Inspirational Pictures from my drive..

Well.... I'm back....
This trip is one of those love-hate things.
I love driving through the mountains, I love seeing all the beautiful things that live there. The farms, and big red barns.... the livestock in the fields, seeing the deers eating by the edge of the forest.... the layers of trees that seem to go on forever... and even all the rocks!

But in the same sense I Hate driving through the mountains..... All the ups and down, and sharp turns- it's kinda like a roller coaster, but you control the speed.... and believe me when I tell you I crawl through the mountains, lol... this year I drove alone, so there was No one in the car to tell me how to drive. :) Needless to say it was a very quite drive:)

I did stop at a lookout and took pictures of the rock walls there... I've seen the lookouts before, so I spent my time looking at the rocks, lol. There was a family there that I'm sure thought I was nuts was I got out of my car to take a bunch of pictures of the rock walls....lol. Only a miniaturist would understand:)

This was some old fort..... and a wall leading up a path.

And this was the retaining wall in front of the fort.

I just love all the colors and the cracks.... And the age it shows:)

But my favorite part is this mustard colored moss that grows in spots...... If you make the picture bigger you can see it more clearly:)


I've always thought these 'windmills' were pretty! But it is very surreal to see because of their size... I've been up in the mountains and came around a corner before to see it pretty close up and it just makes me feel like I'm in another dimension or something, lol. Not something you see here in the city. Which by the way is very depressing to come home to after you've spent 3 days driving through the mountains. The rude drivers, the traffic, the smells..... Yup! I'm ready to go back already!

Thursday I did fine..... Friday after I picked my daughter up from camp.... I think I left my mind there! I ended up taking a 3 hour detour through Pennsylvania... and now I know I wasn't even suppose to be in Pa! Dumb ass! Had to go almost all the way back to where camp was to get on the right road! Then when I got to DC, I missed my exit and ended up having to drive back around the beltway to catch it again... then I took the wrong exit... figured out the right way and then 5 minutes before my Mom's there was a huge accident that blocked both sides of the road. Luckily the police let us drive up around the mess to pass. After being on the road since 7 that morning... and it was then almost 9... I was sooooo ready to get out of that Big Bright Red Beast of a thing (that reminded me of a smaller version of the Jeepers Creepers milk truck) that I rented to get through the mountains..... *sigh*

While I was home I had another moment of stupidity. Remember the painted I showed you the other day that I had bought because it reminded me of one at my Mom's house. Well, here's the painting....... And the only thing even close in these two paintings is that there are a few children together. LMAO! Isn't it funny how our minds play tricks on us?! I do like this painting too- an actually plan on trying to find it as well.

Finally got pictures of Dads planes..... Now I just gotta figure out how to do it in mini... Remember- I already have the planes, I just have to paint them now.

Also got a picture of a birdhouse that's been in their garage for a while now, hint, hint!! Anyways- I'd like to make it in mini one day, too. It's a big birdhouse though- that's the leg of a foot stool sitting next to it!

All in all.... it was a good trip. We're home, safe and sound, with no real drama to complain about!

Hopefully next time I'll have some mini news for you.
See ya then!

My treasures from DC

When I was at the hospital with my sister, My Mom and Cora found these 2 little creamers for me....for 50 cents a piece!!

Aren't they just the cutest?! And they're little.....the 2 of them together are about the size of my fist:)

This pie plate I found at a thrift store before I left! I LOVE PUMPKIN PIE!!! My Mom always makes 2 pies~ One for me and one for everyone else! So when I saw this pan~ I knew it was meant to be!

And it's got Beautiful carnations printed in it!! And a recipe:) How lucky Could I get??
I have been starting to see these 'pans' a lot lately. I saw one for Quiche the other day, but I can't stand quiche~ So I didn't buy it! LOL!! Thinking I may have to start collecting these, too! They're just so pretty!

Then there's the material my Mom had put aside for us:) There's 2 sheets of the kitty material, so if anyone would like some, let me know! They'd make some cute mini pillows:) And those flamingos....Too funny! Loving my berries....and those beautiful Butterflies! The green flower material I picked up at a quilting store~ there was something about that flower that I really liked:)

When we were at the National Harbor, I picked up the teaspoon~ I have a few of these, so I had to add One from DC! Only seemed natural:)

....and then there's my flat coin! I love these coins, and at one time had a nice collection from across the USA.......Until someone stole them! So, I've been trying to build my collection back up....and Now I have one from

'The First Ladies at the Smithsonian'

Now that I've shared a few of my collections with you....I'm wondering what other people collect?? Do you have a favorite collection...or lots of collections??

.........Until Next Time...........

The 2 Hour Tour

If you're ever in the DC area and are pressed for time....Contact my Dad and he can give you the "2 Hour Tour" ......

.......Friday, My parents and I took the kids into Washington DC. My parents live 15 minutes away, and yet, we hardly ever make it into the city. Too much walking, and Too many people. But....Friday was awesome!!! My Mom and I dropped Grandpa and the kids off in front of one of the Smithsonian's......and we went to park the car.....30 minutes later, we found somewhere to park, and called Grandpa to see where he was.....He'd already taken the kids through 2 museums.....I think it was one of those "Speed walking" tours, lol. Any one who's been to DC knows that one could spend a whole day in Just One of the museums!! LOL

Here's a few pictures I took while walking to find the kiddos...
I LOVE the faces on the side of the building.......If I ever build a mini castle , I definitely want a few of them!

The detail was just amazing! Actually all the architecture in DC is amazing. I really could just spend the day there talking picture of the buildings themselves!!!

Mom and I had to walk though the

National Museum of American History to get to the side were the kids were, and only really saw one Exhibit..... Julia Child's Kitchen.

The whole kitchen is on display! Sorry the next picture is a little blurry~ the exhibit itself is encased in glass...... Wouldn't this be fun to do in mini??? Loving her peg board! And her colors!

Out the front door, and we were off to find Grandpa and the kids. On the way, I stopped to take a few pictures of the Smithsonian Castle.

It wasn't until after I got home and put these pictures in photoshop that I realized my kids and Grandpa walked right by me while I was taking these pictures.....LOL....Look in the first picture, that kid all the way to the left is my youngest.....And in the picture below~ Grandpa is the one with the Waldo shirt on~ Too funny, HUH! Walked right by their own Momma!! ((By the way, we didn't lose my oldest son, he stayed here at the beach and spent the week with his other Grandma))

Once we caught up with Grandpa, I realized that I was getting a year's worth of walking down in one hour! I swear he was trying to keep up with the Segway tours!! I did manage to get a couple of pictures of plants as we ran by the gardens at the Castle~ Not too sure what these were, but they were pretty! And little!

And this big leafy plant had spikes on it!!

We walked to the other end of the 'Mall', but when Grandpa saw the line at the Air and Space Museum was wrapped around the building, he talked the kids into a carousel ride, instead. I'm not saying they didn't enjoy it, but there was that moment when I realized my babies aren't babies No more:(

Next, Grandpa...Yes, I'm using his name a lot...but He was our tour guide:)

LOL

Grandpa decided that we needed to see the Lincoln Memorial next. If you look in the picture below....You can see it over that hill, behind 'the big pointy thing' (as my youngest called it)....LOL Yup!! It was a hell of a hike!!

But I tell you what...It was the stairs to the Memorial that kicked my heart's butt! I lived to tell 'bout it and all, and it wasn't traumatic or anything, Just wore me out! LOL.....

But seeing that big ole Abe Lincoln statue was worth it!

After Lincoln, we left DC. On the way out, we got the 'windshield' tour...... Grandpa knows what everything is!! We went over to the The National Harbor for dinner, and then a little bit of shopping. The Harbor is a very 'Posh' shopping area, with art work everywhere! It would be such a inspirational place to live:) Oh, And Disney just bought a big chunk of land right next to it to build a resort!! Can't wait to see what they do!

Look at this awesome picture of the kids! I love it when they pretend to like each other so I can get that 'perfect' picture:)

Then there's this guy, coming out of the sand....The kids were able to go down and play on it after dinner, but of course My batteries were dead by then....Maybe Grandma will send me the ones I took using her camera...

And then there was this!!! I LOVE THIS!!!!!

It really makes me want to do something like this on the side of the skate shop.....Maybe not horses, but Something with that iron and tile work.......Don't get my wrong! I LOVE the horses~ Just don't think Drew wants horses on the side of the shop! Isn't it beautiful though:)

I did get a few souvenirs.....Of course I'll have pictures later, I'm just waiting on my batteries to charge up now......

Until Next Time:)

We're Home!

First I gotta say that you Ladies sure know how to make a girl's day!!! I couldn't believe it when I opened up my comments on the morning of my birthday and seen that I had 23 comments...I mean who gets 23 comments??? THANK-YOU to each and every one of you!!! Ya'll left the kindest comments, made me all mushy inside :)!!! Tomorrow morning I have a doctors appt....but when I come home....Cora (BTW, she's already tried to do this 3 times...lol) anyways, Cora and I will put the names into a hat and she'll pull out the winner!! I think she's almost as excited as I am.

I will get to the trip in a minute....First I want to thank Mercedes and Kathleen for the AMAZING goodies I got in the mail over the weekend! What a nice thing to come home to! Once again Liberty managed to bring a tear to my eyes!!! Thanks Mercedes and Liberty!....and as far as Kathleen goes, I feel like jumping up and down yelling...Na~na~na~na~na~na!!!!!~ I got the bunny growth chart!!! Just wait, Tomorrow I will have pictures for you. I will also have pictures of my birthday presents, and the gifts my Step-dad got me in London....I got Lions bars, too! Woo who!!!

Today, I want to tell you about the trip while it's still fresh in my mind. The drive up there was nice. Luckily it wasn't raining when we got to the Flea Market. Mercedes, don't worry......it was mostly junk! Other than the guy with all the critters (He had rabbits, a Guinea pig, snakes, a scorpion, a tarantula, a baby bearded dragon, a salamander, and an 11 day old monitor that fit into the palm of the guys hand~ the guy said he'd get to be about 5 feet long!!) and the guy with the Star Wars figurines (We hit the Jack pot here!! 3 figures for $10..and one pack came with 2 Ewoks!!) there was mostly JUNK!! No minis in sight....and as my daughter said...No Girl Stuff!

Then a little way up the road.. we saw the Easter Bunny riding through a field on a dirt bike....I thought I was losing my mind actually...I could see this big fluffy thing moving pretty quickly though the grass, Confused as Heck!! I had to wait till we got closer to realize what it was.....Too funny!! Then when we got close to Mom's we saw something even stranger: Actually, again...I could see it off in the distance....and was thinking "Is that a giant Cow's butt?? Can't be!!!" But as we got closer...it realized it was in fact a huge, I mean an Enormous Cow, eating from a giant pint of ice cream on the back of a truck.....Again....I couldn't help but to think..."Only me!!" LOL!! I had my son take a picture.......

See....it's ENORMOUS!!! LMAO!!

Once we got to Grandma and Grandpa it was time for traditional things...

Lawn mower rides through the back yard with Grandpa...I don't know who's got the bigger smile, Drew or Grandpa?!

And we always roast marsh mellows on the fire.....And make smores!! ((LOL>>>When we got home today the bf couldn't stop complaining about how awful we smelt...said we smelled like we'd be in a forest fire for a week...lol....And I told him it was nice to see him, too!!! MEN!!))

Sometimes even Grandpa thinks he's one of the kids again...This didn't last too long though......lol

Of course the toys get bigger and bigger....Here's Grandpa teaching Cameron how to ride the mini baja...Notice Cameron only has one knee pad, lol.....

Gotta make sure he's safe! LOL...he has a ski mask thing over that helmet!! I did ask Grandpa if had some bubble wrap, but they were fresh out! Grandpa also has a 4 wheeler, and another really cool lawn mower, but they were 'sleeping' this week end!

And then there's Moe's puppies.....Moe is Mom and Dad's neighbor.....The big brown one is Bailey...and the 'yellow' one is their newest addition Honey. Bailey is a ball of energy, You have to brace yourself when he comes running at you. Honey is as sweet as can be and so hyper. Typical puppy....Here Honey is trying to get that deer antler away from Bailey.

But my favorite has to be Lexus!! She's so sweet......and about 80% wolf. This weekend for the first time, I actually went in her pen and hung out with her. She was so happy to have a visitor, I actually seen her jump in the air out of excitement....And when I left she actually howled as if to say come back! She's on top of her house here...

Then, Easter morning the Easter bunnies left 96 eggs in Grandma and Grandpa's back yard...Did I mention there's about an acre out here....See the green arrow, that's almost the back of the property line, lol........LOL and the Easter Bunnies hide them all the way from the front to the back.

Here's Grandma and the kids coming in from trying to find the last 3 eggs. They were MIA for awhile there, lol.

Oh, and the Easter Bunny at Grandma's puts money in their eggs! Yeah! They don't know how lucky they are!!!

Later we went back outside for an afternoon in the sun. Here's Grandpa trying to get the paddle ball thingy to work right. I don't know what was funnier, watching Grandma do it, or watching Grandpa do it......

The kids even got a lesson in Cooking....That's what Grandpa does for a living....So they're in Good Hands there!

Monday, we decided to skip Washington DC...Just too many people! Plus Mom has to work a lot in DC, so I know she didn't want to go in on her day off! So she took us to this Colonial Farm. It was actually closed....which was really nice, because we were the only ones there. We do plan on going back in the summer to see all the other things that go on here....

So, we just walked around the perimeter and enjoyed the animals!! There were pigs...or should I call them hogs? That bigger one was bulling the littler one. Kept nudging him in his stomach.

There were sheep.......chillin' under a tree.........

And cows.....Hey I got a Joke.....How do you get a picture of a cow with his mouth closed when he's busy smacking his lips..............

You don't!!!!!! .....LOL....Had to get down on the ground to get these shots...

Actually, there were lots of cows....Am I strange for actually enjoying the smell of cow manure??? LOL....What? It just brings back good memories for me....Hahaha.....Yeah! I know! I need to get out more!

And this guy came out of the barn just to see us. I think he thought we had treats for him...see him nibbling at my coat, he even nibbled on my youngest ones arm and managed to leave teeth marks. Only my youngest would get bit by a horse! Don't worry, he didn't break the skin or anything....just a couple of little teeth marks.....Poor kid! See that hand coming from over my shoulder, that's the 13 year old...he was afraid of getting too close...lol.....Me, I couldn't walk away...I wanted to take him home with me!!

We even got to see the Black Ops fly over!

On the way home, we stopped at Andrews Air Force Base so I could find some thing special for someone special......and the boys got High and Tights...Marine Haircuts! This is got to be the best picture of my boys I've taken in a long time...They actually look like they like each other, lol.

The ride home wasn't to bad. Rained almost all the way home.....I missed a major exit, always happens when I get into conversation with one of the kids.....But we made it to the bridge 8 minutes before it's scheduled opening.....Last time I got stuck at this bridge, My oldest was only a couple of months old...and had colic!!! Oh, and of course I had forgotten the only pacy he used at home! I think my poor Mother wanted to jump off the bridge before it was all over with...It felt like we sat there forever that day. It's a big bridge.....let's ship through!!

Got home around lunch time...and spent the afternoon trying to put everything back where it goes. I have a few emails I still need to get to........but I'm whipped! My stupid heart has been driving me crazy. My Momma's stairs kick my butt every time! LOL....I'm not suppose to be out of breath at 30 darn it!

I did manage to get a few pictures of the Star Wars guys we got. I had to get them put up before Cameron ended up permanently claiming them....So I thought I'd let them pose for you first...There's C3PO, A Droid, 2 Ewoks....and some Storm Troopers my Mom recently picked up on clearance!

Wicket and his buddy are definitely my favorite!

So, I will be back in the morning....with even more pictures.......and

announce the winner of My BIG Easter Giveaway.....

See ya then!