Jones Creek Pt.1 The early years

I have been going to Jones Creek since I was a very little girl. It is a big part of the flavor and texture of my childhood. We spent a lot of time camping in those woods. I am now, and always have been, perfectly at peace when I am there. Playing in the creek, learning to clean the rainbow trout my father caught......such pride when I could do it myself, roasting endless pounds of marshmallows, learning to peel a potato "the navy way" from my "Uncle" Tommy ("Uncle" because I am from the south and all close family friends were ...actually still are, "Aunt" & "Uncle" so-n-so), I learned about snakes...it is the north Georgia mountains after all....and how to build a fire, yellow jackets and how to build s'mores....so many memories!
Just turning on the gravel road that leads to this paradise relaxes me. It is remote and what is considered primitive camping (that means no toilets or showers) and I love it.....not the no toilet or showers silly, the remoteness.
I am very lucky that I found a sweetie who loves this kind of camping as well. He was as enchanted as I by Jones Creek and we have been taking our family there since I took him for his first visit. This time we had our grand babies (well, two of them) join us for a few days. I can't explain to you how surreal it was to have my grands in the woods that I grew up in...happy, happy, joy, joy!
Sorry for the brief post but it has been hectic since we got back and...I am off to Alabama for a few days. I need to dust and sweep!
Jones Creek Part 2 Always an adventure! when I get back.
Jody
p.s. I still peel my potatos "the navy way"!

Happy Camper!

We are off to the woods!
A week camping in the north Georgia mountains. YAY!
I will be back middle of next week with lots of pics and campfire stories.
Happy Camping,
Jody

A New Grand!

#5 is on the way!


Just found out last night that Daniel & Alicia are expecting again!

Brodie is going to be a big brother!

So excited,

Jody

Happy, Happy, Happy

It was a weekend full of Happys here.
We got up Saturday and headed to Cleveland, Georgia. Home of Babyland General.

It is also home to my Dear In-Laws. We were there to celebrate all three of our Happys.
First was Happy Birthday to Poppa!
And since they got married on his birthday, Happy Anniversary to Nanna & Poppa.
And...since his Birthday is July 3rd.....Happy Fourth of July......work with me.

Poppa got lots of Birthday love.

Nanna got Anniversary hugs.

We had an even dozen for the cook out celebration. It was another HOT but beautiful summer day in Georgia.

The kids had a go at the sprinkler while they waited for lunch.

Kodi climbed a tree.

Brodie climbed a Kris!

And boys will be boys no matter what their age.......note the horns.

It was a really nice day and the perfect opportunity to snap a four generation picture.

Like I said, Happy, Happy, Happy!

Jody

Found......U.F.O.s

I have spent the last two days on a frantic search for a missing item. I realized on Tuesday "it" was not where I keep "it". I have torn my house apart looking for "it", combed every inch at least 3 times. I cannot stop compulsively searching for "it". IT IS NOT HERE!!!!!! It can't be, there is not a square inch of my house I have not looked in, seriously. This is driving me crazy. I just don't lose things. Anytime something is missing around here I am ALWAYS the one to find it. This, I can not find.

So, what did I find?

Too many Un Finished Objects, that's what. My craft room/office bore the brunt of the search yesterday. I decided if I was going to go through everything in the room I might as well go through everything. You know, re-organize, restore order......it's not that funny.....okay, it kinda is, maybe.... Anyway, this resulted in a shockingly large pile of U.F.O.s.

I have 2 quilts (one completed top, above.....my first, still not quilted even though I have made 3 since that one that are all quilted and gifted...and a beachy fabric trio bought for a quilt for my BFFs grand daughter), fabric cut for a stuffed jelly fish to go with beachy quilt, two dresses that need hems and buttons, a grocery buggy or two full of felt food cut and ready to sew, 5 Christmas tree skirts cut and ready to quilt, two birthday banners (like the one I made for Brodie pictured below) cut and ready to sew, a fabric "Book of Love" waiting to be assembled, and 4 bleach bottles that want to be Santa.

Ridiculous!

I will not start any more projects until all UFOs are gone!

I will not start anymore projects until all UFOs are gone!

I will try not to start any more projects until all UFOs are gone!

I will not create any more UFOs!

Help me,

Jody

Hey, wait, maybe a UFO abducted "it"!

Yeah...that's it! Cause I DON'T lose things. Really! I don't.

Super Saturday

First things first. Since you waited so patiently......

Project #2 Can Cozy

I was still working on these when the kids got here on Saturday. Just did get them finished in time. The idea for these came because we waste a lot of soda at family gatherings, there are so many of us it's hard to keep track of your soda if you put it down. Solution: I put a muslin square on the front of these can cozies and took some washable markers for personalization. We had cute, cooling , easy-to-find-your-own-drink cozies. You may notice I ended up changing the fabric I used for these. I made a prototype on Friday and they just needed the bright colors. I got 15 of them made before we left.

It was a long, HOT day at the mountain, but boy was it fun! This is the lawn, at the foot of the mountain, where we set up our blankets. We weren't there long before we were all glad for the coloring fans. The kids never stopped long enough to color them but the adults sure did use them.

After getting set up on the lawn we rode the train. It is a nice ride around the mountain and a welcome break from the searing sun lol. I always remember my childhood trips there when I ride the train. They used to do a show on the train ride where robbers would jump on board, it always thrilled and scared me as a child. No more robbers but still a nice ride.

After the train it was time for a blanket break. The little ones had some cousin time over juice and cookies. Too cute for words! This is what it is all about for me, that and the joy I get seeing our kids be aunts & uncles to each others babies.

By now we had some climbing the rock wall, half a dozen went to the 4-D movie, another group hiked to the top of the mountain and back....including two dads with little ones (Daniel & Brodie, Jeremy & Lauryn)....oh to be that young again. Everyone gathered back on the blanket to wait for the laser & fireworks show. Brodie practiced his light saber technique while he waited. He doesn't look tired at all, does he?

The laser & firework show was a perfect finale to a great day!

And a good time was had by all!

...............Or so they told me.......Thanks Kids!
Can't wait for next year.

Double Duty

I have been working on some projects for our family picnic tomorrow. We always find a spot on the laser show lawn and set up our picnic blankets. This is home base for us throughout the day. Everybody goes and does what interests them and we meet back on the blanket. It is also a great place to take a break, rest, grab a snack, or have a cool drink. This first project came to me as I was trying to figure out how to keep the grand babies cool and entertained during blanket breaks. It will be a long hot day for all of us but especially the little ones, so this is what I came up with....

Coloring Fans

Cheap entertainment, my favorite kind, that cools and entertains. Just 2 coloring pages printed on card stock and glued back to back on craft sticks. I will pack these with a travel box of crayons. Most of the grands are too young to really enjoy this but that just means more years to use the idea, right? They really rustle up a nice little breeze. I think we will all love this idea before the day is over.

I have not finished the second project yet, I have been freezing water and packing all day. I only have a little bit of sewing left that I will get to first thing in the morning...don't worry, we aren't leaving until 1:00p. The laser show is not until 9:00p and we don't want to push it with the little ones. Okay...I know...1:00-9:00 is pushing it but we're doing it anyway lol. I will give you a preview of my supplies for project two tonight (you can guess what it is, if ya want...it also does double duty) and finished pics next week, okay?

I'm off to the mountain, have a great weekend!

Jody

Diving In

I have had the hardest time with this "first post". It is actually what has kept me from starting this blog for almost a year. How to start...what to say...about what? To???...family...friends...as if to strangers??????? Introductions and explainations......?

I have finally decided to just dive in.

Ready? ....... here we go!

Matthew (Unkey Monkey to his nieces & nephews) taken by O'Maw

August 4, 1999.

Okay, that wasn't so bad. Lets just pick up starting with today and if we don't already know each other we soon will, I hope.

This week I have been trying to get ready for a family outing to Stone Mountain Park. It is something we did almost every year with all the kids (seven, for those not in the know) as they were growing up. We always had such fun! The train ride around the mountain, our picnic dinner, and the laser show were always my favorites. Several of the kids are really looking forward to some of their new attractions. One called the sky hike has a few interested, while others think the new 4-D movie will be great fun. There is really something for every one to do no matter your age or interests. This will be our first trip with the grand babies (four, as you can see in my profile pic). I am so excited. It is an ordeal trying to get all of us together at one time these days. There are 18 of us now and that takes some serious scheduling. I am so glad it has worked out. (THANKS KIDDOS!) The best part is the kids all seem as excited as I am
.....well ...okay, most of them are almost as excited as I am and that's good enough for me.

I have a few simple projects I am working on to take with us, will try to share those later this week. Also, look for pictures from our family day at the mountain sometime next week.

Jody