Fallllll!

Fall is probably my absolute favorite time of year.

I love everything about it.

The colors, festivals, pumpkins, apples...just everything.

My weakness being Fall weddings.

When Caroline got engaged I managed to talk her into a Fall wedding. Which turned out amazing.

So of course I was excited when one of our close friends started planning her October wedding.

It was this past weekend and it was AWESOME!

She was simply stunning and it was a perfect day for an outdoor wedding. 

Nothing makes a wedding like incorporating a family owned hot rod!

Grand Rod Run Fall 2011

This past weekend we headed up for Pigeon Forge, TN for the Fall Rod Run...which is a gigantic hot rod gathering. Ground pounding, beautiful machines literally take over the town for a good 3 days.

At the 2010 Spring Rod Run Ronny and his Dad went in together and bought this 1952 Chevrolet Pickup.

Immediately after purchasing it, big plans were made for 'The Chevrolet'...a front bumper, built motor, ground thumping cam, big shiny chrome rims, 4 link rear end, air bag suspension and much more.

By last October he had built the motor and got the front bumper on it and we used it in Caroline's wedding.

As Spring Rod Run 2011 approached the plan was to have the new rims, and suspension done so we could take it up. That didn't happen. Parts weren't here in time and Ronny was working out of town. So, Fall Rod Run was the goal.

For some reason Ronny likes to do things in the last minute; says 'He works better under pressure'. [He was putting the motor together hours before Caroline's wedding rehearsal]

2 weeks ago he ordered all the parts he needed, they were supposed to be here very quickly. Well, they weren't. 5 days before we were supposed to leave all the parts arrived and the truck looked like this...

 

5 long days of hard work later, we were set to go. Originally we had planned to drive it up there. Due to leaky valve covers, we hauled it up on a trailer.
Ronny got some new valve covers at the swap meet and we were good to go.

 

Caroline and Ryan went with us in Ryans big yellow truck.

 

Friday night he got ride height tickets and had to park it for the weekend...unless he wanted it to leave by roll back. 

The plan for Saturday morning was to get up early, me and Ronny would cruise in The Chevrolet, Carol and Ryan in the Ford, and head to Cracker Barrel for breakfast. Then check out the cars on that end of town. Not even a mile or so down the road a terrible, I mean terrible knocking started under the hood. Sounded like someone was beating the block with a hammer. People moved out of our way looking at us like we had the devil himself in our truck as we pulled into a parking lot. We went and got the trailer and loaded her up. Ronny and Ryan checked it out while me and Carol shopped. They decided that he had broken a rocker arm stud. So, now The Chevrolet was a trailer queen. No more cruising for her.

Other than the craziness that happened we had a great time and saw some amazing cars.
Ronny and Ryan have both set goals to have Ryan's blue truck and The Chevrolet ready to cruise until we are tired of cruising [with no crazy problems] at the Spring Rod Run.

I'll end with a pic of a car that had a price tag of $179,000. [yes, you read that right]

A dirt bike for Dad? Finally!!

Yes, it is true. Ronny [finally] got his bike.

Now we are set.

Wd's Poppy cleared out Ronny's old 4wheeler trails from when he was little. So, now he has a nice little trail/track in the woods.

Wd's bike also got a face lift of new graphics and new front tire.

A Dirtbike for Mom? Really?!

Its been awhile so I've got alot to catch up on!

In my last post I talked about Wd's new dirt bike. Which he is SO in love with. 

In all the chasing wd around the house Ronny decided we needed to purchase another bike, so we could ride with him [instead of running with him]. 

So now Momma has a dirt bike! 

I have never ever driven a motorcycle [with the exception of Wd's and a scooter]. I've ridden on the back many times but never drove. 

Saturday morning we started by looking at CRF100's, eventually deciding on a CRF150. Ronny spent most of last Saturday searching for one and found a killer deal in Dawsonville. When he got home I was getting ready to leave for a bridal shower but he insisted that I get on the bike. 

Ronny kept me up super late watching 'Mom vs Dirt bike' crash videos on YouTube Friday night. Which added even more pressure not to crash. I was beyond nervous, even though I understood how everything worked. He kept telling me: "Its just like driving a 5 speed but its with your hands". Which is very true...but a car doesn't do a wheelie or fall over. Nervously, I got on and kick started it easily on the first try [that gave me some confidence]. Ronny wanted to record it but I wouldn't let him. Thankfully, I managed to do just fine. I made a couple laps around the house and went to the bridal shower.
Sunday we went to church and then headed home to do some more riding. Wd napped, Ronny laid on the trampoline, [supervising] and I made a million laps around the house.

Ronny wants one too, but his is more $$ so he is saving up for that. I told him pretty soon we would look like we belonged in a Honda commercial. 

All that being said there's a great big, huge thank you owed to the hubs. Not only for buying me a dirt bike, but for buying me one, teaching me to ride [and not making fun of me] all before he bought his.

Tuesday of last week Wd had his first crash on his dirt bike. They were riding at Nana's and he crashed into their fence. Resulting in a GIANT knot of Wd's forhead.

 [This picture cracks me up. I cant decide who looks worse, Ronny or Wd.]

To answer your question...Yes, he had a helmet on but the handle bar still managed to get him through the opening when he crashed. So off the the ER they went. He had a CAT scan showing no real injury. So, the goose eggs is almost gone. And I'm one thankful Momma!

Now on to this week...

Last Saturday wd was in a wedding. I had been VERY nervous about him cooperating but he did really well and I was very proud.

What remains of the goose egg visible in this pic. ha!

Last Sunday Bizzy had her puppies!! Yayyyy!

3 boys and 2 girls and they are all extremely cute a growing like wild fire!

Ronny has been out of town all week in Nashville, but got to see them all before he left Monday morning. 

Do not worry...these are BoBo's babies. The white you see will turn into the 'blue' coloring. 

Wd is very proud of them as well. He calls them his babies. If I can't find him he is in there sitting with them talking to them. He says 'That one said it wants me to hold it in my lap, Mom'. He then proceeds to pick them up and very carefully hold them. This morning he had to kiss each one before we left. It was adorable.

Goose egg almost gone!!

A Dirtbike for a 3 year old? Really?!

Yes, it is true! Somehow, Ronny managed to talk me into purchasing Wd a dirtbike. I'm not really a 'Worrying Mom' so him talking me into it was pretty easy. We want Wd to be one of those kids who will do anything. No scaredy-cat, glued to video games kid for us! So, getting him interested in this stuff young is our plan.

After church on Sunday Ronny set out on a mission to find a bike. He search craigslist and called a million people. It was down to a Yamaha pw50 or a Honda CFR50. The pw was more practical, but Wd being so big for his age he would have out grown it within a year. Meaning another purchase in the very near future. So, we opted for the Honda.

After a trip to Winder this is what we came home with.

Ronny had to order some training wheels, ultimately meaning Wd wouldn't be able to ride it [alone] for a few days. Which didn't sit well with Wd or Ronny. So, while walking around at his parents house Ronny found a dolly to rob the tires off of, bought a metal rod and Rhonda fashioned up a mounting plate.

Resulting in this...

And they work really well!! We took it over to Maria's so him and Tristan could ride. They had a ball. 

Wd did have one crash where he managed to get it stuck between neutral and first gear. It popped into gear and slung him off. He handled it well and got right back on. 
I have lots more pics and videos to post of Wd and Tristan riding. I will get those posted up asap!

Now on to the animals.

All the chickens and goats seem to be very happy. Although I don't think the hens are enjoying the heat because egg production is way down. Which is OK by me. There for awhile I was over ran with eggs!

The newest Bunny which I introduced as Cocoa in my last post has been renamed.
Meet Chocolate Bunny

 

Wd called him his Chocolate Bunny from the get go and it has stuck.

I also managed to catch another baby bunny! 

Our sweet Bizzy is just under 2 weeks shy of her puppies being born!

Ronny says she looks miserable and I told him she probably was. I remember my last 2 weeks of pregnancy and it was...miserable. Ronny has prepared himself for the birth by watching YouTube videos. Which I find hilarious and a little gross but, he's never been around it so I give him credit for wanting to be prepared.

I'll end with a couple pics of how BoBo and Bizzy ride in the back of Ronnys truck. 

Rabbits, Bunnies & Hares, oh my!

Last week I caught a glimpse of a baby bunny!! 

I was/am so excited! Spot and Buggs Bunny dug a 'rabbit hole' under the big tree a long time ago and I have been patiently waiting for nature to take its course. Although, now it seems as if Spot has disappeared and Snowball fathered some babies with Buggs...

So, Ive been on Bunny watch ALL week! I was bound and determined to catch at least one.

I had no idea how to catch them but I was determined to do so. While walking around the chicken barn a 2x10 board screamed at me to look behind it.

 And there they were! So, at this point I knew I had at least 2 babies. In being so excited I scared them and was unable to catch them.

Now that I knew they had a hiding place, I was confident that I could catch one.
First I caught the gray one, then a white one and then a brownish gray one. 

 Final count is: 2 white, 2 gray and one brownish gray. I have yet to catch the other white and gray ones. The guys and gals that I have caught are living in my chick brooder, which works perfect for now.

I also adopted a new Bunny as well.

Meet Cocoa...

Productive Weekend

Since Ronny's boat interior is being redone we spent the weekend working around the house.

About a month ago I acquired some wicker furniture in need of some TLC from one of our cabins. This one of the awesome perks of my job...when a homeowner gets new stuff they almost always say to throw out the old, which is normally is too nice to go in the dumpster. So, I staked claims on it and brought it home.

This is what it looked like when I got it.

After about 12 cans of spray paint I got it repainted, and I LOVE it!

And yes, you're not seeing things. That is a cement cow in the woods. She was here when we bought the place and was purple. We decided to keep her so I repainted her. A purple cow in the woods was just too weird for me.

Ronny also worked on his project of putting 'chicken house tin' under the deck to give it a more rustic look.

Here's before

And here's what he did

While we were finishing our projects up, Mom and Dad came over to help pick in the garden.

We've got tomatoes running out our ears! I'm going to have to learn to can these bad boys so they don't go to waste! I'm going to make/can some salsa too.

I've been really proud of my cantaloupe plant mainly because Dad told me they wouldn't make. Well, he was wrong! I had 3 pretty little melons growing. 

 Since all the animals are running free now the Bunnies have had free range of the garden. Ronny told me he had seen Spot in there munching away but I thought he was just giving me a hard time. 

On Saturday this is what my poor plant looked like.

By Sunday this is what it looked like

What blows my mind is that they haven't touched anything else in the whole garden. I guess they just prefer cantaloupe. So, we've put up some chicken wire around it so that maybe the one left will be able to continue growing. *fingers-crossed*

Here's some pics of what we got out of the garden on Saturday

After we finished our projects we headed over to Ryan and Caroline's for dinner. Menu consisted of all fresh veggies - green beans, fried squash, fried okra, corn on the cob, tomatoes, cucumbers, and bell peppers - grilled chicken and blueberry crunch for dessert. It was extremely yummy.