#101thingstodo - 2. Find at least one Geocache

I did it! I found a Geocache!

It's been something that has always been in the back of my mind as a thing to try one day. And why not make that day today. We decided to take the pup out for an evening stroll, I looked on the Geocache app to see where the closest cache was and we set off. It was quick half mile trek to the hiding space and it wasn't on anyone's private property. The perfect place to start.

The Cache

It took a little bit because once we got there the sun was gone, leaving very little light. We turned on our cellphone flashlights and 5 minutes later, I had the cache in hand!

Tired Pup - and the cutest

Sadly, I forgot to grab a pen so I didn't get to write my name in it, but it's not a far trek to go back and sign it later. We walked back by way of the park letting the pup run a bit. And once home it was time for popsicles and ice cream and cuddles. Finding at least one geocache was on the to do list, but I will probably keep on the look out for more.

Post caching treat

#101thingstodo - 1. Go berry picking

1. Go berry picking - 6/1/15

Handful of Magic

I have gone berry picking since I was a kid. This is not a new thing for me. But it's a time honored ritual that means more to me than just having the best strawberries in the world at my finger tips. It symbolizes that the harvest has begun. 

Cutest

Besides leafy greens and over wintered root veggies, strawberries are one of the first big harvested crops here in the pacific northwest. I guess peas are in there as well. When that first container of strawberries marked "product of Oregon" show up in the store, my hearts jumps for joy and I immediately begin scheming as to when I can get out to the fields and harvest some of the delicious fruit myself. 

brief break from the rain

In true Oregon fashion, we didn't cancel our picking plans due to the rain, but relished the promise of less crowds and quiet open spaces. Armed with rain coats, rubber boots, and flat boxes, we set out toward the field marked "hoods." Hoods are the candy of strawberries. Though tiny, they are red through to the center, sweet and pack a punch in juicy flavor. 

They might be tiny, but they are tasty!

Lately, we've been craving ice cream with all this heat (80 is hot for us Oregonians in May). So I blended up some of the strawberries with a bit of coconut milk and honey and put it in the freezer to harden. Later, we'll have "ice cream." I whipped up some strawberry kiwi Popsicles as well. We ate a few and froze the rest to be used throughout the summer. There will be more treats (and more picking!) to come. Strawberry Rhubarb pie and jam are a must, as well as some strawberry balsamic jam (which is amazing on toast with sharp white cheddar)! I want to try roasting a few on the grill. Fruit leather, pancake syrup, breakfast smoothies, etc.... 

Naturally, all of this berry mixing awoke the domestic goddess and I made some fresh chicken soup and quinoa, scrubbed the cast iron I just bought at Goodwill and began the seasoning process, oiled the wooden cutting boards, and prepped lunches for tomorrow. I'm thankful for the cool day today or else all that stove and oven use would've been unbareable. 

What item on the list might tomorrow hold?

#101thingstodo

Here we are again: over a year since my last entry. As summer draws near, scrolling through Facebook, I keep seeing articles about summer plans, lists of ideas for activities, and beautiful pictures of others' adventures. As I was reading over one such article, I was inspired to make my own list of adventures that need to be had.  I have had many hopes and dreams about summer adventures in years pasts, and then life gets busy, daily routines take over, and the end of the summer shows up with not nearly as much to show for it as I had hoped.

I have always been an avid list maker. The thrill of crossing things off a list is enough motivation to get out and get things those listed things done. So, I began compiling the list that will help guide by summer adventures.  I found a few other such lists, taking a some items from here, a couple from there, and over the last week complied an inspiring collection to guide the next few months. The list includes things I know I will enjoy, things I have been hoping to do, and few fears that I want to conquer (i.e. rope swings). I know have my 101 Things To Do: Summer Edition. (I even started compiling the Fall Edition, because I love LISTS).

I will document the journey and share my adventures here on my blog. I welcome co-adventurers. If you want to join me on any of these or have ideas for something that would fall on this list somewhere, let me know and we'll make it happen! This is the Summer Edition, so my goal is to complete it all during the summer (June 21-September 21). However, I can't wait to get started. So I'm getting started right away - June 1st start date (tomorrow). Wish me luck and join me if you wish!!

Finished Projects Pile

I've recently found myself with a lot of free time. Which means I've been able to get a lot if projects competed. So here are some pictures of the things I've completed. Some of these projects will get their own blog post with step by steps if how I made them, but for now I just wanted to get them up here and share with you all what I've been up to lately. 

Curtains in the kitchen. A cool use for jute coffee bags. 

Jewelry display. Picture frame from good will, some tiny nails, and knit lace pattern. 

Cutest little baby sweaters for one of my closest friend's new little guy. 

Curtains for my sisters new Portland apartment 

And curtains for my apartment. 

And some homemade iron on patches for the same little guy that got the sweaters. 

Hope these help inspire you to get creative. 

Owls

This is a bit of a part two to my previous post about crafting and my crafty friend, Jessica. I just recently threw her a bridal shower with an owl theme and wanted to share pictures of the awesome decorations I made. So, as promised, here is what I have on my phone of the lovely owl decor.

The signs pointing the way

Invitations 

The owl family for the center pieces

The Center Pieces
They each went on a green square with ivory tea lights on the corners

To plant or not to plant

Gardening season is fast approaching and I'm starting to get excited. I got my seed cataloguein the mail a week or so ago but, haven't had a chance to look through it yet. Partially because my life has been crazy and partially because I don't want to get too excited.  I know that sounds odd, so let me explain. Last spring, we put in a lot of time and energy and money and finished what the previous tenants had begun. We turned the front yard into a garden. However, we aren't sure what we're doing when our lease is up at the end of July. And around here, August and September are prime harvest months. I'm at least planting things I can harvest before August, but my debate is whether to plant those other things as well. If not for us, then those who might come in after us. But I get so attached to my plants, the food I've been tending, looking forward to for months. It'd be tough to stay focused and give the same care for the plants knowing I wouldn't be the reaper of the harvest. But then if we ended up staying, I don't want ro lose the opportunity to feed my family from our land, to be connected with the earth around us, to get dirt under my nails and share with those around me who don't have time or land to tend on their own.

I think I will plant, holding nothing back, tending both for me and mine as well as for those to come later.

Craftyness

Trip to the Beach one January
(yeah, we're a bit crazy)

My husband and I used to live in an apartment complex on the other side of town and we had friends that lived in two other apartments in the same complex. We used to joke that we were like the tv series "Friends." We hardly ever knocked on each other's doors when we visited, we'd meet up at the bar directly next door to the apartments and there were crazy ebbs and flows of relationships always happening. Once a week, me and one of the other girls, Jessica, would get together and have a "Girls Night." This started in college, was strongest when we lived in this particular apartment complex, and lasted for about 7 or 8 years. She now lives an hour away which makes it a bit difficult to be consistent with it.

80s themed birthday party!

Our girls nights would consist of playing games at a restaurant over dinner, going bowling, and grabbing a few drinks. However, most often we'd spend the time at one of our homes between round of N64 Mario Kart or while watching a movie. We did a lot of crafts. She taught me to knit, I taught her to crochet, we scrapbooked together and she helped me learn to read a sewing pattern. Even still, we'll call each other with questions about things that the other has been doing longer. I'd say we're best craft buddies. :)

Jessica is getting married this spring and so naturally, I'm throwing her a bridal shower in a few weeks. And it's full of craftiness. I'm going with an owl theme and have found all kinds of inspiration from Etsy and Pinterest. Here is a little glimpse into what I've been up and some of my inspiration.

Invites

Sandwich board Signs Outside

There is more I'm working on, but I can't share it quite yet because it's a surprise and I don't want to ruin it for the lovely bride to be. But I wanted to share with the world the fun owl creations I've been working on! It's been fun. I found the ideas and inspirations from here. Check them out! So much fun.