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Tidbits About Us

BabyOregonian, Oregon, Tidbits About Us

A Wild Christmas Tree Grows in Oregon: New Traditions for Our Little Family

December 17, 2013

It sounded like a romantic notion, bundling up the 2.73 month old and venturing into Oregon’s Mt. Hood National Forest to cut down a wild Christmas tree…but how did it actually go, you ask?

A December freeeeeezing snap wrapped our city in a bone-chilling cold (a dozen degrees Fahrenheit is pushing it for temperate Portland), but the skies were filled with sunshine and the Saturday roads were clear, so we borrowed a pickup, threw in a handsaw, packed a bag of dried fruit, jerky, and chocolate and a thermos of cocoa and set out as a little family of three toward the village of Zigzag, Oregon near the timberline of Mount Hood.

All we needed was a Christmas tree permit and a Christmas tree.

Seems straightforward, right? Continue Reading…

BabyOregonian, Musings, Poems, The Little Peach, Tidbits About Us

Welcome to the World, Little Peach!

September 28, 2013

Nine months after our adventures around the globe, on the morning of September 17th, 2013, we welcomed little Lucie Anne Rydmark into our world. Our little Peach came the day before her due date – or, right on time, if you calculate by New Zealand clocks…

I can remember one year ago, strolling the beaches at sunrise, watching women gather seaweed on the shores of Zanzibar. Meeting Salama (leading to one of my favorite memories of the entire trip – learning to make octopus curry from scratch). My, how the sands of time change the landscape of life… Continue Reading…

Musings, Oregon, Tidbits About Us

Seven Years and Six(ish) Continents Later

July 1, 2013

We met when we were seven and nine and married at 22 and 24. Such babies, I know.

When I have a thing for something, I have a thing. Ted. Travel. Oregon. The Pacific Northwest… Seven years ago, on July 1st (Canada Day, hey-oh!), we stitched our life-passports together, celebrated with family and friends, and set out to make our way, together, in the world.

This morning, what started as an effort to dig up wedding pictures for a Facebook profile picture turned into a nostalgic walk down memory lane…

Happy Anniversary, sweet Ted!
xo, Bethany


Grandpa’s old Model-A out on the family farm…


Josiah, Ross, Wayne, AJ, Darian {Ted & Bethany} Jenna, Heather, Sarah, Erin & Melanie

Continue Reading…

Musings, Tidbits About Us, Travel Plans

On Slipping into June: “When Wanderers Cease to Roam”

June 8, 2013

It’s a warm Saturday afternoon here in Portland, Oregon.

Earlier today, Rose Festival traffic slowed my drive south to my sister-in-law’s baby shower, and now that I’m home, I’m slowly sinking farther into couch cushions and this post-RTW reality…

“I’m worried that I broke my iPad,” my mom tells me at last night’s family get together. “I keep visiting your blog, but the newest post I see is the one about Baby Peach.”

Sigh. I know.

The pace of travel and writing and writing and travel suited me so well. Camera in hand, or at least on shoulder strap, keyboard daily beneath my dancing fingers. Post after post of people and places, of meals and memories and life-altering lessons.

Time, endless time…

Here I am now, searching for new equilibrium while this growing belly sways my backbone and calls for re-prioritizing nearly every single aspect of existence.

A rug. New shoes. A hardcover book. Wood floors in a home with a mailbox…yes, that’s right, a permanent mailing address for these two RTW wanderers. Continue Reading…

Musings, Oregon, Photography, Tidbits About Us

Happy 154th Birthday, Oregon!

February 14, 2013

*Ending Radio Silence*

Hot on the heels of a year of globetrotting, this past month of life in Oregon shaped up to be one of near-complete digital retreat. Aside from Instagram snapshots, our online travel stories died down and we ditched most writing and photography in favor of spending time on in-person reunions with family and friends and our dear home state…and today, a resurfacing to say hello and show you what we’ve been up to! Continue Reading…

Musings, Tidbits About Us

It’s The People.

January 7, 2013

I was recently asked to name the most valuable part of our 2012 Round the World Trip.

I suppose I could’ve wax poetic about life lessons, changed perspectives, clicking puzzle pieces, and the priceless benefits of beyond-the-classroom continuing eduction…

…but before my mind could tie my tongue, the answer jumped quickly from my heart and skipped across my lips: “It’s the people.”


Me and my sweet little friend Andre…on Day Four of our journey.

While it’s true that we’ve seen and done amazing things this year, I’m the most humbled and grateful to think of all the paths we’ve crossed, the smiles we’ve exchanged, the conversations we’ve shared, and especially the new friendships we’ve grown during our pilgrimage around the planet… Continue Reading…

Destinations, Musings, New Zealand, Tidbits About Us, Travel Plans

The Night Before Christmas: At the Auckland Airport

December 24, 2012

It’s been a kiwi Christmastime. This November and December, we’ve traversed the North and South Islands of New Zealand, and I’ve been soaking up the spunk and joy in the little things, like this Christmas video from my favorite shop in Auckland.

A Night before Christmas from Pauanesia | Filmed & Edited: Tama Jarman
Music: ‘Walk in the Park‘ by the Wellington Ukulele Orchestra

Tonight, the spunk and joy is accompanied by a bit of melancholy and a large dose of gratefulness.

I’m so close to winging my way home.

It’s Christmas Eve: a few hours before midnight on the 24th of December (a day that sounded so, so far away when we first departed Portland on January 5th). We’re sitting in a hotel room just down the road from Auckland International Airport. Continue Reading…