Grown Men Craft Too

Okay... so I might get in trouble for calling it a "craft"... but it certainly is an art.

Camping season may be over, but fly fishing sure isn't. This is another one of Ryan's hobbies that has really just developed over the last year or so. He owned a fly rod before that, but he didn't really start getting into it until this year when he starting tying his own flies.

I can't tell you how many times I have called to him from the other room to ask his opinion, or see if he could come help with something and the response would float back, "Uh honey... I am kind of a critical point right now..."

I laugh each time and respond, "You are always at a critical point!" The truth is, I have watched him make these little buggers, and they really aren't easy. And there really isn't a great "stopping point." It's a delicate process!

This back bedroom is Ryan's "Man Cave." It has been a huge blessing to have that extra room because with all our hobbies, we would be in real trouble without the storage. Nowadays you can find Ryan back there whenever he has a free minute, working away on some more flies.

At a glance you would think he was sewing something, right?


This box of flies has actually grown quite a bit since I took this picture. It's now nearly full. Each fly is different and serves a difference purpose. They all imitate different bugs for different areas, seasons, and fish. The boy does his research. One day we were down at Olive Garden in Provo and he asked if we could walk across the street to the river. He pulled out a couple rocks and plants and studied the bugs he found there. When we got home we compared it to the color of thread and materials he had to find the best match. When complete, he tried them out on the river and sure enough - that was exactly what the fish wanted!

He fishes mostly on the Provo River where, though you are allowed to keep some of the fish you catch, Ryan stays strictly catch-and-release. It doesn't hurt the fish and he has a great time. It has been a great stress relief and option for him now that the weather is getting colder and our other outdoor options are gone for a few months.

Something interesting I learned in this process though, is what "hackle" is. Funny enough - normally I wouldn't have known what he was talking about. In fact, I still wouldn't have known the term. But come to find out, I knew very well what he was talking about... and I think almost every girl out there will too...

Recognize this stuff ladies? All those pretty feathers in different colors? And what do we do with them?

That's right... hair extensions. This hackle used to be primarily for flies! This stuff is primo when it comes to getting just the right fly - just the right look for the bug you are imitating. That really was it's purpose. They are genuine feathers, typically from a rooster. But suddenly the fashion world caught wind of this and every girl had to have a feather in her hair. Though they are fun and pretty, they have driven the price of these things through the roof. For both parties, I might add, but especially for the fishermen. If you want to stay on the good side of a fisherman, hide the feathers in your hair! In fact, it's now to the point where if a member of a sporting goods store sees a woman walk through the door - they know what they are after. But they are selling out! Most sporting good places can't keep them stocked!

Don't worry ladies - if you have a feather in your hair - I won't disown you. :) I think they are fun, and they are kind of pretty. I personally don't have any in my hair for a couple reasons. 1. I have never wanted one in the first place. 2. They are expensive. 3. I have a healthy relationship to maintain. Hahaha. But if I was true to the cause, I wouldn't be able to talk to my little sister, or a few of my piano students, or half the women I know... Ryan just shakes his head. The fashion will change eventually.

Aside from the frustration Ryan shares with thousands of other men about the price of hackle, he is loving his little "craft" and taking advantage of it at every chance he can. It's healthy for him. And really for anyone. Not necessarily fly fishing - but having some "release." Some hobby. I have realized that on a daily basis - I really don't have one. Ryan has lots of little hobbies. I enjoy a lot of things, but I don't really "do" anything. That may be because I am working full time, teaching 14 piano students, and trying to get ready for a baby. But just this weekend I started scrapbooking using my digital scrapbooking program again and I am so excited! I love it! Scrapbooking and blogging are my "outs." And I think they are good ones. Preserving memories. That's what it's all about, right?

The End of Another Season

Sad to report, we took our last camping trip over Labor Day weekend. I am sure we would go again if we could, but there is no more time off, and it is getting a little too cold now.

We had a lovely Sat-Tues retreat in the Boulder Mountain Range. (Sunday we went down to Loa for Church in the coolest church building ever! It was an old building where you walk up the stairs right into the chapel - which had a balcony just like the original tabernacle. We went upstairs for Sacrament to enjoy things from up there. It was really cool because the Decons came upstairs and after they had finished passing the bread/water they stood at the top of balcony where the Priests could see them, stand, and signal for them to come back down. Anyway, it was really really cool!)

So here are some pictures from the trip. It was very beautiful and relaxing. The fish were huge and beautiful too!


My first Cutthroat Trout. Pretty awesome, right?!

A freaky bug Ryan encountered. Cool coloring... but still freaky.


Look at these beautiful pictures Ryan took! There is nothing like being up in the mountains away from the city lights to appreciate the magnificence of the stars.


Our faithful little pooch. He loves fishing/camping almost more than life itself. Although sadly on the way up he found probably the only cactus out there and had mini cacti stuck to his arms and legs which were quite painful to remove. Thankfully they didn't do any permanent damage. Poor guy.

I did a lot of reading. A lot. About a book and a half.


Dodger begging Ryan to let him help with the fish from his beaver home point of view.


Ryan with a couple gorgeous fish. The coloring really is amazing! And Ryan is an amazing fisherman. I don't know how he does it. Maybe it's that whole "be one with the fish" mentality.

Our brother-in-law Cameron came up for a couple days. Dodger took advantage of his left over can of ravioli. He got his head stuck in there once or twice.

Gorgeous sunset.




25 weeks pregnant and backpacking. I was pretty proud of myself, even if it was done at a turtle pace.

Amazing Mr. Ryan. I love this guy so much. We had an incredible trip and it was great to get away. It's too bad we have to wait for summer of next year to go again! It's going to be a long winter.

It Begins

I wouldn't call it nesting. In fact, I won't call it nesting. I have moments of it, of course, but those moments come in spurts of anxiety - absolute overwhelming feelings of, "Oh my heck... there is so much to do. So much I don't even know where to begin." So I usually just go to bed. And then I feel much better.

I had a discussion with some co-workers the other day about the definition of "overwhelmed." The prefix, if you can call it that, "over" obviously implies that there is an ample amount. More than intended. Too much. But if that's the case, is there an "under"whelmed? And if so, what would I give for that? How about just "whelmed?" Now that would really be ideal. Not too much, not too little. I will admit, that on a typical day I probably lean more towards the "over" than the "under," but so long as nothing crazy pops up, I think I can manage to find a "whelmed" balance. Yes, full time work, 14 piano students, two church callings, and literally not a day off in the week while being two days away from 7 months pregnant is a bit much. And I have been feeling it. But as is evidence of our loving Lord's awareness of us, I was just released from Activity Days. I actually enjoyed the calling, and I loved my companion, but I am very grateful for the break. There is still a lot on my plate, but I can manage. I have never been one to have too much time on my hands, and as time is ticking down, I figure I better make the most of it.

So as Ryan and I have been preparing for baby and gathering items here and there, we realized we really don't have anywhere to put it yet. We do have a couple spare bedrooms, but as this apt was originally used as a college girl's apt, those rooms were already filled with twin size beds, big nice frames, head boards, and other random things like a cedar chest and multiple broken vacuums. I couldn't tell you why we still have those... The furniture never bothered us before, but seeing as we actually have things to put in there instead, it was time.

Ryan, my studly husband, did all the moving while I was gone at piano and the gym. I told him I would help, but I think he was excited to get started and just went at it. Truthfully, I don't know how much use I would have been anyway since I can't really lift anything. But it was way impressive! He moved everything out of the rooms and into the living room. Together we took a desk we had in the living room that served no other purpose than to catch our junk as we walked in the door, and moved it back to his "man cave" to serve as a real desk. Then with all the major lifting out of the way, I set to work cleaning up those dreaded piles of "stuff."


It has now been a couple of weeks since the furniture has been in our living room, but the moving crew - aka, Ryan's dad, is coming this weekend to help us move it down to Ryan's grandparents for storage. It's a little crowded now, but the difference in those back rooms is already amazing! As soon as this other stuff is gone, we will really be able to get organized. And then I will take another picture to show you how awesome it is. :)

I don't feel pressured or worried about it. I am not in panic mode. Everything will get done. Just one project at a time. Later, when I start feeling that overwhelming need to scrub everything in sight, and get that crib set up NOW even though baby still has a while... then I will call it nesting. For now, it's just normal projects.

The funny thing is that I just added that little count down ticker to my blog and made Ryan come out and see it. Ryan took a look at it and read the note that says "about 86 days left." His eyes grew wide.

"Holy crap, Dodger," he said. "86 days! Let's go back to the man cave..." And with that he ran away.

So yeah, there is some panic in there, but we will get it all done and it will be fantastic.