Showing posts with label Girlfriends Annual Gathering. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Girlfriends Annual Gathering. Show all posts

Sunday, July 16, 2017

Summer Happenings

The hubs and I are having a busy summer
 working on various projects.  His is very productive.
My projects are being completed at a snails pace.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
 My friend, Sigi, in Germany has this "tiny"
antique Dora Kuhn red furniture, but no room
box to keep it in.  Empty miniature Kuhn boxes
are virtually impossible to find.
This "tiny" blue furniture is the last version of the miniature
furniture made by Kuhn.  I keep it stored in a doll wardrobe. 
There is no room for dolly things so this furniture really 
needs a home too.
The handy hubs offered to make room boxes,
 in just the right dimensions for our furniture.  My
project this summer has been painting them. 
When both rooms are decorated, I'll do a post. 
Here is a sneak peek of the unfinished boxes.
I am also working on things for the nautical bedroom in
the Double-Decker dollhouse.  The Mariner is the first
of 2 Teresa Layman miniature knot work rugs.
This is slow needlework, but it's fun to see the design
take shape.  This ones going to be very colorful.

The unique wall art for the nautical room has an interesting
story.  These ships and lighthouses started out life as plastic
jewelry pins from the 1950's.  They were sent to me by Sigi,
from her pin collection.
Some of the paint had chipped, so I repainted
them and the hubs made walnut plaques with hangers.
They will look beautiful on the blue painted walls.
I sent some of the finished pieces back to Sigi for
her nautical room.  
Cindy and her husband hosted the annual girlfriend's 
gathering on their beautiful farm, north of Kansas City, in June.
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It was our craziest gathering so far!
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Cindy's car needed to be in the fix it shop,
so I came a day early and volunteered to be
the designated driver.  Of all the ladies, I am the
worst big city driver!  Luckily, they gave great 
directions and I managed to keep us all safe,
although I think I gave them a scare or 2!
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I lost my camera........somewhere.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Beth is the editor of The Weston Chronicle,
the local town paper.  She had a scheduling issue,
 but managed to arrive the morning of day 2.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
   Teresa had arrived a week earlier and was staying
 with her daughter and son-in law.  Her grandson
had been in Children's Mercy Hospital, with a 
rare condition called:
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Teresa joined us for our daily excursions.
We visited the Museum Of Toys and Miniatures.
(I've used website photos.....I have no photos)
The Nelson Art Gallery.

 McCormick's Distilling Co. in Weston, Mo.
The Farmer's House.
All the ladies are avid successful gardeners.
My gardening skills are practically non existent.
Besides, when you live in a forest, the critters
literally eat it up.  Teresa found the perfect raised
garden "bed" for the cabin.  Small enough to easily
maintain and tall enough to keep the bunnies 
& turtles out.  A small fence might even discourage 
the deer, possums and raccoons.
We had a great time, lots of laughter and hen talk.
The best part of our time together, was sharing
the joy with Teresa, that her grandson was
expected to have a full recovery and he has.
Beth, Teresa, Me, Cinders.
(Thank you Beth for the photos)
Last fall when Teresa hosted the girlfriends get together,
 I brought home 6 chestnut seeds from her chestnut trees.
I put them in a plastic bag with peat moss and kept them
in the top shelf of the refrigerator to winterize them.  This
spring, to my amazement, 5 of them sprouted!
Beth brought us all perennial herbs at the get together.
I planted mine in 3 clay pots.  I've watched them carefully
 and watered them diligently.  Trees and herbs are still alive.
I showed the hubs the raised bed and he's planning one
for next spring........I even have an old iron bed in the shed!
The hubs has made several Adirondack chairs and 
tables for the nieces and small chairs for Emmett and Ava.
He made oak kitchen recipe boxes 
for our daughter, nieces and friends.
He's working on a third captains sea chest.
  These handles are called beckets, painted knot work
 handles just like the ones ole' sailors made for
 their personal chests.  He spent a couple weeks this 
winter doing all the knot work and painted
them a historic blue.

This chest is made of wide cherry boards.


Cappy has diligently been executing her "yard 
guard" duties.  She safely escorts the many turtles 
across the yard and chases the rabbits and squirrels.
Unfortunately, she had a fall and began to lose
the use of her back legs, by the next morning she was
completely paralyzed.  The hubs and I took a somber
gloom and doom trip to the veterinarian.  Tissues were
flying out of the Kleenex box, one for me, two for
the hubs.  We were sure the outcome
would not be a good one.
I'm certain the vet thought we were in
far worse condition than Cappy.  While he examined
Cappy, his assistant dutifully handed out more tissues.
One for me, two for the hubs, one more for me, 
two more for the hubs.
To our relief and total amazement the vet was 100%
 confident she would make a full recovery as she had 
all the signs necessary, feeling in her legs etc.  He gave 
her a mega shot and sent us home with the miracle 
doggie medication, steroids.

 In no time she was standing and walking.  Except for 
outdoor trips to do her "business" he has to be 
confined until she's healed, so the hubs made her
a little pen.
Cappy's doing well, although she's none too happy.
Me, I'm full of smiles.
 The hubs.......... well, he has a new spring in his steps.
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Hope you are having a great summer.

Friday, November 4, 2016

Girlfriends Weekend-17 Years & Still Going

The 2016 annual Halloween girlfriends gathering 
 was hosted by Teresa, at Hard Cracker Farm. 
What does  Hard Cracker mean............
Hard Tack is a simple type of biscuit or cracker,
 made from flour, water, and salt.  Inexpensive and
 long-lasting, it was used for sustenance during
 long sea voyages, overland migrations and
 military campaigns. 
It's literally a "hard cracker" that lasts for years. 

This year we spent the weekend in the 
newly finished guest cabin. 

Saturday morning Teresa's hubby David cooked
 and served us a full breakfast at the big house.
Yea, he's a keeper for sure.
Sunday morn we had campfire coffee, oatmeal 
 and fresh pears from Teresa's heirloom tree.
Glorious weather and a beautiful view.
There is always something to delight 
the eye at Hard Cracker Farm.


Step inside for a peek at Teresa's
full size country dollhouse!



My hubs made a walnut plate rack as my
 hostess gift.  Teresa and David were over
the moon.  It matches the other walnut
 furniture in the cabin and luckily was 
just the right size

The weather was so mild
we were snug in our beds 
without a fire.
We played silly games by lamp light and laughed
the laugh that only girlfriends share.
The cabin has all the amenities,
including a flashlight in case we 
needed a midnight privy run.
The heirloom tree produced bushels of the
 biggest tastiest pears I've ever seen or eaten.
Full of juice and crisp like an apple.  Teresa's
warm Pear Crisp dessert is delicious.  
 The ones at the top of the tree 
needed some coaxing.
Cinders braved the ladder and was
 armed against the hail of pears as
she shook the limbs. 
Sunday we strolled the paths and visited the castle 
ruins at Ha Ha Tonka (laughing waters) State Park.
Photo from:  Ozarks Parks
Shelby was our constant companion and protector
 from the Halloween goblins and ghouls.
As always, we had a great time catching
up, laughing and sharing.   
 Sadly, the weekend came to an end,
but we look forward with joy to next year!
  ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Happy Fall

Saturday, May 24, 2014

Girls Weekend At Hard Cracker Farm


We had a wonderful girl's weekend with Teresa
and David at Hard Cracker Farm.

Perfectly picturesque.

Flower gardens everywhere.

 Teresa's little greenhouse, clothes line & garden space.


Out by the fish pond, a small guest cabin
is under construction.


David and Takoma adding a primitive touch.


Around back are the outdoor facilities.
Soon to have a rain barrel shower!

Can't wait till we camp out here and go fishin'.

There are lots of animals at Hard Cracker Farm.

Cheyenne & her colt Miss Priss.


General Shelby the Great Pyrenees.

 Miss Kitty & her numerous kittens.
 
Something to delight the eye everywhere you look.


You can grab a cold one on the back porch,
 price displayed was 40 cents.
I want one of these........the top slot had bottled beer!

 David and Teresa are avid Civil War reenactors, and
their home reflects their love and knowledge of our
early American history.  Their home is full of the most
wonderful things.  Eye candy everywhere you look.  I
always learn such interesting things when I visit.
Mindful of their privacy, only the tiniest peek.


This is a whale oil lamp.  Did you know they
didn't have lampshades?

 The hubby and I have been sailing for about 15
years so this stunning scrimshaw is a folk art
favorite of mine.

A peek at Teresa's collection of early American coverlets.
I recently purchased an overshot coverlet for an antique doll bed
I'm making bedding for, so I was anxious to learn more about them. 

You never know what you'll run across.

Hillbilly Haven, reminds me of home.

A popular Victorian craft, making flowers from human hair.

Teresa's ancestral family photo.  No doubt the sewing
machine was a cherished item and used for extra income.

A very handsome family member.

Perfect poker faces, I wonder who had the winning hand?

Teresa was incubating some of her chicken eggs.
We felt like proud mama's.
 
Saturday we attended an auction, hit a couple flea markets
and took a drive to visit the picturesque St. Jude chapel.  We had
a great fresh catfish dinner at the local catfish farm.
Sunday we drove to Fort Leonard Wood Army Base 
to tackle some cliff  hiking and spelunking at Miller Cave
& Sadies Cave, located above the Big Piney River.
 
We came across a small Air Force unit stationed
at the fort for some specialized training. They were enjoying
the hiking and caves too.  Lucky for us, as they graciously
made us part of the group & helped us "old gals"
 over some rough spots! 
These young airmen certainly made us
feel great pride in our country!
The girls loved the chalk ware bunnies.  Teresa had a book
on antique chocolate molds & my bunny mold was in it.
It's from the late 1800's.  Cinders made us lovely quilted 
table runners.
  Teresa found a Brown Bag cookie stamp at a flea
 market for me.  The cookie stamps came later than the
 flat molds. They were much prettier, but more expensive. 
I think I see a new collection in my future............
 I love the little dogwoods.

Being with your girlfriends is a cherished time.
Can't wait till I see them again.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Happy Birthday dapper David!