Journaling: Summer Vacation

It's been a while since I've issued a journaling "throw down" but I thought it would be fun to kind of kick things up a bit. Here it is:

Jot down an entry in your journal about your summer trip(s) and outings. Even if you just answer the following questions you'll have captured the cool.

1. Where did you go? (art museum, state park, camping, etc.)
2. Describe what your trip was like (show it through your words - paint the details)
   
3. Who went with you?
4. When did you go?
   
5. What was the best part?
6. What was the worst part?

If you have a photo or ticket stubs throw them in your journal too (there are no rules against it, just tape them in and you're set)

Feel free to share one of your outings as a comment!

Here's something I did this summer...

1. Farmers Market, Salt Lake City, Utah
2. The Farmers Market feels like a carnival. Cross the city street, enter Pioneer Park and you are immersed in people, tented mini-stores of all sorts, fresh vegetables, music and dogs of all kinds on leashes. Everybody seems to have taken a collective breath of relief leaving everyday life in a different place. Music floats in the air wherever you are, from blues on the guitar to a kid playing the flute. There are $6 mini-back massages, breakfast vendors (our favorite is the strawberry lemonade and crepe vendor) and tons of things to see like hand crafted jewelry, soaps, pottery, garden art, pressed flowers, fresh vegetables, etc.
3. Emily
4. Saturday, August 9th, 2008 (Eric dropped us off and went to work)
5. The best part of the morning spent at the Farmer's Market? Taking our time and not rushing anywhere, just getting to explore and see everything at our own pace, feeling the sunshine, smelling the good things cooking, and seeing the hand crafted art and the dogs hanging out all over the place.
6. We learned the hard way that we'd leave the scooters in the car the next time we go.

I bet you have more than one summer outing to capture! Whether it's an afternoon running through the sprinklers, a dip at the local pool or a vacation. I think it's important to remember what was good about it, for you!

Suz

Falling Stars

If you like star gazing don't miss the Perseid meteor shower. Em and I went out around 12:30 ish and watched the sky for about 30-45 minutes. Even though there was a lot of "light pollution" from the city we still caught about 10 shooting stars from our back porch.

- Suz

Mona Lisa and Mickey

Drawings outside our house, on the 4th of July by Em and her friend Kiani.

It's a Bit Chalky

Feeling Creative? Share it with the sidewalk! We saw a very cool Chalk Festival in downtown Salt Lake City, sponsored by the Utah Foster Care Foundation. We were down there around 7a.m. and the artists were already out working to avoid the heat. Try having your own mini-chalk fest:

• Get permission before you take over the sidewalk with your masterpieces!
  
• Pick a day and time to invite your friends (check the weather, and ask everybody to bring their own chalk, water and sunscreen)
• Ask your parents if they'll provide popsicles, frozen treats, or a meal.
  
• Gather as much chalk as you can so you can have different shades to choose from. (if everybody shares you'll all have more colors to choose from.)
• Save your knees! Use an old towel folded up under your legs so you don't get sore knees.
• Select one of your favorite pictures you'd like to re-create. Maybe from a birthday card, or a favorite movie character, enjoy the freedom of picking whatever. *or just make up your own as you go!
• Work from the top to the bottom so you don't smudge your picture.
• Early morning or evening won't be so hot (i.e. when you can't fry an egg on the surface you're drawing on)
• If you work on this during the day, try using an umbrella for shade. Be sure to use a strong sunscreen!
• Keep water to drink nearby.
• The chalk should wash off the sidewalk when the chalk-fest is over with the rain, or garden hose, but first take some pictures!

I hope Em and I'll try this too! Send me a couple of pics of your chalk fest and I'll post a blog about this at the end of August! Have fun and, stay well-hydrated!


Suz

Summer Reading 2008

The library opens up before you like a magic carpet - it's just waiting for you, especially during the summer when you have a few extra minutes. It's pretty neat to walk for a while in someone else's shoes.

At our house, Emily just read (and is rereading) the Twilight vampire series. I'm working on Tarzan of the Apes, and re-reading The Two Towers.
What are you reading? (Comment to respond)