An Afternoon in Chimney Rock

A couple weekend ago Bob, Carter and I went to Chimney Rock on the bikes. It was such a beautiful day so of course this tiny little town was hopping. Bikes everywhere. The road from our house to Chimney rock is a twisty thing so it attracts a lot of bikes. We had a nice  lunch at Medina's and then went across the street to get ice cream. Unfortunately they did not accept CC and we had no cash. No Cash = No ice cream.

So instead of ice cream we went down to the river and hopped rocks for a little while.

Carter is trying to decide if he can make the jump.

The body language is so similar between these two.

Hand in pockets.

Like father, like son. He also does the same thing with his mouth that his dad does when he is thinking.

Carter didn't do too bad taking the picture. Can you see the fear in my face worrying that he would drop it in the river.

This is a sign that was on one of the stores. Someone REALLY need to explain to them just how wrong this is. Or maybe that was their plan. 

Don't stand there too long or you might get painted!

My husband is starting to worry. My kids are concerned. The dog hides outside. The cat has stopped begging for food. 
My dealer is only open on Wednesday through Sunday. I have to make what I have last. I worry that I will run out.
I am wondering what I can sell next to pay for my next fix. But if I have the money where will I find IT?

Ok that may not all be true but my husband is a little worried about what will be painted next.

 These are my latest "Fixes". I found these chairs at Goodwill, imagine that.I know you are completely surprised right? They are Cochrane chairs from the 40's. Don't know if that date is completely right, but I saw a reference to that date on another site with the same chairs. Any hoooo, they were $10.00 bucks each. I wish there had been six but I was glad to get the four.

I painted them with the Annie Sloan graphite first. Lightly sanded them with a fine grit sanding block to distress them a touch. Applied the Annie Sloan dark wax.

After the wax was applied I used and old cloth diaper and buffed it with good old elbow grease. By doing this you can forgo and gym membership because buffing this chairs is guaranteed to tone any bingo wings you have going on. I recommend employing child labor to help with this manual labor.

After the wax is applied I go over with a coat of lacquer from Annie Sloan. This eliminates any tacky feeling from the wax.

Martha has her ball. She loves her ball.

I like distressing each piece just a little bit. Adds a little character. It also keeps me from freaking out when my kids uses them for something like, oh I don't know, standing on them with cleats to get glass out of the cabinet. The damage they inflict on them just adds a little more character.

I picked these two chairs up at the same time, they are form Elan College. I will use them at each end of the table.

They were sturdy and well made but I did not like the emblem that was engraved in the wood.

 I applied a little wood filler with my fingers to really get it into the tiny grooves.  I allowed it to dry for about an hour and then sanded with a fine grit sanding block.

After I sanded it down until it was smooth to the touch and could not feel any ridges, I applied a coat of the paint.

After it dried I sanded it lightly to distress the paint.

Added a coat of wax

And then added a coat of lacquer.*****UPDATE**** Do not do this...I was told by a stockist that this is possible....it is NOT. It will bubble and blister and make a BIG MESS!

Meet my new $10.00 chair! Man I love a good deal!

Easter Egg Hunt in the Neighborhood

Our neighbors hosted a Easter Egg Hunt on Sunday afternoon.  It was a beautiful day that was bright and sunny. (difficult for taking pictures though)

We had not met many of our neighbors being that we moved in the middle of the winter. That is hunker down time, no one seems to leave their homes. I was honestly beginning to think no one lived here. That they were all pretend homes. Everyone is out and about now, working in their yards and walking their dogs.

Sophia finally met Olivia, the only other teenager that I know of that lives in the neighborhood.

Carter was in serious egg hunt mode, he was ready to get the party started. There was candy to be found and he was going for it.

Olivia and Sophia, those names just sound pretty together.

Trying to tell Carter that he needs to leave the low lying easy to find ones for the little kids. Lots a luck there.

Little Miss R was rather intrigued by Carter and would have really like him to move over so she could sit with him. I know Carter was thinking...aah, no. Your a girl and I ain't sitting with no girl.

She finally gave up and went to sit with her brother.

Candy? Who needs candy. Rocks will work fine thank you.

Master C sitting down and enjoying a sample of the fruits of the hunt. Enjoy it now kid because you know, all candy disappears after midnight. It is in the fine print.

Renu and Arthur, our hosts.

It was so bright out that all of her pictures she is looking down. It is a classic little kid picture. You know the ones where your mom knows she is to have the sun to her back while taking the picture but it is so bright that you cannot look at her without squinting.

See? Looking down.

Sophia and Bob. I am loving seeing a smile on our daughters face again.  I missed it. A LOT

Add caption

Sonya and Frank, Grandparents to Master C and Lady R.

Egg races.

Carter and the girls

It's going to be tight.

A tie in the end

Add caption

The adults are going to give it a try.

They are a talented group I tell ya.

Your a brave kid Carter playing water balloon toss with your sister.

Musical Chairs. When was the last time you played?

It was a fun afternoon. We would have enjoyed socializing a bit more with everyone but we had to pick up Sam in Hillsville.

Thank you Renu and Arthur for some wonderful memories.