Lost in the wedding blog rabbit hole.

Since getting engaged a couple of months ago I've gone a bit nuts on the "research." The freedom of suddenly being able to peruse wedding blogs openly, instead of stealthily under the cover of darkness, has been enticing. I dove in head first. I lost hours, and eventually whole afternoons, to emerge, blurry-eyed, with nothing to show for it besides some robust browser bookmark folders. I think I've had some time to adjust, and can safely navigate the wedding-web world without feeling completely lobotomized afterward. So, in celebration of my new-found control, here's some recent inspiration:

Really into the burlap. This wedding is featured at Elizabeth Anne Designs.

One way or another I'm going to find a way to get logs on the tables. Also from Elizabeth Anne Designs.

Thinking about doing something similar, involving apples. So excited about the apples. More at Ruffled.

I love the idea of incorporating rustic, earthy items like twigs and nuts into bouquets. We're getting whatever is in season that week from a nearby flower farm, and my floral-designer sister-in-law is going to help arrange. I'm kind of excited that we won't know exactly what we're getting until we go pick them up. I said I wanted "seasonal" and I'm going to get it, alright. (Photo above also from, surprise, Elizabeth Anne Designs.)

Burnt Out

I went camping this past weekend, at a nice little spot between Hood River and the north side of Mount Hood in the Cascades. I had my heart set on doing the Cooper Spur hike, a solid trek at 8000 foot elevation, but the road to the trailhead was closed -- and this is why. Forest fires wrecked havoc on the area last fall. So instead we did a 7 mile trip up to Tilly Jane shelter, and I hate to say it, but the destruction was stunning. The trail was covered in inches of ash, like walking in sand, and there were gnarled, scorched trees as far as you could see. But, if you looked close enough, you'd see signs of the green returning. I'd love to do it again next year and gauge the regeneration.

Road Report

9 days. 3000 miles. 5 national parks. Schplow.
More details to come once I get my bearings. In the meantime, take a peek at some photo highlights.

Gorge-ing

About this time every year I defiantly start acting like winter is over, even if all signs point to "nope, not really." This weekend my brother and sister-in-law were visiting from Minnesota, so I had an excuse to make my fantasies a reality. I simply would not allow them to leave without seeing what Oregon has to offer.

So we headed east to the Columbia River Gorge to do a bit of hiking, amid the rain/sleet mix that I tried my best to not acknowledge. (Which P.S., was not in the forecast. Thanks for nothing, Accuweather.) I took them to Multnomah Falls, the second tallest waterfall in North America, no biggie, and then we hiked the Horsetail Falls trail. It's my favorite of the many waterfall hikes in that area, offering a nice sampler of waterfall action - one you can walk behind, the "weeping wall" and a nice view of the Oneonta Gorge from a little footbridge that feels like it's from Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom.

Even though my feet were cold and wet and most of my photos include some precipitation blemishes (beauty marks?), I really enjoyed seeing some of my favorite scenery in what is probably a realistic representation of the natural climate. The moss was growing before my very eyes! And at the very least, Brother and Wifey can at least say that they experienced the REAL Oregon. Not what those pansies see when they show up in July. The only thing that would have made it better would have been a Banana Slug sighting. Next time.

Well, how nice to see you!

I love the Swedes.

I moved into my own little apartment a couple months ago, and have been routinely pillaging IKEA every 10 days or so. I'm particularly found of this little flower pot, the "Kakao," which means "ceramic bucket of wonder" in Swedish. Just kidding, it probably translates to "meatball" or "majestic fjord." Nevertheless, I adore it.