One more thing checked off my list!

So I finished Shana's T-shirt quilt over the weekend.  What I realized from this experience is I need to invest in a cutting table - or possible an indentured servant to do the cutting for me. 

My back and knees hurt so badly after the all day cutting-fest.  This body is not made for that!!

Anyway with a few minor things that I wish I would have done slightly differently - it turned out well.  And since Shana likes it, I guess that's all that matter.  Of course it's still in my sewing room so maybe she will have a different opinion once she hold it in her hands.  ;)







So now my to-do-list is down by one.

1. 2 more sets of curtains for my mother in law. However this is presently on hold because I lost the measurements for the two other sets of windows...
2. Finish quilting the cardinals quilt I started (used a different method on Shana's quilt I like better and thinking about scrapping all 30 Cardinal's t-shirts....still pondering)
3. The little doll house/barn things mentioned above.
4. Busy books - or at least finish one. :)

Since my plan was to finish the busy book(s) for Juliana's birthday in June, and the other projects seem to have reached a stall for one reason or another - I think I am going to begin the undertakings of the barn/doll house project. 

Since the sound of the spawn I have brought into the world are equating to nails on the chalkboard right now and since we have no practice tonight - now seems as good a time as any to give it a go. 

This weekend is jam packed with Tati playing at the HS basketball game tomorrow night and having a concert on Sunday and Bree's games on Saturday and Sunday - plus my monthly FUBO night tomorrow - this may well be my only chance. 

I have to admit, I have NOT stayed away from http://pinterest.com/nhobdy/ quite the opposite, I am using the fact that I have 20 plus other ideas I want to start as motivation to finish the crap (I mean awesome stuff) I already started. 

Wish me luck with my Doll house/barn project - hoping it all goes well!!  And it's as easy as the tutorial makes it look... few more pieces to cut and I am good to go!!

Pretty sure Chloe and Julie are either going to LOVE they they have things no one else does - or with their aunt would just buy them toys like all the other aunt's do.  I'll keep you posted on that. 

My newest addiction

So my newest addition to http://pinterest.com/nhobdy/ has started finished out the year of 2011 in chaos.

It all started with these great ideas for busy/quiet books if you don't know what that is here is a great blog: http://emptybobbinsewing.com/2010/06/04/birthday-week-the-quiet-book/ with examples.  So I had grandiose plans - and then keep looking and looking and finding more and more things..

Start of the busy book still unfinished because this is VERY time consuming and I haven't had the time to devote to it.....

I decided that since Juliana's favorite thing (at the time) was to look at pictures she needed a board book (see example) http://www.utahcountymom.com/2011/03/board-books.html with my family...

So I spent some time and lots of ink making this just like the sample from the blog above.  And I hate it.  It's cracked and bubbly and so that went on the back burner....

Then I found this: http://transforminghome.blogspot.com/2010/01/mod-podge-photo-letter.html 

and decided what a cool gift for my mother in law and mother so I made these....

 

and those also were very time consuming.....

And then I found these so cool ornaments: http://ayellowbicycle.blogspot.com/2011/11/pinterest-challenge-painted-ornaments.html (can't find the link to the glitter ones.  Pour mop in glo in the ornament swirl around pour out the excess add glitter - the end)

And then I found this: http://uklassinus.blogspot.com/2008/08/fabric-dollhouse-tutorial.html showing me how to make this cute thing.... and went and bought all the trappings and began to cut things out.....

And then I went into my craft room and noticed I had about 5 other unfinished projects......and it looked like something exploded in there. So I made an New Years resolution to finish the projects I have started before starting anything new...more importantly buying any more fabric/felt./buttons/do-hickeys. 

So we are 10 days into the new year and so far so good.

Finished & boxed up the quilts to be shipped to NJ (didn't take pictures of the finished purple or giants quilt)



I should put these in the mail on Friday.   

I also finished up a set of curtains for my mother in laws bedroom

So if I am correct in my calculations I have the following to complete before I can start buying and making new things:

1. 2 more sets of curtains for my mother in law.  However this is presently on hold because I lost the measurements for the two other sets of windows...

2. Finish quilting the cardinals quilt I started 



3. Finish Shana's t-shirt quilt (like the above cardinals quilt but with Shana's t-shirts) 

4. The little doll house/barn things mentioned above. 

5. Busy books - or at least finish one.  :) 

So I by my calculations I can start on my new pinterest projects sometime in the next 2 years...... DAMN YOU CHERI CHARDDDDDDD!! Damn you Pinterest!!!!!!!!!!!!

If only I could be a person who pins stuff to my board and doesn't feel the need to make all of it right now.  UGH!

Cianah gets a tattoo

After much debate and many conversations Karl and I decided to sign and allow Cianah to get her first tattoo.  The thought process is really - in less than 6 months she will be able to do it on her own.  We'd much rather make sure she goes to a good shop and has quality work done. Plus the added bonus of being able to be there with her.  More than likely when she's 18 she's not going to ask mom and dad to tag along with her to a tattoo shop.  But for now - she still needs us.  :) 

The one stipulation we had was it had to be a place that could be covered.  Luckily for right now she plans on becoming a medical examiner - pretty sure the dead won't judge her for her tattoos.  And lab coats cover alot of ground.  :) 

They only allowed one person back with her and I went 1st.  Thinking that I could switch out with Karl and allowing him to come back at some point.  No such luck.  Whoever went back must stay, no switcharoo.  :(  Stunk for Karl. 

 Here's the finished product.  When I asked Cianah why she wanted a Lion - she said "Because I'm fierce."

Of course Karl had to pipe up and say, "Since I didn't get to go back with you, I guess that means you have to get another one."  Wait what?!?!?!

Cianah of course already has her next tattoo picked out.  Of course she will have to save some money which is not always easy for her.  Not sure when the "next one" will happen.  Happy to have been there for this one. 

Day 5 - Dollywood

So the original plan was to hike on Thursday.  After the horseback ride and the white water I didn't know if my aching joints could take the hike.  So I opted to go to Dollywood instead.  Partly because this too may give me the time to meander through shops and allow me some distance from teenagers, allowing them to go their separate ways.  Another thought in the equation was it's rained almost every night (thankful once we were safely tucked in for the night) and judging by the trails on Monday on the horseback ride (before 2 more nights of rain) it would have been a muddy mess. 

So we splurged on something not in my well laid plans or budget.  My kids love roller coasters and we vaguely discussed the possibility last night, they all seemed on board.  Well no one mentioned until AFTER we paid for 6 tickets that Marie (Cianah's friend) doesn't like rides.  Marie always the trooper was fine to walk around and look at things and see shows and whatnot, but Cianah was a little less of a good sport.  (Surprise?) 

And that is how she was for the rest of the day!!!  Aren't teenagers a joy?  So Bree and Tati went on to enjoy the rides as did Karl and I. 



Karl and I rode the mystery mine and didn't get the picture, that was a very cool ride.  Then we rode the Tennessee Tornado and I was done for awhile.  Karl liked it a lot, I however got an immediate headache from the twists and turns.  Lots of turns.   So we went on to ride the train (let down compared to Silver Dollar City)  We did eventually ride the Blazing Fury, which is almost a replica of Fire in the Hole in Silver Dollar City, down to the FIRE IN THE HOLE before the last drop.  That I liked.  As a child that was the only roller coaster at SDC and we rode it over and over again. 

Tatiana and Bree on the Tennessee Tornado.  I do have to say, Dollywood sells flash drives to load the pictures at a discounted price and with a copyright release, this I like!! 

This with the fist on chin and cheesy smile, is called the "Grace Face" and they have been trying to achieve this on the whole trip.  They tried on white water and didn't get it done...they finally made it.  I still am not sure the significance, but nonetheless, mission accomplished. 



Karl and I enjoyed a little alone time and it was NICE!!  He hates crowds and yet he didn't bat an eye to go.  He's such a good man!

About Dollywood.  I was totally expecting to be visiting Silver Dollar City, but in Tennessee.  It was not the same at all.  Sure there were a few people in period costumes and there was country music playing, but that is where the similarities end.  In Silver Dollar City you can spend days walking around watching blacksmiths, glassblowers, fudge makers, and on and on.  I have fond memories of the girls making wooded trains and rag dolls and watching shows in the streets and in the saloons. 

At Dollywood, there are plenty of stores but they are all filled with crap.  T-shirts, hats, the occasional leather store but not filled with handmade stuff, just more crap.  There were shows, but only a handful and all were just musicians.  Overall I was not impressed.  Silver Dollar City is way better and much closer. 

This train was even originally in Silver Dollar City.  They didn't have a "skit" on the train ride as they do at SDC either.  :( 

We stopped after Dollywood to do an old time photo.  This too was disappointing.  This is just a shot with my camera, I'll scan it when I get home and replace it.  Can't even see the kids in the back....BOOOOO!!

The shop in Dollywood was way over priced.  This place was $20 cheaper but not sure it was worth it at all.  :( 

If you are planning a trip to the area - Gatlinburg is much prettier than Pigeon Forge.  (and has fewer confederate flags) - you will have to pay to park there. 

For sure do the white water rafting - such a rush.  If you love Silver Dollar City - don't waste your money on Dollywood.  If you are going for the rides, also don't waste your money on Dollywood. 

If you want to horseback ride - prepare to have your butt hurt! 

Don't waste your money on Cirque de Chine.

If you don't like narrow mountain roads, make sure your cabin has "no mountain roads"

I wish we had more time because I would like to hike, the view from the top of Gatlinburg's Skylift was beautiful. 

I wish we had more time to walk around and enjoy Gatlinburg.  All in all not a huge hit, but not a miserable failure either. 

Off to bed, leaving bright and early tomorrow morning. I am sad that we are leaving TN on a low, but Karl and I enjoyed some alone time today, so it wasn't all bad.

Day Four - Take me to the River!

So today was the day most of us were looking forward the most.  Turns out it's a good thing we drove by the Arts and Crafts Community yesterday, even though we didn't visit.  We have gone in and out of the cabin the same way each and every day.  Who knew there was another way out?  So the directions we printed to go to Rapid Descent took us out another way all together.  We didn't pay any attention to the directions until we reached the Parkway and realized we were supposed to come out on a different street.  The directions did say however we needed to get to 321, which is at traffic light #3 in Gatlinburg!  We knew this from out failed attempt yesterday! Yay failed attempt.  Otherwise I would have been having an anxiety attack, crisis averted.

So we took the drive to the North Carolina state line and put our raft in the water.  It was one of the coolest things I've ever done. This was TOTALLY worth the money.  So far, this is the highlight of our trip. 

I debated buying the waterproof camera in the gift shop and decided against. So I have only the 10 photos the company takes on the the river.  This is the 1st set of rapids we hit, not the biggest or the best.  It does capture the fun we had!! 

No one fell out of the boat, but Marie, Tati, and Bree jumped overboard in a calm spot in the river.  It was a lot of fun. 

After the "float" we did stop by a few shops in the Arts and Crafts Community.  I fell in love with a Turquoise ring, that is until they told me the cost...not so much in love anymore.  :)

We also tried to hit the Nascar Speedtrack, unfortunately it started to rain as we were driving, no go-karts on a wet track.  By that time I was hungry so we decided to head back to the cabin to cook dinner.  Good thing too, as soon as we pulled into the driveway the skies opened up again.  I'd really hate to travel those mountain roads in the rain. 

So Philly cheese steaks for dinner were yummy.  We are all adequately full and worn out from the day.   We are debating a trip to Dollywood, a hike, Wonderworks, or something all together different for our last day in the area.  So tomorrow we may just surprise you with our quest! 

I hope the river pictures make you smile/laugh as much as they do us, that was an awesome trip.  I think Marie and Cianah are plotting to come here and be raft guides in college over summer breaks.  It was a really good time!!

Day Three - I've had better days

So the morning started off nice.  I got up, made some coffee, read a little and woke the family just before 11:00.  Since we had a long and tiring day yesterday I figured a little extra sleep was in order.  Since we stopped at the grocery yesterday we all have "brunch"  before we left for the show at 1:00. 

 We walked into the lobby to a juggler and girls with yo-yo thingys. 
Looked interesting. 

Tatiana in her typical fashion was just checking for cute boys.  Bryana was having a melt down because her hair didn't look just right. 


This probably should have given me a clue as to how the day was going to pan out, but it didn't. 



So we went on to the show.  5th row center tickets was nice.  It was an OK show, would I recommend it or see it again, probably not.  It was palatable though.  Although the magician was VERY bad.  Apparently he wasn't a good Chinese Acrobat but magic wasn't his thing either.  All 4 girls did think he was cute though, so he's got that going for him.

The Cast of the show posed with the kiddos after the show.



Since we wanted to taste Tennessee BBQ while we were here and since tomorrow we would likely not want to go to a restaurant after white water (girls are vain) today was the day to give it a try.  We stopped at Bennett's BBQ.  Well, Bennett has nothing on Karl Hobdy.  My steak was over cooked and fatty.  Karl said the ribs were good, but I don't think he was overly impressed.   And they were over priced!  The amazing meal we had at the Old Mill Restaurant was $20 cheaper and more than twice the amount of food.  So if  you are reading this preparing for a trip to the area, skip on Bennett's.  (but for sure hit Old Mill)

So we decided to take a trip back to Gatlinburg visit the Arts and Crafts Community. 

On the way to Gatlinburg there are parking pull offs along the road that overlooks this pretty stream.  I pulled over as Karl looked up directions to the Arts and Crafts Community. 

 Looks pretty huh?  I was climbing on the rocks and notice the WARNING sign below! 

So glad I stopped short of climbing down to the water. 

Kids however foiled the plan to look at the Arts and Crafts shops. No one was interested in walking around and looking at the crafty stuff. So instead, we were going to try and play a round of Hillbilly Golf. In the 5 minutes it took for Karl to walk to the ATM and back (note if you come to the area - Hillbilly Golf is cash only)  the kids began to bicker yet again.  I had my fill of the bickering and eye rolling and all the other stuff that comes with teenage angst.  So I decided I was done.  No golf, no anything, just back to the cabin. 



I did manage to finish my 1st of 4 new books on the Nook and enjoyed the quiet of the front porch swing.  All the kids apologized and have been on much better behavior ever since, how long will this last????

And to top it all of, there are hurricane force winds swirling about.  Not sure if you saw the pictures of the cabin?? There are window everywhere.  So as I type this we are all hunkered in the hallway with the least window view. 

Wish us luck as this storm passes, and wish us better luck at a positive day tomorrow.  Today wouldn't rank on my top 100 of best days ever.  Hoping for a better experience tomorrow. 

Tootles from the Smoky Mountains! Hope to see you all in once piece when we return!  (Oh and my butt still hurts.) 

Day Two, Ouch!

So today was an early day.  Since we didn't make it back out to the grocery store last night, we treated ourselves to breakfast at the Pancake House.  Which, as one would guess, served pancakes.  So not know what to expect as far as traffic in Pigeon Forge in the morning, we woke up MUCH too early.  And as my luck goes, there was a terrible storm that rolled through last night so I already didn't get much sleep.  

In case you are wondering, there is NO morning traffic in Pigeon Forge.  Seems that most shops don't open until 10:00 and most people sleep in.  So my worry about making it in and out of breakfast on time for our 10:30 check in at the stables was all for not.  We had an hour and a half to kill with only a trickle of shops open.  Oops.  I think we all would have benefited from an extra hour of sleep.  Lesson learned. Another lesson learned, breakfast cost almost as much as dinner the night before - we will not be doing that tomorrow.  :) 

 So we spent a little time shopping in the "General Store" at the stables.  Karl, Tati and I came away with new hats.  Bryana ended up with a cap gun.  We told her how the loud noises might startle the horses so we didn't have to hear the caps until we made it back to the cabin. 

 This is my new hat.  The one Karl is wearing is a loaner from my friend Vicky.  He liked mine better so we got him a similar one, but in black. 

Cianah and her friend Marie before the ride. 

Oh Mr. Gray, don't buck Karl off!!!! 

OK, in all actuality....Mr. Gray was the slowest horse of all.  Karl and Mr. Gray kept their space from the other horses.  :) 


We rode for close to 2 hours with a small break in the middle for "lunch" - not impressed.  Good thing we were still very full from our breakfast! 

 Let me tell you, 2 hours on a horse, let's just say I am sitting on pillows as I type!!  My bum hurts!!!






We were done with our ride by by 1:30, since it was such an early morning we could have probably called it quits and all went home to sleep.  Instead I decided that if we go to the Moonshine Distillery this afternoon, we can all sleep in tomorrow.  And so we did.

I must say Gatlinburg is much more quaint than Pigeon Forge. Still quite the tourist trap, but so pretty!!

Karl sampling his 1st taste of Moonshine!!

White lightning is brutal!!!

The apple pie moonshine was much easier to take.  We are bringing a mason jar of that home. 

We then stopped in from some ice cream and then headed up the Skylift!

We rode the ski lift type chairs to the top and were met with this gorgeous view!!

After a bit more shopping in the gift shops where my oldest child ended up wearing a raccoon tail attached to her pants for the rest of the day, we hit the grocery store and then headed back to the cabin.

                                                       Tatiana and Bryana hit the hot tub. 

 I settled in with my nook on my balcony and watched the sun set over the mountains. 












Karl and Bree played a little pool.

All in all it was a good day.  Tomorrow will be much less eventful.  I am ready to have slow day! 

 If you want to see all of the pictures from today:  

http://hobdypixphotography.smugmug.com/Personal/TN-Vacation/Day-2-Horseback-Riding-and/17663352_9Z2Kvq#1346946498_wNk5Q6L