Field Trip & A Project

Last week we kicked off summer by going on a field trip and starting a new project. Our field trip took us to Crump, TN to pick up some free hickory wood from a saw mill to fuel our new smoker grill. And by free wood, I mean the cost of two tanks of gas and a subway lunch.

Since we traveled all that way, I figured we should tour the local sights of Hardin County. Hardin County is home to Shiloh Civil War Battlefield, Shiloh Indian Mounds, historic downtown Main Street of Savannah and the Buford Pusser Museum. Who is Buford Pusser, you might wonder? Well, he's a legendary Tennessee sheriff, subject of several "Walking Tall" movies and one bad @$$. We tried to stop by and tour his home and museum, but arrived too early.

We thought we'd swing by after loading up our wood, but calamity had other plans for our afternoon! As it turns out, one of the wheel wells on our trailer was bent and with the weight our our free wood, it began rubbing against the tire and smoking after we started down the road with our load. Nathan tried to MacGyver our way out of this jam, but had no luck. So I had to walk 1/2 mile back to the saw mill for reinforcements.

Eventually they decided it was best to take the tire off (instead of the huge bundles of wood) and bend back the offensive fender.

Watch out for the fire ants.

By the time that problem was solved, we were too tired and sweaty to see any sights. Once we got home, we sweated some more unloading our wood. Look how nicely it's stacked up and ready for some smoker action.

Maybe some of it will become the foundation for my Southern Living dream raised bed garden.

In other projects, we decided to build a compost bin the help us enrich our terrible clay soil in hopes of the dream garden next summer. I saw one made of wooden pallets on another blog. So off we went to scrounge for pallets. A few screws...

And one chipped toenail later...

(I guess you shouldn't wear gold metallic Haviana's when you're wood working.)

Voila... A FREE Rustic Compost Bin

Isaiah 58:11

"The LORD will guide you always;
he will satisfy your needs in a sun-scorched land
and will strengthen your frame.
You will be like a well-watered garden,
like a spring whose waters never fail."

Summer Travel

Good bye, June and Hello, July! I've been on the go, go, go. Here are a few snaps and summaries of my summer adventures.

Old Fashioned Family Road Trip to Pennsylvania

I climbed into a "stylish" rental van with my mom, dad, brother Tim and Nana to head to PA to visit my Grandma Bedi. We left Nana with her brother & sister for a few days of cards, scrabble and bingo. It was fun visiting Grandma in her new house and hearing her stories and recent life philosophies (mostly involving China). We ate breakfast out every morning, debating the merits of coffee and proper placement of purses while dining (never on the floor, lest one should think you are soliciting at 9:00 am).

Grandma & Me

Tim & Dad in need of coffee and pancakes.

Tim sporting his Kountry Kitchen t-shirt. Best Breakfast of the week hands down!

Tim & Mom at the Coney Island Burger Joint in Shamokin. Think upscale Krystals with chili and grilled onions. They serve old timey birch beer and cream sodas in little bottles.

Burgers followed by yummy home made ice cream at Maurer's. I wish I had caught Nana and Martha stuck in the booth.

Mom, Tim & I did some fun shopping at the Central Market in Lancaster and Green Dragon Flea Market in Ephrata. We sampled lots of local Amish made goodies like whoopie pies, apple dumplings, peach butter and home made jellies.

Quickie Pensacola Beach Trip with the Tim Hollis Fam

I hopped in the awesome '87 Ford Econoline Custom van with my brother in law's family to head for "La Playa". We had a blast. Nikki & I developed a love for Andre mimosas. The boys had fun digging in the sand and each found a perfect sand dollar on the beach that may or may not have been purchased at Wings by Fabulous Aunt Kate. (*wink, wink).

Here's Haydn and his beloved Sand Dollar!

My sweet, sweet sis-in-law Nikki & me enjoying our Andre!

Little Jackson isn't too sure about the ocean.

Eli & Haydn loving life on the Beach.

Hotlanta & Love at the OBX

My best friend Shelli and her man friend, John, decided to elope to the beach Father's Day weekend. We headed to Corolla, North Carolina in the Outer Banks (John's home town). It was a beautiful weekend of family, friends and celebration. I get a little teary eyed thinking about it today!

Me & Shelli. We've been friends for 15 years now!

Shelli & St. John during their engagement photo shoot.

Wild Horses on the Beach the day of their wedding! Good luck sign, right?

Mr. & Mrs. Knoch minutes after the ceremony. Just before sunset, surrounded by family and friends. Not sure why they look oompah loompah orange here.
Lindsey, Shelli & Me at the Sanderling for dinner after the beachside ceremony. We hijacked hydrangeas from the top of our yummy, mini wedding cakes!

So that's what I've been up too. Family, travel, pool, beach, and of course a few visits to the Trading Post. Know anyone looking to buy a country convenience store?