Words To Live By

The Power of Words

2011-05-17T22:07:00.000-07:00

Yes, I believe in the power of words. Saw this video and it seemed to tell a great little short story that I thought I'd share today. Words are so powerful! We use our words to bless or to curse. When Jesus cursed the fig tree, it died overnight! The old rhyme goes, "Sticks and stones may break my bones, But words can never hurt me." Well, that just isn't true. I can still remember my first grade teacher embarrassing me by warning me she'd send me back to kindergarten if I could not give her the right answer to the question she kept asking me. That was 45 years ago, and it still stings today. In high school a boy taunted me with "I bet you could look like someone else". Well, those are harsh words. But they are nothing like the words some parents unleash on their children. How many times have you seen a frazzled mother calling her child an idiot or stupid in a public place? Imagine what her words must sound like when no one is around.

For what it's worth, I'd like to encourage my readers to speak a kind word to someone they love today. It may change their world.

A Tip Of The Hat To The Lad

2011-03-31T13:11:00.000-07:00

Someone sent this little ditty to me in an e-mail last week. I don't generally open or read forwarded messages that wind up in my e-mail box. But since the sender is not the type of person who ususally does this, I was curious. I'm so glad I read it, and liked this one so much, I felt I just had to pass it on here. I wish I had the name of this kid so I could give credit where credit is due. If someone reading this know the answer, please leave me a coment. Hope you like this one:

BY A 15 yr. OLD SCHOOL KID

who got an A+ for this entry

(TOTALLY AWESOME)!

Since the Pledge of Allegiance

And

The Lord's Prayer

Are not allowed in most

Public schools anymore

Because the word 'God' is mentioned.....

A kid in Arizona wrote the attached

NEW School prayer:

"New Pledge of Allegiance"

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Now I sit me down in school

Where praying is against the rule

For this great nation under God

Finds mention of Him very odd.

If scripture now the class recites,

It violates the Bill of Rights.

And anytime my head I bow

Becomes a Federal matter now.

Our hair can be purple, orange or green,

That's no offense; it's a freedom scene.

The law is specific, the law is precise.

Prayers spoken aloud are a serious vice.

For praying in a public hall

Might offend someone with no faith at all.

In silence alone we must meditate,

God's name is prohibited by the state.

We're allowed to cuss and dress like freaks,

And pierce our noses, tongues and cheeks...

They've outlawed guns, but FIRST the Bible.

To quote the Good Book makes me liable.

We can elect a pregnant Senior Queen,

And the 'unwed daddy,' our Senior King.

It's 'inappropriate' to teach right from wrong,

We're taught that such 'judgments' do not belong.

We can get our condoms and birth controls,

Study witchcraft, vampires and totem poles.

But the Ten Commandments are not allowed,

No word of God must reach this crowd.

It's scary here I must confess,

When chaos reigns the school's a mess.

So, Lord, this silent plea I make:

Should I be shot; My soul please take!

Amen

Squidoo- A Voyage Into Deep Uncharted Waters

2011-02-16T15:44:00.000-08:00

Long ago I heard of the land of Squidoo. But I dared not venture there. It seemed to be just another place for writer wannabees to hang out together and critique one another's work. I was curious, but not compelled. Many times I heard it described as addictive. Well, that's the last thing I need in my schedule is another ridiculous impulsive hobby that gobbles up all my time. But still I was curious.

Until one dark and dreary day when the snow piled high outside my window, making outdoor travel virtually impossible, I decided to take the dive from my laptop, and have a lookabout. I watched a quick little intro video, and then was invited to learn more by clicking through a various assortment of links, each one drawing me deeper and deeper into the waters, until before I knew it, I was completely sucked into a trap titled "How to start a Lens". It asked me for a name, and gave me a free domain. I had succumbed to the beast without even knowing it. But I have lived to share my story.
So, for all those curious souls who have never ventured into the deep, let me try to explain what I have learned.

First of all, Squidoo is a site where bloggers and hobbyist can share information about anything they feel passionate about, that other people may be interested in reading. For instance photography, cooking, video games, movies, etc. Except on Squidoo you do not create "blog posts", you create "lenses", which are more specifically targeted towards the subject matter. If I start a lens about cooking, then I would not add any information about my trip to Disneyland with the grandkids. Every update to my lens should be related to the subject matter, cooking. If I want to write about Disneyland, or grandparenting, then I would start a new lens on those subjects. Lenses are public, not private. So this is not the place to document your family adventures, except as it ties into subjects such as travel, or cooking, photography, or tips for grandparents. Get the idea?

Once you have created your very first lens, you are granted a trophy and a new title- Lensmaster. This will also earn you some points, and unlock a new quest for you, (usually an invitation to create another lens on a different subject matter). Squidoo keeps the whole experience very fun, playful and interactive for you. It's a bit like like a video game, in that every time you create a lens, you are rewarded. You will also be rewarded for visiting other peoples lenses, logging into the site, participating in forums, and watching the tutorials, of which there are many. You can redeem your points for more impressive features on your lens, a better overall rating for your site, and better search engine options. Sounds like fun, doesn't it? Yes, perhaps even addictive, just a smidge.

So what happens when you start a lens about cooking, but decide you also would like to write movie reviews? That's when you start your second lens. This new lens will deal with movie reviews exclusively. You can add more updates to both your lenses whenever the inspiration hits you. But unlike a blog, that needs to continually be updated, a lens can stand on it's own. It's like writing a good magazine article, and then allowing it to be archived online indefinitely. You can add additional articles to the lens. You can update it. You can add photos. Or you can leave it alone. It's entirely up to you. It's no pressure writing at it's easiest. You can write about what you're passionate about and leave it at that.

Squidoo is often referred to as a writers co-op, and as such, participants are always on the lookout for inappropriate articles, spam, and poorly written articles. Quality work is appreciated and rewarded, and some of the rewards are monetary. Advertisers look for good articles to link with their products, giving Lensmasters the opportunity to earn a little extra cash while they are building their lenses. A lensmaster need not sign up for dozens of affiliate programs in order to be eligible for earnings. Having a Squidoo account and Paypal is all you need to start earning extra income from such participants as Amazon, Etsy, Chitika, Google Ads, Cafe Press and even Zazzle. (Yay!) It's easy, and it's automatic. The advertisers match keywords in your articles and tags to their products. They get advertising on your lens, and you get a kickback if your links produce a click thru sale. The payout threshold is only $5, so you won't have to wait years to see your efforts produce a paycheck in most cases. Just focus on writing good articles and tagging them well, and Squidoo and it's partner advertisers will do the rest for you.

Squidoo is user friendly, and there are oodles of widgets and modules to make your lenses look gorgeous and professional. It is definitely worth a look-i-loo around if you are the curious type and have an itch to start writing articles to a public audience. It's easy to share updates on social networks like Twitter and Facebook.

Indeed there are many reasons to consider Squidoo as an alternate or an additive to a "traditional" blog. While I have no intention of giving up my blog here on Blogspot, I found myself often wanting to sound off about different products I have spent my money on. (See some of my earlier posts here). Rather than continually posting commercial breaks to air my opinions and product reviews, I simply started a lens on Squidoo where I will continually sound off my opinions on store products. But here on Blogspot, I will keep writing about the places I visit, crafting ideas, and other random thoughts.

If you wish to take a peek at my first lens on Squidoo, here is the link: http://squidoo.com/ShopTalk
Let me know what you think. And if you too are a Lensmaster, leave your link here, and I'll sneak over to visit you on the other side.

Happy exploring!

Living History Farms

2011-01-20T17:11:00.000-08:00

This past summer my husband and I were delighted to stumble upon The Living History Farms in Urbandale, Iowa, just outside of Des Moines, a fascinating journey through time, into the history of American farming, particularly Iowan farming, which consists mostly of corn and soy. My husband was actually raised on a farm, so many of the displays seemed familiar and nostalgic to him. I, on the other hand, grew up just south of Las Vegas, NV. I didn't get my first peek at a real working farm until 16 years ago when I moved to Oregon to marry the country bumpkin who had swept me off my feet.

Living History Farms features three working farms spread over 500 acres of native prairie land. There is also a replicated township, circa 1875, which features a school house, blacksmith, a general store, the dressmakers shoppe, the pharmacy, the broom makers shed, and a couple of Victorian homes. All of the buildings are open for you to tour through, and are all inhabited by costumed interpreters who play characters from the past, and answer all of your related questions.

The Blacksmith

The Dressmaker

To tour the three working farms, you will take a tractor ride to a drop off spot, where you will begin the 300 year walk back into time. Your first stop would be the 1700 native Iowan Indian farm. You will be greeted by interpreters who will tell you the pros and cons of life on an Iowan farm in 1700. On down the trail we came across a little 1850 homestead. A father and son were busy feeding the pigs and oxen, while the women folk stayed closer to the house, tending a small garden, gathering eggs from the hen house, and sewing quilts to get them through the winter.

Gardening in the 1800's

(That's a lot of weeding!)

Bringing the Oxen in

Lastly, you will tour the farm from 1900. This is the one that most resembled my husbands childhood memories. Freshly mowed hay was brought in on horse drawn wagons and loaded into the hay loft. Windmills now eased some of the work load. And kitchens now came with some modern conveniences and gadgets, like this very cool butter churn.

There is a wealth of information and education to be gleaned by spending a day at the Farm. On certain days the women will show you how to make corn husk dolls or brooms. Other days the blacksmith can show you how to forge metal. Or the printing press can show you how they used to put together a newspaper, one letter at a time, using various fonts and sizes of letter stamps. Crazy to think of how time consuming that must have been as I sit here now typing away on my Gateway. We have certainly come a long way!

If you are lucky enough to be able to visit The Living History Farms, by all means take your children, as they will love and learn much about our American past. And don't forget to stop in at the restaurant next door. The Machine Shed serves the best breakfast buffet I've ever had in my life, and that's saying a lot, since I'm a Las Vegas girl, and Vegas is known for it's phenomenal buffets.

Happy touring-

A New Wrinkle On The New Year

2011-01-13T20:02:00.000-08:00

Well, it's a brand new year. Aren't you glad that every 12 months we get a "do-over"? I'm excited to see what the new year ahead has in store. My husband and I are certifying to do respite care for therapeutic foster parents this year. That's a big change for us, after having been foster parents with DHS for so many years. We're now in our 50's and loving the empty nest, not to mention our 7 beautiful grandchildren. (The 8th grandchild will make his or her debut this coming May). We're also planning a wedding for our daughter this summer, so needless to say, life remains quite busy for us. Last year we welcomed a new grandson and a new daughter in law into our family. In fact, our family has been growing at a rate of 2 extra persons per year, every year for the last 7 years. How's that for growth? I used to pray the Jabez prayer regularly, you know that one that asks God to "enlarge your territory". Well, no more. I could not handle anymore territory than God has already given me.

I've noticed some big changes in me, now that I'm well into my 50's. Like, for one thing, I'd rather my husband buy me a brand new pair of shiny eye glasses, than a sparkly new necklace. Another thing I've noticed is that I used to buy clothes that I really, REALLY liked. But now I buy clothes to disguise things I really don't like. The good news is that I'm learning to grow old gracefully, since I don't fall down while I'm kicking and screaming anymore.

Never the less, I do remain excited about the year ahead. I have signed up to take piano lessons this year. I'm working on a series of wall murals in the Children's department at our church, I continue to design T-shirts and posters in my free time, (not that I actually have any free time), and my husband and I are planning a trip to the New England states, hopefully this summer. There really are a lot of fabulous advantages to having reached those fabulous "golden years". It still blows my mind, however, when I think of myself as a senior. I think that's why God lets our backs start hurting so much, the older we get. It sends a reminder everyday that are youth has passed, and senior moments are now a part of life. I don't like it one little bit, I tell ya.

Of course no one knows how many years God will grant us life. But I do know that I will make the best of everyday I am given, regardless of how much that new wrinkle is bugging me. I am after all, a very blessed woman indeed.

Happy New Year everyone.

Dadisms...

2010-06-20T21:19:00.000-07:00

Today we celebrated Father's Day, and without a doubt, I believe I married one of the dearest and best Father's in the world. And yet, even in our household, there are those moments when we all scratch our heads and wonder what really goes on in his head. For instance, it is just beyond me how a man with a Masters degree in biological science is unable to discern whether or not the dishwasher is full of clean or dirty dishes. Without question he will add dirty dishes into the dishwasher ONLY when it is full of clean dishes. And whenever it is empty and ready to be loaded up with dirties, he will pile them up in the sink. How do men do this? I can easily see the difference. But he claims he cannot. Hmmm.

Other times he swears he did not track mud all over the kitchen after I just mopped. And yet, he is the only one who has been outside....working in his garden I might add. He loves to correct me whenever I leave a light on in a room. And yet, he leaves the bathroom light on EVERY time he uses it. He also leaves the television on, and then goes outside for hours or leaves the house altogether. (There's just two of us living here, so I KNOW it was him!) He uses the microwave and leaves it wide open too, yes, with the little light inside burning.

The kids and I used to giggle whenever he ran around the house infuriated by the fact that some of his tools were missing. We knew that he had been the last one to use them, and the only one who never put them away. He was so bad at putting things away, I finally just bought my own set of tools, so I wouldn't be frustrated by them not getting put away.

This lovable guy of mine talks in the middle of important news stories, because he gets so fired up. I can't hear what all the fuss is over his commentary. He can be listening and laughing one minute, and sound asleep the next in a room full of people staring at him. No way I can sleep in a crowded room. How do guys do that?

He spends hours in the bathroom playing Scrabble on his little handheld. How weird is that to be so competitive? Everytime we buy gas, he check the receipt to do the math in his head to figure out exactly how many miles per gallon we got on each tank. When he goes for a run around the neighborhood, he doesn't care how far he went. He just wants to know what his pace was. I'm not even sure what that means.

But for all the little weird quirky things this man can dish out, I cannot imagine how dull my life would be without him. So Happy Father's Day, sweetie. And to all the other Dad's out there- double check the dishwasher before you put you're dirty dishes in there!

Smiles-

Letter Lady Darla

The View From Here

2009-07-31T17:22:00.000-07:00

Well, here we are almost into August, and I'm feeling a bit reflective today. Our Summer was quite eventful between our travels to Reno, LaJolla, Carlsbad New Mexico, Durango Colorado, and fabulous Santa Fe. Between travels, Dan's dear mother fell quite ill and had to hospitalized for quite some time, followed by the need for constant in home care. She is on the mend now. But it has made for quite an interesting Summer, full of many wonderful memories, and some high anxiety moments. As much as I have wanted to host more tea parties and craft shows, it hasn't been possible. I am very much looking forward to the Fall when hopefully things will quiet down at least somewhat.

We do, however, have a missionary family with 5 kids who will be living with us during the month of September. Things are never quiet around the Elliott household for very long. As a result I started a Shutterfly site called "Where's The Next Party?" You know, I thought that when my 8 kids were all grown and gone things would settle down a bit. Not so. There have been 7 graduations to attend since my kids left high school!! We've had 3 weddings in the last 5 years, and another one is just around the corner. We've had 6 grandbabies born in the last 5 years as well. So now instead of celebrating just 10 family birthdays a year, we have 16 to celebrate...before counting our parents, siblings, and friends. And there are holidays, and friends weddings and special events too. People often ask me what do I do with all my free time now that the kids are gone. I haven't had time to figure that out yet, but I'll let you know when I do.

With so many parties going on, my Shutterfly site really did make sense to me, since anyone who hosts parties as often as I do, should really make a business of it, and make it as fun as possible. I will be posting a lot of party information there, now that we have finished our travels for the Summer. We are working on a wedding next week out at the family farm. I will also be available again to host tea parties in Central Oregon. And yes, I am working on a series of craft workshops for Uppercase Living fans. I can work with about 8 women at a time. And we have some fabulous ideas coming up for Fall! Price for the workshops start at around $25 and up, and include all your supplies plus some fabulous refreshments as well.

I love living in Central Oregon. It's a great place to come back home to. And as much as I love sitting at my desk blogging and sharing my ideas with my friends, I really, REALLY enjoy just getting up and taking a walk outside every once in a while so I can catch my breath. With views like this, how can you blame me?

Hope you're all enjoying your summer as much as I am.

Blessings to all,

Letter Lady Darla

Brickhouse Restaurant

2009-07-13T11:45:00.000-07:00

There was a time when residents of Redmond had to travel to Bend to find fine dining choices. But no longer is that true with the additions of Coyote Ranch, Canyons, and now the Brickhouse Restaurant. The Brickhouse offers a full range of appetizers including several raw and cooked seafood choices. There are also fresh salads and vegetable dishes to round out your meal. Entrees include a variety of steaks with your choice of toppings including a peppercorn demi glace, roasted garlic demi- glace, Rogue River blue cheese encrusted, or smothered in onions and mushrooms. They also offer several seafood, chicken, and pasta dishes, served with fresh vegetables, potatoes, and warm bread.

My steak was sheer perfection, along with the tender broccoli cuts and the garlic potatoes. Also loved the environment there which is typical Central Oregon casual chic, with chunky oversized booths, and a low activity buzz in the background, which creates an active and exciting ambiance without being overly disruptive to conversations taking place at your own table.

The service is detailed and personable. For dessert they offer a selection of fruit cobblers in season, Burnt Cream, Vanilla Bean ice cream, or Chocolate Lava Cake. Being a chocoholic, I chose the Lava Cake. I would not label it as extraordinary. I've had better, but it wasn't shabby by any means.

The Brickhouse is located at 412 SW Sixth Street in Redmond. Reservations are highly recommended, especially on the weekend.

Hotel Horror Stories

2009-06-30T17:51:00.001-07:00

Tis the season to be traveling to unknown destinations. But here's a word to the wise: Make sure you check the reviews on your lodging arrangements BEFORE you pay to stay. My husband and I recently returned from a fabulous roadtrip. Every detail of our trip was perfect. And for the most part, all the lodging arrangements were made well in advance, and with much research I might add. However, there was one night that I did not make adequate arrangements for. I share my own horror story in the hopes of sparing someone else the same fate. (Is it just me, or do you hear a little psycho music playing right now?).

The place- Carlsbad, New Mexico. Carlsbad seems to have a shortage of fancy hotels rooms. Please take it from me, if you can get a room at Super 8, grab it!!! It is probably the best room in town. My husband and I were touring all throughout New Mexico and Colorado, and stayed in some wonderful places. I hesitated to get a room in Carlsbad because we were unsure if Dans brother and nephew were going to be able to drive down with us or not. Carlsbad books up fast, especially if they happen to have a softball tournament or some other activity in town during your stay. I finally went ahead and booked a room for us when it became apparent that the whole town was filling up quickly, and few rooms remained. (Did I just hear that music again?)

It was 2 weeks before our stay. I couldn't afford to wait any longer. So I booked a King size, non smoking room at the Executive Suites & Hotel. The website took my credit card info. However it did not give me a thankyou, or a confirmation of any kind. I called the hotel to make sure that my room had been booked. A man answered the phone in broken English. I asked if he had received my online reservation. He told me he would call me back after he finished his dinner. Say what?! I told him he did not need to call me back if they would just send me an e-mail confirmation of my order. They don't do that, he informed me. Well could he call me back with a confirmation number then? He rattled off a number for me, which I carefully wrote down. He assured me he had my reservation, and we were all squared away. Something didn't feel right to me. It was probably just me being overly suspicious. I mean with a name like Executive Suites and Hotel, how bad could it be? They even served a complimentary breakfast.

Two weeks later we were scrambling to find a room for Dans relatives who had not booked anything until the night before we arrived. I was finally able to secure a room for them at, (you guessed it), Super8, for a hundred bucks!! Well, I was pretty sure no Super8 could ever be worth a hundred bucks a night. But that was before I stayed at the Executive Suites and Hotel.

The next day we toured Carlsbad Caverns as planned. The caverns are totally awesome, as was the bat departure from the cave that came at dusk. At the end of the day, we drove our guests to the local Super8 and dropped them off, feeling a little sad for them. And then we drove on down the road to The Executive Suites and Hotel. (There it was again...the music! You did hear it didn't you?)

Dan went inside to get the key, while I waited in the car. Alas, they had no record of me, or my reservation. And they were completely out of rooms. So was everyone in town. The man with the broken English would try and call around to find us another room. Dan showed him the confirmation number I had been given. The man had no idea where I would have gotten a confirmation number from, since they don't give confirmations numbers. Meanwhile, I waited in the car, unaware there was an issue. Afterall, I had paid for this room online.

The man with the broken English noticed that he did happen to have one room left afterall, thanks to an earlier cancellation. He would put us in that room. Good thing, because the whole town was booked solid due to the big Softball Tournament that weekend. Dan returned to the car with a key to a room that had 2 queen beds. He reported to me the trouble he had inside, and that the lobby was very dirty. Uh oh. Now the music is playing really loud. But what choice did we have? We were dirty from hiking in a damp dirty cave all day. I really just wanted a clean place to sleep, and a nice hot shower. I could skip the free breakfast in the morning.

So off we went to check the room. This was very scary. The door creaked open. Two queen size beds appeared to be sloppily made. The lampshades hung cockeyed off the table lamps. A loan q-tip had been left on the dresser. Nice touch I thought. I pulled the blankets off the bed to make sure the sheets were clean, and there weren't any bugs. The sheets appeared to be clean. But they were the only thing that was. The floor was in desperate need of vacuuming, (See photo).

In the vanity area we noticed a coffee pot and a packet of coffee. However, there were no coffee cups, or even water glasses. An icetub which read "Holiday Inn" sat on a nearby dresser. Under the vanity the walls were moldy and the previous tenants had left a tupperware lid and a zip lock full of more q-tips....clean ones.

Regretably I had to use the restroom. Carefully, cautiously, I pushed the door open. I pushed and pushed. But the door did not want to budge. Looking up I noticed the source of the doors stubborn behavior. The door and the ceiling were trying to occupy the same air space, and the ceiling was winning. I pushed the door with all my might, till it finally gave way revealing a dirty little bathroom that hadn't been cleaned in generations. I carefully wiped the toilet seat with 2 squares of toilet tissue, trying to preserve as much tissue as possible, since there was only enough for about 2 trips to the toilet each. With the seat being semi clean, I went ahead and sat down, only to discover the seat was not secured in place. Screws were missing on both sides. Using the toilet would be a balancing act.

Once that business was taken care of, I fearfully approached the bathtub and peered inside. There it was, grime, months of it. It never dawned on me that a hotel this filthy could actually stay in business. But here it is. I have living proof.

And while I feel I must apologize to my readers for the this rather graphic, and utterly gross posting, I feel that my posting this information is for the greater good...to spare others like myself from having to fall victim to the same fate. So travelers, be warned! Read up on the reviews before you stay anywhere. And for the record the Super8 that our relatives stayed in looked like a stinking palace next to our little dive. And for A hundred bucks, that wasn't such a bad deal after all. It even came with breakfast. Dan and I skipped breakfast at the Executive Suites and Hotel, and stopped in to pay Micky-D a visit. Lesson learned. Amen.

A New Hobby....Shutterfly!

2009-06-10T10:50:00.000-07:00

I have recently discovered a new hobby. Shutterfly. What is Shutterfly, you ask. Well, where do I begin? First of all I want to tell you that this is an independent opinion, and I am not being paid to gush over the site, although in the near future I may opt to join their affiliate team. For now, I am just a casual user of their many features.

I started Shutterfly as a photo storage site. After researching the other photos sites out there, I chose Shutterfly because it offers free unlimited photo storage, and they never delete your photos. Other photo storage sites will limit the amount of free storage available to you, or they will require you to make purchases within so many months, or they will delete your photos if you are inactive for a certain amount of time. Photo storage sites are valuable as a place to keep your photos without having to use up all your computer space, or at least to have a back up copies, in the event your computer should crash. So really everyone needs a photo storage site to be on the safe side. I didn't want the threat of having my account and all my photos being deleted if I went inactive for a few months, or forgot to make a purchase in the allotted time frame. So Shutterfly was the site I happily began storing photos on. Shutterfly does support the site through the sale of photo prints, calenders, posters, photo mugs, and other products. But you are not obligated to make purchases to use the site. More than likely, you will eventually want to make a purchase there.

My first purchase was a photo album I put together for my mother depicting her recent visit to Oregon with 2 of my sisters. I gave it to her for Mothers Day. She went absolutely nuts! Said it was the best present she ever got. I really do not have the time, money, or storage space to put together some of those really cute scrapbooks my girlfriends are always showing me. Shutterfly offers a digital version of scrap booking that is absolutely a blast to put together! You get to choose different themes, colors, layouts, etc. Add some text to your pics, and order these beautifully bound keepsakes for under $30!! That little photo album will be the first of many I plan to order, as my sisters all want a copy for Christmas. I'm going to do another one for our family reunion this summer, and another one for my mother in law, who has got to that age where she has told us all to quit buying her "junk" for Christmas. I may even work on a Family recipe book!

Shutterfly gives you these gorgeous beautifully bound published books, that you have complete control over the design and the content, and at such a reasonable cost. And you won't have to wait forever to have it delivered either. I ordered my Mothers Day gift one week before Mothers Day, and Mom got it on time without me having to put in a rush order! Very impressive don't you think?

Last night I put together a Shutterfly Share site, which is basically a little website to post your favorite photos on. Man, was I impressed! The share sites offer an unbelievable amount of features, and again all of this is free. I was able to add a calender, photo albums, widgets, links, guestbook, video. And that's only the tip of iceberg in terms of features that are available, so you can customize and have total control of your little website. Use it for showing off wedding photos, or featuring your grandbabies, or blogging your summer traveling adventures. You're not limited to just one website.
My share site is titled "Where's The Next Party?" and will feature the many parties my friends, relatives and myself are involved in, along with recipes, party games, theme ideas and more. We will post pics from previous parties, plans for future parties, and calenders for each member to post their own personal party information on. I hope to have around half dozen contributors to keep the content fresh and fun.
Take a sneak peek at my share site and let me know what you think. Become one of my contributors or set up a Shutterfly site of your own. My site is located at http://wheresthenextparty.shutterfly.com/ . If you know how to decorate cakes or have any fun party pics you want me to post, e-mail them to wheresthenextparty@sfly.com .
You can use Shutterfly in so many ways. My husband coaches high school football, and I think it would be fun to get a Share site featuring his team, and allowing all the parents to post their favorite photos of all the kids that play. As I mentioned, I am going to start a family reunion site later this summer when my family gets together at the beach. If you are considering starting a blog, website, or photo storage, I would strongly recommend you give Shutterfly a lookie.
Thanks for reading. Have a blessed day.

The Magic Bullet

2009-06-03T16:38:00.000-07:00

The Magic Bullet sounds like nothing short of a miracle when you watch the infomercial. I waited 2 years before finally scooping up mine at the rock bottom price of $19.99. No kidding! I still see them selling all over the place for $59.99. Walmart must have been trying to reduce some of it's stock that day, cause I haven't seen them for that price since.

Theoretically, it's supposed to chop, dice, blend, yadda, yadda. And you cook in it, store in it, and it comes with a "sprinkle" top for sprinkling on cheese after grating it. I'll be honest with you, for all the hype, I haven't used mine much at all. The Magic Bullet has one speed. Fast! And that means it's super easy to over process foods if you blink. My salsa came out like liquid, not super chunky.

On the other hand, it doesn't really do a very good job grating cheese, like I had hoped it would. Grating cheese is just one of those tricky things that works best the old fashioned way.

What I have used my Magic Bullet for is making Smoothies, especially this time of year. I love the little individual mugs, so you can whip up one at a time in different flavors, and then just drink right out of the same container you blended the drink in. Anybody who knows me very well, knows I am all about shortcuts, so this is one shortcut I love, especially in the Summertime, when I could drink a smoothie everyday!

Here is the recipe for one of my favorite tea smoothies which is healthy and refreshing in the summertime.

Peach Mango Tea Smoothie

1 cup of Mango ice cream, 1/2 cup of Peach flavored ice tea (from Culinary Teas), 1/2 container peach yogurt. blend all ingredients together in the Magic Bullet until smooth, thick and creamy. Enjoy!

(For more Tea Smoothie recipes, please visit my website at www.sconeyisland.net )

The Amazing Aqua Globe- The Sequel

2009-06-03T16:22:00.000-07:00

Well here's what happens when you don't follow your own advice. After writing my last post about the Amazing Aqua Globe, I decided to keep my Aqua Globes in place just because they are pretty, although not functional. I did not heed my own advice about not leaving them alone in the house with my young tender plants. And as they say "a picture is worth a thousand words". As you can see, sure enough Aqua Globes are seriously a threat to your young tender plants. When I returned home from 2 hours at church this last Sunday, I found my poor little spider plant, sprawled out in the entry way. She had been assaulted by the Aqua Globe while I was away. I feel so guilty for not taking my own advice! Not only was the Aqua Globe completely destroyed, but so was the pot my plant had been growing in. And trying to gently scoop up my little baby and the fallen soil was quite a task amidst the broken shards of glass. I won't be getting my money back on this little piece. That's just the price I'll have to pay for my carelessness.

The Amazing Aqua Globe!

2009-05-28T15:20:00.000-07:00

Well my husband and I have made some traveling plans for this summer, so I thought it would be a good idea to invest in some Aqua Globes to keep my plants moist and healthy while I am away. Now before I go any further, I need to let you know that this is NOT a paid advertisement or review. I am a AS SEEN ON TV junkie that's for sure. But this is an honest, independent opinion. And no one has ever paid me for being honest. But here goes anyway:

So you've seen these little guys on TV and in the store, right? Well, they looked like they would be the perfect thing for tending my babies while we are gone. So I bought them at my local Home Depot, brought them home, opened the box, and even read the instructions.

First, you fill the little vial. This is actually rather hard to do because it is so tiny, it's hard to get a stream of water into the thing. Next you poke a hole in the dirt with a stick in the spot you want your Aqua Globe to be inserted. Once you make your pilot hole in the dirt you are ready to insert your globe.

The globe was a bit on the wobbly side, and felt as though it might tip over. But alas, I was able to get to stand up sturdily without holding onto it. Now, the test. Will it actually deliver the water on demand as needed?

Two days later I noticed that the water level in the Aqua Globe hadn't decreased by even the slightest. I checked the soil. The dirt was bone dry, and my plant was very thirsty! So here's my conclusion on the Aqua Globe. They may be pretty, but do not trust them to be left alone with your plants!!! They will kill them. Tomorrow I am marching right back into my friendly Home Depot and getting my $$$ back.

BTW- The staff at our Redmond Home Depot are the most helpful and friendly group of employees I've ever seen! They make doing business locally a real pleasure.

Working Wonders Children's Museum

2009-05-18T14:19:00.000-07:00

Every grandma knows it's a good idea to have some magical tricks up her sleeve for entertaining grand kids on a rainy day. I discovered the Working Wonders Children's Museum on such a day. The museum was so much more fun for my little ones than I had expected, and we spent 3 hours of good quality play time before I finally had to drag them out so that I could grab a bite to eat. They would have stayed and played the rest of the day I think! This is not your typical museum, by any means. It is a total "learn through hands on play" experience that kids under 10 will thoroughly enjoy.

We started our visit at the Wonder Mart grocery store, where my little 4 year old grandson quickly grabbed a pint size shopping cart and began filling it with plastic bagels as though his very life depended on it. I was finally able to get him to walk around the other side of the aisle to discover more life like looking groceries, including milk, eggs, cottage cheese, produce, etc. My granddaughter was more interested in measuring rice through funnels at a large play table. Upon checkout, we discovered a short little store clerk missing two front teeth. She smiled broadly and gave my grandson some play money so he could "pay" for his purchases.

Our next stop was the weather station, where my grandson donned a suitcoat and tie, grabbed the microphone and announced to everyone in the museum, in a very loud voice, that there would be "more rain tomorrow, everybody. More rain tomorrow! Everybody better wear their coats and hats, cause there's more rain tomorrow!" He shouted at the top of his lungs, while my granddaughter found the appropriate forecast illustrations to post on the nearby velcro board.

Next, my granddaughter wanted to try her hand at the climbing wall, while little man geared up for a kayak ride down the nearby "Crooked River". Afterwards they both settled into the nearby "campground"and pretended to make some camp food for lunch.

Both of my grandchildren love playing dressup, so it was no surprise that they spent about an hour just trying on various costumes and acting out on the pretend stage while grandma sat on a nearby bench and applauded each performance.

My grandson's favorite exhibit was the Pizza Parlor where the kids busied themselves making faux pizza with little cutout pepperoni's, pineapples, onions, etc. Afterwards they are "baked" in a brick oven, then stored in real pizza boxes until customers appear at the ordering window and order their pizza. My grandson is looking forward to a future with Domino's someday.

My granddaughter however loved the Animal hospital most of all. There she was able to care for a variety of stuffed animal friends and nurse them back to health with the aid of a multitude of very professional looking equipment, including x-ray machines, an ivac, blood pressure monitors, stethoscopes, etc. Without question she has determined that when she grows up she wants to be an animal doctor.
Working Wonders also has a construction zone where giant foam "lincoln logs" await tiny builders to construct their own buildings. There's also a passport section that beckons little travelers to be a tourist to a south of the border destination, where they can enjoy spanish music, make homemade tortillas, shop in the market, and play house in an authentic looking casa. There is also a fabulous craft room where budding artists could spend hours working with several mixed media applications. Both my little darlings enjoyed the professors lab where they got to get their little hands completely gooped up with shaving cream. Now that's what I call good clean fun!
The Working Wonders Children's Museum is located in the Old Mill Shopping District on Powerhouse Rd. in Bend. Admission is $6 per person, but a punch card is available for multiple visits, and will significantly reduce the cost of admission if you plan to visit more than once. They do offer birthday party packages with a private party room and a personal assistant to help manage a larger group. They also feature special activity days and nights. You can check their website for more information at http://www.workingwonders.org/ .

Redmond's Free Medical Clinic

2009-05-05T16:42:00.000-07:00

What a fantastic addition to Redmond is the new City Care Clinic located at 818 SW. Forest, along the back side of "The Center" of City Center Church, who donated the space that houses the facility. The clinic is the vision of Dr. Randy Visser, who has been joined by a staff of other doctors including Dr. Valenti, Dr. Sternfeld, Dr. McMillan, and Dr. Hughes. The clinic provides free health care services to the uninsured in our community, as well as providing access to some greatly discounted pharmaceuticals.

Additionally, they hope to add free dental services in the very near future. The clinic is open on the 1st, 2nd, 3rd, and 5th Wednesday of every month, from 1-4pm, and on the 4th Tuesday of the month, from 1-4pm. You must pre-register first before you can be seen by one of the physicians, and the clinic does not provide walk-in or emergency services. In order to pre-register, you may download the paperwork on their website, fill it in and bring it with you at the time of your first appointment.

The re-model effort was completed by a crew of volunteers, and the clinic is staffed every week with more smiling volunteers. This truly has been a community effort, that continues to flourish under the guidance and direction of Dr. Visser and Rev. Ginny McPherson.

If you would like more information about Redmond's new City Care Clinic, you may visit their website at http://thecitycareclinic.org/ , or call 541-316-2582. Donations are needed for supplies, and the ongoing maintainance of the facility. If you would like to donate please contact Pastor Ginny McPherson at 541-548-7128.

Product Review: Flavorwave Oven vs. Rocketgrill

2009-04-14T13:26:00.000-07:00

As long as I can remember, I have always wanted to critique products for an audience. So I thought I'd throw in a few of these just for fun. After all, I am the infomercial queen!!! I have had to put up with much teasing from my 8 kids as a result of having to have the latest kitchen gadget, or piece of exercise equipment telecast on late night television. Somewhere out there, this crazy obsession of mine just might help someone else, if I can put my "giftedness" to good use. After all, believe me, I have had to throw away countless pieces of junk as a result of what looked to be miraculous on television. So consider this the first in a series of articles to come. This post will examine the pros and cons of the Flavorwave Oven vs. The RocketGrill by Sunbeam.
I first purchased my Flavorwave Oven about 7 or 8 years ago, when they first came out. I was fascinated with this idea of being able to cook frozen meat and have it come out tender, juicy, and browned. Sure enough, the Flavorwave Oven does an excellent job of this. Steaks come out perfectly cooked, nice and brown on the outside and pink and juicy on the inside. Chicken is a snap as well. Just put a few pieces of frozen chicken in the Flavorwave and brush with a good mesquite sauce or barbecue rub, set the timer for 20 minutes, and come back later to a perfect entree! (It's almost that easy. You do have to turn your meat half way through the cooking time). It's also quite easy to clean. The unit comes apart, and the dome, rack, and pan inside, are all dishwasher safe. What could be easier? The price of the Flavorwave Oven still runs right around $100, the same as it was several years ago when they first came out. I would have to say, for me, it has been worth every penny! Mine is still going strong after 7 years, and if and when it breaks, you can bet I will most certainly replace it without a moment's hesitation.

The only concern I have about purchasing a new Flavorwave Oven is that I am not sure if the original manufacturer is still building the units. If a reader has the answer to this, I would appreciate knowing. My Flavorwave Oven says "Hearthware" on the dome. I notice that they are currently being produced by Thane.

The Rocketgrill by Sunbeam is another newfangled type of cooking that combines the use of grill plates with parchment bags. I picked up my Rocketgrill from QVC for less than 30 bucks! That's quite a bit cheaper than the Flavorwave. But keep in mind that the parchment bags sell separately for around 50 cents each. I was lucky to find boxes of them on clearance, from my local Fred Meyer store, so I really stocked up. The Rocketgrill works similar to a George Foreman type grill, cooking your food between two hot grilling plates. The Rocketgrill plates sit vertically within in a big white shell. Again, the idea is that you can cook frozen meats within the bags, and have them come out better than other cooking methods, particularly a microwave. You can also cook veggies in the bags, hotdogs, sandwiches etc.

The problem I have with my Rocketgrill is that you cannot access the hot cooking plates, because they are encapsulated within the white shell. The plates are supposed to open wide enough to remove the food within 15 seconds of the timer sounding. My Rocketgrill seems to take much longer, sometimes up to 4 minutes, with no way to remove the food. Or there have also been times when the grill plates would not close after inserting the food and turning the unit on. It is entirely possible that I have a defective unit, but needless to say, the experience has been somewhat frustrating. And the Sunbeam Rocketgrill will never take the place of my Flavorwave!

The second problem I have with the Rocketgrill is that it does not lend itself well to meats that need to be brushed with sauce. Because of the vertical design, all the sauce will drip to the bottom of the bag, and not stay on the meat. The vegetables I cooked seemed rather dry and I couldn't get them done enough. Again, no ability to brush olive oil or seasonings on food during the cooking process. And because those darn plates won't open on demand, you may have to wait several minutes to access your food to check on it.

The Rocketgrill seemed like a great idea to me at the time. I love the idea of having absolutely no cleanup, because the cooking takes place inside the parchment bag, which gets thrown away at the end of the cooking session. And, of course I love the price point of under 30 dollars. However, at the end of the day, I would have to give this great idea a thumbs down until they can come up with a better design.

That's my humble opinion. I'd love to hear from other readers too. What do YOU think?

One Street Down Cafe

2009-04-08T16:53:00.000-07:00

There is a darling little cafe that just opened up in Redmond about 6 months ago. One Street Down is located one street down, (ironically), from Redmond's busy downtown district. Owners Neal and Kristy Cross converted an old rundown house into a very chic little place to meet up with friends for lunch, or sip a cappuccino while you finish some business on your laptop. (Yes, this is a wi-fi hotspot). Not only have they succeeded in converting this old run down house into a cozy little cafe, but the service is so down home and friendly, you'll want to come back again and again.

Add to that, the food is top notch with homemade
soups, fresh salads, and yummy sandwiches,
including a traditional Thanksgiving type sandwich
with turkey breast and cranberry filling. And
don't forget to order the fabulous Rosemary
Potatoes on the side! The Cafe is quickly becoming
one of Redmond's favorite little stops for lunch.

The One Street Down Cafe is located on 7th Street, just a few doors north of Black Butte Ave. They are currently open for breakfast and lunch. They also offer specialty coffee drinks and baked treats.

Tax Day Tea Party

2009-03-28T13:11:00.000-07:00

April 15th is swiftly approaching. I am one of many voices across the nation who believe this whole tax issue has gone way too far. That's why I am planning to attend the Tax Day Tea Party in Bend, Oregon between 3 and 6pm. We must put an end to the government grab that is taking place in our country right now. Complacency is the enemy of success, victory, and purposeful living. How can I stand by idle, while my country is being sold out to the highest bidder? I do not want to be owned by China. I do not want to bankrupt our country before my grandchildren graduate from high school. I have never claimed to know much about our countries system of taxation. But I do know this....the increasing number of spending bills in the guise of bailing out our weak economy is not helping, but very much hurting the future of America. I am ready to learn more. I am ready to fight for the things I believe in. Join me on April 15th at Troy Park in Bend, Oregon, (next to McMennimans on Bond Street). There are other tea parties taking place all over the country at the same time. It's time to rise up and say "Enough is enough!" The powers that be are acting swiftly to change this country as we know it. Please take the time to learn more, and let your voice be heard. For more information on our local event, call Lucy Brackett at 541-390-4486. For more information about other Tax Day Tea Parties being held across the country, visit http://taxdayteaparty.com/ .

The Rock & Worship Roadshow

2009-03-12T16:13:00.000-07:00

Wow! I'm so excited about this. Rarely do we get the chance to see five great bands all on one stage at the same time. So, I am planning to take a drive over to Portland on March 22nd to see the Rock And Worship Roadshow featuring Mercy Me, Jeremy Camp, Tenth Avenue North, Hawk Nelson, and Addison Road! Wow, what a lineup!

Even better news, the tickets are only ten bucks! Holy smokes. Not even sure how they can afford to do this. But it's gonna be an outstanding time. Tickets will be sold at the door, and are not available via pre-sales. The concert will be held at the Portland Memorial Coliseum on Sunday, March 22nd at 7pm. Plan to be in line a while for this one. For more information you can call (503) 235-8771.

Also, for your information, it sounds as if Christian radio station KNLR is putting together car pooling for radio fans, and may even plan to eat together somewhere after the show with the disc jockeys. That could be fun if you are a big Kyle Liedtke fan like I am. Call KNLR directly to get the details at 541-389-8873.

All in all it sounds like a great night of fellowship and music that you really shouldn't miss if you can manage to drive over the mountain on Sunday afternoon.

For the record, I do not get paid for blogging about products, bands, and local businesses that I am fond of. I blog out of my heart, about things I love, and not as a means of income. Although, I'd be willing to change that if the right offer ever presented itself. Wink, wink.
The one exception would be that I am a representative of Uppercase Living products, which I use to handcraft a variety of items on a regular basis. I have been a craft designer for years, so their products fit right into my lifestyle. My blog here is about many things that affect my lifestyle. Faith, politics, product reviews, music, movies, culture, and of course, CRAFTS! So hang with me. Come back again. I love having fun and spreading the word about my favorite happy places, happy people, and fun things to do.

So do try and check out this concert! It's gonna be a fun one. I guarentee!

Update- Please Read

2009-03-04T14:56:00.000-08:00

Greetings friends. Just want my readers here to know that some of my posts are linked in from another source. It's very easy to read the story and see the photos by simply clicking on the words right below the title. Simply double click and the story will appear. Most of the time I will post here directly on Blogger, and you will see the post in it's entirety. But occassionally, I will link it in from another column. Don't miss these little gems of information and entertainment. Again, simply double click on the word directly below the title, and you'll be able to see the post in it's entirety.

Blessings!

Night Of Style

2009-02-26T20:20:00.000-08:00

6th Street Hair Salon will be hosting a Night Of Style on Friday, March 6th. This should be a fun event with hair styling demonstrations and tips for those of us who are challenged when it comes to styling our own hair. It's an Open House format with appetizers, wine and raffles throughout the night from 4-8pm. Proceeds from sales and raffle tickets during the event will be donated to the Central Oregon Womens Shelter. They are also accepting your old styling irons and hair dryers to donate to the shelter. For each old styling tool you donate, you will receive a discount towards the purchase of a new styling tool. Sounds good to me!

6th Street Hair Salon is located on the corner of 6th Street and Black Butte in downtown Redmond. They are the new kid on the block after re-locating from the Erickson's shopping Center across the street under the name Tangles And Tan. Owner Kim Moulton and her staff, (including Angie, Sherry, Rebecca, and Jennifer), welcome you to come check out the new location while learning techniques to keep your hair looking "styling" between appointments.

Don't forget to check out their wide selection of styling products while in the store. They also carry a line of fun fashion jewelry. The staff at 6th Street Hair Salon are eager to please. So stop by on March 6th and meet the staff, have a drink, and learn the secrets of styling your own hair!

Happy Valentines Day!

2009-02-06T10:46:00.001-08:00

There's A New Hen In Town!

2009-02-05T16:08:00.000-08:00

THE HEN'S TOOTH is a strange name for this wonderful little gift shop tucked away on a side street near downtown Redmond, on 7th Street. Scarlett, the mascot hen, isn't new to Central Oregon, having built nests in both Sisters and Bend, before settling here in Redmond. In fact Scarlett has been serving customers in our area for over 31 years.

The newest nest is the vision of owners Greg and Debbie Westendorf who renovated an older home and turned it into the most egg-ceptional little shop for finding unique and clever gift items. There are books and gadgets, French country table accessories, and collectibles of every kind.

But what really makes the Hens Tooth stand out is the egg-cellent service you can egg-spect to find every time you shop here. From free gift wrapping, a newsletter, birthday giveaways, and more, Scarlett's commitment to egg-cellence is second to none.

There are always seasonal surprises to delight and egg-cite as well. So remember to stop by the Redmond nest next time you're searching for that unique and perfect gift. THE HEN'S TOOTH is located at 307 NW 7th Street in Redmond. Or shop online at http://www.henstooth.com/ .

Have an egg-ceptional day!

I Support Local Redmond Businesses!

2009-02-02T13:19:00.000-08:00

I have been so happy to see that in spite of a sluggish economy, several local area businesses in Redmond seem to be doing quite well and are even thriving! This week I am running around taking lots of photos and collecting lots of information to showcase these little area businesses in this new blog. I will feature their stories in the weeks ahead, because these are small business owners, just like me. They are honest, hardworking folks to do business with. They are experts in their fields. And most would bend over backwards to make sure their customers receive the best possible service. Watch for upcoming stories about The Hens Tooth, Salon Renaissance, Canyons Restaurant, Shining Enterprises, 6th Street Hair Salon and more. These are the guys I do business with and can highly recomend them to my friends. There are dozens more. So stay tuned, and I'll keep you posted on all that's new and excellent in Redmond.

If It Weren't For Coffee, I Wouldn't Get Up At All!

2009-01-31T14:20:00.000-08:00

Do you ever feel that way? I know I sure do. I recently purchased one of those new-fangled single serve coffee makers, and I got to tell you, I love the thing. Of course my kids have been teasing me about my obsession with kitchen gadgets for years, so it wouldn't surprise them any to hear me raving about my new Kuerig. It's fun and easy to use. The coffee is always piping hot and fresh, and you can order an array of fabulous flavors to excite your little taste buds.

The bad news is that it's pretty gimmicky and requires you to purchase little single serve "k-cups" from which the coffee is vaccum sealed to maintain freshness. The coffee tastes very gourmet, and most users swear by their Kuerigs. However, the cost generally runs 50 cents per cup, considerably more than grinding coffee from the grocery store, but considerably less than a Starbucks. There is an optional filter basket you can purchase separately for around 15 bucks, which will allow you to brew your favorite grocery store brands in the same system. But really, what would be the point of that? The real beauty of the Kuerig is the no measuring and no clean up features. I love my Kuerig, and I'm betting lots of other folks will too.

If you're a coffee kinda gal, check out this little number I made from a recycled kitchen cabinet and a vinyl lettering embellishment.
It's a fun little piece. The recycled kitchen board costs around 3 bucks, and the lettering was around twenty. I put an antique stain over the top, (or you could tea stain it too). Then a good spray on polyeurethyene to seal the deal. Have fun with your project and be prepared for lots of favorable comments on both the coffee and the sign.
Or maybe the expression in my post title fits you better. It sure is the truth at my house. If It Weren't For Coffee, I Wouldn't Get Up At All!
Giddyup!

Chocolate Cures The Blues, But Love Conquers All

2009-01-30T08:56:00.002-08:00

For some strange reason, I always find myself craving chocolate on stressful days. Yesterday was one of those kind of days. We had taken in a 17 year old runaway on Monday for one night. Which turned into 3 nights, (anyone who has ever worked with DHS knows how that goes). But yesterday after working very hard with her case worker to lay out some plans for her future, she disappeared while I was in the shower. Leaving behind an absolute mess for me to clean up, and a broken window presumably so she could come and retrieve her stuff at a later time. I have a very low tolerance for stress. And I get very attached to young people living in my home. I always hope that somehow the kindness we show will make a difference in someones life. But I rarely ever get to sit back and see if that plays out. And so while my mind, (and heart), were playing pingpong between being angry, worried, and frustrated, I kept popping Dove Chocolate pieces in my mouth. No, it doesn't solve anything. So I'm not sure why I do this to myself knowing full well I'll have to work it off for the next 3 months. Eating chocolate has never solved any of my problems, or the problems of my kids, but it sure does make me feel better temporarily.

On the other hand I've seen some pretty amazing things happen as a result of praying for my kids. But it's just hard to do, doesn't feel as good, and the gratification doesn't come as quickly. So I surmize there is a place for both in my life. Therein is my reasoning for this months writing on the wall- Chocolate Cures The Blues, But Love Conquers All. Who can argue with that?

Andrew Peterson In Concert

2009-01-28T16:19:00.000-08:00

Hey, If you're looking for something fun and fresh to do on Valentines Day, head over to the Bend Church Of The Nazarene on 27th Street in Bend to see Christian music artist Andrew Peterson in concert. Andrew has had several hits in the Christian music venue, and we are very fortunate to have him making a stop in Bend and blessing us with a free concert. So come out and support Andrew Peterson on February 14th at 7pm. For more information contact KNLR radio.