No more Shire Tree

Sad news and an even sadder sight was venturing out last Saturday morning after the viscous storm that demolished our area Friday night. I drove up our road, past the familiar sight of the Shire Tree (the image that has been our blog's banner for 5 years now) to see that it was completely demolished.
I cried.

Baby Projects!

I can't believe its been 2 years since I posted anything here. Damn Facebook!

Much has happened in that time span, most exciting of all, is we are expecting our first child in December of this year! Now that I am at the 3 month mark, I've started out making some cold-weather projects for our little ball of Winter. Our house can get mighty cold in the winter, as we only heat with a woodstove in the kitchen and a small space heater in the living room.

We have also decided that we are going to wait until December to find out what the sex is, something I can't believe I am doing as I always thought I wanted to know if ever I conceived!That being said, as much as I *really* want to make everything in hues of pink (just one of my favorite colors, not a gender preference) I'm trying to go as neutral as possible, which is tricky. Somehow, I have landed on a Sheep obsession - I can't imagine why as a knitter. ;-)


My first project was an adorable hat I had saved in my Ravelry profile for about 2 years. Its amazing to have finally knit it for MY baby! 

 

My second project was a baby blanket inspired again by my love of sweaters and cold weather and our beautiful rural surroundings. I have been collecting many different sweaters for several years now and felted them for various projects. While falling asleep one night, this particular idea and design came to me, and I had to work on it as soon as possible the next day. I'm super thrilled with how this came out!! The entire front is made up of felted sweater squares, and is lined in the back with a cozy green flannel. At the center of the quilt is an applique sheep made from an Irish swath. This is going to be the first of many as I plan on using up the rest of my sweaters to make more and put a few on my Etsy shop, though they will all be one of a kind. 

1.) Pieced together, now to finish...

2.) The lamb in the center, isn't he cute?!

3.) All done!! I love how it turned out

4.) Cozy Flannel Backing                                     

4th Weekend at Revel Grove

A Beautiful 2nd Anniversary & Camping Trip

July 7th, 2009 was Eddie's and my two year anniversary. :-)

Unfortunately, I had to work in the morning, but the rest of our day was spectacular.

We had planned to go camping and had even talked about going down to Mt. Rogers, but that was almost 6 hours away and for goodness' sake, we live at the foot of the Shennandoah mountains.

I got off work and began to prepare our dinner for the evening; which consisted of tasty baked chicken with bar-b-q sauce and rosemary (SO YUMMY!) and a cold rossini and tomato and cucumber pasta salad. We were preparing to live it up even though we were camping, so we brewed our favorite coffee from Central Roasters and baked a banana bread to take along with us for breakfast the next morning.

The day before, Brynn was still out staying with us, and the three of us went berry picking in the morning. Between the three of us, I think we gathered about 6 pounds or more of raspberries! Naturally, we took a bunch of those with us as well to go with the banana bread. :-)

We were off!

Camping gear, blankets, food coolers and the two dogs loaded up in the Explorer and head out to Skyline Drive. We made all the way, a daunting 7 miles, to the entrance of the park, when smoke began to pour out of our hood! The ranger in the booth then informed us that we were gushing fluids and best pull off straight away.

Nice.

Eddie and I watched as every drop of coolant fluid cascaded all over the parking lot of the National Park. Of course, cell phones don't work there. We decided to wait about half an hour, then dumped tons of water in the reservoir and said a prayer that we could get back down the mountain to the garage without anything happening. But we couldn't just drop off the truck with the dogs and all our gear in it. So much for a romantic evening.

We then kept going and went home. The truck didn't appear to be leaking anymore, wouldn't you know, so we decided to take two cars and go camp out at Riversong, my family's cabin in the woods, not far from us and very secluded.

A view of the place's namesake

At first we were going to just sleep out on the back porch of the cabin, but once we got there we realized that there were about five hornet nests scattered under the furniture out there. Not terribly inviting.

We were starting to run out of daylight, so we set up our tent in the the little meadow by the river surrounded by forrest. It was so wonderful!

Our little home for the night

Time for dinner!

We settled down on the ledges in the river to watch the sunset and enjoy our hot chicken and cold pasta with our Lake Anna wine, which was the wine from the winery that we met at some 3 years ago. I must admit I was a little disappointed at first that we wouldn't be camping up in the park, but once we got to Riversong, I was even more excited and it turned out to be SO much better than had we actually made it into the park! Where else could we have such pristine beauty and not see a soul, and drink our wine in peace from the legality of ABC laws??


Eddie looking mighty content

Yummmmm.......


Enjoying the wine


Lake Anna Wine, Sunset

After dark, we settled into our cozy little tent expecting it to be much warmer than we had planned for. The weather we have been having in Virginia has just been amazing. We were actually cold in the middle of the night! There was a full moon out, and clear skies so we left the fly off of our tent and lay watching the moon and stars through the blanked of black leaves against the sky.

The next morning, we woke early and were surprised to find that our coffee was still warm! We sat in the lawn chairs by the river for hours sipping coffee and eating banana bread and our fresh picked berries.

It was heaven. I was with the man I am crazy in love with in such a beautiful and peaceful setting. I couldn't have asked for a better anniversary. Thank God!

Changing Seasons at Red Oak Mountain

We were surprised with a beautiful early Spring snowfall that covered the blooming dafodils and all the other blossoms just a couple of weeks past. It was very pretty while it lasted.
Then, in total contrast to that weather, Spring arrived, and I have already begun arranging our front garden and it's now time to get the two rear gardens ready for the season. 

Welcome Spring!

There are leeks, strawberries, rosemary, dafodils, and phlox so far...
soon to have sunflowers, basil, cosmos, etc. :-)

My little plot o' land in the front yard...
Looking Irish against our stone foundation.

Looking out the spare room into our bedroom on the other side of the house


Looking out the window of the spare bedroom...

Our next-door neighbor's cabin

Meet Tubby :-)

I was on my way home from work one cold and rainy morning, and this little guy darted in front of me on the highway. Me being me of course, I pulled over and went to make sure he was ok. He was a bit freaked out, not hurt at all thank goodness. He had a collar, but we were out in the middle of nowhere on a busy road so I scooped him up and took him home to call his folks. 
No one answered. 
Oh well, he was so cute and sweet, I didn't mind him hanging out with me all day. In fact, he pretty much just stayed on our couch for four hours. I eventually got a hold of his people later that evening and took him home. He was so cute!

Apology

I honestly had no idea that anyone actually read this blog, and I deeply appreciate everyone's concern, though I can't help but feel completely embarrassed about so vehemently ranting. I am OK. Really. Yes, I have been fighting some issues, but who doesn't go through this at some point in life or marriage?
Things will work out.