Crafting in Late Spring

Welcome!  While I had hoped to publish posts once a week since my last post, it has been over four weeks since then. I have been easily distracted by happy and sad events around me.  Creative projects stoke my happiness and combat my sadness.

 One sunny afternoon I packed the basket pictured above with some creative pastimes and hiked out to our front pond and sat at a picnic table to try to capture photos of wildlife, and then use my watercolor pencils.

 Can you see the squirrel in the upper V of the tree?  He scampered in the branches above me.

 And Mr. Mallard came into the view of my Panasonic zoom lens.

 Another day I stopped at the corner of Waybill Road and used my 7Plus iPhone to capture this zoomed in view of Mt. Hood with a row of mystery to me trees in front of it.

 Our flowers on the front porch are fluffing out in a lovely way.

 I am using Alicia Paulson's book, Stitched in Time and Helen Philipps' book Quick and Clever Cross Stitch to prime myself as I plan to do a stitching piece similar to my mom's I showed you several posts back.  My mom used linen to stitch on, but I have decided to use cotton Aida cloth.

Mid May I was given flowers to celebrate Mother's Day.  Some are now planted in the garden, but this bouquet lasted a long time and seemed to be happy on the Pioneer Woman brand tablecloth I found for a bargain price.

 We went to Wildwood State Park to celebrate birthdays while our friends from California were on a week long stay with us.

 Our friends stayed through Memorial Day, and we saw this Sandy cemetery especially decorated to honor those who have died in service while trying to establish and protect the peace.

 The first week of June my youngest daughter, son in law and son and I went camping on the east side of Mt. Hood.  We played miniature golf and the guys went back and played several rounds of golf on the big course as well.

 We had a bit of rain, hail and chilly temps, but even though we were deep in the woods we glamped thanks to being in a camping trailer.

This big black crow was our alarm clock on several mornings...just as effective as roosters!

 I have started the second part of the Ruby Shawl pattern. Guess what!  I have only seven more rows to crochet to complete the shawl!

Look what just arrived in the mail from my blogging friend, Joy, who lives in Lincolnshire, England, an area from which some of my ancestors immigrated in the1600's.  She sent a wonderful letter, and shared some lovely yarn left from a winter cardigan she just knit, some beautiful buttons, and knowing I like sheep, too, she sent me a learned one to help me count stitches! Thanks so much, Joy, for your kindness.

A few years ago a Mothers of Preschoolers group sold banners at the church I belonged to.  I bought the banner pictured above and have it hanging above my front door to remind me that it is my aim in life to get better and better at crafting love for those around me in the world, including you!

What are you crafting in the world around you in this season?

Gracie xx

Five on Friday: Camping!

For quite some time I have been enjoying viewing posts published by bloggers participating in Amy's Five on Friday gathering.  Since I find myself creating posts about once a week, I am going to have a go at joining Amy's link up and share five highlights of my past week.

One: Forest camping between Rock Creek Reservoir and Wamic, Oregon, on the east side of Mt. Hood, for the last ten days has been wonderful! Some of the roads my family traveled on to go camping are part of what was the Oregon Barlow Pioneer Trail.  Although we set up my tent, my youngest daughter and her husband invited me to sleep in their camping trailer which was very comfy.

Two: Fun was had by all who came with me as well as those who just visited for a day. Our campsite was right alongside a manmade irrigation creek.  It was so relaxing listening to the water ripple past although we ventured away from our campsite nearly every day for a bit. One day we drove to the nearby lookout over the Tygh Valley and it was lovely to see the farm land below us. Another day we played a round of miniature golf, and then my son and son in law played 18 holes on the beautiful, nearly deserted golf course in around 100 degree sunshine! On Sunday we visited the local log cabin Wamic Community Church and enjoyed their Pot Blessing lunch after worship.

Three:  Firelight and heat was our friend for some daytime cookouts and in the cool evenings.  We enjoyed playing Scrabble, Pegs and Jokers, Bannangrams, and, Five Thousand here and there during the days and evenings. I finished knitting two dishcloths and crocheted three little round face scrubbers. During some days my youngest daughter had to use WiFi at a local cafe to complete homework assignments for her Master's in Nursing Informatics.  While she did that I colored some more pages with watercolors, and fiber tipped pens and sketched and watercolored a view of our campsite. Some of the time I spent reading, too, from the "One Year NLT Bible," and Jan Karon's  pastoral but driving Father Tim novel, "In the Company of Others."  

Four: Feathers were a highlight of our days. We visited Rock Creek Reservoir frequently and gathered many goose feathers and a pretty little orange and black feather that I think may have come from a red winged black bird. On one of the near 100 degree days we went swimming in the clear cool water.  Ahhhhhh....  While we were out in the water  without our cameras we were thrilled to watch a Bald Eagle swoop down to the water, catch a fish and then fly directly overhead so that we could almost see the scales on the fish! Family members and friends also went fishing, but unlike the Bald Eagle, no one caught a fish.

Five:  Flowers were a delight to see tucked here and there in the green grasses and bushes around us.  When four year old grand Joy visited for a day she picked a sprig of Queen Anne's Lace for me which I brought home with me although it is a bit worse for the wear. The photo of the Thistle I took with Jennifer of Thistlebear in mind.

Now that I am home and unpacked and reconnected to more reliable internet connections, I look forward to visiting with and finding out, "what is new or old with you?"

xx
Gracie