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Trying to make my photos bigger... I think it worked!

Slate Run Historical Farm

On Sunday morning we hopped in the car with a picnic lunch, not sure where to go, and ended up at Slate Run Historical Farm. Slate Run is such a great place to take kids. They have a working historical farm and it's FREE! If you're in the Columbus area and have never been, you really need to check it out!

Here are some pics of our fun day!

Sunflowers and Ham

We found a great community garden today that had sunflowers!

And here's my ham.

Heirloom Party!

So, I happened to stumble on this Heirloom Party that Marie at Emma Calls Me Mama is having. What a great idea! So I ran and got my camera and snapped a few pics of my beloved heirlooms.
This pictures leave a little more to be desired, seeing as how it was 9:15pm when I took these!

My first heirloom is my china set that my Grandma L gave to me. She had it in her will that it should go to me. It's pretty common, but oh, so lovely. Desert Rose by Franciscan Ware

She loved this china. I remember it serving all the yummy things that she would cook such as cabbage rolls, noodles, and Thanksgiving dinners.

My 2nd heirloom is this quilt. This quilt is a mystery to me. All I know is that it came from my Grandma L. I know nothing because I took ownership of it after my grandma passed. I wish I knew the story behind it. Sometimes I can still smell the sweetness of my Grandparents house, deep in the fibers of this old quilt.

My 3rd heirloom is very special to me.

My Grandmother G painted this for my Grandpa and Grandma L's 50th wedding anniversary. It is a painting of their house. So it is very special because the artist is my Grandma, and the subject is the house where so many great memories were made.
This is actually a print, my (fantastic) mom had a print made of the original because she knew I loved it so much.

My 4th heirloom is these sweet birds. My mother gave them to my Grandma L and they perched on a shelf in my Grandma's kitchen. She collected birds, too bad I don't have more of them. I always loved looking at this pair as a child. I love how the one looks a little riffed about something. Maybe he was cold? The other one has glue stains all over her face, where I'm sure one of the grandchildren dropped him and my Grandmother glued her back together.

I have so many more, but these are some of my favorites (that were easily accessible for pictures). I hope you enjoyed looking at them. These simple things bring me joy every time I look at them.

Now hop on over to Marie's blog and join the party!

To my baby girl, Valerie, on your 1st Birthday

Valerie-
I can't believe you are a year old already. The year has flown by, and it's been so fun! It seems like yesterday you were so small and helpless, and now you are so big and walking all over the place!

You are such a wonderful little girl. You stole my heart the moment I laid eyes on you. I remember the day you were born so well. It was the happiest day of my life- our family felt complete.
You are so independent and determined, yet you love to snuggle and cuddle. You are a joy.
You are my sunshine.

All my love,
Mommy

More pictures of my sweetie!

Isn't she a doll?

Mantel & Little Photo Shoot

My mom and I went antiquing yesterday and I got some great finds!

I found a great aqua vintage oar, an old beautiful glass door, an aqua mirror, a cute bird, an

artichoke thingy, and a beautiful mason jar!

I arranged the mantel with my loot. This is temporary until I can get a large mirror to replace the ceiling tile. Or do you like it the way it is? (The ceiling tile is plastic!)

This afternoon, Valerie woke up from a nap and she had the cutest little aqua shirt on. I've been meaning to take her on her 1 year photo shoot, so we hopped in the car and I think I got some great shots!

This is my favorite so far. (SOOC) I literally just got back and downloaded these. I'll post more later!