Every year in Wenatchee, there is a home show. It takes place in a large convention center that is called the Town Toyota Center. This place hosts concerts, sporting events, and any kind of large function that involves lots of people. It is a great, new facility for our area. The home show includes many exhibits of products that are used to either build, furnish, or decorate the home. So, you can imagine, there are ton(nes) of items being displayed. It's all about networking, really. The NCHBA stands for the North Central Home Builder's Association. It was established in 1993, is non-profit, and has over 600 members. As far as the general public is concerned, the home show provides an exciting view of all that goes into making a home. Also, if you happen to be looking for a general contractor, a sub-contractor, a realtor, or a craftsman, then this is a good place to start. Their association agrees on standards of quality. They also petition for or against legislation that affects the building industry. 'Our membership is united and committed to promoting and protecting affordable housing, so that families can achieve the American dream of owning their own home.' That is one of the goals of the association, as well as to increase business. There are posters all over town advertising the event which will last for three days. It is really quite an eye opener to go and see all that is involved in home ownership. I think that January is the ideal time to have the show here, as the cold weather keeps most people at home with little to do. This attracts those people, gets them out of the house, and provides a kind of entertainment, or, at least, interest. It is one of those areas of life that is easy to take for granted, especially if you have never built your own home.

Grammar notes.

Present continuous plus new vocabulary: to host, facility, general contractor, electrician, realtor, craftsman.

1. The new convention center in town is a fantastic facility: it is always hosting great concerts.

2. We are hiring a general contractor to be in charge of the building project.

3. The electricians and plumbers are sub-contractors. They are working under the general contractor.

4. I am conducting an interview with Mr. Brown. He is the most successful realtor in town, and sells houses really fast.

5. He is quite a craftsman; his company is growing rapidly.

As most parents, I am concerned about what my children eat. Do they eat healthy food, and if they do, do they eat it consistently? And what about me? Am I careful about what I put in my body? It will, in time, influence my health and those around me. I find it is easy to quickly grab food when I am 'on the go', and not necessarily feed my body everything that it needs. School kids, especially, need a balanced diet. When my children come out of school, they are always ready to devour something. I have been experimenting recently, to see just how healthy I can make their after school snacks. There are so many quick, processed foods that I could feed them, but how would they benefit? So, the other day, when I picked them up, I presented them with chicken and a bag of blueberries each. "Ah, cool!" was their only reply as they tucked into the food. You would have thought that they would want something sweet, or starchy, but they were totally satisfied with what I had brought them. "Great!" I thought to myself, "I can feel good about feeding them all kinds of healthy snacks on the way home." Once when I was at the check-out till at a supermarket, the cashier made a remark about a box of pumpkin bread mix that I was buying. "Oh, this is really good stuff," she said. "I bought this the other day because my kids were getting tired of Oreo cookies as an after school snack." I was actually horrified at the thought of the super processed Oreos being eaten every day! Processed ingredients sneak into all kinds of foods these days, but every day Oreo cookies take the biscuit!

Grammar notes.

The past conditional with the past subjunctive with the new expressions.

1. 'On the go' - I would have grabbed a quick 'on the go' lunch if I had known that the cafeteria was closed.

2. 'To tuck into something' - We would have tucked into our chicken if it had been cooked properly.

3. 'Starchy' - If they had realized(sed) just how starchy the bread, pies, and cookies are, they wouldn't have bought them.

4. 'Check-out till' and 'cashier' - If the check-out till hadn't been so slow, the cashier wouldn't have been so frustrated.

5. 'To take the biscuit' - I would have been embarrassed to have performed like that on stage; she really takes the biscuit.

It's no secret that computers are a large part of our lives, a huge part. The other day, I noticed as we sat in the lounge, that my husband and I were both busy on our laptops. The television was actually on as well. A couple of years ago that would have seemed like an odd scene, but now it is the norm. My oldest son keeps on begging me for a laptop. "Mum, I will need one in middle school," he insists. Hmmm, why on earth would he need one in school? When I went to school, we just needed paper, pens, and pencils, and those were supplied by the school. "He's just working you, babe," says my husband. What he means by that is that he is using whatever he can to get whatever he wants. Clever boy. But he has to get a bit more clever to get around his mother. I've only just got a laptop myself; there's no way that I'm going to buy one for an eleven year old, especially when there is a perfectly good computer available in the house. Half the time, my laptop drives me nuts. Infact, the day that we were both working on our laptops in the lounge, my husband was also having problems. What kind of problems? Connection problems, the computer working slowly, program(mes) suddenly closing etc etc. There seems to be nothing as aggravating as a malfunctioning computer. Throw the thing out of the window, and let the dogs play with it. Of course, I would never actually do that, but it is so tempting.

 Grammar notes.

Useful expressions: the norm, why on earth, to get around, half the time.

1. Rush, rush, rush is the norm in our household.

2. Why on earth would he put these shirts to wash when I've just washed them?

3. He's trying to get around me by being really sweet. 4. I try to nap during the day, but half

the time the phone rings and wakes me up.

I can't believe that it is almost the end of January already. Where has the time gone? We have had an unusual Winter so far, weather wise. It has gone from being overcast and dull, to sunny and mild, back to freezing and snowy. You don't know what to expect from one day to another. One thing that helps me through the cold season is remembering my New Year's resolutions. Everybody I know seems to make them. They might not tell anybody else about them, but they make them nonetheless. Some people will decide to lose weight, or exercise more, perhaps eat more vegetables, or take up a new hobby. Apparently, lots of people now practice Sudoku to improve their memories, or they do yoga to reduce stress. These all sound like wonderful goals to have. The key, I think, is being consistent. Plan something that is not too overwhelming, something doable, then put it into your daily or weekly routine so it is easy to accomplish. One of my New Year's resolutions is to get toned by lifting weights. For some reason, I like the feeling of that kind of workout. I also know that it is great for your bones and your mood. Well, last week I went to the YMCA with great enthusiasm and had a thorough workout. I felt very proud of myself. A day or two later, my elbows started to ache. A couple of days after that they felt even worse. When I drank tea, I had to bring the cup up to my mouth with my elbows sticking out in a very abnormal way, otherwise they would hurt. You can say that I had overdone my workout. My achy muscles are better now, but I'm still determined to stick to my New Year's resolutions. But I think I'll have to be kinder to myself and use lighter weights.

Grammar notes.

 Related vocabulary: overcast, hobby, enthusiasm, workout.

1. The sky has been so overcast that we haven't seen the sun for nine days.

2. I love my new hobby. It's pottery! I can make all kinds of cups, bowls, and plates out of clay.

 3. The newly elected govenor greeted the voters with enthusiasm.

4. Moving our furniture around was a real workout.

On a cold, dull, Winter day, I sometimes light a fire after picking the children up from school. We gather around and feel cozy. The lounge where we have the fireplace also has a computer and a Wii console, so there is plenty to do for everyone. Though I like to give the kids a healthy snack after school, I make an exception every now and then. Marshmallows are the perfect treat when you have an open fire. Put them on a stick, hold them over the flames, and in no time you will have a light brown, soft, warm marshmallow, ready to be devoured. It is a favorite (favourite) when camping. Infact, there is a special marshmallow recipe that I was introduced to when I came to live here: Smores. Smores are melted marshmallows with a chunk of chocolate, sandwiched in between two square crackers. A very sweet treat indeed. Smores are part of a tradition when people go camping over night, or an occasional treat to make over an open fire at home. Apparently, Americans eat about 90 million pounds of marshmallows each year. Phew! The marshmallow, as we know it, was first manufactured in 1948. However, a much older type of soft candy is found in recipes using the marsh mallow plant that has a spongy inside. This was cut out and either boiled in sugar syrup, dried, and then rolled in confectioners. However these treats began, they are certainly popular in our household, and make a sweet addition to a wintry day.

Grammar notes.

Related vocabulary: to gather, to devour, to sandwich, to manufacture

1. We all gathered around the camp fire and sang songs.

2. The Great White shark devoured its prey.

3. The underground was so full of people; I was sandwiched in between two huge people.

4. The car company will manufacture the hydrogen car next year.

The other day I was cleaning inside a free-standing storage cabinet that we have in the dining room, when I came across a tray that I bought a few years ago in Scotland. It is medium sized, made of a light metal, and has a beautiful picture of British birds. Since I bought the tray I have barely used it. It's perfect for tea for two, or a full meal for one. The picture reminded me of the place I bought it. It was in the gift shop of an owl sanctuary near the Mull of Kintyre. Do you remember the song by the same name, sung by Paul McCartney and Wings? Well, I won't sing it for you; I would like you to continue listening to my podcasts. But what I will tell you are the names of the most common birds that we speak about in English. The ones that I am most familiar with from the British Isles are: the robbin, the dove, the finch, the kingfisher, the bluetit, the crow, the owl, and the hawk. The dove, the crow, the owl, and the hawk I have found in any country that I have visited. The others, though they may be found in other countries, have a certain character and reputation in Britain. The robbin is absolutely tiny, unlike in the U.S. It is also ready for a good fight to defend its territory. The finch and the bluetit are common, colorful (colourful), small and plump, and can be found in lots of traditional stories. Because of its mild climate and geographical position, Britain has a huge number of migrating birds each year, and ornithology and pictures of birds are very popular.

Grammar notes.

 Related vocabulary: robbin, dove, owl, hawk, kingfisher.

1. The tiny little, red chested robbins would visit our garden each Christmas.

2. I love the soothing sound that the doves make.

3. There is an owl in the neighborhood that catches mice at night, and makes a loud hooting noise.

4. Hawks hover high above their prey before they dive down and attack.

5. The kingfisher is such an unusual and skilled bird.

One of the obsessions you will find in our family is Star Wars. My second son, Cass, has been saving his pocket money, birthday, and Christmas money to buy one of the biggest Star Wars Lego toys: The Death Star. For those of you who are fans, or, at least, for those of you who have seen the movies, you might remember the huge space station owned and operated by the 'baddies'. It was a sphere, and from a distance looked like a moon. It housed Darth Vader, the evil emperor, Lord Sidius, and all the storm troopers and imperial workers. What a place it was. It served also as a huge weapon; it had a massive lazer which could destroy whole planets. Anyway, after saving his money for two years, Cass finally had enough to order the Death Star on line. He was thrilled. It only took about a week to arrive. Everyone was excited to see him open up the box, and we all gasped in amazement at the number of Lego pieces and the size of the instruction book. Two hundred and fifty nine pages and three thousand eight hundred and three Lego pieces later, he was finished. What dedication! I had to remind him to drink and eat during the day and a half that he spent in his room, working away like a little elf. And now, there it is, sitting in all its glory on his desk, complete, shiny, and full of Star Wars battles, past, present, and future.

Grammar notes.

Related verbs: to serve (as a), to house, to gasp, to remind.

1. This Swiss pocket knife is amazing; it serves as a knife, a pair of scissors, a can opener, and a nail file!

2. Our cow barn also houses goats and sheep.

3. When I swam up from the bottom of the lake I gasped for air; I had been underwater a long time.

4. Please remind me to take the garbage out tonight.

Well podlisteners, it is time to continue with important vocabulary about the homes that we live in. There is one room which helps me keep the house both clean and organized. It's the mudroom. It's name suggests that it gets very dirty, muddy even. That only happens sometimes. The mudroom is the first room that you enter when you walk into the house from the garage. It is the place where you hang up your coats and jackets, store your shoes and boots, and even put your extra things away. In our house, the mudroom is just for the children. It is where all of their shoes, boots, coats and backpacks are. Before we had a mudroom, it was frustrating trying to locate an odd shoe, or a certain jacket, as they tended to get left anywhere in the house. Now the children know that this is the only place they can leave those important items. My husband actually made the wooden compartments where everything is stored. They are like heavy boxes of wood of different sizes stacked together. We call them 'cubbies'. Metal hooks are in the largest cubbies, and on them we hang coats and jackets. The floor is tile, the walls are painted, and we have a large mirror and a clock also in the room. There is a small mat for wiping our feet if they happen to be muddy, dusty, or wet. And there is a seating area (actually a shelf) where the kids can sit to put on shoes or take them off. So there you have it, the place that helps us stay organized, and keeps me from headaches.

 Grammar notes.

Related vocabulary: to organize (organise), odd, hook, to wipe.

1. I love to stay organized (organised); it makes life much simpler.

2. My bedroom drawer is full of odd socks; I can only find one of each pair.

3. In Peter Pan, the baddy had a hook instead of a hand.

4. These cloths are so useful; I can wipe all the surfaces in the house.

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.