CED ~2008 -

Since our road trip, we been back at our daily grind. Me with catching up on housework, and Don returning to work once again. I sketched a bit in my sketchbook and attempted a watercolor on non-watercolor paper without to much success. Then Don's day off rolls around and he's restless and ready to go and do once again.

On Monday, we sat and discussed a lot of things that we'd like to get accomplished around our home... unfinished projects, those we'd like to begin... so we started creating a list so that we obtain any materials we may or may not need to get those things done. After dinner, we sat out on our rear deck, enjoying the late afternoon/early evening, gave Chaos a good brushing, and finally removed a boatload of yarrow that was taking over the top section of back yard watergarden. I don't remember planting it... or purchasing it... so I'm assuming some seeds had spread into something I did plant. Either way, I'm happy we ripped it out and removed it.

Yesterday, we visited a resale shop for used furniture early in the day, as we're still searching for a "just right" smaller kitchen table. Although, neither of us are in no real hurry to replace the one we have. We've decided to continue looking, brainstorming ideas for other options, until we get the Spiderback chairs out of layaway. We could get those out but have opted to leave them in until September. Then, we took a trip over to Ontario, where we stopped into the Flower Factory, Barnes and Nobles, then on back to Arbor Creek Gardens. I made some purchases --- more Tim Holtz's Distress Ink Pads, Somerset Studios and Artful Blogging mags, and then some plants to fill in the watergarden once again. On our way home, we stopped and visited with Amber, Chris, and Alexxis, making plans to get Little Miss for an overnight visit on Saturday night.

We arrived home just as it was nearing twilight and with just enough time for me to replant the watergarden with some ornamental grasses, some coleus, and a flowering perennial, that I've already forgotten the name of... Anyways, I'll try to capture some photographs of the re-planting soon.

My mind has been on finishing up some of the million and one projects that we always seem to have going on. One day, I hoping to make it out to the studio to finish up with the re-organizing efforts I started earlier this year. My mind tells me I should wait until late fall and take advantage of the dog days of summer and accomplishing all the things I could be utilizing this weather to complete. So, who knows what's next...

Tomorrow evening we're going check out an auction that Don's been desiring to attend and on Saturday, I intend to do some snuggling with one very special little girl!

On the way home....

As we drove out of Baltic, on a road that neither of us know to where it may lead, we drive up and then, down over hills for several miles, then into a twisting, winding, curvy road...
first to the right...

then, to the left...

and to the left again... for miles and miles and miles.

Until we finally began seeing some signs of civilization in some road signs for Historic Roscoe Village outside of Coshocton, Ohio. We arrived there at approximately 5:30-6:00 p.m. and the Visitor's centers was closed, so we opted to get out and stretch for a minute or two while taking in the view of this:

Here's Don, asking me, "What in the world have you gotten me into?" Hmmm, should I mention that he was the one doing the driving, LOL!

On our way into Roscoe Village we did notice road signs for St. Rt. 36 West. It's a road we've been on sections of during previous road trips so we took it, driving through Mt. Victory or is it Mt. Vernon?, Centerburg, Sunbury, and finally into Delaware, where we made a pit stop into the Cracker Barrel for potty break and a hot cup of coffee as we made our way back towards home. Needless to say, seeing our driveway was a welcoming sight and the perfect ending to an amazing day!

Amish country, con't...

Here's another Amish buggy... I believe I captured this one as we were entering or heading into a small town called Baltic, Ohio. I'd have loved to have been able to stop and check out this little General store and taken a few more photographs.

CED ~ 2008 - More pics from our Amish country trip...

It's been a while since I loaded the previous photographs but here's a few more taken from our trip last Wednesday over and into Amish Country. The photo above could grace a postcard! It is taken from behind the Der Dutchman Restaurant in Walnut Creek and is what one would view from inside the restaurant with it's amazing wall of windows. This restaurant is one of our favorite places to grab a bite to eat when we're in this area. Normally, we settle for ordering the buffet as it's filled with a variety of Amish cooked foods to enjoy. After dinner, we wander back behind the restaurant to take in the view. Both of us enjoy visiting the gift shoppe located directly across the street, even if Don tells me one each visit that we've previously, "been there and done that".

And since he actually said that to me, we decided to just drive, out onto some of surrounding County roads where views like this one are plentiful. Isn't that view gorgeous?! I could definately get used to waking up to that every day for the rest of my life!

Here's another fairly common view... sharing the road with Amish horses, families, and buggies. I didn't even mind being behind them as it quickly makes you realize it's time to slow down and take in nature's beauty, to breathe freely, and to take each and every moment of life in... its a refreshing reminder.

Scenes, like the one above, are also everywhere you look. It's part of the experience as you drive up over one hill after another or take the next curve in the road. Then, you spy something like this windmill and it makes want to abandon the vehicle for some slower mode of transportation! This would be the one area that I would to travel in a golf cart or heck, even on a bicycle. I couldn't even begin to count the number of times, I wished we could have been able to simply park the Jeep and walk, my mind reeling with all the amazing photo opportunities available.

Keeping "Christ" in "Christmas....

And lastly, but never the least, nothing says Christmas quite like a Nativity scene... Isn't this one absolutely adorable?

And there's yet another garden arbor decorated for the season...

Okay, we didn't drive the entire way to Walnut Creek only to visit this store. I just somehow got all caught up in it, LOL! I'll add some more photographs of our road trip at a later date ---but for now, I've got "chair butt" from posting all of those I've previously posted today. I'll share more of those taken on thisf day soon... I promise!

A "Hodge-Podge" of images from 'Tis The Season...

I never imagined when I began uploading these photographs that they'd span across a couple pages within my blog... So, if you love Christmas, as much as I do... be certain to click on the "older posts" link at the bottom of the page...

This one is for all of us "Snowmen" or "Snow-women" lovers out there. This shoppe offers a wide variety of different style snowmen. Although, I actually captured this photograph for several reasons... I obtained eight of these glass shelved modular cubes years ago when I purchased my studio furnishings from the hands of store liquidator so I was very interested in the mirrored back panels displayed with those modulars here. And do you see those acrylic reindeer's on the next to the bottom shelf? I actually own one of the two... the buck with his head bowed! I purchased it years ago and have utilized him on a mirror in the center of a wreath as a display located on our back kitchen countertop! Seeing this one was like visiting an old friend!


I loved this old world Santa and sleigh, being pulled by none other than a polar bear! Isn't it stunning!!!!

Another Old World style of Santa... this one as tall as I am! {or should that be as "short" as I am... since I'm only 5'1" in height.}

Here's , yet another, radiant tree... I love the Santa hats used as a tree topper and those amazingly large white irridescent glitter snowflakes! And we won't discuss how I missed that beautiful white feather tree to the left of the photograph! I'd love to obtain one of those for use in my studio along with some vintage style white and teal blue ornaments I purchased one year after the "after Christmas" clearance sales! Hmmm, maybe we'll have to make another trip to 'Tis The Season before the holiday season approaches!

And Look! It's Santa!!!! {Sorry, ladies, he's been spoken for... you'll simply have to find your own...}
Doesn't he appear excited? Perhaps, he's waiting for Christmas to arrive too.... at least, he's waiting patiently, because you know what he'd discover in his stocking this year!!!

I don't know about you but I found this beautiful red tinsel tree absolutely mesmerizing! How unique, is that??!! And dang it! There's another gorgeous white shining tinsel tree!!! Is it me or do you also hearing them whispering my name?

An "Over-View" of the Shoppe...

Once again, I apologize for some of the blurry appearance of some of these photographs. It's hard enough capturing photographs of lighted Christmas trees, especially without the use of a tripod, but add in the excitement factor of being in such beautiful and gorgeous surroundings and having the opportunity to purchase any and everything that your heart could ever desire, and your mind twirling with thoughts and ideas of all that you could create... Oh My! I was definitely on "inspiration overload" LOL!

I captured these photographs on our way up of the second story land. Here is the top of large arched garden arbor that was so beautifully decorated and an overview of the a portion of the shoppe's first story. Isn't it amazing!!! It's definitely a magical, mystical experience...

I captured more of the first floor while we browsed each section of themed areas and would you believe that there is actually more that I didn't obtain photographs of? I really loved these two exquisite white and gold colored themed trees... they were ever so elegant!

Another shot at that beautiful lamp post and another beautiful display utilizing a garden arbor.