trillium mama

oh advent tree

When I was a child, I remember getting an advent calender every December. We were not a religious family, but something about getting a treat every day in anticipation of Christmas, made the month even more exciting.

This year I decided that our daughter is old enough to enjoy an advent calender of her own. I found insipation for this advent tree in a popular children's catalogue. As soon as I saw it, I ran out and gobbled up all the felt I could find, and began to design the pockets. Each pocket is 4x6, so plenty roomy for a variety of gifts.

It is a work in progress-still needs a star and a tree trunk, but I think it looks very festive the way it is. I hope she will have many years of enjoyment from this advent tree, and happy memories, as I do of my past  advent calenders.

Catching up on the past week or so- Turkey Day came and went. We first visited Andy's Dad's side, and snacked part of the day away. They have their T-Day celebration at the local fire station every year because it has a large kitchen, plenty of room to run around, and Andy's step-brother is a fireman. Ava had so much fun going on a tour of the fire station with her cousins. She thought it was a pretty special thing to get to sit in the trucks.

 

 

 

'The table decorations were lovely, and once all the food was on, it looked delish. Unfortunately, we had another stop to make, so we had to leave the food for everyone else.

Not to worry, a turkey and all the fixins was waiting for us at Andy's Mom's house. She does a fabulous job every year, and we appreciate her kitchen dedication. Ava spent some time outside in the garden, searching for a perfect flower. It's amazing what can keep a child occupied.

 

Sunday Andy and I took a overnight trip to Bend without the dear child. We stayed at our old favorite, McMenamins Old St. Francis School. We love it there, it's an entire school property that you can wander, with beer in hand if you choose, and it is just lovely. They are always so nice to us, and it keeps us coming back. The food and beverages were divine, and we left a few pounds heavier I think.

We also got to wander around town a bit which is always nice. Bend is my hometown, so I love to re-visit.

We traveled home yesterday, and I spent the afternoon catching up on school. I'm not sure what to do now, the past week has been so busy and scheduled, I feel at a loss. I'm sure I'll figure out something-until next time, namaste.

there's no place like home

This year for Halloween, Ava chose to dress up like Dorothy from the Wizard of Oz. I took on the challenge, and gathered supplies to make her costume near the beginning of October. The month breezed by, and before I knew it the day before Halloween had arrived. Yes, I am a procrastinator.

I whipped up the costume, and despite making it too small and having to fix that right before trick or treating, and running out of time to sew the buttons on the straps, I think she looked great. She really looked like a little Dorothy with Toto in her basket and everything. 

 

We did a little trick or treating in a nice little historic neighborhood, and then visited the grandparents. It was so much fun to watch our little growing up girl have so much fun on Halloween. Last year she was still too young to get how much fun dressing up really is.

 

As for mom and dad, tonight is our Halloween-more photos of that to follow. 

summery goodness: day 7

 

Baby critters are a theme around our backyard farm, every summer. This year we have hatched chicks under a hen and in an incubator. We bought a bunny, and she came unknowingly pregnant with four adorable babies. We have our own petting zoo, and I wouldn't have it any other way. I am raising my daughter to have a respect for and love of all creatures great and small. Summer is the perfect time to spend afternoons in the yard, cuddling with a bunny or a chicken.

 

   

 

summery goodness: day 6

As Summer is dwindling, I find I must breeze through my last few summery goodness posts. Today I want to write about friends. Friends are not a seasonal thing, but I find that I tend to go out and do more with my friends during the summer.

There is nothing better than a close childhood friend. Before our lives get busy as teens and adults, we have uninterrupted summers to bond with our childhood friends. Going to the playground, swimming, and outings to the state fair are all things that we will forever remember doing with our friends.

It is so rewarding watching my own daughter grow relationships with her friends, and I look forward to watching this as the years and summers pass. Friends in the summer are summery goodness.

blueberries and sunspots

This morning was a morning full of blueberries and sunspots-getting wet in the morning dew and tendrils reaching for the golden sun-Bees rolling over lavender blossoms and chicks, almost hens, half peeping, half clucking.

What a lovely outside to wake-up to. Fresh blueberries ripe for picking, eggs in the nest boxes, dill ready to harvest. A lazy pajama stroll around the yard, picking yummy things, playing in the wet grass, touching marigolds with chalky blue toddler fingers, and enjoying the cool morning sun, morning.

A summer morning is a hard thing to beat.

lazy days

This summer has been really great so far. We have had a few scorching days, but mostly the temperatures have been reasonable. This is great news for a person who literally feels as if I'm melting when the thermometer hits anything over 83, especially combined with humidity.

Because of the merciful weather, we were able to get out and enjoy ourselves during this past weekend. Andy, Ava and I started with a relaxing breakfast at our new favorite coffee shop/bakery. They have cinnamon rolls, quiche, and breakfast wraps to die for. We got one of each (to share), and two delish cups of coffee.

Afterwards, we took Ava out to try her new tricycle. We searched and searched for a vintage one, but they all seemed to rusted or too expensive. We settled on a red vintage repro of a Radio Flyer tricycle, and it's adorable. Little Miss did a great job learning to peddle it, and looked great in her matching red helmet.

After a break for lunch, we took Scout and Ava to the Silverton Street Fair, which is a cute little flea market they do once a year. I found the sweetest little breakfast in bed tray for Miss A, and it was only $2-bargain!

It was a great lazy summer weekend, and I look forward to many more before the season is over.

a camping we will go

a camping we will go!

a camping we will go!

hi-ho the dairy-o,

a camping we will go!

Every time I prepare to go camping, I get that song in my head. I don't know why, I just do. Thoughts of smores and river walking swirl through my head, and I can't wait to smell the campfire and slumber in a tent.

We are lucky to have many amazing spots to camp within 2 hours of our home. Every summer we venture to the Metolius River for a little R & R. I know of no other place quite like it, and I was lucky enough to call the village of Camp Sherman home during my high school years. It is my home river, and I will always love it dearly.

We had a bit of a discovery this year-we only like to camp in areas where there are other campers. My husband has always resisted this idea, but after a spooky few hours and a midnight trip to a hotel, we both agreed that it's better to deal with other campers than not to sleep at all.

The funny thing is that I called this hotel at 11:45pm and asked if there were any rooms available. The very sweet man said yes, one. I felt like it was fate! I cringed a bit and asked how much-he replied that it was the nicest room in the hotel-more cringing and closing of eyes. He ended up giving it to us for 50% off since it was so late, whew. Andy and I both agreed that it was the nicest room we'd ever stayed in-too bad we weren't there longer to enjoy it!

The next morning, full of breakfast, showered and refreshed, we headed back to the Metolius. We settled on a campsite away from the river but with a good view. We unpacked our supplies, which was interesting because of the midnight, rushed packing job from the night before.

As soon as the tent was up, Ava and I settled in for a rest. We gazed at the towering ponderosa pines, listening to their soft rushing sounds in the wind.

The next day we took a short drive to Suttle Lake for a little lake hike and fishing. It proved to be very difficult to keep the 2 year old fishing for more than 5 minutes, so Ava and I found a place to take a dip instead.

The other highlights of our trip were hiking down to Wizard Falls fish hatchery to see the fish. It was an oddly slow day there with not many visitors. Reminded me of when I was young and visited there, before the Metolius graced the pages Sunset magazine among others. We also had fun feeding the chipmunks-I know, it's not PC to feed "wild" animals, but they were so tame they were almost like flies.

It was a peaceful and relaxing trip, and I look forward to our next camping adventure!

Yesterday the weather finally warmed up a bit. Andy, Little Miss and I went for one of our Sunday morning drives, complete with coffee, hot cocoa, and breakfast burritos. The drives used to be a cheap way for us to entertain ourselves, but with gas over $4 a gallon, they are becoming more and more rare. Anyway, off track here. The Sun...

While we were on our drive, I came out of my Pacific Northwest rain stupor and noticed that everyone had really nice flowers planted in their yards. I had almost forgotten that it is indeed June, cool weather and all. But yesterday, I was slapped into summer, and decided a trip to the plant nursery was in order.

I have complied some planting photos-well actually they are photos taken after I slaved away in the sun planting (not the best time of the day), and depict Little Miss tidying up the flower beds. After her little raking session, she sat on the front steps with her bunny grahams and had a little talk with our resident iron bug, which guards our doorstep.

All in all it was a lovely day, and true to Oregon weather, today we are back to rain and sweatshirts. Until next time~