Call me old-fashioned, but I really feel like doilies are a commonplace household item that ought not have gone by the wayside. I'm sure many of us have inherited them at some point, maybe ones that our Grandmothers or Great-Grandmothers made by hand. Perhaps some of us can remember seeing them sitting under vases of fresh cut flowers when visiting elderly relatives. If you have ever pulled ...
Dandelion Fritters
When the dandelions start popping up in our yard in the spring, it's time to make a batch of dandelion fritters. I first got this delicious idea from the Doula who helped with my twins' birth, and it became a favorite seasonal tradition in our house. I don't usually make a lot of fried food, but this treat is well worth it. You simply go out in the yard and pop the ...
Hiking the Elwha with Experience Olympic Tours
On my spring vacation back home to the Olympic Peninsula, I had the pleasure of going on a hike up the Elwha River with my friend and outdoor guide, Carolyn Wilcox of Experience Olympic Tours. I had many good childhood memories of hiking the Elwha with family and friends, and was excited to share it with my partner who grew up in the Midwest. Hiking an old familiar trail with a knowledgeable ...
Tidepooling at Salt Creek Recreation Area
What is it about tide pools that makes them so fascinating? Perhaps it's the brightly colored creatures, or maybe the calm way the kelp waves in the tidal currents, or the feeling we are peering into a small secret world, but I could contentedly gaze into a tide pool for a very long time. Growing up where tide pools are abundant along the rocky shores of the Strait of Juan De Fuca, I went on so ...
Going Wild: Off-season Backpacking on the South Fork Hoh River
Sometimes, you just need to go wild. I'm sure every one of us has a favorite outdoor spot, for whatever reasons are near and dear to us. Mine is the South Fork of the Hoh River on the west end of the Olympic Peninsula. Why is it my very favorite spot above all others in the world? Because it is so wild. This remote trail receives little traffic compared to the rest of the Olympic National Park ...
Spring Equinox has Arrived!
The seasons are turning with the Spring Equinox today, and everywhere you look, there is no question we are headed out of winter. The sun is shining more often, you can hear the sound of birds chirping in the morning, hummingbirds are having a party in the quince bush, and plants are busy growing. It's a flurry for sure! We took advantage of the warm, sunny weekend and turned our ...
It’s Good to See Your Long Lost Buds!
Looking around the yard, I am seeing buds emerging everywhere. The fruit trees, the berry bushes, the flowering shrubs and the hazelnut orchard are all busting out for spring! I've been enjoying taking a little time to notice how unique they all are, and I won't go into all the botanical details, but it really is an amazing regenerative process going on inside each one. We spent a lot of time ...
Lady of the Forest
With her gnarled tree-root staff in hand she walks through the forest beneath the tall, ancient trees. The Lady of the Forest watches silently with great care over every tree, plant, creature and insect in her kingdom... My hikes out in the lush, mossy forests of Oregon offer a lot of inspiration for my art. These needlefelted wool Ladies of the Forest are a favorite creation of mine, ...
Hiking French Pete Creek
We decided to take a break from working on homestead projects this weekend to get out in the woods on an adventure. Snowshoeing was the original plan, but with all the rain making snow conditions less than ideal, we opted for hiking a favorite nearby trail, French Pete Creek. This trail was where we had gone on our first hike together when we began dating, so it seemed like a fitting getaway ...
Indian Plum: The Herald of Spring
Indian Plum (Oemleria cerasiformis) is in bloom, and the distinct clusters of white blossoms showing up in the forests around us are a sure sign Spring is on the way. It is also commonly referred to as Oso Berry because Oso means "bear" in Spanish, and this is a food eaten by our furry neighbors in the woods. This shrub is a member of the cherry and plum family, and produces ...