The newest addition

Cooper, asleep on the couch this morning

We got him last Sunday in Mitchell. He's eight weeks old and the same breed as Callie (American Brittany).



How cute are they?!?

Oregon!

Last week, I attended the National Camping Institute. It was held at the Oregon 4-H Center outside Salem. There were tons of people there, including the four other South Dakota 4-H educators(and here we all are by the canoe pond). It was an incredible conference with so many great camping-type people (which, of course, meant lots of spontaneous singing).



Oregon was green, sunny, and the trees were blooming. I pretty much wanted to bundle it all up and bring it home with me. We spent a lot of free time just sitting in the sun.



My first look at the Oregon Coast (at Neskowin) during our tour of the Three Capes Loop. I loved the coast and watching the waves roll in. I probably could've spent the whole day just sitting there.




More Neskowin



The coast at Cape Meares



More Cape Meares



The coast at Pacific City (where we stopped at the Pelican Pub)



I had some time before my flight home, so I took the train into Portland and went to the Saturday Market. Shannon from Arkansas joined me, and we saw tons of awesome photography, jewelry, sculptures, paintings, and gifts. I restrained myself and only bought one necklace (but I'm going to check out the websites of a few of the artists I saw there). It was 65 degrees and sunny--the prettiest day they've had yet (I asked) and the place was packed with people and dogs and kids.



(Food I can't get in South Dakota)

I enjoyed my chicken satay and curry while soaking up with sun and listening to a band. Way better than sitting in the boring airport ;)

It's a good thing she's cute

My dog likes to wake me up in the morning. It isn't a new thing. She usually whines in my face or scratches at the wall around 6:30 or 7 (when I normally get up for work).

This morning, I woke up to her barking at the back door at 5:40 am. Too early! I walked out and told her "No! Go back to bed," and she did. Whew.

At 6:30, I woke up to her standing next to the bed, whining at me. Since it was time to get up anyway, I got out of bed and went out to let her outside.

She didn't follow me out of the room.

About a second later, I heard her jump back up onto the bed. When I went back in the bedroom, she was curled up under the covers right where I'd just been sleeping.

Brat.

Not too snobby to ask for help...

The good news? I just won a book from this blog, BookSnob, for explaining how/why I'm a book snob (and yes, you have to click the link to see my winning post). How cool is that?!?!

I got to pick my prize, so William Zinsser's Writing About Your Life will be showing up in my mailbox someday soon. I can't wait!

So why do I need your help?

I am in a serious reading rut.

For the past few years, it's been young adult literature (which I love). Recently, I've taken a turn toward non-fiction (also good), but I really need some new book ideas.

Want to help a girl out? Comment with your favorite fiction picks, and I will be forever grateful.