Mountain Bike Monday - Kermit...meet Dirt Diva

Well, Kermit and I had our first real ride together yesterday!

Isn't he handsome!!?!?!

But before that we went to church with MBM, Lisa, and the girls! We had lunch afterwards, and then MBM, Dynamo, and I headed to the park.

Here are the girls after lunch enjoying their goodies for St. Patrick's Day!

It's been a long time since I've ridden a geared bike. Talk about a change. It was a good change, though. This bike is a 20 speed with a 2 by 10 setup. This means 2 sprockets in the front and 10 sprockets in the back. The gear combination obtained by the 2 by 10 setup is supposed to have an equivalent range to a 27 speed, 3 by 9 setup. I really had fun on him. It was a great ride. The shifters are triggers, so I think that made a big difference for me. My Salsa has twist shifters, which always seemed to give me trouble. Kermit's shifters were easier, in my opinion, but it is personal preference. One isn't better than the other. 

We did some fireroad to the trails and then some singletrack. Overall, it was about 14.5 miles. A good ride! I really felt good and comfortable on Kermit. I'm super excited about him being added to our family! Right now he might be my only mode of transportation since Spot is still waiting for a part. Good thing we have backups :)

I hope you all had a great weekend. The weather was glorious. I couldn't believe that I was riding in a sleeveless shirt and shorts! I even sprayed with bugspray as a precaution, but no slithering creatures yet. Hope you all got out and got some sunshine!

Happy 4 and 7 today, Dynamo!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Then...

(2004 - when we started dating)

Our wedding day...

(2007 - the best day of my life!!!)

(July 2010, Wilmington, NC)

 

(October 2010, Georgia)

(February 2011, Richmond, VA)

With every day that passes I am more and more thankful of our time together as husband and wife and as best friends. You came into my life and swept me off of my feet...still do - like this!!!!!

You are my Prince Charming! I have learned so much from you and each day become a better person because of the love you show and give me...it's unconditional. Everyone should be able to experience that love. I'm so blessed to be so loved by you! I'm so blessed to have you! God has given me a special gift by giving me you! I thank him everyday for one more moment with you!

I'm so glad that you left your number on my car windshield that day 7 years ago! I'm glad I decided to call you :) We've been through lots of changes, but the one thing that has remained the same (and grown tremendously) is my love for you!

So, happy 4 year wedding anniversary, Dynamo! And...happy 7 years together!!! I love you forever and ever!!

If The Stars Were Mine

If the stars were mine,

I'd give them all to you.

I'd pluck them down right from the sky

And leave it only blue.

I would never let the sun forget

To shine upon your face.

So when others would have rain clouds

You'd have only sunny days.

If the stars were mine,

I'd tell you what I'd do:

I'd put the stars right in a jar

And give 'em all to you

If the birds were mine

I'd tell them when to sing.

I'd make them sing a sonnet

When your telephone would ring.

I would put them there inside the square

Whenever you went out.

So there'd always be sweet music

Whenever you walk about.

If the birds were mine,

I'd tell you what I'd do:

I'd teach the birds such lovely words

And make 'em sing for you.

I'd teach the birds such lovely words

And make 'em sing for you.

If the world was mine,

I'd paint it gold and green.

I'd make the oceans orange

For a brilliant color scheme.

I would color all the mountains

Make the sky forever blue.

So the world would be a painting

And I'd live inside with you.

If the world was mine,

I'd tell you what I'd do:

I'd wrap the world in ribbons

And then give it all to you.

I'd teach the birds such lovely words

And make 'em sing for you.

I'd put those stars right in a jar and

Give them all to you.

words and music by Melody Gardot, 2009 

march is full of celebrations

This month is filled with good things! Here's a birthday card I recently made...

This was for our adopted niece and I forgot to post it! Sorry!
I wanted it to be colorful and fun! Notice that the envelope is decorated too!

I just love Stampin' Up's Party Hearty set! It's probably the best birthday set I own. The paper is from a Simply Scrappin' kit. The ribbon is pumpkin pie. Of course I love the scallop circle punch and the 2 and 1/2 inch circle punch! Those are must have's if you ask me!

Happy Wednesday!

upcycled book binding

So, I really enjoy going through the racks of vintage records at the thrift stores and estate sales to find cool old covers. I especially love children's record covers. I don't even own a record player anymore, but I just love the images. I thought it would be a great way to recycle/upcycle these covers if I I turned them into art journals.

So, here are the results...

Walt Disney's Songs for Bedtime!

Of course the best part about coptic binding is that the pages lie flat while you work!


And, here's another cool book made from the Carnival of the Animals record...

They will be for sale in my etsy shop!

Mountain Bike Monday - The Magic Carpet Ride

Here it is...

Dynamo's been waiting patiently for our newest addition to the family; the Niner M.C.R. (hence the title of the post, Magic Carpet Ride). I just love the names these companies give for their frames! His name is "Kermit" and it's quite fitting don't you think? The frames have been on backorder for a while, but his finally arrived and Carytown Bikes built it up and had it ready to go on Friday so we could have our Saturday ride.

I know what you're thinking...another bike? Do we really need another bike? Well, as I explained to my co-worker, "Each bike has a purpose." She said to me, "You're really a saleswoman aren't you?" I just laughed!

This bike is special because he will be Dynamo's partner for the 100 mile Cohutta Bike Race at the end of April in Tennessee. He really loved his Single Speed S.I.R. 9 (by the way... S.I.R. stands for "Steel Is Real.")so much that he wanted to get a geared bike with the same geometry for the big race. So, our plan was to sell his Independent Fabrication 26 inch and my Salsa 26 inch and get a geared bike for both of us to be able to ride. The M.C.R. is the geared version of that bike. We ride our SS bikes for the most part now, but there are times when gears are a must. And...this upcoming race is a must for gears.

Dynamo went out for a ride on Kermit Saturday. I met him with Spot towards the end of his long ride for a quick 9 mile spin at the park. I was so excited to try out my new wheel sets! Yes, of course Dynamo couldn't get a new bike without me getting something too! So, Spot got some new shoes!

I wanted to lighten Spot up a little and since we've been having some trouble with the rear hub, it seemed like a good time to make a switch. So, I got some Stan's Crest rims with Stan's 3.30 hubs tubeless. This took off about 2 pounds or so of weight.

The wheels did spin a lot better, but the entire ride was a little hectic because we had to constantly adjust the tug nuts and realign the back wheel. This is another issue that we're in the process of remedying, but I won't go into detail here.

The ride was good. Spot rolled well once he got rolling. Dynamo was pleased with Kermit. I even got to try him out for about 2 miles of fireroad. I know he will be a nice addition to the family! Too bad they don't make a pink SS. We really need a "Miss Piggy."

One the way from the trails we saw this in the middle of the fireroad...

I'm not sure what it was, but I thought it was so sweet! A heart for my Dynamo and I on the weekend before our big 4 year wedding anniversary!

Hope your weekend was a good one.

did I mention that...

...Dynamo and I attended the John Mellencamp concert in Richmond last Thursday night? What a fantastic show! Lots of new music with a new twist. It definitely wasn't traditional Mellencamp. I really was looking forward to hearing the "old stuff," which he did play, but not necessarily in the "old way." We had a great time and enjoyed our date! Here's a photo we took of ourselves with the camera phone. It was pretty dark, but it works!

Richmond's Landmark Theatre is a gem. It's architecture is breathtaking. Here is a photo of the ceiling!

I believe that they are planning to renovate the building. I sure hope they don't change lots of the character of the place!

John Mellencamp told some stories throughout the concert, which was 2 hours long. Many of his song lyrics come from his experiences. One story that particularly caught my attention was about his Grandma. She told him that "Life is short. Even in the longest days." Well, if you know his music, then you know this line. It makes a lot of sense don't you think?

If you do get the chance to see his concert...go for it. He's getting old for sure, his voice more raspy, but his music is still good.

book binding 101

I decided to teach myself to make my own journals using old board games and children's books. This technique of binding is called coptic binding.

It was a little challenging, but I'm really getting it down. The spine consists of what looks like braids...

The best part is that when you open up journals bound using this method, they lay completely flat. They are perfect for art journaling. There's nothing worse than trying to get the pages to lay down so you can work, but with this type you don't have to worry about it.

Here are a couple more I did recently...

The first is from an old card game. The second was made using a Christmas Golden book.

You may find these in my ETSY shop soon!! Happy Tuesday!