Around Here...

I got my first handful of blues!  They are about a week behind and need rain.   We will see what this season brings.   It will be hard to compare to last year.   (I still have a few gallons of berries in the freezer!)

Around Here...
James is making great progress on the exterior of our sauna building.  It is such a wonderful addition to our homestead.  

Around Here....

Our kids are growing into new adventures.  Our daughter took her first independent camping overnight with some friends the other day.  The boys (and the mama and dad) took to some new nearby mountain bike trails.

Around Here....

The garden is growing!  I was pleased to see progress and growth with my herbs, beans, tomatoes, grapes, pumpkins, cucumbers and raspberries.  

Around Here...

We have an eight year old....today!  Oh how time flies.

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This act of sharing photographs and ramblings of our daily life is a practice in gratitude that brings me joy.

I encourage you to reflect on the good in your life.

What are you grateful for today?

Happy Friday Friends!

I hope you all had a fun and safe 4th of July!

Here's my "Friday Fave,"a series highlighting fun and interesting things (products, experiences and/or ideas) that I would recommend to others.

Here's what I am digging this week:

I wanted to share this resource for those of you who may not be aware of it, especially in the peak of summer travel season.

The Every Kid in a Park Program

I am excited to share that I have another activity published in Highlights High Five Magazine:

It is an honor to be contribute to this popular magazine.  I am happy to be a part of their mission:

Celebrating the joys of childhood and helping children become their best selves—creative, curious, caring & confident!

If you happen to get your hands on an issue, be sure to check out the activity!  

Thanks for reading!

The July issue of Minnesota Parent Magazine is available throughout Minnesota and online now.

My ramblings in my School Days Column this month, I share some insider tips on visiting my  hometown, which just happens to be a summer vacation destination.
Pick up a print copy, or read the full issue by clicking --> HERE.

Find the online link to my column---> HERE.

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If you like what you see, social media 'shares' are appreciated!

As, always - thanks for reading!

Around Here....

The lupines are blooming!   They are gracing the roadsides with their pink, blue and white presence.   We have been collecting, gathering and spreading seeds over the years and are happy to find more and more popping up around our homestead.  Check out this post if you are intersted in a fun experiment dying wool with lupines.

Around Here....

We have green "blues."  I took a walk up our ridge to check on the progress of the blueberries and I that I could find were greeen berries.   From my records, we are a couple weeks behind our typical season.  In the past I have found a handful or so of blue berries this time of year (see this post) but not today.   With the heat and rain we have been experiencing and the bunches of green berries I found today we should have plenty to pick from.....soon enough.

Around Here....

I have been spending time near water.   We have been having some trouble with our vehicle that has made getting out on our nearby lakes more of a challenge.   But we have been doing just fine swimming at nearby beaches and boat landings and fishing (and catching!) at nearby fishing piers.   

Summer is in full swing and we are making a point to spend a good time outside each day.

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This act of sharing photographs and ramblings of our daily life is a practice in gratitude that brings me joy.

I encourage you to reflect on the good in your life.

What are you grateful for today?

When I was going through the large pile of mail upon return from our family vacation, I was excited to receive a small package containing my contributor copies of Lake Time Magazine Issue 15.    

For this issue I contributed a text and photos for a feature article about the process and my experiences with small scale spring sugaring (making maple syrup).   

When I write for magazines, my contributions are often due months before the publication date.  The photos and writing for this particular piece were due in March, but were published a little later than the expected publication date of late April.   So, although not exactly a perfect fit for an early summer issue, I hope it will be good inspiration for next spring sugaring season for Lake Time Magazine readers!   

And, I am very pleased with how it all came together, it is especially fun to see illustrations accompany the text I wrote. 

Let me know if you get an opportunity to check it out!

Happy Friday Friends!

Here's my "Friday Fave,"a series highlighting fun and interesting things (products, experiences and/or ideas) that I would recommend to others.

Here's what I am digging this week:   

The Deuter Speed Lite 22 SL

I got this pack new this spring and I really like it.  I use it as a school bag and it worked GREAT as a daypack on our recent family vacation.



This pack is designed especially for a women's frame with a shorter, adjustable back length, a narrower shoulder harness and a hip belt tailored for women that proves to be comfortable.

The pack is constructed out of durable rip-stop fabric and has specialized compartments for water, keys a laptop or a book.   It also has an ultralight, ventilating back system. 

If you are in the market for a pack - this one would be a great pick.

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I am part of Amazon’s affiliate program in order to offset some of the costs that are associated with running a blog. If  you make a purchase after clicking on one of the affiliate links of my tried and true, honest recommendations, I get a very small commission at no extra cost to you. I appreciate your support in this area!

Earlier in the week we returned from an AMAZING family vacation exploring the state of Washington in the Pacific Northwest.  We flew out of Minneapolis to Seattle then rented a camper.  Enjoy these snapshots of our journey:

Seattle, WA

Mount Rainier National Park

Pacific Beach State Park






Hoh Rainforest - Olympic National Park

Kalaloch Beach Campground - Olympic National Park

Ruby Beach - Olympic National Park

Sol Duc Falls Hike and Sol Duc Hot Springs Campground/Resort

Hurricane Ridge - Olympic National Park

Salt Creek Campground & Murdock Beach

Port Townsend - Port Townsend Ferry - Deception Pass (connecting Whidbey Island with Fidalgo Island)

This month, for Minnesota Premier Publications, I also had the opportunity to write a feature article on Voyageurs National Park for Minnesota Parent Magazine and Minnesota Good Age.  I am so pleased on how the features  came together:

Pick up a print copy, or read the full issue in Minnesota Parent Magazine by clicking --> HERE.

Pick up print copy or read the full issue of Minnesota Good Age by clicking HERE.

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If you like what you see, social media 'shares' are appreciated!

As, always - thanks for reading!

The June issue of Minnesota Parent Magazine is available throughout Minnesota and online now.

My ramblings in my School Days Column this month, I share some tips on how to get your family camping this summer.

Pick up a print copy, or read the full issue by clicking --> HERE.

Find the online link to my column---> HERE.

---------------------

If you like what you see, social media 'shares' are appreciated!

As, always - thanks for reading!