Fort Rock Adventures

Yesterday was one of the best days ever! We woke up nice and early, coffee in hand, and a Bon Iver playlist. We drove out of the morning fog, and into the hot dry desert. We could have spent the whole day looking at the surrounding area, but had a mission to get to Fort Rock. I can't believe how beautiful this state is. On the drive Wayne actually said in a sarcastic voice, "Wow, this state sucks". While looking around I laughed, because we were driving along a river, and past many lakes and resorts. Even a ski resort with year round gondola rides! My mind was blown, and we hadn't even met our destination..
First stop: Homestead Village Museum. The homestead era peaked in 1912, most of the 'new' inhabitants had never farmed in the high desert before, and were forced to leave. Some managed well. All of the buildings were moved from their original locations to the museum to be restored, and preserved. The church is still used for weddings, and memorials! You can see Fort Rock in the background. It is part of an ancient dried lake, and an extinct volcano. In 1938 a archaeologist discovered prehistoric artifacts in the caves dating back 8,000 years ago.

If you are ever in Oregon, or if you live in Oregon I highly recommend going there! The museum is open Fri, Sat & Sun 10am-4pm May 18-Sep 16. ♥

This crater is called the "Hole in the Ground". It is 4 miles down a very bumpy dirt road, about 6-8 miles from Fort Rock. It is a volcanic crater formed by steam explosions. 1 mile wide, and 300 feet deep. Quite an impressive sight..

This is Bear Country

I have shown interest in foraging, but never considered that things would be so abundant on our property. So adundant that I would be excited enough to gather the WHOLE PLANT! I want to bring all of them closer to the house. We have a hazelnut tree, wild raspberries, blackberries, thimbleberries, and huckleberries. Spearmint is growing everywhere like weeds, and the wild flowers.. So far I have only seen bleeding hearts, and trilliums. We have been doing quite a bit of yard work lately to prepare for my parents, and brother coming over for a very very late fathers day. My mom has been to the house(before we moved in), but yesterday was my dad/brother's first time out here. Everything around the property that we have been trying to find a home for such as our grass clippings (we do not have a yard debris pickup), branches, leaves, bark. I have been collecting all of it, and laying down layers and layers of the debris on my hiking trails. The hiking trail is called "snotty fir" trail head. Usually we say "snotty pine" (where we come up with these things- I do not know), but we have mostly only doug fir trees on the property. I was considering "snotty maple fir" trail head. haha Oh the joys of making silly hiking trail names. I am also considering a My Way <== or the Highway ==> arrows. :)

I am so happy that mi Padre came over. It gave us a chance to finally take advantage of our big firepit. We cooked lunch over the fire, and went for a drive. We saw 3 lakes, 1 creek and 1 river. Checked out a park, a campground, a marina, and local hiking trail. Now that we know where to go, we need to find our swimming holes for those 100 degree days.

I would also like to share the 15 second instagram video my brother made during our adventures. See HERE. On instagram? Follow him!

Oh but look at this scenery! We are so close to hiking trails, camp grounds, lakes, streams, rivers. We have everything but the ocean in our backyard. Hah! Even bear... We found that out only yesterday! I'll be more careful in my backyard now! I always have my machete on my back like a real ninja. Forest ninja!

Scrapbook Paper Rose Tutorial

Step 1 & 2: Round out the corners of the scrapbooking paper(You can use smaller paper- I wanted the biggest and fullest flowers possible).

Step 3: Cut into the circle. Create a starting point for your spiral.
Step 4: Cut a spiral into the circle. Keep an inch or more from your previous cuts. It does not have to be perfect. I actually encourage you to not make perfect cuts. Imperfections in your cutting will make the flowers look more real!

Step 5: Start rolling your paper inward. If your paper is textured/pearl make sure to roll that side inward. It will end up being exposed when the flowers are complete.
Step 6: Keep rolling, and focus on the base of the flower being tight. The outside can be looser to encourage more 'petals'.

Step 7: The rose is becoming more obvious. Keep the base tight, and extend the rolls on the outside as previously mentioned.
Step 8: When done with rolling. Hold the flower to the base so it does not fall apart.
Step 9: Try to loosen the flowers petals on the outside while holding the center together. This will make the flower bigger, and fuller.

Step 10: Hold the flower upside down in the face of your palm, and lift the bottom off.
Step 11: Cover the bottom with hot glue.
Step 12: Hold the flower tight together- pushing everything to the base so it will get glue on it. I usually leave the flower faced down for a minute or so to dry.

Step 13: Place hot glue on the top of the clothes pin.
Step 14: Push the flower from the top down onto the hot glue, and hold it for 15 seconds. I once again leave them faced down for gravity to do it's job. This makes it so no glue will get on any of your work space.

ALL DONE! Now they are ready to pin to anything! I plan to use these in the trees surrounding my aunt, and her husband-to-be on their wedding day(next month). The colors will make for adorable pictures! Now the REAL project is to make hundreds! Now that I taught you, Will you help me?! :)

My Favorite Auntie's Bridal Shower

My aunt is getting married next month, and my dear and I are the photographers. My mom, sister, and I were in charge of throwing the bridal shower. My mom did most of the work once again. She has been very on the ball with the party planning! I love it! My sister headed up all of the social interactions and lead the shower with really fun games, and prizes. I bought the yellow pom flowers, and brought the wood rounds for the centerpieces(which I made a post about recently when we cut down the maple tree- That's them!). Everything else my mom and sister put together. My dear and I put in some labor setting up. But this was probably a 10 person set up and took 2 hours. I think we pulled it off just lovely. That was just a preview of how the wedding will go. Quick & beautiful!

I am excited, and can't wait to document the event!

Once again I made the wedding shower invitation(I am building on that resume!).