"it lies across a river"

"Oh, Aslan," said Lucy. "Will you tell us how to get into your country from our world?"

"I shall be telling you all the time," said Aslan. 

"But I will not tell you how long or short the way will be; only that it lies across a river. 

But do not fear that, for I am am the great Bridge Builder..."

~Ch. 16, The Voyage of the Dawn Treader, The Chronicles of Narnia

One of my greatest loves is reading. I cannot think of a better way to spend some down-time than cuddling up with a good book.  C.S. Lewis said "Some day you will be old enough to start reading fairy tales again". So true! The Chronicles of Narnia were classics as a child. It was so easy to believe that there was a magical land where animals could not only talk, but be heroes and kings, a little boy could be transformed into a dragon, a witch could use magic to make candy, and ships could sail right up to the end of the world.  Re-reading the books in college made me, once again, appreciate the magic of being transported to the fantastical world of Narnia.  I no longer searched for a portrait or wardrobe to take me there... I only had to open the pages of a book. The Voyage of the Dawn Treader was my favorite in the series. I think mostly because of my love for that little, but valiant mouse Reepicheep.  As kids, we saw the Pevensie children grow up and out of Narnia. And now as adults, we close the book and return to our own reality. But we will always need a way back...


I think that our hope for the house is that it will be a glimpse of that place across the Great River. A place where we can escape from this world of harsh realities, and experience reprieve.  Experience something fantastical. Or peaceful. Or adventurous. Something so that when we go back to reality, we are refreshed and a little bit restored.

just up the road

Living in LA, I don't have much contact with real farm animals. Now in Oregon, my parents have horses on either side of their house, alpacas across the road, sheep, goats, and donkeys galore! One of the most enchanting activities of my visits has been feeding the farm animals up the road. One of my parents' neighbors rescues old or abused farm animals and lets them graze and meander in her yard.  So compassionate of her! So instead of a vegetable compost, we take the leftover produce up the road to feed the animals- pumpkin, watermelon, apples, celery, lettuce... 

I'm sure this pastime won't make it on the activity menu Bed & Breakfast since it isn't the most glamourous of "chores" but it is still one of my favorites. It is just so fun to see the little donkeys and goats come bounding up to score some veggies. They pretty much know my mom's car and voice now.  Just look at 'em! How can you not fall in love? 

{Mr. Don Quixote looooves apples} 

{Billy, the goat}

a short drive away

Some of my favorite places to visit when I go see my parents include- a hiking trail by a waterfall about an hour up-river, Leaburg Lake for calm kayaking about 20 mins up-river, the neighbor's farm to feed the goats, donkeys, and sheep, the coast, and probably at least 5 more fabulous places that I'm forgetting right now. So this is going to be the first post in a series to show off places that are just a short drive away from the house and are such fun places to have an adventure! 


May I introduce you to Leaburg Lake... 

I also have a fun video of my dad falling out of the kayak that he's climbing in... but I won't post it for public viewing. At least not yet ;) 

orange!

Last night's weather forecast for the house was SNOW!! It always snows the day after (or in this case, week after) I leave. At least this means I'll have a white Christmas up there :) Until then, I am satisfied with seeing every shade of orange from my weekend up there for the final days of Autumn. We had 1 day with sunshine with a definite chill in the air, and another day of gray skies, rain, and bitter cold. These are from the first day...  

{the ground in the backyard}

{the path from the Barnage to the Riverbank}

{My dad's "project car". It doesn't run now, but someday... }

{Vintage train on a lot across the river. So cool! I'd love to build a fort or camp in there, right?!}

{This is where we gathered moss from the trees while it rained leaves around us... moss hunting pictures will be posted soon}

{A little park about 1/4 mile down-river from the house}

Countdown till my next trip up: 28 days! 

fall back...

As I look out the window right now in So Cal, I can hardly tell it's Autumn, BUT I WILL BE ABLE TO IN 3 DAYS!! I'm finally going back up for the first time this Fall! I'm packing rain boots, sweat pants, and a coat. And that's probably it. And my camera, so I promise that I'll have more inspired updates soon. And I've requested my mom have the ingredients for pumpkin bread and wine. Nothing sounds better. This trip is simply just what the doctor ordered for me at the end of this dreary week. Stressful last 2 weeks. Last month? I don't know when exactly the chaos started and an impending nervous breakdown slowly, but surely, crept in.

transformation- kitchen

I don't have any "before" pictures, since it was ugly and we didn't spend much time in there... No offense to the previous owners, but there was nothing charming at all about it. My mom tore the whole thing down and designed from scratch. Her dream for the kitchen was for it be a place to hold all of us (the Memorial-Day weekend crew I introduced in a previous post) so we could sit on the counter, cook, bake, drink, etc... Do our own thing, but be together.


You know how we're all not allowed to "play ball in the house"? Well, when the house is gutted, I think that's exactly what you should do~

{circa 2006}

So without technical training at all, my mom set out to build her dream kitchen. Her theory, as she explained to me, is that the art of cooking requires lots of energy and creativity and moving back and forth... so she does not believe in "efficiency" in the kitchen at all~ "Things don't have to be in the most logical or efficient place, but in the most happy place". And so, that is exactly what she got...

A place for chic cooking (or modeling?)-

and a place for anniversary cake-cutting-

and for goofing around and probably distracting the chefs-

and for baking fun treats!

And I think she's done a pretty great job!

{photo by damian}

feeling nostalgic

This maybe has nothing to do with the house, but feels appropriate... plus it is one of my favorite songs. The Avett Brothers' lyrics are hauntingly beautiful. 

{"Always remember there was nothing worth sharing

like the love that let us share our name"}

the garden is famous!

Well not really famous, but it is featured on one of my favorite blog reads- Farm and a Frying Pan!

just a tease...

Sorry I haven't updated in so long! I promise it hasn't been for lack of inspiration; Life just gets so hectic sometimes.

I'm finally planning my next trip up! Right in the middle of November with 2 of my best friends that have never been up there, so it should be perfectly autumny and sooo much fun, even if the rain keeps us indoors...  What am I saying? We'll just go play in the mud! My mom keeps taunting me with plans of pumpkin pancakes and homemade blackberry jam (and she promises that pictures of the homemade-process are coming my way). I can't wait!

Here are some pictures from my cousin's trip up last Fall. He's an amazing photographer, so his pictures speak for themselves... Thanks, Damian for sharing your passion and art! And for capturing such beautiful moments.

fishing

I have 2 vivid memories of my first fishing trip- The first is when I accidentally hooked my mom with the fishing hook, and the second it when I caught my first fish and realized that meant that I would be killing it so I cried and my dad had to release it.  Since then, I've improved a little. I'll eat salmon and sit by and lounge while my dad and friends fish... but seeing and/or touching them still gives me the heebie-jeebies.  So clearly, I am in no way an expert on fishing. I DO know, though, that the river in the backyard has some pretty good fishing.  My dad and several visitors have told me so. Apparently, the McKenzie River is known for its salmon, steelhead, and trout. Sometimes when you're sitting in the backyard, you can even see them jumping... which is usually followed by an excited squeal from my mom (hi, mom- sorry, I had to).  

{Our family friend, George, fishin' on the McKenzie}

{George's prize! And this is where I have the heebie-jeebs}

{And the seasoning}

So then he grilled them up and all just snacked off the platter. Unfortunately, I don't have a final product picture... I guess we ate them up too fast! 

its a blogger's world...

I'm joining Bloglovin' so hopefully it is easier to follow the blog since I've been updating a little sporadically. Hope it works for you!

PS Thanks for all the support and encouragement so far. XO!

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an LA girl can dream of Autumn...

But in Oregon, they really do have seasons! All of them! In the Fall, leaves change colors, the air gets crisp, and people wear scarves... and I don't mean scarves with a tank top.  Every Fall, I lust after the wonderfully preppy and chic new fashion lines (ahem, J. Crew), knowing that I'll probably just wear sandals again tomorrow. If I go up to my parents' house, though, I get to wear cords, and tweed, and herringbone! And boots because they're functional and not just because they're cute! Ok, ok, I know this is not a fashion blog, so I will quit my rambling and be content with my sandals and light sweaters. I will, however, daydream about coming home to this:

and then sitting here with a good book:

or wandering along this:

While wearing these... Le sigh!

{Images via J.Crew~ top left, middle row, bottom left
and Anthropologie~ top right and bottom right}

flowers

"Where flowers bloom so does hope"~ Lady Bird Johnson

All fresh picked or growing

in the garden... 

summer vs autumn

When did it become September already?! Since joining the adult world of working in an office, summer just isn't the same. And since June gloom has decided to stick around till September this year, have we even really had a summer yet in LA? I just can't decide which I like better- summer or autumn! Both are my favorite.

my dad should not have let me mow...

But the John Deere is just too much fun! I am not as concerned about my safety as I am for the sake of the lawn.  I think I need a little more practice... maybe on a smaller patch of grass. 

{My side of the lawn... oops}

{Compare to my dad's side of the lawn... He's got skills}

transformation- back yard

The house has been in a constant state of transformation since my parents first got up there. The property had such obvious potential, but needed some serious TLC.  Exhibit A- The back porch...

{Eek!}

Clearly, the back "yard" needed some weeding, raking, some flowers and some paint... 

{Ta- Da!}

"barnage"

It's pronounced barn-ahj (like a big red barn combined with a garage). I gave my mom's kitchen a shout-out so it only seems fair to brag about my dad's masterpiece, as well.  From the outside and from the name, you may think it would house farm animals... but it actually more of a garage.  Instead of pigs and roosters, there are cars,  tools, fishing rods, and kayaks!  Tim "the Tool Man" Taylor's dream! 

{Barnage and vegetable garden}

{The Barnage with a mini-croquet field}

I will have to follow-up with pics from the inside.  The interior is still being perfected!

game on!

I already introduced you to the River in the back, so now it is time for the pasture in the front!! My dad mows a croquet field into the tall grass and we play "Extreme Croquet". This basically means there are no rules! We start by being respectful of each other and waiting for our own turn... then after a few croquet balls go soaring into the tall grass and we drink a few margaritas, all rules go out the window. Everyone starts rushing toward the finish line, knocking each others' croquet balls out of the way, and accusing everyone else of cheating! Needless to say, there are always good times in the pasture.

{the pathway to the croquet field}

{Brent is clearly not winning this round}