Gatlinburg,TN

Only a week after coming home from a week of traveling to Gatlinburg, TN, I have over 700 pictures to sort through, a scrapbook to piece together, many gifts to wrap and a lot of memories to treasure! After 15 years of marriage we finally took our 1st Honeymoon! Even though it rained most of the time we were there, the Halloween decorations were still beautiful and all the friendly people made it pleasant.

Downtown Gatlinburg

Ole Smoky Moonshine Holler

Laurel Falls

The view stepping out my front door!

Gatlinburg Townsquare Resort

We will definitely be planning another trip!

More crafting!

Oh and of course there's more crafting going on! What to do with a table full of pumpkins and a plain wreath?

We're still working on the pumpkins, but the wreath turned out beautiful!

 ~.~

 I've been working on this crocheted blanket for..well let's just say many nights! It's done just in time for all the chilly nights ahead this week.

Craft is what I do all day, art is what I have at the end of it. ~Harlan House

Old McDonald had a farm & We had an Anniversary!

Old McDonald had a farm...that became The Great Pumpkin Patch in Arthur, IL.

We enjoyed a whole day of pumpkins, gourds, squash, the corn maze, little gardens, lunch, pictures, the three little pigs, a not so haunted house, beautiful mums, a cozy gift shop & so much more!

This was definitely a wonderful way for Matt & I to celebrate our 15th Anniversary together all weekend long!

Scarecrow Festival & Homecoming

Another fun filled weekend! We started Saturday with the Scarecrow Festival in Shelbyville, IL. The streets were lined with vendors, artists, live music and more. We picked up some Pure Natural Illinois Honey (it's great in hot tea!), the guys loved the jerky booth. After picking up some gater, kangaroo & elk jerky we walked some more, right into my favorite fabric store!

...and after an hour of archery at Kidds Archery uptown, we were off to let the guys get ready for the Homecoming Dance and pictures at the Train Station in Mattoon, IL.

just creating..

Currently tinkering with mini paper mache gift boxes..

and my favorite one so far...

Mattoon Airshow 2012

 As the older two were helping the JROTC park cars for this event, the younger two walked around trying to imagine what it would be like to fly these.

 The CH-47 Chinook Helicopter

  After a day in the sun, a trip to DQ was just what everyone needed!

~.~

When everything seems to be going against you, 

remember that the airplane takes off against the wind, not with it.  

                                                                       ~Henry Ford

Projects & Playtime

Projects Completed : 

Painting with toothpicks and metallics

 100+ Colorful Scrubbies! 

These are all being sold to help Relay for Life. From now until the end of October you can find them in the web store under Cotton Wash Cloths.

The Purple Flower Tote is new in the web store too!

~.~

 ...and when projects are done it's play time!

 Choose a job you love, and you will never have to work a day in your life.

~Confucius

Mattoon Bagelfest Parade 2012

We started our Saturday with a walk uptown and enjoyed the two hour long Bagelfest Parade this morning! I can't put all of the pictures I took on here, but I will share some good ones with you.

The original Effingham Fire Department drove the "little fire trucks". It always seems they have way too much fun with these!

These little ladies looked too cute!

Buggy rides in the park were only $5.

There was a lot of advertising going on! The guys brought home lots of goodies and bagels too. I think the best things they passed out were all the popsicles and water bottles!

 We spent the afternoon at Peterson Park. The kids tried out a few of the rides, they highly recommend the Vortex ride. Calvin even played some darts and won a teddy bear.

We looked at all the vender booths. I even bought some bamboo shoots for my little lady bug planter.

Project TuTu

I learned that making a tutu is a fun weekend project!

Especially when it's done with a friend.