Handmade Trade

I've been taking an hour every few days to make zipper pouches. I plan to make cinch bags and totes next. My goal is to have at least 50 of each, by June. Spirit Weavers Gathering has a blanket market on one of the days of the the gathering. I know there will be so many beautiful things I want. Hopefully people will be interested in zipper pouches, cinch bags, and tote bags. Everyone needs a bag right!? Today I made a few zipper pouches from a wool scarf I thrifted for .99 and a zipper for .59 and it took into 10 minutes to make. I think if I spend just a few hours a week I'll have a great assortment for people  to choose from! 

Weekending

From the mountains to the ocean, it's all our playground. The boys took me shooting this weekend. Ruben shot his 12 gauge, his 12th birthday gun and Spencer shooting his .22 rifle like a sharpshooter. They both insisted I try each of their guns, so I did. They were thrilled for me to shoot and hit the targets. 

After guns and the woods we headed to the beach. The ocean had been very big lately, not so good for surfing, but great for beach combing. The tides and floods have covered the beach in driftwood, so fort building or just finding a nice log to sit and ponder on is easily done. I think everyone should have the opportunity to take a moment like Spencer here on the driftwood. 

It feels like we live for the weekends. We try to squeeze every last minute out of them. This weekend Tres also took me to a movie! The movie was excellent, and going to the movie was a new idea for us. We so rarely go, counting on one hand for the last 15 years.  It was a rare and fun treat for us. 

Down with the Sickness

Spencer and I have down this week with sickness. Two different kinds, but equally debilitating. I missed a whole week of work. As soon as I was feeling better and ready to return to work then Spencer came down with something. Even though I've missed all this work, I feel grateful for the ability to be home when I'm needed. It would be pretty tough if I couldn't. 

I suppose I'm selfish to also be thankful this happened  during a school work week and not vacation. Since we like to have fun during vacation, and sickness would make us all feel robbed of that time. Spencer and I are definitely in the mend, and life will hopefully return to normal soon. 

I added a picture of Tres playing his guitar for us, since we all adore it when he does play.  No tv or other noise in the house but him singing and strumming, we all like it. Something calming and grounding about it. 

Goodbye 2015 and Hello 2016

We spent the New Years and the eve with the Endresens at Black Butte Ranch and with Katlyn and her boys. New Year's Eve we took the boys  to Hoodoo mt ski resort for their first snowboard lesson. The boys did great! Ruben is a natural, however Spencer stated he wanted to try tubing next time. We'll encourage him to try snowboarding again. It has been 13 years since I had skied. The great thing about it, is it's like riding a bike! I picked it right up and had a great time! 

After getting our rentals, signing up for lessons, lift tickets and off to the lift. I couldn't help but to think of my own father. I had such an appreciation for all those years he took all of us kids skiing year after year. Not only the cost, but the patience, perseverance, and all around good attitude under such potentially high stress time. I am so grateful to have grown up skiing, and easy it came back to me after all that time. I guess the 13 years was me being pregnant, breastfeeding, or caring for young children. I don't regret missing it and I'm so happy to share it with my boys now! 

We headed home to the coast on New Years Day, we hiked into a Sahallie Falls to see an incredible waterfall with the biggest icecycles ever! Our next stop was Belknap hot springs. We took a quick soak to warm up and soothe tired muscles. 

On our way home we all agreed the day was perfect. We greeted 2016 as a family, adventuring, being outdoors, and being together. Each year continues to get better with my tribe. Welcome 2016! To many more adventures as a family and individually, I look forward to it!