Showing posts with label Oklahoma. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Oklahoma. Show all posts

Tuesday, April 15, 2008

Home sweet Home...

Hello everyone! Boy, does it feel good to be home and not living out of a suitcase. We got back late sunday night, I had planned to post on monday.... but ended up feeling completely exhausted mentally and physically. I had a few orders placed while I was away so I made myself get those out yesterday. But mainly, I just spent the day in my p.j.s. I didnt even start doing the laundry until today! :)


Our trip was a ton of fun, going was a little harder on my physically then coming back... but all in all it was nice! I finally got to spend some time with those nieces of mine. Too Too precious. :) Each very unique from the other, I think they played VERY well together though. While in Oklahoma our last night there, we were hearing rumors about the storm of a century rolling through. Needless to say, I was a little nervous. It POURED, the thunder woke me (which was a surprise since I didnt think I slept all night) up three times, and the lightning was constant all night. Fortunately they tell me Tahlequah usually gets missed by the tornadoes because its more hilly. It did ease my mind a "tad." But, the wind was still not a pleasant sound. :) We live more in the southern part of Washington, so we do not get the rain that Seattle or the coast gets... so my husband always laughs at me when I classify a little rain as pouring. Having been through a rain storm in Oklahoma now.... I understand him. :) JUST that night the river rose 15 ft. and roads we needed to take were flooded. In ONE night! Wow... anyhow I dont know if I will jump at the chance to travel to Oklahoma in April again. :) I liked it when we drove out in May, much better calmer weather.


Although we did have some nice weather in the high 70's when the above picture was taken. We had walked across the street to this park after eating at Sam and Ella's restaraunt. My husband on the left, and his brother had to do a little showing off... boys will be boys. :)


This is the restaraunt we ate at. Sam and Ella's. Say it fast and it sounds like Samonella's. I was a little confused at the name, but inside they poke fun at the name. Decorating with chickens everywhere. It really was some GOOD food. Pizza and sandwiches. I was teasing my husband, and said only in Oklahoma could a restaraunt be called Sam & ellas and be good. :)


On the way there I also got this SUPER sweet motel sign photographed. We passed it on our last trip out to Oklahoma, and I never got a picture. Regretted it ever since. Now that I finally have it I already have plans to digitally tweak it, and add some of my own sketching to complete a print. :) Look for that in the next couple of weeks.

So, anyhow... I did finish my road trip journal. I need to take pictures of it still, and will probably end up dedicating a post this week just for it. It was a little more difficult to keep up on it this trip. I think it was harder for me to sit in one position long enough to complete a page... so I am not as thrilled with it as I was with my last one... but oh well! :) I still love that it is done, and documents almost ALL of our trip.


Also- To anyone that knows me... you know how much I have DREAMED about finally going to an Ikea store... I have the last three years of Ikea catalgues, and believe you me... they have seen some wear. Pages bookmarked, scribbled, and countless wish lists have been made. But, I can now finally cross that off my list of places to go. Hawaii and Ireland will have to stay on a little longer I think. ;) On the way to Oklahoma we seen this ikea off the freeway just outside of Salt Lake City, I very nearly jumped out of the moving vehicle. I was begging and pleading to stop by there on our way home... when we passed a Cabellas just a mile down further... bargaining power. Now, I would like to think my husband would still have made time for us to stop in Ikea even if for just a quick walk through (if that is even possible) BUT the Cabellas sealed the deal, and an agreement was made. So, on the way back we stopped in salt Lake City for a night and was able to spend a few hours in Cabellas and a few in Ikea. My poor poor feet. Bummer of it all, we went to Cabellas first. My feet were so soar, but I was not about to let that keep me from Ikea. The store was HUGE, and a little overwhelming. We spent the first couple hours in the upstairs showroom, before I realized the downstairs marketplace was the place to be... Oh well. The NEXT time I go, I am going to be prepared! :) We are planning to make a trip to our Portland IKEA (3 hours away) to get Trin a new loft bed, and the soon to be arrival a new crib. I think it is the best way to make use of that little room. I am super excited about decorating her room. I am setting money aside now, and hope to have enough in 2 weeks. :) Thats my goal as of now. Wish me luck!

EXCITING NEWS~ The tuesday we left, I got an e-mail from poppytalk telling me I had been accepted to participate in the Mothers Day/Kids themed Market beginning the 14th (yesterday) I was SUPER excited... I mean I still am! :) My table is up and running, and the market this month really looks great. I mean it always does, but there are some of my favorite artists participating, and am thrilled to be included. If you have never taken a peek at the marketplace, now is a great time... *wink...wink*

Whew... what a long winded post! One more thing before I leave... I hope to list the Carnival prints tomorrow sometime. I still have a few more pictures I would like to take, but for the most part they shouldnt take me long. I am sorry to have drug it out so long, I really planned to list them before we left on our trip. :)

Well, thanks for bearing with me. We have dinner plans at a friends for the night, so I should best sign off. Hope you all had a wonderful warm weekend! :)

jess

Monday, March 31, 2008

We are Oklahoma Bound!



Yep, thats right.... we will be leaving tomorrow night for the big state of Oklahoma. We are driving, so it should be quite the road trip. The above picture was taken right on the border of Colorado 2 years ago when we made our last trip to Oklahoma. It was a LONG drive (30 hours from here) but we had SO much fun. I kept a road trip journal of the trip, and it really helped to pass the time. I just had a few supplies, mini scissors, mini stapler, a square stamp, a couple ink pads, a few pens, circle punch etc... nothing too extensive. I collected things from the trip, and completed page by page right on the road. It was SO rewarding to come home with a finished journal, and our trip already documented.


I already have the cover finished for this road trip, and am anxious to fill the book! I also bought a polaroid camera, and a couple packs of film. It will be so nice to be able to take a few pictures and add them directly into the book. :) I will be sure and share a few of my favorite highlights from the trip. :) Maybe I can find time tomorrow to share a sneek peek of my new book, and my previous book.


If you are planning a road trip, you really need to give this a try. It really helps pass the time, although your significant other may gripe a bit if he thinks your missing out on the scenery. Or at least mine did. :)


Many of you may be wondering WHY in the world are we planning a 30 hour long road trip across the country when I am 5 mos pregnant? Well, that is a very good question... but I do have a good answer! :) My husband's family lives in Oklahoma, and it has been 2 years since we took a trip out to see them. He comes from a fairly large family of girls, and it isnt nearly as easy to coordinate they're time off work/school etc. I have 2 new (well new to me!) nieces I am excited to see for the first time. One of them is my niece/cousin. Let me explain... My husband's brother married my first cousin! When they're baby was still pretty little, I heard she had a shocking resemblance to our little girl. I cant wait to get pictures of all the little ones together. :)


We DID consider flying, but it was going to be about the same price... and I hear flying actually isnt as comfortable when your pregnant... not being able to put your feet up, trying to "squeeze" in between the seats to make it back to that sardine can... um... bathroom. Besides, we also have family and friends in Colorado so getting to see them along the way is a bonus!

So, the store will be temporarily closed April 2nd- 13th. While I will still be able to check and (hopefully) respond to my e-mail/etsy convos, any orders placed will be shipped the day after I get back, Tuesday April 15th. We are taking Jaydons new laptop, but it appears as though Clearwire internet service is few and far between in Oklahoma... so I am not too sure if we will get service at his sisters. I can still check my e-mail via my cell phone, but I am not sure if I will be able to respond. If you need to get a hold of me, your welcome to try! :)
The packing is almost done, and the Avalanche is almost loaded. We went to the grocery store and loaded up on snacks, beef jerky, energy drinks, and frappucino's for the one allowed to have caffeine....and TONS of bottled water for me. Hoping that will save a little of money compared to buying something everytime we stop. As tempting as it is.

Well, if I cant find time to post tomorrow... Have a great week everyone! Wish me luck!