Hoofbeat Plantation

So, on Tuesday we went to the park for a relaxing afternoon and a picnic

(See Things I Learned Yesterday)

On the way home from that park there is a really cool WMA

(wildlife management area)

in Warthen

called Hoofbeat Plantation

it's a deer farm consisting of red and fallow deer

it is VERY cool!

we got to see a bunch from the road 

and as many of you hunting savvy folks might know the rut is on!!

we got to see the bucks chasing does around and calling to one another, it was so cool!

Here are some pics I took from the truck:

This guy was staring straight at us.  

Things I Learned Yesterday

Yesterday I kept Tristan out of school by request of my Dad and his wife, Linda.

(and before I hear anything about it being irresponsible to keep him out when he's not sick, 

let me say that some of my fondest memories are of my mom keeping me out for a "mental health day"

and it never did me any harm.  

in moderation i believe this is a good practice.)

Anywho.

We went to spend the day having a picnic at Hamburg State Park

I had never been there before and it's a really nice park.

Seeing as it was a tuesday the place was completely quiet and empty.

Which was ideal.  

Because Maggie-Moo got to run around free!!

I learned that she was supposed to be on a 6 ft leash in the park

But what the park doesn't know doesn't hurt them.  

Walking Stick

Yesterday morning I went out to our shed to grab a couple of folding chairs to take with us to the park

On the door jam was this little guy

We've seen him around the house/yard several times

how do we know it's the same one you might ask??

Croc Blanket Progress & a Small Project on the Side

Hello Lovelies!

For anyone Interested in my progress on my Croc Stitch Blanket

Here is a slightly up-to-date photo of where I am on it.

(nevermind the poor lighting and weird coloring in this photo, I took it from my phone inside @ night.  

So obviously, the worst possible conditions)

It's to the point now where it makes me hot to work on it

(get your mind out of the gutter!)

This thing is getting so big and heavy!  

When i lay it on my lap to work on it i'm completely covered and I get to sweating!

Vintage Chalk Message Board

I bought this old message board at a local thrift store for a bank-breaking $0.50!

It was pretty cool anyway, but definitely needed a little help.

The chalk board portion was really suffering and the cork part was even worse.

So i taped off around the chalkboard portion and spray painted it with Chalkboard 

Paint

Copper & Bronze Chalkboard Trays

There is a lovely lady named Rosie who bought a quilt from me a few years ago and loved all my craft stuff that i make so she asked if she could sell some of my items in a booth she had in a very nice upscale shop in town here.  

I of course was completely flattered!  

like whoa!  

Anywho, she would always keep an eye out for cool things for me at shows and stuff and found me these awesome trays to make magnet boards out of...

Well it turns out these were NOT magnetic so we had to think of a new plan

Fried Ravioli

I found this recipe on Pinterest and thought it was worth a try. 

I rarely fry anything, but i thought this would be a great idea for leftover ravioli

(when there actually are any)

and so i pinned it to my noms pinboard use later.

Via What's Cookin, Chicago?

Rag Quilt for Violet

Just last year my 90 year-old Grandmother gave me all of her fabrics and craft supplies...

I can't even BEGIN to tell you how much stuff that is!

She requested only one thing of me 

And that was to make a quilt for my cousin Rachel's little girl for Christmas

Her name is Violet (adorable) and my Grandmother had already picked out a bunch of pretty fabrics with purple and lavender and, duh, violet to make it with.

I was so excited about this project!  

The fabrics she picked out were amazing and I couldn't wait to get started!

Here is little Violet with the finished product

A toddler-bed sized quilt made ESPECIALLY for her!

 Grace (my daughter) and Violet are only a month apart!  (Violet is older)

Here's a pic of them together at our Grandmother's 90th Birthday Party

(Sept 29th 2011)

Me and Maggie at the Bus Stop

This is our dog "Magma"

(we call her Maggie)

She is an Irish Wolfhound and believe it or not, she will get bigger than this.

She's only 7 and a half months old and is larger than the average "large" dog

Waheezy fo Sheezy - A Tradition

For those of you who don't know, Waffle House is a southern staple. 

period.

They started in Avondale, GA 

(which is only about 2 hours away from where I live)

It's probably one of my top 3 favorite restaurants of all time.