Around the House

Photo: Heather

Sunday we stuck close to home and kept things a little more low key. After pancakes for breakfast, we went out to harvest in the garden.

Photo: Heather

There was lots of good time for reading.

Photo: Heather

Heather, Ezra, and I put more of the blackberries to good use by making jam.

Photo: Michelle

We walked to the park in the afternoon for some playground fun. We had another good dinner, complete with biscuits and fresh blackberry jam.

Everyone left early Monday morning, but we found notes hidden around the house for the next few days, thanks to Natalie and Emery.

Then to the Beach

Saturday we had an easy breakfast, then got ready for a day trip to the coast.

Photo: Michelle

 The morning dish crew, hard at work.

Photo: Michelle

 We arrived in time for a picnic lunch by the dunes, then walked down to the beach.

Photo: Heather

 The walk ended up being longer than we expected, but it was a beautiful day.

Mary enjoyed playing in the sand and crawling around.

 There was lots of fun down by, and in, the water.

Photo: Michelle

Photo: Heather

Cousins at the beach.

Photo: Michelle

 The walk back felt even longer, but we made it and worked up an appetite.

Photo: Heather

 Thankfully, our next stop was Mo's, and it wasn't far away.

Photo: Heather

 Nothing like a little seafood to complete a day at the coast.

Photo: Heather

First to the Trees

 My family arrived Thursday evening for an end-of-summer adventure. Heather, Michelle, and the kids pitched a tent in the backyard so we had more room for everyone to sleep.

Photo: Heather

Friday morning we headed out for some blackberry picking. It was a cool, overcast morning; perfect for picking berries.

Photo: Michelle

Photo: Heather

Photo: Heather

 With all the hands picking, we got a lot of great loot! Even though a lot of the berries got eaten on the way to the buckets.

Photo: Heather

Photo: Heather

 After a picnic lunch, we took a walk around the Mt. Pisgah arboretum. That's always pretty.

Natalie wanted to carry Mary around in the carrier, the very same carrier that Heather carried Natalie in as a baby.

There were lots of bullfrogs out at the lily pond, which was a highlight of the walk. 

Photo: Heather

One of the things I like about the arboretum is the variety; this area was totally different than the rest of the walk. 

Back at the house, we made dinner, complete with fresh blackberry crisp for dessert.

Photo: Heather

After dinner, there was time for some bug hunting and games before bed.

An Adventurous Guest

Gayle came up to Oregon too; after spending a few days at the coast with Dave, she came to Eugene after he left for California. She spent a couple nights with us, then headed farther north for an adventure in Olympic National Park. On her way back down, she spent a few days with us again. We enjoyed seeing her pictures and hearing about the trip as well as relaxing and spending time together. 

Photo: Gayle

One morning, Mary got to go with Grandma on a walk to the park.

Photo: Gayle

Tuesday afternoon we all went to the park, this time Hendricks Park. We enjoyed a picnic lunch and a stroll along the paths to admire the flowers.

On way home, we stopped for an ice cream treat.