Bigfoot - Fact or Fiction - Visit the North American BIGfoot Center to Find Out

Have You Ever Wanted to Go Squatching?

I guess that all depends on whether or not you believe he exists. But with Christmas in the air and Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer on television, you might want to sit down and have a chat about the Abominable Snowman. This giant white guy may actually be better known as the Yeti 

Here, in the Pacific Northwest, he’s better known as Sasquatch or “Squatch,” for short. Some people simply call him BIGfoot—can you guess why?

Yes, he has a very big foot…or actually two. 

With the Abominable Snowman everywhere right now, today just might be the perfect time to get out and explore your local forest or wooded areas to do something you've never done before—Go Squatching—and you just might find an adventure that's been waiting for you all your life.

Folklore and Legends from around the world tell tall tales of very similar cryptids who might all be related. These cryptid cousins could very well be part of one big, extended, family. 

And, before you dismiss the idea that Bigfoot is a reality, I would like to include more evidence to help dispel the myth:

CRYPTID NO 1: Bigfoot / Sasquatch is said to be a large, hairy creature that many shows claim lives in the forests of North America (specifically the Pacific Northwest) and Canada.

Perhaps a mythical monster, this creature has taken on such an iconic status and is so popular today that people go on hunts to find the “shy” creature who is said to get easily spooked. There is even a term for their quest. It’s called "Squatching" or "Squatch'n" and it has become so popular you can find hats and t-shirts with the words and pictures of a giant ape-man. 

CRYPTID NO 2: Yeti – comes from Himalayan folklore where history and the Sherpa people who live at high altitudes in eastern Nepal describe the Yeti as a dangerous and monstrous apelike creature, which may be the inspiration for some “legendary” products that are marketed using the very popular name of the creature.

CRYPTID NO 3: Abominable Snowman - this is the creature depicted in the famous children’s cartoon Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer and is said to be a Tibetan snowman or large hairy apelike being who lives in the Himalayans just at snow level, south and east Asia. 

With stories from all around the world about these elusive creatures, anecdotal evidence has come from China, Japan, Russia, Bolivia, and the United States. This wide range of evidence depicts just how prevalent this creature has been throughout history. 

Perhaps some of this evidence will help instill a desire in you to pursue this mystery.

I found a wealth of evidence at the North American Bigfoot Center (“NABC”) in Boring, Oregon (yes, it is a real place).

Plus, we have a local Bigfoot celebrity in our midst. The owner of the NABC has appeared on Animal Planet and other shows where he has shared his story. 

He was kind enough to say I could share some photos from his Bigfoot Museum, which hopefully provides some inspiration for you to bundle up and get out in the beauty of nature where you can traverse the trails and hike hidden paths in search of BIGFoot, because there are other people out in the wilderness every day collecting data and evidence to support these elusive beings’ existence.

These people make casts of tracks, gather droppings, and accumulate as much evidence as they can find to help establish the existence of this iconic cryptid. 

Parents and children will enjoy the fun and fantastical journey by simply going to some natural areas such as The Bigfoot Museum, on the way to Mt. Hood National Forest, where they can search for this beauty, which some people think of as a beast. But remember, if this creature were truly a beast, we would have caught one by now. Instead, we search for this shy individual with little success. 

Whether or not you find BIGFoot along the way or even some tracks you can put into a plaster of Paris mold, it will be a fun and festive way for the family to stay fit and have some fun outside, in a scenic setting, while, perhaps, making a new holiday tradition like Going Squatching.

Tulip Festival near Portland, Oregon

 LOOKING FOR SOMETHING TO DO THIS WEEKEND?

Then you might want to check out this Tulip Festival  near Portland, Oregon. It's a beautiful way to spend a day but plan a few hours.

Because there are Wine Tours and Beer Breaker Tours. Here's the information about those events:

Red Wine Tour Dates- Select April 15, 16, 22, 23, 29, or 30 as the date below at 4pm

Bale Breaker Beer Tour- Select April 14, 21, or 28 as the date below at 5pm

48 hours notice required and ages 21+ only. 

Tickets must be purchased on-line - no sales at the field.

You can watch artisans create wooden shoes. They carve them out of chunks of wood, as you watch. 

You can also purchase hand-crafted creations, like custom-made gauntlets that are hand-crafted from leather: NomadLeather@hotmail.com with creations by Leather Designer: Damon.

Or, if you prefer, how about a witch broom, or a kitchen sweeper?

Plus, I found some wonderful hand-made, sustainable, fingerless gloves made from old sweaters that were just beautiful.

You can purchase food and drinks, on-site. Plus, there are activities for the kids, like a giant slide and rubber duck races. 

But, if you're looking for quiet beauty and, you simply prefer a quiet walk through the fields, that's always an option. Plus, there are benches placed around the site, so if you get a little tired, you can always pause and sit for a spell. And, it is the perfect opportunity to take a photo or two.

We bought a cup of coffee and sat quietly for a few minutes to take in all the beauty surrounding us.

These blooms are called "First Love" and perhaps they can encourage us to find that one true love or maybe renew an old one. 

But, you'll want to hurry because the festival ends on May 7th. 

Here is a short little clip, if you want to check it out: Wooden Shoe Tulip Festival outside of Woodburn, Oregon.

If you do visit, please comment in the section below and let me know what you thought of your adventure. 

Flosstube Episode #2 Sisters celebrating St. Paddy's Day with Cross-stitch

Anyone else have a sister they spend time with - especially during the pandemic? Well, I grew up in a family, where Mom and Dad had nine kids and all we ever did was spend time together. So, now that we're older and (hopefully) wiser, we're trying to have fun instead of spending our time cleaning, cooking and  basically helping the family get by. And one of the ways we've been spending our time connecting creatively is by cross-stitching. We have also just started playing tennis together and enjoying the outdoors by running.

If you're interested in any of these things, please click on the short video below and let us know what you think. Plus, if you cross-stitch or run or play tennis, we'd love to connect with you too.

The Goonies and a Weekend at the Oregon Coast

Have you ever gone to the Oregon coast? Would you like to visit the Pacific Northwest? Did you watch The Goonies back in the 1980's? 

If you answered "Yes" to any of these questions, you might enjoy taking this Virtual Trip to the Beach.

Simply click on the movie below and travel with me. 

Haunted Houses in Gary, Indiana (Part 3 of Ghosts, Gangsters & Ghouls)

My daughter and daughter-in-law, and  I went on a road trip in search of forgotten spirits (and I'm not talking about Lemon Drops ;)

We've taken a few of these ghostly road trips before, like the time we went to Kenosha, Wisconsin and Lake Michigan and caught a few strange (some might say Paranormal) occurrences on camera.

But this time we were searching in Gary, Indiana--yes, it  seems like Indiana has more than its fair share of ghosts and ghouls. Maybe that's why it's ranked as one of the most  dangerous cities in the United  States.

I'm working on a ghost story. So, lately, I've been doing a lot of paranormal research by visiting Castles, Crypts and Creepy Places. And even though I've gone to a lot of cities and different states, I've realized my favorite creepy place is right here in Portland, Oregon.

If you're interested in seeing my #1 location for creepability, check it out here.



And, if  you've had any paranormal experiences of your own, please share a bit about it in the comments below.

POTLANDIA...is just a name

PORTLAND OREGON is known as Potlandia but around my house it means something else entirely.

I have my own hanging gardens. Of course, it's just a few potted plants I have perched up on my picket fence but I think it's pretty.

But then, when the cold weather and holidays roll around, I want to transform my fence into a holiday display so I update the little pots with floral stems I've purchased at Joann Fabric and Crafts. 

I used red and white paint because if I’d used red and green in the garden, the green wouldn't have shown up. And white makes the plants pop!

After the paint dried I stenciled some fun festive words on the front like Hope, Wish, Dream, Love, Inspire, and - of  course - believe.


This was a fun, easy craft, and I love to watch people walk past the house and stop to get a word of encouragement as they go on by.

Jack Skellington inspired Halloween Project

Have you ever wanted to decorate for the holidays? Well, I always want to do something spectacular but somehow time always seems to get away from me and I have to settle for whatever I can do at the last minute.

Like this year, I wanted to have a Jack Skellington inspired ghoul in my yard by October 1st for all the neighborhood kids to enjoy... but, like I said, time slipped away too fast and by the middle of October I was suddenly aware that the month would be over in a flash. So I  recruited my sons and husband to help me out. And with their help, my Jack  was up and "grinning" at the neighborhood in no time. Well...maybe I should say grimacing over the neighborhood ;D

Anyway, here are a few photos of the process.

The guys started with a sketch of what they were going to do. Then they went to work building the "bones" of the figure out of 2 X 4's.

Once they had the basic structure put together, I went to work painting.

After all the wood was painted a dark gray, Jacob put the head on the top (which was over 15 feet in the air) and then I started dressing him in a thin sheet of black (weed barrier) cloth. The reason I used this was because water will run through the fabric without weighing the character down. This is an important piece of the project in Portland, Oregon. But before I got all his clothes on, Jacob had to light him up.

Jacob put one large red light bulb inside Jack's skull and hid the wire and the bulb (with a little work).

Then Jacob had to help me get his shirt on because, like I said, my Jack is super tallllllll. But even  after all that he still wasn't finished.

Next, I had to make his hands and get those attached. I wanted his fingers really loooooong and creepy...like spider legs. So with the help of duct tape (that miracle material) I think I did it. The only problem is that the guys think his fingers are too long (what do you think?)

I also strung together a few skulls for Jack to carry back to his lair and then I laid out some bones in the yard around Jack's feet.

All-in-all, this was a very fun family project to kick the holiday season into gear. 

Now to finish my witch....Mwah-ha-ha! But, before I go, I just want to wish all the ghouls and goblins out there a....

HAPPY HALLOWEEN!

SHAMROCK RUN - PORTLAND 2019

So almost every year I run...the Shamrock Run in Portland Oregon - because it is a Fun-Run...

People  dress up--they run in tutus and all sorts of garb, but it's always green! And at the end of the run there's green beer and some hearty Irish food to re-carb-load up on.

Plus runs are always more fun when you do them with friends. And we have a group of gals that get together to do a few fun runs...

But this year. . . I got injured running with my dog and pulled my meniscus--in 3 places

So, this year, we're doing a shortened version of our usual run. We'll be doing the 5k this time around and hoping we'll be able to build up over the next few months. Anyway, here are some of the fun photos we took from Shamrock runs over the years. And oh my gosh!!! The years have flown.

 2011

And 2012

And 2013

2014

I guess I forgot to take photos for a couple years but I remember I ran them with Blanch

Maybe she has some photos I can grab...Blanch...?

here's 2017

 And 2018

I'll have to add some after this year's run.

2019...here we come!

.

DIY Fingernail design with Words

So I was going to an SCBWI Writing Conference in Oregon and wanted to do something fun and artsy with my fingernails 'cuz that's something I can do at home...usually with some help from my daughter-in-law ;D...so we decorated my nails--or maybe I should say Fatina decorated my nails ;D

Anyway, I didn't want to spend a fortune on a manicure so this was an EZ, inexpensive way to have some fun at my fingertips.

First you paint your fingernails white, then you cut out some newspaper clippings and soak them in alcohol. Place the newspaper clipping on your nails, rub them with a blunt object so that they transfer without ripping the paper and then pull the clipping away. Voile' you will have words on your fingernails.

(I did a youtube video of this process but it isn't working right now...sorry)

If you have any questions, let me know. And if you try this out, please send me a picture and share it in the comments below. And Happy Writing!

April Henry and Christy Ottaviano at the SCBWI Storybook Intensive

I went to the SCBWI Storybook Intensive here in Portland, Oregon on June 10th and got to meet the AWE...mazing April Henry and the inspiring Christy Ottaviano (editor extraordinaire at MacMillan Books)

I wanted to share some of the wonderful tips, tricks and hints they shared with us at this workshop and . . . I will...but first, I wanted to share a short interview April was kind enough to give me.

QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS

April, when did you first realize you wanted to be a writer?

When I was in third or fourth grade, I started writing stories. But as I got older, I decided that authors didn’t come from little logging towns in Southern Oregon.

How many hours a day do you devote to writing?

About four of solid writing, then an hour or two of business stuff, like answering fan mail or crafting Facebook posts. 

What’s more important to you when you write, character or plot?

Plot.

What is the hardest part of writing a story for you?

When a deadline creeps up and I have no idea how to have an exciting and satisfying and yet surprising ending. 

What did your family think of your writing career when you first started out?

Everyone was supportive, but I think only my mom really believed I would be published.

What do you like to do when you’re not writing?

I love to do Brazilian jiujitsu.  I just got my third stripe!

What authors do you like to read?

I read widely.  I just read Wildman by JC Geiger, a first novel by an SCWBI member who lives in Eugene.  Next up The Scribe of Sienna, an adult book which I think has some time travel in it, by Melodie Winawar and Refugee, a middle grade book about three refugee children in three different time periods by Alan Gratz.

Do you have future projects in mind?

Next May, Run, Hide, Fight Back comes out.  It’s about a shooting that traps six teenagers at a shopping mall, and it’s basically Die Hard meets Breakfast Club.  And after that, it’s The Lonely Dead, about a girl who can talk to the dead. 

How many books have you written and how many of those have been published?

It’s got to be close to 30.  So far, 21 have been published, and three more are under contract. 

Can you tell us a little bit about your latest book?

CountAll Her Bones is a companion novel to Girl, Stolen, which was about a blind girl who was accidentally kidnapped when a teenage boy stole her stepmother’s car.  The new book takes place about six months after the previous one, on the eve of the trial for the thief’s father (who decided to hold her for ransom).  For that book I spent a lot of time learning various martial arts that blind people could use to defend themselves.  The book has a great twist that was a surprise to me when I thought of it - that was really fun! 

(Tips, Tricks and Hints on Monday) 

LEGO MANIAC

THE ART OF THE BRICK

We got up early on a Saturday morning to go spend the day at OMSI because we all wanted to see  The Art of the Brick  and see the works of the Brick Artist Nathan Sawaya

Plus, we wanted to learn all the Brick Vocabulary

And while we were there, we saw dinosaurs

Skeletons

and more Skeletons

until it made me want to SCREAM

But in the end it was all a  lot of fun.

Did you know LEGO is a Danish company and it is an abbreviation of "leg godt", which means "play well" and coincidentally, "Lego" is also a Latin verb which means, "I assemble".

And, if  you want to check out more about LEGOS and how they can help equip kids with the necessary skills to advance in the STEM fields, check out this site here.