cake topper – April Coker, Author

AT HOME MONDAY: It figures. . .

. . .that I would come down with a cold the week before Natalie’s wedding. What’s worse is that she has one as well. She had hers first so I guess I caught it from her. I would feel even more awful if I had given mine to her! So she and I have been dragging around trying to get our work done and squeeze in a few naps as well.

Thank goodness I have most of the wedding preparations done. There are still a few last minute things to do, of course, but at least I am not in a panic. . .yet. Hubby took off work this week for the opening of deer season, thank goodness. He helped me today by cutting some chicken wire and adding it to an old window frame and door. He also mowed the wedding site and helped me decide exactly where the tent and chairs will go. The weather is supposed to be gorgeous, and even if it is warm, the area will be shady at that time of day.

I also did some last minute spray painting and found some weathered boards to make some more signs. I gathered a few twigs for some embellished jars as well. Then I embellished her cake server and knife and a framed photo of the happy couple.

Tomorrow I will take her homemade cake topper to the bakery and make sure our requests are being met, and then I will do some junkin’ while in Mineola. There is a Goodwill store and a wonderful place called Uniques and Antiques. Melissa is supposed to have gotten some new stuff in from a trip to Austin last weekend.

Well, here are some photos of hubby’s man cave. Yes, that is Jimmy in the doorway. He has covered the backyard shed with old signs and made it uniquely his. Once a sheriff’s deputy stopped to ask where the old signs came from (have you heard of Canton?) and then once a mother asked permission to take photos of her daughter in front of the shed. Maybe some photos of the bride and groom might be in order. . .

Yes, folks, this is the country!

See the tree growing out of the barrel to the left? Country junk abounds!

I am hopeful I will be feeling better tomorrow. I hope Natalie feels better as well, and I hope she doesn’t give her cold to Bryan! I will be praying that everyone is well and everything goes well. Only five more days!

XOXO

THRIFTY RANDOM HUNTING FRIDAY: Can I do that?

I skipped blogging last night in favor of going to bed early after an all-day last minute wedding shopping day, so I will do my best to combine the two today! If you don’t mind. . .or if you do. . .

A couple of days ago hubby and I grabbed our hunting rifles and headed to the shooting range to sight them in. I am READY. My first and only two shots with my little Walmart Remington 243 were smack dab in the middle of the bull’s eye. Now if I can just hold steady if I get the chance to get a deer or hog in my sights!

Hubby, on the other hand, had to sight in both his Remington 12 gauge slug gun and Remington 760 Game Master 30-06. That took a little while, but we are both ready now. Rifle season starts THIS Saturday!

Today on the last day to hunt does during archery season I actually saw a large buck but it ambled off before I had a chance to make sure its antlers were legal. I learned that I should have done a “grunt” to make him stop. Maybe he will amble back so I can introduce him to my 243. He was about 50 yards away anyway, a tough shot for an inexperienced bow hunter like myself!

Here is a shot from my stand in our hunting area, a mere few acres belonging to my brother and sister-in-law but RICH with wildlife. It was so beautiful this morning with the still almost full moon shining like a headlight and then the leaves falling after daylight when a breeze stirred the trees.

Hubby and I stayed in our stands for a good 4 1/2 hours, which is my bladder’s limit, before grabbing some lunch, changing clothes and heading out to Canton for First Monday Trade Days. I just HAD to visit my fave shop, Girls Gone Junkin’! I got a cute little heart-shaped steampunk pendant to wear with my wedding outfit next weekend and a darling little wedding cake topper with bride and groom dolls whose eyes move! For some reason I have started collecting vintage cake toppers. They are just too adorable! Why am I collecting again while trying to declutter? I’m hopeless, I suppose. . .

So steampunky! LOVE!

Cutest wedding cake topper EVER!

And then there was this sight: Have you ever seen so many cow skulls? Kind of creepy. . .

It was a long, hot day (yes, in NOVEMBER!) but it was a fun day. Maybe November will soon realize it isn’t September and turn cooler! How about a little cooler next Saturday? But no rain, please! I’m not picky, huh? Happy junkin’ and huntin’, everybody!

XOXO