tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25043576684358599972024-02-19T00:53:59.909-08:00 Mama Gone GreenMama Gone Greenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15591925279586183540noreply@blogger.comBlogger1462125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2504357668435859997.post-57791438058956245192016-07-06T10:34:00.001-07:002016-07-11T20:36:25.013-07:00Yarn Along<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfo4sa_qMmq8yX7zpT4geJre1vitXZJk0hCkz6OfJVMuSd_QC3B7hV8xtYG-XRMqI7WOzCdu4D2Ui62Xbvaon-dNPIsR0NDkcx0kzYQrSwDrgl1ZGEwn0qHnEBMWqjy1at_HyWpUAFJDk/s1600/untitled-687.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfo4sa_qMmq8yX7zpT4geJre1vitXZJk0hCkz6OfJVMuSd_QC3B7hV8xtYG-XRMqI7WOzCdu4D2Ui62Xbvaon-dNPIsR0NDkcx0kzYQrSwDrgl1ZGEwn0qHnEBMWqjy1at_HyWpUAFJDk/s320/untitled-687.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
Hello! Happy Wednesday! Thought I would pop in for a quick post here on the blog.... it has been quite a while....... Today I am joining with Ginny at <i>Small Things</i> for this week's <a href="http://www.gsheller.com/">Yarn Along</a>.<br />
<br />
I am knitting
myself a second pillow cover from <a href="http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/snap-crackle-and-pop">this pattern</a>. I have not been knitting much lately, just not really in the mood. I do have a couple of projects that I am pretty anxious to start, but I am not allowing myself to start anything until I finish this pillow cover. Maybe that will help motivate me.<br />
<br />
Right now I am reading <i>You Are A Badass: </i><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span class="a-size-large" id="productTitle"><i>How to Stop Doubting Your Greatness and Start Living an Awesome Life</i> by Jen Sincero. It was recommended to me by a friend a few months ago, to help ease me through this transitional period in my life. And the book is good! Nothing groundbreaking, but it has been encouraging and inspiring. It's always nice to be reminded that no matter what, I am still a little bit of a badass......</span></span></span><br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i>What are you reading? What are you knitting?</i></div>
Mama Gone Greenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15591925279586183540noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2504357668435859997.post-68378531022980756952016-05-30T08:52:00.003-07:002016-05-30T08:52:52.252-07:00My Weekend<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFf5-vuIws-zQgArwpGQJWA8-o4Acwis5v_DoPTCdlNTxKBKaBrN-1Elou3vSYw1Qkh14gX0WAA4yXgpm7Nl5VezRL4kdp7Vd6t27W5bOokqiOIUUWK0DPhXWsBXpMR7AAnh_FpO98EU0/s1600/untitled-30.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFf5-vuIws-zQgArwpGQJWA8-o4Acwis5v_DoPTCdlNTxKBKaBrN-1Elou3vSYw1Qkh14gX0WAA4yXgpm7Nl5VezRL4kdp7Vd6t27W5bOokqiOIUUWK0DPhXWsBXpMR7AAnh_FpO98EU0/s400/untitled-30.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
This weekend the kids were with their dad, and it has been my first solo weekend in awhile where I wasn't on an adventure or had lots of big plans. And it was perfect. I needed nothing more than a weekend for me... to catch up on work, my to-do list, and taking care of myself.<br />
I made it to a yoga class both mornings, picked and started infusing herbs for this year's batch of lip balm, went on a 7 mile run on Saturday, did a ton of yard work, got caught up on my reading for the herbalism class I am taking, and got mostly caught up with my work for the two classes I am teaching. It was super productive. Although I feel like I could surely use two more days just like the past two..... maybe then I could feel fully caught up with life. Maybe.<br />
And now this weekend feels extra special because today is a holiday and I get to spend the day with both my kids! It's a gorgeous day out, so we have a little hike in the works, and I am hoping to spend some time in the garden.<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
Hope you all had a lovely weekend! </div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Joining the lovely Karen from <a href="http://www.pumpkinsunrise.com/"><i>Pumpkin Sunrise</i></a>......</div>
Mama Gone Greenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15591925279586183540noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2504357668435859997.post-26207570933440372112016-05-23T16:12:00.002-07:002016-05-23T16:12:49.100-07:00Shifting SpacesI haven't been on here for almost 3 weeks! I have noticed a slow shift happening over the past year or so... I am finding (making?) less and less time to write on the blog and have been spending more energy posting photos on Instagram.<br />
I think that a lot of it is because I don't have tons to write about as of late. I have been doing lots of processing within my own mind, but much of it is still in the thinking stages, and isn't ready to be released yet.<br />
I am also busier. Much busier. Working twice as much with very little free time, and trying to keep my house in order, be a good mama, and still find time for myself every now and again.<br />
At first it was stressing me out that I wasn't posting on here more..... my blog has been a staple in my life since Finn was little. But then I decided that it is ok that I am not spending much time in this space right now. I am in the process of evolving and I suppose this space is evolving with me.<br />
So, I will be patient with myself. I know I will be back as time allows. And in the meantime you can find me on Instagram: @tarynoakley<br />
<br />
And now I will share with you a few pictures from my absolutely amazing weekend the kids and I just had. The three of us spent 2 nights in a yurt on the Oregon Coast, near Florence. The weather was perfect. My kids were happy. They built forts and dug in the sand. I found agates, read and did some knitting. We went on a couple short hike, one to the Hobbit Beach, a trail I have been yearning to hike for ages. And I also finally saw Thor's well-- it's essentially a depression in the bedrock and at high tide the ocean water drains into it. It's pretty neat.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRGUdrdfvZPEl2CiAFUwIhJwRVxpXbYK-Whxu0lIKswaGaRWId-vKExqwzA0iSwElvD2oQSEZxPek8QyLFkRhTs6NrNNbU1DoPXESl4ygyZdP5oLPdt4OzXavhZReAobnNllBTYZ4c15Q/s1600/Florence-22-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRGUdrdfvZPEl2CiAFUwIhJwRVxpXbYK-Whxu0lIKswaGaRWId-vKExqwzA0iSwElvD2oQSEZxPek8QyLFkRhTs6NrNNbU1DoPXESl4ygyZdP5oLPdt4OzXavhZReAobnNllBTYZ4c15Q/s400/Florence-22-1.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguGeVMSZbQEPKecvc9Crc9wgy2MR7qNJj4eCBqswfD4VhqxirIWusjc9Umj3cUvZLvLXqEZnW4Of4DMvcxY9PWqARkhshZhg6mdjUIgHzON9uYLCIIbaZesa_2gbTRkOLRNqyqj5xKkFE/s1600/Florence-206.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguGeVMSZbQEPKecvc9Crc9wgy2MR7qNJj4eCBqswfD4VhqxirIWusjc9Umj3cUvZLvLXqEZnW4Of4DMvcxY9PWqARkhshZhg6mdjUIgHzON9uYLCIIbaZesa_2gbTRkOLRNqyqj5xKkFE/s400/Florence-206.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3MEa3UYrszGYkP_XWpPyWDjQ68MBD0m7xyURqro-6SEBScg0PstOzGniM3X0EmULMaij2ZW8K-JyKTCrF_57ladyPcGktybNw44dWpC4WaQ-EYPuwnAy4muQC2f8EuyXY4-U_x7cqPyg/s1600/Florence-225.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="298" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3MEa3UYrszGYkP_XWpPyWDjQ68MBD0m7xyURqro-6SEBScg0PstOzGniM3X0EmULMaij2ZW8K-JyKTCrF_57ladyPcGktybNw44dWpC4WaQ-EYPuwnAy4muQC2f8EuyXY4-U_x7cqPyg/s400/Florence-225.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0zPB3CRmW-1A3iDUL0IBNeasxapW5NYNzKclNy0rQVBoqF_X54sP5vvR6tCzj5QqeoVapv4PzUW-4Ft9FiLNW44oEweGQa7q5P0GwWRqSwPV-a9Vti8h4kLqBeBsyYeB0GG2C9jFBfLs/s1600/Florence-41-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="267" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0zPB3CRmW-1A3iDUL0IBNeasxapW5NYNzKclNy0rQVBoqF_X54sP5vvR6tCzj5QqeoVapv4PzUW-4Ft9FiLNW44oEweGQa7q5P0GwWRqSwPV-a9Vti8h4kLqBeBsyYeB0GG2C9jFBfLs/s400/Florence-41-1.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLdn1gpPPFqKgQ4mVTlOVjHzyeaU2PFiGd-u36DkHjzSiApR7Cn6quXxEVQTLSo7vvWUSd1ZTtA_3G9VKGjz5LXcbh_AWtYJGcU2DzSDTcMP6dM2YTIOTbbH00Mp3vTfrgcwVRd5uKeDU/s1600/Florence-77-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLdn1gpPPFqKgQ4mVTlOVjHzyeaU2PFiGd-u36DkHjzSiApR7Cn6quXxEVQTLSo7vvWUSd1ZTtA_3G9VKGjz5LXcbh_AWtYJGcU2DzSDTcMP6dM2YTIOTbbH00Mp3vTfrgcwVRd5uKeDU/s400/Florence-77-1.jpg" width="266" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhD9mUwRKk3PujVc-pBL54GUTg3ey4JBx8uN7UU2H6RQxhHrfpczpbJLRA_wl6icQ5wFwZuA8sbJ8DLPokn-XDcVs_9J8Z6ucycqJl0IzUSsUuPTd4-wpsLceruGtidePIqW7v0kg5zypA/s1600/Florence-287-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhD9mUwRKk3PujVc-pBL54GUTg3ey4JBx8uN7UU2H6RQxhHrfpczpbJLRA_wl6icQ5wFwZuA8sbJ8DLPokn-XDcVs_9J8Z6ucycqJl0IzUSsUuPTd4-wpsLceruGtidePIqW7v0kg5zypA/s400/Florence-287-1.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjh7cs4E02zS_U3l5_AJ0PgoOtVi34NAQ14cSTgwymyrzqv_UNerj2B6bK_Ys1pO2k0a0c3vHblaqYvD1qmVimkocVrQp_LLXtjqqHvYt4iisCxh_kxf7l3ycF0F5f_KopVac29uzzR_7U/s1600/Florence-88-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjh7cs4E02zS_U3l5_AJ0PgoOtVi34NAQ14cSTgwymyrzqv_UNerj2B6bK_Ys1pO2k0a0c3vHblaqYvD1qmVimkocVrQp_LLXtjqqHvYt4iisCxh_kxf7l3ycF0F5f_KopVac29uzzR_7U/s400/Florence-88-1.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXT1ErCu1_jdU8t-Z2R7JWV8G1GKVLNdY8MD5ZSRxyMfHgxTQsMXehoSEMFlXJMd15NoBp_x3PW0ASisiNg8YnOfizkb_yWHRSuq3tXN3BZL0WCyx7DuCqc7M7m_nCmh3THdwJenAIu8o/s1600/Florence-114-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXT1ErCu1_jdU8t-Z2R7JWV8G1GKVLNdY8MD5ZSRxyMfHgxTQsMXehoSEMFlXJMd15NoBp_x3PW0ASisiNg8YnOfizkb_yWHRSuq3tXN3BZL0WCyx7DuCqc7M7m_nCmh3THdwJenAIu8o/s400/Florence-114-1.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNK1h_O6maJbXrvU0VNVO78-mpUqFtqRfYe0CV1HzFhHIv0NGlFyaXzuoA9HUZ4IfXQw8-fwCFSs-7exJwvUV8FkznBwLcmVUSeJOuDv8m1t3PtgfZAM_Ca77eA4_XxMfW3TX4HX08t_I/s1600/Florence-126-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNK1h_O6maJbXrvU0VNVO78-mpUqFtqRfYe0CV1HzFhHIv0NGlFyaXzuoA9HUZ4IfXQw8-fwCFSs-7exJwvUV8FkznBwLcmVUSeJOuDv8m1t3PtgfZAM_Ca77eA4_XxMfW3TX4HX08t_I/s400/Florence-126-1.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiV9mSguqlsIQxall5GnfGZJLXz7nn0ZLkXy4YCwPxXXkCAtw1XHDpEQtbaxiqsFINrmMVaG0yx1YzHHZDcVylA6dVK-QOmWMZR8HlnALxsG1Z-MIr_GpQa5lc6NFp3UEocYklYLFqf4g/s1600/Florence-299-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiV9mSguqlsIQxall5GnfGZJLXz7nn0ZLkXy4YCwPxXXkCAtw1XHDpEQtbaxiqsFINrmMVaG0yx1YzHHZDcVylA6dVK-QOmWMZR8HlnALxsG1Z-MIr_GpQa5lc6NFp3UEocYklYLFqf4g/s400/Florence-299-1.jpg" width="300" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHBx8otpIs6ofBfQSR6jGqYA46uNPP11F-VlpPL_tJ4G-kTQba0Au_jm2XQShriJcRE25YsmwgCPZeT1Aclua77dFqPWKNq8bDeZivGTQ6jgvkUZSs6g1GdTzKXgbnMqFXL5S1jyKFjto/s1600/Florence-262.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHBx8otpIs6ofBfQSR6jGqYA46uNPP11F-VlpPL_tJ4G-kTQba0Au_jm2XQShriJcRE25YsmwgCPZeT1Aclua77dFqPWKNq8bDeZivGTQ6jgvkUZSs6g1GdTzKXgbnMqFXL5S1jyKFjto/s400/Florence-262.JPG" width="320" /> </a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNOMyLGGzQTjKHYM6id1V9FJVy1dm9b4Y0al7WFYH4wCaYNcEVqJV7Ei5zLVMLdlmJHybXLT2grq5vs9HxUnhVozVo9KLUJ2DSCVJ6dZbBVoogyEAx9QdftldyNrWa6pcDnOCpUv9wlBY/s1600/Florence-249.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNOMyLGGzQTjKHYM6id1V9FJVy1dm9b4Y0al7WFYH4wCaYNcEVqJV7Ei5zLVMLdlmJHybXLT2grq5vs9HxUnhVozVo9KLUJ2DSCVJ6dZbBVoogyEAx9QdftldyNrWa6pcDnOCpUv9wlBY/s400/Florence-249.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<br />Mama Gone Greenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15591925279586183540noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2504357668435859997.post-28828193012590309072016-05-02T09:16:00.000-07:002016-05-02T09:16:24.002-07:00Silver Linings<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiY-qaxAzysy0vo1zpeadbrqEvf00qrIQ0Awg2GM1ldBlz501BuL4D5lu0b8WhtJyXXP2OGUZfgTzi9eEoCSOttRlHHgAF_4aZrRWyUAPAhrvp8F5uf_drIokTJE06PqjxLK-KG-vLL4w/s1600/untitled-107-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiY-qaxAzysy0vo1zpeadbrqEvf00qrIQ0Awg2GM1ldBlz501BuL4D5lu0b8WhtJyXXP2OGUZfgTzi9eEoCSOttRlHHgAF_4aZrRWyUAPAhrvp8F5uf_drIokTJE06PqjxLK-KG-vLL4w/s400/untitled-107-1.jpg" width="300" /></a></div>
<br />
As I am sure you all know by now, I recently got divorced.<br />
<br />
When my ex told me that he was moving out, I was devastated. It felt like my life had ended. Like there was nowhere left to go. I cried for weeks on end. I was immobilized with fear and guilt. I hated who I had become.<br />
<br />
And then slowly, bit by bit, things started to get better.<br />
<br />
Not good by any scope of the imagination, but better. And yes, there were (and still are!) lots of ups and downs, but I was finding myself smiling again. I was catching myself feeling happy. And man, did it feel good.<br />
<br />
And even though he moved out a year ago, there are still lots of ups and downs. I still have bad days, but now I find that most days are good ones. I still get sad and mourn for the loss of my marriage and my family. I still get stressed about finances and work and my living situation. I still feel overwhelmed by the reality of being a single mama-- the days that can seem to be never-ending, with no breaks in sight. The magnitude of everything in my life that has changed over the past year is sometimes overwhelming.<br />
<br />
But do you know what?<br />
<br />
It has all been incredibly liberating.<br />
<br />
I have changed so much during this transition (how could one not?) and have found so many silver linings with my new life. No, these upsides don't just fix everything and make it OK, but they have made me realize that everything <i>will</i> be OK. It will.<br />
<br />
And I know that I am not the only one out there going through a divorce. I have a handful of friends in the same boat as me right now, and we regularly share our silver linings with one another. So here friends, are some of my silver linings.....<br />
<br />
<ul>
<li>Re-finding myself. During my marriage, so many parts of me got pushed aside. And honestly, I didn't even realize it at the time. But since the separation, I have been rediscovering parts of me that I forgot about. Remembering things that I used to love. And allowing myself to indulge once again. </li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li>Friends. Oh lovely lovely friends. It's not like I didn't see my friends while I was married, but I honestly rarely ever had a chance to go out. I felt guilty making my own plans, taking time just for me. Now I get so much more friend time. And these amazing friends have listened to me cry and complain, and have made me laugh and forget about my troubles for a while. Never in my life have I been so appreciative of my friends. </li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li>Finding my courage. In my new life, things are hectic. My schedule is crazy, I am running a household on my own, and I doubled my hours at work. I have had to learn to ask for the help that I need (which for me was much harder than I could ever have imagined). And it has been empowering. </li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li>Time for Me. To go to yoga. To go on a hike. To plan a weekend away. I never had these opportunities before. If I did make plans, they came with a side of self-induced guilt, like I "should" be home with the kids. Now I have times every week where I don't have the kids and can fill my time however I like. It has been incredibly freeing. I forgot how much I enjoyed having time with myself. </li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li>The excitement of new relationships. No, I don't have a new partner. But I have been on some dates. And while honestly it is all pretty scary, it's also really exciting. The possibilities are endless, right? </li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li>Feeling completely in charge of myself. I am in charge of my time, my finances, my house and my car. And while this all takes a lot of work and time, it is super empowering. There is no more hoping someone else does the dishes or fills the car with gas, no wondering if the bills have been paid. I am in charge of it all, and it feels good. </li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li>Feeling happy. I don't think I realized how much negative energy was in my house before the separation. These days I give and get much less criticism. And that means many more moments of joy!</li>
</ul>
So, here is to accepting the past, forgiving the hurt, and moving forward! I am sure there are more silver linings to come....<br />
<ul>
</ul>
<br />Mama Gone Greenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15591925279586183540noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2504357668435859997.post-11842837687431916072016-04-27T07:48:00.000-07:002016-04-27T07:48:21.838-07:00Yarn Along<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtaZojW9S3aBrbwxSr37g6nFlwt5eNTeY4xMkLB3X7pzADcdnIvDOMieBTEcgO7kw6-xKwakIWlxcnX7CwBRM08_raT1TGpN09YGk9Z161ARyWaQp2DdekhH8V4yAJC60lrHV4Bt1ywME/s1600/yarn+along-4-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtaZojW9S3aBrbwxSr37g6nFlwt5eNTeY4xMkLB3X7pzADcdnIvDOMieBTEcgO7kw6-xKwakIWlxcnX7CwBRM08_raT1TGpN09YGk9Z161ARyWaQp2DdekhH8V4yAJC60lrHV4Bt1ywME/s400/yarn+along-4-1.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
Hello! Happy Wednesday! Joining with Ginny at <i>Small Things</i> for this week's <a href="http://www.gsheller.com/">Yarn Along</a>.<br />
<br />
OK, well my post isn't super exciting this week as I am still reading and knitting the same things from last week.....<br />
<br />
I am knitting
myself a couple of pillow covers from <a href="http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/snap-crackle-and-pop">this pattern</a>.
I have made a little progress this week, but I have had some very sore wrists (too much yoga, I think?) and knitting has been making it feel worse. So---- I haven't been knitting much. But don't worry, I am making grand plans in my head of all of the things I <i>want</i> to knit! That doesn't bother my wrists at all!<br />
<br />
And yes, I am still reading <i>War and Peace</i>. But I actually had a chance to dig in this past weekend and make some progress. I have a lot of trouble making my way through the war parts..... but the "peace" parts are really the best love story ever told. Now, if I could just stop reading other books in between finishing this book, maybe I could actually finish it! And look below- I think my buddy who came to check out my book is symbolic of the speed at which I am reading....<br />
<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i>What are you reading? What are you knitting?</i><br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHq4tyXXp1K9z6nClNPX41iCJFg9dSIrKDDucJwLXFjxJIOz7gg3hauzuqKsvS0Ub6w3wwSNA7HqQ6NCLvC0xnFRNsfnfF6o2hszr0vdsqALVNyhr7wKqDUe948IIe8FCsLe6rcB1LCpU/s1600/yarn+along-5-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="297" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHq4tyXXp1K9z6nClNPX41iCJFg9dSIrKDDucJwLXFjxJIOz7gg3hauzuqKsvS0Ub6w3wwSNA7HqQ6NCLvC0xnFRNsfnfF6o2hszr0vdsqALVNyhr7wKqDUe948IIe8FCsLe6rcB1LCpU/s400/yarn+along-5-1.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
</div>
Mama Gone Greenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15591925279586183540noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2504357668435859997.post-18458391156799083472016-04-24T07:42:00.000-07:002016-04-24T07:42:44.484-07:00Gratitudes<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkETp6nOEj42oJHVfvUMbBJSAbPdbXhPy6WP_0aXuJLlpmYl3xS6k0xr7CMBGij1T7xVLfpcTLlJh4-VGlZa_8eNypp3RGs4kJFm_ejFfHch9HwAIyT0U4UuKTW8RYGwmXWmRnFABElvM/s1600/untitled-71.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkETp6nOEj42oJHVfvUMbBJSAbPdbXhPy6WP_0aXuJLlpmYl3xS6k0xr7CMBGij1T7xVLfpcTLlJh4-VGlZa_8eNypp3RGs4kJFm_ejFfHch9HwAIyT0U4UuKTW8RYGwmXWmRnFABElvM/s400/untitled-71.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
Hello Sunday. Welcome.<br />
Life seems to be on fast forward lately. I can't seem to make it slow down. I know that I really need to make <i>myself </i>slow down, but it's so hard for me to do. Expectations (my own and others), obligations, desires and curiosity all keep pulling me to do, do, do... and rarely ever to stop, stop, stop. I guess it's just part of my nature. But I can't stop thinking about how much I would benefit from a silent week in meditation at a monastery.....<br />
Despite the craziness of life, I do always make time to stop and reflect upon it. And my gratitude journal has been key to making that happen. I have been super successful with my gratitude journal ever since I started it in August. And the key was making it super simple. In the past, I kept a separate notebook in my nightstand and was supposed to write down a few things each night. But, it never happened. I was too tired. It was too regimented.<br />
Now, I use my daily planner and write my gratitudes in the "notes" section for each week. I can write as many time as I want during the week and I since I almost always have my planner with me, I can write at any time, and not just before bed. And, viola! Success!<br />
Anyways, here are a few of my gratitudes from this week:<br />
<ul>
<li>Having a mostly-at-home weekend with very few plans..... some much needed time to catch up on work, cleaning, my herb class, and life... </li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li>Sitting outside in the sun and reading, uninterrupted. I was only uninterrupted for about 7 minutes, but hey- I will take what I can get!</li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li>The amazing forests we have here in the Pacific northwest. Even after living here for almost 9 years, I still feel a sense of magic each time I enter one.</li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li>Feeling my body becoming stronger, more balanced and more centered. I have felt a recent change with my strength during yoga and it is exciting!</li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li>The camera on my new phone. It is so much better than my last one! </li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li>Music! With my new phone I also have enough space for Spotify, and I have been having so much fun with the wealth of music at my fingertips. </li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li>Adventures to look forward to!! I have a ladies adventure planned for next week and a trip to Colorado in my near future. I love adventures (see, this is why I have such a problem slowing down like I need to!). I guess I should just embrace my love of adventure, but learn to take some time in-between to rest. It's all about balance, right?</li>
</ul>
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><i>What have you felt grateful for this week?</i></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><i><i><span style="font-size: x-small;">Joining in with the other Taryn from<a href="http://woolymossroots.com/"> Wooly Moss Roots</a></span></i> </i></span></div>
Mama Gone Greenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15591925279586183540noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2504357668435859997.post-79483619388978524312016-04-22T15:24:00.001-07:002016-04-22T15:24:14.877-07:00Happy Earth Day!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1uUBs21wF8RzVqa_y-W38AogvfVE3C2WihpcLF3-eW84x7wpGmS9F8UrHpH5E_vP3k9aHDB1iqD4yha-sYeq0NTNGC3sEffj_4LJdZUVKEcxRLtYH03BfWHMe3sYvdzEf-sfPob0dTFw/s1600/earth+day-4.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1uUBs21wF8RzVqa_y-W38AogvfVE3C2WihpcLF3-eW84x7wpGmS9F8UrHpH5E_vP3k9aHDB1iqD4yha-sYeq0NTNGC3sEffj_4LJdZUVKEcxRLtYH03BfWHMe3sYvdzEf-sfPob0dTFw/s400/earth+day-4.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
"The clearest way into the universe is through a forest wilderness"</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
- John Muir </div>
<br />Mama Gone Greenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15591925279586183540noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2504357668435859997.post-30295162791746324922016-04-20T08:51:00.002-07:002016-04-20T08:51:23.250-07:00Yarn Along<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMd7rjEUN2p_3QCdS-DBXYdiH6OeHHy0e4gnXcXDzgjfVgkm8yyW9Sy1vQKxt1jJf5b0kzHE1KC2jpGPGq14s2HZMo3gQ9RHcympBtgTwlfQILoqKcyEuw6f-3cEZhQmN2VMKANcp3QWg/s1600/untitled-1-2-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMd7rjEUN2p_3QCdS-DBXYdiH6OeHHy0e4gnXcXDzgjfVgkm8yyW9Sy1vQKxt1jJf5b0kzHE1KC2jpGPGq14s2HZMo3gQ9RHcympBtgTwlfQILoqKcyEuw6f-3cEZhQmN2VMKANcp3QWg/s400/untitled-1-2-1.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
Hello! Happy Wednesday! Joining with Ginny at <i>Small Things</i> for this week's <a href="http://www.gsheller.com/">Yarn Along</a>.<br />
<br />
I haven't joined in on a yarn along for quite awhile. It has been a tough few weeks for me emotionally and now that I am teaching two classes and taking one, I am finding myself constantly busy. Plus, I have been craving social interactions and so I have been making lots of plans. Which is so fun... and exhausting. It's supposed to be a rainy weekend, and I will have my kids. Hoping to find some time to hunker down and just 'be' for a bit.<br />
<br />
Currently, I am knitting
myself a couple of pillow covers from <a href="http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/snap-crackle-and-pop">this pattern</a>.
I started this awhile ago, but had to set it aside for some more mindless knitting. I have finally picked it back up and am excited with how it is progressing.<br />
<br />
Guess what? I am still reading <i>War and Peace</i>. Yup. I think it will probably take me longer to read it than it took Tolstoy to write it, but I guess that is what happens when you read a bunch of other books at the same time.... I will say that I fly through the parts about the relationships and the love affairs, and then I get stuck on the parts that detail the aspects of war relationships. But, I am enjoying it nonetheless.<br />
<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i>What are you reading? What are you knitting?</i></div>
Mama Gone Greenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15591925279586183540noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2504357668435859997.post-48933959802551046962016-04-10T15:02:00.001-07:002016-04-10T15:02:44.654-07:00Reflections and Gratitudes<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3rjpXIw2vQtOYq_rTxORXfj0gUCB9qGlBAi0H9k_wJgpHzGR5K6RV0YA6Uj4H934ahyphenhyphenUsMW2z9cm-RlXtOeHMMiGUehfn9DTUxGUA3xQZsn6yJyhdkSAehXmkzWryW2tp1yyIz7XG-2c/s1600/flowers-13-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3rjpXIw2vQtOYq_rTxORXfj0gUCB9qGlBAi0H9k_wJgpHzGR5K6RV0YA6Uj4H934ahyphenhyphenUsMW2z9cm-RlXtOeHMMiGUehfn9DTUxGUA3xQZsn6yJyhdkSAehXmkzWryW2tp1yyIz7XG-2c/s400/flowers-13-1.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
It's been a hard week. A few days ago I posted about <a href="http://mamagonegreen.blogspot.com/2016/04/on-love-loss-and-puppy-cow.html">losing my dog</a>, my loyal friend, of 15 years. What I wasn't yet ready to talk about during that post was that I also signed my divorce papers the following day. And this week I found out that a former student of mine, and amazing human being, passed away. I also had two very close friends lose important people in their lives this week as well. It has been a week of tremendous loss, for sure.<br />
I surprised myself and didn't cry while I signed my divorce paperwork. I didn't feel much of anything really, except relief. I figured that I had already mourned that relationship as it began to dissolve a year ago.<br />
But, I think that it just took a few days to fully sink in. Thursday night I began to cry, and I couldn't stop. And I really couldn't pinpoint what exactly I was crying about.... Puppy cow? My marriage ending? The death of my student? Really I think I was just crying about all of it. About life. About how quickly it goes by and how it can end so unexpectedly. About how relationships, even the good ones, always seem too short. About the fragility of life and the power of love.<br />
I am still not finished being sad or mourning this week of loss. However, I have done a lot of processing over the past few days and have decided on a few things. Things I already knew, as I am sure you do too. But things that I am grateful to have been reminded of once again:<br />
<br />
1. Life is short. Have fun. Do what you love as much as you can.<br />
<br />
2. Make sure that the people in your life know how you feel about them. Tell your kids you love them a lot, even though they already know this. Tell your friends how much they mean to you. And cultivate relationships where you can be open with your feelings. <br />
<br />
3. Be open to new experiences. Face your fears. Think outside the box. These are often the moments that make life worth living.<br />
<br />
4. Life can be hard! So.... be grateful, for everything that you DO have. Because you know you have a lot.<br />
<br />
And with that, here are my list of gratitudes for the week:<br />
<br />
<ul>
<li>Love and kindness. The world is overflowing with it if you just know where to look. My friends have shown this to me this past week. Thank you, friends. </li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li>Feeling comfortable with my decisions, even when I have been hesitant to make a choice. </li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li>Silver linings (more on this to come soon)... </li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li>New beginnings. Hope and excitement. Possibilities. I guess this is the official start of a new chapter in my life. I get to help guide it in the direction that I want it to go. I am looking forward to seeing where I lead myself..... </li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li>My patient children, who have accepted me for me this week, sadness and all. I couldn't give them the energy they deserved, but they showered me with love nonetheless. </li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li>My sweet Moshi. Losing a dog is a teeny bit easier when you have another great companion by your side. </li>
</ul>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><i>What have you felt grateful for this week?</i></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><i><i><span style="font-size: x-small;">Joining in with the other Taryn from<a href="http://woolymossroots.com/"> Wooly Moss Roots</a></span></i> </i></span></div>
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />Mama Gone Greenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15591925279586183540noreply@blogger.com11tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2504357668435859997.post-22277376792104739132016-04-06T08:08:00.000-07:002016-04-06T08:08:30.824-07:00On Love, Loss and Puppy Cow<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;">
</div>
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHIuj6fH7OQXhZC4_WZ6OBkd0tPh7wdtB1F-KOutpZigMgZ3zEkJQVxah-CJShADhHIL-faXqgp6QNoL9oh1pSeC7jLvEcV3QG43R1uBe6cHqXGDT0Xtpwiaoou1zLoJKTWP6imr-oK2g/s1600/Gorge+Trip_0020-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHIuj6fH7OQXhZC4_WZ6OBkd0tPh7wdtB1F-KOutpZigMgZ3zEkJQVxah-CJShADhHIL-faXqgp6QNoL9oh1pSeC7jLvEcV3QG43R1uBe6cHqXGDT0Xtpwiaoou1zLoJKTWP6imr-oK2g/s400/Gorge+Trip_0020-1.jpg" width="266" /> </a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
I have sort of disappeared from this space. The past couple of weeks have been a bit heavy, and I just wasn't ready to share.<br />
<br />
Over the weekend, I had to euthanize my 15 year old dog, Puppy Cow. It had been a long time coming.... it was probably about 18 months ago when I started to wonder how long he had left. And somehow, he persevered.... and kept on keeping on.<br />
<br />
It's a huge gift, and a burden, to have the power to decide when it is the right time for your dog to move on. Even after making the appointment, I was questioning my decision, considering cancelling. But as the time grew nearer, I knew that I was doing the right thing.<br />
<br />
Puppy Cow was amazing. I adopted him from an animal shelter in Durango Colorado. I was there with my sister, who was looking for a dog for HER. I already had a dog at the time, Sam, and the thought of getting a second dog had never crossed my mind. But when I saw this sweet little 4 month old puppy, who was going to be euthanized in just a few days because he was blind, my heart melted and I couldn't help but bring him home.<br />
<br />
I wouldn't say that he had a rough life-- he just wasn't so lucky in the physical department. Blind from birth, he ended up needing both ACLs replaced, and his bone structure was messed up so he developed arthritis at an early age. But yet, until the past year when he started to whine more frequently, he never complained. He just always exuded a sense of joy and acceptance, no matter the circumstance.<br />
<br />
He was such a loyal friend and has been in my life for so long that I feel like it is the end of an era. I adopted him before I went to grad school. Before kids were even a thought in my mind. He lived with me in 3 different states and 5 different houses. He even outlasted my marriage.<br />
<br />
Puppy Cow was one of a kind. Truly. And I will always hold a place in my heart for him.<br />
<br />
And I thought that my tears were done, but I now realize that they aren't. My heart is heavy but also so very full.<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<img alt="" class="spotlight" height="320" src="https://scontent-lax3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-xfp1/v/t1.0-0/p526x296/12963358_10153834061127550_911000556350406291_n.jpg?oh=d41b349ffcc742601f357a53fef4ebf8&oe=577412CB" width="320" /> </div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<img alt="" class="spotlight" src="https://scontent-lax3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-xpt1/v/t1.0-0/s526x395/12717885_10153834029382550_409906961352862504_n.jpg?oh=3e4c126e131cedfb2482cd27502529bd&oe=5779F589" /> </div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxYFCyXaN9b_yzvfQunJQ56oxynx-JJvqU_6k1_NaItkMY9ckYZxeCwQnNBY9d6n-XqRAofesJ179WLqMyh6Ch93Qe_oREy28rrVP_6JJ4CHvmBg9GyGKjhZDxGALBsUks2Ggng3z81z0/s1600/Ducks+and+Dogs_0019-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxYFCyXaN9b_yzvfQunJQ56oxynx-JJvqU_6k1_NaItkMY9ckYZxeCwQnNBY9d6n-XqRAofesJ179WLqMyh6Ch93Qe_oREy28rrVP_6JJ4CHvmBg9GyGKjhZDxGALBsUks2Ggng3z81z0/s400/Ducks+and+Dogs_0019-1.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsT9gwbdmQX7sPwFZBGNurac7eg6pyk9U7mAm2X6HRxeUhB3WfLfAVtsOcZyC-r3E3zFNnJM2r4Q1EnrJAGvLPS_UpaLUJPC1wGOdsCJhH3JzmZqzdbT50VChdroQopjRcedsSuEEY3do/s1600/Gorge+Trip_0006-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsT9gwbdmQX7sPwFZBGNurac7eg6pyk9U7mAm2X6HRxeUhB3WfLfAVtsOcZyC-r3E3zFNnJM2r4Q1EnrJAGvLPS_UpaLUJPC1wGOdsCJhH3JzmZqzdbT50VChdroQopjRcedsSuEEY3do/s400/Gorge+Trip_0006-1.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEaqJyBcbjo6Dq39eyi09CjSlIOHBDyCzgL6arNHz249F2gKAmjBTui119Qn41dfC8BwVHrZvGxc4zzyM-uqUjeVOqDGIjJdMGc1SiPEsnOlWjpWv5l0tRpgTdLGy-WD73vt7GdVYA9i0/s1600/Sauvie%2527s+Island_0042-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEaqJyBcbjo6Dq39eyi09CjSlIOHBDyCzgL6arNHz249F2gKAmjBTui119Qn41dfC8BwVHrZvGxc4zzyM-uqUjeVOqDGIjJdMGc1SiPEsnOlWjpWv5l0tRpgTdLGy-WD73vt7GdVYA9i0/s400/Sauvie%2527s+Island_0042-1.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_1ztKaspZVq7fe50F5jo4bgkqTpxbq_xTgkOStVJCzcMHZn4TpKmfoBDs2rjrcFalkmwX3-gupROeUsqqqblJjhLwczuKrAPAZhXjeEKbiUjMMCfcEC8HuyHijZwShbasBKrqZquUrhk/s1600/Sauvie%2527s+1-28_0031.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_1ztKaspZVq7fe50F5jo4bgkqTpxbq_xTgkOStVJCzcMHZn4TpKmfoBDs2rjrcFalkmwX3-gupROeUsqqqblJjhLwczuKrAPAZhXjeEKbiUjMMCfcEC8HuyHijZwShbasBKrqZquUrhk/s400/Sauvie%2527s+1-28_0031.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
</div>
<br />Mama Gone Greenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15591925279586183540noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2504357668435859997.post-70174006449654451802016-03-24T22:27:00.000-07:002016-03-24T22:36:17.643-07:00The Painted HillsFor years, I have been wanting to go see the Painted Hills of Oregon. And it finally happened. Another mama friend of mine, and our four kiddos, all piled into my minivan and took a three day road trip. We saw all three units of the John Day Fossil Beds (including the painted hills), made our way through a couple of museums, took a bunch of short hikes, drove through the politically significant town of Antelope, saw a half-hearted ghost town, and had a grand adventure. And it was just as beautiful as I had expected! Here are a few pictures:<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0eyoyppgRRiu7scquxhTcElUmUA6thp8GF0SBJ_MU7Lt-1GbiZMMbxM4KzfwLRSzIx3BjCjhsgOBRqdT8MdxUnlSbOGRqLGd-MkovhflGe2MySFlX2qJPTCRngOwYsoWLa4JO7mATR9A/s1600/Painted+Hills%2521+Spring+Break+2016-55-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0eyoyppgRRiu7scquxhTcElUmUA6thp8GF0SBJ_MU7Lt-1GbiZMMbxM4KzfwLRSzIx3BjCjhsgOBRqdT8MdxUnlSbOGRqLGd-MkovhflGe2MySFlX2qJPTCRngOwYsoWLa4JO7mATR9A/s400/Painted+Hills%2521+Spring+Break+2016-55-1.jpg" width="400" /> </a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgx7FgagiR9dLguFxistEtFbSRhid1xpdC8sR55wBinzkixV0hWNrtr2ecK62TuU2xxUSs49SJMNJ3rNL6SfYn-n8qxu26lbXWvMVv3FG8KTvTpxD4Y_-uS_hmsTo_MJb_50KbaVw563RM/s1600/Painted+Hills%2521+Spring+Break+2016-62-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgx7FgagiR9dLguFxistEtFbSRhid1xpdC8sR55wBinzkixV0hWNrtr2ecK62TuU2xxUSs49SJMNJ3rNL6SfYn-n8qxu26lbXWvMVv3FG8KTvTpxD4Y_-uS_hmsTo_MJb_50KbaVw563RM/s400/Painted+Hills%2521+Spring+Break+2016-62-1.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKnYDQLgtdMgnH9CURe1DKXk-ESzog8Eh6k2ePzpQq0iMqUsDoRWbQPV7Z2c4VS9p_F0ic04InWsMSqe53D5iUiiTybsYFoBdKdzSR7U8_mQMyFdZTbV59A8r3nIMOHt4BsUSRUdhSgV8/s1600/Painted+Hills%2521+Spring+Break+2016-63-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKnYDQLgtdMgnH9CURe1DKXk-ESzog8Eh6k2ePzpQq0iMqUsDoRWbQPV7Z2c4VS9p_F0ic04InWsMSqe53D5iUiiTybsYFoBdKdzSR7U8_mQMyFdZTbV59A8r3nIMOHt4BsUSRUdhSgV8/s400/Painted+Hills%2521+Spring+Break+2016-63-1.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2H0imFQrjD1ZEPg8OjcGJSZEVLHBC3Bsl2qkjozqeiEcKZ-4COtgmRLZnnPYIHfPpb5ybqsWXegUaudr_p25JrhJOPodSR14RGcaemu28HKIAhyLEu36NfWUZO-MlMhE1CXWYIs5960Q/s1600/Painted+Hills%2521+Spring+Break+2016-68-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2H0imFQrjD1ZEPg8OjcGJSZEVLHBC3Bsl2qkjozqeiEcKZ-4COtgmRLZnnPYIHfPpb5ybqsWXegUaudr_p25JrhJOPodSR14RGcaemu28HKIAhyLEu36NfWUZO-MlMhE1CXWYIs5960Q/s400/Painted+Hills%2521+Spring+Break+2016-68-1.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiijUx3akCRSCAD4DbgCWzyVQzRfjT70Bb_dZGL3lgviQCSU_GVtZOaFAHN1iT59129pON5Czmcpw-0mILVUTLhC0MH2urWX1bbt4kAF9DyNHLiJrzCT4JWi8Luv0670BEb5aa510KTOmA/s1600/Painted+Hills%2521+Spring+Break+2016-74-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiijUx3akCRSCAD4DbgCWzyVQzRfjT70Bb_dZGL3lgviQCSU_GVtZOaFAHN1iT59129pON5Czmcpw-0mILVUTLhC0MH2urWX1bbt4kAF9DyNHLiJrzCT4JWi8Luv0670BEb5aa510KTOmA/s400/Painted+Hills%2521+Spring+Break+2016-74-1.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpzPEZm5rNutwWpEok89iP5_ZqaLbNK9jktrGjiiC8Zl9tEDle-hJa1XtliXe8Ril9O91-jGjenOUEEf9BiA7aCu-sNJUbTr6IPRtfSkHlvLPfvOLeqCkwu3CIPs99_IWASA-lumOZ3Qk/s1600/Painted+Hills%2521+Spring+Break+2016-94-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpzPEZm5rNutwWpEok89iP5_ZqaLbNK9jktrGjiiC8Zl9tEDle-hJa1XtliXe8Ril9O91-jGjenOUEEf9BiA7aCu-sNJUbTr6IPRtfSkHlvLPfvOLeqCkwu3CIPs99_IWASA-lumOZ3Qk/s400/Painted+Hills%2521+Spring+Break+2016-94-1.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzX1Mv48P-QMJcPFbxeRqa2vGbJ6eGfI7uog0f96WDbNEr0XRU3-m5i7YEFB3DfU2xXpNio-Gw2RW5rtFUPrmBDE_A0kTq8Uhrd7Nci1i9XwDj3O6N89fW25gla6wO1aBgQ4la6cDKvAY/s1600/Painted+Hills%2521+Spring+Break+2016-92-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzX1Mv48P-QMJcPFbxeRqa2vGbJ6eGfI7uog0f96WDbNEr0XRU3-m5i7YEFB3DfU2xXpNio-Gw2RW5rtFUPrmBDE_A0kTq8Uhrd7Nci1i9XwDj3O6N89fW25gla6wO1aBgQ4la6cDKvAY/s400/Painted+Hills%2521+Spring+Break+2016-92-1.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2Du6SimBScDhwN9uXy8iRbaqtZVegOaW-nnaE2XKnpIJzTZwPCuyofDni4NGhA7HYBtaF6aL8IbkALPUoxQr_VhYhyphenhyphenV0ZKE466RnlFqpHH25mEFh82b4YlZtpftsgcK4YhKF47Q1ent0/s1600/Painted+Hills%2521+Spring+Break+2016-86-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2Du6SimBScDhwN9uXy8iRbaqtZVegOaW-nnaE2XKnpIJzTZwPCuyofDni4NGhA7HYBtaF6aL8IbkALPUoxQr_VhYhyphenhyphenV0ZKE466RnlFqpHH25mEFh82b4YlZtpftsgcK4YhKF47Q1ent0/s400/Painted+Hills%2521+Spring+Break+2016-86-1.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwFzDllqNj2nOGa-OrO1gPthtKl25_e-wBw-tQ9vW6w8Hdax9aS8XAFCY09-n_dMAV83z8swG3hTP_Tng1WMdJTUCHrwXCCydBF46H0hVG7n9w94FygL1WpA5W2_3-uKLpWwQ4cl7weZs/s1600/Painted+Hills%2521+Spring+Break+2016-77-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwFzDllqNj2nOGa-OrO1gPthtKl25_e-wBw-tQ9vW6w8Hdax9aS8XAFCY09-n_dMAV83z8swG3hTP_Tng1WMdJTUCHrwXCCydBF46H0hVG7n9w94FygL1WpA5W2_3-uKLpWwQ4cl7weZs/s400/Painted+Hills%2521+Spring+Break+2016-77-1.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVArf5qwXqz-NTKuvryAaglckVmrhoXvWTkTdFVYaOQ0w6hem73O6kaN1ySY007PN8TbsuFsQC99WBr-a4fLZGYAxlmEEcFhDfJq0AR8gzNnWJ7g9eHuUV5KBAa08gF7QcVBIXROazSE4/s1600/Painted+Hills%2521+Spring+Break+2016-95-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVArf5qwXqz-NTKuvryAaglckVmrhoXvWTkTdFVYaOQ0w6hem73O6kaN1ySY007PN8TbsuFsQC99WBr-a4fLZGYAxlmEEcFhDfJq0AR8gzNnWJ7g9eHuUV5KBAa08gF7QcVBIXROazSE4/s400/Painted+Hills%2521+Spring+Break+2016-95-1.jpg" width="266" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhz_IH9yx_ySasb1lJ_9HcmRpX4xB5k_q4My6-T-Rge_mpXNmzaNeDhJcXSeFk9aOQY8xnvEUeGxNDyKmVRGJaAMDncEl1mS_QeBEDti_ecFqSMxOleKBSKNZtfjab-a_lGK0kd-Ba2HTE/s1600/Painted+Hills%2521+Spring+Break+2016-97-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhz_IH9yx_ySasb1lJ_9HcmRpX4xB5k_q4My6-T-Rge_mpXNmzaNeDhJcXSeFk9aOQY8xnvEUeGxNDyKmVRGJaAMDncEl1mS_QeBEDti_ecFqSMxOleKBSKNZtfjab-a_lGK0kd-Ba2HTE/s400/Painted+Hills%2521+Spring+Break+2016-97-1.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhevMO3EnqXDyks2e2rTFC47AXuhdvKwC1TOozReox11ahIaJiOSpFY3UH-vSzujd2q3WXKtfYuj8oQwtz8X9KceCtVttbC8iMcm4K29ckmWLCWbnmKaTXwudhMhM8Vm4ckeA1O-Yy0SM0/s1600/Painted+Hills%2521+Spring+Break+2016-99-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhevMO3EnqXDyks2e2rTFC47AXuhdvKwC1TOozReox11ahIaJiOSpFY3UH-vSzujd2q3WXKtfYuj8oQwtz8X9KceCtVttbC8iMcm4K29ckmWLCWbnmKaTXwudhMhM8Vm4ckeA1O-Yy0SM0/s400/Painted+Hills%2521+Spring+Break+2016-99-1.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiF7xwbfsV48RjXTKFAefTR3sCX5fr92ewANBFlENqwwz1U7fjERdSAsU25Tc5Pa6ljEnx9emhE5yt-qLGmJGXxSCjd0rnkGJEx0p055LeYIzjsoYqMnTvSiL-L8IgGYIYPLqTe6vaC5gk/s1600/Painted+Hills%2521+Spring+Break+2016-102-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiF7xwbfsV48RjXTKFAefTR3sCX5fr92ewANBFlENqwwz1U7fjERdSAsU25Tc5Pa6ljEnx9emhE5yt-qLGmJGXxSCjd0rnkGJEx0p055LeYIzjsoYqMnTvSiL-L8IgGYIYPLqTe6vaC5gk/s400/Painted+Hills%2521+Spring+Break+2016-102-1.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgM2hxLa8gn_h80kJFcQx4dtJuscuUy8rL48XpxF2WZAoZT8KLk7kIiX_CqFi8YNk9xacq4eygI2E2oibLWCYz2DzFc-iEaBf1h04D4LlnFPN6TW5tzfpR1aUzCFDaAnfsu8vPxJLEBgZA/s1600/Painted+Hills%2521+Spring+Break+2016-108-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgM2hxLa8gn_h80kJFcQx4dtJuscuUy8rL48XpxF2WZAoZT8KLk7kIiX_CqFi8YNk9xacq4eygI2E2oibLWCYz2DzFc-iEaBf1h04D4LlnFPN6TW5tzfpR1aUzCFDaAnfsu8vPxJLEBgZA/s400/Painted+Hills%2521+Spring+Break+2016-108-1.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7Z2p3u8ycNWhD7caqeoHoEXmHvJPeOvpqgstoSR0eZT5UYYE2gE9_mFN2sXzo9_M9uvly5AMdfvAv5kagGtOgKmVfPR1ZyAwDkFU_hwxu9-MViTZFUpD6HaJkXqgrEp9h2UyzH7u-pxM/s1600/Painted+Hills%2521+Spring+Break+2016-122-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7Z2p3u8ycNWhD7caqeoHoEXmHvJPeOvpqgstoSR0eZT5UYYE2gE9_mFN2sXzo9_M9uvly5AMdfvAv5kagGtOgKmVfPR1ZyAwDkFU_hwxu9-MViTZFUpD6HaJkXqgrEp9h2UyzH7u-pxM/s400/Painted+Hills%2521+Spring+Break+2016-122-1.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBzYMJhwZKlhzjdxILnMd7CdRs2kvCUs0ZbmGEdQFA2yA941iO3Ph5IbJAUZJ_cv0qTjLOiUoShrGOGspRzd1wTLrXPyVNVAPZZOAynsi3yr1V8BJUUEbDZEmCfGTgfRd5NTEVFWIX3_A/s1600/Painted+Hills%2521+Spring+Break+2016-105-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBzYMJhwZKlhzjdxILnMd7CdRs2kvCUs0ZbmGEdQFA2yA941iO3Ph5IbJAUZJ_cv0qTjLOiUoShrGOGspRzd1wTLrXPyVNVAPZZOAynsi3yr1V8BJUUEbDZEmCfGTgfRd5NTEVFWIX3_A/s400/Painted+Hills%2521+Spring+Break+2016-105-1.jpg" width="400" /> </a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtEMqC6S4GROV0RgEkmnJayohQ09Z7gp7ac5hgA7HoOb4EVLhY3rZRQ4EZ-b-JJyaXzGnDN9hQQIC_ts9-BdiHQMJOSfzi70GOzh_InHifl2Xr-H9Dg6BQnF_-zTh9tq1XJo89Hqzh_gk/s1600/Painted+Hills%2521+Spring+Break+2016-125-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtEMqC6S4GROV0RgEkmnJayohQ09Z7gp7ac5hgA7HoOb4EVLhY3rZRQ4EZ-b-JJyaXzGnDN9hQQIC_ts9-BdiHQMJOSfzi70GOzh_InHifl2Xr-H9Dg6BQnF_-zTh9tq1XJo89Hqzh_gk/s400/Painted+Hills%2521+Spring+Break+2016-125-1.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTNPwxxjU6_UH2F_B_2coLyfzY4uE2PNUtJ0nW4LMDA_OFs7VU8O_6UvnkHjSarWlZLTYNB0sN_AOM6J1GLc9qUkk5Guk5rsYRZQUM6KO9dVGioOtAZlcl82qpkZXAGWtefRTrbYLmp-Q/s1600/Painted+Hills%2521+Spring+Break+2016-132-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTNPwxxjU6_UH2F_B_2coLyfzY4uE2PNUtJ0nW4LMDA_OFs7VU8O_6UvnkHjSarWlZLTYNB0sN_AOM6J1GLc9qUkk5Guk5rsYRZQUM6KO9dVGioOtAZlcl82qpkZXAGWtefRTrbYLmp-Q/s400/Painted+Hills%2521+Spring+Break+2016-132-1.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNLtRJhOcYdtdXKh1IDohJstoUCLqaYVMhHf0OP03ASzOk_XfTQZVicKFOMRlgH7Nj_8l175446cbOrjnKCbJUhIbcJdcrR3SetxWvaTz6EbCsHkV-MLooMrFdOIgp3PGHwN68wGA0SCc/s1600/Painted+Hills%2521+Spring+Break+2016-140-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNLtRJhOcYdtdXKh1IDohJstoUCLqaYVMhHf0OP03ASzOk_XfTQZVicKFOMRlgH7Nj_8l175446cbOrjnKCbJUhIbcJdcrR3SetxWvaTz6EbCsHkV-MLooMrFdOIgp3PGHwN68wGA0SCc/s400/Painted+Hills%2521+Spring+Break+2016-140-1.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-tA92wzVgfqWB_4MlT2JyBODfRD8JFkkDe4T8JYwCSSyqFh9NZ2Ax7fJZdTcQgWrjaApyNl2Myj4Ex6JzVuy6Y9oEYXsGEhcvyIabuQf97cO2wXn1GnB-KGAHMATFTPUu5iPPyRqqU-s/s1600/Painted+Hills%2521+Spring+Break+2016-142-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-tA92wzVgfqWB_4MlT2JyBODfRD8JFkkDe4T8JYwCSSyqFh9NZ2Ax7fJZdTcQgWrjaApyNl2Myj4Ex6JzVuy6Y9oEYXsGEhcvyIabuQf97cO2wXn1GnB-KGAHMATFTPUu5iPPyRqqU-s/s400/Painted+Hills%2521+Spring+Break+2016-142-1.jpg" width="266" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<br />
<br />Mama Gone Greenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15591925279586183540noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2504357668435859997.post-3487870212825163852016-03-18T09:16:00.002-07:002016-03-18T09:16:53.527-07:00Owls!Phoebe has been studying owls in her preschool class- They did some owl research and the class even had a sweet art exhibit where they displayed owl paintings, clay creations and a paper mache owl. I was very impressed.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkf-J3t_WJW0M9KWGflaba6m8OrlCuR3qHLsE-F2bK5eoDe3ZKhSoV6WYy1VwPY5eoX0w2C2BMJlshcYV7lrdMpEwSCO_IR7u5cjCMMEcKPiXx2BYtN9zK9jblCGNYqb2cObzLUMxbN6w/s1600/owl-1-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="278" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkf-J3t_WJW0M9KWGflaba6m8OrlCuR3qHLsE-F2bK5eoDe3ZKhSoV6WYy1VwPY5eoX0w2C2BMJlshcYV7lrdMpEwSCO_IR7u5cjCMMEcKPiXx2BYtN9zK9jblCGNYqb2cObzLUMxbN6w/s400/owl-1-1.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
Last weekend, Tryon Creek State Park held their annual Owlfest, and I knew that Phoebe would get a huge kick out of it since she has been immersed in owls lately. The weather was terrible, on and off downpours all day, but we braved the rain and headed out. Phoebe got to dissect and owl pellet (so cool!), make some owl art, and meet two captive owls (they are captive because they are injured). Plus, it is the start of trillium season over here, so we made time for a quick little hike as well.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3M2lvdaaEYZ6aoGesyS6Kz0PjffN9XrLl7WIyOpK3jzJ82tlrjMyIswYlpF8T6vB15jgo58PiWtnOtNKl8on5Mq6vaCOI2z1uKU89WAaZdCLVqgd1ryEl9ncoGQN5Vrfz2Er2mTVBQWE/s1600/owls%252C+lemons+and+tents-2-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3M2lvdaaEYZ6aoGesyS6Kz0PjffN9XrLl7WIyOpK3jzJ82tlrjMyIswYlpF8T6vB15jgo58PiWtnOtNKl8on5Mq6vaCOI2z1uKU89WAaZdCLVqgd1ryEl9ncoGQN5Vrfz2Er2mTVBQWE/s400/owls%252C+lemons+and+tents-2-1.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2MaIBFTigG8lJZCUWWv_IxRXzlFNCXgISjZUClYJvWRRhDlNGTygRfu-R3n-KU0YDCXOlryacPt9Sd9w2TN23qfxeHiWjj6Q90dAWttuD0j52di25rKXwVUrkUr-DksWjuqWaFqD2XtA/s1600/owls%252C+lemons+and+tents-4-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="251" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2MaIBFTigG8lJZCUWWv_IxRXzlFNCXgISjZUClYJvWRRhDlNGTygRfu-R3n-KU0YDCXOlryacPt9Sd9w2TN23qfxeHiWjj6Q90dAWttuD0j52di25rKXwVUrkUr-DksWjuqWaFqD2XtA/s400/owls%252C+lemons+and+tents-4-1.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhj4luk5QKZ_rYKD0IpS_WC9cDY0SK_pG-sd-m-Hxxjbvs3PV-_IOIHxKqcY2wrqu9WsVr8KJjaKRLfDCaXf650aeCpbTm-dLEYqdz4MsltNUnhpToRH3if_GPEwfvkdvgs9njK7TtuR9M/s1600/owls%252C+lemons+and+tents-18-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhj4luk5QKZ_rYKD0IpS_WC9cDY0SK_pG-sd-m-Hxxjbvs3PV-_IOIHxKqcY2wrqu9WsVr8KJjaKRLfDCaXf650aeCpbTm-dLEYqdz4MsltNUnhpToRH3if_GPEwfvkdvgs9njK7TtuR9M/s400/owls%252C+lemons+and+tents-18-1.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVMrNAops5dhBvy9ek2uKsZt7Jdakr9e9fyqKJtoym44ZOy5ATcAIRdhosBELz4uZdwSFCACezSgJ4jEY3B9Sjv3dEOQhHlQ7Yl9BrRzCvCmzL7l3nhb2EieTFRLAWnovySz1pDsXE-7c/s1600/owls%252C+lemons+and+tents-25-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVMrNAops5dhBvy9ek2uKsZt7Jdakr9e9fyqKJtoym44ZOy5ATcAIRdhosBELz4uZdwSFCACezSgJ4jEY3B9Sjv3dEOQhHlQ7Yl9BrRzCvCmzL7l3nhb2EieTFRLAWnovySz1pDsXE-7c/s400/owls%252C+lemons+and+tents-25-1.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhroPfA1XHllGWKlaJo33Pb-CDjUee-p_-7dljC4vBz-Kq5QGof-A9lxECOJPR1YR5IMEdtVvAiGgzTlx__Wh0umYN5pxN1MZKvPj7HGRnyW3liCt8PunHbCstg1nrt6sazTyj5QDYkKRY/s1600/owls%252C+lemons+and+tents-30-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhroPfA1XHllGWKlaJo33Pb-CDjUee-p_-7dljC4vBz-Kq5QGof-A9lxECOJPR1YR5IMEdtVvAiGgzTlx__Wh0umYN5pxN1MZKvPj7HGRnyW3liCt8PunHbCstg1nrt6sazTyj5QDYkKRY/s400/owls%252C+lemons+and+tents-30-1.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihJIhJrUOSXWD4hBE4VFbrkoJOGnBckcYQSLD7KGFgjeeTvKqXqohlZ-nIB7kyeOH46CQFfTBVrA1SMGQNOA3Bjn8Kt-8AOHrbbxCK7IeeODcO4Rp4O-O4BXHprO-k248Tt7U039hhhSk/s1600/owls%252C+lemons+and+tents-7-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihJIhJrUOSXWD4hBE4VFbrkoJOGnBckcYQSLD7KGFgjeeTvKqXqohlZ-nIB7kyeOH46CQFfTBVrA1SMGQNOA3Bjn8Kt-8AOHrbbxCK7IeeODcO4Rp4O-O4BXHprO-k248Tt7U039hhhSk/s400/owls%252C+lemons+and+tents-7-1.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
<br /><br />
<br />Mama Gone Greenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15591925279586183540noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2504357668435859997.post-6979157052634164392016-03-16T09:36:00.004-07:002016-03-16T09:36:58.653-07:00Yarn Along<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXDlIgtwJ3E2-s6iilkFsBmWLZVjiSzltivEIGVz4jwdoVPFOyK6YnF_lP8WJMSHw8Hvd7CEHE2zw-6GmkuOzEzekJTTbgD3JOoNcHqutDAFZplaUMhCEvfdPQHapAmBUe17XTRNzFZDo/s1600/yarn+along-1-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="282" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXDlIgtwJ3E2-s6iilkFsBmWLZVjiSzltivEIGVz4jwdoVPFOyK6YnF_lP8WJMSHw8Hvd7CEHE2zw-6GmkuOzEzekJTTbgD3JOoNcHqutDAFZplaUMhCEvfdPQHapAmBUe17XTRNzFZDo/s400/yarn+along-1-1.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
Hello! Happy Wednesday! Joining with Ginny at <i>Small Things</i> for this week's <a href="http://www.gsheller.com/">Yarn Along</a>.<br />
<br />
Currently, I am knitting
myself a couple of pillow covers from <a href="http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/snap-crackle-and-pop">this pattern</a>. I just finished the backside of one. It was easy and mindless-- exactly what I need right now. My life has felt a bit rushed and crazy lately, and I don't think I have the brainpower for much else.<br />
<br />
I am still reading<i> The Human Age </i>by Diane Ackerman and I am really enjoying it. I am thinking about giving it as an option for my class to read next term-- but I need to finish reading it in the next couple of days so I can get it onto my syllabus! And, of course I am still reading<i> War and Peace </i>-- but you already knew that, didn't you? <br />
<i><br /></i>
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i>What are you reading? What are you knitting?</i></div>
Mama Gone Greenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15591925279586183540noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2504357668435859997.post-25523724979688493362016-03-13T16:19:00.000-07:002016-03-13T16:19:11.018-07:00Sunday Gratitudes (and Complaints)<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh64wmm_2N9tJnb8GKvJJYPWmYMU1-sy3WnjUoO5gTaDlScwYHQ1X4xpYhYMDE9CMzl-68x-zIL9YsH53COo1i1esNkkivhP_Eb-BPy_ugz5AjZEhBfgwfOp11kK6JBcgujv-QF0_mr7_4/s1600/owls%252C+lemons+and+tents-50-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh64wmm_2N9tJnb8GKvJJYPWmYMU1-sy3WnjUoO5gTaDlScwYHQ1X4xpYhYMDE9CMzl-68x-zIL9YsH53COo1i1esNkkivhP_Eb-BPy_ugz5AjZEhBfgwfOp11kK6JBcgujv-QF0_mr7_4/s400/owls%252C+lemons+and+tents-50-1.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWoldXvmv3kHg5CB5jeBxMbYV6aGebdk6SpLE-D_x_90IA5V0iIS0ldwIUYpOGz3qlbs1cTwlTM5QVSExs7a9ESpy38OmDUeaixnAj0W4NYQx2ipwXstPSqydBho8EummNhBaDpA-Sb2E/s1600/owls%252C+lemons+and+tents-52-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWoldXvmv3kHg5CB5jeBxMbYV6aGebdk6SpLE-D_x_90IA5V0iIS0ldwIUYpOGz3qlbs1cTwlTM5QVSExs7a9ESpy38OmDUeaixnAj0W4NYQx2ipwXstPSqydBho8EummNhBaDpA-Sb2E/s400/owls%252C+lemons+and+tents-52-1.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
Hello Sunday. It's a rainy one here in Portland. This week was a bit tough- can I complain for a moment, even though this is a gratitude post? Phoebe was sick. ALL week. I pulled my neck muscles while getting dressed (you know you are old when you injure yourself getting dressed, right?). And I have a bunch of mysterious bites all over my legs.... after the first 9, I figured a spider got stuck in my pants. But when I got a bunch more bites a few days later, I figured it had to be something else. Maybe fleas, but I can't find any sign on any of the pets and the kids don't have any bites. And once my mom suggested maybe bedbugs, fleas started to sound pretty awesome. I am actually surprised I fell asleep last night.... I spent most of today cleaning, and have my fingers crossed that it was just a freak thing.... Anyways, my gratitude journal kept me focused on the good things that happened this week- and here they are! <br />
<ul>
<li>Getting to see the premier of a documentary film that a couple of my friends made and stared in (It's called <i>Kharma Bums</i> and it was so good!). I was super impressed. It also inspired me to think about trying to travel again. I haven't gone on a big out-of-North-America adventure since before I had kids, and I think that time is getting near. So fun to think about where to go!</li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li>Acupuncture. It was a big help for my injured neck this week.</li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li>That the kids' dad has been so accommodating. It's really hard for me to take the day off of work, as I have a class full of students depending on me. So, when Phoebe was sick this week, he worked from his home with her on Tuesday and Thursday so that I could still go to work. Made my life a whole lot easier. </li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li>That my ex-sister in law and I still have an awesome relationship. She recently moved to Portland and I wasn't sure how things would go between us. But, we are still solid, and that makes me happy.</li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li>That Finn and I have managed to not get sick despite Phoebe being down for the count for all of last week (I am knocking on wood right now).</li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li>Love. Right now I am surrounded by two amazing kids, and 5 snuggly pets (who may or may not have fleas). There is so much love happening in my house!!!</li>
</ul>
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><i>What have you felt grateful for this week?</i></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><i><i><span style="font-size: x-small;">Joining in with the other Taryn from<a href="http://woolymossroots.com/"> Wooly Moss Roots</a></span></i> </i></span></div>
Mama Gone Greenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15591925279586183540noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2504357668435859997.post-65141298196765627692016-03-09T05:35:00.000-08:002016-03-09T05:35:11.588-08:00Yarn Along<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPAMrF5Avwz6TeawUNDp-rVGMUZlkbR-tREFJDLeEFJBdfCH25k7eDkdwzbK6A3MnZ91Gkf0z4fbtHxDjABqjGxsUl9aWD5woTRdlBzjCLT7GW-MSoxglz_5bvQNtKkkdcJEovZ_tnJGw/s1600/yarn+along-10-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPAMrF5Avwz6TeawUNDp-rVGMUZlkbR-tREFJDLeEFJBdfCH25k7eDkdwzbK6A3MnZ91Gkf0z4fbtHxDjABqjGxsUl9aWD5woTRdlBzjCLT7GW-MSoxglz_5bvQNtKkkdcJEovZ_tnJGw/s400/yarn+along-10-1.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8GW6l44JDR7UNye4l7rdFJucjmFYeOUzPt0dB3DSvJY3wlvj2i7Zlf2rJ97VOZ_GxAhnAfMO0eja9VCDEYH6T15nd0tQPR8MVX53SXuXFi7R5Xrz4rBTQNWOGaJOw5t6Od2tfdwZk8nk/s1600/yarn+along-9-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8GW6l44JDR7UNye4l7rdFJucjmFYeOUzPt0dB3DSvJY3wlvj2i7Zlf2rJ97VOZ_GxAhnAfMO0eja9VCDEYH6T15nd0tQPR8MVX53SXuXFi7R5Xrz4rBTQNWOGaJOw5t6Od2tfdwZk8nk/s400/yarn+along-9-1.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
Hello! Wednesday already? Joining with Ginny at <i>Small Things</i> for this week's <a href="http://www.gsheller.com/">Yarn Along</a>.<br />
<br />
So, I have finally finished all of the projects that I was making Phoebe for her birthday, and have now started something for moi! I am knitting myself a couple of pillow covers from <a href="http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/snap-crackle-and-pop">this pattern</a>. I have started with the back, which is just stockinette stitch and completely mindless. Perfect for my Downton Abby watching. And so sad that it has ended......<br />
<br />
And although I have not snapped any pictures of them being modeled, as little Miss Phoebe has been sick for the pact two days, I have taken some photos of Phoebe's <a href="http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/in-threes-a-baby-cardigan">in-threes sweater</a>, her <a href="http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/plain-vest---enkel-vest">plain vest,</a> and her <a href="http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/summer-into-fall">Summer into Fall</a> jumper. I used some super inexpensive yarn for Phoebe's plain vest, and I am pretty disappointed with the way it turned out. Not that I normally use super expensive yarn, but this stuff was super cheap. Oh well. Lesson learned. I am happy with the other two projects though! (P.S.- the wonderful buttons on Phoebe's in-threes came from the lovely <a href="http://woolymossroots.com/">Taryn of Wooly Moss Roots</a>!<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXYjeHu6NJ4depNnS5Src3K6Fko6b_qKcPeAw8uMQvtidDg8SblYHUn4NthzMYHBi9MFtL5ZVyO8AXfBbBtyHNLc-ZxV0BObNb4kJ_hjLE4SRX0o-e54lW6nPOtiKgPHW9EFw-5F7hAUc/s1600/yarn+along-4-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXYjeHu6NJ4depNnS5Src3K6Fko6b_qKcPeAw8uMQvtidDg8SblYHUn4NthzMYHBi9MFtL5ZVyO8AXfBbBtyHNLc-ZxV0BObNb4kJ_hjLE4SRX0o-e54lW6nPOtiKgPHW9EFw-5F7hAUc/s400/yarn+along-4-1.jpg" width="268" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXN7fg5_guHzXxv15iRlBOJmg69IW9zZleJHSiokutqsTZlOMgWF6GR21d_5TvrFMAtCiLnyIjGL-QNHxFEwp1Dx2-TvhyoYAOe-QnNT_vtGoGZAc7kjTsjoCcsSMZlrch3vsUTnfljfc/s1600/crafty-6-2-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXN7fg5_guHzXxv15iRlBOJmg69IW9zZleJHSiokutqsTZlOMgWF6GR21d_5TvrFMAtCiLnyIjGL-QNHxFEwp1Dx2-TvhyoYAOe-QnNT_vtGoGZAc7kjTsjoCcsSMZlrch3vsUTnfljfc/s400/crafty-6-2-1.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGqczW_BTmMsSsJ6AQVomZUUorUHBlPBXSroxduH1Bwe1Gtte0aL5xvk7PlV-IC2TXRah-OoXFQkQvKUhejDLH2IClqTTV9iPYsCQXGzRuB_ZVAK0p8E4kmn_ZrQgND2S3oR6JYj6aiZU/s1600/crafty-7-2-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGqczW_BTmMsSsJ6AQVomZUUorUHBlPBXSroxduH1Bwe1Gtte0aL5xvk7PlV-IC2TXRah-OoXFQkQvKUhejDLH2IClqTTV9iPYsCQXGzRuB_ZVAK0p8E4kmn_ZrQgND2S3oR6JYj6aiZU/s400/crafty-7-2-1.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcp-0yIP0hNxpuKCq-v-esnZGdDGv9qqK58_igMBKmCIS4G1AQd4q8pnyZoqy199zcE29zMf4ErPLill1iEoZZ8a3rQM48HiVfEhmYzEDJ3AeC5KvPrvyLME-7R3zGiR4RaC4fAm6HMWI/s1600/crafty-11-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcp-0yIP0hNxpuKCq-v-esnZGdDGv9qqK58_igMBKmCIS4G1AQd4q8pnyZoqy199zcE29zMf4ErPLill1iEoZZ8a3rQM48HiVfEhmYzEDJ3AeC5KvPrvyLME-7R3zGiR4RaC4fAm6HMWI/s400/crafty-11-1.jpg" width="266" /></a></div>
<br />
Right Now I am reading<i> The Human Age </i>by Diane Ackerman. It's non-fiction about how humans are affecting the planet. So far I am loving it and may use it for my class next term. And, I got<i> War and Peace</i> back from the library again, so I am trying to plow through as much as that as I can before it has to go back again. <br />
<br />
<i><br /></i>
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i>What are you reading? What are you knitting?</i></div>
Mama Gone Greenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15591925279586183540noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2504357668435859997.post-16374138220433176522016-03-07T08:26:00.001-08:002016-03-07T08:26:36.655-08:00A Dragon Birthday PartyThis year, Phoebe decided on dragons for the theme of her birthday party. That Phoebe is pretty rad-- not many girls would choose to have a dragon party. I think it's awesome.<br />
<br />
I don't have a whole lot of great pictures to share... in my hurry to leave the house, I grabbed the wrong lens for my camera, and most of my photos were blurry (the space where we had the party doesn't have great lighting). But, I will give you what I can!<br />
<br />
I found some sweet dragon fabric online and (by request) made Phoebe a dragon skirt to wear for her party (I am writing this post the day after her party and she is still wearing her skirt... after having slept in it last night! I guess she likes it!). I used the remainder of the fabric to make a simple banner, and also whipped up some dragon party bags.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLDqepbqm4b3XrcDXpMl2DrmO8jcnpx1UYKBS36iSHH6b7DBkn4N-buA2gYPS5xbRgDACZnsnBFc9hYb-4Dxpz33QSwZ3CpKhPJe31fxDEShWk4bXPT2j4K4nKR92N_aBeqYL4MI2qlr4/s1600/crafty-2-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLDqepbqm4b3XrcDXpMl2DrmO8jcnpx1UYKBS36iSHH6b7DBkn4N-buA2gYPS5xbRgDACZnsnBFc9hYb-4Dxpz33QSwZ3CpKhPJe31fxDEShWk4bXPT2j4K4nKR92N_aBeqYL4MI2qlr4/s400/crafty-2-1.jpg" width="266" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAvfL9FD56IsqJLOtlk8Cu7MntHL3-SKBzFJdKPanq4YqlQoVdKxM9KboC5L8y9ER3fSi6XEqvHfPpnusxCaQWKQcEGf9nQSydlIkDptuLAK5E_s5yDaVN45Az5rRuzCSnLmXPoMk9OHo/s1600/crafty-8-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAvfL9FD56IsqJLOtlk8Cu7MntHL3-SKBzFJdKPanq4YqlQoVdKxM9KboC5L8y9ER3fSi6XEqvHfPpnusxCaQWKQcEGf9nQSydlIkDptuLAK5E_s5yDaVN45Az5rRuzCSnLmXPoMk9OHo/s400/crafty-8-1.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
The party bags were filled with a miniature dragon, a dragon tattoo, and some treats.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiti1PDLhZ7dLVW1QqGdO_QGPXHPgPazY6rCTEUq3Yp6XBV37JooDA2GXGEtLOPOQvKg0XB0cF8k9acJUtmd1DY29IGCZU8KCYt-6HaArWery-aswXqL_I1vc7NqCbOJ5jkk1sGT-LUsrg/s1600/Dragon+Party-11-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiti1PDLhZ7dLVW1QqGdO_QGPXHPgPazY6rCTEUq3Yp6XBV37JooDA2GXGEtLOPOQvKg0XB0cF8k9acJUtmd1DY29IGCZU8KCYt-6HaArWery-aswXqL_I1vc7NqCbOJ5jkk1sGT-LUsrg/s400/Dragon+Party-11-1.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
I let my children organized the party activities. Phoebe thought up a crown decorating station. It was perfect. We bought paper crowns and got sequins and gems to glue onto them. Finn brought his foam swords and shields, and his bow and suction arrow set, and we had some knight-type games.<br />
<br />
The best part of the party was the dragon cake. There are great instructions <a href="http://mamagonegreen.blogspot.com/2016/03/sunday-gratitudes.html">here</a>. It was actually pretty easy to make, although a bit time consuming. And it started to melt a bit before we served it-- oops. But it was a big hit! <br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2FrhYtJxrk2B7wjtv66vfsSm7MnISDeAX0ps8jdK47l-IFC0mK62jqai6d_ZvKServb1VdvQjvdmNggBRs7EpZikemNj8x2bhFihsFLMPGTyb0z3zVvSyYiukoREl3dDaHGLfKWAbF8w/s1600/Dragon+Party-1-2-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2FrhYtJxrk2B7wjtv66vfsSm7MnISDeAX0ps8jdK47l-IFC0mK62jqai6d_ZvKServb1VdvQjvdmNggBRs7EpZikemNj8x2bhFihsFLMPGTyb0z3zVvSyYiukoREl3dDaHGLfKWAbF8w/s400/Dragon+Party-1-2-1.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj597jaI46H6YzxkrKDMs4WSqV-mt1jyFu9FlOIQbnIB6CMXYJgYr4hBNTSXud2O5b3O7rmZerkuG7vR-lBNJGGqYrxmDZUkd6-201u9vrYT3z76HpNQ1fQBR8O0NApvCqbRIGH9cRfXCU/s1600/Dragon+Party-16-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj597jaI46H6YzxkrKDMs4WSqV-mt1jyFu9FlOIQbnIB6CMXYJgYr4hBNTSXud2O5b3O7rmZerkuG7vR-lBNJGGqYrxmDZUkd6-201u9vrYT3z76HpNQ1fQBR8O0NApvCqbRIGH9cRfXCU/s400/Dragon+Party-16-1.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5yzo4nguXTluPMqv_lOldBroKH4IZFxNuvf1VbjqKyxIZzSqvzA86pRxf7HJLyvCRRCLbGGOw6WkKn5hjGh0TUGgaZ4SdUAvyXyYBtNEpnB51Cjq-7sFjFmnEeyeWV_XkhpV4a-pHre0/s1600/Dragon+Party-17-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5yzo4nguXTluPMqv_lOldBroKH4IZFxNuvf1VbjqKyxIZzSqvzA86pRxf7HJLyvCRRCLbGGOw6WkKn5hjGh0TUGgaZ4SdUAvyXyYBtNEpnB51Cjq-7sFjFmnEeyeWV_XkhpV4a-pHre0/s400/Dragon+Party-17-1.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3vbyzjr7tcMs9Pbtrbg3cus4j59jspE8CEoG9bu8-Ft-qDHRrSfZAfy2tv5FQA3yYwtDUKowthPr0dHpdvpQHi3QC6-xnIW4nA4tbSdV_C_mV2zszCIAN_ASC4bN8NGf20bFIToMk8Ng/s1600/Dragon+Party-19-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3vbyzjr7tcMs9Pbtrbg3cus4j59jspE8CEoG9bu8-Ft-qDHRrSfZAfy2tv5FQA3yYwtDUKowthPr0dHpdvpQHi3QC6-xnIW4nA4tbSdV_C_mV2zszCIAN_ASC4bN8NGf20bFIToMk8Ng/s400/Dragon+Party-19-1.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
Happy Birthday Phoebe!</div>
<br />
<br />Mama Gone Greenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15591925279586183540noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2504357668435859997.post-71158174708052195342016-03-06T12:06:00.000-08:002016-03-06T12:06:05.077-08:00Sunday Gratitudes<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtUj4RwOdWO2dv0C6oWpY3tclPcYt735D17Whg1SlcHwQ_n4Ji2nq0yuuRCEE4uIWQIs-8fMK5uzRFvnv-3rXMWazbOw9HN9Nevy9lhANNgcHPLecqtP9WOwOn_afrWRvgZsQCBmFsPUg/s1600/crafty-16-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtUj4RwOdWO2dv0C6oWpY3tclPcYt735D17Whg1SlcHwQ_n4Ji2nq0yuuRCEE4uIWQIs-8fMK5uzRFvnv-3rXMWazbOw9HN9Nevy9lhANNgcHPLecqtP9WOwOn_afrWRvgZsQCBmFsPUg/s400/crafty-16-1.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMWBRHtiWDv9qc1sC9aRCPof3Gs0N4FQLHSeQ_ITLFee-0fY0Ju7rE7Bqp22-22f6N9a6RfNl-2agX002WQO_qSWfDDyasa_AtN2qg-GmuKMNxCINQBtzG7YRWuqiHH37wsYDFcqqOcQ0/s1600/crafty-21-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMWBRHtiWDv9qc1sC9aRCPof3Gs0N4FQLHSeQ_ITLFee-0fY0Ju7rE7Bqp22-22f6N9a6RfNl-2agX002WQO_qSWfDDyasa_AtN2qg-GmuKMNxCINQBtzG7YRWuqiHH37wsYDFcqqOcQ0/s400/crafty-21-1.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
Happy Sunday! Hope you all had a great week. Here are a few of the things that I have felt grateful for this week:<br />
<ul>
<li>Flowers, flowers everywhere! Spring is on its way!!</li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li>That it is no longer dark out when I leave for work in the mornings. It makes it so much easier.</li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li>That Phoebe's 5th birthday party was a success, and that it is over. Of course I love throwing my children birthday parties, but I am also always relieved when it is all said and done. Phew.</li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li>That spring break is right around the corner. We have a mini adventure planned, and I am very excited!</li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li>My sweet Phoebe. She is always so full of joy and excitement. It's still hard for me to believe that she is already five! I am trying to soak up my days at home with her while I can, as she will be off to kinder in the fall.</li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li>Hope. Life has thrown a lot of punches at me lately, but I feel like things always seem to work out. They may not work out exactly the way that I want them to, but they work out nonetheless. Over the past few months, my worries have started to subside. Instead, I feel hopeful that life will lead me where I need to go and that in the end, everything will be just fine.</li>
</ul>
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><i>What have you felt grateful for this week?</i></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><i><i><span style="font-size: x-small;">Joining in with the other Taryn from<a href="http://woolymossroots.com/"> Wooly Moss Roots</a></span></i> </i></span></div>
Mama Gone Greenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15591925279586183540noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2504357668435859997.post-77735359401549242422016-03-01T07:00:00.000-08:002016-03-01T07:00:07.554-08:00Five!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7rGFkqYnXE98J6JjCiZabm0pNjNpRMBgE-_nlBjGxOK7bwFQMqTNQ34cl2QZeIA5ZG5hvTgSaxZHNZrNXaeFP1aJMTbGBkFEvo7AjatlaLGmndSw_5epEND4tdCRHL8ITJgeVdVAjJSU/s1600/phoebe-20-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7rGFkqYnXE98J6JjCiZabm0pNjNpRMBgE-_nlBjGxOK7bwFQMqTNQ34cl2QZeIA5ZG5hvTgSaxZHNZrNXaeFP1aJMTbGBkFEvo7AjatlaLGmndSw_5epEND4tdCRHL8ITJgeVdVAjJSU/s400/phoebe-20-1.jpg" width="266" /></a></div>
<br />
Someone is turning 5 today! Five! And she is so excited about it.<br />
<br />
I, on the other hand, am stuck wondering how 5 years have gone by so fast, and if the next five will go even quicker. I am having trouble wrapping my head around the idea that my <i>baby</i> is five, that she will be off to kindergarten in the fall, and that my role as a mother will begin to change after that. Based on my emotions, you would think she is off to college, right?<br />
<br />
I am so lucky to have my little Phoebe in my life. She is a firecracker and makes every day way more fun. I love how she sings. About everything. She tells me that she wants to be a singer and a scientist when she grows up, and if she makes a lot of money she will buy broccoli and green beans for our house. I love how she is constantly dancing, and has even started to do a break-dancing of sorts (although I haven't the faintest idea where she picked those moves up from). I love how she comes into my bed at some point every night, and saddles up right next to me (even though I have a king sized bed). I love how contagious laughter is for her. Anytime I laugh really hard at something, she will soon follow suit.<br />
<br />
Phoebe is my daughter, my friend, my guide, and my muse. She reminds me how important it is to be patient. She shows me what it means to truly love someone. She inspires me with the way that she is unafraid to be herself. I have learned so much from her, about life and love, in these short five years. I am looking forward to the rest of our journey together.<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
Happy birthday dear Phoebe!</div>
<br />
<br />
<br />Mama Gone Greenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15591925279586183540noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2504357668435859997.post-61123748002330623412016-02-28T10:30:00.003-08:002016-02-28T10:30:43.495-08:00Sunday Gratitudes<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmuitpvE5VadX8CReWB_-4aQBR1qxJdHiPTuRT1psOVqe9iVuX3pBCPT2oWOzT9jXKWvgmy2TdsTtxeQVhWnPl06ykV7CY2a3EyFGpIaEMkkk5ecVzj91wRuQ_FNomtReh20G6YDlChs0/s1600/spring-7-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="257" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmuitpvE5VadX8CReWB_-4aQBR1qxJdHiPTuRT1psOVqe9iVuX3pBCPT2oWOzT9jXKWvgmy2TdsTtxeQVhWnPl06ykV7CY2a3EyFGpIaEMkkk5ecVzj91wRuQ_FNomtReh20G6YDlChs0/s400/spring-7-1.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-pjCOoBm6unXAR92Poqqdjv2uhQ7bA66u553IEFedyv8BPzojHw-yO7blHREB2tTJdgzeFEk49WlLh-ZGrIxrydq3On3fq-ZT5XSRQMEJlsFgle6r8Vfxur3WmdAi_lVJ7_AWH48AAes/s1600/spring-11-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-pjCOoBm6unXAR92Poqqdjv2uhQ7bA66u553IEFedyv8BPzojHw-yO7blHREB2tTJdgzeFEk49WlLh-ZGrIxrydq3On3fq-ZT5XSRQMEJlsFgle6r8Vfxur3WmdAi_lVJ7_AWH48AAes/s400/spring-11-1.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
Happy Sunday! Here are some of the things that I have felt grateful for this week:<br />
<ul>
<li>Flowers! I just love this time of year when everything begins to bloom and splashes of color appear everywhere!</li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li>Making the time to cook more thoughtful meals. Lately I seem to have been just slapping dinner together with whatever is easy. But this past week I have planned and enjoyed cooking (and eating) a few meals that were just a bit less mundane. I really enjoy cooking, when I allow myself the time to stop and enjoy it!</li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li>The sweet notes that Finn writes to me all of the time. He is such a kind soul.</li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li>The way that the kids' dad and I are communicating and being flexible with scheduling. It makes this whole mess a lot more reasonable to deal with.</li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li>My spring term classes filling in a day. When I decided to teach 2 classes next term, instead of just one class like I have been teaching for the past 5 years, there was a little bit of worry that both classes may not fill. But, I had a waitlist for both classes, on day 1 of registration. So both of my classes are a go! That means I will be much busier next term, but will also have a little bit of extra money for some fun adventures this summer. </li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li>My full life. It may not be perfect, or anywhere close to what I imagined, but I have what I need. Amazing friends, amazing kids, a job, lots of pets, and plenty of hobbies and adventures to keep me busy. My life is far from dull, and I feel lucky.</li>
</ul>
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><i>What have you felt grateful for this week?</i></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><i><i><span style="font-size: x-small;">Joining in with the other Taryn from<a href="http://woolymossroots.com/"> Wooly Moss Roots</a></span></i> </i></span></div>
Mama Gone Greenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15591925279586183540noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2504357668435859997.post-90599330478050906742016-02-22T09:06:00.000-08:002016-02-22T09:06:13.384-08:00California LoveI just got back from an amazing weekend trip to California. I saw lots of friends, ate great food, and enjoyed some sun! The highlight of the weekend was a trip to Point Reyes, in Marin County. It was amazing. We saw hundred of elk, a coyote, a bob cat, a weasel, and very many birds. It was spectacular!<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXQSNBz1Ns72djHBaN1xtH88k7F9QuDB5EYfsqSL5-hC5GeNhQttN51nOLIFYxT5TgikIH9j1uYYs_Ei1X40JD4K7MLU_ouLLu77G4Hp6wJH7XKZm65as4T8qWwH4soR6_iMDjQ37CroU/s1600/point+reyes-22-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXQSNBz1Ns72djHBaN1xtH88k7F9QuDB5EYfsqSL5-hC5GeNhQttN51nOLIFYxT5TgikIH9j1uYYs_Ei1X40JD4K7MLU_ouLLu77G4Hp6wJH7XKZm65as4T8qWwH4soR6_iMDjQ37CroU/s400/point+reyes-22-1.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3HXvFw9vxkaqKn9BB7SZwz-cLWPddk2RDygJX8gYfoX-n7Oj1jtTkLwhKVyg1f0jWPN1zxZiYXCPyJRk1Bpry5fPVElDCByN7VF2NoHrNhV914kunQnxBLprm9REw891NpO7zLqpU3R8/s1600/point+reyes-23-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3HXvFw9vxkaqKn9BB7SZwz-cLWPddk2RDygJX8gYfoX-n7Oj1jtTkLwhKVyg1f0jWPN1zxZiYXCPyJRk1Bpry5fPVElDCByN7VF2NoHrNhV914kunQnxBLprm9REw891NpO7zLqpU3R8/s400/point+reyes-23-1.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglY902vMSQ0_phcjxpd7M00UDuNAYiLe7FFxUDV2Skt94ze2_R2yiKUH4MMpSPuLi8AfrQBprYpmeuYeRgyjWA9RIr0f20U3bMnrYnWmz3X_WuignEx9IAdqRRVikKjQRzksCPOGfJB74/s1600/point+reyes-36-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglY902vMSQ0_phcjxpd7M00UDuNAYiLe7FFxUDV2Skt94ze2_R2yiKUH4MMpSPuLi8AfrQBprYpmeuYeRgyjWA9RIr0f20U3bMnrYnWmz3X_WuignEx9IAdqRRVikKjQRzksCPOGfJB74/s400/point+reyes-36-1.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiD472itQ2ck6DpoT-PTMZFSHVmlVAloxkWf1pGwJDK0rWxn5O-In7wFsO5CCs1TXRJpuxK5oSoUfeVds21r3Ys1Xt5kb_GBuSs6Yq4GeNHXl7VloHf_jOCf8Gb1JvzFztiX6urDSm8oXs/s1600/point+reyes-40-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiD472itQ2ck6DpoT-PTMZFSHVmlVAloxkWf1pGwJDK0rWxn5O-In7wFsO5CCs1TXRJpuxK5oSoUfeVds21r3Ys1Xt5kb_GBuSs6Yq4GeNHXl7VloHf_jOCf8Gb1JvzFztiX6urDSm8oXs/s400/point+reyes-40-1.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHXVM65PTlTL5drVu_tYoL0RrW7ZRu0QiNJMh24PHFPMO-aZyChZjtbFCMfSumRRZkPiuDOk5-d7DhOZjHF1m2Tt7oA8l2mBieubhtYVUB8aJoFxmS7SX0KzHpWcoubD-ggx3cbILvJ1A/s1600/point+reyes-50-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHXVM65PTlTL5drVu_tYoL0RrW7ZRu0QiNJMh24PHFPMO-aZyChZjtbFCMfSumRRZkPiuDOk5-d7DhOZjHF1m2Tt7oA8l2mBieubhtYVUB8aJoFxmS7SX0KzHpWcoubD-ggx3cbILvJ1A/s400/point+reyes-50-1.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1DTTmQA6OjPUExoCBgT7THqfTi0E-IGILLo-H6WoZ8KJDw5QREjUF1XB3xeeV3GnwsZeHmhpuIHSV56jUy6MC079FlPx3ajnEqgX6jSk6SB2rCut4ZmjipwSn0qvasBQWyueQgBsbn4U/s1600/point+reyes-63-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1DTTmQA6OjPUExoCBgT7THqfTi0E-IGILLo-H6WoZ8KJDw5QREjUF1XB3xeeV3GnwsZeHmhpuIHSV56jUy6MC079FlPx3ajnEqgX6jSk6SB2rCut4ZmjipwSn0qvasBQWyueQgBsbn4U/s400/point+reyes-63-1.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-TBKB0psUq0rg_kiwL-7KpW-q-znWh6GwQf8V1qR93nZf_lpvhjedkP8ahHYseq-cfXweOyRegT8zTKzPm_GINZAWL3SYQRycRSOEBI-OLRlk_D5PElUy2HLvai15iTbRvQ7xCB-gaSw/s1600/point+reyes-75-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-TBKB0psUq0rg_kiwL-7KpW-q-znWh6GwQf8V1qR93nZf_lpvhjedkP8ahHYseq-cfXweOyRegT8zTKzPm_GINZAWL3SYQRycRSOEBI-OLRlk_D5PElUy2HLvai15iTbRvQ7xCB-gaSw/s400/point+reyes-75-1.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0rQXYExlq6ZQgKs9b6_XMROSqML4A-n3w30wsvAYdjJlJBVg2Y-Tr2ZdJuznkSzcyb3WhtXuGFVepEKX6qGyQIuQSKSsdfhfpmKCnIrwtzoDZBYDGcEDSFP8vuQW9vMiruHIOfyEci38/s1600/point+reyes-83-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0rQXYExlq6ZQgKs9b6_XMROSqML4A-n3w30wsvAYdjJlJBVg2Y-Tr2ZdJuznkSzcyb3WhtXuGFVepEKX6qGyQIuQSKSsdfhfpmKCnIrwtzoDZBYDGcEDSFP8vuQW9vMiruHIOfyEci38/s400/point+reyes-83-1.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtIwTlt7IXaJ5agayuvddRgG2pgJ71cYpjGvA3M8go-VGy60dA5SuIigAsIHhWC3eflSE9ShRxgc0gs34cD4ateF473Y634i1CtXJEfPQZqsY2ZWU2r9Uk52ZZBi4w6GTaUovxIIJiYuc/s1600/point+reyes-95-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtIwTlt7IXaJ5agayuvddRgG2pgJ71cYpjGvA3M8go-VGy60dA5SuIigAsIHhWC3eflSE9ShRxgc0gs34cD4ateF473Y634i1CtXJEfPQZqsY2ZWU2r9Uk52ZZBi4w6GTaUovxIIJiYuc/s400/point+reyes-95-1.jpg" width="400" /> </a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPsNTUx_NoeAlEreisIQtkcQJYmXs1XVH7sPyQkI-Jn3lRsS4Nkz6j-vFTVVStOc1FPJvkix52VGaDr2_xGBC6BcfszzHauyQ071tlZ8O8Pt9-6W86WWt84w5ikwg5mcsUFOhyJlo6gks/s1600/point+reyes-92-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPsNTUx_NoeAlEreisIQtkcQJYmXs1XVH7sPyQkI-Jn3lRsS4Nkz6j-vFTVVStOc1FPJvkix52VGaDr2_xGBC6BcfszzHauyQ071tlZ8O8Pt9-6W86WWt84w5ikwg5mcsUFOhyJlo6gks/s400/point+reyes-92-1.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoDaKKKVeavouyPdvfM_-qvfWQndDlaWFEFkVlDG-m30XGo7wHjoBdVSZPhyphenhyphenGyf-arLEMyMDu5gmhAuC2wRTfmiaVqY3vfQnwqBElAOScyBjtFxxShL83M8jWUFfV5of_W4PvGtIVB3UU/s1600/point+reyes-98-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoDaKKKVeavouyPdvfM_-qvfWQndDlaWFEFkVlDG-m30XGo7wHjoBdVSZPhyphenhyphenGyf-arLEMyMDu5gmhAuC2wRTfmiaVqY3vfQnwqBElAOScyBjtFxxShL83M8jWUFfV5of_W4PvGtIVB3UU/s400/point+reyes-98-1.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsIvbtYRf_UEwq5bkML_5Miw1OccE1WsVb4goQfG4rUWr8C8iJDwiO5VIBuEwlGgvmCf_0bYazM_FY4Ds8SF6au3Y1CuIp9Ld4m4vgdHudmekaLr4Sokk9idBBf0eMBO4OCUbAvESdyuI/s1600/point+reyes-100-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsIvbtYRf_UEwq5bkML_5Miw1OccE1WsVb4goQfG4rUWr8C8iJDwiO5VIBuEwlGgvmCf_0bYazM_FY4Ds8SF6au3Y1CuIp9Ld4m4vgdHudmekaLr4Sokk9idBBf0eMBO4OCUbAvESdyuI/s400/point+reyes-100-1.jpg" width="266" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-RMzuNJjmGt1FYkV1ZRbciStjwkWlLJWt9GzEwONlggRYYsIEx0zc-yLh2ONLA98OC8oEx3cHmwhEgIz9ug6GiomLGJNhDquKaFK0Vh_5BJXPYgg4ScNatrdAM_e6MtkDdXdVcRwJ9lc/s1600/point+reyes-103-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-RMzuNJjmGt1FYkV1ZRbciStjwkWlLJWt9GzEwONlggRYYsIEx0zc-yLh2ONLA98OC8oEx3cHmwhEgIz9ug6GiomLGJNhDquKaFK0Vh_5BJXPYgg4ScNatrdAM_e6MtkDdXdVcRwJ9lc/s400/point+reyes-103-1.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRjluM63seYtGvwdtZJ5pqj74B3ufBAtZrXLAXXE0t4FI-A3Kzt5SPliJS0QSgCJq1kfVZXNRBMCdP5xrI1gwb7Vab2uX-YOPHg-KcSmAy8sWkZXjhdqi2oWAPUkfliWIP8WElg5WaKEk/s1600/point+reyes-105-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRjluM63seYtGvwdtZJ5pqj74B3ufBAtZrXLAXXE0t4FI-A3Kzt5SPliJS0QSgCJq1kfVZXNRBMCdP5xrI1gwb7Vab2uX-YOPHg-KcSmAy8sWkZXjhdqi2oWAPUkfliWIP8WElg5WaKEk/s400/point+reyes-105-1.jpg" width="400" /> </a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
How was your weekend? </div>
<br />
<br />Mama Gone Greenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15591925279586183540noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2504357668435859997.post-87694505817916292312016-02-17T08:10:00.000-08:002016-02-17T08:10:03.179-08:00Yarn Along<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhW-zNfuOL7oJwIpEPxybWwoYVDBqzAt-fgg96DNdP237Sa-BIp8UxattVvngy5oEERdJ40_I3EX6GAWelaw4jjqgx0u60r0vFsWZRqeYLAOblObe36goAo-rGs80Tcv_61ZI0n0ghMQ1o/s1600/yarn+along-5-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhW-zNfuOL7oJwIpEPxybWwoYVDBqzAt-fgg96DNdP237Sa-BIp8UxattVvngy5oEERdJ40_I3EX6GAWelaw4jjqgx0u60r0vFsWZRqeYLAOblObe36goAo-rGs80Tcv_61ZI0n0ghMQ1o/s400/yarn+along-5-1.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
Hello! Happy Wednesday! Joining with Ginny at <i>Small Things</i> for this week's <a href="http://www.gsheller.com/">Yarn Along</a>.<br />
<br />
I am super excited because I have a fun weekend adventure planned. Hopefully, I will have lots of pictures to share next week!<br />
<br />
Still working on Phoebe's <a href="http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/in-threes-a-baby-cardigan">in-threes sweater</a>. I am in the easy, mindless part, so it is a perfect knit for watching movies and catching up on Downton Abbey! I know that Phoebe will love this sweater. She is just in love with the color red these days-- she can't get enough. Personally, this particular shade of red reminds me of Christmas, but to each their own!<br />
<br />
<i>War and Peace</i> had to go back to the library. AGAIN. So the past couple of days I have been reading through <i>The Secret Lives of Trees. </i>It is also due back at the library very soon, but I am really enjoying it. It's not a book that you can really plow through though-- it has lots of information packed in, so it is a bit slow going (but good!). Once I get back to an easy mindless read, my brain will thank me! <br />
<br />
<i><br /></i>
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i>What are you reading? What are you knitting?</i></div>
Mama Gone Greenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15591925279586183540noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2504357668435859997.post-15048295703616886342016-02-14T08:09:00.001-08:002016-02-14T08:09:58.748-08:00Sunday Gratitudes<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiDfySZsiByrU1Da1v4DDP1v569ki5aYXRwvkOcdxtXafZCWLuW5Mk_CDR4cDvspCBLtgUzIFIFbaQ2WK1K24yktVWpIjUQr3h0QJlazgY5QxSGqwCDj6_TIfLtfPtVUUkS9VJwBUuCcc/s1600/untitled-6.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiDfySZsiByrU1Da1v4DDP1v569ki5aYXRwvkOcdxtXafZCWLuW5Mk_CDR4cDvspCBLtgUzIFIFbaQ2WK1K24yktVWpIjUQr3h0QJlazgY5QxSGqwCDj6_TIfLtfPtVUUkS9VJwBUuCcc/s400/untitled-6.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
Happy Sunday! For me, this week was a week of emotional ups and downs, feeling overwhelmed, and lots of indecision. However, my gratitude practice helped me to find things to be grateful for, even when times were tough. And that is something to be grateful for! This past week I have felt grateful
for: <br />
<ul>
<li>Snowboarding! On Tuesday evening, I had a chance to go up to the mountain for the first time in 2 years. And it was Ladies Night, so it only cost me $20!</li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li>Powerful Films. A friend and I went to see <i>100 Yen Love</i>, a Japanese film that was shown as part of the Portland International Film Festival. A couple of days later, it still has me thinking.</li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li>Making plans! I just planned a mini-road trip for part of spring break. Having adventures to look forward to makes me super happy. </li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li>A really amazing field trip this week. I took my students to Reed College to see their nuclear reactor. It was a first for me, and the trip was very interesting (even though I have many hesitations about creating electricity from nuclear reactions).</li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li>Friends. I had a great night out on Friday and had a chance to spend time with a whole group of my friends, including a couple that I hadn't seen for awhile. </li>
</ul>
<br /><div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><i>What have you felt grateful for this week?</i></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><i><i><span style="font-size: x-small;">Joining in with the other Taryn from<a href="http://woolymossroots.com/"> Wooly Moss Roots</a></span></i> </i></span></div>
Mama Gone Greenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15591925279586183540noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2504357668435859997.post-3017281614983226252016-02-10T08:00:00.001-08:002016-02-10T08:00:26.806-08:00Yarn Along<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9Jj7uHfNfRqnE8v-RhbE56sb0dbX2fqAyLi35HCOW9u08jVqVdHNmdln2scANhnSkxcHsgeffBnqi0_zX7CbCPuj5ApF1KmOZGWvv6uzvNNiTZiW2NfZ-iTPp2lFYJaCZUTmWVPYo38w/s1600/yarn+along-1-2-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9Jj7uHfNfRqnE8v-RhbE56sb0dbX2fqAyLi35HCOW9u08jVqVdHNmdln2scANhnSkxcHsgeffBnqi0_zX7CbCPuj5ApF1KmOZGWvv6uzvNNiTZiW2NfZ-iTPp2lFYJaCZUTmWVPYo38w/s400/yarn+along-1-2-1.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
Hello! Joining with Ginny at <i>Small Things</i> for this week's <a href="http://www.gsheller.com/">Yarn Along</a>. <br />
<br />
I have been making some progress on Phoebe's <a href="http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/in-threes-a-baby-cardigan">in-threes sweater</a>. I am hoping to have it finished in time for her birthday, which is not until March 1st, so I think I am right on track. Red is her very favorite color right now, so I know that she will be excited for this one. <br />
<br />
I am (still) reading <i>War and Peace</i>, and actually just started to really enjoy it. I think I am immersed in the story and have mostly figured out who all of the characters are. And it's good! It actually seems much ahead of it's time with the humor. Maybe the translation has something to do with that, I'm not entirely sure. I still have many more weeks (or maybe months ) or reading it left to go, but I know now that I will make it through.<br />
<br />
I have also been trying to get through <i>The Secret Lives of Trees</i> before it is due back at the library. It's non-fiction about trees and how they are classified. Stuff that sounds kind of boring, even to me, but the writing is so fabulous that it is super interesting. Well, at least to a scientist!<br />
<br />
<i><br /></i>
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i>What are you reading? What are you knitting?</i></div>
Mama Gone Greenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15591925279586183540noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2504357668435859997.post-83894355938514255092016-02-08T17:40:00.002-08:002016-02-08T17:40:26.795-08:00Happy Chinese New Year!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPhyphenhyphenxtJFFIzONmrWCLx60otExlaFPjGFO4xBoJoxV7ulcZ6a85sVEMagiCEnjdLJuDGc0jq9YySb2QWxKuqL0RPD5ugFiuWwVyjDFssWN8RjlgEVs1JDJwM4w9vpAQDcg8uovAXhT4fEc/s1600/chinese+new+year-33-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="258" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPhyphenhyphenxtJFFIzONmrWCLx60otExlaFPjGFO4xBoJoxV7ulcZ6a85sVEMagiCEnjdLJuDGc0jq9YySb2QWxKuqL0RPD5ugFiuWwVyjDFssWN8RjlgEVs1JDJwM4w9vpAQDcg8uovAXhT4fEc/s400/chinese+new+year-33-1.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgi2IoWb_XGpurpkMgK7bKcocL0YMn07bm7EXz2vSmcH5ehyiQJ9R7DCaz1mnWe_RljaVQ2tweFQZjlHPMR6sm9J_odhIlxgz02CYb7Tf9JtkPwq22Tl7dovKrfyP2hpfTIxnDHZ7NqCLA/s1600/chinese+new+year-38-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgi2IoWb_XGpurpkMgK7bKcocL0YMn07bm7EXz2vSmcH5ehyiQJ9R7DCaz1mnWe_RljaVQ2tweFQZjlHPMR6sm9J_odhIlxgz02CYb7Tf9JtkPwq22Tl7dovKrfyP2hpfTIxnDHZ7NqCLA/s400/chinese+new+year-38-1.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQiQ4nxDotkDYPTRpLkXNrQEbO7RWtxto5-RaNVtSn21JoAUWwZb7lJCt0Ptri5crBFoXeb8aXXGTHE56teWMf7o2lUtrAqJhi3fZeJ4LSgjLDFtO_PpTg4xywmTjFaM2564byWsF9IZU/s1600/chinese+new+year-43-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQiQ4nxDotkDYPTRpLkXNrQEbO7RWtxto5-RaNVtSn21JoAUWwZb7lJCt0Ptri5crBFoXeb8aXXGTHE56teWMf7o2lUtrAqJhi3fZeJ4LSgjLDFtO_PpTg4xywmTjFaM2564byWsF9IZU/s400/chinese+new+year-43-1.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkiwgv_XjBvbnbD4zPBncWKQa7o7MQ9xkFf0EvgrkudN4VLDUNNYTB_ebNdPN2jZX2SvPLIuZ_jyztfM2k-vjwZ9S4ari5E58KSB-AwRdIDIKic2QOe1kZwiTA1YisDlS8Ko2Qxn6vFIM/s1600/chinese+new+year-45-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkiwgv_XjBvbnbD4zPBncWKQa7o7MQ9xkFf0EvgrkudN4VLDUNNYTB_ebNdPN2jZX2SvPLIuZ_jyztfM2k-vjwZ9S4ari5E58KSB-AwRdIDIKic2QOe1kZwiTA1YisDlS8Ko2Qxn6vFIM/s400/chinese+new+year-45-1.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZ1GS5OWPs9OmSVtzLNEVoWohkbL6KpgqRpPZtKfdiCmmOk4yUHBh3lW5NmottFXS09mHg_a4g6eE13EnIuljsrXhRHkz48RSyZ2CW8wN8LWW8-CbnFlECTbtVL5Hopo302v4jKs0WLz0/s1600/chinese+new+year-48-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="262" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZ1GS5OWPs9OmSVtzLNEVoWohkbL6KpgqRpPZtKfdiCmmOk4yUHBh3lW5NmottFXS09mHg_a4g6eE13EnIuljsrXhRHkz48RSyZ2CW8wN8LWW8-CbnFlECTbtVL5Hopo302v4jKs0WLz0/s400/chinese+new+year-48-1.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3FN4xvjCmjSgTNvm0dWC6fRLgMXCTh6ete4cWpIPyWyRe5ruGW2UB4Bx9-AnHJGHVEXSjsbElgUKBu06kH9EeCdowMP2W1h0HNN_plKCfKpc4-yM53dimpgrjPAdrZdRPrXTzfqUDLJI/s1600/chinese+new+year-49-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="261" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3FN4xvjCmjSgTNvm0dWC6fRLgMXCTh6ete4cWpIPyWyRe5ruGW2UB4Bx9-AnHJGHVEXSjsbElgUKBu06kH9EeCdowMP2W1h0HNN_plKCfKpc4-yM53dimpgrjPAdrZdRPrXTzfqUDLJI/s400/chinese+new+year-49-1.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwJwL8zxJqFcH5MK_3Fr8U414k46dwiPvZcn1HNfQmN1gcXBEHSOZy7qC7FtWywJ2928z-LuIi1OJ-tVWjA_Iplmw2UP1bq5ZSF6FxlxqwH0WZSQzbhh1er_L1EcVHA23kJ8jhmk28X3E/s1600/chinese+new+year-56-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwJwL8zxJqFcH5MK_3Fr8U414k46dwiPvZcn1HNfQmN1gcXBEHSOZy7qC7FtWywJ2928z-LuIi1OJ-tVWjA_Iplmw2UP1bq5ZSF6FxlxqwH0WZSQzbhh1er_L1EcVHA23kJ8jhmk28X3E/s400/chinese+new+year-56-1.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />Mama Gone Greenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15591925279586183540noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2504357668435859997.post-48731674457633892702016-02-08T06:28:00.001-08:002016-02-08T06:28:27.532-08:00My Weekend<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisZ7Pyj3Hna0fOhlEN3gfL3BXRbFnjhtz97gGwBN3qY29rxovn0eENDipGRXFuaBQfScSZU8NIP85ja-wAc9woD2y-Sft-YJmi1Hs7y943CtZ5y_FkFR9LgikkjRBr2wEY6tJEGjcLR5I/s1600/shellburg+falls-2-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisZ7Pyj3Hna0fOhlEN3gfL3BXRbFnjhtz97gGwBN3qY29rxovn0eENDipGRXFuaBQfScSZU8NIP85ja-wAc9woD2y-Sft-YJmi1Hs7y943CtZ5y_FkFR9LgikkjRBr2wEY6tJEGjcLR5I/s400/shellburg+falls-2-1.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgW9oyQtIVze82l3QhsyjCnZbg1-tqjPmyHvy3WPHQ_Sf8MElEFh_YkyfVCse8kvY3bUqrVGLkeSdE7khBULfKRrvFsWw6DmfrAUUu54EeygGvxMlj25shscc9DX6bYJgHC4MAd80Ueb94/s1600/shellburg+falls-5-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgW9oyQtIVze82l3QhsyjCnZbg1-tqjPmyHvy3WPHQ_Sf8MElEFh_YkyfVCse8kvY3bUqrVGLkeSdE7khBULfKRrvFsWw6DmfrAUUu54EeygGvxMlj25shscc9DX6bYJgHC4MAd80Ueb94/s400/shellburg+falls-5-1.jpg" width="266" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjh0QTUpXjdwmcbQusfGMJTUgy8hvoHQA4BLg68pzunVfmTaGOgmv7VIxlTqTsBOOvITNxvaF4UhO_TfLFmiDMvni64Lhwc9JU4VTPICDksbAVzDwiedo0YdxQDfnrMCbhn9zIEIkVJrng/s1600/shellburg+falls-17-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjh0QTUpXjdwmcbQusfGMJTUgy8hvoHQA4BLg68pzunVfmTaGOgmv7VIxlTqTsBOOvITNxvaF4UhO_TfLFmiDMvni64Lhwc9JU4VTPICDksbAVzDwiedo0YdxQDfnrMCbhn9zIEIkVJrng/s400/shellburg+falls-17-1.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjl-DhP768znrbaq51sNylozljG06h9UD3aizTDS1vBB_6PlFSeNpQCsf0_28HHR_FUDEjPU92KJXQQU6jMFyjvJrkJZTb9tPUBOqHdnD-no6jIRp2INya0m1eJWG1e3doWrCICrkkxjTY/s1600/shellburg+falls-18-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjl-DhP768znrbaq51sNylozljG06h9UD3aizTDS1vBB_6PlFSeNpQCsf0_28HHR_FUDEjPU92KJXQQU6jMFyjvJrkJZTb9tPUBOqHdnD-no6jIRp2INya0m1eJWG1e3doWrCICrkkxjTY/s400/shellburg+falls-18-1.jpg" width="266" /></a></div>
<br />
Happy Monday! Hope you all had a great weekend. Mine was fantastic, but too short! Friday night the kids and I made pizzas and watched the new <i>Goosebumps</i> movie. They have been asking to watch it for months, and they finally had their chance...... the verdict was two thumbs up.<br />
Saturday morning Puppy Cow, my very old dog, woke me at 4:45 and I couldn't fall back asleep. Finn woke up at 5:30 and Phoebe shortly after that. So our day started quite early. It's amazing what you can accomplish in one morning when you get up at 4:45! We spent the day mostly at home reading, playing games, and making valentines. Mid-afternoon, the kids went to their dad's house and I went on a run. I met a couple of friends for dinner at an Ethiopian restaurant, and then we headed to the African Film Festival, which is held at the campus where I teach. We saw a film entitled <i>Fievres</i>, and it was powerful. It made me feel lucky for everything I have in this little life of mine.<br />
Sunday I went on a hike to Shellburg Falls, outside of Salem. It wasn't the most exciting of hikes, but it was an amazingly sunny day, and the falls and the forest were absolutely gorgeous in the light. If it were an overcast or rainy day, I would have been fairly unimpressed, but the sun made the drive entirely worth it.<br />
Sunday night the kids and I didn't watch the Superbowl, which is just fine by me. <br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
How was your weekend? </div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i><br /></i></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i>Joining in with the lovely Karen from <a href="http://www.pumpkinsunrise.com/">Pumpkin Sunrise</a> </i></div>
Mama Gone Greenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15591925279586183540noreply@blogger.com3