Hanging Out on the Oregon Trail

Good morning! Welcome to the Homemaking Party! The kids and I have had a few adventures here in Oregon this past week. Last Wednesday I took the six oldest and visited Heppner, the town I was born in. We had fun checking out places that are special to me. On the way home, we followed a sign to discover some Oregon Trail wagon ruts!

It was a gorgeous day for a long walk---slightly warm and breezy. {This picture is funny because, of all my boys, Elisha's the least "cowboy". Ha!}

The prairie grasses were taller than Avalon!

There were a couple signs set up to talk about the Oregon Trail in this area.

We're on the trail! Do you see the wagon ruts? 

It's funny how the way back seemed so much hotter than the way there. Ha! Water! I need water!

It was a special day. I'm glad we stopped!

Thanks for linking up with the Homemaking Party! I'm excited to see what you've got to share!

Linking with:

A Wise Woman Builds Her Home

Homemaking Link Up @ Raising Homemakers
Inspire Me Wednesday

Wow Us Wednesdays
Grandma's House DIY
Homesteader Hop
Welcome Home Wednesday
Dream Create Inspire
Homemade and Handcrafted
Whims Wednesday
Party in Your PJs
Talk of the Town
Moonlight & Mason Jars
Wonderful Wednesday

Thursday Favorite Things @ Katherine's Corner
Home and Garden Thursday

Think Tank Thursday @ Saving4Six 

Home Sweet Home @ The Charm of Home 

Share Your Cup Thursday @ Have a Daily Cup of Mrs. Olson

Pintastic Party

Friendship Friday

No Rules Party

Creativity Unleashed
Fanday Friday
Flaunt It Friday
Funtastic Friday

The Victorian Letter Writers Guild

Good morning! Welcome to the Homemaking Party!

Today I'm sharing my newest site with you, The Victorian Letter Writers Guild.  I know many of my readers, like me, are fascinated by the Victorian era. Their senses of modesty, decency, and order required them to live in a way many of us desire to emulate today. If you enjoy handwritten correspondence with like-minded people, The Victorian Letter Writers Guild may be for you!

Some of the subjects I feature on the blog include, 

• Creative ideas for designing extra-special correspondence
• Mail art techniques
• Historical information regarding letter writing, Victorians, etiquette, and more
• Quarterly pen friend exchanges
• Writing-related swaps and giveaways

I'm currently hosting a Summer Pen Friend Exchange. If you'd like to be matched up with a pen pal handpicked for you, submit an application and I'll find a Guild member just right for you to correspond with. 

Also, be sure to check out my article on 5 Things I Didn't Know About Wax Seals.

Thanks for stopping by The Homemaking Party! I hope you're having a great week!

Our First Few Days Out West

Well, after a blessed but exhausting three-day car trip, the kids and I have made it safely to Oregon and Jamie is safe back in Arkansas. We sure miss Daddy---is it fall yet???

We stayed in Colorado our first night and the second night we stopped off in Salt Lake to see my brother's family. Here's all the Bourrie cousins---little Sammy is my sweet nephew---the littlest one on Lynzie's lap!

The next day we stopped in our hometown, Baker City, Oregon, to visit with Jamie's family. Here's some of the Coller cousins. Cousin Bekka is on the end next to Lynzie.

We said goodbye to Daddy in Baker City and his family drove him to the airport in Boise.

Here are some pretty scenes near the Oregon/Idaho border.

Friends in Arkansas hear I'm from Oregon and they think lush greenery. There's a lot more lush greenery in Northwest Arkansas than there is in Eastern Oregon!

Oregon definitely has Arkansas beat on interesting geography though!

This is Farewell Bend State Park where Jamie and I were baptized shortly after we were married. Farewell Bend was the last stop on the Oregon Trail along the Snake River. Travelers rested here and watered and grazed their animals before the trail turned north through more rugged country. Some pioneers continued toward the Baker Valley (where we grew up)---some continued on in other directions.

After saying goodbye to Jamie, we headed to Pendleton---about 90 minutes from Baker City. The kids have been enjoying several fun things here at Grandma's so far. Michael has been busy chopping wood and even made a fire for roasting s'mores Sunday night.

Grandma's house has always been such a comfortable place to relax and feel cozy and safe. The older kids are enjoying reliving experiences they had with her when they were younger and the littles are loving making new memories!

Thank you for hosting us, Mom!