guess where we went!

Does this give you a clue? I can tell you it's clear across the state from where we live! It's farm country/ranch country now but the city started when GOLD was discovered here! This give you a better hint?

How about this?

Ok, I'll tell you! We traveled across the beatiful state of Oregon to Baker City to see this interpretive center. My husband's coworkers gave it rave reviews and he needed to get out for a few days so we headed here. It was worth the trip! I want to go back in a few years with grandmunchkins in tow! When our kids were younger and I was homeschooling them we studied Oregon history and part of that study was the Whitman's, missionaries to the Indians. As our summer trip that year we toured the Whitman Mission. I can see doing the same with grandmunchkins when they cover Oregon history.

Just one of the many critters we added to our sight list. We saw antelope, deer, elk, osprey, vultures, just to name a few!

It's spring and the wildflowers were in bloom everywhere!

A view of the Baker valley.

We hiked 1.4 miles DOWN to see the original wagon ruts from the Oregon trail. I've been fascinated by the Oregon Trail since a young girl and it was really special to me to see these. Yeah, they're just dirt ruts but there is history in those there ruts!

We stayed and played in Baker City. A big city during the gold rush. The town was worth the visit for it's old days feel. And it boasts two quilt shops, a yarn shop, and two scrapbook stores! This is the Grand Geiser Hotel. Still standing.

We drove home via a path we've not traveled before. It took us through the John Day Fossil Beds. We are going to have to go back and visit the Interpretive Center. We just got to make a quick stop and take a few pictures.

Ok, the wedding is only 8 days away. Time to get cracking! I have a dress and two half dresses to finish! And WWKIP day is Saturday and a farewell BBQ for a nephew that joined the Air Force! Whew!

I go to the sea to Breathe....(lots of pictures!)

We just got back from a week camping on the Oregon coast. It was one of the best vacations we've had. All, that means everyone, in our family made it down for at least part of the week. We were able to enjoy all four of our munchkins and their spouses and all seven of our grandmunchkins and both sets of parents. The weather was perfect! No rain, a little windy, and a lot of sun. Bring on the sun screen! We're so used to the Northwet that we didn't even pack any and had to run to town for some. It was the first camping trip for the younger grandmunchkins and they are destined to be life long campers if this week was anything to judge by. My sister says that next to Disneyland, the beach is the happiest place on earth. I know it is a stress relief for me. If life has thrown a few curve balls my way, the ocean gives me a chance to breathe. I did alot of breathing this week, and laughing, and enjoying my family.

Little R is going to be like her Mommy and Granny....love the beach!

Someone needs to tell this little guy that sand is for between your toes, not between your teeth!

B is also going to follow after Mommy, Daddy, and Granny.

Nothing like sand in the toes!

Oh, the wonders you can see that come from the sea.

And after we've played in the sand, and eaten the sand, and have sand in our toes, we get to take a bath in Great Grandma's trailer!

Remember those sweatshirts I was sew busy on before the trip...well they came in handy! And here they are keeping grandmunchkins warm and snuggly and able to play outside!

We made a trip to the Oregon Coast Aquarium. The youngest at 23 months was oohing and aahing and the oldest still found delight in the tide pools.

We made a friend in camp. Errr, rather we bribed him with crackers to be our friend. He was fickle. When the crackers were gone, so was he.

Suttle lake and the Stitchin Post

My haul from the Stitchin Post: TWO knitting books and both contained so many patterns I want to knit. A paper pieced quilt of the Three Sisters and the Sisters area. A horse quilt pattern. Train fabric for Jayce's Christmas quilt and four, count 'em, four baby patterns. We went camping this weekend at Suttle Lake, just 20 miles from Sisters. Dan set up the trip for the extended family since Mari and family were in town from Ohio and wanted to camp. Hmmm, Suttle Lake....don't really like camping there. Yes it is a beautiful location, the wildlife is wonderful, squirrels, chipmunks, deer, osprey, but the camping is primitive. No showers, bathrooms, running water. BUT it is only 20 miles from Sisters and the Stitchin Post. A quilt shop among quilt shops. AND they've added yarn and knitting...a virtual paradise. It was worth the primitive camping!

After shopping there is the Sno Cap...been there for years and makes homemade ice cream and milkshakes. It's hard work shopping in a quilt and yarn store. Imagine that, my two favorite loves in one place!
My husband's favorite pasttime...fishing. They got up EARLY to fish...I got up early to take pictures and then headed back to camp to knit on Savannah's sweater. The tulip cardigan raved about in the Yarn Harlot's blog.

Early sunrise on Suttle Lake.
I went fishing with my husband in his boat...but for pictures. And there were osprey hunting at the time. I was thrilled to get these shots. I missed the shot of the osprey in the water but got him lifting off without his breakfast.

Shega totally enjoyed her weekend. Finally Mom and Dad all to herself and her brother without grandmunchkins. She needed the attention. AND she loves to fish IF they're catching. Bet the smile doesn't give it away!

I spent some time in the Word this weekend when it was quiet in camp. Psalm 55 talked about striving in prayer together morning, noon, and night and I couldn't help but thank the Lord for all those that strived in prayer together for Christina and Andy to have children and then a successful pregnancy. I revisited Is. 43 and specifically verse 19 where it talks about God providing a road in the wilderness and rivers in the desert. Those verses were also precious when it seemed there would not be a pregnancy in Christina's future. But God provided both. I was able to share this passage and my prayers with Marci who has a niece going through infertility now. God did abundantly more than we could ask or pray....