We have a beach cottage on the Oregon coast, and honestly, I still have to pinch myself that we actually have such a special place to call our own. This past July, I was taking a walk through the woods when I spotted all these gorgeous sticks scattered about. That's when the lightbulb moment hit—what if we turned these into something creative? A forest art project seemed like the perfect way to spend the afternoon.
My son decided to join in, and together we dove in headfirst, even though neither of us had a clue what we were actually doing. But that's kind of the beauty of it, right? We started stacking one stick after another, watching as something unexpected began to take shape. There were definitely some nail-biting moments when we thought the whole thing might topple over or collapse. We'd hold our breath, adjust a piece here and there, and somehow it kept standing strong.
What made the whole experience magical wasn't just the creation itself—it was everything surrounding it. The sound of ocean waves rolling in the distance, the gentle patter of light rain starting to fall, and the peaceful quiet as we worked side by side. No rush, no pressure, just us connecting with nature and each other, one stick at a time. By the end of it, we'd created something we were genuinely proud of. That forest orb became more than just a pile of sticks—it became a memory we'll treasure.
