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Copyright Betty Jung 2009
It’s the day after Christmas and you find yourself with lots of used gift wrap from all those presents that were under the tree. Most recyclers won’t accept it curb-side. Now what to do with it all? Here are some tips from KGW’s blog and Metro.
I found these tips on the Real Simple magazine’s blog. Here are 15 tips to recycle your Christmas gift wrap:
15 Ways To Recycle Wrapping Paper
- Shred it and use as pretty packing material for future gifts or to pack those eBay sales you plan to make during the new year.
- Use it for paper crafts with the kids, children can do wonders with left over paper.
- Create book covers for ones that you may want to disguise… I’m not referring to Rudolph-themed papers, but the non-holiday themed papers you may have used like these Indian papers which can look so beautiful around a few select books in your office adding pattern and color.
- Cover craft boxes using a thin coat of polyvinyl acetate glue to secure the paper to the box. Paper Source makes a PVA glue that I swear by. While you’re at it, cover shoe boxes too!
- You can also cover paper magazine holders…
- Or a pencil holder!
- Create sewing patterns by drawing your design on the white side and cut.
- Line the cat’s litter box! Really!
- Use it for shelf paper in your pantry or closet.
- Line your dresser drawers.
- Decoupage a chair seat, top of a stool, or the front of a dresser for instance.
- Use a craft punch in either a square or round shape and stick the shape to a piece of card stock in the same shape for firmness, then stick another to the opposite side. Use a hole punch to add a hole towards the top of your shape and put ribbon or string through the hole and tie it onto future gifts or to label foods or craft supplies in your home.
- Frame your favorite pieces as works of art.
- Decoupage a flower pot.
- Lay your favorite pattern beneath a sheet of glass on your desk or coffee table to add color and/or pattern to your room.
If you want to recycle the wrinkled papers left over from presents but feel like all hope is lost — it’s not. Remove all tape and on a flat surface, use your hands to smooth out the paper. Then cut the torn edges off so that you have a rectangular or square piece. You can then set your iron on a very low heat setting and iron the paper on the white side. Of course, please exercise caution — recycling wrapping paper is the goal, not burning down your home!
ALL ABOUT…..Portland.Oregon.Real Estate, is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-No Derivative 
Works 3.0 Unported License. © Copyright 2008-2009 Betty Jung. All Rights Reserved. Use of this article, photos and images without permission is a violation of federal copyright laws. Based on a Blog at WordPress.
(For more local and national real estate information, go to www.bettyjung.com).
Portland
Willamette Shore Trolley Website
All Aboard! The Willamette Shore Trolley is about to commence their Christmas schedule. Ride the rails from Lake Oswego to Portland, along the banks of the Willamette River, with a stop in Johns Landing to view the Christmas ships parading up and down the river. Call to make reservations (503) 697-7436.
‘The Willamette Shore Trolley has been providing scenic trolley rides on a 6-mile section of historic rail line between Lake Oswego and Portland, Oregon since 1987 and is operated by volunteer members of the Oregon Electric Railway Historical Society (a not-for-profit Oregon Corporation. 501c3).
Ride our authentic antique trolley car along the shore of the Willamette River. During your journey you’ll ride through parks, by stately mansions, over several bridges, including the 686 foot Riverwood Trestle, and through the 1400′ Elk Rock Tunnel.
The line was opened for service from Oswego (now Lake Oswego) to Portland on July 4th, 1887 as a narrow gauge steam railroad known as the Portland and Willamette Valley Railroad.
It was later purchased by the Southern Pacific and standard-gauged around the turn of the century.”
I’ve taken this trip and it is a fun way to celebrate the holidays with the entire family, out-of-towners and the children. It also runs during the summer months and I’ve never done that. Next summer I’ll take that trip to take some pictures along the way.
Source: Oregon Electric Railway Historical Society
ALL ABOUT…..Portland.Oregon.Real Estate, is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-No Derivative Works 3.0 Unported License. © Copyright 2008-2009 Betty Jung. All Rights Reserved. Use of this article, photos and images without permission is a violation of federal copyright laws. Based on a Blog at WordPress.
(For more local and national real estate information, go to www.bettyjung.com).
Portland
This past weekend, because it’s Thanksgiving week, I posted a picture of a former 1890s church in Lake Oswego on my photo blog. Check it out if you haven’t seen it – Lake Oswego Living.A Photo Blog. Last year I wrote a “serious” post on Thanksgiving so I posted a serious picture on my photo blog this year instead. I know we all have a lot to be thankful for, but I thought I’d lighten up a bit this Thanksgiving.
If you’re stting around waiting for the turkey dinner to get done, or if you’ve eaten and you just can’t get up off that sofa because you ate too much, here’s a link for some things to do with the kids.
Or see if you can help the Mayflower find America in the maze below:
ALL ABOUT…..Portland.Oregon.Real Estate, is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-No Derivative Works 3.0 Unported License. © Copyright 2008-2009 Betty Jung. All Rights Reserved. Use of this article, photos and images without permission is a violation of federal copyright laws. Based on a Blog at WordPress.
(For more local and national real estate information, go to www.bettyjung.com).
KISMIF:
Keep It Simple, Make It Fun! Let this be your Halloween motto.
Just because we try and make Halloween night safe and nutritious, doesn’t mean it can’t be fun. The costumes, the party, and your own antics help make it fun. In fact, kids like to see parents lighten up and act like kids again. As long as you weave in safety rules with fun, children both accept it and expect it. Consider these safety issues:
- Masks and hoods can obscure the view of oncoming traffic, and in the midst of all the excitement your impulsive little ghosts and goblins may not be as attentive as they should be to what’s going on around them. Insist on the pack staying together. Don’t allow children to wonder off on their own to various houses or rush on ahead.
- Be vigilant when crossing streets in neighborhoods. Children must travel with buddies, older friends, or parents. If you’re the designated adult trick-or-treater, why not dress up and have fun? Older trick-or-treaters may be more inclined to accept a chaperon who’s dressed for the occasion.
- Walk on sidewalks instead of the street.
- Stand outside the home that your child visits. If your children are
invited inside the house, go with them.
- Bring a flashlight.
- Give your child a cell phone, if possible.
- Use reflective tape on costumes if they’re walking along dark streets.
- Wear comfortable shoes.
- Costumes should not be so long that children can trip on them.
- Make sure masks are easy to see and breathe through.
- Teach burn protection: tell children not to touch flaming jack-o-lanterns. If possible, use flame-retardant costumes and review the stop-drop-roll burn prevention with your child in case the costume catches fire.
- Use non-toxic face paints.
Source: Tips from Dr. Sears on how to Trick-or-Treat Safely.
ALL ABOUT…..Portland.Oregon.Real Estate, is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-No Derivative Works 3.0 Unported License. © Copyright 2008-2009 Betty Jung. All Rights Reserved. Use of this article, photos and images without permission is a violation of federal copyright laws. Based on a Blog at WordPress.
(For more local and national real estate information, go to www.bettyjung.com).
Portland
Tired of the usual tourist traps or the same places you keep visiting with your children? Here are some out of the ordinary local farms to go to instead. Your trips will be educational, I guarantee.
Rossee Possee Acres Elk Farm. Working elk farm, petting zoo located in Molalla. 32690 South Mathias Road, Molalla, OR. 97038. Check on hours before heading out.
The Willamette Egg Farm. One of the leading producers of shell eggs and processed egg products in the Pacific Northwest. Open
to the public on Tuesdays and Thursdays @ 10 a.m. Located between Canby, Molalla and Woodburn. Egg processing plant. 31348 S. Hwy 170, Canby, Oregon. (503-651-0000). Did the chicken come before the egg? Or..?
Magness Tree Farm. An internationally recognized 80-acre demonstration forest and outdoor education site. Includes a large natural area, stream, 9 forest management zones, 2.5 miles of hiking trails, the historic “Clatskanie” fire tower, recreation field, picnic shelter and rustic log cabins for youth group camping, outdoor schools, and retreats. Open daily. Free to the public, a charge for group tours. Guided tours every Sunday at 2:00.
Alpenrose Dairy. Portland’s popular kids’ attraction and working dairy since the nineteenth century. Florian Cadonau, who in 1891, owned a dairy farm near what is now Southwest Thirty-fifth and Vermont in the heart of West Portland.
Southern Oregon Souay Sheep Farm. British Soay sheep are being kept in the US as part of a global conservation effort to preserve this historical archive, with all of its diversity, as an undiluted genetic reservoir for the future. Southern Oregon Soay Farms, P.O. Box 1382, Merlin, Oregon 97532 kathiem@soayfarms.com (541) 955-8171.
Oregon Oyster Farm. Since 1907, the oldest oyster farm at the Oregon coast at Yaquina Bay. Oysters in the Shell, Oyster Meat, Oyster Cocktails, Smoked Oysters, Steamer Clams, and More! 6878 Yaquina Bay Rd., Newport, Oregon 97365 (541) 265-5078.
Zenger Farm. A working urban farm promoting sustainable food practices, youth education, environmental stewardship, and community and economic development. 11741 S.E. Foster Road, Portland, Oregon (503) 282-4245.
Pholia Goat Farm. Farmstead handmade raw milk aged goat cheese. Wine tasting, hay rides, baby goats, milking for the kids and cheese tasting. Classes on cheesemaking too. 9115 W. Evans Creek Rd., Rogue River, Oreon 97537 (541) 582-2883).
© Copyright 2008-2009 Betty Jung. All Rights Reserved. Use of this article, photos and images without permission is a violation of federal copyright laws.
ALL ABOUT…..Portland.Oregon.Real Estate by Betty Jung is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 United States License.
Based on a Blog at WordPress.
(For more local and national real estate information, go to www.bettyjung.com).
Once Fall is here, it seems the year is almost over because the next several months seem to whizz past us so 
quickly. However, Halloween comes first and is just around the corner. Since Monday’s are my “fun” day, here are some tricks and treats for you. Also, check out some of my past posts:
- Halloween and Haunted Houses (2008)
- Fall Festivals and Events (2008)
- Pumpkin Patches (2008)
- All-Hollows Eve (2008)
There is lots of concern and talk these days about living “green” – reduce, reuse and recycle. Therefore, to help make your Halloween green, here are some tips:
- Buy organic and local. Visit one of the many pumpkin patches I wrote about last year on this blog. After Halloween, break your pumpkins or gourds into pieces and place them in the woods or a field far away from your house to feed deer or other animals providing them with their own Halloween treat of seeds and pumpkin flesh. Or, dry the pumpkin seeds for the bird feeder.
- If you purchase bales of hay to decorate your porch, buy barley hay which can later be composted and used as mulch for your garden or flower beds.
- There have been dentists in our area who buy back unused candy to avoid trips later to their dentist. Or, Wheels on Meals and children’s charities appreciate donations of unused and unopened candy. You can also crush hard candy and use them as toppings on your Christmas cookie dough before baking or as dessert toppings.
- Reuse old clothes from around the house for costumes. Here’s some tips for “green” costumes. If you’re out of time and need a last minute costume, here are some ideas for eco-friendly costumes.
- Donate any costumes to children’s hospitals or any number of charities.
- Instead of purchasing a plastic container or plastic pumpkin to collect those goodies, craft a treat bag by sewing a drawstring on old pillowcases and let the kids decorate them with non-toxic markers or paints instead. Or let the kids decorate brown paper bags you’ve recycled.
- Bake cupcakes without paper muffin cups or make other healthy snacks or treats and make your own goody bags with the kids and especially include Monster Toes!
- Use nature’s bounty for decorations utilizing Fall leaves, hay bales, corn stalks and more of the pumpkins,gourds and apples. Make old- fashioned candy apples as the treats. Help the kids make a scarecrow, or two.
- Craft – Buy or make decorations that can be reused. There are many outlet stores locally where you can buy inexpensive items and decorate further for Halloween to make them look like something out of a magazine.
- Check out this website – Green Halloween - for more eco-friendly ideas.
- There’s an eco-friendly website that lists “green” crafts, projects for Halloween.
- Recycle items from around the house. Use old milk bottles and use as luminaries to light your walkway or cut off the top and use as a plastic bucket for the treats. Use egg cartons to create decorations like this bat.
- When buying treats, buy in bulk or products with limited packaging. Or, better yet give non-food treats like funky pens or pencils.
- You can also reuse a brown paper bag by crafting items that can be reused later for other purposes like this grocery bag.
- Don’t litter with left-over candy wrappers, figure out a craft project to use up all the wrappers. While in Hawaii last year, there was a cart in the local shopping mall that had purses and other accessories all made out of recycled candy wrappers, juice containers, etc. that they were selling.
- Walk, don’t drive to neighborhoods for trick-or-treating. Better yet, have a masquerade party for the kids.
- Trade decorations or costumes with the neighbors or family. Get more mileage out of what either you or they already have.
© Copyright 2008-2009 Betty Jung. All Rights Reserved. Use of this article, photos and images without permission is a violation of federal copyright laws.
ALL ABOUT…..Portland.Oregon.Real Estate by Betty Jung is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 United States License.
Based on a Blog at WordPress.
(For more local and national real estate information, go to www.bettyjung.com).
There’s a question I’ve been asking myself for years and have never found or seen the answer. Why do college books cost so much?
Having had a small book-seller business, I have sold new books and college books. The cost of those books to the public is horrendous yet no one seems to question the high cost of those books. Yet the wholesale cost isn’t nearly as high and in fact, only a fraction of what students and their parents are being charged.
Many college classes will be starting either this week or, in other parts of the country, have already started. Over the Labor Day weekend I saw this post in the NY Times discussing the high cost of a college education. It still doesn’t specifically mention books, however.
Tuition costs have gone in only one direction — up — during Mr. Weiss’s career. “I genuinely believe that we are at a crossroads here in higher education,” he said. “I think we have reached a ceiling that we’re beginning to bump into.”
In a recent report, Portland had a ranking of #9 for a mid-sized town and Corvallis ranked #7 as a small-town for being the best places to attend college. Oregon has many fine colleges and universities and, as a parent, you might consider buying a home for those college kids to live in and use as a real estate investment while they are in attendance here.
© Copyright 2008-2009 Betty Jung. All Rights Reserved. Use of this article, photos and images without permission is a violation of federal copyright laws.
ALL ABOUT…..Portland.Oregon.Real Estate by Betty Jung is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 United States License.
Based on a Blog at WordPress.
(For more local and national real estate information, go to www.bettyjung.com).
Unfortunately, many of our children won’t have the necessary supplies to assist them in school this year and help them succeed. There are several places that are accepting needed new school supplies. If you know of other donation sites, please let me know and I will add them to this list.
For Washington and Oregon’s more than 26,000 foster kids, sometimes getting ahead in school can be hard, especially without even the basic supplies. To help these children succeed, Sleep Country USA is collecting donations of new schools supplies for local foster kids. Contributions can be dropped off at any Sleep Country USA store and will be distributed among 20 Pacific Northwest foster care organizations.
Donations will be accepted at any Sleep Country USA store. Bring new school supplies including pencils, pens, erasers, calculators, 
paper, backpacks, binders and pocket dictionaries. For more information on the location of the nearest store, please use the Sleep Country store locator at http://www.sleepcountry.com or call 1-888-88-SLEEP. The store hours are M-F 10 a.m. to 9 p.m., Saturday, 10 a.m. to 8 p.m., and Sunday, 10 a.m. to 7 p.m.
Did you know almost 1 in 2 children start the school year off without the supplies needed to succeed in class?
Help support the KGW School Supply Drive by donating cash or supplies now through Labor Day. Our goal is to send more than 5000 children back to school with basic school supplies they otherwise couldn’t afford.
Help make a difference!
Pioneer Courthouse Square
Thursday, August 6th 11:30am-1:30pm
ENJOY GREAT MUSIC, WIN PRIZES, AND DROP OFF A DONATION OF CASH OR SCHOOL SUPPLIES!
Sponsored by area churches in partnership with http://www.clackamasloveinc.org and the Oregon Department of Human Services. Cash or donated school supplies accepted. Check their website for the supply list.
Here’s part of a recent email I received:
To make it easy for you to purchase school supplies, I’ve created a link pairing Office Depot and Friends of the Children. Just click on this link and then click on the shopping cart to land on the Office Depot Website, where you can purchase supplies for us (or for your own use). You can have our supplies shipped directly to our offices at 44 NE Morris, Portland, OR 97212-3015.
Friends of the Children benefits from the supplies, and from the earnings – for a limited time, we will earn 6% of the total purchase costs on school supplies only (excluding shipping and tax) for all the supplies purchased through this link. (Please be aware that Office Depot offers other products, and while we earn on the other products, the 6% earning only applies to school supplies.)
We hope you take advantage of this shopping opportunity – and that you take some time to explore our profile on CafeGive.com.
Last year I wrote a post on the supply lists for all the schools throughout metro Portland. Click here to check on your school for your childrens’ school supply list.
© Copyright 2008-2009 Betty Jung. All Rights Reserved. Use of this article, photos and images without permission is a violation of federal copyright laws.
ALL ABOUT…..Portland.Oregon.Real Estate by Betty Jung is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 United States License. Based on a Blog at WordPress.
(For more local and national real estate information, go to www.bettyjung.com).
The Oregon Department of Education is required to post an Oregon Statewide Report Card. It is an annual publication required by law (ORS 
329.115), which reports on the state of public schools and their progress towards the goals of the Oregon Educational Act for the 21st Century. The purpose of the Report Card is to monitor the trends in Oregon schools concerning achievement, special program offerings, student and staff characteristics, funding, and other significant information.
School Report cards are available for every district and every school throughout Oregon. Click here for a sample for the Lake Oswego School District. In addition, you can check on each individual school and here is the latest report for Lake Oswego High School. You can check further for stats as to: total population, gender, ethnicity, special ed., economically disadvantaged, migrant, TAG, CLRAS, and extended assessment.
If you’re thinking of moving anytime soon, it’s not too early to be thinking of schools and how they rate. The website has lots of information to see if a particular school would meet your child’s needs. I know it’s only mid-July, but the start of school is just around the corner. The most recent report card is for 2007-2008. The Portland Monthly Magazine did an article on that most recent Oregon Statewide Report Card. Here’s that article.
© Copyright 2008-2009 Betty Jung. All Rights Reserved. Use of this article, photos and images without permission is a violation of federal copyright laws.
ALL ABOUT…..Portland.Oregon.Real Estate by Betty Jung is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 United States License.
Based on a work at WordPress.
(For more local and national real estate news, click on my monthly newsletter – JUNG’S JOURNAL – on my website www.bettyjung.com).
At some point this summer you’ll hear “Mom, I’m bored”. There’s lots and lots to do in our town during the summer months and 
hopefully the weather will soon cooperate. Here’s a list of events and activities that I have prepared. Check my “Around Town” or “For The Kids” categories as well. Of course, this isn’t even a complete list of things to do….I’m sure the Mom’s out there can think of more.
- Here’s the City of Portland’s new website that includes summer “free” events for children.
For additional activities here are some more ideas:
- I was snooping on-line the other evening and came across another interactive website that is great for kids. Dreamworks‘ Spirit: Stallion of the Cimarron not only is a great video and movie clip but it also has puzzles, games and other activities for the children to enjoy. It was fun just watching the video clip.
- There are lots of jurisdictions that have their Movies in the Park series this summer. Here’s the City of Portland’s Parks and Recreation 2009 Movies in the Park schedule.
- There are the obvious spots locally for fun such as the Children’s Museum, Oregon Zoo, OMSI, Enchanted Forest, NW Children’s Theater, Newport Aquarium, Oaks Park, or use this finder to locate a park near you in Portland.
- Festival of the Arts in Lake Oswego has a Kids’ Day gymnastics exhibition, puppet theatre and more.
- Take a bike ride on Portland’s waterfront along the Willamette River or take one of the “Five Great Bike Rides” . There are also community bike rides like “Bike Beaverton”.
- Go on a hike through Forest Park or visit the Hoyt Arboretum’s “Living Classroom” for adults and kids.
- There are also Free “Learn to Swim” sessions at all Portland Parks and Recreation Pools. Visit a Portland Parks and Recreation swimming pool. Swimming Pools are open in Portland. Also, Portland has a new website of “Free” Things to do this summer – Here’s the info. Take a nature walk or have a picnic! Here’s a list of urban hikes around Portland.
- Attend one of the Portland Historic Races (free for ages 12 and under) at the Portland International Raceway
- The Audubon Society has bird-watching/walks. Introduce them to Oregon’s varied wildlife and bird population
- Visit a local Fire Station near you. Learn CPR and what it takes to be a Firefighter and how they stay in shape.
- Learn how to roller skate at Oaks Park.
- Go berry picking at any of the area’s farms and orchards. Check out Oregon’s Tri-County Farm Guide for local u-picks.
- Spend time at Tryon State Park and learn about nature with your kids.
- There are lots of different cultures living in Oregon. Attend one of the many different cultural festivals this summer with your children, perhaps learning a different language would be something they’d be interested in. There are many different places to learn a new language. For example in Portland we have the French American School, the German American School just to name two.
- Visit the Oregon Humane Society’s Shelter
- There are many State parks to visit as well. Take a bike ride, go camping or fishing.
- Go to any of the City libraries to attend story-time readings, craft programs, book discussion groups, book clubs, etc. Here is Lake Oswego’s Library website.
- Teens can volunteer and be a part of the Teen Service Corps or the ASAP Service Club to volunteer for projects throughout the City or state such as the one in Lake Oswego.
- Home Depot has clinics for kids that allow them to build something on their own and Lowe’s has a “Build and Grow” series for children as well that have two coming up to build either a Father’s Day gift or pirate ship!
- Help build a community garden or start a garden at home. Or there’s a Junior Master Gardener program to learn more about gardening and growing your own food. Lake Oswego has on-going programs at Luscher Farms. Be a farm hand or volunteer at the Children’s Garden at Lusher Farms in Lake Oswego. Here’s a calendar or 503-638-0376
- Go on a day trip. Here are books that have lots of ideas.
- Learning a new sport – golf, tennis, archery, horse riding, basketball, soccer, baseball, bowling, etc. There are local city agencies, parks and private clubs throughout Portland that have classes and sport clinics available. Portland Rock Gym has kids’ camps and climbing activities or join a sports league. There are many drop-in gyms around town as well.
- There are skate parks throughout Portland. Here’s the information on the Lake Oswego Skate Park @ the corner of Willow and Pilkington. They have “Learn-to-Skate Nights”.
- Take them to our State’s Capitol in Salem to learn about our government or to City Hall in Portland.
- Many July 4th celebrations throughout the state have parades where children decorate bikes, wagons, strollers and bring their pets. Lake Oswego has a Star Spangled Celebration – July 4 and kids can do the same.
- Join a 4-H Club in Lake Oswego or Portland.
- There are numerous camps through churches, parks, day care, schools, etc. There’s even an Entrepreneur Camp in Lake Oswego. Here’s where you can find a day camp or sports camp in Portland and Lake Oswego, Tigard, West Linn or throughout Oregon.
- Get them moving with a fitness class, dance, martial arts, ballet, fencing. Lake Oswego has many such classes for children as does the Multnomah Arts Center and the City of Portland Parks and Recreation Department as well as all the other cities throughout Oregon. Awaken their creativity and introduce them to art through a painting class, theatre, writing, photography, sculpting, or other art. Multnomah Arts Center for one has a great classes but there are many others throughout Portland. Or, have them take music lessons – piano, clarinet, violin, guitar, trumpet, saxophone are just some examples.
- Start a collection. They can learn about collecting stamps, coins, old toys, train sets, dolls, board games, etc.
- Use your backyard as a vacation-get-away. Build a horseshoe pit, play whiffle ball, throw a frisbee, set up badminton, use the hose for slippy slides, play darts, or just set up a tent or hammock where they can relax. If you have room, what about building a tree house?
- Earn some extra cash by walking a neighbor’s dog, tutoring, picking up their mail or newspaper, weeding an elderly person’s yard or there’s always that favorite lemonade stand.
- Have an all day cooking class for the kids, or bake some cookies if it isn’t too hot outside. Start a family cookbook.
- There are all sorts of hobbies the kids can start such as rock hounding, fishing, crabbing, crafts. Read my Rice NW Museum post or go to Richardson’s Recreational Ranch’s website for rock hounding. Or visit the many museums around town. Learn about the history of Portland, the Oregon Trail or Oregon.
- Play board games, learn to play chess – scrabble, etc. or introduce them to some vintage games.
- Second Annual Maritime Heritage Festival. A water parade, water skiing demonstrations. 3-day festival in July at Riverplace Marina & Docks
- Sherwood Robin Hood Festival – Renaissance faire, parade and family activities. (www.robinhoodfestival.com)
- West Linn Old Time Fair. Parade, Games, activities.
- Washington County Fair and Rodeo. Truck pull, pro rodeo, farm animals. (www.faircomplex.com)
- Tualatin Crawfish Festival. Parade. Dog show. Food. Crafts. August
- Party in the Park. THPRD Recreation Complex in Beaverton. 158th and Walker. Music, Kids’ Arts and Crafts, Climbing Wall, Inflatable play structures and Beaverton Police K-9 Unit. (www.thprd.org)
- Beaverton Parade and Old Town Festival. Marching bands, free prices. (www.beavertonoregon.gov)
- The Great Onion Festival. Onion eating contest. Kids’ games. (www.sherwoodchamber.org)
- Wilsonville Festival of Arts: Art on the Town. Free events for the entire family. (www.wilsonvillearts.org)
- Picnics in the park in July. Flicks by the Fountain all summer long and Last Tuesdays (music) in the Round all summer long. (www.BeavertonOregon.gov)
- Head to the Coast! There’s so much to do there I can’t list everything. Just one example, see how cheese is made and sample free cheese at the Tillamook Cheese Factory 503-815-1300.
- Catch the Willamette Shore Trolly in downtown Lake Oswego. Go cruising along the Willamette River.
- Cool off at one of the many fountains in downtown Portland.
- Go on a road trip and visit the covered bridges still remaining throughout Oregon
Oregon is rich with activities for children. The above should keep them busy for more than just one Summer!! And there’s even more to do around town. Check out Travel Oregon for more ideas.
ALL ABOUT…..Portland.Oregon.Real Estate, is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-No Derivative Works 3.0 Unported License. © Copyright 2008-2009 Betty Jung. All Rights Reserved. Use of this article, photos and images without permission is a violation of federal copyright laws. Based on a Blog at WordPress.
(For more local and national real estate information, go to www.bettyjung.com).
Portland
I am finding that my blog is defining who I am or at the very 
least magnifying those topics or causes that are important to me. Lead poisoning is of interest to me because of my grandchildren, my personal health and the health of others. It is also of interest to me because years ago I sold a house to a pathologist here in Portland who wrote his doctorate on lead poisoning. We’ve had lengthy discussions about lead.
Yesterday our evening news had information about this year’s Christmas toys that contain lead and how you can find out which toys those are. The website that has that information is healthytoys.org. HealthyToys.org includes test results for more than 1,500 toys and children’s products. It lists the toys that are safe and those that are not and they aren’t all from China. In addition, there are other chemicals in the toys that are dangerous to kids.
At this Christmastime, the toys your children may want could be hazardous to their health and it’s worth checking to see if those toys they are longing for are tainted with lead.
© Copyright 2008-2009 Betty Jung. All Rights Reserved. Use of this article, photos and images without permission is a violation of federal copyright laws.
ALL ABOUT…..Portland.Oregon.Real Estate by Betty Jung is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 United States License.
Based on a Blog at WordPress.
(For more local and national real estate information, go to www.bettyjung.com).
The Haunting History of All-Hallows Eve:
(To watch a “spooky” video explaining the history of Halloween CLICK HERE).
Halloween’s origins date back to the ancient Celtic festival of Samhain (pronounced sow-in).
The Celts, who lived 2,000 years ago in the area that is now Ireland, the United Kingdom, and northern France, celebrated their new year on November 1. This day marked the end of summer and the harvest; and, the beginning of the dark, cold winter, a time of year that was often associated with human death. Celts believed that on the night before the new year, the boundary between the worlds of the living and the dead became blurred. On the night of October 31, they celebrated Samhain, when it was believed that the ghosts of the dead returned to earth. In addition to causing trouble and damaging crops, Celts thought that the presence of the other worldly spirits made it easier for the Druids, or Celtic priests, to make predictions about the future. For a people entirely dependent on the volatile natural world, these prophecies were an important source of comfort and direction during the long, dark winter.
To commemorate the event, Druids built huge sacred bonfires, where the people gathered to burn crops and animals as sacrifices to the Celtic deities.
During the celebration, the Celts wore costumes, typically consisting of animal heads and skins, and attempted to tell each other’s fortunes. When the celebration was over, they re-lit their hearth fires, which they had extinguished earlier that evening, from the sacred bonfire to help protect them during the coming winter.By A.D. 43, Romans had conquered the majority of Celtic territory. In the course of the four hundred years that they ruled the Celtic lands, two festivals of Roman origin were combined with the traditional Celtic celebration of Samhain.
The first was Feralia, a day in late October when the Romans traditionally commemorated the passing of the dead. The second was a day to honor Pomona, the Roman goddess of fruit and trees. The symbol of Pomona is the apple and the incorporation of this celebration into Samhain probably explains the tradition of “bobbing” for apples that is practiced today on Halloween.
By the 800s, the influence of Christianity had spread into Celtic lands. In the seventh century, Pope Boniface IV designated November 1 All Saints Day, a time to honor saints and martyrs. It is widely believed today that the
pope was attempting to replace the Celtic festival of the dead with a related, but church-sanctioned holiday. The celebration was also called All-hallows or All-hallowmas (from Middle English Alholowmesse meaning All Saints Day) and the night before it, the night of Samhain, began to be called All-hallows Eve and, eventually, Halloween. Even later, in A.D. 1000, the church would make November 2 All Souls Day, a day to honor the dead. It was celebrated similarly to Samhain, with big bonfires, parades, and dressing up in costumes as saints, angels, and devils. Together, the three celebrations, the eve of All Saints, All Saints, and All Souls, were called Hallowmas. (from the History of Halloween).
HAVE A SAFE HALLOWEEN~
© Copyright 2008-2009 Betty Jung. All Rights Reserved. Use of this article, photos and images without permission is a violation of federal copyright laws.
ALL ABOUT…..Portland.Oregon.Real Estate by Betty Jung is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 United States License.
Based on a Blog at WordPress.
(For more local and national real estate information, go to www.bettyjung.com).
BOO! Halloween Events & Haunted Houses
At this time of year, there’s a plethora of places to go, see and do! See my posts Farmers Markets and Fall Festivals & Events posts for more local fun.
Halloween has become the second most celebrated holiday in the U.S. On my post “Pumpkin Patches Around Portland“ those pumpkin patches have other events such as mazes, hay rides, animal barnyards, rides, etc. so I’m not repeating those.
And, if all these aren’t enough, you can go to this website for recipes, fun crafts and Halloween ideas.
- Moon Festival. Garden Home Recreation Center. Portland, Oregon
- Spooky Stroll/Halloween Parade. Tanner Creek Park Shelter. West Linn, Oregon
- Hollywood Theatre “Andrus, the Man, the Mind, the Magic”. Documentary on Life of Famed Magician. Portland, Oregon
- Halloween Magic Show. Friendship Masonic Lodge. Portland, Oregon
- Halloween Movie Night – The Haunting - American Heritage Center. Portland, Oregon
- French Prairie Gardens. St. Paul, Oregon
- Things that Go Bump in the Night. Smile Station. Portland, Oregon
- Halloweening at the Zoo. Portland, Oregon
- Annual Squishing of the Squash. Portland Zoo. Portland, Oregon
- Halloween Fantasy Trail. Oregon City, Oregon
- Scream at the Beach. Jantzen Beach Center. Portland, Oregon
- Walking with the Spirits. Portland, Oregon
- Fright Town. Memorial Coliseum. Portland, Oregon
- 13th Door. Hillsboro County Fairgrounds. Hillsboro, Oregon
- Milburn’s Haunted House. Hubbard, Oregon
- Shocktober Festival - Hillsboro County Fairgrounds. Hillsboro, Oregon
- Creatures of the Night. Oregon Coast Aquarium. Newport, Oregon
- McMenamin’s Halloween Schedule. Various locations. Portland, Oregon
- Children’s Museum Costume Party. Portland, Oregon
- House of Midnight. Wilsonville, Oregon
- Elshoff Manor. Portland, Oregon
- Tigard’s Dog Park – Annual Halloween Contest Tigard, Oregon
- Spooktacular. Jenkins Estate. Beaverton, Oregon
- 3rd Annual Non-Scary Halloween Party. Deepwood Estate. Salem, Oregon
- Witch Trials in The Other Salem. Mission Mill Museum. Salem, Oregon
- Ghost Tours. McLoughlin Neighborhood. Oregon City, Oregon
- Haunted House. Enchanted Forest. Turner, Oregon
- Halloween Carnival. Hillsdale Community Center. Portland, Oregon
- 11th Annual East Portland-Montavilla Halloween Carnival. Portland, Oregon
- Halloween Ooey Gooey Cooking. For Kids. Portland, Oregon
- Spooky Night Hike. Tryon State Park. Lake Oswego, Oregon
- Spooky Creature Feature. Tryon State Park. Lake Oswego, Oregon
- Trick or Treat Street. Part of Harvest Festival. Downtown Lake Oswego. Lake Oswego, Oregon
- Halloween Spooks – Beyond Bizarre. Old Town, Portland, Oregon
- Halloween/Pumpkin Fest - Conestoga Recreation Center. Beaverton, Oregon
- Monster Mash Movie Night - Tualatin Hills Aquatic Center. Beaverton, Oregon
- Davis Graveyard. Milwaukie, Oregon
- Trick-or-Treat Treasure Day. Salem, Oregon
- Masquerade at the Mill: Halloween Bash. Mission Mill Museum. Salem, Oregon
- The Nightmare Factory. Salem, Oregon
- Hansel & Gretel. Northwest Childrens Theater and School. Portland, Oregon
- Portland Zombie Walk. Pioneer Courthouse Square. Portland, Oregon
- Storm Large Halloweener Cruise. Portland Spirit. Portland, Oregon
- Trick or Treat. Cascade Summit Shopping Center. West Linn, Oregon
- Lone Fir Cemetary - Tour of Untimely Departures. Portland, Oregon
- Bats in the Belfry. Old Church. Portland, Oregon
- Trick or Treat – Clackamas Promenade. (Across from Clackamas Town Center). 3-5 p.m. Clackamas Oregon
- Trick or Treat – Milwaukie Marketplace. Highway 224 (Milwaukie Expressway). 3-5 p.m. Milwaukie, Oregon
- Halloween Creepy Crawl. Downtown Estacada, Oregon
***Updated: 10/31/2008***
© Copyright 2008-2009 Betty Jung. All Rights Reserved. Use of this article, photos and images without permission is a violation of federal copyright laws.
ALL ABOUT…..Portland.Oregon.Real Estate by Betty Jung is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 United States License.
Based on a Blog at WordPress.
(For more local and national real estate information, go to www.bettyjung.com).
Pumpkin Patches Around Portland, Oregon
When there’s a crisp snap in the air, nothing beats a day at the local pumpkin patch farm. It’s guaranteed to put a Jack-o-Lantern-sized smile on everyone’s face! Here’s a list of the best local pumpkin patch farms in and around Portland, Oregon.
For “free” pumpkin carving templates check here! For carving templates showing monograms and fancier templates you can check this website out as well. And, for tips on carving you might want to view this one!
PUMPKIN PATCHES AROUND PORTLAND, OREGON
- Oregon Hill Farms, 32861 Pittsburg Road, Saint Helens, OR 97051
Phone: 503-397-2791 – Fax: 503-397-0091 - Duyck’s Peachy-Pig Farm, 34840 SW Johnson School Road, Cornelius, OR 97113-Phone: 503-357-3570
- Lee Farms, Tualatin 1 mile south of Meridian Park Hospital. Tualatin, OR. 97062
- Koch Family Farm, 11350 SW Tualatin-Sherwood Road, Tualatin, OR 97062 – Phone: 503-692-5749
- Labyrinth and Llamas U-Pick, 36900 NW Spiesschaert Road, Cornelius, OR 97113 – Phone 503-357-4971
- A Maze in Grace Gardens, 2985 SW Golf Course Rd., Cornelius, Oregon 97113 – 503-939-7050
- Ryser’s Farm. 22560 SW Stafford Rd., Tualatin, Oregon 97062. Email: JMRyser@verizon.net
- Grandma’s Place – Schlichting Century Farms. 17995 SW Scholls Sherwood Road, Sherwood – 503-625-7104
- Baggenstos Farm Store, 15801 SW Roy Rogers Rd., Sherwood, Oregon – 503-590-4301
- Oregon Heritage Farm. 22801 SW Scholls Ferry Road, Hillsboro, Oregon 97123
- Peterson Farms Apple Country, 4800 NW Glencoe Road, Hillsboro, OR 97124 – Phone: 503-640-5649
- Plumper Pumpkin Patch - 11435 NW Old Cornelius Pass Rd, Portland, OR 97231- Phone: 503-645-9561
- Roloff Farm, NW Grossen Drive, Hillsboro, OR 97124
- Smith Berry Barn, 24500 SW Scholls Ferry Road, Hillsboro, OR 97007
Phone: 503-628-2172 - Greenville Farms, 43775 NW Greenville Road, Forest Grove, Oregon – 503-359-4763
- Haggs’ Pumpkin Patch, 18175 McCormick Hill Road, Hillsboro, Oregon – 503-628-1007
- Jim Dandy Farm, 45770 NW Sunset Highway, Banks, Oregon – 503-324-3954
- Lakeview Farms, 31345 NW North Ave., North Plains, Oregon – 503-647-2336
- Albeke Farms, 16107 S. Wilson Road, Oregon City, OR 97045
Phone: 503-632-3989 - The Maize at the Pumpkin Patch. Sauvie Island. Portland, Oregon
- Farmer John’s. 15000 SW Oldsville Road, McMinnville, OR 97128 – 503-474-3514. McMinnville, Oregon
- Fir Point Farms, 14601 Arndt Road, Aurora, OR 97002
Phone: 503-678-2455 - Flower Farmer / Phoenix & Holly Railroad, 2512 N. Holly, Canby, OR
Phone: 503-266-3581 - Moon Ridge, 25113 S. Ridge Rd., Beavercreek, OR 97004
Phone: 503-632-0462 – Fax: 503-632-5694 - Olson Farms, 22255 SE Borges Rd., Damascus, OR 97080
Phone: 503-658-2237 - Oregon Lavender Farm, 20949 S. Harris Road, Oregon City, OR 97045. Phone: 800-289-8427 – Fax: 503-631-2424
- Schedeen Farms, 28150 SE Highway 212, Boring, OR 97009
Phone: 503-663-1960 - Liepold Farms, 14480 SE Richey Rd., Boring, OR. 97009-503-663-5880.
- Old McDonald’s Farm, 1001 SE Evans Rd., Corbett, OR. 97019–503-695-3315
- Wenzel Farm, 19754 S. Ridge Road, Oregon City, OR
Phone: 503-631-2047 - Kiyokawa Family Orchards and Fruit Stand, 8129 Clear Creek Road, Parkdale, OR 97041- Phone: 541-352-7115
- Mt. Views Orchards Fruit Stand, 6670 Trout Creek Ridge Road, Parkdale, OR – Phone: 800-529-6554 or 541-352-6554 Fax: 541-352-6828
- Rasmussen Farms, 3020 Thomsen Road, Hood River, OR
Phone: 541-386-4622 - Justy’s Produce, 7924 SE Lake Road, Milwaukie, Oregon 503-659-4169
- Kruger’s Farm Market, 17100 NW Sauvie Island Road, Portland, Oregon 503-621-3489
- Sauvie Island Farms, 19818 NW Sauvie Island Road, Portland, Oregon 503-621-3988
- The Pumpkin Patch, 16525 NW Gillihan Road, Portland, Oregon 503-621-3874
- Delta Farms, 16511 NW Gillihan Road, Portland, OR 97231-1515
Phone: 503-621-3671 or 503-621-3874 - Kerslake Farms
2028 SE Christensen Rd., Corbett, OR 97019 – Phone: 503-695-5473
Email: KerslakeLEK88@aol.com - Trapold Farms (The Barn), 5211 NE 148th Ave., Portland, OR 97230 – Phone: 503-253-5103
Email: patricia.collins@oregonstate.edu - Autumn Harvest Orchards Country Store and Cider Mill
4993 Hazel Green Rd NE, Salem, OR – Phone: 503-393-2932 - Graham Family Farm
8733 Ravena Drive North, Salem, Oregon, 97303 – Phone: 503-393-5100
Email: grahamfarm@q.com - Greens Bridge Gardens, 3730 Jefferson – Scio Drive, Jefferson, OR 97352 – Phone: 541-327-2995
Email: gbgardens@hotmail.com - Harpole’s Produce, 8071 Mount Angel Hwy NE, Silverton, OR 97381
Phone: 503-873-4182
Email: melodyharpole@aol.com - The Farm at Heritage Hill
6945 Heritage Hill Rd. SE, Salem, OR 97317 – Phone: 503-585-3554
Email: danmilo@wildblue.net - Jones Farm Produce, 10325 River Road NE, Salem, OR 97303
Phone: 503-393-9451- Fax: 503-304-0975
Email: jonesfarmproduce@msn.com - Sonnen Farm, 8644 Broadacres Rd NE, Aurora, OR – Phone: 503-982-0351 or 503-678-2031
- Sunnyview Farms, 5670 Sunnyview Road NE, Salem, OR 97305
Phone: 503-378-1723 – Fax: 503-378-7102
Email: shprite@aol.com - Heiser Farms. 20900 Grand Island Loop, Dayton, OR. 503-868-7512
- Powell Produce and Spada Upick, Gresham, OR 97080
Phone: Farm Mkt 503-669-8374 – U-Pick 503-539-5396 - Pumpkin Train Rides – October 11-12. Chehalis, Washington @ http://www.steamtrainride.com
**Updated 10-09-08**
© Copyright 2008-2009 Betty Jung. All Rights Reserved. Use of this article, photos and images without permission is a violation of federal copyright laws.
ALL ABOUT…..Portland.Oregon.Real Estate by Betty Jung is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 United States License.
Based on a Blog at WordPress.
(For more local and national real estate information, go to www.bettyjung.com).
Every time you drive U.S. 26 to the coast you pass it. You may have even noticed a building in the woods as you’ve driven by. All the years I’ve driven to the coast I have noticed it but only over the Labor Day weekend did I find out what it was! I’ve lived in Oregon for 33 years and have never been there. It’s the Rice NW Museum of Rocks & Minerals. 
On Labor Day, one of my grandchildren introduced me to the Museum. She’d been there for a school field trip and wanted to go back and visit again. It’s an amazing place for children and adults, plus they have so much more than “just rocks”.
HISTORY
Helen and Richard Rice, founders of the Rice Museum started collecting rocks and minerals with a handful of Oregon beach agates in 1938. To house their growing collection, they built the present facility as their home and private museum in 1952. In 2006, the Rice Museum became a historical landmark as the first “ranch type” house to be accepted to the National Registry of Historic Places. The Rice Museum has become nationally recognized as the finest rock and mineral museum in the Pacific Northwest and one of the best in the nation.
Minerals
The Rice Museum contains one of the world’s finest collections o
f crystals and the famous “Alma Rose” rhodochrosite from Colorado (pictured at right), South American emeralds, copper minerals, crystals of gold, silvers and thousands more.
Petrified Wood
The collection consists of over 460 world-wide petrified wood specimens collected over 40 years and contains an 1800 pound “talking log” t
elling its own story. (As seen to the left)
Meteorites
Their Meteorite display was prepared by the Cascadia Meteorite Laboratory of Portland State University and you can touch a real meteorite from outer space.
Northwest Mineral Gallery
The Gallery features the Rudy TschernichZeolite collection, a large section of thunder eggs and sun stones (The Oregon State Rock and Gemstone). There’s even an opal filled thunder egg considered the largest in the world.
Rock Pile
There’s a rock pile treasure-trove of agates, petrified wood, jaspers, thunder eggs, obsidian, quartz crystals and more.
Lapidary Art and Agate Gallery
Enjoy unique agates from Brazil, Mexico, Argentina and from around the world.
Fossils
This was my favorite section. The fossil gallery features “Tucker’, a baby psittacosaurus dinosaur, fossils and trace fossils, dinosaur eggs (pictured at left) with babies still inside their eggs, prehistoric fossils of land, air and sea creatures from the Pacific Northwest and around the globe.
There’s also a gift shop and the staff at the museum educate you as to the form of crystal growth, shapes and the hardness scale. Learn how and why we reproduce minerals and how minerals affect our daily lives with unimaginable uses in our homes, roads, food, transportation, electronics, toys, medicines and even our toothpaste.
They also have the oldest rock in the world!
The Museum conducts tours for schools from Pre-school to 12th Grade. I know I learned a lot and really enjoyed my visit. So will you!
(All Pictures from the Rice NW Museum of Rocks and Minerals website).
© Copyright 2008-2009 Betty Jung. All Rights Reserved. Use of this article, photos and images without permission is a violation of federal copyright laws.
ALL ABOUT…..Portland.Oregon.Real Estate by Betty Jung is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 United States License.
Based on a Blog at WordPress.
(For more local and national real estate information, go to www.bettyjung.com).
Photo from Microsoft Office
It’s back to school September 2! Since there’s lots to do before school starts, I thought I’d provide some information on the different schools around town.
If you’re a newcomer to the Portland area, here’s the Portland School District information along with school information for the different suburbs on the west side of Portland.
Portland Public Schools:
- Portland School District Boundary Information (Not sure which school your child will be going to – check your address here and find the appropriate school).
- Portland Public School District info
- School Supply List
- Enrollment form in English, Chinese, Vietnamese, Spanish, Russian.
- Here’s where you can obtain the calendar for the different Portland schools.
- Lunch menu
- Tools for Schools - free school supplies for Portland Schools.
- To Donate School Supplies – CLICK HERE
Lake Oswego School District:
- Lake Oswego School District info
- School Supply List – All Schools
- Lake Oswego Lunch Menu
- Lake Oswego School Calendar
Tigard-Tualatin School District:
- Tigard-Tualatin School District Info
- School Supply List – All Schools
- District Calendar
- List of all the schools in the Tigard-Tualatin School District
Beaverton School District:
- Beaverton School District Info
- School Supply List – Elementary Schools
- School Supply List – Remainder of the Schools
- School Boundary Map
- Enrollment Information
© Copyright 2008-2009 Betty Jung. All Rights Reserved. Use of this article, photos and images without permission is a violation of 
federal copyright laws.
federal copyright laws.
ALL ABOUT…..Portland.Oregon.Real Estate by Betty Jung is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 United States License.
Based on a Blog at WordPress.
(For more local and national real estate information, go to www.bettyjung.com).
Photo from Newmark Theatre website
The other evening I went to the Newmark Theatre in Portland, Oregon to attend the 25th Annual Recital, “A Dancer’s Dream” by the Westside Academy. My family is a 3rd generation dancing clan. As a child, I danced professionally in a German Folk Dance Group and performed at Disneyland, County fairs and state colleges throughout California. Music and dance have always been an important part of my life. My daughter attended Westside Academy and now my grandchildren do as well.
Each year they showcase performances by the children that attend Westside Academy in Tigard, Oregon. From the 2 1/2 year olds to young adults (boys and girls), they perform wonderful routines with gorgeous costumes and music. When the group that performed “Foot Loose” came on, I wanted to get up and dance myself! And, when the 2 1/2 year olds walked on stage to perform, there were the usual “aaah’s”; and, the more they “messed up” the more adorable and precious they were in their tutus. It was a lot of fun. The kids enjoy it as well and exude self-confidence. One of the boys in the elevator was just beaming as I complimented him on his performance.
The Newmark Theatre (CLICK HERE for info) is a beautiful locale and as advertised by them, “there is no such thing as a ‘bad’ seat”. It is very glamorous and dramatic and I always love going there.
CLICK HERE for information about Westside Academy should you be interested in placing your child or children in a dance program. They also have gymnastics, ballet, jazz, summer camps, and adult dance as well, etc. As stated by them:
Embracing the Dream
I will not settle for less than greatness
I have the ability to move people
I am thankful for my gift
My heart screams for me to dance
I am motivated by challenges
My potential is huge and I will realize it all
I will achieve greatness in my life
I will not settle for second best……
I AM A DANCER!
© Copyright 2008-2009 Betty Jung. All Rights Reserved. Use of this article, photos and images without permission is a violation of federal copyright laws.
ALL ABOUT…..Portland.Oregon.Real Estate by Betty Jung is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 United States License.
Based on a Blog at WordPress.
(For more local and national real estate information, go to www.bettyjung.com).
The other day I looked out my window and my dwarf rhodies were covered with bees. 
I got to thinking about all the news stories I’ve heard or read where it’s been reported there’s a decline of honeybees. They certainly have found me (maybe it’s because I don’t use any chemicals in my yard!) However, I know it’s a serious problem and it will affect us all from the top of the food chain on down. We rely on honey bees to pollinate and they are responsible for 1/3 of our food supply. When they’re in trouble, we’re all in trouble.
Häagen-Dazs® has created a new flavor-Vanilla Honey Bee-to help provide monies to protect the bees and do research on pollination. They have a great interactive website where you can create your own “honey bee” to your likeness or someone else’s (this is the one I created to look like someone but it isn’t me!) and it gives food facts about bees. CLICK HERE to view. They’re asking for all of our help to make sure they survive and to buy this flavor ice cream.
It’s summer & hot here in Portland, Oregon, so let’s do our part and eat Vanilla Honey Bee Häagen-Dazs® ice cream! Get your kids involved on the website as well…they will enjoy it.
© Copyright 2008-2009 Betty Jung. All Rights Reserved. Use of this article, photos and images without permission is a violation of federal copyright laws.ALL ABOUT…..Portland.Oregon.Real Estate by Betty Jung is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 United States License.
Based on a Blog at WordPress. (For more local and national real estate information, go to www.bettyjung.com).
Photo from NASA Website
If your kids are bored or complain they don’t have anything to do this summer, you might introduce them to NASA’s website. You can subscribe to receive daily images from NASA’s Image Gallery via email of the galaxy, planets, earth or space. The pictures are incredible! There’s also a student’s section for them to learn even more. Plus, there’s a NASA Kids’ Club to play fun games. Two examples would be to follow the Phoenix Mars Lander or see an amazing and interesting star like – Pipsqueak. Read more from the NASA website (www.nasa.gov) below about this incredible force.
Pipsqueak Star Unleashes Monster Flare
- For many years scientists have known that our sun gives off powerful explosions, known as flares, that contain millions of times more energy than atomic bombs.
- But when astronomers compare flares from the sun to flares on other stars, the sun’s flares lose. On April 25, 2008, NASA’s Swift satellite picked up a record-setting flare from a star known as EV Lacertae. This flare was thousands of times more powerful than the greatest observed solar flare. But because EV Lacertae is much farther from Earth than the sun, the flare did not appear as bright as a solar flare. Still, it was the brightest flare ever seen from a star other than the sun.
- What makes the flare particularly interesting is the star. EV Lacertae is much smaller and dimmer than our sun. In other words, a tiny, wimpy star is capable of packing a very powerful punch.
- How can such a small star produce such a powerful flare? The answer can be found in EV Lacertae’s youth. Whereas our sun is a middle-aged star, EV Lacertae is a toddler. The star is much younger than our sun, and is still spinning rapidly. The fast spin, together with its churning interior, whips up gases to produce a magnetic field that is much more powerful than the sun’s magnetic field.
ALL ABOUT…..Portland.Oregon.Real Estate by Betty Jung is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 United States License.
Based on a Blog at WordPress.
(For more local and national real estate information, go to www.bettyjung.com).
Photo from Microsoft Office
HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO YOU….HAPPY BIRTHDAY DEAR 64 BOX™! HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO YOU!!!!
Guess who turns 50 this year? An American classic….the first 64 Box™ of crayons debuted in 1958 and had a built-in sharpener. Do you remember colors like burnt sienna and cornflower? I know I had a 64 Box™, did you?
Recently, the Crayola® Company asked children across the U.S. to pick new colors that they felt would be “hot“ in 2008. What’s so interesting about this is the colors the children picked out drew on everything from children wanting to play their part in protecting the planet to believing that they could become famous just like the everyday people who achieve stardom on reality shows. It shows what has value and importance in the lives of our children today. Further, the choices that children made for the new colors reflected how harmony in the home and family are at the top of their list.
“Everything you can imagine is real.” - Pablo Picasso
The 2008 collection has 8 new colors and names. Reprinted in part from the Crayola® Factory they are:
- “super happy“ - kids don’t want to worry, they just want to be happy.
- “fun in the sun” – riding bikes, playing soccer, skateboarding, and gymnastics – kids said this color means exercise and keeping fit are important and fun.
- “giving tree” - it’s a colorful truth that kids are thinking green too, and want to play a part in protecting the earth.
- “bear hug” - a hue of harmony as kids want their homes to feel warm and loving just like a great bear hug.
- “awesome” - means kids think school is cool and getting good grades feels awesome.
- “happy ever after” - kids want to make a difference and create Cinderella moments for others, so everyone’s story has a happy ending.
- “famous” – American Idol and shows like it inspired this hue as kids believe they can become celebrities just like everyday people who become stars.
- “best friends” - this shade of purple reveals who kids’ real BFF’s are – their parents and spending time with them is what they enjoy most.
ALL ABOUT…..Portland.Oregon.Real Estate by Betty Jung is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 United States License.
Based on a Blog at WordPress.
(For more local and national real estate information, go to www.bettyjung.com).
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