A Cup Of English

A Hole in Facebook.

12 May 2011

Contributed by Lukas

You know, I'm getting better at learning about technology. I wouldn't say that I am totally ignorant about social media, but neither am I an expert. A...

Clouds Over Quincy.

10 May 2011

Contributed by Lukas

We drove home Saturday evening from a town called Moses Lake after watching baseball games all day. The boys were tired and we were quiet in the car, ...

A Living Museum.

09 May 2011

Contributed by Lukas

I received an email a couple of weeks ago from the part-time school that my oldest son attends. It was a reminder about a special evening presentation...

A Doll's House.

06 May 2011

Contributed by Lukas

There's something in my daughter's bedroom that takes center stage when her friends come around to play. It's her doll's house. It's a typical girls' ...

A Championship Game.

03 May 2011

Contributed by Lukas

It was a perfect Sunday. We had two games, one at eleven and one at three. We didn't have to worry about the wind coming down from the mountains today...

A Tour of Homes: The Tool Shed.

02 May 2011

Contributed by Lukas

For the first time in about six months, I creaked open the tool shed that is at the bottom of our garden. Yesterday happened to be a beautiful Spring ...

Batting practice.

29 Apr 2011

Contributed by Lukas

Once a week, as part of his practice schedule, my son Cass has batting practice for baseball. It takes place in a sports complex called Sportsplex. Th...

A rocket launch.

28 Apr 2011

Contributed by Lukas

It was a windy, sunny day. You certainly needed to have a jacket on, as the wind was blowing down from the snow-capped hills. The crowd had gathered i...

A bleating baby.

22 Apr 2011

Contributed by Lukas

Those of you who follow my podcast probably remember that I live in a rural area. Our house is located towards the outskirts of a small community. Our...

Borrowing and returning.

21 Apr 2011

Contributed by Lukas

Every now and then, I make a trip to the local library, sometimes by myself, and sometimes with my children. I love the quiet that you can experience ...

Questions tags.

20 Apr 2011

Contributed by Lukas

As you study English, you will become familiar with question tags. A tag is a little something that is added on, just like the tag on your shirt that ...

A Cougar in Town!

19 Apr 2011

Contributed by Lukas

The local news the other day was just the kind of news that I don't want to hear. A cougar had wandered down from the nearby mountains and was found i...

Stereotypes.

18 Apr 2011

Contributed by Lukas

Have you ever wondered what a stereotype is, and why we have them? Do you, culturally, have certain stereotypes about certain people? Of course, all c...

Oh, so you don't like phonics?

15 Apr 2011

Contributed by Lukas

Hands up any of you who don't like English phonics. I can't see your hands, but it certainly sounded like a lot of them went up. Do you think English ...

A new career in the making.

14 Apr 2011

Contributed by Lukas

Confidence, it seems, can get you a long way in life. Confidence around other people can actually make those around you feel comfortable. I'm talking ...

A Manicure Fanatic.

13 Apr 2011

Contributed by Lukas

My daughter is obsessed with fashion. She is only six, and it comes as a surprize to me that she is so fashion conscious. She is not so concerned with...

A Norman Conqueror at the bank.

12 Apr 2011

Contributed by Lukas

You see the strangest people in the most unlikely places sometimes. I was at the bank the other day, making a deposit, when I heard a, "Clomp, clomp, ...

A Commercial for Crunch Pak.

11 Apr 2011

Contributed by Lukas

My sister-in-law called me the other day and asked me if two of my children would be interested in taking part in a commercial. "I think so," I replie...

Convenience food.

08 Apr 2011

Contributed by Lukas

Oh, what will I make for dinner? There's nothing for dessert; what could I quickly make? It's a real pain when the evening has already begun, and my p...

Build those muscles.

07 Apr 2011

Contributed by Lukas

The other day, when I stopped to get some free firewood, I realized that I'm not as strong as I would like to be. The owner of the tree that was chopp...

Oh the olives!

06 Apr 2011

Contributed by Lukas

On my recent trip to Nice, I was fortunate enough to go to an open market. Oh, the colors and smells were fantastic. I strolled around just taking eve...

The cost of teeth is rising.

05 Apr 2011

Contributed by Lukas

We've had teeth all over the house recently. My children just happen to be at the ages where they are all losing teeth. For my oldest boys, it's no lo...

A Starbucks Revolution.

04 Apr 2011

Contributed by Lukas

"Hello, we have a special triple grande caramel mocha with whipped cream for only three ninety-nine. Can I take your order?" That's the kind of inform...

I'm on Facebook.

01 Apr 2011

Contributed by Lukas

Well, everyone, I've taken the plunge and joined Facebook. I signed up months ago, but didn't really start communicating properly with people until a ...

A shell from Hawaii.

31 Mar 2011

Contributed by Lukas

I have something pretty that sits on my windowsill in my kitchen. It's a shell from Hawaii. I'm not sure what kind of shell it is, or what it is calle...

Guinness.

30 Mar 2011

Contributed by Lukas

Ah Guinness! We have lots of it in our house at the moment. My brother loves it. I'm not unfamiliar with it either. Back in London, I used to drink it...

Oh, you filthy princess!

29 Mar 2011

Contributed by Lukas

I'm afraid that I'm going to talk about one of my dogs. The reason for my apologetic tone is that some dog lovers go on and on about their animals, an...

A blasting experiment.

28 Mar 2011

Contributed by Lukas

It's always fun when my brother comes to visit from New Zealand. Because he is a math and science teacher, he often thinks of interesting things to do...

Crocuses: a first sign of Spring!

24 Mar 2011

Contributed by Lukas

The official first day of Spring came and went on 20th of the month. We've had a few very spring-like days, but usually the next day, it has returned ...

Firewood for free.

23 Mar 2011

Contributed by Lukas

I was driving down the road the other day, to go to Walmart, when I saw something that really caught my eye. On the left hand side of the road, infron...

I'm back, with details of a yucky cold.

22 Mar 2011

Contributed by Lukas

I'm sorry that I missed a couple of podcasts last week; I was really sick. When I spoke to you last, I was beginning to lose my voice and feel achy wi...

Mythology looking at me.

15 Mar 2011

Contributed by Lukas

Mythology seems to be all the rage these days. There have been films released recently, like 'Percy Jackson and the lightening thief', and 'Clash of t...

Cross Sport Training.

10 Mar 2011

Contributed by Lukas

You know, being a mother is an interesting job. I sit back sometimes and consider the influence that I have over my children; it's quite a responsibil...

Hot pasties.

09 Mar 2011

Contributed by Lukas

If you've never had a pasty, you've never lived. That means that eating one is an experience you must have because they are so good. I actually haven'...

Stars on ice.

08 Mar 2011

Contributed by Lukas

I have never really been much of an ice skater. When I was a teenager, I would go indoor skating with friends, mainly to have a good laugh. When peopl...

The Alps from the plane.

02 Mar 2011

Contributed by Lukas

Many of you have seen some part of the Alps, I suppose. They're spectacular, aren't they? I saw a small part of them recently from a plane. I was trav...

The York Minster.

01 Mar 2011

Contributed by Lukas

I couldn't visit York Minster without telling you about it. What is a minster? It's the name of a major cathedral that used to be associated with a mo...

Vienna by chance.

23 Feb 2011

Contributed by Lukas

Have you ever been to Vienna? I was lucky enough to get there by chance during my trip to Europe. How can anyone go to Vienna by chance? Any person wi...

Breakfast in Nice.

22 Feb 2011

Contributed by Lukas

A double treat for me during my week's vacation, was to visit my dear friend, Lorraine, in Nice. I hadn't seen her for eleven years, which, of course ...

Free hugs in London.

16 Feb 2011

Contributed by Lukas

Hello everyone. I'm so pleased to be back, podcasting to you again after my week of fun in Europe.I have lots to tell, as you can imagine. I saw some ...

I'm off to Europe, so no podcasts this week.

07 Feb 2011

Contributed by Lukas

Hello everyone, just a quick note to let you know that there will not be any podcasts this week, as I am going to visit friends and family in Germany,...

A Sixth Grade Experiment.

03 Feb 2011

Contributed by Lukas

Before I start today's podcast, I would like to mention a little something about the title of yesterday's podcast. One of my listeners, called Bahareh...

A Super Duper Slither Scooter.

02 Feb 2011

Contributed by Lukas

It's time to rock and roll. Glide, wobble, balance, and slither. Let's try something new to get ourselves moving. Did you know that the part of the br...

Entertainment at half time.

01 Feb 2011

Contributed by Lukas

Entertainment at half-time is a big deal over here. Whenever you go to a college level or professional level sporting event, there is entertainment ha...

The Reptile Man.

28 Jan 2011

Contributed by Lukas

On Wednesday, the Reptile Man came to visit my kids' elementary school. It is a very worthwhile show to watch. The owner of the Reptile Man business, ...

Progress at Walmart.

26 Jan 2011

Contributed by Lukas

I'm so used to going to Walmart, that I could probably get there with my eyes closed. It's two blocks away from our house, so it's the perfect place f...

A nocturnal visit by deer.

25 Jan 2011

Contributed by Lukas

Wow! What a shot! I have been hoping to get a photo or a video of deer to show all of you. This time of year is crazy with the deer coming down from t...

Shooting skeet.

20 Jan 2011

Contributed by Lukas

Have you heard of skeet shooting, or perhaps clay pigeon shooting? Well, we are beginning to do it. Having been inspired by his grandfather in Scotlan...

Stuck in traffic.

19 Jan 2011

Contributed by Lukas

I hope that this never happens to you. You're driving along, minding your own business, when suddenly your car stops. It could be because of engine tr...

Black and white snow.

18 Jan 2011

Contributed by Lukas

It's a strange sight. You get so used to seeing the lovely clean snow falling, and getting piled up on the side of the road. But then, all of a sudden...

After school.

13 Jan 2011

Contributed by Lukas

One part of my daily routine during the week is to pick up the kids from school. I'm sure that a lot of you listening now probably do the same thing. ...

Wok with me.

12 Jan 2011

Contributed by Lukas

Do you ever fancy eating something really fresh? Something savory, healthy, and tasty? I'm so thankful that there is a place in town where we can get ...

A new camcorder.

11 Jan 2011

Contributed by Lukas

Well, it was about time that I got myself a camcorder, a decent one. I have been meaning to for a long time. The app that I have has bonus content whi...

How much for postage?

06 Jan 2011

Contributed by Lukas

Today, I found in my bag forty stamps that I had bought around Christmas time, and not used. I had bought them for mailing Christmas cards, but this y...

How do they do that?

05 Jan 2011

Contributed by Lukas

Have you ever come across anything that someone has done that has made you wonder how on earth they had managed to do it? I've often wondered about ho...

Hold on while you sled!

04 Jan 2011

Contributed by Lukas

Have you ever been sledding? In places where it is snowy, I think it is a great thing to do. In a way it is as good as, or even better than skiing; I'...

Choose a treat.

31 Dec 2010

Contributed by Lukas

It's great to be back podcasting to you again. I had a lovely Christmas break with my family, and now have plenty to podcast about. I actually have ha...

Look at the details!

22 Dec 2010

Contributed by Lukas

About nine years ago, I had some incredible luck in a local charity shop. It was coming up to Christmas, and I had gone to Goodwill to look around at ...

Back and forth.

21 Dec 2010

Contributed by Lukas

I have missed a couple of podcasts this week, oops! So here is the first of the two, a little late. My reason for writing this podcast late is that I'...

Local rivals.

14 Dec 2010

Contributed by Lukas

We spent a noisy night on Saturday at the local arena. We had tickets to go and see a basketball match between the two big local rivals, Wenatchee and...

Gingerbread houses.

09 Dec 2010

Contributed by Lukas

Aren't holiday traditions great! I'm always fascinated by the many ways that people of different cultures celebrate special times. We use symbols, son...

Baked apples.

08 Dec 2010

Contributed by Lukas

A recipe I have been making recently that happens to be very easy is baked apples. What could be nicer than hot, cinnamony apples, oozing with delicio...

Very early practice.

07 Dec 2010

Contributed by Lukas

When you have a hobby, and you want to improve your skills, you have to practice. There is no substitute for practice. Those of you who come from disc...

Get the setting right.

02 Dec 2010

Contributed by Lukas

It was only this evening, after a busy day, that I realised that my phone had not rung all day. That is unusual. I checked my messages, and there were...

It's here early!

01 Dec 2010

Contributed by Lukas

If you have the blog or the app of A Cup Of English handy, you will see from the photo or the video clip just what the 'it' is. Yes, the snow. Last ye...

Do I make you nervous?

30 Nov 2010

Contributed by Lukas

I have recently been conducting interviews with people in town who have businesses. Why? Because I am beginning to build a website of interviews and d...

No podcast until Tuesday.

24 Nov 2010

Contributed by Lukas

Hello everyone. I'm afraid there won't be a podcast today as I am really busy with preparations for Thanksgiving. There's a lot to do, as I am hosting...

Bingo.

23 Nov 2010

Contributed by Lukas

This past Friday night, I was settling in for the evening, when my youngest son said, "Mum, can we go to the family bingo night at school?" I groaned ...

Little dragons.

18 Nov 2010

Contributed by Lukas

My energetic daughter has been begging me to take her to karate classes. She had already enrolled in gymnastics, and our rule is to do only one after-...

Bilingual night.

17 Nov 2010

Contributed by Lukas

One of the things that I had on the calendar this month was the bilingual night at my children's school. It is held a few times a year, to inform pare...

An eye for light.

16 Nov 2010

Contributed by Lukas

As we move into the middle of November, the countryside seems to be changing every day. The colorful leaves that decorate the whole valley are beginni...

A stack for winter.

11 Nov 2010

Contributed by Lukas

We used to have a large pine tree in our front garden. It was a very tall, old one. It was planted about thirty years ago, but last year, we decided t...

Oksana, Daniel, and Russel.

10 Nov 2010

Contributed by Lukas

My good friend Nataliya called me a few days ago, and invited me to a concert at a local church. "There is a very good Russian pianist, Oksana Ezhokin...

Expanding Walmart.

09 Nov 2010

Contributed by Lukas

For a while now, there has been a lot of construction going on at our local Walmart. I am a frequent shopper there, as it is only a couple of blocks f...

Quite a social calendar.

04 Nov 2010

Contributed by Lukas

Do you use calendars very much? I do. Without them, I'm sure I would forget a lot of appointments. I have a calendar conveniently placed in my kitchen...

Screen savers.

03 Nov 2010

Contributed by Lukas

The other day I went for a walk in the park with a friend of mine. We don't see eachother very much because she is busy taking a nursing degree, so it...

Divide and conquer candies.

01 Nov 2010

Contributed by Lukas

Well, Halloween came and went as it does every year, leaving a house full of sweets! We had a lot of fun yesterday. I told my children that I wasn't g...

Friendly or scary?

27 Oct 2010

Contributed by Lukas

As I drive around town, I find myself saying the occasional "oooo!", "ahhh!", or "oh?!" Do you know why? There are Halloween decorations all over the ...

Sharp is good.

24 Oct 2010

Contributed by Lukas

It's funny how ordinary items or actions can show your knowledge of a language. Sometimes when I do something, or say something, I ask myself the ques...

Make a difference day, October 23.

21 Oct 2010

Contributed by Lukas

I received a flyer in the mail the other day. It rang a bell; I had seen something like it in previous years. It was the annual Make a Difference Day ...

Time's running out for turkeys.

19 Oct 2010

Contributed by Lukas

Are turkeys a part of your culture? They are over here in the U.S. You have probably heard about the Thanksgiving turkey. Did you know that the tradit...

A Smallwood's tradition.

15 Oct 2010

Contributed by Lukas

Every year, either in the summer, or around October, we make a trip to Smallwood's Farm. It is a family-run farm with a petting zoo. All of the produc...

Bras on the bridge.

14 Oct 2010

Contributed by Lukas

The photo on today's blog is one of the most unusual I have taken since I started A Cup Of English. Bras on a bridge.....um.....it makes you think. It...

Ten, ten, ten.

11 Oct 2010

Contributed by Lukas

I realized today, that yesterday's date was special: 10/10/10. It was October 10th, 2010. I had been too busy over the weekend to stop and realize the...

No podcasts for a few days.

08 Oct 2010

Contributed by Lukas

Sorry everyone, there are no podcasts for a few days as I will be busy in one of the local schools. But, don't worry, I will resume normal podcasting ...

A kindergarten tree walk.

05 Oct 2010

Contributed by Lukas

Kindergarten is proving to be quite a fun place for my daughter. They went on their first field trip the other day; it was a 'tree walk'. They have be...

A patriot.

04 Oct 2010

Contributed by Lukas

Yesterday, there was a knock at the door. "Mum, there's some guy at the door," said my son, letting me know that he didn't feel like opening the door....

Red sky at night.

01 Oct 2010

Contributed by Lukas

As I walked outside yesterday to throw the garbage in the dumpster, the evening sky caught my eye. There was a spread of small clouds that were lit up...

The colors of Galloway.

28 Sep 2010

Contributed by Lukas

One of the places we stayed this summer was Whithorn, Scotland, where my father lives. It is one of many picturesque towns in Galloway. Whithorn happe...

Creetown gem rock museum.

27 Sep 2010

Contributed by Lukas

During the summer vacation, I took my children to visit the Creetown gem rock museum, in Scotland. It is highly recommended, as it is the leading inde...

In search of swords.

22 Sep 2010

Contributed by Lukas

Have you ever been roped into a project that you didn't plan, or necessarily want? To be roped into something, is to be caught up, or carried along by...

Decorate and beautify.

21 Sep 2010

Contributed by Lukas

The other day, when I went to lunch with my mum, I noticed that the restaurant was decorated in an autumn theme. It was beautifully done. The owner, o...

A stowaway praying mantis.

20 Sep 2010

Contributed by Lukas

Those of you who listen to my podcast on a regular basis, know that one of my hobbies is gardening. Whenever I have a free moment, I'm out there plant...

Lunch at the Wild Huckleberry.

19 Sep 2010

Contributed by Lukas

I called my mother the other day and arranged for us to meet up for lunch. She had been in Spain for two weeks, and had just returned. We had a lot to...

A growing garden.

14 Sep 2010

Contributed by Lukas

One thing that I do in the morning, is to drive my children to school. It doesn't take very long, perhaps five minutes. Parents can pull up into a par...

How small do they get?

13 Sep 2010

Contributed by Lukas

Over the weekend, one of my sons had a couple of baseball games in a local park. It's that season again! It was actually a perfect day for the sport a...

Woosh and splash.

09 Sep 2010

Contributed by Lukas

One of the things that we enjoyed most about our vacation this Summer was the beach. I've always been an inland person; I love forests and mountains. ...

Unpack those bags!

07 Sep 2010

Contributed by Lukas

Hello everyone, and welcome back to A Cup Of English. I'm very excited to start this season of podcasts; I have a lot to tell. I have been away, with ...

Rikki-tikki-tavi part 3.

27 Aug 2010

Contributed by Lukas

"Oh no," exclaimed Darzee so the snake could hear, "my wing is broken and I can't fly." The bird just needed to get the snake away from her eggs. The ...

Rikki-tikki-tavi part 2.

25 Aug 2010

Contributed by Lukas

"Who is Nag? I am Nag. My family has ruled this garden for thousands of years. Look at me and be afraid." Rikki-tikki was scared for only a minute. He...