Wedding season

Some might say that June is for Brides.. but this year its all about the fall wedding.. We have 4 weddings to attend in the next month and a half... And this weekend we was the first! Brian And Erin-- They had their wedding at Jordan Springs in Winchester..  We couldn't have asked for better weather.. Hurricane Earl pushed out the heat and humidity and left us with was clear skies and 80 degrees perfect for an afternoon in a garden. Both kids were attending.. so we had a full house-- and puppies too!

Over the next few weekends its more weddings and bridal showers--heres to hoping the weather holds for all of them!

Blogcation?

Its been awhile since I have sat down at the blog.. call it a blogcation!!
This weekend we headed to the lake to take part in the LAKE CROSSING- which is charity event for O’SAIL (Organization to Support the Arts, Infrastructure, and Learning on Lake Gaston). Sounded like fun to take part in a one mile crossing of the lake either swimming or in a non motorized vessel....  It never dawned on me how far a mile actually is.

But with my trusty sidekick Toni we decided that somehow we would make our way across the lake... She quickly explained to me how far a mile swim really was... so we were left with either the paddle boat or the canoe... Toni worried we would tip the canoe... I worried my legs could paddle that boat!! in the end the paddle boat won out... After a morning of realizing this even probably needed more planning than just sending in our registration forms we finally made it to the marina--

There was way to much time for us to realize that we had no idea what we were doing... and still not enough time to learn how to steer properly-- but when they said go! we went as fast as our little legs could paddle.... I gotta say that more than once I was ready for a break but Toni insisted WE could be the first paddle boat across.... and you know she was right... Not only did we make it but we did beat out the other paddle boats... (I probably shouldn't mention this but a swimmer actually beat us!! hahaha) 

And as in any true athletic competion  they even had a fly over before the Crossing began!!! We can now say we did it!! and we even have the T-shirts to prove it!!

Its all about the bow!!

Best Hubby Ever!! check this out!! Nothing like coming home from a long day at work to see this!!

oh yes I got the bow-- and a pretty sweet car under it huh??? and look theres more!!Lots of ballons inside!

DONE

Another weekend of deck building... this time in 100 degree weather... We were so close to being done we could taste it...

The coolest place to be was under the boat house...

These last few boards were going to be the death of us... poor Robin unscrewed the last seven due to "an out of square" issue.... but in the end we can say it is done done done--- I think we are all looking foward to our next trip to the lake when we can just sit back and relax and

maybe get to play on our new baby----

Our project

It started with a grill table --Mike made it to hold his new smoker and his grill--- its a lovely table but I really thought it needed something-- so the project grew--just alittle--- I made the cute skirt for it-- alittle fabric from the store and a shower curtain rod and it really turned into a looker.....

Easy sewing job done!! that is until Mike decided we needed a Grill cover--- enter 8 1/2 yards of marine vinyl-- alittle over my sewing skills-- but together we cut and pinned this puppy together and after some careful measuring.... we now have the biggest bluest grill cover ever!

Projects done??? heck no... Maizy needed her own little outdoor pillow-- a few seams and some foam and our girl is happy happy!

Saturday night dining

Saturday night dining is all about the food--- after a blistering day-- and I mean so hot outside that you could barely breathe we sat down to dinner of crablegs, smoked ribs, broccoli salad and some warm potato salad-- hot sauce all around just for alittle kick!!

Needless to say we didn't go hungry and it made the wait in the heat worth it.

New Car

Christopher and I took it upon ourselves last weekend to stimulate the economy-- me with the purchase of a boat and him with a brand spankin' new truck... Does it look similar? yup same truck as he had before just 3 years newer and a new color...

Mommas got a new boat!

After alot of debating Toni and I decided on a new boat! The ladies finally have a new ride and she is mighty fine!!

A few feet longer, a larger motor and few accessories here she is making her maiden voyage!

Captain Vicki at the helm

And Maizy-- shes not as happy about a new boat... seems she is not going to be a water dog without alot more practice....
If you look closely at my hand you can see some of my dreadful poison ivy...

After 3 weekends away from home this weekend was all abought  catch up-- I did more loads of laundry than anyone should ever have to do.. ran the dishwasher 3 times and did a ton of yard work.  I still need a few more hours in the yard due to  a snake slowing me down.... yea this morning as I was weeding the garden with the ivy in the back yard I came upon a snake... never good. After seeing him I grabbed the rake and used it before doing any weeding.

Friday night I was doing laundry when Mike called me outside-- ofcourse as I got to the door he asked if I had the camera... so I ran back inside...
Imagine my surprise when I captured this:

yup an owl sitting right next to the deck.. we have seen them before but never this close to the house...

Very cool---

Saturday I got some more weeding done and then we took the jaugar out to get appraised.. its time to sell and upgrade and get a newer 4 wheel drive. Sadley they didn't offer enough.. so I have listed it on craigs list. Hopefully someone will want a vintage jagaur convertible--or else I will be stuck with the Jimmy for another snow season.

We had Mike and Kristi over today-- alittle sangria and smoked ribs and Kristi brought over some basil and mozzerella... yum... Always a good time.

Spring yet?

You know its spring when I make Maizy pose in front of the flowers... Crazy weather hot hot hot one day and then freeze warning the next. I was supposed to be working in the yard but this is as far as I got... too cold and windy for me!!
But Maizy?? She thought it was just fine

The garden begins

So we have been busy watching our little seeds turn into plants... this year we decided to try our hand at growing tomatoes, spinach, lettuce, peppers all from seed... they look alittle weak.. but now that the sun is shining they are finally ready to go outside. Worse case senerio??? we go buy plants right??

Nascar- Richmond

With sunny skies we all decended on Richmond for the weekend.. it took alot of emails and phone calls to get Amanda and Corey down for the weekend but they finally decided to leave the chores at home and come cheer for their drivers.

It was a terribly long weekend and it took me until Tuesday to recover to from the lack of sleep--nothing like coming home at 12:30am and then getting up at 6:30am to do it all over again... and then getting home at 2:30am--- But it makes Mike happy that we all do it together!I still have laundry to catch up on and a kitchen that is looking kinda scary... but I guess it will wait until this weekend.

Easter weekend

The kids came home for Easter weekend. Usually eventful to have them here but this weekend was rather quiet.. They had alot of running around to do which kept the house rather peaceful. We are having a warm streak here... high 80's which made for a great weekend.

I planned a family outing on Saturday to Barrel Oak Winery out in Delaplane.. no one said anything when I tossed the idea out... but when it came time to go the boys came up with alot of excuses.. but in the end I got both Mike and Chris in the car... Corey pulled the Mom card and went to visit his folks... what could I say???

BOW (Barrel Oak Winery) is a fun place to go on a nice day-- lots of outdoor seating, Pet and child friendly, and the wines not bad either. Both Maizy and Madison seemed to enjoy it.. pugs get lot of attention when you take them out... and you know how our ladies love attention... the tails were wagging all day.

After doing the wine tasting we headed outside for a pitcher of Sangria-- Hadn't planned on staying as long as we did-- but it was hard to keep track of time with the sun shining and stunning views of spring in the country.

kitchen walls

I have given it alot of thought and I really really want to take down the wall between the dining room and kitchen.. or at least part of it... I think I would visually make the space feel bigger and could possibly give us more counterspace...
Mike is not jumping on the band wagon.. he likes have the kitchen enclosed.. to hide the kitchen mess. Maybe he has a point.. but being in the kitchen cuts you off from the rest of the house and its not big enough for more than one cook and certainly has no room for anyone to come keep you company....

Maizy

Created alittle layout on the number one Pug in our life... she too is a creature of habit--routines make her happy... even if they require me to wake up before the sunshines...

Bristol

So my father asked me why no blog updates.. and again I really don't have an answer except I have nothing to say.

Well I probably have alot of things to say but I have learned over the years if you have nothing nice to say you probably should say nothing at all.... take that any way you choose.... happiness is not always front and center when the work day is long and coming home means a routine that doesn't have alot of fun in it... the weather is changing and hopefully the fun quotient will go up too.

I did just return home from a long weekend in Bristol TN.. Thunder Valley as it is known--now that was fun... I entertained myself on the long car ride by taking pictures of myself and reading all the magazines that have piled up around the house

We met up with Christopher and a few guys that Mike knows and spent the weekend watching fast cars bump and grind around a half mile track. My driver ol Casey Mears finally qualified for a race... started in the back and ended in the back.... I finally decided it was time to pick a new driver-- I have been waffling all season on picking someone new.. well I finally decided that Carl Edwards #99 would be my driver... he generally places well in the races.. seems to be a realitivly nice guy and drives a green car... what more could you ask for in a driver?

We got lucky and had beautiful weather on Saturday! Short sleeve kinda weather and then on Sunday old man winter came back...
So neither day did either of drivers win... or come even close-- but my driver(s) did better than Christopher and Mikes... Seems Clint Bowyer blew an engine... hahaha only 35 laps in to the race... so that can laugh at my choices but in the end I got the last laugh...