an open market, you can choose your own. And did you know that there is a drop box for the money that you pay, in case nobody is there to serve you. Yes! The fruit is sometimes left by itself, and if you take a bag, you are expected to put the money in the box. It's a test to see if you are honest! And, you know, most people are!
Grammar notes.
Common expressions: Did you know?, there is nothing worse, a block away.
Exs:
Did you know that chocolate and coffee are actually good for you?
There is nothing worse than a badly made cup of tea.
The park is a block away from my house, and the supermarket is three blocks away.
Advanced.
The fruit stand nearby is almost a permanent mini store. It gets set up in Spring, and doesn't come down until Autumn. It's a good reminder for us locals to think about whether or not we are eating enough fruit. There has been nationwide advertising for several years now, emphasizing the need to eat lots of fruits and vegetables in order to improve health, and to prevent cancer. In the schools, the children even have a health class where they are presented with information about the goodness, or lack of goodness, in all foods. The kids are encouraged to think about their bodies, and what they need on a daily basis, and to come up with healthy alternatives to the American diet. They color in pictures, answer questions, and memorize fact. They really become quite informed. I take pride in having lots of vegetables and fruit at home. We introduced a variety of veggies to our children from a very early age. How did we do it? Well, we made it into a game. We called Brussel sprouts 'green eyeballs', and Spinach became 'rabbit food'. The kids were so amused and intrigued, that they tried everything over time, and liked it all. We haven't had to make up any games to get them to eat fruit, of course. The natural sugar content is all the attraction they need.
Grammar notes.
Vocabulary: to set up/ to pack up or disassemble, on a ....basis. Practice of the pluperfect.
Exs:
We set up the tent yesterday, but we had to take it down immediately because there was a big hole in it.
The machine was disassembled so the mechanics could find where the problem was.
I eat vegetables on a daily basis, and I have a check up with the doctor on a yearly basis.
Pluperfect.
We hadn't even driven a mile, when we had to turn around because we had forgotten our passports.
We hadn't seen our friends for months, when suddenly, they dropped by to see us.
Hadn't he read the instructions? OR Had he not read the instructions?