Hymn # 308

We needed to send a thinking of you card recently. I hate having to send them sometimes. Often, because it means something sad has happened. So, I try to make them as happy and pretty as I can. My goal is to bring a smile in a time of sadness. This rose was just glorious to me!



And, I decided to use a page from an old hymnal I got at the thrift store. This idea is courtesy of my friend.

Mountain Bike Monday - Bridges over Poco

On Saturday we caught up with our friends, Rachel and Clay, and went for a nice ride at Poco. We met them early and rode about 10 miles together. We rode from the top lot at the Park down to the Blue Trail and back. It was a great ride with two lovely people! We only had 1 issue and that was me getting a flat. I ran over a stick and it snapped the metal valve stem right in half. Crazy! So, Dynamo and Clay got me all fixed up and we continued onward. Unfortunately, we were so busy talking and visiting that we didn't get any pictures with them. I'm so sorry! I'll do better next time!

After we left our friends we ventured over to the Lakeview Trails and did another 13 miles or so. I'm not really sure because in all the commotion of the morning I got distracted and forgot to set my cyclometer at first, and then during the tire change it got reset somehow. So, we're estimating the mileage on the lower side.

On our ride together we encountered one black snake. He was on the side of the trail and we didn't even see him...that is until we were right next to him. He got scared and started slithering. He was "running" in fear. I screamed and kept on pedaling. Dynamo said the snake started to come towards him in a state of confusion (probably because my scream scared him silly). So, Dynamo said all he could think to do was take his feet out of his clips and lift his feet up. I didn't see this, but he said his feet were about on top of his handlebars. This was good thinking on Dynamo's part! We had no way of knowing which way Mr. Snake was going to "run." We got settled down and started laughing! If only we had the video camera on my seat post. It would have caught the whole ordeal!

Yesterday we had a nice spin at the Park. I met Dynamo after work and we did a warmup lap on this new section of trail we noticed the other day. Talk about beautiful!! It was a beautiful new bridge!



It was so exciting to discover this new "connection." It is a new route for the campers to get to the pool area. More new terrain for us to ride!



Of course we had to stop to take pictures!





We ventured over to the green and blue trails after our warmup loop and had a great ride! The temperature was excellent. The bugs weren't biting! The trails were just perfect for our tires according to Dynamo!

We completed about 11 miles! It was a "Good ride, hun!" kind of ride!



But, I didn't mention what we saw...

Yes...two snakes!

When we went over the bridge at the Beaver Creek Dam at the beginning of the warmup, Dynamo noticed two snakes in the water.



The arrows are to show you their location.

The crazy part is that they weren't moving very much. It seemed as though the one on the left in the picture was stuck under the rock. So, we decided to leave them alone in case they were just "hunting." So, at the end of our ride I told Dynamo I just had to go back and check to see if they were really stuck or what. Well, they were still there. We knew then that something was wrong. I know...it doesn't seem possible that a snake would be stuck, but trust me...he was! The other one was just sitting there watching his friend/girlfriend struggle to breathe!

In this photo you'll see the head of the one on the left come up for air.



And, you know I don't like snakes one bit, but we just couldn't not get help for them just in case they were really in trouble. Who knows what could've happened. So, I talked to the people at the ranger station, and they said they would go down with a shovel to free them up. I sure hope they were ok!

So, we'll end with a happy picture!



Hope your Monday was fantastic!

Wanderful

I'm super excited about this recent project! I got an order for a special star wand! It needed to look vintage, have green and gold, and be princess-ish!

I think this fits the description!



Dynamo was a super big help on this one. He cut some styrofoam in the shape of my star as a filler to give it depth. I have some ideas, thanks to him, for more in the future. So, stay tuned!

And, check out the great Scrabble pieces dangling on the wand! I wanted there to be a special personal touch.



Isn't the tag great? I dug out my heat gun and embossing powder, which I should use more often, because gold is so princess-like! And, I think my best purchase ever from Stampin' Up! was the Jumble Alphabet stamp set.

Vintage birds

I love vintage looking birds!



Don't you?



I wanted to send a hello card and a birthday card last week. I think they turned out nice and vintage!





The birds are from Stampin' Up! as is the most of the paper! The others are from various places!

Happy Tuesday!

Mountain Bike Monday - Enough Already!

Ok, so in the past 6 rides we've seen snakes 5 times! I'm convinced it's me and not those that ride with us! I tell everyone if they want to see a snake then hang around me! I'm a snake magnet! YIKES!

So, on our ride Saturday with MBM we were finishing up the last leg of the Lakeview Trails at Poco and all of a sudden MBM hollars to me to "get your camera ready!" He came upon a GIANT AMAZON-sized black snake on the trail. So, what do I do? I sent Dynamo up ahead to get the photo!



He was slithering away from us as Dynamo was trying to get a pic of him as proof for the "contest."



As we were getting ready to move onward the snake coiled up halfway as to let us know he was finished posing for pics and it was time for us to move on! No pictures of that, but it was then that I really got to see how mean and big he was!

Just look how thick his body is...



We headed on our way! I crossed the creek!!! And, we decided to ride some more! So, we headed over to tackle the blue and green trails!

After rolling through the blue, MBM headed back to the truck and we did the green trail! I was feeling pretty good and strong! I think I'm finally getting my nutrition issues down pat. After we refilled our camelbaks at the water fountain, Dynamo asked if I wanted to check out the Nature Center. We've ridden at the Park so many times, but have never gone inside the Center. We've only peeked through the window!

Inside we found two very nice staffers! They told us some interesting facts about the creatures. They even offered for us to hold the snakes, but we declined! They look so harmless in the tank!



And, check out Snaperella, the snapping turtle!



She was quite calm and the Park guy said that she has never tried to bite him.



They told us the snake we saw was likely a rat snake, and to not be afraid. They only strangle their prey and likely wouldn't bite. As if I wanted to get close enough to find out!

The Nature Center was really neat. You can even have a birthday party there!



So, at the end of the ride we had completed 25 miles! I was pleased. It was a lovely morning out on the trails with my Dynamo and our friend MBM. I can definitely see improvement in my riding. I'm more balanced and comfortable than ever!

Lastly...the reason this post is entitled "Enough Already" is because of what happened to Dynamo and I this morning. Yesterday, I noticed the mom and dad bluebird making a big fuss around the yard and their house (built by Dynamo attached to a tree by our driveway). I just ignored them because there was a lot of commotion from the birds and critters yesterday. We were outside working in the yard and it just seemed like they were more active than usual.

Well, this morning when I went out to walk Lexi I stopped by the birdhouse to check it out and noticed a little head sticking out of the hole on the front. As I approached I noticed it wasn't the head of a bluebird, but instead that of a snake. So, I ran back into the house yelling for Dynamo! That darn snake had eaten the bluebird eggs! No wonder the mom and dad were carrying on in such a fuss yesterday! They couldn't do anything to protect their babies! I understand that it is nature's way, but it really breaks my heart!

So, enough with the snakes already! We've seen enough!!! Dynamo said that this "contest" is not one he wants to win. Me either!

A mossy "H" made-to-order

So, my college roommate, Melissa, made a slight little suggestion to me on her blog in early April. She hinted that she would love to have a giant moss covered initial letter for her front door. She wanted to make one, but wanted me to try it out first! Well, after a trip to the fabulous JoAnn's store in Richmond (they have the big stores there) I came back with a giant letter and moss. Here was the result...

The "H" if for her last name, not mine, silly! Yes, this was the trial run on our front door before packaging and shipment.

I think it turned out just lovely if I do say so myself!

Since this was a trial, I'll tell you first off that the moss stuff makes a big mess! Instead of working outside like I should have, I did so inside with the vacuum right next to me. Lexi wasn't quite sure what was going on!

Dynamo bought me hanger things to attach to the back. I opted to use ribbon to hang it with, but she can choose to use whatever works for her, or no ribbon at all. Dynamo was such a sweetie to help me package it up so it would arrive safely in South Carolina! He built these little styrofoam blocks to glue to the box as supports to help protect it if the post office decided to get wild and throw heavy boxes on top!

All 3 pounds were sent off as a surprise! I think it will look great on her door. It just kinda blends in with ours...must be the green house!

Wedding mini book

Back in April we attended my cousin's wedding in Maryland. It was absolutely lovely. I wanted to put something handmade and special together for her of the photos I took. I also wanted a way to keep some of the special momentos together for her in the future.

Remember the messy floor...

Well, that became this...

And, the other side of the book...

I was looking for the perfect paper to create this accordian fold mini book, and when I didn't find what I was looking for, I simply went through my stash of shopping bags. I found this lovely black and white floral one. I took it apart, folded according to instructions I found in one of my how to make a book books, and ta da!!

I chose to use the colors of her wedding: black, pink, and teal! I just love black and white photos!

On the front and back sides of the covers, I used wine bottle corks from the wedding. She had used them in a very unique way. She cut them in half, cut a slit in the curved side, and inserted place cards. Fabulous idea! So, they were the perfect clasp to hold the book together along with a rope like string. I chose this because it reminded me of the beach and the rope you use to tie a boat to the dock.

So, here's more of the inside...

She had on these beautiful pink heels with her dress! They matched her mom's dress. You can't tell in these photos, but trust me! The minute I saw them I knew I was going to edit the picture to make it black and white with the only color being on the pink shoes! So fabulous!

In this next photo I used the table number card on our table because it was her "family" table.

And, on the other side of the accordian book there was a pocket on each page to hold special papers, etc. from the event. In the first pockets I placed the invitation, the welcome message in our hotel bags, and a map of the area.

And, on the last page I put the menu from dinner along with the interior envelope which held our invitation. Inside that envelope I put a CD with all the photos I took from the weekend.

So, I'm not really sure what she'll do with the book, but I wanted her to have something special from us! It was kinda like a giant card!