West Virginia Trip- Part 3

This will be my last post from our trip to West Virginia. Although we have been home for 2 weeks, I spread out these posts because we are all recovering from being sick!

We're finally feeling better around here, hope it continues that way.

Here is a photo taken from our trip of my husband Chris and son Alexander. They were both feeling really sick and feel asleep on the couch!

A trip to WV is not complete without a trip to Larry's farm. Larry is my sister's fiance, and he owns 300 and some acres in the middle of nowhere! I'm serious when I mean nowhere. You drive up this dirt road up a steep mountain and at the very top is his farm! It was getting dark, so we didn't get to spend much time there. The views are spectacular! Here's a little sampling of a couple of the many cows he has there.

Here is an old church that has since been abandoned. Last year when I visited it was part of the pig enclosure! Remember this photo? It happens to be one of my favorites, and I took it last year when I visited the farm. See the little piggies that came running out from underneath the church! They are just so darn cute!
Here is me and Alex sitting in a huge John Deere tire!

Just me!

Here we are sitting up in the bucket (or whatever it's called) of the tractor! Oh how I love the country life! I think it would be great to live in the middle of nowhere on a farm! The only downside would be waking up early to do all that hard work! A farmer's work is never done!

Here was a view from my window as we were driving back home on the highway! I love particular bridge that we drive on....the view is sooo amazing! I would have liked a better shot, but this is the best you get when driving 65 miles per hour!

Hope you enjoyed the photos from our trip! We are looking very forward to going back to visit my sister in the upcoming Spring! I can't wait!

West Virginia Trip- PART 2

This was a statue that was across the street from the fire station in Hinton West Virginia. I usually overlook war statues but it was brought to my attention as my husband laughed while reading the inscription. For some reason I didn't get a photo of the whole statue. I don't know where my head is other than I was sick. I'll use that as an excuse!
I tried to brighten the photo up a bit so you could read the print. But the last line was what made my husband laugh.

If you cannot read it it says:

"This monument erected in honor of American valor as displayed by the Confederate Soldiers from 1861 to 1865, and to perpetuate to remotest ages the patriotism and fidelity to principles of the heroes who fought and died for a LOST CAUSE."

I have never seen a memorial worded as that one! It made me laugh too!

Stay tuned, I have a couple more posts of my West Virginia trip left! Have a great week!

West Virginia Trip- PART 1

Last week I went on a trip to Hinton West Virginia to see my sister (cue the Dueling Banjos)!
She lives about 4 hours away in southern WV. I've only been to her house about 4 times, so each time I go I love to go to town and explore!

Last year I took my oldest son Benjamin. It was just a special trip that we both went on together. This time Ben stayed home with my parents because he had school, so it was me, my husband and Alexander.

We didn't get out much this time because we were all really sick, but we did get to make it to a couple of places.

Here we are visiting the local Fire Department. That's my sister Kim holding Alex, fireman Marky, and my husband Chris!
Here's Alex sitting up on the bumper of the truck with his lovely blanky (cloth diaper)!
Here's another shot of him on the truck.
He was too afraid to sit up on the seat of the firetruck! I guess he was afraid that the siren would go off and scare him. But I did get him to sit on the steps of the truck! See his uneasy expression!
Over the next week I will share with you the other parts of our trip to West Virginia! I have some other really cool things to show you!

On another note, we are still really sick here! I've been sick for over three weeks. First I had bronchitis, and now I have an ear infection and sinus infection! Ben has an ear infection and Alex has a sinus infection as well! A couple days ago Alex developed a high fever and they think that he may have the swine flu! He started taking tamiflu and is feeling much better! Please pray for our family! We all just want to feel better soon!

Make Some Art Monday

Today is week 2 of "Make Some Art Monday" over at Chrissie's blog: In His Grace.
Usually she has a weekly theme to go from. And this week I totally had an idea for the piece of art that I wanted to create. Unfortunately, I've been sick all week long and was unable to even start it!

I did however manage to make this simple little wall quilt for my sister's birthday. She lives out of state and loves "Americana" themed decor. So this is what I came up with. I used muslin for the center of the quilt, and mixed equal parts of acrylic paint with a textile medium for fabric. I then used a foam brush and brushed the paint on my boy's hands and pressed them to the muslin.

I really didn't have to use the textile medium because this probably will never need washed. But I used it anyway- just in case.
It is both machine and hand quilted. The only thing hand quilted is the stitching around the handprints and the binding is hand quilted as well using a blind stitch. This was a really quick project probably took no more than 4 hours total. It would have taken less time, but I totally forgot how to add the binding...so I had to add it once, take it off and then add it again!

It measures approximately 11"x13."

I used no pattern, I just freehanded everything....it's more fun that way! I have many more ideas for little wall quilts that I hope to share with you soon! This was soo fun! I forgot how fun it is to make a mini quilt!

I'm going to be busy over the next couple of days. So I will not post anything until at least Friday! Have a great week!

Still The One

6 years ago today....I married the man of my dreams! And no, I'm not talking about Richard Gere...I'm talking- BETTER! :)

Chris and I got married on November 1, 2003! It was a beautiful Fall day and the trees we just gorgeous in their blazing Fall colors!
I knew from the day I met Chris, he was the one that I wanted to spend the rest of my life with!

He is the most caring, gentle, and sweet man! I cannot say enough great things about him!

I can only feel blessed that everyday is spent with him by my side! He is so supportive, and is the most amazing father!

He is one of those people that you feel lucky and blessed to just meet! And I'm the lucky one who is married to him! :)

The song "Still the One" by the Orleans really sums up our relationship! Everytime I hear that song I think of him! All the verses apply to the way I feel about him...but particularly these two:

"You're still the one I want to talk to in bed. Still the one that turns my head. We're still having fun, and you're still the one!"

"You're still the one that makes me laugh. Still the one that's my better half. We're still having fun, and you're still the one."

I love you Christopher! You are my soulmate and the most amazing person I have ever met! I am so blessed to be your wife! I fall more and more in love with you everyday!