The best three years of my life....

Happy Birthday my sweet B!  Love you to the moon and back.

Can you feel it?

It's actually ironic that I should go to the beach with my parents, considering the beach is one of the things that took me away from them.  We have been in Oregon for 4 years.  Oregon is home to us now (after many tears, and discussions about moving back to Minnesota).  I believe it was the right decision and I honestly could not have said that 8 months ago.  However, when my family leaves to go back to the midwest and B doesn't understand why they can't play just a bit longer, or when he goes upstairs to where they slept....the questions come back.  Does a state filled with everything we appreciate equal home or is it our loved ones?  I think maybe we have two homes...  

So many words to get to the point.  I am sad my mom and dad left (so is B).  However, I love Oregon so much it hurts.  The beach is my geographic soul mate.  On this visit it was the textures that grabbed hold of me.    

Many beach posts to come....Don't say I didn't warn you.....

beeeeeeeeeach!

B and I are leaving for our beloved beach today with my parents.  Stay tuned for beach posts a plenty!  Have a splendid weekend!

Farm all his own

I remember being small, spending time at my grandparent's farm.  I remember the animals, the green fields, fresh air, tractors, and hours and hours of of boundless discovery.  Then passing out at the end of the day from just the right type of exhaustion. When I was pregnant I would talk to Mr. French about those memories and discuss how I wanted that for my little one.  Unfortunately, that farm no longer exists. Sadly it was lost years ago.  Which is why Kruger Farm is such a magical place.

Hands down my favorite place to visit in Portland.  During the summer families pack up their cars with picnic blankets, sunscreen, sunhats, and goodies and head out to the farm for Kruger's concert series.  Whee.....Most importantly B has a farm all his own, he doesn't mind sharing with his dear old mom, dad and the other couple hundred festive folks that come along.  Oh and that B, he slept in until 9:30 this morning, woke up with a smile on his face and his mouth going 100 miles a minute about the the animals, tractors, berry picking and the guitars...can't beat that!

Wordless Holiday (a 2 parter folks): Part I

tutulu

We are off!  We are heading to Sunriver with the ladies.  Wheeeeeeeee!  We leave this morning and get back on Sunday.  I may be a bit scarce for awhile....or maybe not(I am not quite sure what type of technology we are dealing with).  Have a wonderful holiday!  

Wordless Weekend: Sunday

Wordless Weekend: Saturday

(almost) Wordless Weekend: Sunday

Something looks awful familiar here...

Happy Father's Day Mr. French.  We love you very much!

Wordless Weekend: Saturday

I talk too much.  Therefor I am starting something new: "Wordless Weekends!"  There is no way that my blog addiction could possibly handle not posting so I am going to post in pictures.  I've said too much already.

The Gower St. bistro

I am almost done discussing our time at the beach.  I figure I need about a week to get over its perfection.  

It is not uncommon that a French family vacation should revolve around food and this one was no different.  There are many wonderful eating establishments in Cannon Beach, but hands down my favorite is the Gower St. bistro.  My mouth seriously waters just thinking about it.  Absolutely everything on the menu is flawless(trust me in 5 days we tried about everything) and the surroundings...simply fetching.  Honestly,  like being transported overseas to a beautiful French bistro.  

It's all in the details.  I am hoping to mimic the gorgeous tile and rustic wood floors in a home of mine one day and those bee glasses!  I love them!  You can purchase them here.

B's favorite?  That's an easy one...the carrot cake.  I am not a big fan of filling my kid to the rim with sugar, but it was vacation and hey there are carrots in it.

Mr. French's favorite?  The margaritas...a French bistro that makes a mean margarita...that's my kind of place!

My favorite? Everything!  The food, the atmosphere, the sweet waitstaff and everything in between.

....maybe I like it so much because it is the only place where B still seems small.

I Heart Monday (at least I am trying to).

I was having a serious "case of the Mondays" (if you have seen Office Space, you get it).  Then I reluctantly started this post...I must say it helped.  Hope this post brightens your Monday, for at least the couple of seconds it takes you to get through it: 

I heart this postcard.

I heart all the birds hidden in this photograph.

I heart this plate.

I heart this "floaty top."

I heart these "glow bowls."

I heart this decanter.

I heart this bag so much (but want someone else to make it for me).