History In A Bucket

My dad brought me this beautiful wooden bucket about a year ago. It ALWAYS sat right next to my moms chair while I was growing up and into my adulthood when, yes, I was STILL growing up. I think it is lovely and it obviously meant alot to my mom. It usually always held all her crafty stuff. She was a talented crafter. 

I believe this was passed down to her from her grandma(?) please correct me if I am wrong dad....

Anyway, I was cleaning out my disaster zone of a crafty closet the other day and while pulling this down from the top shelf, it fell on my head, which did not feel good at all... 

The next day I was talking to my friend and complaining about all my crafty project stuff laying everywhere around the house. She told me I need a pretty basket or bag to put it all in. Brilliant. So then I thought.. a basket does come to mind because it actually fell on my head yesterday. So I headed to the newly less chaotic crafty closet and pulled it off the bottom shelf... not the top. The slight concussion feeling knocked some sense into me.. heavy goes on bottom shelves... 

So here we are to the main point. I decided to put some new fabric over the top to match my style a bit more and this is what I found....

 Mine on the top, moms in the middle and great grandmas on the bottom. Three woman. Three different styles based on our personality and eras. I love this. So I kept both pieces of fabric under mine, knowing that this will someday go to Greta. She can add her life fabric some day. 

 Here is the finished product thanks to Jeff who was patient with little nails, and below all my crafty goods that were cluttering the TV stand. My yarn is now safe from the cat and my pins safe from little fingers. Plus, I love having it out where I can see it everyday. 

You Would Think I Wasn't Afraid Of Heights

Those of you that know me well, know I DON'T LIKE HEIGHTS. That being said, I made a promise to myself years ago that I would never let the fear hold me back from fun..and I never have. Gondolas in the Alps, Airplanes, Ferris Wheels, Climbing Cliffs in New Mexico and hiking at high elevations.. I've done it and though I thought my heart would jump out of me, I kept going (mostly thanks to my cheerleader Jeff). 

Today was one of those ignore the fear days.

 I haven't felt well the last couple days but have been waiting a week to go on this cool hike by the Oregon Coast. It's a moderate hike and a little over 3 miles round trip. The thing is on this hike you have a beautiful view of a waterfall but one must cross a 100 ft high suspension(yeah the kind that moves...) bridge that is 3 feet wide and 240 feet long...ahem. I did it. I am glad. Did I take multiple trips back and forth..nope. 

 Us ready to walk across... and a big thank you to Greta, walking in front of me swinging the bridge side to side. 

 The view of the waterfall from the bridge. 

 Crossing

 The kids and Jeff on one of their trips across. 

Big bonus... playing barefoot in the creek on our hike down. 

Things I Am Enjoying Right Now

This Summer is flying by. I am happy. I am busy. I am enjoying the kids. 

I am enjoying watching Fieldin play in the rock pile in the backyard. He has such a happy face. 

I am enjoying my food dehydrator. It has ran non-stop since I bought it. Drying apples mostly.

I am enjoying exercise. Knowing that sweat means the fat is crying :) 

I am enjoying the simple things. Laundry, dishes, cooking... they make up most of my day. 

I am enjoying seeing Greta playing across the street at the play structure, even though I want to hover, I watch from afar. 

I am enjoying being crafty once again. I missed playing with cool fabrics and yarn. 

I am enjoying organizing the house. 

I am enjoying my kids independence. 

I am enjoying Fieldin's love of the Green Lantern.

I am enjoying bike riding and playing hoops. 

I am enjoying an egg for breakfast. 

I am enjoying just plain drip coffee twice a day instead of lattes/mochas. 

I am enjoying being outside. 

I am enjoying Summer. 

What A Difference 32 Years Makes

This weekend, we took a trip to Mt. St. Helens. 

I have memories of visiting, shortly after she erupted. I remember devastation of the land. I remember having a mason jar or two of pumis like volcanic rock in my closet as a child (side note: volcanic rock makes good sidewalk chalk). I remember having a view through two trees in our backyard of the volcano and I remember spending alot of time looking at her. Mostly I would look out of curiosity, would she blow again? Also, I remember pulling a Babe Ruth a couple times playing ball. Aiming at the far off volcano at bat. Just in case you are wondering, I never hit a ball that far.. but I tried many times. 

 The volcano is much the same but the land around it has bounced back in many ways. It was beautiful. 

 We took the kids on a pretty long hike as usual and they were troopers once again. We were at a high elevation, it was horribly hot and the grasses were high. We did it, and I am so proud of the kiddos. 

 We hiked in lots of wide flowers and saw different dragonflies and butterflies at every turn. Grasshoppers, frogs, snakes, beaver dams, water lilies, berries... life has returned. 

 My two and me with St. Helens in the background. We started our hike early so the clouds hadn't burned off yet. 

 more wildflowers along the trail. 

 About a mile left. The grasses hit Fieldin right at head height for parts of the hike so Jeff would lift him up. 

 major troopers. We went through a pack of water and snacks quickly on this one. Also, breaks where we could find shade were taken more and more as it got hotter. 

We spent most of the day at St. Helens. We ended the day at the visitors center at the top. This view is from there on a trail a mile or so from the center. 

Today we are home and tired. I am sunburned but the others avoided it luckily. Greta and Fieldin can add Mt. St. Helens to their Jr. Ranger list and Greta is also now a Jr. geologist. They asked me to sew them little hiking bags for their collection of patches and pins from this summer. Very good idea. Good job you guys. 

OMSI

Another thing to knock off my finally list.. 

I feel bad, Greta has been asking since last January to go to OMSI.  She has OMSI assemblies at school which reminds me that we need to go.  I promised we would go this summer and she has been so patient. The only thing that has stopped us from going is time. To really enjoy OMSI it takes most or half of a day, plus it is a bit overwhelming for Fieldin still. He wants to stay with his sister and do what she is doing of course, instead of going to the play area for his age group. This makes for one tired & wired Fieldin. I see many more frequent visits in the future, especially as Fieldin gets older. 

 Fieldin pretending to be earwax

 static electricity.. her hair does not surprise me here. This is what she looks like when I pick her up from school most days :)

Jeff helping Fieldin in the ball room. 

We left with two happy, hungry and worn out kids... Success! 

Among Our People

I finally visited the WSU-Vancouver campus. It was nice to see the cougar sculpture just like the one you see as you enter Pullman. The campus is gorgeous, but was empty with Summer break so we didn't get to walk among the "VanCougars". I asked Greta if she has any memories of Pullman, but they have slowly been forgotten. She remembers bits and pieces but most of all, remembers Ferdinand's ice cream on campus. I feel like I have the best of both worlds, I live in a place I love with a bit of Pullman near by... without the long   

drive through the wheatfields. Of course we will still visit Pullman once and awhile but it was very fun seeing this campus. 

 Mt. St. Helens in the background. To the right is a beautiful view of Mt. Hood. This campus is very nice. 

Coug kids, that are slowly turning into OSU Beaver kids... Sometimes I wonder what college they will end up at? Greta only has ten years until she knows.... Oh my goodness. I think my heart just stopped.... 

Knitting Needles

I've recently got out my knitting needles out of hiding and did a practice hat for Gret. This is the accordian hat in seaglass colors that I can't seem to get enough of. Of course now Fieldin wants a hat so it will be an excuse to try out cable knitting. My wrists and fingers should be warmed up by Christmas... it may be time to attempt socks!