Bend, OR

Last weekend we went to Bend with some family friends.  The photo above is of the view from our balcony.  I can tell you that K, our menfolk, and I spent much of our time listening to the river as it rushed by....  once a pod of kayaks attempted the rapids, but much of the time the rushing water lulled me into a trance that had me never wondering what time or day it was... not a worry in the world.  The kids were entertained with each other.... and the place felt like a dream.  The kids spent much of the days in the pool... getting out only to travel out with the menfolk to the Lava River Caves.   When asking the kids what they liked best~ 3 of the 4 said "the caves"...(the 4th said "the pool") so the assumption is that venture out was pretty cool.  I would not know, because I was out with K sipping wine and savoring baked brie ( yet, you will not hear me complaining!).  

 After our nourishment, we attempted to find a pedicure spot.... after 5 tries... we settled on another wine bar to brighten our spirits~ instead of our toes (once again... still not complaining!). 

::note to self::Saturday late-afternoons are not a good time to find unscheduled pedicures.  

but a perfect time to find a wine bar!

I am now beginning to wonder the etiquette before I can ask our friends to go on a vacation together again.... is "as we are leaving"... to soon????

Lava Caves (a bad photo- but that is what you get in poor lighting!)

summer color

we are in the midst of trips here, and trips there.
I feel like my large canning pot is always full of hot water~
my canning closet is full of sweet jars of peaches, pickles, plum sauce and apple butter.
The freezer is full of zucchini bread, green beans and peas...
and tomatoes are coming up quick.
I may be in and out of the house~
but I love grabbing a pair of scissors and a jar
walking out back
and making a bouquet of color.

Its just a cheerful reminder of what some water, a little seed and a lot of sun can bring us.
Exhale.
for school begins soon,
and things will once again be changing.

trailer up!

Ruby has been out about about this summer.  The kids have been enjoying the new camping sites and experiences that have decided to go on.  This last weekend it was out to the coast, south of Newport, Or.  to South Beach State Park.  

Newport, Oregon    2013

First off, when I booked the site~ it was the only site left.... and this campground was HUGE and apparently pretty popular.  After arriving, I now know why it is so popular.  This place is amazing!  Everything is accessible by bike.  Flat, easy going, family friendly bike riding.  Once your on the beach there is a jetty, that when timed right, you see starfish, sea urchin, and all sorts of water life.  The sea lions where starting to arrive~ so their barking can be heard at all hours.  Kites are flying.  Rocks and shells are picked up.  The water is very cold....and the wind is dry and warm.  Just the perfect spot.  Newport's Oregon Aquarium and the Marine Life Science Center are a 2 mile bike ride down a bike trail. You pass the Rouge Brewery, on the way, which is a perfect place to stop for lunch ( and a good beer!).  In the harbor area of town, over the beautiful bridge, you have all the little beach shops and a few surprises in this small main street.  And one must not forget to visit the lighthouses.  Really.... This area can entertain and keep you busy for a while.

  

on the beach together

 It looks like this was a winning trip for our camping adventures.

Care to join us next year?

he went to camp

I have been home.... wondering.
I am fine during the daylight hours...
it just at 3am...
I wake up.

I start to race with wonder.....
I hope he is not cold..
I hope he's not hot.
I hope he brushes his teeth.
I hope he doesn't have to go potty in the middle of the night.
I hope he doesn't overeat at breakfast.

I know... he is having the time of his life.  All those hopes above....are silly...compared.
my oldest went away to camp....
and he comes home soon.
I hope he tells me everything!

A farm stay away...

Last weekend I was off to Hood River, for a Farm Stay Weekend.

probably one of the funnest weekends I have had in a while.

More to come later....

but,

this is just a teaser.

the view from our window~ Mt. Hood

sit and swing a while

alpaca love

cherry season.

taking Ruby out

photo credit and great info about LL Stub Stewart State Park at LittleBayRoot

The joys of having a tiny little trailer is~ you get to use it.
I love throwing in some things,
loading the kids up...
and setting out on an adventure for the night (or two).


Ruby doesn't care where we go~ just as long as we take her along.

This past Friday we did just that...
threw some things in,
and drove west.

on a walk together

Just 30 miles west of Portland, about a 40 minute drive... near a little town called Vernonia, is a brand new campground called LL Stub Stewart State Park.
This place was fabulous.
The views were remarkable.
Hiking/biking/horse trails everywhere.

O holding up the mountain ranges

it was a perfect place, nearby, for us to spend the night.
The boys loved riding their bikes all around, and there were kids playing til the sun went down.

a spontaneous, successfully short stay~cation.

I feel like....

yep... that says it all!

I wish I had the time to sit here and talk to you all.... I really do...
but, I have been busy... planning a birthday for my youngest.  Easter Sunday Dinner for 16 peeps (not the marshmallow kind... but we had them there!)... and packing.
This girl is taking the family on a much needed vacation... to an island where beaches, pools and cabana boys bring pretty drinks with umbrellas.

I have my earbuds, my books, some yarn.... and sunscreen!
so, see you soon, oh faithful blog friends!

I will have much to share... I promise!

refreshed.

I have a place....
I call my HAPPY PLACE.

It is here I find quiet.  calm.  rest.  and friendship.
It is here where I sleep~
drink coffee~

not a bad view for a cup of joe!

Sloppy Moussaka

and cook amazing meals that may not go over well at home.
Where the time ends to quickly....

 but I leave with a sense of joy and peace to return to what is the norm.

RECIPE UPDATE::

 

SLOPPY MOUSSAKAs recipe was a huge huge hit!  They were amazing with a handful of garlic fries and a PONZI pinot noir.... This meal is a definite make again for the hubby (its a touch to "hot" for the littles).

The recipe was in this month's Rachel Ray Magazine or you can click here for the link.  enjoy!

bags are packed

this lady is going out of town.
leaving early.
leaving the boys.





















and not looking back~
see you soon!
(with a few stories to tell....)

Birthday bucket

so last year, on my 40th birthday I wrote out a bucket list.  I found it was a great experience for me to put down in words things that I want to do.. could do... and should do.  I re-read it last night and saw that I can start to cross off some on the list...
as well as, maybe add a few more.

so, in celebration of being 40 plus 1
I bring you the updated bucket list.

1. experience family life (or should a say... doing!)
2. travel through South France (Provence area)
3. Travel through Greece and Italy (the whole Mediterranean area, really!)
4. Live in a flat in the Netherlands
5. tour and sing with a band
6. Open a small restaurant that serves homemade baked goods and soups.
7. enjoy a Hot Air Balloon ride (I will do it this year!)
8. be a mentor to college kids 
9. volunteer at an orphanage/medical center in Africa.
10. knit a sweater
11. teach piano lessons
12. have lunch with Colin Firth
13. see O ~ Cirque De Soleil
14. hang out in Hawaii with Jack Johnson and his family.
15. Take the kids to Walt Disney World
16. visit the Grand Canyon
17. be a host mom (a billet) for a Portland WinterHawk's hockey player.
18. snowboard in Whistler, BC (or just hang out in the village)
19. win big in LasVegas, NV
20. visit and dwell with the Amish community for a weekend or two.
21. London, England
22. learn to spin wool.
23. take a pastry class at Western Culinary (registration starts in Fall~ looked at the schedule)
24. go to a NHL Stanley Cup finals game
25. work on a local farm for a week during the springtime. ( doing this Spring)
26. be on the Martha Stewart Show (okay-so this one if far fetched~ due to her show being cancelled this season!)
27. learn the ukulele ( got one for Christmas 2012 and am plucking away!)
28. graduate from college
29. Niagara Falls, New York
30. Snowboard in Mammoth,CA
31. own chickens
32. walk the streets of Dublin, Ireland (in platforms ~ and tripped!)

::Now adding::.

33. Volunteer for Pacific Whale Foundation

34. Beekeeping

35. visit with a blogging friend, in person!

36. learn to make leftse

37. sleep in an overnight train

38. sit in the audience of a live TV show

39. try glassblowing
40. horseback ride on the beach

   "Life is either a daring adventure 

or nothing at all"

~Helen Keller 

I did give myself 10 days...

to repost... I did!

so, there are all sorts of little things going on... but they are very repetitious and small that blogging about them seems silly.  But I now have a few things to share (that are worthy of a blog post!)....

Early this month of January we went to Seaside, OR... a quiet and cute little coastal town... for a few days after the first of the year.  It was rainy and chilly... but it kept tourists a bay, and we had an amazing time.  The boys swam, ate salt water taffy... and we walked everywhere (except the time we drove on the beach!!).  It was so so so so nice.  I strongly recommend going on a vacation just after the first of the year~ because everyone is just coming home from the holidays... and you will find you have the whole place to yourself.

reliving the summer

Today.... is day two of our new weather pattern... RAIN.

I know your saying "new! the pacific northwest is known for its rain!"

yes, yes we are....

but this year we have had very little of it since early May.

Our summer has been full of even temperatures and sunshine has graced the land of hazelnuts, wine and berries.  It has left me with only 4 green tomatoes (shocking!) and given me 2 cycles of veggies from my garden.  I had the greatness of fun in the garden this year.

but yesterday.... yesterday....

was the beginning of the end of it all.

I am excited for fall rains to start.... yet (surprisingly) kinda sad to really see this summer go.

So today's post  is to cherish the summer....

my boys~ outside of Yosemite

me and my littles

We were moving and grooving this summer with great trips, camping, and loads of fun.... resulting in not blog posting much.

the backside of Half Dome, Yosemite

B... planting a tree (or a stick and putting leaves on it)

O and a big  Sequoia, Yosemite

This has been (honestly) the sweetest summer for us.  With all the great successes with B and his diet changes, his supplements, his new found comforts in relating with his brother, and just overall growth ~ don't get me wrong, he still had some really tough moments ( some doozies!)~ but, he was able to move through it.... and I was able to allow others to look on and not feel judged (people... that is huge progress!). In the end... results were in experiences that glued us together as a family.... closer and more valuable.  I have to say, for me, the key was in listening....in listening to B and his needs for that moment.  Listening to his demeanor, his body, his hesitation, his being.... listening to not just his words... but to his need for solitude, for calm, for understanding.  And then taking that need~ and honoring it... 

 Yes, there were times, that I stayed back with him... from a bike ride, or a hike.

Yes, there were times where he sat in the car as his brother worked on a craft at a local store or enjoyed a frozen yogurt (people... dont freak~ I stayed near the car, checked on him tons, and had my eyes and ears closed in).

summer at the pool

concerts in the park (B eating his home brought GF/CF dinner)

Portland Cello Project at Zoo Concerts
(see the grey shirt in the middle- having  a BLAST!... that 's my boy)

B and O both zip-lined in Mammoth, CA

Grandpa, dad and O~ early fishing

the catch of the day from Mammoth Lakes

Panning for Gold

Moose in Yellowstone, Wyoming

But for us.... with both boys older.... and maturing.... the summer was one of adventure and memories.  Special moments that I have been dreaming for since they both entered my life~ and since B's diagnosis... I wasn't sure we'd have.

I learned how to truly listen to my son... and he learned how to enjoy experiences.

I'd say that is a win-win....for both/all of us.

Nature Camps (local)

Paddle boarding together ~ Lake Washington, WA

(oh man, that was a weird little ramble.... sheeesh, and all I was thinking was posting some forgotten summer photos..... hmmm.... I sometimes have a lot to say.... woopsies!)

dad and mom~ photo credits to O