what a wonderful weekend

my sister-in-law, emily came out to visit this weekend and it was just so much fun to hang out with her. i really wished we lived closer.

we hung out downtown, went to a brew pub, went to the coast and hiked Neahkahnie Mountain, ate at a great little pizza place in cannon beach, enjoyed thatch's celebration beer...it was a great weekend.


bridgeport brewery




oswald west...one of my favorite beaches on the coast...i hung out and fed thatch lunch and enjoyed a little picnic...





view on the way up the mountain...



i almost made it to the top of Neahkahnie with thatch, but he just wouldn't have it. (i even fed him a pumped bottle on our way up!) i was so close to the top, so close. it was a warm day and he needed a little time out of the wrap...so i hung out in the forest while travis and emily made it to the top where you can see the entire coast line.






thatch was a good sport...and friday night he had a huge laughing episode while we were waiting on the max...it was so amazing. amazing. i am still smiling thinking about it.

tasting the thatch brew

some pics by my sister-in-law of us trying out the incredible thatch brew...

speaking of farms...

sunday after church we went to sauvie island with some friends to pick strawberries. the farm was so beautiful...my first trip out to sauvie island (an island where the river goes on both sides of it)



and then i fed thatch under this beautiful oak tree and enjoyed the scenery!



it was a wonderful afternoon!!

let's be farmers...

i grew up in oklahoma in a town of 45,000. but i was a city girl at heart. i wasn't much for the cowboys that seemed to come in abundance. and i denied the idea that we were in the south. my mom and i would take frequent shopping trips to "the city" and yes, that's what we called it...and i would love to buy things at the trendy stores...i had no interest in horses, country music, having land...and i didn't understand "small town charm". and even when i first moved away from oklahoma, i was a little embarrassed to say where we were from...

but now i see that there is beauty in simple living, of growing your own food, having your own chickens to get your eggs...and i actually crave that life. i would love to own some land here in oregon. grow our own vegetables...and heaven forbid, maybe even have a cow.

i think maybe oregon has taught that to me. i drive out in the country and i am amazed. i can't imagine what it would be like to be a farmer here. it would be so much fun.

city life is wonderful. i love the culture. i love what it brings...but i have found and respected that thing called country living. and i hope i can bring some of that into my life...the life i wouldn't take part in as a child. it's still part of my heritage and i'm starting to embrace it.

i think i use to think you were cool if you lived in a big city...and now i'm realizing that is not the case. sure, there are some darn cool people in portland, i could only dream of being that cool. but i'm not so sure the city is what makes them cool.

country living for the first time in my life, is starting to appeal to me. i think i finally understand why travis loves the wheat fields of oklahoma and has such wonderful memories of helping his papa on the farm.

i just read lacie's blog on intentional community living and my heart leaped with joy...growing crops together, living on a big piece of land with a group of people and having our own garden and farm...what beauty!

"...She lifts her skirt up to her knees
Walks through the garden rows with her bare feet, laughing..." [ray lamontagne]

hiking at the gorge

thatch's first hike was a success. we went on a small little hike this week. the weather was beautiful, thatch slept in the ergo...i can't ask for anything more.

Here's to Thatch!

limited edition celebration pale ale...

Balanced with three types of hops, this American-style pale is down right delicious. Cascade and Williamette varieties with their citrus notes and subtle woody tones give this brew a lively flavor. Garnished with crystal hops for a floral aroma...mmmm it tastes so good on the lips. So, enjoy this limited edition beautiful thirst-quenching liquid delight.

And be sure to raise your glass and say,
“Here’s to Thatch!”

paternity leave

well...i'm slowly starting back to work (continuing to do graphic design at home and work on my card company) and travis has started his 2 months of paternity leave...hooray!!

this summer will be full of trips to the farmers market, hikes, and anything and everything outside...and hopefully a little more sleep for me!

minimal living

i saw this post and loved it...i'm a minimalist at heart and hope i can still be like that, even with the swings and toys that seem to be collecting at the moore household.

i can't remember how to make it a link and don't have time to look, so i guess you can just copy and paste...

http://zenhabits.net/2007/08/a-guide-to-creating-a-minimalist-home/

and this

http://www.blissfullydomestic.com/frugal_living/index.html