What we did for my birthday...

I've been woefully behind this summer keeping updated posts up, so I'm going to do a little catch-up and tell you what we've been up to during the last few months.

 

For my 23rd birthday in July, Jordan took me canoeing!! It was the first 'real' canoe experience I ever had, and it was wonderful!! I can't wait to do it again sometime. The morning of my birthday we spur of the moment decided to go, packed a pic-nic lunch, borrowed a canoe, and off we went!

 

 

The only time I had paddled around before was a on a small lake, nothing like the river Jordan took me to. It was much more fun and exciting! We got on the water about noon, and paddled for several hours, then stopped to eat some snacks and swim!

 

 

Aren't the bluffs and the blue-green water bee-u-tee-ful?

 

Stopped for swimming and lunch....

 

 

Many times it was not hard at all to imagine us being on the Congo or Amazon...lol. But I'm glad there were no big snakes or piranas. That would have been a little too much excitement for a birthday. :)

 

Several times we came through very rough water - Jordan of course had all the hard work in the back. I'm not very good at this paddling thing yet, but I'm trying. I thought the rough spots were fun until Jordan told me later he was legitimately afraid we were about to go over several times!

 

 

As the evening drew on we had a bit of a time finding a place to take out and go home, but we finally did, both of us exhausted. We had gone 10 or 12  miles! Quite a lovely day. 

Snapshots of Spring

Just various snapshots from our first spring in Tennessee:

 

Cucumbers peeking out in our tiny little garden...

 

 

Wildflowers

 

 

Apple-merengue tart for breakfast

 

 

Attending a local reenactment

 

 

Making a new raised bed

 

Strawberry season!

 

Adventures in sourdough break making

 

bird-watching.

We had Goldfinch in Texas in the winter,

 but its so fun to see them in their yellow summer coat.

 

Late night cookie cravings

 

Discovering a swimming hole...

 

Fun times.

 

Currently we are preparing to attend the Gettysburg Blue-Gray Alliance reenactment this week.

Any of my readers going?



Further Tennessee Adventures

While in Tennessee we got o meet up with our good friends, the Roberts. They were traveling back home to Texas after vacationing in Virginia.

We met up at an adorable little shop called 'Dimples', where we had supper and then drove out to see our future house site.

You know Rebecca as my dear friend from Sewing in the Past.

She is also going to be my bridesmaid next spring!

A young couple who are friends of Jordan's recently became engaged, and are to be married this fall. While I was visiting, they were having a 3-day house raising. Jordan and his brother went over to help out, and Sarah (my dear future sister-in-law) and I tagged along to see the excitement.

While we were there we got offered a ride in a 1955 convertible! It was so much fun!

Crazy hair and lots of tangles to brush out - but the ride was worth it! :)

I can't believe it's been almost a month since I returned from Tennessee.

Summer goes past so quickly!



The Homeplace (Tennessee Trip)

During my trip to Tennesee in June, we had several things planned to do. One of these we were most excited about was visiting 'The Homeplace'. Located at the Land Between the Lakes, it is a replica of a working 1850s farm. Many original structures, and without anything modern in view! There are volunteers on site every day doing the normal tasks of the 19th-century inhabitants - gardening, quilting, cooking, plowing, tending the animals, etc.

(read the link above to find out more about the site)

The houses are also fully furnished, and you can wonder through the entire site at your leisure. I thought this was just the best - not like being in some sort of stiff museum display, but instead you could really get the feel of a mid-century home.

It was just like a painting as we approached.

Enjoying the sitting room. (and of course both Jordan and I went in costume...)

I loved the pie safes and the woodstove in the kitchen!

Two volunteers at work in the kitchen.

Herbs grown on site were hanging up to dry in the kitchen, filling the air with a wonderful aroma!

It was so interesting to be able to poke around and even open up the cabinets to see what was inside! I felt a little like I had gone back in time and was snooping around in someone else's house! lol.

 It was fun, though.

Clothes hanging on pegs in the upstairs bedroom.

Feather mattresses and hand-sewn quilts were hanging out on the porch railings to air.

A view unspoiled by modern structures.

In one of the barns/workshops we encountered a friendly fellow who did much of the woodworking and blacksmithing for the place. When we came up he was sharpening a few saws.

They had chickens, pigs, a horse and mule, and oxen who all live on site.

Even the animal breeds are types chosen because they are period correct. Very neat!

This was my very favorite spot. Next to the smaller house was the most charming little fenced in herb and flower garden. I'd like to have one just like it someday!

We had a magnificent time, and gleaned much inspiration for our future log home!

Antique Finds (Tennessee Trip)

Jordan is building our log house in the style of the 19th century, I am so very excited, and can't help already beginning to plan what the inside of our house will be like.
Even though the pictures shown below (taken from my pinterest inspiration folder) are by no means exactly what our house will look like, it will give you a good general idea of the look and style we are going for. Since the house will be constructed in a historic style, we'd like the inside furnishings to be old-fashioned as well. Not everything will neccessarily be period for the 1860s exactly, but I'd like to try to use as many antiques and old-style furniture as possible, to keep anything inside from being too glaringly modern. :)

Log houses with roomy porches....

Bright, sunny bedroom. This pic shows what log walls look like on the inside....

No built in kitchen counter tops and cabinets for me. I love the idea of having open shelves to store my antique dishes and big freestanding tables for workspace.

Attic bedroom with antique furniture and quilts.

So, naturally I am always on the lookout for antique stores, where I can add to my hopechest collection!

On the way to Tennessee, we stopped at a charming antique store in Ft. Smith, Arkansas, where I purchased several new (old) items....

A large (and heavy!) crock bowl.

White enamel measuring cup

Very large white enamel basin.

Iron or steel roaster - enameled inside.

Heavy duty whisk.

And....set of vintage/antique silverware.

This is part of my collection of white enamelware with blue or black rims. I am trying to collect enough to have these as my 'everyday' dishes, since they are very resistant to breaking. And I just love the clean and simple feel they have.

Part of my kitchen collection. Hand-held beater, grater, measuring spoons, pyrex custard cups, strainer ladle, cast iron griddle, and wooden handled forks and knives.

Occasionally I will buy something larger, such as a piece of furniture. This bench I picked up at an antique store in Texas a few months ago. Hopefully it will accompany a piano in our house one day....

And this....is my much-loved 'hoosier' cabinet. Jordan bought this for us at an auction early in the spring. He sent me pictures over the phone to see if I liked it, and I thought it was just perfect! I've been looking for just the right cabinet for years at antique stores, but he found it! :) 

I *love* the glass and wood 'latice' cabinet doors.

Lots of storage! And the red-rimmed enameled counter top pulls out for a roomy workspace.

Cup hooks! Perfect for hanging antique teacups and coffee mugs....

A sturdy divided drawer.

Metal flour bin.

To keep the cabinet from looking quite so 1950s, I may replace the red papering on the shelves with something printed, and perhaps replace the silver handles as well.

The cabinet is already coming in handy! I stowed my antique finds from the trip up in the cabinet to keep them safe and sound until they will have a place the house next year.

Tennessee adventures.....to be continued....

I hope everyone is having a lovely Monday!