First Few Days of Our Murrells-Allaway Summer Trip, June 29th & 30th, 2013 - Salmon Arm to Spokane, Washington,

Ahhh, so much seen and done - so little wifi!  Tis after midnight central time, Sioux Falls, South Dakota and we plan to be on the road early, so I'll let the pictures explain our trip.

We started our summer holiday in the States so my husband could show our kids some of his favourite stops when he drove this route to the University of Waterloo, Ontario, and to avoid the flood issues in Alberta.  We heard today that the Calgary Stampede is a go - yahoooooo!

Hmmm, none of the captions I entered loaded with the images - more tech to work through.  In any case, here are the links to the two Triple D Diner restaurants we've gone to so far (Foodnetwork program).  Great eats and atmosphere.

Triple D Diners - Yum
1. The Elk Public House Restaurant, Spokane, Washington
Overview - http://www.foodnetwork.com/local/wa-spokane/elk-public-house-restaurant/index.html#/38.736171/-97.222306/4/
Menu - http://www.allmenus.com/wa/spokane/3464-the-elk-public-house/menu/

2. Jimmy's Down the Street Restaurant, Coeur D'Alene, Idaho
http://jimmysdownthestreet.com/

Thanks for checking in on us.  I'll write more ... soon.  Ms. M.

Where to Get Your Summer Reading Fix!

Do you remember this "Kidspiration" brainstorm we did together?  Most of you had some great suggestions of where to get your hands and mind on reading material.  I used the Kidspiration "Publish" option to convert the file into word and voila - I could paste the mind map and the outline into this blog post.

See below to jog your memory - and then "get at er" and get some more reading material to exercise your brain!  Also, reply/post below to add more suggestions. 

A fantastic summer and wondrous reading times to you all.  Ms. M.

How to Get Your Reading Fix!

 Free!

- Classroom Books

- Friend's House

- WORLD OF INFORMATION sd83 INFO SITE

- Public Library

      - BC1 card allows you to sign out books at any BC Public Library - powerful!

      - In person or online ORL books, CDs, Vids & more await you!

- Your home

- iPod or Android Apps

$$ For the Following Reading Options 

Book Stores: new and used

     Vernon

     - Value Village

     - Bookland

     - Coles

               - (online too)

      Salmon Arm

     - Hidden Gems, Main St.

     - Book Nook, Ross St.

     - Bookingham Palace, Piccadilly Mall

     Other

     - Chapters (online too)

     - Penticton Used Book Store, main st.

Flea markets, Thrift Shops, & Garage Sales

       - Enderby Flea market and antique store

       - S Arm Mental Health Assoc., Hudson St.

    - S Arm Church Thrift Shop

iPod or Android Apps

Canadian Astronaut, Chris Hadfield is Back on Earth: Currently in Russia

Bob McDonald from CBC's "Quirks and Quarks" interviews Chris Hadfield about his experience in space and future plans.   Listen to the audio cast

Show Description: "After 5 months on the International Space Station, thousands of Tweets, dozens of You Tube videos, hundreds of experiments, and one out-of-this-world cover version of "Space Oddity", Commander Chris Hadfield is back on Earth, and speaking to us from Star City, Russia. He's finding his land legs again and undergoing medical tests to see how his body is adapting to gravity. And he says his days in space might not be over." (Source: http://www.cbc.ca/quirks/2013/06/05/june-8-ground-control-to-major-bob/ & for picture below)

Try the Guardian's coverage on the astronaut's re-entry to earth (3:05).

For an exclusive and thorough interview with Chris Hadfield watch this TVCogeco, Ontario: it's long but fabulous (45:09)

Here is the Canadian Space Agency interview "post" or after his landing (11:29)

Chris Hadfield's daughter, Kristen talks about her dad being in space (3:35) an interview by RTE Two, Ireland's National TV Broadcaster.

Our neighbour, a member of the Order of Canada, a pioneer for the Canadian Aerospace program Bruce Aikenhead described being part of the committee looking for new astronauts.  The Canadian Space Agency, Saint-Hubert, Quebec put an ad in the paper and got 4000 applicants!  Chris Hadfield made it into the final interviews and was hired.  Mr. Aikenhead spoke very highly of Chris Hadfield and said the US space program described Mr. Hadfield as one of the best test pilots.

Mr. Aikenhead with Chris Hadfield
Source: https://www.facebook.com/pages/The-Okanagan-Science-Centre/141544795902551

Enjoy your learning about Chris Hadfield and the Canadian Space Agency.  Ms. M.

Books Connected to Web Sites!

Source: http://www.target.com/p/the-trouble-with-tadpoles-hardcover/-/A-12168702

Publishers such as "Picture Window Books" a branch of Capstones Books are offering new interesting resources such as books that are linked to web sites.  Check out www.facthound.com and let's look at the animal links - specifically cats - since it is still "Be Kind to Animals" month for the SPCA.  Also check out their amphibians and reptiles as frogs and these type of animals are fascinating!

Shannen's Dream - getting a new school in Attawapiskat First Nation, Ontario

See also the 2013 Red Cedar book nominee Shannon and the Dream for a School call number 921 WIL.  The author of this book, Janet Wilson also has a web site with a lot of information about Shannen and her cause; scroll near the bottom of the home page for many great links.

Here is Shanne's orginal YouTube Information Video

New school design - press release CBC, Feb. 27th, 2012

National Aboriginal Day, June 21st, 2013 - learn more about this day, its events, and the Canadians it symbolizes