Family Hike

 Minion Butt

 First Poppy of the year.

 She's known to take dance breaks.

 "Sis, do you think this is coyote poop or bobcat? Feels fresh."

 He is also known to take dance breaks.

 "Watch me whip, now watch me nae nae..."

 

 source

Worry Less, Create More

 While the pictures below may not qualify as Art, let's just call them crafted creations. I'd hate to offend true artists by calling it Art.  Anyhow, it's a bit ironic that one of the recent recommendations for Myles has been art therapy. Looking back at my own life and how I handle stressful situations, there's always been a tendency to turn to art.  I can't put into words why, other than to say when I'm in the heart of a stressful period of time, I feel better if I can create things. I guess the obvious thing is that I can get lost in an activity and self soothe by going through that process.  An example is when I found out my Grandma had cancer. I went out and bought paint and w/in 24 hours had repainted our bathroom.  Anyhow, all I can say is thank goodness for Hobby Lobby being in my life over the past 1 1/2 months.  I thought I'd share a few creations that have popped up in our house.

 This is the top of our fridge. I have 3 kids, so that is the explanation for why there's already a pencil thrown up there.  I had some scrap wood that Myles had used to build a wooden sign. I hunted around in the garage until I found it, borrowed it from him, and this was the end result.  Hobby Lobby had the crate, which happened to match the Biscuits sign perfectly, and holds my cook books that I never use but won't throw away.

 This is my favorite new addition to our house. Reclaimed barn wood pieced together, then added the metal letters/numbers, and pygmy buck antlers in the middle. This was really fun to build.

 Our bedroom, like many parents I think, has never really felt "done". Not like the rest of our house. I mean it's ok, I love my bed and furniture....but it just never really feels done.  I decided to attack the wall above the bed. Those flowers/ferns you see at the top are from our wedding. They've always hung where the picture is now, I just moved them up.  I'm not super happy with the I heart You sign, it's a little cutesy for me and may be replaced eventually.  The real fun on this wall is the buck boxes.

 So....these are just plain cardboard book boxes, they are like $1 at the craft stores. I found buck drawer pulls that I really liked, and then had to figure out how to hang them on a wall. They have that long screw on the back that you usually use on a drawer. I painted the cardboard with the side of a sponge brush to make it look more like wood. I had to add a way to tie the book shut after it's nailed to the wall, so I added the ribbon. Shoved the bucks through the cardboard and hot glued them. Then I just nailed the book to the wall and tied it shut. I love these, and all in they were about $6.

 Because the bucks stand out a bit from the book, they make these awesome shadows, gives it a 3D effect that's pretty cool.

So there you go, a few additions to our homestead, and a calmer "me" in the process.
Happy Friday!!

"The Mountains Are Calling and I Must Go" - JM

The mountains are calling and I must go.

In every walk with nature one receives far more than he seeks.

The clearest way into the Universe is through a forest wilderness.

I only went out for a walk and finally concluded to stay out till sundown, for going out, I found, was really going in.

Everybody needs beauty as well as bread, places to play in and pray in, where nature may heal and give strength to body and soul.

When we try to pick out anything by itself, we find it hitched to everything else in the universe.

Keep close to Nature's heart... and break clear away, once in awhile, and climb a mountain or spend a week in the woods. Wash your spirit clean.

When one tugs at a single thing in nature, he finds it attached to the rest of the world.

The power of imagination makes us infinite.

Between every two pines is a doorway to a new world.

 

- John Muir-

 

 These are all Stage Rd to Burma, from Buckeye Trail (up by the white ranch on the mt.)

 While we are about a week in to no rain and temps in the mid 70's....we have had some very heavy rains this winter. Notice how this tree's roots are covered in mud? At some point there must have been a whole lot of water flowing down this bank.

 Coyote in a hurry....

 Sometimes I just have to stop and stare. While these are not pines, the line from above "between every two pines is a doorway to a new world".....so true in the below picture.  So easy to stand there and let go of all worry and stress.

 

 It's not the prettiest stretch of trail on the mountain, although it's not hard to look at by any means. It is possibly one of the funnest stretch of trail! We did not ever have water flowing here last year, so this is a treat!

 Later in the year when we take the kids blackberry picking, it's on this same trail, the right hand side. There won't be water here at that time, it'll look very different.

 The long climb up out of the valley, and back to the truck. It is so green, it almost made it ok. I do hate this climb, though.

 Take your pick, it's there - bobcat, coyote, deer, hog, ground squirrel, raccoon, me....

 Burma will always make me giggle. I will always see me running partner for 1 day/sister for life...backing down it.

I love that my mountain makes my truck look like a Hot Wheels.