A Trip to Hollywild

This past Saturday we packed the boys in the minivan and headed over to Welford, SC to visit Hollywild Animal Park. Located out in country and away from any major city, it is a small, but wonderful family zoo that has been privately owned and operated for over 40 years. It is home to many "movie stars" both current and retired. Opening the zoo to the public is a way to help the owners raise the funds to care for the animals, and continue to house those that are trained for use in various movies, tv shows and other public appearances. With the exception of the exotic/wild animals, many of the residents are domesticated and available for the kids to touch and feed. The boys had a blast walking around the park, talking to and feeding the animals. We enjoyed a great afternoon and look forward to visiting again soon.

Summer 2011

I can't believe it's already September. It feels like just last week we were in Florida celebrating New Years. In May, Ian graduated preschool and our summer began with a trip to Orlando in June to visit my sister and her family. The boys had a blast spending a few days with their cousins, Andrew and Sam - the highlight being the afternoon swims in their new pool. (Ian now asks for a pool in our backyard on pretty much a weekly basis) We also enjoyed a fun visit to the Orlando Science Center, as well as a quick trip over to the National Seashore so the boys could spend a few minutes at the beach. We didn't stay long though thanks to a huge thunderstorm that built up and moved in quickly. We literally listened to thunderstorm warnings on the radio the entire drive home.
In July the boys got to see their cousins again when my sisters family traveled up to South Carolina to spend some time with us. The highlight this week was hands down the day we spent out on Lake Keowee. For the second year in a row, we rented a pontoon boat and spent the day exploring the lake. We pulled up to one of the many islands in the lake, swam, at lunch and swam some more. I still think Lake Keowee has got to be one of the prettiest easily accessible lakes in the country. I just love all the rolling terrain and mountains that surround it's emerald waters.
We began August by driving up to Townsend, TN to visit Grandma and Grandpa for a few days. This was the first time I made the 3 hour trip over the mountains just the boys and me, and it was as easy as I hoped it would be. We spent our days there exploring Cades Cove, playing at grandma's house, and doing a little back to school shopping for Ian at the Outlets in Pigeon Forge.
On August 18th Ian began is first day of Kindergarten. Let me tell you, this kid loves going to school this year. He jumps out of bed when I wake him in the morning, gets dressed and is usually ready to head out the door before it's time to leave. Brendan misses his big brother now that he is in school all day, but is excited about starting preschool three mornings a week after Labor Day.
Well, there you have it. The Cliff Notes of our summer. :)

?? Title Unknown ??

As I sit down to write my first blog post in over a year, I'm at a loss as what to even title it. Life in SC is good, and we've been busy as always. I suppose instead of trying to think of everything we've been up to in the past year in just one post, I'll instead try and post several times a week and cover a few months at a time. Not even sure if anyone even reads this blog anymore...if so, let me know :)

Busy Busy Busy

I know I haven't updated this in two months...it's been busy as always here. I've been using my spare time to work on more knitting and crochet projects for the boys, and other family members. I have ordered quite a few skeins of my favorite wool yarn in coops over the past few months and those are now starting to arrive, so I have many projects ahead of me this fall/winter.

I recently finished a play romper for Ian that he saw in one of my crochet books and requested I make for him. I'll probably use it more as sleepwear for him, so I used a super soft and squishy yarn that is machine washable. It was a time consuming project considering I only have a few hours in the evening to work on my projects. I finished it about two weeks ago...so here it is:





I also completed a quick wool soaker for my little nephew Ben. To call Mom and Dad UF Gator fans would be an understatement, hence the orange and blue :) I didn't get a picture after I added the tie at the waist, so here it is at about 95% complete.



My began my current project last Friday - a knitted cardigan for Ian. Considering the only knitting I've done in the past was a scarf and a few washcloths, the cardigan might be a bit ambitious, but so far it's going great. I've completed the collar and at least 15 rows of the yoke. I'm loving how the yarn is knitting up - the colorway is just beautiful. I'm using Mosaic Moon "The Black Knight" on Mountain Meadow Rambouillet (wool), with Cestari Fine for the trim. (more wool) It's not the ichy wool that you might think, it's actually very soft against the skin, and wonderful to knit up. I don't have a picture of what it looks like after last night's work, but here is a sneak peak:



Just realized I totally forgot to add my first pair of crochet Mosaic Moon longies that I made for Brendan. The colorway I used is called "October Morning". I love how these turned out and they look beautiful on Brendan. Can't wait to let him wear these more once the weather cools down a bit.

Crochet Projects

I've been busy in the evenings working on several crochet projects. Here are a few of the projects I've completed in the past month or so:

A baby blanket for my cousin's little girl, Hannah Kate.


A skirtie for Hannah Kate. I'm planning on making a shrug/sweater to go with it.


Pants and a sweater for my step brother's newest addition, Lilly. The yarn looked a lot more muted on the computer screen and I was quite shocked at how bright it was when it arrived. I call this the Rainbow Brite outfit. Regardless of the bright colors, I think it still turned out pretty cute.



A pair of wool shorties for Brendan. I used Gaia Organic wool yarn dyed by Family Roots in the First Beach colorway.




My current project is a sweater for Ian using Mosaic Moon's Mountain Meadow Wool in "The First Knight" colorway. I just began this project last night, but in creating the test swatch for proper gage, I just fell in love with the way it works up.



And for fun, two more yarns that I have waiting to be worked up:

Mosaic Moon Cestari Fine in "Goblin" colorway




Alligator Knits, "Goldfish" colorway on Corridale

Paint, Paint, Paint

The past eight weeks or so I've been busy off and on painting various rooms in the house. When we moved in four months ago everything except the inside of the closets was painted in some form of pastel. To say that Eric doesn't like pastels would be an understatement, so the paint had to go. The first room I painted was Brendan's room. I chose his room because even though he is only two years old, I didn't want my little boy to have to live in a light pink bedroom. I chose a color called, "Windsurf" and now my little man has a beautiful blue bedroom that matches the sheets and quilt that will adorn his big boy bed in a year or so. I haven't taken pictures of his room yet though, pending the pictures being hung.

After completing Brendan's room, I moved out into the loft/playroom that is between the boy's bedrooms. It was screaming for some color, and I am quite happy with the result. Again, that picture will be forthcoming...

The next room I painted was the formal dinning room, which we are using as a music/sitting room. My intent is to add a second coat of paint to give a glazed effect, but I haven't yet made my final decision on that color and technique.

The biggest paint job was next on my list - the kitchen, foyer and great room. With the 18 foot ceilings and staircase, it presented more of a challenge. When we moved in, the walls were all painted a light mint green. It looked very nice with the former owners furnishings, but quite tacky with our warm color palate. I chose a mossy sage green that makes the white woodwork and cabinets look clean and crisp, as well as showcase the beautiful warm maple floors. My entire inspiration for the room is the large area rug in the center of the great room. I wanted to pull out the sage green and red's and I think I accomplished the goal nicely. I absolutely love my new rooms!

Before:


After




Before:


After:


The next project I plan on tackling is our master bedroom. We are planning a 3 step faux finish, so it will be another good challenge. I did the same finish in the main bathroom of our house back in WI, but of course, that was a bathroom and this is an entire master suite.

As I complete the projects, I'll try and post pictures.

Future on the Fairways?

The week before last I was shopping for some sandbox toys for the boys and came across a little plastic set of golf clubs on sale. Figuring that the boys where old enough to start learning, I went ahead and bought them. I initially thought that Ian would play with them more, but surprisingly, it was Brendan who seemed to pick it up rather quickly. Daddy helped both boys practice their swing, and they had a great time. Ian had so much fun that a few days later he told me that he wanted to be a golfer when he grew up. (I'm sure that will make Grandpa Jer proud.)That was followed by his statement that his little brother was going to be Doctor Brendan White! I guess only time, and lots of schooling will tell.

Enjoying the Great Outdoors: Station Cove Falls

With yet another beautiful spring weekend upon us, we decided to venture out on a waterfall hike yesterday morning. Having researched hiking trail to many of the waterfalls in Oconee County (there are over 150 identified waterfalls) I found that the easiest, most family friendly trail was only a short 15 minute drive from the house. Due to the beautiful weather, I wasn't surprised at all when we arrived at the trail head to find the small parking lot full. It only holds 5 cars, so we heeded the signs and proceeded back down the road to the Oconee Station Historical Site where we could hike a nature trail back to the Station Cove Falls trailhead. Funny as it sounds, but the nature trail was actually much more rugged than the trail that led to the falls. With spring time in full bloom, the bright green leaves where nothing short of beautiful as we hiked.








Once we again arrived at the trail head to the Station Cove Falls. We then began our half mile hike in, passing a small swamp and an abundance of beautiful wildflowers. Not wanting to carry the big camera bag, I only grabbed my small point and shoot camera, but quickly began wishing I had brought along the DSLR and tripod. I suppose a return trip to the falls will be on the list of things to do in the coming week or two.



The trail crossed several foot bridges as it wove it's way through the forest before leading us past the stream that flows from the bottom of the falls. We had to hop a few rocks over the stream to gain access to the falls, and after a beautiful hike, we found the even more beautiful Station Cove Falls.





















The falls reminded me very much of the Ramsey Cascades in the Smokey Mountain National Park, which I hiked almost 8 years ago. However, that hike was a very strenuous, 8 mile round trip hike with an elevation gain of 2000 feet! Station Cove Falls in comparison was so easy that Ian hiked it all by himself, and I hiked it with Brendan on my back.

I'm still amazed that this beautiful place is such a short distance away. Approaching the falls yesterday, it was almost hard to believe that we get to raise our family in such a beautiful place. I can't wait to begin hiking to other beautiful places in those gorgeous Blue Ridge Mountains that I gaze at as I sit here recalling yesterday's wonderful hike.

Visitors and Springtime Fun

Now that spring has arrived we have been spending an increasing amount of time outside. The past week has been filled with fun hikes and playtime in the backyard with the boys. Last week, my longtime friend from high school, Andrea, visited along with her family. We last saw each other over 5 years ago, well before adding children into our lives. We are now both mothers, and her son Tristan is just a few months younger than Brendan. It was so much fun watching our children play together. Kind of wild to think back to that first day of our junior year of high school when we met, that all these years later our kids would be playing together...all while living a days drive from where we first met! While Andrea and her family were visiting, we drove up into the mountains to explore Devil's Fork State Park, which is located on beautiful Lake Jocassee. We chose to hike the two mile "Bear Cove" loop, a moderate hike that was just right for our group. (Ian hiked it all by himself!) The views at the lake where spectacular. I can't wait to go again once the mountain laurel begins to bloom next month.


Ian hikes with Andrea's step daughter, Camden.


The wildlife we saw: an rather long, yet non-poisonous snake!


A peak at Lake Jocassee


Lake Jocassee


Just had to add a shot of the four kiddos playing together :)

A few days later we once again headed out onto the community hiking trail that connects to our backyard. We ventured a bit further than last time and discovered the covered picnic shelter that sits on Crooked Creek at the point it joins the far end of this arm of Lake Keowee. Next time we'll have to take lunch with us! We then continued on the trail and found several other fun stops along the way.







When we're not out hiking, the boys are enjoying playing on their playset in the backyard. Daddy and Grandpa spent all day Saturday putting it together for them, and they boys where so happy to see it after six months. (It's been in pieces since the move from WI last fall.)







Spring has just begun here, I know we have months of fun outdoor activities ahead of us this year in our new home of South Carolina. I don't think the mountains will ever run out of adventures for our family.