Life at a "Swell's" pace

Five Simple Things

It's Friday and that means another week is done. We are finally on the last week of our baseball games and our time seems to be slowly trickling back to where we can relax. Two games left in the spring season of baseball, so we are a bit sad, but also glad that we can get back to having our evenings back to dinner at the table together. This weekend is the Summer Solstice and also Father's Day on Sunday. We are looking forward to a weekend of relaxation and celebrating Jeff for being a great dad! Hope your weekend is great too! Here are the things that made my week amazing!

1. This Bell.

Because it's a vintage school bell and makes the most amazing sound when rung in the morning. We homeschool, so it just seemed right to get a school bell to ring each day of class.

2. This Sign and This Shortcake.

Because where we live it's strawberry season right now. From the first weekend in June to the middle of July, strawberries take front seat and are everywhere. The sign is from Grandpa's Farm in Lebanon, Oregon, and the World's Largest Shortcake was during the Strawberry Parade in Lebanon, Oregon. (below: menu sign at Burgerville in Albany, Oregon.) Strawberries are everywhere!

3. This Night Shot.

Because it's of the Strawberry Fair. We went and rode some fun rides and had our annual corn dog and fresh squeezed lemonade that we always have each year. It was a good time!

4. This Homemade Jam.

Because each year we try to make up another batch of strawberry jelly from the ones we grow ourselves and also ones that we gather from local you-pick farms around the Willamette Valley. It's freezer jam and here's my own recipe here!

5. This Quote.

Because I found it on Pinterest and I found it fascinating. Very interesting, right?

What's new at the shop?

This sale items. The items below are on sale right now at the shop for only $3. And right now, with code HELLOBEE, you can get free shipping, so you pay only $3 and that's it! Check them out here!

Want to join me each Friday and link up what made your week awesome? Add your linkup below and let's network together!

An InLinkz Link-up

What happened this time last year?

Five Simple Things

It's a wonderful sunny day here in the Willamette Valley today. I have had so many wonderful things happen in the past week, it's incredible. I hope you've had a wonderful week as well. Here are the things that made my week awesome!

1. This Rainy Day.

We had a bit of rain the first part of the week, but I was happy to see it. We needed a bit of rain on the dry grass and our garden because it's been so warm lately. Don't get me wrong, I want to see summer here, but rain once in awhile isn't all the bad.

2. This Bracelet.

Because I've been into arrows for some time now and this copper arrow bracelet from Trinkettes is perfect!

3. This Quote.

Because it's the most true quote I've seen in awhile. With us homeschooling Skylar again this year, I hope we are doing everything we can to give him these gifts. Are you following our little homeschool classroom on Facebook? If not, check us out! We'd love to connect!

You can get this print and others like it from Coco Prints.

4. This Good-Looking Kid.

Because he got new glasses and I think he looks amazing!

5. These New Shop Items.

The Blue Flake Pendant Necklace and the Blue Skies Pendant Necklace are new to the shop. They are listed for $20 each and right now, you can get free shipping on anything in the store, even sale items, with code: HELLOBEE. Check out these two pendant necklaces, along with the others at The Peppermint Bee Farm.

Want to link up with me every Friday? Then grab my badge below and add it to your five things that made your week amazing!

An InLinkz Link-up

What happened this time last year?

Road Trip: A trip to Eastern Oregon

Last week we decided to pack up at 7:30 p.m. one night and head over to Eastern Oregon and spend the night. We were all feeling a bit overwhelmed with our recent schedules, work, school, and just the grind of everything lately. Maybe it was a bit of cabin fever in the form of routine, but getting out of town for the night was a nice change and helped clear the cobwebs of the recent weeks. Here is a bit of a recap of what we did.

Skylar went on a little train hunt for BNSF trains. He wasn't disappointed.

The view of Mount Hood from the interstate was amazing!

Once we got into Bend, we could only view Pilot Butte from the base. The summit was being stabilized and we couldn't go past the bottom view point, but it was still a pretty sight from where we were standing.

The view of Three Sisters along the Cascade Mountain Range.

Sage brush grows like crazy over in Eastern Oregon. This is the same bush that creates tumbleweeds.

The views were just great! The Cascade Mountains never disappoint.

Headed back into a little town called Sisters, Oregon, the Three Sisters Mountains were really on display for us. It was such a clear day, I couldn't stop snapping pictures.

Metal horse display at the Lazy Z Ranch near Sisters, Oregon.

Such a wonderful little day trip!

What happened this time last year?

Strawberry Festival (2015)

Another year marks the 106th annual Strawberry Festival here in Lebanon, Oregon. Lebanon is known as the Strawberry Capital of Oregon. Here is a recap of our fun!