No words come to me to describe it.
This sacred place.
The delicate and fragrant understory.
Light dappling through lacy leaves.
River dancing over mossy rocks.
The boys walk ahead.
Douglas Firs tower.
The river sings.
I linger
And weep.
There is a beauty that is mine.
How did it get here?
Into my soul
Rapturous.
Only here.
As you may recall, packing for our move was quite challenging given that most of our things were to be left in storage (for varying amounts of time). At least I had the foresight to pack a few craft supplies to carry me through these weeks (months?) until we (hopefully) retrieve our stuff and settle in to our new home.
My felting supplies were the most obvious choice since they are my current craft of choice, and they are light weight and amenable to smooshing about. On a whim, I also decided to throw my beads in as well. I’m so glad I did.
I recovered Artemis and put her on a simple, strong chain … not exactly beading, but she was in my “to fix” bag as the beaded chain she’d previously been on broke over and again.
Having her back around my neck is very symbolic on many levels. For starters, I haven’t worn her since the last time I was here (per above). And, then there’s the connection that I feel to her, Goddess of the Forest (perhaps more about that in another post).
Speaking of goddesses, I put the pendant that HalfPintPixie sent me ages ago on a choker of small, “milk chocolate”, seed beads. I’ll have to wait for Angeliki to arrive to finish it off as I have no clue how to do it!
Next stop – a bracelet made of these… moonstone, lapis lazuli and Greek key beads.
I thought I might make a necklace for Rose’s Hand of Fatima that I felted earlier this week, but decided she might like to put it on a key ring or something else, so just left it in this form. I’ll be sending it with her family when they head out this weekend to protect them on their journey, and her upon her return.
In a fit of maternal guilt over leaving JumbleSon’s lovies at Marina’s house back in June, I gave in to his attachment to this stuffed sheep during a visit to a pharmacy. He’s in serious need of some leg warmers, this one. I hope to borrow some knitting needles & yarn from Rose, or thrift some in the coming days so I can spare him the ongoing embarrassment of this unsightly tattoo.
So I buy my kid dog toys… {shrug}
What a difference it makes in daily life to have JumbleSpouse totally present and free to have fun with JumbleSon. I can think. I can craft. I can breathe! Who knows! I might even become human again!!
Until next time, craft on WIPsters!
Today was a typical Pacific Northwest day. Mostly overcast, with occasional sun breaks (link here for definition 
), high of 60F/15C, sprinkles off and on. I in my turtleneck & sweater, Son in his shorts & t-shirt (ensemble put together by himself), we decided it was the perfect day to explore a neighboring town.
After playing with seals by the sea for quite some time, we headed home. JumbleSon seemed unphased by the cool air, but I was in serious need of a coffee to warm me salty bones.
And what luck! I just happen to be in the land of drive-through coffee stands. Every nook and cranny and stretch of uninhabited road has one or two. And I believe it is my duty – as a good citizen – to visit as many as I possibly can in case one of them harbors a coffee of orgasmic proportions like that of The Coffee Garden in Salt Lake City, Utah.
But more than that, I love the idea of documenting these adorable little roadside huts that cater to the needs of sleepy, chilled locals and unsuspecting newcomers alike.
So without further ado, I bring you today’s caffeinated love shack, The Espresso Garden
This gem is situated right along Discovery Bay off of Highway 101 on the Olympic Peninsula. Next to it you will find a Wild Birds Unlimited store and an antique shop. Random. Random. There’s nothing else for miles along this strip. But, I must say, it’s a lovely spot all the same. And I, for one, am glad they’re here – even if their coffee** is mediocre.
So what about you? Do you love coffee or tea? Have a favorite drink or spot for your bean/leaf fix? Aspire to become a barista/tea ceremony hostess (anyone know the name for that role?)? Or otherwise, appreciate funky little coffee/tea shops?
**When critiquing coffee, I order an 8oz. Americano (that’s a short black for you Aussies out there, or single shot of espresso with hot water ) with a splash of soy milk.
Our vacation/move was excellent! I found camping with JumbleSon even more relaxing than when we went solo for 6 months. I think, in part, because we didn’t mess with ice & coolers, cooking food over a fire, or planning to cram as many sights as possible into each stop. And, of course, there were more opportunities to stop in “civilization” than the Australian outback! This included wonderful visits with dear friends (with toys – this was a very important point for JumbleSon who asked of every destination, “will there be toys there?”).
Besides just being very lucky to have a 2 1/2 year old who travels like a rock star, we found the following things helped make our days run more smoothly.
TRAVEL TREATS
I believe it was Lotus who suggested here that I bring wrapped gifts to share along the way. Thank you! It was a big hit! Especially since he’d just watched all of his things be packed up and put in to storage. I averaged a gift every other day. Most were small new treats, but some were his old toys that I thought he might like to use along the way (like his hand-made binoculars for explorations). I tried to make the treat fit either our destination (beach toy for our first day at the ocean, snake from Mamaroots on a desert hiking day, etc.) or need for extended entertainment (car time). Each gift was wrapped in tissue paper to add to the excitement.
STICKER MAPPING
With JumbleSpouse’s amazing GoogleMaps help, we put together a 3 ring binder made of plastic sleeves containing maps for each leg of our journey. The day we left each new destination, we reviewed where we’d been, then found a sticker (pre-printed by me – thank you GoogleImages & Friends who sent photos) that matched what we’d seen. We would then look ahead on the map of the day to preview where we were heading. Periodically, we got out the full U.S. map and got a bird’s eye view. While JumbleSon really got in to this, the down side is that he now asks daily where we are going next! 
GLOVE COMPARTMENT GAMES
I kept a few things in the glove compartment to pull out when he started fussing. Just before we left, I got a travel sized magna doodle (or what ever they’re called) – the kind that uses a stylus to create pictures, then slide a lever over the image to erase it. I also had an electronic toy (gifted by Molly’s Mama) that plays music and teaches the alphabet (VTech Alphabet Apple Tree). And, although JumbleSon was highly unimpressed, I’d also made him an I-spy game out of a jar, rice, and bits & bobs that I’d found around the house as we were packing up. For the most part, these would only come out during travel. Of course, there were moments (after hours upon hours in the wild) when he felt that he needed “walls”…
BREAK IT UP
On average, we spent no more than 4 1/2 hours driving per travel day. This worked really well, especially since someone woke at dawn just about every camping morning. So we could arrive at our destination by early afternoon. We also spent the night with friends (or, in the one case of severe thunderstorms, a hotel) every 3 days or so. By the end of week one on the road, JumbleSon was really jonesin’ for home (this lasted about 2 days, then he fully recovered and never looked back ). Even though it wasn’t ours, it still filled a void (contrary to our attempts to convince him otherwise, our 2-door celica and 4-person tent does not a home make). It was a total treat to sleep in a bed and spend time with friends who took us to awesome local sights we would have never seen (like the Bay Area Discovery Museum – thank you so very much, Marina!)
THE SECRET WEAPON
I’m sure it is different for every family, but for us it was all about JumbleSon’s favorite music CDs (at the moment it’s Wheeeeeee), audio stories (I think we all have Stone Soup memorized now), and our tiny, portable DVD player with old, commercial-free episodes of Blue’s Clues. All audio/video came to us from the one and only Angeliki – still taking care of us. Even from afar. Thank you, dear friend. Thank you!
So, how about you? Feeling inspired to take a road trip this summer? I look forward to reciprocating all the kindness friends gave us on the road (either directly to them, or indirectly to other weary travelers). If your wanderings take you to the Pacific Northwest, please do let me know.
Random, spontaneous posts from me for a while. We’re a one computer family right now. And we’re trying to settle into our temporary routine. So reading/posting is sporadic. I still want to fill you in on our trip, but for now here’s a glimpse of the life we’re living:
In brief, our routine looks like this:
2-3 days in Seattle catching up with friends, shmoozing for jobs for JumbleSpouse and showing JumbleBoy the town.
The rest of the week we live Peninsula life:
Part of our work in Rose’s garden has been “helping” with the fruit & veggie garden. Mostly this involves harvesting and eating! I’ve never been a salad eater, but the beauty & volume of her lettuce has made me a convert. And contrary to my blog name, I’ve never made jam before. But, I had 3 little helpers interested in it (Rose’s kids are still in town for a few more weeks much to our delight), so we gave it a go. Freezer jam from her strawberries (freezing 3 cups for her to enjoy when she returns).
The other challenge until her husband leaves (which will add lawn mowing to our task list) is weeding. Thistles and horsetail thrive here. I’ve seen many a Pacific Northwest gardener use horsetail as a “feature” in their garden. But, how in the world they maintain it is a mystery to me. They spred like wildfire under the ground, then pop up all over the place. Today I’ll try straight vinegar (as pulling them at the root is futile). Any recommendations for organic solutions are welcome. 
So, when we’re not getting her beautiful fountains clean and flowing, we’re fighting the battle of the equisetum (with much joy, I might add – the weather is spectular!)
Highs in the low-70’s. Slight breeze. And sunny – mildly so. I smell the ocean. The hummingbirds call as they buzz past my head. There is a constant hum from hundreds of happy bees. I watch the family of quail scurry past. A racoon walks up the path and stares me down. Everything is fresh. open. light. love.
JumbleSpouse has 3 interviews lined up for next week.
We are where we are meant to be. (blissful sigh)
We made it!
Two weeks.
Three thousand miles.
Six states.
Five gracious hosts/hostesses.
One hotel room.
Ten hot showers.
Eight cold camping nights.
One remarkable traveling toddler.
Countless peanut butter and jelly sandwiches.
One orgasmic coffee.
Unfathomable natural beauty.
And the happiest of endings.
Home!
With any luck, by the time you read this we’ll have a presentable, empty condo; and will be packing up our 2-door Celica (affectionately named Zephyr) for the beginning of our big adventure.
Either from the road, or soon after we get settled in Washington, I hope to share more about traveling and camping with kids, as well as fun shots from special spots along the way.
Until then, please forgive my absence at your place. And…
Enjoy the silence here
Packing: Day 14
So sorry to have let you all down. We’re on Day 14 and still frantically packing. With any luck we’ll wrap up the bulk of it this morning and begin the ugly clean up jobs this afternoon.
Where once there was a gnome village...
Since no one guessed (and how could you??) that it would take us nearly 2 full weeks to pack up our small condo, I decided to do a drawing among all those who submitted a guess two weeks ago.
Congratulations to Krys at 2Vegan Boys!!! Please email me your snail mail address and I’ll pop a treat into the mail to you in the coming weeks!
Terrified.
Trying -
Unconvincingly -
To write my academic bio.
[everything sounds ridiculously fabricated in light of my Mama identity]
Assigned -
Reading, writing, presenting -
Weekly.
[more work than I've ever seen in academics before]
And that’s just one course.
History of Geographic Thought
For me.
McGlobalization
Grad student.
With Teaching Assistant responsibilities.
Introduction to Globalization.
For them.
Freshmen.
Awesome topic.
Positively shocking work load.
For Freshmen!
For me!
I have the summer.
Three months to prepare.
I am thankful anyway.
Visit Mon at Holistic Mama to see what others are thankful for this Thursday.
I think I’ve found my craft of choice…
Inspired by HPP’s love of Super Mario Bros. Mega Mushrooms . I left the eyes off because I was a coward and feared I’d ruin it entirely.
Heart-mushroom brooch shamelessly copied from Lisa’s wonderful tutorial at 5 Orange Potatoes.
Storyboard (with my view of the local mountains) inspired by an early summer tale in this edition of Living Crafts magazine.
Check out what others are working on over at Wipster Central.
