Exploring parks in or new area
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Decided to visit San Diego in the winter when we could really appreciate the sun. Unfortunately the whole family got the flu which really put a damper on things. But we still managed to do some fun stuff. Here are the pictures to prove it!
Cruising around the bay
I wish we had been feeling better so that we could fully appreciate it, but I'm glad we were still able to hit done of the big attractions.
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Our holiday card
Winter hike near our new home
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Walk & knock food drive with or 4H group.
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Trip to CA for Thanksgiving to visit family!
Clear Lake, CA
Crabbing near San Francisco
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Little behind here, but recent news is that we moved Northward to a small town & opened a second location for our business.
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Enjoying the campfire with G&G
Checking out the fish at the Hatfield Marine Science Center
On the docks at Newport Bay--we watched a charter fising boat come in and got to watch them unload their catch and clean/prepare it. Very cool! Maybe my favorite experience of the whole week!
Hiking at Beverly Beach State Park
Saw some big leaves on our hike!
Playing on the beach
Bridge!
Sunset on the western shores <3
Rocky River bank
Yaquina Head Lighthouse
Inside the lighthouse
I survived the climb!
One of many amazing viewpoints from Yaquina head
Seal watching at Yaquina head
An interesting driftwood formation back at Beverly Beach
It's a fort!!!
Crafting with the Rangers at the campgrounds every afternoon!
Foraging for desert right from our camp site!
Back to Yaquina Head
to see the REAL tide pools, wow!
Absolutely stunning! Picture doesn't do it justice, of course ;)
It's Patrick!
View on the way out.
Bye bye Light House!
Cost breakdown:
Store bought
Pre-dyed Playsilks $10-$12 each
Pre-dyed wool roving $4/oz average
Total cost for
12 playsilks &
16 oz wool roving
White wool roving $1/oz for basic
White playsilks $3.79 each
Dye packet
Total cost for $108 with shipping & tax
12 playsilks &
16 oz wool roving
Savings: At least $56, possibly even $100 or more and that isn't taking into account that I still have enough dye left over to make 2-3 more batches of the same size. Plus, I could have used kool aid or food coloring and saved on the dye.
Here's how it was done:
Here is a picture of the white roving/silk. I cut the roving into 12 piece of equal length to do one of each color :)
I started with the stove top method. Added some dye and vinegar (about 1/4 cup) to water, put in the silk/roving and simmered for 30 min. Then I let it cool and rinsed it. I think this method was better because the dye took better and it was easier to stir up so the dye job was more even.
Because the stove top method took so long (and I could only do one color at a time) I decided to try the microwave method. I found this to be quick and easy. I was a little disappointed because the things I dyed this way didn't seem to take as well to the wool and the silks weren't as evenly dyed because I couldn't stir them as easily. But, after they dried I actually appreciated the interesting patterns that came out of an uneven dye job ;)
I mixed some dye with 1/4 cup of vinegar and filled the jar with water. Then I added 1 silk scarf and 1 length of roving to each jar (over the sink & letting the excess spill out the top). Then I microwaved it for 5 min, let it cool and rinsed it.
After I rinsed the scarves and roving, I hung them outside to dry.
Finished lengths of wool roving
Finished play silks. I was going to smooth them out with an iron, but the kids wanted to play with them right away ;)
Waiting until August seemed impossible, so I decided to be spontaneous and book a short trip for the following week. It was too late for a weekend trip and too late for the state camp yurts we usually stay in so I decided to give KOA a try and, very bravely of me, decided to take the kiddos midweek, while the Spouse was at work.
I felt a little bad about going on a vacation without him until I realized that if he ever took the kids away and left me home alone, I would be THRILLED. I was a little scared because I've never been alone with both kids overnight without his help but I was also feeling like I needed to stretch my independence a bit. I've gotten tired of feeling like I need so much help and was a little curious about how I would do on my own with the kids. I did get a little cranky the first night because I hadn't had any time to myself, but overall I think we did ok. I think it helped that we were out in nature, breathing in the ocean air and away from all the distractions of home.
The KOA was lots of fun. Not as pretty as the state park across the street, but there were a TON of activities for kids, a free pancake breakfast every morning, an indoor pool and "kamping kitchens" with stoves and sinks to make cooking super easy. Just the kind of accommodations I needed without any other big people along to help ;)
All in all, it was a good trip and I am looking forward to more travel just me and the kids in the future (the Spouse is invited if he can take the time off, of course, but I'm not waiting for that to happen).And now for the pictures!
Our home for the stay--very rustic but much more comfortable than a tent!
Home sweet home <3
Our street
One of the 3 playgrounds on site
Giant Chess set at the campground
on site mini-golf
The jumping pillow---an inflatable trampoline-like thing :)
Another playground
An indoor swimming pool!
Silly in the pool
KOA had daily craft activities, usually free (though we had to pay for the tie dye supplies)
View of the South Jetty--very windy!
Ft. Stevens Military Museum (we didn't go in, but we explored the grounds)
Ft. Stevens Military Museum
Playing in the battery
Peter Iredale shipwreck
A beautiful day on the beach--just perfect!
The boy child loves sand and water play
The girl child writes (above) and sculpts (below) in the sand
