Petticoats and Parasols - Day 1

Hi Everyone,

I had such a wonderful weekend in Savannah, Georgia with all the wonderful ladies at Petticoats & Parasols! Jenn was such a wonderful hostess, the event was really incredible.

My friend Jennifer from Chicago met me down in Savannah, and we arrived at the Savannah airport, which really is the cutest airport I've ever been to, seriously! We grabbed a cab to the hotel in Savannah, and were immediately welcomed by Jenn and a few other gals.

After unpacking quickly, we ran over to a nearby bar/grill for lunch (we were starving!).

The food wasn't too bad and we were able to relax a bit from the long day of travel (I flew in on a 5am flight from Phoenix!) and get ready for the weekend ahead!

After we had some food in us we took a walk through a few of the squares that make up Savannah. The architecture was so cool to see.

I am standing next to a door to a secret garden...love that!! Well it isn't too secret, the pictures below are what you see through the gates....but still, back in the day can you imagine this being overgrown with greenery, and finding a hidden key, and sneaking in ... this is starting to sound like a book I read somewhere....

The trees too were really neat because they are so different than anything we have in the midwest (that goes for the history as well!).

There were statues in some of the squares of different people.

I love old signage - this is from a theatre downtown Savannah.

I just love the street name "Bull". Wouldn't you love to live on Bull Street? I don't know why, I just think it'd be fun!

After our walking tour of town, we rushed back to the hotel to get ready for the opening night dinner, guest speaker - the amazing Jo Packham, and the SUGAR BAR!

Here is what we walked into...and I am sorry this picture doesn't do the decor justice!

Roselyn-Sue put together a fun and tasty Sugar Bar! Full of candy and treats! Thanks so much Roselyn-Sue, I hope you feel better ASAP!!!

The "real" bar offered a fun peach martini that was a tasty treat too!

Our Guest Speaker was Jo Packham, of Where Women Create fame (and so much more). If you haven't read Where Women Create, first of all where have you been living?!?!, second run out and buy the latest copy ASAP. It is such an inspiring magazine!

Jenn Hayslip was such a wonderful hostess! Jenn I hope you had fun even with all the hard work you did!! Know that we all enjoyed ourselves so much!!

More to share later....Day 2, and Day 3 yet to come!!!

-Rach

Harley's Friends

Hi All -

Have to share something pretty cute.

My Mom has all the dolls she has created on the guest bedroom bed. Harley thinks they are his little friends and enjoys sneaking in there to take a nap and hang out with them! Just don't tell his Grandma!

He isn't so lonely with friends like these!!

You can see more of my Mom's quilts on her Blog - Acorn Ridge Quilting.

Enjoy!

-Rach

Happy April Birthdays

Hi All -

Happy Birthday to all the April Birthday's out there. April is a popular birthday month from my circle of friends and family.

Today is my friend Nicole's b-day, last week my brother turned the BIG 4-0!!! Wow....

My friend Mike, Matt, Shantelle, and my Grandma all have birthdays this month...and I'm probably forgetting a few.

This year my friend Megan celebrated my birthday early since she is out of town this week. This is the forth year she has made this delicious Angel Food cake for me. We enjoyed the cake with blackberries and raspberries. YUM!! What a great tradition!

I convince myself that Angel Food cake is really "healthy" for me, don't you agree?!!? Better than a rich chocolate cake or carrot cake, although carrot cake somehow sounds healthy too ;)

Ok enough pictures, let's dig in!!!

I also was sent home with more cake, and finished it the following morning for breakfast....well I really didn't have any food in my Denver house!! So I HAD TO!!

What are your favorite birthday traditions??

Cheers!

-Rach

Easter Family Day!

Hi Everyone,

I hope you all had a wonderful Easter Weekend. I know it was awhile ago! However I don't know about you, but my April has been quite a whirlwind!

I spent Easter in Nebraska with my family. The Easter Bunny hid a LOT (65+) eggs! My youngest niece Allie took over and found all the eggs. The Easter Bunny was very generous and for her efforts she gathered nearly $19 in change!

Allie spent time emptying all the money and candy from the plastic eggs and threw the empties in the below box. Harley decided he had better check out what was going on. Harley spent most of the day upstairs with the family. My Dad and I picked up my Grandma in the morning while my Mom prepared the rest of lunch. We then picked up my brother and his two daughters to bring everyone out. Harley's personality is definitely coming out stronger now that his brother MaGraw has passed. He is a funny kitty.

Harley doesn't sit still too long unless he is tired from running around like crazy. Here he is ready to jump from my lap to chase a little "fake" lady bug beetle thing...

Happy Spring,

-Rach

Claudine Hellmuth - Frayed Edge

Hi Everyone,

I had the great fortune of attending an art class in Lincoln NE with instructor Claudine Hellmuth! Her line of paints, sticking back canvas and gel mediums were amazing. The fun techniques she showed us were inspired as well.

My friend Kara Ward from My Studio Pink, drove in a Blizzard (not kidding) all the way from Kansas City, and then all the way home after the class!! Thank goodness she made it both ways safe and sound, and thank goodness we had the time to enjoy the class together, as well as a fun lunch at Granite City.

Claudine was such a fun instructor, so happy she came to visit us in Nebraska!! Thanks Claudine!!

Will share my creations when I have better lighting for photos!!

-Rach