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.
Beginners.
Scotland forms part of the United Kingdom. It is the northern most country of the group, and takes up about a third of the overall territory. Its southern border is with England. On the east side, it borders with the North Sea, on the north and west sides with the Atlantic, and southeast with the Irish Sea. Scotland also has seven hundred and ninety islands. It is famous for the Highlands, a very mountainous area where you can find the highest mountain in the U.K, Ben Nevis, sometimes called The Ben, which is four thousand four hundred and nine feet above sea level. Many people visit and climb 'The Ben' every year. There are two ways to do so: a pony track, or the much harder seven hundred meter cliffs of the north face. Scotland is also famous for its lakes, or 'lochs', of which there are many. The most famous is Loch Ness where, legend has it, there is a monster. The Central lowlands are rich in minerals, and were the center of the industrial revolution of this land. The capital, Edinburgh is found here. Then there are the Southern uplands which are hilly with many valleys. Because of its location on the globe, Scotland is temperate and has oceanic weather systems. It is changeable weather. The western side is milder and sunnier because of the Atlantic Gulf Stream. The western highlands receive over 120 inches of rain every year, and certain, mountainous areas in the north experience a lot of snow.
Advanced.
The history of Scotland is fascinating. The first settlers are believed to have built stone houses and communities about 9000 years ago. The first major invasion was by the Romans in the first century. However, the Romans didn't have a lot of luck with the scottish tribes who resisted them, first in the Highlands, and then in the Southern lowlands. The Romans built Hadrian's wall, a rock wall that still exists, partially in ruin, but that extends over the width of the northern most part of England. This was to establish control, and to protect the Romans against attacks from the scottish tribes. By the sixth century, the Kingdom of the Picks or Scotland was established, with English, Gaelic, and Norwegian settlers in the south, west, and north. The country was not yet united until about the thirteenth century. French and English influence because of immigration pushed back the Gaelic language from the south. After the last scottish king died, Alexander 3rd, and his only heir, England became involved, trying to claim a right to the land. This led to the Wars of Scottish Independence. In 1320 Scotland finally pushed out the English and formed the first declaration of independence which forced the English crown to accept their nationhood. Scotland continued to suffer wars with England, a civil war, its own James V1 king of Scots inheriting the crown of England, and then finally in 1707 the formation of the United Kingdom of Britian. Scotland now is self governing and has representation in the U.K governement.
Beginners.
For a few years, the city of Wenatchee has been introducing sculptures to the towns people. Every now and then, as I am walking along, I will see a new one. Some of them have been bought by the local council, but others are on loan; they will be in our town for a few months, and then go to another town for a while. It is a great idea. It is also something that is quite unexpected. As you are driving along, or walking through a park, you can randomly see very unusual and often beautiful sculptures. The most recent one that I noticed in a local park is a humming bird. It is appropriate for this area as we have lots of those birds in the summer months. If you have enough of the right kinds of flowers and bushes, you will certainly have a tiny, winged visitor come into your garden. I have a butterfly bush which gets big every year. They love it. If you are very still and quiet, you can sit and watch this little, beautiful creature dart from one flower to another. Its wings beat so fast that you can't even see them. It is like a visit from a fairy; it's quite magical.
Grammar notes.
Verbs in present and past continuous:
Exs:
They have been introducing art into the community.
She is wanting to find a second hand car; new ones are too expensive.
I (had been) was hoping to find a job immediately, but it took longer.
Advanced.
The other day, I went for a walk in the local park called Walla Walla. An interesting name, isn't it? It is actually the name of a town that is somewhere in this state, but quite far from here. It sounds as if it might be a native american indian name. Wenatchee is one of those names. Before settlers came this far west, there was a tribe of native american indians called the Wenatchi tribe. They lived nearby this desert valley, surviving on fish and mountain animals, such as deer, and smaller mamals. The Columbia river provided their water needs. Infact, the name Wenatchi means 'River that comes from canyons.' When the settlers came here, the indians were unfortunately dispersed, and, I believe, their tribe no longer exists. However, all over this state, you can find special land reserves for the tribes that still exist. There are also many museums, statues, and relics dedicated to the many different indian tribes of this state. In the nearby town of Cashmere, there is a museum with bone tools that are eleven thousand years old, showing that natives or nomadic tribes spent time here during the last ice age. There is another city, about an hour and a half away, that has a very native sounding name: Yakima. I think the original name had an accent, or an emphasis on the 'i', so the original word sounds like Yakima. It's fascinating what a name can reveal, isn't it?
Grammar notes.
Useful vocabulary: settlers, tribe, native, to disperse, reserve, nearby.
Exs:
Many of the European settlers didn't know how to survive. They had to rely on help from the indians.
Their family is so big, it looks like a tribe.
She is a native of Norway.
The seeds of the plant disperse and become new plants quickly.
Just down the road from us is a nature reserve.
We don't have Italian restaurants in this town; there are two, though, in a nearby town.
Beginners.
The heat is definitely up, here in the eastern side of the North West. Even in the schools, cool activities are organised to keep the kids comfortable. Because this week is the last of the school year, Splash Day is one of the fun days available to the children. It is a day of putting on your swimming trunks and a spare t-shirt, and taking part in about 10 different water activities. Even though there is no swimming pool at the school, the playing field is organised into different stations where watery games are played. I went with my daughter to help out and take photos. We arrived after lunch, just in time to see the huge crowd of third through fifth graders line up and listen to the P.E. teacher give instructions. "No jumping on other people in the little pools. Tidy up your station when I blow the whistle, and follow normal school rules." And off they went. It was all very well organised, with teachers and volunteers helping out. The kids spent about fifteen minutes at each station, had fun, got wet, and then moved to the next station.
Grammar notes.
Useful vocabulary: definitely, available, spare, volunteer.
Exs:
That boy is definitely the fastest runner in the school.
I don't need my car tomorrow, so it is available if you need it.
The kind gentleman helped me put the spare tire on my car; actually, he had his own spare tire on his stomach!
We need more volunteers at school to help in the classrooms.
Advanced.
Station one was the 'Slip and slide'. This is basically a long, wide, piece of plastic that has been sprayed with lots of water. To make things interesting, it can be placed on a hill, and you can always add soap to it if you want to make it more slippery. The children line up and then take turns running and jumping on it. Woosh! They can get up to quite a speed. Look out below! The next station was called 'Chicken Delivery.' The aim of the game is to run with a rubber chicken, as fast as you can, past a line of people on either side of the track. The people on either side have large, soft balls that they throw at you while you run. If you get hit, you have to sit down, and you don't get a point. Somebody else from your team has to run up, grab your chicken, and continue to the end. If you don't get hit, you get a point. It's great fun. All the children get very excited, and sometimes the balls get thrown quite hard. It's just as well that they are very soft. One of the other stations was the 'Water Balloon Station.' A willing victim sits in a chair with a water balloon hanging right over his head. The balloon is attached to a metal device that will pop the balloon if it is hit by a ball. The other children line up for a chance to throw the ball at the target. Most of the time, the victim (or, as we say the 'Guinea Pig') stays dry. But when the thrower has a good aim, splash! Cold water right on the head!
Grammar notes.
Useful verbs: to spray, to slip, to aim, to grab.
Exs:
I had just sprayed some expensive perfume on, when I went outside and got sprayed by a skunk!
She slipped on a banana skin and broke her foot!
The gunman aimed his rifle, but he completely missed the target.
The thief (robber) grabbed my handbag while I was standing outside a shop. Lucky for me, I had my money in my jeans pocket.
Beginners.
The other day, I was driving along when I saw a man dancing on the side of the road. It wasn't something that I hadn't seen before. This man stands on the side of the main road and dances around waving a sign. This sign advertises pizza. The shop that he works for makes fresh pizzas by the dozen, and sells them for only five dollars each. Mind you, those pizzas are just plain old pepperoni. If you want anything special, like vegetables or chicken, you have to pay extra. It is an interesting sight, a man dancing away with earphones in his ears connected to an ipod, waving a big sign at the traffic. Infact, the other day, the temperature was very close to a hundred degrees. It was unbearably hot outside. Most people were staying in, out of the heat. Thank goodness for air conditioning! When it gets that hot, you stay inside a cool building, or a cooled car. You certainly don't go outside for very long, and if you do, you definitely don't dance. This man is quite incredible. And, you know, he does the business. Lots of people see his sign moving around, so a few feet further, they turn off the road, park the car, and go and buy a pizza or two.
Grammar notes.
Common expressions: by the dozen, away (to dance/ sing/ talk etc away), unbearably hot/ cold.
Exs:
I have been receiving bills every day by the dozen!
The two lovers danced away into the night.
The restaurant was unbearably hot, but outside was unbearably cold.
Advanced.
You know, the U.S is a highly commercial place to live. Everywhere you go there are obvious advertisements for something to buy, something to eat, or something to do. Our local pizza guy is a case in point. He must be one of the toughest men around. Not only does he have a job that keeps him moving, dancing all day, but he does it outside, in any weather, and in any season. That might not seem very drastic to you, but here in Wenatchee, the temperatures get to over a hundred degrees in the summer, and easily to below freezing during the winter. Since he first started working, I have noticed that he has lost weight and become quite muscular. He now also has a good tan. The other day, I drove past him and thought, "He would make a perfect subject for a podcast." So, I turned into the parking lot that was right next to him, parked, and briefly asked his permission for a photo. He was very polite and agreable. Infact, he asked me how I wanted him to pose. I said, "Oh, you can keep on moving if you want," so he did. He twisted and turned, and spun around and jumped. He is serious about his job. Either that, or he is addicted to it, and can't stop moving. Either way, I hope that he is paid well. His attitude, adopted nationally, would mean an end to the U.S. problem of obesity!
Grammar notes.
Useful expressions: a case in point, not only, I have noticed.
Exs:
Crime is getting worse. Our town is a case in point.
Not only is he handsome, he is kind and intelligent!
He knows a lot about politics, but I have noticed that he doesn't have many friends.
After Thomas Black discovered the Whitcome grave, the church bell incident loomed large in his mind. He had been ready to dismiss the event entirely, but now he felt as though there was an intruder in the village, a prankster perhaps. Whoever it was, he was not welcome. The uncovering of the grave was deliberate, he was sure, and it had happened just when the village was settling back into its normal routine.
When Thomas walked into his workshop that same afternoon, Jeffrey Mullins, his head carpenter and delivery man, greeted him with, "I see the ladies are chasing after you, boss." Thomas just made a quick questioning nod but said nothing. "Oh, she was a beauty," continued Mullins with a stupidly wide grin, his teeth surprisingly white against his rugged, tanned face. "Wasn't she Pat?" he called to a man across the room who didn't look up from his work, but who replied in a monotone voice, "Oh yeh, she was a beauty alright, if you like them old, fat, and ugly." Mullins cackled loudly and slapped his thigh. "Someone came to see me?" asked Thomas impatiently. "Yep, she said she'd be in the cafe," said Mullins, turning over a table. "Why couldn't she place an order with either of you?" continued Thomas. "It's not an order she wants boss," replied Mullins eyes wide theatrically, "she's after you."
The cafe was empty when Thomas walked in. He could hear plates being stacked in the kitchen and a radio playing music. The room was warm, and smelled like fresh bread. A lady was sitting at a table in the far corner of the room looking right at him. He walked over, "Ma'm, Thomas Black. You wanted to see me?" She looked at him with beautiful, twinkly light blue eyes that searched his. "I'm sorry to take you away from your work, Mr. Black. But I have something tell you that might interest you. The name is Theo, Theo Whitcome. Please would you join me?" she said, offering him the chair opposite hers.
Thomas said nothing but sat down. "I'm surprised we haven't met. I live on the outskirts of town; got a few acres with sheep and crops. It's a small farm, but it does me just fine. It used to be bigger mind you..." she trailed off and looked out of the window. The afternoon sun accentuated the deep lines on her face and made her very grey hair glow. "Yes, I'm a Whitcome. There's no problem with that. But the story about poor Peter is true, you know. He was jilted by the loveliest silly girl in town. Oh, it's no new story, and it happened more than a life time ago. But the heart of that poor young man broke so badly, it destroyed our family. It was the shame of it. It drove most of the Whitcome's away, what with the loss of business and having to sell most of our land. My parents stayed; they were second cousins." Thomas hung on her words. He had completely forgotten about work, and no longer felt any irritation. "So it was you who uncovered the grave?" he asked. "The Whitcome's grave you mean?" asked Theo. Thomas nodded. "Ah! I know the fool who did that," she said banging the table. "There could be more trouble coming to the village, Mr. Black. Do you have an ear that's ready to listen?"
What an important place the kitchen is. Two weeks ago we covered some of the basic areas of the kitchen; do you remember them? Where do we store the cups and plates? The cabinets of course. And, what would we use if we wanted to make a milkshake? A blender. Good; I'm glad you remembered. Well, how about where all the action takes place? All the washing of vegetables, hands, and dishes, takes place in the kitchen sink. There is an interesting expression in English about this item. A humorous way of saying "everything" or "more than everything" we say "the kitchen sink". For example: I packed everything but the kitchen sink when we went on vacation." Obviously it means that the suitcase was packed with so many things, even unnecessary items.
Well, talking about the kitchen sink, there are many different materials one can be made out of: stainless steel, enamel, and plastic. The faucet or tap often has a spout that can turn the normal flow of water into a shower, or an aerated flow. This cuts down on wasting water, and often has a wider spread to touch more items than a narrow flow. The things we use in the sink are: sponges, scrubbing brushes, brillo pads (which are metal wool used for heavy duty cleaning of burnt on food), bottle washers, and wash cloths. We need all of these things to be well prepared for clean up.
Then there is the cooker, as we say in England. Here in the U.S, they generally call it the oven, even though that is just part of what it is. This is the most important appliance. On top, you have the range, with the heated rings. As you know, these can be either gas or electric. The oven is generally underneath. Sometimes, a separate grill or broiler (Am) is between the range and the oven, or the oven is multi-functional and will grill as well. A warming zone is often right under the oven. Here you can keep plates and larger dishes warm. The verbs that we use with the cooker are: boil, heat (up), simmer (which means to cook on low), fry, stirfry, stir, grill, bake, and roast. I'm sure there are more. I will let you know as I remember them.
Before we actually start cooking anything, we must do the all important preparation. For this we need a chopping board, mixing bowls, spatulas, wooden spoons, kitchen knives, a whisk, a cheese grater, a carrot peeler, and measuring cups and spoons. We can get the cook book out to follow a recipe if we don't remember what to do, or if we want to try something new. Now, do you fancy something sweet or savory? Do you have the necessary ingredients? How many people are you going to cook for? If you are lucky enough, you might have an oven that you can preset. That means that you put in a time for the oven to come on, so you put the food in it, go off and do something else, and when you are ready to come home and eat, voila, the food is ready. Oh, I'm in the mood to cook. I love to bake. I also love making roast dinners with loads of vegetables. Next time we visit the kitchen, we will make something together, but until then, I've got some washing up to do.
Grammar notes.
Useful expressions: lucky enough, to fancy, generally, to cut down on, everything but the kitchen sink.
Exs:
I was lucky enough to get the job even though the other candidates were more qualified.
I really fancy fish today. I think the supermarket gets a fresh load today.
That restaurant generally serves high quality food. Only once have I been disappointed.
I must cut down on sugar. I have dental problems, and have recently put on some weight.
Whenever my mother comes to visit, she brings everything but the kitchen sink in her suitcase.
Beginners.
On Mondays, Domini has her music class after her normal preschool curriculum. It is an extra class that has been added on to the end of the morning, so children can learn a few things about the world of music. She has enjoyed it immensely this year. There are only a few children in the class, but they are all buddies, and they have certainly learned a lot. The teacher, Miss Laura, told us that the last day of class would be party day. Parents were invited to join in the fun and to see what the children had learned during the year. We sat in the sunny playing area of the school while teacher Laura got out all the goodies from her basket: cookies, apple juice, instruments, cards, and colorful scarves. She had everything planned. The children started by parading around, waving the scarves to a certain beat. Then she read a story about a bear which rhymed. Musical notes came next. And finally, the children told us about composers. We finished off the party with juice and cookies while we sat in the sun and chatted. Unfortunately, teacher Laura won't be back next year. I'm sure Domini will miss her.
Grammar notes.
Preterite: to sit (sit, sat, sat), to get (get, got, got)* american = gotten, to tell (tell, told, told).
Exs:
He sat and waited for the train, but when it came, he had fallen asleep.
I finally got the shoes I wanted. I had to wait until the end of the season for them to go on sale.
I told him to be careful with the china. Well, there's another plate in the bin!
Advanced.
My calendar has lots of check marks. They have been put there by my children who are counting the days until the long, long vacation starts. In many schools, teachers are wrapping up their classes and giving parties for the end of term. My daughter, who is still in preschool, had a party the other day. I was lucky enough to attend. It was an unusual party, a music party. She has been doing a music class once a week in her little preschool called Seeds. The curriculum was called Music and Me ABC. Each week the teacher read them stories that had something to do with music. They would move and dance to different types of music, and learn about music symbols, rhythm, and even composers. Sometimes, when I would turn up to pick up my daughter, they would still be finishing up the class. At the end of each class, they sing a "goodbye" song that has a great beat. Each child would be sitting on the floor, cross legged, swaying to the music, and singing along with the teacher. They would also have a special treat most weeks of being able to take home a percussion instrument. Great for the kids, - not so great for the parents!
Grammar notes.
Useful vocabulary and phrases: to count the days, curriculum, to turn up, to finish up.
Exs:
I am counting the days until the ballet. I can't wait to see it!
I am not very pleased with the school. It's curriculum is old fashioned and limited.
We were waiting at the restaurant for almost an hour! She turned up as we were leaving!
Please finish up the dessert. It won't keep until tomorrow.