A View From the Top {Day 2}

To kickstart a summer filled with making every day count, the {little sister}

and that cute husband of hers took a day trip to the breathtaking Multnomah Falls.

Plummeting 620 feet from the top of Larch Mountain, this is the second tallest year-round waterfall in the US. Humble seems to be the only word to describe how it makes you feel standing at the bottom.

With the mist of the falls gently taunting us we began our climb.

Moments like this always seem to awaken the soul, and remind us that while the view from the top will be worth the effort, it truly is about enjoying the journey that takes you there...

...savoring every secret view along the way

...and trusting every hidden little treasure pointing you in the right direction. 

The view from the top was worth every switchback,
every step, every breath pushing us forward.

It reminded us of the next adventure that awaits us this summer...
and how we will strive to find joy in the journey every step of the way.

Want to join in on the fun?

Grab a button and link up with us!

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99 Days of Summer {Day 1}: Roadside Remembrance

Today is Memorial Day...and the first day of our 99 Days of Summer. The hidden sisters are counting the 99 days between Memorial Day and Labor day...and making them count by doing {1} thing each day that reminds us of the joy and fun of summer.
On our road trip home this weekend, we made a quick stop off the highway, near the rolling Columbia river, in Arlington, Oregon. The children's park called to the little ones, and while we played, the {big sister} was drawn to this train car...and the monument near it.

And as so often happens, with luck and chance, we were given the opportunity to pause for a moment and to remember...

And to be so thankful for all that we've been blessed with in this life. And to give thanks to all those men and women who have made it possible for us to live it.

Thank you.

The hidden sisters are so looking forward to finding the joy in the summer days ahead...and to being thankful for each one that comes along. We'd love for you to join us. Grab the button, post about your own days this summer, and leave a comment if you'd like!

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Inspiration: The Way We Get By

{The big sister} loved this film. 'The Way We Get By'~ 'is a deeply moving film about life and how to live it. Beginning as a seemingly idiosyncratic story about troop greeters - a group of senior citizens who gather daily at a small airport to thank American soldiers departing and returning from Iraq, the film quickly turns into a moving, unsettling and compassionate story about aging, loneliness, war and mortality....the film carefully builds stories of heartbreak and redemption, reminding us how our culture casts our elders, and too often our soldiers, aside. More important, regardless of your politics, "The Way We Get By" celebrates three unsung heroes who share their love with strangers who need and deserve it.' {Quote from the movie's site} Currently, the entire movie can be watched here.
Thank you to all military service members, their families and those that support them!
'As we express our gratitude, we must never forget that the highest appreciation is not to utter words, but to live by them.'~John F. Kennedy

Home & Heros

The hidden sisters are very excited to be heading home this weekend...to spend time with family, to celebrate a sweet niece's first birthday, to go on a jeeping adventure, and hopefully see at least a peek of the sun.

And also to say thank you to our own grandfathers, dads, uncles, cousins and siblings for serving us all as U.S. military service members. Truly, thank you. 

'A hero is someone who has given his or her life to something bigger than oneself. '

~Joseph Campbell

This Moment

This Moment - A Friday ritual. A single photo - no words - capturing a moment from the week. A simple, special, extraordinary moment. A moment we want to pause, savor and remember. {Inspired by soulemama} Share a link to your moment in the comments!

5 Years from Now?

This time of year always brings out the planning spirit in the hidden sisters, and this video is a wonderful inspiration! Where will you be in 5 years?

Dozer Days 2011

Neither of the hidden sisters ever took too much notice of construction equipment...until {the big sister}'s little guy came along...and since he's in love with it...so are we.

This past weekend, we attended Dozer Days, an event where "Kids hop in the driver's seat and actually drive big yellow dozers, dump trucks and other heavy equipment with a professional operator at their side. Not only is it a dream come true for kids (and fun for the whole family), the event also benefits many local, children's charities."

The little guy couldn't get enough of this equipment. He drove two excavators and a bulldozer...

A dream come true was right!

He loved every moment of it...the noise, the dirt, the dust...and took his work so seriously. 

And we spent a day admiring the power of this huge equipment {just as we did with the antique tractors}, grateful for the work this foundation does, and especially happy to put a little guy to bed with stories about how he drove a dozer that day...

Farm Chick Dreaming

Last year's Farm Chicks Antiques Show still has us dreaming big...

...and at long last, after waiting through a quiet winter blanketed with snow and one of the rainiest springs on record...we are pinching ourselves with the reality that spring has arrived and this year's Farm Chicks show is almost here!

It truly is a day for getting lost in treasures of the past,
filled with whimsy and just a little bit of magic.

So while we quietly admire our treasures from last year
{like the regal hook above and the pewter pot below}...

...we are counting down the number of sleeps under this year's show arrives!

99 Days of Summer...

Did you know there are 99 days between Memorial Day and Labor Day? May 30th to September 5th.

99 Days of Summer. 

99 days to have ice cream. Swim. Eat berries. Picnic. Walk on the beach. Go to a baseball game. Watch fireworks. Go boating. Roast marshmallows. Light campfires. Drink lemonade. 99 days to make memories.

We hidden sisters, who love the slow, lazy days of summer, as well as the excitement of road trips that seem to fly by as fast as the wind on the highway...have decided to make every day of summer memorable.
To not just count the days, but to make them count.
So, even though some days may find us busier than bees in the hive, we'll make sure to do one thing that reminds us that it's summertime. And we'll post about it here, beginning May 30th. We'd love for you to join us! Grab the code for the button below {or on the sidebar}, add it to your blog, and post in the comments section each day to let us know what lovely things you'll be doing this summer. To make it count!




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Good Morning, Sunshine!

Give Your Gift

The hidden sisters first read about this video from a wonderful post {here} on The Lettered Cottage. So here's to 'giving something beautiful to the world. Something only you can give. Jump in.'

This Moment

This Moment - A Friday ritual. A single photo - no words - capturing a moment from the week. A simple, special, extraordinary moment. A moment we want to pause, savor and remember. {Inspired by soulemama} Share a link to your moment in the comments!

Time Rolls On...1762

On the hidden sisters recent visit to the tulip farm {see this post}, one of the most fascinating and beautiful things to see, aside from the blooms, was a display of old tractors and farm equipment.

The workmanship that went into these pieces of equipment was awe-inspiring.

All these the gears, levers, knobs, fittings, bolts and pipes hooked the little ones...and us as well.

And once again we were reminded of how time rolls along...

And all the earthly things we hold as important now... as 'state-of-the-art' and 'cutting edge'...

Will one day be old hat.

But also that things that are well made and beautiful...

...will endur. And future generations will admire and be humbled.

Listening: Mumford & Sons~Winter Winds

The hidden sisters have been traveling a bit lately, and we seem to find Mumford & Sons on constant repeat while on the road. We find ourselves singing {and sometimes wanting to dance a jig....} to this whole album.
This band from West London, 'create a gutsy, old-time sound that marries the magic of Crosby, Stills, Nash and Young with the might of Kings Of Leon, and their incredible energy draws us in quickly to their circle of songs, to the warmth of their stories, and to their magical community of misty-eyed men.' {from their website}

Get Away: Sunriver, OR

{The big sister} and her gang had a quick getaway this weekend in Bend and Sunriver, Oregon. A fun-filled evening was spent in Bend at the McMenamin's Old St. Francis School {an old elementary school that's been converted into a hotel} and a great pub dinner at Deschutes Brewery {they have a gluten free menu...and gluten free beer!} The rest of the weekend was spent at the Sunriver Resort, with its miles of walking trails, pools and cozy time spent with loved ones.

The little ones also enjoyed a visit to the High Desert Museum in Bend. While they enjoyed watching chipmunks and the otters, most of our visit was spent in the Homestead Ranch area.

With a working saw mill and cabins that settlers would have lived in during the 1880s.

Seeing history like this always makes me think of the women who lived these lives. I am in awe of how they raised little ones in these tiny cabins and all the work it entailed.

Washing, sewing, cleaning, growing food, storing it, cooking and feeding little ones...and all the dangers and hardships of their daily lives.

And seeing the little things...the small bits of beauty...that they treasured. It brings out the thankful and grateful part of me...for all that I have...

And the little ones I'm lucky to be helping to grow.

Spring Wreath

The hidden sisters were so inspired when we saw this wreath project on Madigan Made, we had to make our own version right away! $4 at The Dollar Store {pastels balls & flower leis} and less than an hour later...blossomy spring perfection!
Her blog tutorial has wonderful directions. Here are the highlights of our endeavor...

Gather your goods.

String the pastel balls on a wire hanger.

Clasp the wire to make a wreath.

Wrap the flowered leis around the wreath.

Tie on a pretty ribbon.

Hang the wreath on your door to welcome friends {and warm weather!}

We used three flowered leis for our wreath, and we love all the blooms!

Thanks again to Madigan Made for the wonderful inspiration!