Pieces of a Pacific Northwest Summer

 

It was hot, gorgeous as ever and the days were spent in the best of company.  My oldest sister, Tammy, and her family came up for a week-long visit over the holiday and we made the most of it.  River time, a day spent at the base of Mt. Hood on the Alpine Slides and other kiddie adventures, tire swings, pool dips, lots of catch-up-sessions and capped the week off with a day trip to Indian Beach, Oregon.  What fun it was, and how hard we played.  

Gah!  We're off to a great Pacific Northwest summer!

Wellies: a story of lust and practicality

Today marks 500 published posts!

It has been raining here in the PNW since the beginning of time October, or so.  Which means indoor projects are piling up all over the place since it's here that we'll be spending the next seven months, AND because and I don't want to look at my blue wall that shouldn't be blue, or the three different kinds of texture in my living room, or the sporadic missing baseboards throughout the house any longer.  Wait, these are my problems, not yours.  But the rain is a heavy subject for many of us, and it's the exact reason I wrote, '5 Ways to Embrace the Rain This Season'.

The rain is also what inspired today's topic: Wellies.  

You know the weather has changed when you're excited to spend your Nordstrom gift card and then some on a pair of rubber boots.  Not on a blouse, jewelry or on the MAC makeup that you would like to re-stock, but boots. Rubber boots.  And I'm not talking about the kind of rubber boots like the $15 pair that you bought last spring at Walmart and wear into your chicken coop.  

Those boots serve a different purpose--like walking in chicken poop. 

I'm sure wellies have been around since before I was born, so I'm not sure why I never connected owning a pair and wearing them regularly while living in the Pacific Northwest.  It's like simple math.  Where it rains = wear wellies.  You can wear them anywhere--grocery shopping, to the mailbox, to and from the kids' bus stop, while on an afternoon stroll through the neighborhood, Christmas shopping in the city, or to retrieve your dog from the neighbor's, after his 213th unscheduled play date with their dog, in the rain. 

You can even wear them in the snow!  Husband did you hear?!

Style:  Simple.

Practicality: Awesome.

Variations: Plenty*.

*I just happen to love the Hunter version.

Have you been considering a pair of rubber boots?  Here's a great review on the pros and cons of Hunters by Sunday Love xo  Glad to know that I wont be complaining if/when I get my hands on said boots.

Are you lusting over a fall clothing item that you want to see in your closet?  

If so, what is it?

Edit:   I have been informed via A CUP OF JO that Hunter has recently released collapsible boots.

Now you wont have them taking up half your suitcase when you travel!  Genius!

hunter boot images via pinterest

Afternoon at the Camas Farmer's Market

 Yesterday, the kids and I and my friend, Shannon, and her little boy, hit up the one of the last Camas Farmer's markets of the season.  The wind was something fierce yesterday, but it was neat to be downtown, clad scarf, in the early October sun rays, enjoying the last of the season's harvest.  The kids ran, rolled and laid all over the grass and completed a vegetable scavenger hunt.  You know you've done something right when your kids don't throw a fit when you say no to the sweet cart, and beg you to go into the library.  Children after their mama's own heart!

The city is beginning to glow and crisp, while not a drop of rain has hit this Evergreen State in over a month.  I think most of us locals are pinching ourselves!  Speaking of locals--I love being a local to my town.  I love our little city, our downtown, the post office man who has been standing at the same desk for over thirty years, the locally owned market, coffee shop and burger joint.  If only these things and more would never change. 

We've got a gem of a little city on our hands.

Mountainscapes and The Pacific Crest Trail

Family adventures are the best kind.  Last weekend, we headed up the Gorge and into the mountains for what we thought would be one final berry picking.  Instead, we spent most of the late afternoon driving 10+ miles way high, high up into the wilderness, where not another soul was seen, and where the sights were simply majestic.  It's quite the experience to find you and your family in the midst of such beauty, undisturbed. It's as if those mountains and trees were ours to swallow up once we arrived...

Seems God waits on us to arrive in such places--the places where words are scarce, and flip-flops will do, even if you do find yourself on the Pacific Crest Trail for the first time in your life.  And the berries that you thought you went for wont be there, and the six large bowls you have in the back of the car are laughable.  But instead of bowls overflowing with huckleberries, blueberries and raspberries, His glory fills the air and falls over the mountainscape, as every tree glows in its early fall turning, and silence crashes across the land.  This is what we came for.  These are the moments that fill us up, bring healing and re-prioritize our lives.

A Spontaneous Marshmallow Roast

A couple of weekends ago, we made a visit to Husband's parents home on the Washington coast.

Short into our stay, we were roasting marshmallows over a bonfire,

while the sun drenched us in her beams.

The lighting was so beautiful that I couldn't help but grab my camera.

Now I am craving another golden hour for more photography.

We're heading back to the beach this weekend.

Looking forward to more sunshine and sand!

Fourth of July Weekend

Before: full sun ablaze, happy, clean faces in dire need of a camping trip.

During: Blue skies, scalding sun, Clear Lake, music, guitars, friends & family, fishing a lake with no fish, one tiny tree for shade, deluxe meals prepared by our hosts, s'mores and three male dogs who took turns "liking" each other very much almost the whole trip.

After: farmer tans sunburns, all people, items and dogs covered in dirt, with long naps needed, and one Fourth of July evening coming to a close fairly early due to plenty of tired campers.

Now, that we're not burnt and we've caught up on some zzz's,
I think we're due for another camping trip!

Have a great weekend!

Cassie