Hiking on the mountain

 

Yes, I really did hike up a mountain, Rose Swanson mountain in Armstrong is a very popular climbing area with great trails, and is rated moderate to difficult to climb, and even though it had some pretty harsh switchbacks in places the view was worth it.

There were three points where we could see for miles in either direction, towards Vernon, and back the other way towards the Shuswap. 

At the summit we could see three of the Okanagan’s famous lakes at one time…pretty amazing.  This is only one of the lakes.

With the spring runoff leaving behind little ponds, the mosquitoes were kind of bad, but the wildflowers, and the vegetation were gorgeous. 

Looks like some type of Campanula was growing in the rocks at the very top of the mountain, now that’s a hardy plant.

We saw a type of Fritillaria, that they call a chocolate lilies, Indian paintbrush, and lots of other pretty foliage.

My nimble niece who plants trees, and does forestry work all day had no problem hiking up the mountainside, after all for her it’s all in a days work. 

Me…well I wish I had done a few more bike rides to get into the groove, but I am looking forward to doing it again.  I took my camera along, and every time I got out of breath I would stop to take a photo…..I have a lot of photos.

Don’t think this is something that I could do every week, but it is something that I will do again, maybe in the fall, can you imagine the colors of the leaves then?

 

Jen @ Muddy Boot Dreams

 

Enjoying the sunshine

 

Like the Boo we are just hanging out here, enjoying the sunshine.  Hope that you are too, and that your weekend is sunny and bright.

 

Jen @ Muddy Boot Dreams

Craving something pretty for the walls?

 

 

 

Naked walls

With the nice weather we have been very focused on the outside gardens, and neglecting the inside decor a little, until suddenly I was craving something personal, pretty, fresh, and summery for our walls.  Dollar store frames, and color copies are fast and fun, and add a personal touch for only a few pennies.

Pick out a dollar store frame, or repurpose a old one.  These can be repainted, decorated, or covered in fabric, paper, paint, what ever your heart desires, I left mine the original black, but I could have easily spray painted it any color I choose.

 

 

Show off your shots

If you would like fast and easy artwork for your walls color copies are your friend, they can be printed on heavier card stock so they have a little density to them, and they are cheap to print, usually under a dollar. 

Take some colorful photos of the flowers in your garden or your favourite subject, you can add quotes, or textures should you wish, making sure to resize them with a editing program to fit the frames, and then send them off to your local printers, I use Staples online, but you can use anyone close to where you live. The photo I chose was a bird’s nest and eggs that I had taken last spring, with a added quote in my favourite turquoise color.

 

 

If you have some colorful scrapbook paper you can trim the color copy to a smaller size and use scrapbook paper in place of a more expensive mat.  Just make sure to measure correctly, the layer of scrapbook paper should just fit inside the frame, and the color copy should be slightly smaller.

I wanted even more turquoise  so I used a piece of paper that I had been saving for a special occasion, this was it.

 

 

Stick em up!

Using double sided tape stick the color copy on top of the scrapbook paper leaving a equal border all around the edges, and gently place it in the frame. When put together the frame will flatten all the layers together and it will be hard to tell that you didn’t cut a custom mat.

 

 

Inexpensive custom art, from dollar store frames…and your photos, something pretty for the walls and it’s fast and fun.

 

Jen @ Muddy Boot Dreams