"Glamping" at Camp Sherman

Julian, Hank and I went on our very first family vacation (just us three) a few weeks ago.  We spent three nights at Lake Creek Lodge (www.lakecreeklodge.com), which is in Camp Sherman.  Camp Sherman is a small area on the Metolius River in Central Oregon, located very close to Black Butte Lodge, about 8 miles west of Sisters, Oregon. 

Lake Creek Lodge is on "Lake Creek", a small creek that runs through the grounds.  There were a lot of mosquitoes, but the creek was really beautiful.  The lodge has a number of cabins for rent, which are all really nice.  Ours was one of the smallest, most basic ones and it still had 2 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms, a kitchen and a wrap-around porch.  On the ground they have a really nice outside swimming pool, a tennis court, a swingset, and a trout pond you can fish from.  There is also a main lodge with a recreation room, a big screen tv (there are no tv's in the cabins, although there is wi-fi) and a restaurant.  Most nights of the week they serve a fixed price dinner, which we did one of the nights we were there.  They usually serve it on their back deck, but eventhough the weather had been 95 degrees that day we had a thunder and hail storm that evening and they had to serve it in the dining room (crowded, but fun).

We explored Camp Sherman, including the Metolius and the Camp Sherman General Store.  We went into Sisters a few times, and also spent a day in Bend.  Of course, with a baby there wasn't a lot we could do other than sightseeing, but we still had a really nice time and would love to go back when Hank's a little older and we can do more with him.

Hank and I after swimming.

Julian swimming with Hank.

Here we are at the Camp Sherman General Store.

Here's a view of the Metolius behind Hank.

This was the hail from the crazy storm.

One of the bridges that runs through the Lodge grounds.

Hank and I swinging.  You can tell how much he loves it.

Our cabin at Lake Creek Lodge.

Camp Sherman is lousy with deer.

Me and little buddy at Drake Park in Bend (Deschutes in background).

The main lodge at Lake Creek Lodge.

Another view of our cabin, which is on the right.

Yard Sale - come one, come all!

Tomorrow (Saturday, July 14th), we'll have a yard sale from 9am-4pm at my house.  It'll be a big family sale (lots of stuff from several of my siblings too).  We'll be selling cupcakes and lemonade, too.

Here's the Craigslist ad, in case you are interested.....I'll post pics of the event in the next few weeks...it's sure to be fun, hope you can stop by!

http://portland.craigslist.org/mlt/gms/3137095111.html

Baby shower madness!!

A couple of weeks ago my sister (Emily) and I threw a baby shower for my youngest sister, Anne.  Anne is expecting her second baby, Lucas, in a few short weeks.  The shower was a good excuse to try something new....which I shall show you.  I also got to make a fun cake - there are never enough opportunities to do that - good thing we have a little one now, which will give me more excuses to do so.  We also made a ton of really yummy food, had some great wine, fun games and, most importantly, Anne got a lot of very awesome presents.  Until you've had a baby you really underestimate how awesome the gifts are.  Having a baby (even if it's your second, I'm sure) is so expensive!!

Here's the banner that I made for Lucas, which was something that I'd never done before.  I was really proud of how it turned out.  I was inspired by a banner that my friend Lori made for me for my shower.

Here are the cake pics - I made a Chocolate Cake" with Espresso Buttercream.  Any cake that calls for both Crisco and butter has to be good!  And is was seriously good. 

Here's the cake with a Cupie doll that I already had, with chocolate espresso beans lining the cake and chocolate sprinkles around the bottom.