Oregon Caves National Park

There is just something about national parks. They hold a certain nostalgia, as if permanently steeped in sepia. And I especially love national parks that are quiet. Not teeming full of people. The Oregon Caves National Monument is just such a place.

We took a cave tour, had burgers, shakes and fries in their classic cafe, admired the arts and crafts furniture and took a junior ranger test. All in all a lovely day.

xo.

The County Fair

Pinwheels!

While the rest of the country is enmeshed in a heat wave, we in the Pacific Northwest, are searching for summer. Temperatures have been unseasonably cool and though we are smack dab in the middle of it, this hardly feels like the hot season.

Today the sun did come out, as did the wind. Little was bored and itching for something to do. So, in a flash of inspiration, we made pin wheels. All we needed were basic household items; left over craft paper, eraser topped pencils, scissors and a push pins. Easy peasy.

This craft took all of five minutes and I feel a better parent for it. I need to remember that crafting, doing, doesn't have to be difficult or expensive or time consuming. And with that in mind I'm going to find some other crafts to keep us occupied and entertained.

The Joys of Camping

We're back. What a lovely five days spent fishing and knitting and reading and watching the stars. Oh the stars! One forgets how bright they shine. We also introduced the kids to one of my alma maters (Go Cougs!) and puttered around on horseback. And we drove and drove and drove admiring the farms of Eastern Oregon.

What I wouldn't give for a little homestead, with a red barn, a lovely red barn, tucked up against the Eagle Cap Wilderness. We'd have chickens, of course, and some goats. Perhaps a horse or two. Oh how glorious that'd be.

But for now we are home. We've two weeks until school starts though water polo has already begun. There's shopping to do. Clothes and supplies to buy. Appointments to keep and general business ahead. Thank goodness for these brief respites from our busy lives!

I've processed some photos of our trip with more to come. But first sleep. Sweet sleep in my very own bed.

Good night and sleep tight!

Checking it twice

I'm muddling my way through my to do list. As you can see the lavender has been picked and jam has been canned. Additionally I finished knitting a pumpkin hat and did practice my chanter a bit.

Have I mopped the floors? Oh heavens no! How could I when there is so much else to do? So much else joyful and fun. I've also yet to sew curtains or set up the tent or finish the baby gift. But I did find time to create a shirred scarf (photos pending) and stumble upon a spectacular new sewing machine (a vintage Janome New Home). Five bucks I tell you. Five. She's mint green and white and just so pretty. I can't wait to photograph her.

She seems to run well but is missing a bobbin holder. I really hope she works because my old plastic model is hanging by a thread (pun fully intended).

This new gal is heavy -- really really heavy! Ideally I'd like to find a sewing table and reclaim the kitchen for, you know, the preparing and consuming of food.

I must admit I'm fully mired in autumn fantasies. Autumn brings football, crunchy leaves, crisp evenings and an active kitchen -- scones, pies, stews and chili. This year autumn also brings the promise of time. All three kids will be in school. Mama will have an opportunity to commune with herself -- to read, to write, to practice, to clean and to create. Ah! Doesn't it sound delicious?

In the meantime I'll continue muddling through; making lists, checking them twice and enjoying the moments as they come. Summer, after all, is pretty darn good especially with fall to follow.

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Frugal Friday -- Summer Fun Pack

In this region gardening is a challenge. The growing season is short and even in the middle of summer we have to worry about frost. This year the cold extended well into June and my vegetable garden has been a bust. But one thing that thrives despite the weather is lavender.

Last year we made lavender sugar and lavender sachets. This year we tried our hand at lavender wands. The lavender, of course, was free. And the ribbon thrifted. Overall this project cost, maybe, a dollar.

This project completes our summer birthday fun pack. It seems we know quite a few kids born in the summer months. And now we are able to celebrate with fun yet frugal gifts.

Our fun pack includes: a hula hoop, homemade bubbles (with attached pancake shaper/bubble blower) and a lavender wand.

Good for the gifter and good for the giftee. What more could a person want?!!

Here's hoping your summer is also full of fun!

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A Great Way to Pass a Summer Afternoon - Saturday

Sew Something

When summer comes I set aside my knitting. Wool and warm summer days simply don't mesh. But I miss the repetition. The soothing knit purl repeat. Knit purl repeat. Instead I turn to embroidery. My latest obsession is vintage transfer patterns. Oh my there is much fun to be had! I can't wait to show you my latest tea towel -- soon I promise. The theme is Bee Clean. Quite appropriate in this household. Here's a sneak peak:

When mama pulls out needle and thread undoubtedly the children want to join in. My child friendly medium of choice? Felt. What a forgiving fabric. It doesn't fray or wander or go awry. Perfect for little ones just making their way. Our favorite creation is a blanket stitch heart; ideal for hanging, attaching to gifts or as bookmarks.

I never thought I'd find solace in sewing (or knitting, or cooking or baking). But it seems homemaking is in my blood, in my soul. I can not deny that I am a woman. A woman who works yet truly enjoys making a home.

And part of homemaking is sewing. So, whether it's pants that need a new button or you are feeling ambitious and create a new dress ... don't forget the needle and thread this summer. You may just find a little bit of yourself you thought you never knew existed.

Happy sewing!

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A Great Way to Pass a Summer Afternoon - Friday

Get thee to some water!

So you know the saying about the best laid plans? "The best laid plans of mice and men often go awry." Yup. That one by Robert Burns. Well today it held true.

We were going to go to the lake. We woke early, sucked down coffee and packed a picnic lunch. The canoe and kayak were hoisted atop the car. The kids were loaded and I was literally walking out the door when the phone rang. I almost didn't answer but it was early. I mean no one calls before 8:00 am unless something has gone awry. And indeed it had.

My sister was on the line. Her and her family were driving up to Oregon (we had planned to meet up with them later). Notice I said "were", as in no longer driving. It seems their geriatric suburban had chugged its last mile. They were stranded on the side of the road 100 miles out. And here's the kicker. They had been towing my Grandmother's Trillium camping trailer. A trailer they'd outgrown and were bringing it to us.

A trailer! A trailer! We're getting a trailer!

Needless to say we did not go to the lake. Thanks to AAA the suburban was towed. My brother-in-law went with the truck to attend the dying car. However the trailer, my sister and their five children were left on the side of the road. Left to battle the mosquitos and dust. Clearly a rescue was in order. We must've been a sight for sore eyes!

In the car, on the way home, my sister mentioned they'd stopped by one of their rentals (they own several properties). The renters had moved out and left quite a bit of stuff. In passing she mentioned they'd left a typewriter -- it was mine if I wanted it. A typewriter? What kind? How old? My sister didn't know.

Turns out it was GORGEOUS. A lovely black Corona Silent model. I've been jonesing for a typewriter forever and now two have come into my life in the past week. I mean, seriously, how cool is that?!!

So we didn't go to the lake. We didn't kayak or canoe or galavant in the water. But we inherited a vintage trailer -- a gorgeous egg of our very own, and a new-to-us typewriter to boot. The best laid plans may not have come to fruition but what a day!

I promise -- photos soon. In the meantime -- get thee to some water. That is, unless your plans go awry.

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A Great Way to Pass a Summer Afternoon - Thursday

Play with paper!

Alrighty. This one's coming in just under the wire. And, yes, it is still Thursday on the West Coast. Today we played with paper. Oh my goodness there is so much that can be done with paper. Paper dolls, paper stars, and paper cranes. Paper lanterns, paper frogs and paper hats. The possibilities are limitless. And paper? We all have paper. I consider this project absolutely free.

Enjoy!

A Great Way to Pass a Summer Afternoon - Wednesday

Bubbles are a prerequisite for summer. But you don't have to go out and buy bubble solution ... you can make your own.

Ingredients:

• 1 cup good quality dish soap (trust me -- generic doesn't work so well)
• 2-3 tsbp glycerin (found in the baking department of my specialty food store)*
• Water
• Old milk container
• Bubble wands (get creative here -- we used old pancake forms)

Mix water, glycerin and soap in milk container. Allow to sit overnight. Pour into shallow dish, insert wand and blow away!

Take notice that no matter what the wand form the bubble always ends up round. Why? Surface tension! More bubble facts can be found here.

*Corn syrup can work instead of glycerin but is an attractant for bees and wasps.

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What are you doing for fun this summer?

A Great Way to Pass a Summer Afternoon - Tuesday

(or how to build a hula hoop)

• Go to the hardware store
• Buy irrigation poly tubing; 100 psi and 3/4 inch*
• Buy pipe couplers
• Buy electrical tape in a multitude of colors
• Return home and retrieve a blow dryer and popcorn kernels
• Cut tubing to desired circumference (somewhere between belly button and chest)**
• Place popcorn kernels in tubing
• Heat tube ends with blow dryer and attach with coupler
• Decorate with tape
• Hula hoop to your heart's delight
• And, finally, get Grandpa involved in the festivities

* 100 psi 3/4 inch tubing is great for kids. For a heavier hoop get 160 psi 3/4 inch or 100 psi 1 inch tubing.

** the easiest way to the cut the tubing is with a ratcheting pcv cutter which can be purchased from the hardware store. Fortunately we already owned one of these babies. The tubing can also be cut with a saw.

Note: the poly tubing is typically sold in bulk. We spent around $36.00 for this project which will yield approx 8 hula hoops. Clearly we don't need 8 hula hoops but we have several birthday parties to attend. These extra hoops will be part of our summer fun gift pack (more to come).

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I hope you are having a lovely summer!