Camping in the White Mountains

We have camped with our kids since they were babies.  Sometimes easily, sometimes counting the hours until daylight when we can pack the car back up and head home because she just. won't. sleep...

While we did lots of backpacking before we had kids, we had only done car-camping with them until this summer.  We found great State Parks and learned to be particular about sites - the outer ring, along a river always being quietest and best.  And we waited.  Until they were old enough to hike in, carrying their own (light) pack.

We decided they were ready this summer, having just turned 5 and 7 this spring.

When I was in elementary school, living in Minneapolis, my Dad decided that we were ready to learn how to ski.  There were lots of small places for skiing in Minnesota but he believed that for us to really learn how to ski, we had to go to Vermont.  Two parents, a grandmother, and five kids (the youngest still an infant) in a large Dodge van driving half way across the country to learn how to ski.  I've always kind of laughed at that, but now I understand.

For us, to take them backpacking for the first time, we had to take them to the White Mountains.

After much deliberation and research, we decided to spend the first and third of three nights at a campground and the second at an AMC Hut up on the Appalachian Trail.  These pictures are from the campground (where we camped right next to the Pemigewasset River).  It was beautiful.  We could have stayed there for a week and easily filled our days.

The hike up into the mountains and onto the AT was even more amazing.  Next post!

Vacation

We're heading out on a little family vacation today.

Mountains, Ocean, and some famous Cannolis along the way.

See you back here in a week!

Toleration

I forgot how busy it is to have the kids home on summer vacation.  Busy if I don't want to stick them in front of the television.  Busy if I want to stay somewhat sane and minimize the whining and the fighting.

Ollie finished his first week of camp so both are home this week.  What I should be doing is packing and preparing for our week long vacation we head out for on Saturday.  The one that takes us car camping, backpacking, and to the beach.  With about 20  hours spent in the car along the way.

We haven't done much hiking this Spring, so I thought we should get a little more practice in before slapping packs on their backs and heading into the White Mountains National Forest.  So we headed over to our local trail system yesterday.  We went a different direction this time, weaving around some trail construction and making our way in whatever the direction the kids were feeling.

Have I mentioned that I am a rule follower?  I am also a map follower.  I had no idea where we were going or if the trail we were following was a loop.  I knew we could turn around if we wanted to and that we couldn't go too far without hitting a major road.  So it was kind of fun feeling a little lost.

"I promise you we are not lost," I told the kids. "We can always turn around and go back the way we came.  But right now I have absolutely no idea where we are."  I think this thrilled them a little bit.  And then, around a turn, we came upon this:

A statue, perched on a precipice, out in the middle of nowhere.  It was a bit spooky, but amazing at the same time.  Evidently, the piece is Toleration, purchased at the Centennial Exhibition and placed up here, in what was to become part of Fairmount Park, in 1883. 

There is so much to be explored, though from now on both kids will wear pants when out in the woods - we did find a tick on Ollie last night.  Ugh. They enjoy it, though, after the first 20 minutes of complaining and the bribe of a popsicle when we get home.  They enjoy it more when they can take the lead, so we will do a little more 'not quite getting lost' this summer and see what else we can find out in those woods...

Packing the Camera

I have started carrying my camera around again.

I don't even remember why I stopped.  I think the batteries died at one point.  And I was looking for some way to make my bag a little lighter.

But now with summer here, it's back in there.  Ready to grab when I see the moment.  As long as I remember to periodically charge the batteries.

Now I just need to take that extra step and print some of these!

Sour Cherry Almond Muffins

While it was fun to pick the cherries, I had no idea what I was going to do with them.  The extent of my sour cherry knowledge in baking is the amazing Sour Cherry Danish at The Baker's Wife in Minneapolis that I was not even going to attempt to replicate.

My friend Anna gave me a sour cherry almond muffin recipe with the cherries.  I loved the flavor combo idea but was looking for something a little healthier (they had lots of sour cream and butter which I'm sure made them taste all the better!)...  Instead I adapted the Strawberry Cupcakes recipe from Lindsay Nixon's Happy Herbivore cookbook and am so happy with how they came out.

Here you go:

Ingredients:
2 cups of white wheat flour (or whole wheat pastry flour)
1 tsp baking powder
1/2 tsp baking soda
1/2 tsp salt
1/4 cup applesauce
1 cup raw sugar
1 cup vanilla almond milk
1 overflowing tsp almond extract
1 1/2 cups pitted sour cherries
1 handful sliced almonds
1 handful chocolate chips (optional)

Whisk flour, baking powder, baking soda, and salt together in one bowl.

In a separate bowl, whisk applesauce, sugar, milk, and extract until well blended.

Gradually pour the dry mixture into the wet, stirring until just combined.

Scoop into muffin tins, top with sliced almonds, and bake for 15-25 minutes, until toothpick inserted into the center come out clean.

These are especially good right out of the oven when the cherries are still warm.

Enjoy!

Mama Camp

Summer vacation has officially begun around here.  Ollie jumped right into a week of camp yesterday, so Ella and I are having a little bit of Mama Camp this week.  I forget how rarely now we just have regular one-on-one time and  how important it is.  He's only in camp from 9-1, but that gives the girl and I a solid couple hours.

Today we attempted to pick one more batch of organic strawberries this morning at Maple Acres but they were pretty much gone.  We did pick some yummy fresh snap peas, though.

And while paying at the farmstand, Ella saw buckets of Zinnias and begged oohed and ahhed for flowers.  You can pick your own there or buy 5 for $1.50.  The buckets Ella eyed were 'Yesterday's Zinnia's' and were $10 per bucket.  Hmmm...  Yes, we came home with a bucket's worth.  Inspiring me to think about finding another vase or two this summer to keep on hand.

I told her they were older flowers and wouldn't last very long.  She said "They don't have to last long.  I just want to look at them for a little while."  There's a lesson there, I think.

Green Smoothies

We've been on a bit of a smoothie kick around here.  

Our 'green' smoothies usually look more brown than green.  Poop colored sometimes, actually.  I tend to go heavier on the berries and a bit lighter on the greens since that seems to get the kids more interested.  We have, though, experimented with chard, kale, and spinach so far.  And amazingly, the kids have loved (most of) them.  Usually with a banana, a bunch of frozen strawberries, and some almonds or ground flax seed.

Today I was feeling a little anemic and remembered that to best absorb iron from these leafy greens you are supposed to add a little citrus.  This beautiful green came from a mix of a banana, an orange (peeled and dumped right in whole), about a third of a bag of spinach, and enough almond milk and water to blend it up nice and smooth.

I have to say I was incredibly surprised at how great it tasted!  The Dad declared it one of the best so far.  The kids drank it even though it obviously had 'leaves' in it.  I was scared to go so green - I don't like my smoothie tasting like salad - but am now looking forward to another one tomorrow for breakfast.

Just a little something going on around here right now...

It Is What It Is

Ollie has his last full day of Pre-School today.  Ella will be finished with first grade on Friday.  I stop, turn around, and ask myself where the time has gone.  Not just the last three months, but the year.  The days (most of them) have gone slowly but the school year has flown.

Last night, at our nursery school's last board meeting of the year, I passed on the duty of Board Chair to another parent.  After two years.  Two years full of a responsibility that at once fulfilled me and drove me mad.  Now I have summer vacation approaching - with no responsibilities except for my family and my house home.  That sounds a bit archaic, but I am really looking forward to it.

Eieio has been a bit on hold.  I did so well at the Germantown Friends School Craft Show that I ended up pulling out of the Art Star Craft Bazaar.  I saw how much inventory would need to be created in a short 8 weeks (otherwise occupied with two kid birthdays and two Spring Breaks) and chose sanity and family over the show.  While I missed it, I know I made the right decision.

I have also learned over the last couple years that not much sewing happens over the summer.  I am able to steal a bit of studio time here and there, but nothing I can count on.  Right now, I'd like to use that little bit of time for us.  There are so many things I want to make for the kids that keep being put off.

Both kids will be in school full time in September.  The same school, one school, one schedule that I am so excited about.  Then, I will open back up for business, committed to regular studio hours and finally moving forward...  I may also take a class or two.  The Dad wonders how long it will take before I am looking for something to do.

Right now, there is lots to do.  We have half prepped our bedroom for painting.  As we've been talking for three years now about going through the house room by room.  Our room will be first.  Soon.  I promise.

It's exciting, I think, our life right now.  It is not nearly as perfect as I would like it to be but we are so, so lucky and I am incredibly grateful.  And there is so much potential.  Right in this moment...

The Walk the Line Pants

Mid-construction, The Dad looked at these and said "Either no one is going to want to play with him when he wears those or the girls are going to be all over him." 

They walk that line.

Funky or Foolish?

They are made from an Alexander Henry Home Dec Weight fabric that feels like canvas.  Sturdy and rugged.  Depending on how I look at them, I think 'Cool' or 'Ronald McDonald'.

The bonus is that he loves them.

They have four pockets, which he was so excited about.  Next time, he wants six.  I turned the fabric 90 degrees for contrasting stripes.  I love creating little details like this.

Made from the Oliver + S Sandbox Pants pattern (with an elastic waist instead of the drawstring), I share with you O's new Walk the Line pants.  What do you think?

Oliver + S Reversible Bucket Hat

 I've taken a small break  from eieio sewing to do a little sewing of our own around here.  First up, the Reversible Bucket Hat from Liesl Gibson's Little Things to Sew.

My kids live in these hats in the summer time.  They started wearing these as infants - best baby sunhat ever - and moved into these last summer.  I am so excited to make my own with fun prints.

For this first one, O picked out his own fabrics.  He calls it his 'Night and Day' Hat - the white side for daytime and the black side for nighttime.  A boy of his own mind, he is...

It was actually pretty fun to make.  I'm always amazed at Liesl's little techniques for simple, quality construction.  The top of the black side of the hat is actually hand sewn on to finish it.  Can you tell?  I can't either!  I'm so proud...

Really, I cringe sometimes when I read that I need to hand-finish something -  but the more I do it, the easier it gets.  And this time?  Sunday night?  I thought "Woohoo!  Handsewing means I can actually watch TV at the same time!"  Yeah, my life is that exciting.

E's is up next - purple glittery flower fairies on one side and a new Amy Butler Soul Blossoms print on the other.  I want to make three for each of them.  Seriously, they live in them - and one inevitably gets lost at some point over the summer.  Summer is coming, right?