The Wedding

Last weekend, Nick and I traveled to a very remote part of northern California for my dear friend's wedding. It was a wedding unlike any other, and I am so glad Nick and I took the opportunity to go. The wedding was held in a very remote part of northern California, in the heart of bear country. It was the most remote I've ever been. Here's a view on the way up:


Michelle and her now-hubby had told us to bring our truck 'cause we would need the four wheel drive to get in. We definately did the truck -- the roads were muddy, narrow, full of steep up and down grades ... The Honda never would have made it. Nick artfully drove us the two hours in and back out:


This is what our truck looked like when we arrived to the wedding:


The cabin is located above a river. Michelle originally wanted to get married on the river, but the day of the wedding this is what it looked like: Her perfect place was underwater....


The wedding was held in another family member's cabin. Here is me, Michelle, and our new friend Nikki before her wedding:

Us girls arrived to the wedding in this: (and yes, you could even see the ground through the floor)

I was stoked to finally be able to wear a new piece of vintage clothing -- a 1950s house smock. :) I love vintage clothes....

The wedding:

The male "bridal party":

The female "bridal party":

Nick and I hadn't brought Lilah to the wedding. Here's a good reason: This little boy had staked out the kegs, and even had a cup in his hand, trying to figure out how it worked!

The wedding lodge:

After the wedding, Nick and I suddenly realized the golden opportunity we had to be spending a weekend without baby. We decided to leave the wedding slightly early and enjoy some quality time together. We took our time driving back up 101 through the amazing Redwoods and we ran into a herd of Roosevelt Elk along the highway:

We stopped in Crescent City for the night, and had dinner along the marina:

Later we were serenaded by sea lions:

Michelle -- Congratulations to you and Boyce. It obvious how much you and Boyce love each other, and we were lucky to be in the presence of that. We loved visiting the cabin and will plan a return visit at some point. Thank you for inviting us and we love you!

Sandpoint 2010

Over Memorial Weekend the Tyrrell Jrs. visited Sandpoint, Idaho where my sister and her family live. It is always fun to get the cute cousins together! Lilah had a blast exploring all of Miranda's toys, and we all enjoyed visiting around the beautiful town of Sandpoint. We went hiking, swimming, and I even got up every morning to exercise with my sister before the girls woke up! Thanks Nicole for your yummy food and warm hospitality!

The personality picture: Lilah has hers shoved into her mouth with a mess all over while Miranda still contemplates her cupcake:

Checking out some tractors we came across in the woods:

The Horse Scene // Park Meadow

Last summer after camp ended but before I moved home, a girlfriend and I went riding in the Three Sisters Wilderness area. We found the amazing Park Meadow, and spent some time galloping and bucking through the tall grass and wading through the perfect-picture-like brook.

I had never posted the pictures. So Beth -- here you go. Pirate away. ;)

I could have put this in my Ode to Oregon post:

I really could use a ride like this again. It's been pouring rain for the last two weeks and I've been super-busy and a little stressed with getting the last of the camp horses farmed out. As of tonight, I'm down to two horses (from an original 37) to find homes for. Getting the horses tuned back up and then shown to people has been taking up a lot of my time, plus I've been searching for a third lesson horse to keep up with my lesson demands. I even have been tuning up and showing two additional horses for a friend, and between teaching, riding, and showing, I've been a busy girl!

The perfect horse is hard to come by, but I recently bought a close model:

I now (finally!!) legally own "the Dude", the horse the I've had a love affair with since the first time. He is getting some trail miles under his belt this summer with a friend, but I'm looking forward to getting him back in the fall. With his gentle, quiet nature, he will be our family horse -- for Nick, Lilah, and anyone else who wants to ride. :)

I also now legally own this guy:

His owner's husband died of cancer recently. He had been diagnosed at the same time as Nick, and we grew close. I had told her if there was anything I could do to help ... and now I own her very nice , sweet-natured 15 year-old thoroughbred gelding with soundness issues. And I need to find him a loving home just as fast.

Nick should not trust me -- I left last weekend to go to Sisters, and came home owning two new horses.

Yes, the horse scene has been stressing me out lately but it is a labor of love and the rewards are great. Including this one, born just a week ago at the barn:

Of course we all missed the birth. This is Momma's first baby, and she's a great mom!

Ode to Oregon

Nick and I had recently had the pleasure of showing the beautiful state of Oregon to my southern cousin who was visiting Portland on business. After taking him to Multnomah Falls one evening, I got to reflect on what a beautiful state Oregon is, and how lucky I am to be able to visit/occasionally live-in it.

Beautiful central Oregon with Jessica H. 5/24/10


Multnomah Falls with cousin Jonathan and Auntie Michelle


Whoops, not the picture I meant to post....

And in case you don't immediately recognize this mountain, there's a wooden sign that takes up most of the picture:

Happy Travels to everyone!

Weekend Warriors

After teaching lessons AND running a successful birthday pony party on Saturday, Nick and I did a day-trip to the beach on Sunday with horses in tow. Originally just a girlfriend and I were going to go, but Nick invited himself and Lilah along, then our friend invited her boyfriend, then another friend and her hubby came along .... and next thing you know we ended up as a group of us going. The men-folk stayed behind at the camp site to man the beer and watch the kid (Lilah), while us girls toodled up and down the beach on horseback at Nehalem Bay.

The camp site which we invaded for the day:

The bestest horses in the Whole Wide World -- Sweet P. & Barry

Once out on the beach, Barry forgot he was an old horse. It was fun seeing him so lively! Beth and I took turns riding him and we had our hands full!

Jessica on Calina:

Group shot. Nothing like scaring the day-lights out of a pedestrian when you approach them on horseback to ask them if they could take a picture....

After Beth and I switched horses:

Hope to go back at least twice more this summer....

Like Mother, like Daugther

This picture should be like a blast from the past for my mom. It seems like not that long ago when I would climb into saddles placed on the back of couches and pretend I was riding. Well, it WAS about five minutes before I took this picture -- where do you think Lilah got this idea??

Sigh.

Anyway, I used to put saddles on the back of couches as a child as well. Thankfully any pictures my mom took then where in The Old Days when pictures came out on film and can't be easily shared on the Internet.

This saddle, by the way, is now for sale. Slightly used, but otherwise in brand-new condition....

Lilah's Little Flapper Look

Lilah just can't get enough of dresses -- whether they fit her correctly or not!!




(Exhuasted Daddy just can't keep up with the wardrobe changes....)