the bear in our yard

I know this isn't a very clear picture, but it's the best I could do with two freaking kids and I couldn't find the camera right away. Right after I took the picture, the bear climbed that little tree and hung out up there for an hour or two.

Harvest / saying godbye to summer

Every day now feels like the end. We wake up early and have to wear slippers and throw in a sweatshirt. But the sun is strong in the mountains, and by mid-morning it's almost warm enough for shorts. Today is a perfect Sunday. We really should have gone food shopping, but I couldn't stand to spend the day running around. (sorry kids, graham crackers and carrots again for lunch this week.) Poppie and Cody helped me harvest our pathetic veggies and plant some lupine seeds we collected on a hike. Cody ate a bunch of seeds. He'll be OK, right? It was a long, cold, rainy spring. We didn't see the sun until July, and then it didn't rain all summer. Also there was an explosion in the ground squirrel population. I was surprised to see oven out toothpick sized carrots.

Twin Lakes camping trip

welcoming a new baby

Baby booties! Soo cute! I found this free pattern here. These were very quick and easy. I made them from choosing fabric to taking pictures of finished product in less than an hour - and with my 3 year ond "helper"
(ok, I must have typed the pattern link wrong - but if you want the pattern, look down on the right side bar until you see "free baby kimono shoe pattern")

Aren't these little birds just the cutest things! I had a blast making them, and Poppie was a great helper. Especially when she was supposed to be napping. (she's the sweetest when she knows she is getting away with something) Balancing the birds and getting them to stay put on the slippery bamboo dowels was another story. Very frustrating. The beads were added last to try to get them to sit upright. Notice how some look like they are about to take off?