~At Last A Day At The Beach~

At last I got to spend a day at the ocean. I've been lucky enough in my lifetime to see the Pacific as well as the Atlantic but have never spent more than a few minutes there until today.
We left Concord, NH today and did a bit of looking at antique shops. I saw some wonderful hand hooked rugs which I have shown below. Some were made as early as the late 1800's and also a great penny rug made in the 1800's.

We started out for Portsmouth, NH but actually went on up the coast a bit to Maine and what fun we had.


Just look at the wonderful lighthouse we found. Built in 1879, Cape Neddick is the southernmost of Maine's many lighthouses. It is also called Nubble Light, refering to the barran rocky island (the Nubble) on which it sits, just off shore. The 41 foot tower is constructed of cast iron plates lined with brick. Cape Neddick's fourth-order lens flashes red every six seconds, and is visible for 13 miles.

Cape Neddick is an extremely windy point, and viciously cold 100 mph winds caused problems with the flow of oil to the lamp for many years, until electricity came to the Nubble in 1938.





We drove up the coast just a ways to a place called Ogunquit Beach. There you can see the waves come crashing into the granite rocks and walk along the nicest beaches. Houses built near the shoreline were all along the pathways. One young man was brave enough to try out the water.












We then ate dockside at a little restaurant. Danny had clam chowder and I tried the fish and chips. MMMMhhh wonderfully good!
Here are just a few of the many hooked rugs and the large penny rug we saw today.










Tomorrow is sure to be another wonderful day but I'm missing my family and can't wait to see Sloan again!

Happy Trails.....Ginger

Moose on the Loose & Dyed in Wool

Today as we traveled through Vermont into New Hampshire you would often find these signs Moose crossing. We have yet to see a moose but have seen deer. I hope to see a moose maybe not to up close and personal but since we don't have them around our neck of the woods it would be great to see just one!


Along the way we saw a big pumpkin farm that you could go out and pick your own pumpkins. They are watered by the nearby creeks and rivers.

All along the highways you see running rivers winding their ways down the mountains. They are running through the edges of towns and homes are built right at the water's edge. It is simply beautiful.


We stopped by the edge of the road to take a picture of this breathtaking scene. The mountains in the background are just breathtaking!






The colors in the picture don't really show just how brilliant the true colors are. They are so rich in color that it just looks as though someone painted a picture!



We have also seen many logging trucks.


Now for the highlight of my day. I met a very talented lady that teaches rug hooking in her home. She had hand~dyed wool in an abundant of colors. Rooms packed with treasures of hand~hooked rugs, linen, patterns, and wool from the floor to the ceiling! It was a dream come true!!!!


This is one of the many rugs she has hooked and of course before I left I had lots of treasures! Thank you Linda for the invitation to come see all your goodies.


Once we left the Silver Creek area in New Hampshire we drove along until we reached Concord, NH. Where we found a wonderful little mexican food place that was located in old downtown that once was used as the Police Station.


The original jail cells were still intact but made for interesting little rooms for dining. We didn't find ourselves within the walls of a cell but just outside the steel bars!

The Concord Police station was made in 1890 and for that period in time it was quite large.
The picture below tells a little bit about the history.


Tomorrow we plan to go back to old downtown Concord and visit some of the quaint little shops then head for Portsmouth to find Danny a little bit of that seafood he loves so much.

Happy Trails....Ginger

~*A Little Bit of Vermont*~

We spent an absolutely beautiful day in Vermont! This morning we took a walk along Lake Champlain. The mountains in the background are beginning to change into brilliant colors of reds, oranges, and golds.


Then we were off to Shelburne Museum where we would see exhibits of art, quilts, blacksmithing, printing presses, tools and wares from the 1800's, and much more.


This round barn had 3 different stories...The very bottom was like a cool place for underground storage.


Warren Kimble's paintings were displayed...these were two of my favorites.




There was another old building that housed olde carriages and sleighs. This one was an undertaker's carriage.


This was called a "School bus Sleigh"...and was used in the 1800's to pick up children in Vermont to take them to a one room schoolhouse. You could see where it had scraped along the trees along the path to school.


There were olde~tyme printing presses.


In the weaving house you could see all types of spinning wheels for flax and wool. They had large and small weaving looms and were still being used today.


Old~fashion hat boxes and band boxes filled this room.


These were handmade quilts from the 1800's....someone took excellent care of these through the years!




A covered bridge that is no longer used but you can walk through it.


Danny found a resting place on a pear tree limb just before leaving. My absolute favorite place on the grounds was the general store that held many old items from so long ago. Shoes, socks, tonics, fabrics, sewing goods, cups, plates, school slates, and so much more.


We found a local farmer's market to stop at and enjoyed looking at all the pumpkins and apples they had to offer.


Happy Birthday Danny! Well it was a fun~filled day spent together and then a delicious meal at a local Italian restaurant to celebrate Danny's birthday. I hope you enjoyed a little bit of Vermont with us......Tomorrow we take off for New Hampshire!

Happy Trails.....Ginger

Missing All Of You Already!

It's Vacation Time!!!! The cows are enjoying more pastures and we've put out a few extra bales of hay, the shop is closed up good and tight, the bags are all packed, and I've hugged Sloan as much as I could today. As usual I always have mixed feelings about going on vacation.

Each year as the time draws near I start thinking about leaving my family behind and heading out with Danny to some place new for a few days of rest and just enjoying another part of this great country that we have yet to see.

I love going places but always have this sense of urgency about my family that's not right there beside me. By the time a week's up I'm more than ready to come home. It's crazy I know but that's how very close I am to my grown kiddo's, Dad & Mom, sisters, and of course Sloan!

It's sure to be a fun and exciting trip as we head to the beautiful New England States but a big part of my heart will still be right here in Oklahoma!

Happy Trails....Ginger

ONE YEAR AGO TODAY!!!!

It seems just like a few days ago when we were anticipating the arrival of our very 1st grandchild. I never really knew what people meant by....just wait until you have grandkids! It's true.....I think when your raising your own your so busy with everything you don't have time to enjoy all the little moments. Somehow it's different with grandbabies. Life's hurries and worries are put aside and you simply just ENJOY!


Exactly one year ago this little boy with a head full of hair made his appearance and my life will never be the same. He's been an absolute joy beyond my imagination.

He loves going to see Papa's cows.


Outside is his most favorite place to be.


He is fascinated with all the scarecrows and loves to touch them.


So today after lunch in celebration of his birthday a little cupcake for my little pipsqueak! I'm sure the next year will be just as treasured!

Happy Trails....Ginger

I've been dreaming of a *White Christmas*

Well my name's not Polly but I've been a doodlin'.....Thought I would share a free little doodle with you. You can use it however you like. Maybe redwork, needle punch, rug hooking, perhaps painted. Maybe you might want to copy one of for your little one to color!

Now for these little guys below they are from patterns in my Christmas Time's A Comin' Booklet that is on Lemon Poppy Seeds in the Pattern section. It has 12 total patterns inside. I plan to try some in redwork....love to stitch don't ya know!



Hope you enjoy the little doodle and if your interested in the Christmas booklet stop by my Shop for a visit!
Singing Polly Wolly Doodle all Day.......

Happy Trails....Ginger