Rock Skimming

Another day was spent at our favorite mountain stream, this time with even more of the family present. This, our almost exclusive camping location for all those years, still retains the same qualities that we love. It's remote for one thing, has a wonderful rushing waterfall to hike to, first across this rustic bridge, then on a mossy, narrow, winding path crowded with ferns and dense, fragrant forest. There are huge boulders to test one's climbing skills, freezing, clear mountain water to swim or wade in and thousands of tempting river stones to skim or throw. The day was warm and sunny- not the best for pictures with all that dappled sun and shade but
later when the requisite hike was over and we had eaten our picnic, we found the stream side shady and inviting.

Some of life's most rewarding activities are the simplest. Take rock skipping.


Hidden within this timeless, instinctual pastime is a world of physicality, contemplation, fun, and competition. Rock skipping can be a solitary or group activity, athletically competitive or meditatively energizing, a simple diversion or a trigger for creative thought.
~Norene Sandifer~
The Art Of Rock Skipping



Drake seemed like a pro at the art of rock skimming and his Mom, Holly, was no slouch either.

While some of us were learning or re-learning the art of skimming some were just happy to be throwing, and the bigger the rock the better. Leif was in little boy heaven!

Ben and Drake found some challenging target high up on the trail above the stream.

Yes, we could have stayed at our magical, enchanting, beauty spot all day. Well, actually we did!

Fruit In Season

In an orchard there should be enough to eat, enough to lay up, enough to be stolen, and enough to rot on the ground.

~James Boswell, 1740-1795~

The Walls enriched with Fruit-trees and faced with a covering of their leafy extensions; I should rather have said hung with different Pieces of Nature's noblest Tapestry.
~James Hervey~

Love is a fruit in season at all times, and within reach of every hand.

~Mother Teresa~

Climbing The Wall

Leif very soon got the hang of the climbing wall and accomplished it on his own repeatedly after that.

For me, up inside the *Structure*, (as the kids have always called it) made a great perch from which to capture the expressions of a budding climber. Effort, worry, pride, concentration. He's only 2 1/2 of course but strong.


Leif's two big brothers will not be able to mess with him without consequence for much longer.

Extreme sports will probably come into his future whether his mother wills it or not. With three fearless, energetic boys, I believe she is already steeling herself :).

Photo Contest~Boys

Waiting for the tractor

with Poppy

What boy is there who doesn't love a big tractor? They are waiting for it together, one patient the other not so.

This is my entry for the child category in the I heart faces *Boys* contest this week.
I debated on this one because it's not a close up of a face but the composition speaks to me. It tells a tender story. But also the opposites~near and far, tall and short, strong and weak, patient and impatient captured in a moment.

Photo Contest~ Boys

The Climbing Wall
A Little Moral Support

The photo contest theme over at I heart faces this week is *Boys*. I had a hard time deciding on the right photo but this one of a Grandpa-Grandson moment conveys the spirit of Fathers Day for me.

An Indelible Impression

The stories of childhood leave an indelible impression, and their author always has a niche in the temple of memory from which the image is never cast out to be thrown on the rubbish heap of things that are outgrown and outlived.

~Howard Pyle~

A book is a garden, an orchard, a storehouse, a party, a company by the way, a counsellor, a multitude of counsellors.

~Henry Ward Beecher ~



What do books bring a child?... a big world with all its possibilities--people to know and understand, places to imagine, eyes to see beyond the obvious, words to stretch the mind and heart, and a lasting stewardship of language used the right way.
~Gladys Hunt- in Honey For A Child's Heart~

White Mixing Bowls

All White Mixing Bowls

were the only thing on my wish list when we went antiquing last week.
. For some reason I've been in the mood for better baking supplies lately and needed new (old) bowls.

There seems to be a myriad of bright colors available so my fun challenge became the hunt for Plain, Pure White Bowls among the clutter of the typical antiques shop.

I managed to find this nice variety~5 all white bowls that even stack pretty well!

It must have brought out the Betty Crocker in me

because I just began to have the urge to bake some bread!

Oh, happy day.

Gluten-Free Swedish Rye Bread~Warm out of the oven, Yum!


This baking urge is both a pleasure and a necessity since I have decided to go gluten-free. I thought I would never taste a really good slice of bread again but this recipe is heavenly.

(This and other marvelous recipes come from the cook book ~

*The Gluten-Free Gourmet Bakes Bread*

by Betty Hagman)

Photo Contest~Sepia

Dress up

This photo of Ivy in her girly dress up outfit is my entry in *I Heart Faces* this week. The theme is sepia. This photo has a little color added back which I think is allowed.

Radiance

Who covereth thyself with light as a garment: Who stretchest out the heavens like a curtain: Who layeth the beams of his chambers in the waters: Who maketh the clouds his chariot: Who walketh upon the wings of the wind: Who maketh his angels spirits: his ministers a flaming fire: Who laid the foundations of the earth, that it should not be removed for ever.
~Psalms 104:2-5~

For God who said, "Out of darkness let light shine," is He who has shone in our hearts to give us the light of the knowledge of God's glory, which is radiant on the face of Christ.

~2 Corinthians 4:6~

His Son is the radiance of his glory, the very image of his substance, and upholding all things by the word of his power, when he had by himself made purification for our sins, sat down on the right hand of the Majesty on high;
~Hebrews 1:3~

Radiant;
(a) Especially, emitting or darting rays of light or heat;
issuing in beams or rays; beaming with brightness; emitting a vivid light or splendor; as, the radiant sun.

Sylvia Beach Hotel

For our anniversary we had a delightful stay at this historic hotel on the Oregon coast. It overlooks about 2 miles of beach and is definitely a special find. Each of the rooms has been furnished and named after different authors.

This is truly a hotel for book lovers. There are no t.v.'s, no radios, no phones. It is a quiet place on most days. Except for the glorious storms. Then the wind howls, the building shakes, and the rain pounds down. Some days it's warm and sunny and the sky is bright blue. Some days there's morning fog. Some days the wind makes you stay inside and read! Some days are rainbow days, the weather just can't decide. The ocean is always present. (The hotel is on a 45 foot bluff right above the surf.) You move into the rhythm of the sea. Perhaps that's why time seems to slow way down, almost to a standstill.


Some don't look up from the book they're reading until it's finished (and they think they're in paradise!) Some finish manuscripts they've been writing! Some come up with grand ideas. Some guests say the hotel is such a romantic place to celebrate anniversaries, or honeymoon. But it is also a wonderful place to go with a friend, or your mom, or your daughter, or old college roommate.

Breakfast comes with the room-rate and is enjoyed by all at the tables of 8 in the *Tables of Content* dining room. And the food and company are both delightful. The guests seem to come from all over the country, and sometimes out of the country, and they're thoughtful, curious, and high spirited.
The restaurant also serves a wonderful dinner.


No matter how nice your room is, (and we had one of the best, Agatha Christy, with fireplace, ocean front view and deck) guests often spend much of their time up in the reading room. It has the best view in the whole building, lots of overstuffed chairs, a fireplace, plenty of books (from the library shelves in the loft),puzzles and board games, tea and coffee always available.


There is a great beach right in front of the hotel. At any given time just a handful of people can be seen walking the beach. The Sylvia Beach Hotel has a particularly beautiful coastal panorama which includes the Yaquina Head Lighthouse. This view is to the North.

Some of these wonderful descriptions are taken in part from the
Sylvia Beach web.site.

The photos are all mine.

40

Oh, too bad that's not my age!!

Actually, it's the # of years this handsome dude and I have been traveling life's sandy beach together.

Sunrise, sunset, (how do the lyrics go?) swiftly fly the years....
(see, I knew you could finish it)

(and, no, the tiny person in this photo with the surf board on his head is not either one of us! LOL)

In Play

Children at play are not playing about. Their games should be seen as their most serious minded activity.
~Michel de Montaigne~
French essayist 1533-1592

Cousins, and grandchildren, Ivy (4) and Leif (2) spent the day here.
They are great buddies and had a total blast!

In play a child always behaves beyond his average age, above his daily behavior. In play it is as though he were a head taller than himself.
~Lev Vygotsky~
Russian psychologist 1896-1934

Children learn as they play. Most importantly, in play children learn how to learn.
O. Fred Donaldson
Contemporary American martial arts master

Roses~Part 3

There's nothing like the fragrance of an Old Fashioned Rose

~Jude The Obscure~
David Austin-English Rose

~Abraham Darby~
English

Granddaughter, Ivy~
helping gather for a bouquet.

~Veilchenblau~
Rambler, with very unusual blue color- once blooming.

~Mme. Alfred Carriere~
Noisette- climber-English

This rose is pictured on the left side of the photo below,
and in the center is the *Mystery* rose.
For a peek at what this garden looks like when we're pruning see here


If you are interested in learning more about, or purchasing, old garden roses, check out~www.heirloomroses.com