Outdoors

As most of you know, our favorite weekend place in the world is Grey Rocks Ranch.  We have been going there every free weekend for a while now - definitely since Ted and I were married.  The kids love it, but it has especially grown on Ward.  He is consumed by all things outdoors - quail hunting, duck hunting, deer hunting, fishing - even just driving around looking for animals is a real treat for him.  This love for nature (and the fun sports that surround it) has also made him closer to his daddy and granddaddy.  I feel warm inside knowing the memories they are making together and the bonding that is occuring between them during those periods of hunting. 

Ward got a bow and arrow for Christmas, but it was really a toy and was quickly broken.  Ted decided that he was ready for his first compound bow and arrow and ordered one off the internet, after a failed attempt at buying one from Mark's Outdoors.  (Note: never tell a child that you are going to a store to buy them something because when that store doesn't have it the disappointment is awful.)  Once it arrived I realized how real it was - he could definitely kill a small, or probably large, animal with that thing.  He got a chance to shoot at a deer target at Grey Rocks this weekend and had the time of his life.  I think that he has told me at least 15 times that he shot it in the heart!  Go Ward!

Ready . . .

                                                                             Aim . . . .

                                                          
                                                                                    Fire!!

Snow day . . . or should I say ice?

On Sunday night and early Monday morning, the ice and some snow hit Birmingham.  I was so thankful that we didn't lose power.  It made the whole experience so much better.  All I could think about was the storm in 1992 when we didn't have power for days and I was so frozen to the core of my body.  Thank goodness mom and dad now have a maxed-out generator.  I think that I woud have walked to their house if need-be.

But back to 2011.  The kids had the best time.  It wasn't unbearbly cold, mainly because it wasn't very windy, so the kids could really enjoy what little snow we got.  I think that their favorite part by far was sledding.  The sleds were trashed (literally) by the end of the day, but were so much fun!  The ice was so slick, they could really get going, even with a small incline.

playing on the sleds in our yard

Sam was all bundled up and ready to play!

Two of my three boys!

so fun!!!

catching snowflakes on her tongue

Love it that Sam is trying to run away . . . .

Silly face!

And then we moved over to my parent's house where the driveway provided hours worth of fun!

Ava Canterbury was with us for most of the day and she had a great time as well.  (Her parents were in Arizona for the Auburn game.)

Action shot!

Ward loved it and ended in the bushes each time!

going backwards!

Great smile!

I know that this is blurry, but I love how you can see the pure joy on her face!

the group of sledders

take two (thanks for making both picutres so cute, Ann Park!)

Pine Hill Plantation

As I stated in an earlier post, we were at Pine Hill Plantation last weekend.  It is truly quail hunting at its finest.  The dogs found more coveys than I have ever seen (total in my life) and there were at least 15-20 birds per covey.  But the best part was being outside and being with my family.  Here is a sampling of the experience:

mule-drawn carriage

my cowboy

Martin and his trusty steed

The crew on the buggy (dogs in the cages in back)

dog pointing quail covey

Jeanne and mom on the trail of some birds!

shootin in the trees

Dad and Martin

Martin getting a turn

another dog on point

me and Kit on our horses . . . by far the tamest of the group!

the group after Saturday's hunt

A lot has happened

A lot has happened since my last post, and I promise to catch you all up - I know, you are just dying with exchitement.  First, there was the incredible weekend with my sisters, their husbands and mom and dad to Pine Hill Plantation in southern Georgia for a good, old fashioned quail hunt, complete with horses, a mule-drawn carriage, bird dogs, and lots and lots of birds (some of which are now dead).  I have some great pictures that I will post later.  And note that there were NO CHILDREN - the first time in 6 years we have been together without at least one!  It was a great time.

Second, there was the "Winter Storm of 2011" - well at least they were predicting something like that.  Turned out to be a lot of ice, with some snow on top of that.  The roads were pretty bad, but with Ted's Land Rover we were able to go pretty much anywhere.  The kids were out of school for 2 days, which was fun for them, but after a while got old for momma.  I also have some great pictures that I will post.

Third, and here comes the sad part, two pillars of families died this weekend.  Houston Blount (he was my Aunt Barbara's, who is married to mom's brother, father) passed away.  He had been very ill for a long time, and it was a blessing, but it is always hard.   He was a brilliant business man and had a smile that could light up a room.  He always supported the community and his wife, Frances, is one of my favorite people.  I will remember his deep laughter and twinkle in his eye.  He was always so big and strong, especially to a little girl like myself when I first got to know him - not the sick man that I saw on Christmas day.  He will be missed by all who knew him.  Here is a link to his obituary.

Additionally, my Aunt "Ginna" passed away.  Her husband was Frank Park Samford, my grandmother's brother.   She was a lover of the arts and I think that she was one of the prettiest ladies that I have ever known.  I remember always admiring her and still love to hear stories about her and Uncle Frank.  She was very involved in the arts and theater, and he passed on her love for the arts to her children as well as her grandchildren.  And her talent was passed down as well - her daughter Mae is amazing and her granddaughter, Suzanne, has one of my favorite voices, period (she sang at my wedding!).  A link to her obituary is here.

So we have two funerals this weekend, but I will get to see some of my favorite family members at both.  I hate that these deaths are what will bring us together though.  But I guess that is the thing about funerals . . . you mourn with people you love.

Etsy

Anybody else out there obsessed with Etsy?  I am.  When I am bored at work (which happens more than I like to admit), I usually read through my usual blogs (sister, cousin, friends, Pioneer Woman - yes, I am still stalking her), then I head over to a couple of news outlets just so I know what is going on in the world, but then I always seem to find myself browing through Etsy.  There are so many talented people out there - and also some really weird ones as well - that sell stuff on that site.

Today, I stumbled upon a terrific vendor - 3Dots Jewelry.  She has a bunch of jewelry (duh, the name), but also a few other treasurers.  The vast majority is in the $20-$40 price range which is refreshing and it is all so unique.  The pieces are modern and retro (I guess that can they be both at the same time), and a little "crunchy", as I like to say, but definitely not something you see every day.  Love it!

Here are some examples of the jewelry --



I am going to bookmark her for go-to birthday gift, or even maybe get a little something for myself! (NOTE: she is in Quebec so not a last-minute type gift!)  Happy browsing/shopping!

Pictures of Sam

Like I said in an earlier post (and gave you a sneak peak), we had pictures of Sam taken a couple of months ago.  Below are a couple more shots that the photographer posted on Facebook.

For all those interested, here is the link to all the pictures: www.heatherswannerphotography.com/samholt

Resolutions

I don't do New Years resolutions.  In the years that I have tried, I have always come up with something that was completely unattainable and then I feel bad about myself when in like 5 weeks I am not following through with my resolution.  As a result, I had really not even given a New Years resolution a thought this year - until last night.

Ted and I went to Mass last night at our church. It was nice because grandmom kept Ward and Sam and only Ann Park came with us.  So I was really able to listen to the homily.  The associate priest, Father John, was on for the night.  I really like Father John as he is only a year older than me and also a convert like me.  He grew up outside of Mobile and has this funny accent.  But that is not the point of the story.  He said something in his homily that made me think that maybe I should have a resolution this year.  Well, not a resolution, but maybe a goal to strive for over the course of the year. 

He said (and I am paraphrasing): "Act on what you believe."  What a simple, yet challenging concept.  Before you can act on what you believe, you have to know and understand what you believe. Of course, Father John was talking about Christian belief, but belief extends well past religion and/or faith.   And then to put actions behind that belief so that it will have life.  A belief, no matter how heart-felt or genuine, is nothing without action.  And to put a belief into action can be very hard to do - especially when it is not the "norm" or what everyone else is doing.

So my goals for this year are two-fold.  First to know what I believe.  For me, that means researching my faith, but also searching my heart.  And then, second, I am going to (try to) shape my actions to reflect those beliefs.  Purposeful actions.  Not just going through the motions.