Down the Hobbit Trails.....

Since we were in Eugene for the Country Fair this past weekend we decided to make a trip to Florence on the coast to visit one of our favorite places, the Hobbit Trails. Ben and I visited the Hobbit Trails on a road trip from Wisconsin when we were still teenagers, after hearing about it from a friend. It is a very special place for us because it was also here that we discovered we were going to be parents for the first time. This was all 13 years ago!!(seems like yesterday)

The Hobbit trails lead you down through a twisted and slightly spooky forest into thick low shrubs that form a roof over tunnels worn into the sand, after you follow one of the dark tunnels you arrive at a beautiful beach, Hobbit Beach. 

The first time we visited there were not many cars parked in the small turn off of the Highway but things have changed over the past decade and the lot was full and there was a line of cars parked along the Highway. It was a Saturday so that might have a lot to do with it,but I saw that the Hobbit Trails were written about in a travel magazine a few years ago. But Lucky for us there were other folks around when we needed a jump since I left the headlights on(from driving through tunnels) and when we got back to the van we found our car battery quite dead. We found people to help immediately, yay,crisis averted!

Anyways it is a special place, if you find yourself in this area of the country it is well worth the stop!

Oregon Country Fair 2013

 Well, it was a close call but we made it to the Oregon Country Fair again this year.

We headed to the fair just for Friday because we had only a few days and wanted to squeeze in a trip to the ocean as well. The fair was really fun but I wasn't feeling too hot, so one day was enough for me this year.

Here are a few (okay a whole lot) of pictures from our day:

and the journey continues......

Yarn Along: I'm knitting again!!

 

 The knitting in the back is the frogged first attempt.

 I am happy to report that I am finding time to knit again. After a dry spell I was wondering what was wrong with me. Knitting is such great stress relief there is really no excuse to stop knitting....ever.

So I am joining along with Ginny for the yarn along.

I am currently working on a scrappy length wise scarf  after I frogged the first after I made too many mistakes. I am having a difficult time with the linen stitch for some reason, I keep losing track of were I am at. Luckily most of the mistakes I have made the second time around are blending in.

This is a great project for summer.  Portable and simple. 

I even got a moment to knit during the kids swimming lessons! Just like the good old days.

 I am currently reading Housekeeping by Marilynne Robinson. I really enjoyed this book from the start, very poetic and lyrical. The story kept reminding me of a movie I have always really liked. I didn't notice until I was over halfway through that it was the book that the movie was written after, that I believe even has the same name. I never knew the name of the movie obviously or I would have made the connection sooner. Although I know the story from the movie I am really enjoying the book.

Wildwood....

Oh how I needed to escape this city. With Ben's job and my lack of desire to travel alone with three kids I have been sticking close to home  and trying to keep my eldest occupied with classes and daycamp. I am not a city person I was going nuts. We had to cancel our plans to go to the coast a few weeks ago and I was so badly in need of some nature.

So on Saturday we spent the day at Wildwood up near Mt Hood along the Salmon River for some hiking and a picnic.

Far enough away for now.......

 
 

ahhhhh, that'll do.

Welcome Summertime!

Welcome Summer! It is mighty hot here in Portland. 

 We appreciate beautiful trees and the shade they provide. We are shady oasis seekers.

 

 We have taken to daily sprinkler sessions in the late afternoon. Goobie is fearless in water, my sweet Pisces babe.  

We have been visiting the parks in the morning to get a little outside time before the heat overtakes the day. My kids are really heat sensitive so we hang out inside during the hottest part of the day.

We have been finding fun things to do inside too. Did you know you can make play dough out of coffee?

and cornstarch dough is so soft and addictive to touch...

We have been enjoying the summer bounty at the farmers market. Some of us go for the honey sticks alone....

I have been eating a lot of what I call "Vegetable mountain" . Yum! Steamed broccoli,cauliflower and kale over fried red potatoes. I use Braggs liquid aminos and Chouloula to give a little flavor. Goodness, I am hungry.

 I am so thankful we no longer live in an upstairs apartment during the heat waves of summer. It was no fun, we never had an air conditioner. Our high ceilings really help with heat.

The other day while I was making lunch I got a paranoid feeling because things were a little TOO quiet....my kids make a lot of noise, they are all screamers..all day long.I found Nalah quietly reading a book in a cozy spot.It was really sweet. I snapped this picture.

I hope you are all staying cool and enjoying summer.