Sewing

I have not done much sewing lately, one because I have not had the time and two, because I have not been in the mood until recently.

Here is a backpack purse that I made for Kaila. We bought the material last year before school started and I never even cut it out. I cut it out before I went to PA, but only started to sew it a few days ago. I was having trouble with the straps on the back. I could not figure out how to put the strap adjuster on it. After several attempts, I enlisted the help of Dustin and together we figured it out!





Here is the front of the backpack. The polka dotted material is what the lining of the backpack is made out of. Kaila picked out all the colors and coordinated it. I think she did a good job!










Here she is wearing it. She has dubbed it her guard backpack. Since she has alot of stuff that she has to take with her to her practices, this is what she is now going to use.

Camping at Amicalola Falls

We went camping this past weekend at Amicalola Falls State Park. It is located at the base of the Blue Ridge Mountains. The park was very nice. It has a 729 foot waterfall. It is the tallest waterfall east of the Mississippi River. The name Amicalola is a Cherokee word meaning Tumbling Waters. It is considered one of Georgias seven wonders. The road that went up to the campground had a 25% grade. It was all the truck could do to haul the trailer up the hill. Ed had the truck in the lowest gear and the gas pedal floored and we were going a whole 10 miles an hour! The campground host told us that a Ford Excurision burned up his transmission and another car boiled his transmission fluid over! Ed checked the transmission fluid and brake fluid (for the trip back down!) and both were fine.

Here are the kids at camp.



At the base of the falls is a pond called Reflection Pond. It is stocked every two weeks with fish. I took Eddie down several times to fish. He didn't catch anything, but had fun.









This is a picture of the falls from part way down. We started at the top of the falls and took a trail that included 425 steps to this point. Then there were another 175 steps that we went down. It was really pretty. Unfortunately, the walk back up those 600 steps about killed us!








These are the 425 steps that went 2/3rds of the way down the falls.



































Here is another view of the falls. It really was very pretty.




























Ed, Kaila, Kelli and Eddie part way down the steps.

Ed the Chef and Other Things

As most of you know, Ed loves to watch Good Eats with Alton Brown. We watched a show a few weeks ago and Ed decided he had to try this recipe. It is for rolled meat. He stuffed it with a mixture of croutons, cheese, herbs and eggs. He baked it in the oven and it was delicious.





Here is a picture of it sliced and ready to eat. The red sauce is tomato sauce. We served it with a side of spaghetti.









The girls didn't tell me it was orange shirt night or I would have worn mine too!








Ed, Shelley and Dustin played golf on Friday. It was the first time Ed golfed in a while. They were all out in the front yard hitting golf balls around. Doesnt Ed look cute in his SpongeBob Square Pants and golf shoes?!?!?!?

Golfing

Dad and I took the kids to play miniature golf this afternoon.
Everyone played well, of course Dad won! Kelli got a hole in one, but I didn't get a picture of her.




















Kaila had to stand on a rock to hit her ball!

Trip to PA

The kids and I drove to PA on July 2nd. We left GA around 6:30am and arrived at Mom and Dad's around 7pm. Had a good trip, no problems.

We took the kids to see the fireworks on the 3rd. It was a little chilly and of course us GA peaches were not used to that, hence the blankets on our laps, jackets and long pants! It was cloudy all day, so it was a little hard to see some of the fireworks, but we enjoyed them anyways.



Today, Mom, the kids and I took the kids to Cook Forest to swim. We got there only to find out that the pool was closed only today for training! So we went to the firetower and Seneca Point. Kaila, Kelli, Eddie and I all climbed up the tower, while Mom stood on the ground and watched. The tower is not as sturdy as I recall it being 25 years ago and with the wind blowing it really made it shake!



After we left the firetower, we went to the river and got a picnic table where we could have a picnic dinner later. Eddie was the only one who would get in the water and swim, but he had a great time!












Pop came up and met us at the picnic for dinner. Eddie swam some more and the girls took a walk. There were a lot of people canoeing and tubing down the river. The river wasn't very high so alot of people were getting stuck canoeing! Dave, Peg, Pat, do you remember something like that from many years ago????