Travel Log : Day 3 - Indiana & Kentucky

We pushed through a bit on this day so I did not have too many chances to get photos outside of the wagon (van) or our hotel room. Despite all of that there was still fun to be had!




Sleepyheads














Autumn is in the air!!!!!!!!!!!!

Travel Log : Day 3 - Indiana & Kentucky

Travel Log : Day 2 - West Virginia

I took quite a few photos on our drive through West Virginia Thursday so I will just let them tell of our adventure.







Believe it or not the following pictures are of West Virginia's wild flowers! They are the most beautiful flowers I have ever seen!! If anyone knows the name of these flowers, please do share it!




Sniff, sniff


So vibrant





Stay tuned for our next installment!

Go to Hotwire for savings to plan your own fun trips.

Travel Log : Day 2 - West Virginia

Travel Log: Day 1

Sneaking in a late WIP Wednesday shot

Day one (Wednesday) was extremely short. We didn't end up leaving the area until around 5pm. Of course, we didn't even make it out of the state of Virginia, but the fact that we were finally leaving made that ok with us.

I have some yarn in need of winding to attend to (in my concocted set up version 2 - the hotel bathroom) so please allow me to let the pictures speak for our first day on the road...


One last photo session with Grandma


U-Haul play


C's organic puffed corn mess


Yum!

I will try to post photos of today (day two of our journey) tomorrow night. Until then...

Travel Log: Day 1

Behind...

We are a bit behind in our travels. I think that was to be expected, though. Preparations take longer with little ones but they are also more entertaining, as well.



We finished up painting in the house with some creative help, packed up the U-Haul



and despite the kitties trying to hide from us ...



we are ready to leave in the morning.

Happy trails to you, until we meet again!!

Behind...

Amongst the Madness...

I first wanted to thank all of you for your warm thoughts and kind words on my last post. I am humbled. Thank you so very much. If you only knew how much they mean to me!! I will try to get back to any questions you all had as soon as I can.
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I am finding peace in this chaotic time any way I can. I love how it truly is the simple things that bring clarity back in my life.


Winding my wool using a concocted set-up in the middle of box chaos


Capturing all 3 kitties birdwatching



Enjoying my girls' PLAY

I hope everyone has a wonderful weekend. I am not sure when I will be online again in the next week or two but I promise I will take lots of photos of our trip on the Oregon Trail and try my very hardest to post updates during the trip. Happy trails!!

Amongst the Madness...

WIP Wednesday: Road Trip Makings

Finally done!

I am happy to say that I have completed almost everything I wished to for this upcoming move. There are a couple of other things I wanted to finish up, like:

-C's matching sweater which is 80% done
-K's birthday present toadstool hat 90% done
-K Baby's birthday crown 95% done

but I can just finish them up along the way.

K baby's birthday crown


I finished up Night Night Baby a couple of nights ago and I planned on giving her to K the morning we left but I just could not hold out. I gave her Night Night Baby the other night as Kevin and I were tucking her in bed and I am so happy that I did. If you only could have seen the expression on her face. She was so amazed that I 'found' her Night Night Baby. She hasn't let her out of her sight since that night. Reactions like that make all of the nights, hours, and love I put into making things so worth it.


K's new Night Night Baby

It honestly amazes me to know that something I created makes her so happy. I always thought (before having kids of my own) that things had to be store bought and name brand to make children happy. I am not sure exactly why I had this way of thinking but I am so glad to know it couldn't be farther from the truth. I just hope her love of all things hand made will stay with her.


K's secret surprise: Princess and the Pea set

I finally finished up K's secret surprise. I am happy with most of it except the bag. I ran out of time and patience so this is a temporary bag for K to use on the road trip and then once we are settled in Portland I will make her a new one. I just couldn't see making her wait even longer for this just because of my dislike of the bag.


Back of the bag with a pocket for the pea and a pocket for her pillow and crown


"The Queen knew that only a real princess could feel a pea..."

I had only one slight problem with K's surprise...



'Chubby Kong' walked in on my photography session and immediately fell in love with the princess. She grabbed her off the table and brought her on to the floor to play with. She then took her downstairs to get a brush and brush her long hair. It was the sweetest thing to witness. Since K was outside helping Daddy rake, I let C get some secret playtime in. That baby of mine is so sweet. I told her the princess was sleepy and needed to rest so she ever so gently tucked her back into her pocket and put her away without K ever even knowing. I am happy to know that if, for some reason, K decides she doesn't like her surprise, then C would be more than happy to have it as her own.

This may be my last WIP post for awhile. I am not sure how internet will work on our road trip next week, but I will keep you all updated.

Happy creating!!

WIP Wednesday: Road Trip Makings

How I spent my birthday

Last Wednesday the girls and I had a day out in Williamsburg with our friend
Tiffeni. It was a nice relaxed way to celebrate my birthday (well, other than the heat that was so bad I literally saw stars and had to sit down a few times). We were fortunate to stop by our local CSA and get a tour. I didn't know we were going to the CSA but coincidentally I had the girls dressed in little farm girl outfits. How appropriate! The farm was very inspiring. Their barn and fencing were made from trees that fell during a hurricane that hit the area a couple years back. All of the crops looked amazing and the girls had a blast meeting the animals.


C pointing to one of the horses


K anxious to see a horse up close

After the CSA we stopped by Colonial Williamsburg for some quick tree climbing and a stop at a local shop. I was determined to find a handmade cardinal ornament as my reminder of our time in Virginia (the cardinal is VA's state bird) and thought that would be the perfect place to look. Fortunately, it was! I found the sweetest hand carved wooden cardinal. He is now happily all packed away and ready for our move.


Beautiful tree


K and Tiffeni being fairies in a tree (according to K, at least).


Seeing the sheep one last time.

I hope everyone had a wonderful weekend! My MIL arrived Sunday night from PA to help us out preparing for the move and to see us off. K had her first ever night away from us Sunday night. She spent the night with Grandma. It's so bittersweet. My little one is growing up so fast!

I have lots of goodies to share for WIP Wednesday. See you then!

How I spent my birthday

Welcome Home Daddy!

Story time with fairies

We are thrilled to say Kevin is back home! We all missed him so very much. The girls will not let him out of their sight, it's so endearing. He must feel so loved! Your well wishes must have helped him along the way house hunting in Oregon because we put in an offer on a home and are waiting to find out if we got it or not. I don't dare post pics or say more just yet; I am superstitious that way. OK, but I will say there is a nice space for a crafting office for me and windows with views of the mountains...the only downfall is that even if we get this house, we are still homeless for a few weeks because the closing date isn't until October, but we need to be in Oregon for Kevin's job by the beginning of September.
Wish us more luck, please!


Nara and K swimming

Kevin being back home means lots of playtime and silliness going on around our house; a lot of the time involving the dogs, too. You never hear as much giggling and happiness as when Kevin is playing with the girls.


K telling me to take her picture

Even with all the joy going on in our household we can not ignore that poor K has been sick all week. C got just a tiny bit of the sniffles, but luckily nothing more than that. I am just counting my blessings that they got sick now instead of next week when we'll be traveling. It is pretty crazy to say next week. Are we going to make it?

Thank you everyone for the birthday wishes. I hope you all have a fun and inspiring weekend! See you Monday!

Welcome Home Daddy!

WIP Wednesday: Go, Speed Knitter, Go!

Deja vu?

It may appear that I am working on the same knitting project but don't let your eyes fool you. I actually finished up K's birthday sweater a couple days ago (I already packed it and forget to take a picture) and am now working on C's matching sweater. I *hope* to have it done by the end of the week so I may start work on yet another knitted sweater, but that one is a surprise for someone so I can't talk about it just yet.

I have had the chance to sew here and there and I am finally finishing up my projects for the road trip. I hope the girls like them.


K's night night baby

Night night baby is almost done. I am finishing up the embroidery on her face, and baking the millet (to stuff her with - she's a 'heavy' baby), then I just need to put her all together.



K's secret surprise project has been on the shelf for much to long. Luckily, it's now perfect as a road trip surprise. I am nearing completion on this project as well. Just a few minor stitches here and there, but I honestly don't think it was worth the suspense. I can always fix it up later once we are settled in Oregon, at least I keep telling myself that!

Happy creating everyone!

ETA: Happy Birthday to me! :) Thank you Marina for my Flickr gift! I will put it to good use, ASAP! You are much too kind!!

WIP Wednesday: Go, Speed Knitter, Go!

A Harvest Lost

It only just occurred to me today that I have not shared any love for our garden yet this season. That is truly a shame! It could be because I knew, as soon as we tilled the soil back in the early Spring, that we would be moving during harvest time and I would not be able to reap all that I sowed. That didn't bother me when we planted the seeds, I actually thought it would be nice for the next people who rent this house to have a little organic harvest waiting for them. Now it feels a little bitter sweet. I am happy to be leaving behind such a bountiful harvest for the next family but sad for my own family not enjoying it.


Half way there

I was hoping my roma paste tomatoes would be ripe enough for me to can before we moved but there's not quite enough of them, and really what was I thinking? How would I find the time to can while packing?! I think my eyes are bigger than my ability to function sometimes. I may need to cut back on all my other projects I thought I could finish before the move, too and relax and just be.


The girls love our tomatoes. You may remember K's daily lunches last summer, proof that they live off of them. I think tomatoes may come in a close second to apples. It's so nice to look out my kitchen window and see the girls helping themselves to a little healthy snack from the garden. I am going to miss that.


C prefers semi-ripe roma paste...


while K (and her gardening hands) prefers our heirloom variety grape tomatoes.


Every garden needs a gnome or two


Happy helper


A visitor to our garden, resting on K's pj's.

I look forward to our new garden in Oregon, our garden visitors, and all of my garden helpers to continue on with our yearly gardening rhythms.

A Harvest Lost