...getting the house ready for the local Festival Home Tour in a couple of weeks, and headed for the HILLS! I've found that you can think your home is relatively clean, until you imagine people walking through...critiquing. Things take on a whole new light then! I so needed a mini-vacation from the cleaning and decorating!!!Several families from our church get together and go "ROCK CRAWLING" every few months. Kevin and the kids went for the first time in August. But ME, not being an "outdoor woodsy type of gal, who just can walk on FLAT ground," stayed home. I missed them like crazy, so I vowed to go the next time. When they planned the trip for this past weekend, I was in! Confession: I didn't actually GO rock-crawling with the group this weekend...baby steps here. Instead, I held down the cabin, read, and shopped. ...and was waiting for them in the evenings with the lights on! A wonderful compromise, don't you agree! :)
This trip was at Uwharrie National Forrest, between Asheboro and Troy. We rented a quaint and cozy little cabin nestled in the woods! Much to my surprise, I LOVED it! It was extremely clean and very accommodating!
The leaves were turning and the colors were majestic and rich...absolutely beautiful!"Isn't God's creation and handiwork AMAZING!!!"
The rockers on the sweet, little front porch....
...were the perfect spot for reading. And might I add, this was a great book! My favorite Sparks' book so far!
Our "Rock Crawler" is ready to roll!
David was the first to be dressed and ready to hit the trails Friday morning!
Pretending...and waiting NOT so very patiently!
Finally, they're off to meet the group for some fun in the mud!
Say Good-bye, Coco! It's just you and I for awhile, kiddo!
The next set of pictures were a few taken by Ashley. My "girly-girl" who lives for Rock Crawlin'!Our group, "getting dirty!"
The "leader," Doug and his family...
And this is what excites them so! :).JPG)
The weekend didn't last nearly long enough. Before we knew it, it was time to load up and head for home!
Coco heading out!.JPG)
We took the scenic route home, which is only about a two hour drive! What a treat it was!
Home again.....JPG)
...and back to this! More preparations for the Home Tour! Wish me luck, ...and saneness! (Is that even a word? LOL!)
Happy Fall! ~Rhonda 
26 comments:
I wish you all the luck and "saneness" in the universe! When we first built out home it was in a home show and I nearly drove myself nuts getting it ready! It was a Christmas decor tour and I used to go all out and decorate nearly every room in the house, plus the yard! Talk about craziness, especially with four young kids at home then.
Okay, I have to admit that I thought instead of rock climbing that rock crawling was like a rock hike where you had to shimmy up rocks or something! What an uneducated silly I am! I was surprised when I saw the jeeps, lol! It looks like something my family would love but I'm with you.....your weekend on the porch sounds like heaven to me!
Hi Rhonda! Oh, I think I'd be with you - don't think I'd like that wall crawling stuff! But you got some great pictures! Poor little Coco looks rather sad being left behind.
What a cute cabin you stayed in too!
Oh, I wish you the best of luck at the home tour. Your home is so beautiful and the people will just ooo and awww!
Now, go eat some candy and put your tiny feet up!
Be a sweetie,
Shelia ;)
Sounds like a good compromise to me.....quiet, reading, etc while the others got dirty; I like that!
and I sure wish that I could be on that tour and see your lovely home in person!
Suzanne
You will do great. Your home is SO pretty! I love it.
And thanks for the recommendation on that Nicholas Sparks book. One of my best friends is a HUGE fan, and I will be sure and tell her.
You're going to do great, Rhonda, on the house tour. I have all the faith in you. And I'm with you on the outdoors. I would have been holed up with you, reading! :-)
So glad to see your post. I miss you when you're gone!
XO,
Sheila :-)
P.S. The trip and all the pretty scenery did look fun!
Scooter: That was 14 years ago and I didn't take too many pictures of my house back then so didn't take any. We don't decorate anything like that now. We (meaning "I") just put up the stable and nativity most years and the inside is pretty much only the main floor that gets decorated.
If you do decide to do the ham be warned that it's hot and will burn your fingers, LOL! I taped the ears to a toothpick and the ears actually curled from the steam, it was too funny. The eyes were olives that I stuck the toothpick in the big pit hole and out through the little hole on the back. I cut away a little bit of the end piece of ham so that the little apple fit in his mouth. The nose is held on by a toothpick stuck through a nostril. We went to a party years ago where they had a spit cooked pig and he had an apple in his mouth. My kids and I wouldn't touch the meat bz we could see the pig and it grossed us out! That's kind of the big reason we did the ham that way. I always slice my ham before I cook it too so that's why he's all sliced up! It was a fun little extra for the luau. The important thing is that we all had fun and enjoyed being together! Let me know if you do it someday! Have a great night.
Sounds like a fun trip for the family Rhonda! That is an adorable cabin.
Your little Coco is so precious. I'm glad he is doing well. I still remember when he fell and got hurt.
Your home is so beautiful! You will do well with the tour.
Many Blessings and Happy Halloween! ~Melissa :)
Rhonda how did I miss being a follower on your blog? I really thought I was already. Oops! :)
Wow! That looks like such a fun get away!
That cabin looked like a place I could stay b/c I don't do "rock crawling" either! Shopping, I could handle. Can't wait to see what you do for the home tour!
I think that rock crawling is more for the men - and perhaps the kids...but I am like you...keep my feet on the level not muddy soil. With the reading, cooking, shopping and unwinding you got a great weekend too. "Just different strokes for different folks" as the old saying goes.
Take a deep breath, utter a prayer and you will be fine for the house tour...then say you are thankful for the experience.
Morning Scooter!!! Ohhhh I would have loved the cabin and the scenic trip!!!!!Girl I so know what you mean about overkill on cleaning when you realize people are coming thru that aren't just family! lol But girl your place is such a show stopper they will be ooohhhing and aaahhhhing too much to even notice any dust! lol
It is so good to visit you again sweetie I have missed all my blog friends so much....but I thank you so for remembering me and for all the prayers and love you have sent my way...take care dear friend and have a great day!
Rhonda, I think you might have seen my post about the home tour my dad and I went on last weekend here in Oklahoma City. In the midst of that tour it struck me how incredibly kind it is of people to let us trudge through their homes. They were all very pretty and representative of the families who live there. I wouldn't worry too much about making it perfect...yeah, I'm laughing as I type that. I stress when someone is coming by to drop off something! Anyway, people will love it and be thankful that you are letting them in the door. :)
I can relate to having the home on a tour thing. The idea of it seems like soooo much fun, but then you wear yourself out with cleaning and tweaking and then more tweaking and a little more cleaning......
At least your mini break looked like fun and that little scooter looked happy to keep you company!
I bet your home is GORGEOUS if you are on the tour of homes!! I would definitely be stressing about all those people seeing it and it being perfect so I understand completely.
I LOVE the pictures of your getaway. I would SOOOOOO enjoy staying in a beautiful cabin like that just reading, taking walks and relaxing. Ahhhh paradise! I enjoyed the pictures of rock crawling...as I have never heard of that.....I bet they enjoy it so much!
O,Scooter...I have no doubts whatsoever that YOUR home will be the best on the tour. Good good luck.
Your outing looked like a lot of fun. I would especially love the little cabin in the woods...with the charming porch and rockers....and a nice cup of coffee with a great book. :O)
I would definitely be reading and rocking with you.
I didn't even know what rock crawling was. ;-)
I'm a stay-back-at-the-cabin kinda gal too!!!!
Looks like a fun time, beautiful scenery!
Your house is lovely too!
I have company coming in for our Halloween party and i'm already stressing about it :(
You made a good choice, Rhonda. Take pictures of your pretty home.
I think that cabin looks so cute, and the rocking chair is inviting.
I am in love with the way you decorate your home! I need to get my Husband out of school so that I can have a cute home to decorate and paint! Hope the show goes well!!!
Oh, you are so nice to put your home on tour! I'm one of those folks who would be standing in line to get in and ooooh and ahhhhh. Good for you for getting away. Yep, I would have been back at the cabin, too. :-) I love hiking in the woods...sign me up! But not sure about rock crawling. Ummm. Best of luck with the tour. Do you get to stick around and hear all the accolades or do you have to vacate? Hope you post about it...love to hear how it went!
Susan
Hi Rhonda,
Thank for dropping by my blog. I've been looking for something I saw on a blog, but can't find it. One blogger used orange carrots for fingers & attached almonds to the tips for nails, and stood them up in the dip. I don't know if you can see it in my pics, but I used the plastic fingers sticking up out of the dip. This is the link where I got the idea for the finger sugar cookies.
http://theprojecttable.blogspot.com/2009/10/foodie-friday.html
I also did spiders at her 4 yr old party where you take Ritz crackers, top w/ peanut butter (if no one has allergies), and put chow mein noodles on the sides for legs & either raisins or mini chocolate chips for eyes. I've bookmarked a couple of good Halloween tablescapes too, if you need any more ideas. One use that orange metallic shredded stuff you put in gifts under glass & that was pretty. Best of luck! I hope she and her friends have fun. You must be STRESSED! ;O) Happy Halloween!
Morning Rhonda! Your house looks so warm and inviting in the glow of the lights! BUT that cabin caught my heart! I love the looks of it and want one!! I'm not an outdoorsy chick either and would have done exactly the same things you did!!lol Stop driving yourself nuts your house looks gorgeous!!!! Have fun with the festival tour!! Sincerely, Jeannette
That seems like a good compromise to me! I hope you have a great tour!
Manuela
Ohhh Rhonda...
Your weekend getaway looks like it was perfect... I love cabin camping so much, but we haven't done it in years... Now that rock crawling stuff, hmmmm... I think I'd rock on the porch with you! Coco looks too precious in the photos ♥
Try not to fret too much over the house tour... Your home is so warm, inviting 'n beautiful... all will be fine!
Have a Magical
and Enchanting
Halloween !!!
~ blessings ~
Pearl ♥
... I'm off to sign up as a Follower now! Yippee!!!
Hi Rhonda! I'm excited to hear how your home tour went! If I lived closer, I'd be in line to see your lovely home! I know it was a hit!
Be a sweetie,
Shelia;)
charming cottage! great blog too!
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