Wordless Wednesday

From inside the little blue bungalow,
Katie Jean

Reader's Note: My company at the baseball game last week was definitely entertaining...

A House Full of "Firsts"

The last few weeks at the Little Blue Bungalow have been brimming with "firsts". From Fiona's first ever haircut (I promise we didn't cut much) to the kid's finally mastering their bikes we've tackled some impressive "firsts" in the month of August.

Though "firsts" are fun and exciting for kids, the hardest part for the parents is "letting go of the reins". I've literally found myself standing back realizing my kids are growing up. And if I thought watching my "baby" get her first haircut was hard, I'm not sure what I'm going to think when her first day of school comes on September 9th. (Don't make me even think about it!)

Yes...our house is full of "firsts" even for me. I'm a first time parent to a child in school, so there are even lots of unknowns for me. Goodness...I hope I'm "cool" enough to make this "first" day of school memorable to Miss Fiona and "blend" in with the rest of the parents.

From inside the little blue bungalow,
Katie Jean

Airing Our Laundry

Hum...

From inside the little blue bungalow,
Katie Jean

Thursday Thrifty Tip: Drying Clothes on A Clothes Line

After a long break from my Thursday Thrifty Tip postings, I'm back in the swing of things...but a day late. (Go figure.) But, I'm sure you won't mind especially after what I have to say.

Sipping my daily dose of tea this morning, I was struck by a post at Treehugger about a new movement encouraging people to dry clothes instead of using the dryer. Trust me, I'm all for saving a few cents on hanging my clothes as well as reducing my carbon footprints, so no problems here. But what got me really stewing is the figure that by 2010 over 50 million household in the US will be banned from hanging their clothes outside. What in the world? Banning people from drying their clothes outside due to "loss in property value" and "prudenceness"...good golly. Really, are people THAT cool?

According to our utility company, an average household does about seven loads of laundry a week costing approximately $.37 per load to dry their clothes in the dryer. We recently purchased a retractable clothesline for the backyard in an effort to start hanging our clothes out more. Yes, it does take extra time and weather conditions don't always make it practical. (Trust me I know, after years of living in the Midwest!) However, our family has committed to hanging at least one load of laundry on the outside clothesline or inside drying rack for the next year. This will be approximately $19.24 saved over the year and not to mention the value saved in reducing our carbon footprints.

I admit, this isn't crazy savings, but I think we are preserving a time-old practice of utilizing the sun and wind to dry our clothes inside of utilizing electricity. But, most of all we are making a statement of "drying" freedom to air our laundry...and trust me, our clothes will be blowing in the breeze outside the Little Blue Bungalow.

From inside the little blue bungalow,
Katie Jean

Wordless Wednesday

From inside the little blue bungalow,
Katie Jean

Birthday Camping Weekend

In honor of my...ahem...thirty-fourth birthday we spent the weekend camping with friends at Penrose State Park. (Really, I can't be 20 forever!) It was a great weekend of bike riding, beach combing, S'more eating, and fellow-shipping with friends. Honestly, I couldn't have asked for a better weekend. (Smile.)

From inside the little blue bungalow,
Katie Jean

Wordless Wednesday

From inside the little blue bungalow,
Katie Jean

Fiona's (Non)Splashy Pool Party

After one week of record high temperatures, we settled into an overcast, cold day for Fiona's birthday party Saturday. (Go figure.) Drew and I quickly revamped the entire (kiddie) pool party to be a day filled with lots of old fashioned fun instead. We were both pleased we had years of experience of "working on the fly" as church camp program directors to make this special day happen despite the weather.

Kids and parents alike quickly got involved in the watermelon seed spitting contest and water balloon toss. Honestly, it was a lot of fun and everyone seemed to enjoy the low-key events of the day. Lots of smiles and laughter were the tone of the day. Ironically, it was a great afternoon that ended up going into the night as most guests stayed after the festivities were well over and we never even had a drop of water in the kid's pools.

And I would definitely say that was success for a (No Pool) Pool Party.

From inside the little blue bungalow,
Katie Jean

Burden

It was over one hundred degrees the day we visited the Oregon Trail. I was getting a bit tired of traveling, really tired of the heat, but I couldn't help stop thinking about those pioneers.

As I stood overlooking the worn land where hundreds and thousands of pioneers walked or rode to a new land, I was awestruck of their sacrifice and devotion to an unknown world. Wagons couldn't be packed more than 2, 400 lbs each and just supplies (mainly food) to sustain a family of four for 6 months weighed 2,000 lbs.

Burden. They must have been heavily burdened to make the right decision to move their families that far from the familiar. Sometimes what they thought was a necessity was soon forgotten. And often they would pack personal belongings and furniture that were later ditched on the side of the "road" to ease the burden for the animals as they got weakened.

I believe that sometimes we all feel burdened by the demands of life. We, too, have to make decisions about what to hold onto and what is important. Really, is all that other stuff important? What demands burden your life and could be tossed aside? Is TV consuming your time, your duties on PTA taking you away from your family, or are you swimming in the effects of "consumer greed"?

Everyone one has something. Even the pioneers did as they realized the rocking chair had to be set aside in order to continue on the path. Personally, technology seems to burden me sometimes as I feel it necessary to keep track of friends on email or check a blog. Though I'm not letting it completely overwhelm my life, I know at times I need to step away and spend time with my family or husband.

As summer starts to fade and our vacation is boxed up, I know I must settle into a better routine of my technology time. So in the spirit of the pioneers, I will be "throwing" the computer to the side during the day. I plan on checking email and blogs only in the early morning hours (6-7 AM) before my kids wake and after they head to bed (8:15-9:15 PM). This will ensure that I don't get burdened and make precious time available for my kids and husband. Because, sometimes you have to make room for the things that are truly a necessity.

From inside the little blue bungalow,
Katie Jean
Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light. Matthew 12: 28-30

Wordless Wednesday

In Keegan's words, "BIG BISON BY CAR!". Sorry for the dirty windshield, but those Montana bugs are brutal. And wouldn't you love to be the guy on the motorcycle when the bison walked by? Holy cow NO!

From inside the Little Blue Bungalow,
Katie Jean

Fiona's 5th Birthday

Five years ago, our lives changed forever with the birth our daughter, Fiona Skye. Fiona makes our world an interesting place and we are so blessed to have this child apart of our family. She is a singer, a trail runner, a swimmer, an artist, an experienced actress, a learner, an explorer, and most of all a child of God.

As I prepared our house today for her birthday, I couldn't help but smile as she insisted we make a cake for her "family" party. As I tried to explain to our lady of 5 year old wisdom that making a cake in a 80 degree house is not a great a idea...I threw caution to the wind.

If my girl wants to make her cake instead of going to a big box store for a prefab cake I applaud her efforts. Yippee! She is definitely following in our thrifty and simple style EVEN if it is too hot to cook in our house through the eyes of an adult.

So, now I must return to our cake decorating efforts in the now 82 degree house. I'm just praying the icing doesn't slide off the cake. Regardless, I'm sure she'll be proud and happy with her home-made cake. Ah...make that 83 degrees. Is being 5 years old fun?

From inside the little blue bungalow,
Katie Jean

Adventures in Yellowstone

Though we missed the Little Blue Bungalow during our adventures out to Yellowstone, we sure didn't mind missing the Seattle's hot spell. Yes, jeans and a coat suited us just fine during our time on the ranch, Parade Rest Ranch, that is.

Only once did I complain, and that was when Drew and I were getting pounded by fresh mountain spring water during our white water rafting adventure. (And honestly, not too much complaining...that is the point of going white water rafting, right?) Otherwise, I was content our "good" Seattle weather had followed us.

A definite highlight during the trip was being able to see my family. Parade Rest Ranch provided a great atmosphere for my family to mingle while enjoying games of Frisbee, fishing, horseback riding, bike riding, porch sitting, and mosquito swatting. (Seriously they were bad!)

Our kids really enjoyed this unique opportunity to spend time with their cousins even if it wasn't in Iowa. But, if you ask Keegan he'll be sure to mention the "HUGE bison that walked by our car!" in Yellowstone. I thought his mouth was going to hit his car seat when the bison sauntered by our car on the stopped highway. This will be something he is talking about for a LONG time.

Not only did Parade Rest provide a great spot to hang with my family they fed us well...possibly too well. During cycling class this morning, I leaned over to a fellow classmate and exclaimed, "It(the food) was like a cruise without the boat!". And it was all that...cowboy portions and 24-7 stocked cookie jar to boot. But, I'll take the extra pounds for the great memories we shared in Montana. (It just means I'll have to work a little harder in the weeks to come.)

From inside the little blue bungalow,
Katie Jean

Reader's Note: Be sure to check back for more pictures and stories about our adventure to Yellowstone.