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Tuesday, March 14, 2017

Coming Home...

We are home again, safe and sound, seven states and 4025 miles later! I need a nap!


We had great visits and adventures with family from three states, saw so many diverse and breathtaking landscapes, got rained on, got snowed on, spent 24 hours on a high dessert mesa with 50mph winds, enjoyed 70 degree days with sunshine, conquered a couple challenging Jeep trails, ate yummy food, car camped in campgrounds, stayed in comfy hotels, learned so much about southwest history and overall made the most of every amazing moment. Heck, my parents even bought a house in Lake Havasu, AZ! I see many more dessert vacations with my wonderful parents in our future! I even get to help mom decorate the new place - squeeeeee!!!


There is always both a happiness and a sadness for me when a great vacation comes to an end. Happiness to get back to the life I love and a sadness that the big adventure has ended. My sadness this time was nearly obliterated because I came home to this:


Fresh from the groomers smelling great! I missed them soooo much!


And to these...


It is far too easy to shop online for minis while traveling, but amazing how new minis to come home to can cure the blues!


While on vacation, I was fortunate to be able to spend a couple hours at Auntie Em's in Phoenix. Em was kind and helpful, and even stayed open late so I'd have more time to shop. Russ was fascinated by all the vintage toys her son Jack sells, so he was joyfully entertained, too!


I found some great items, but ran out of time with 1-1/2 isles left to peruse. The shop had a hearty selection of both mainstream minis and artisan pieces. I was overwhelmed by the choices, and could have easily spent thousands if I had it to spend. I did choose a few for current projects and some just because I know they will come in handy someday.


There were also lots of old kit stock to choose from. You know I can't resist kits! I got a couple fun and inexpensive ones, a very spendy sideboard kit and an old Carlson's bay window display kit. I really wanted to go back and see what I'd missed in the last isles, but could not convince Russ that it was a good idea to swing back by Phoenix on our way home from Moab. :oP




The packages I came home to made me excited to get back into the mini swing of things. I got some exciting kits from Jane Harrop, who kindly mailed them to me with no shipping charges...


I also have Nancy's Toto2 basket kit to look forward to...


Even travelling in the Jeep I was able to have some nice conversations with Brae, and place an order for one of her very special old time license plates. She helped me research to find the exact color for the year I'd requested - 1937. It is so perfect, and I am so excited to begin the project it's slated for. I had to have a feed sack and some cow cookies, too! How adorable are those?!?



I mentioned a little earlier that we'd learned so much about the history of the southwest. I found the Native American exhibits fascinating and totally geeked out on those. The gift shop at Grand Canyon National Park had a couple kits that I'm excited to start on. I may even attempt to make 1/12th versions as I go along!



The absolute best treasures I came home with were the kind that only us miniature enthusiasts can appreciate: dead branches! I can't wait to get creative - I've got plans for these... *rubs hands together*



And finally, I have to share the photo of these last boxes. One is the HBS Creatin' Contest 2017 kit, and the others contain the things I need to get started. I had such a hard time coming up with an idea, but my dad's visit here in late January changed all that.


He regaled us with tales from his unique and entertaining childhood on the old homestead in Butte, Montana. To say it was primitive is being very kind. The stories are funny, and in our modern and enlightened world seem a little barbaric. The next time I saw a photo of the kit, I did not see Craftsman, I saw log cabin. Weird, I know, but it'll be fun (and challenging) to see if I can translate the images in my mind to the project. I'd also love to turn this into an opportunity for our family to connect with my dads memories, and for all of us to travel back together to the old homestead - what still stands of it.

It's good to be home, it's good to be so excited about the future and it's good to know my beloved hobby is right here waiting for me. But first, I need a nap...

xoxo
Jodi

20 comments:

  1. Welcome back. Such joy and happiness comes through in your post. Looking forward to seeing the log cabin.

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    1. Thanks Shelley! I am glad that it comes across that way! I do love my daily life routine!

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  2. Welcome Home again Jodi! I enjoyed reading your travel log as well as about your adventures through parts of the American Southwest. Over 4,000 miles is a LOT of miles to have under your belt, but it sounds like you enjoyed every one of them! :D
    I know that your puppies were Happy to have you home but speaking for myself, it will Great to see you dive into your new HBS log cabin project, now that your back.
    Can't Wait to see what you will be doing with it, once you get started! :D

    elizabeth

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    1. Thanks so much, Elizabeth! I am looking forward to sharing it with you and seeing your very thoughtful comments!

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  3. It's obvious you had a joyful adventure, I'm delighted for you. Welcome home, we missed you.

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    1. Thanks, Keli! I had to stop reading everyone's blogs about three days in - I missed you all and the minis so much I thought it would ruin the adventure for me! It is good to be home and catching up with everyone!

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  4. Hello Jodi,
    Welcome back. I am so happy you had a good time. You sure did cover a lot of ground. It sounds like an amazing trip and what better to come home to?! Those little guys are beyond adorable...they must have been thrilled to have you home!
    You certainly found some fantastic miniatures both at Em's and online. I cannot wait to see what you create for the contest. It is great to have you back.
    Big hug
    Giac

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    1. Thank you, Giac! It is so good to reconnect with you, too! You guys are truly my mini kindred souls! I hope that you have found some time to continue creating the manor!

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  5. Wow! That sideboard is gorgeous! :D So glad you had a wonderful trip, too! Welcome home!

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    1. Thanks so much, Brae! I know, right! I just hope I can do the sideboard justice! Thanks so much for making such outstanding minis for me! The license plate is absolutely precious!

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  6. Welcome back! I love all your purchases! And reading about your plans makes me really hopeful about getting back to work this weekend. I've been sick and lazy.

    Sounds like you had a lot of fun! But coming home to the furbabies is always the best. And I agree with Brae, that sideboard! It'll be so beautiful.

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    1. Hi Sheila! Sometimes being lazy is exactly what the doctor ordered - it puts the brain into neutral and lets us really recharge. I hope that you are feeling like your creative and spunky self again! Before I start on the sideboard I am going to have to really be in the mini mojo mode. I'd be so mad if I messed it up!

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  7. Welcome Home! I enjoyed your post so much. And I was relieved to see your mail pile - it looks a bit like mine (even though I keep trying not to shop).

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    1. Ha ha! Thanks, Penelope! Us mini addicted shoppers have to defend one another! It's medicine for life!

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  8. Oj, Jodi - I love how those puppies are looking up at you so adoringly. They must have missed you a lot and are just as glad to be back home as you are. Wow - your mail pile would make me feel like t was Christmas morning all over again! What a wonderful treat to come home to. I'm looking forward to seeing how you capture your Dad's memories in your new project. - Marilyn D., Oromocto, NB

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    1. They were so happy! All was right with the whole pack together again. My son was with them while we were away, and he said that every time they heard a car on our street they began howling at the front door! I felt so bad!
      It did feel like a special treat to come home to mini treasures! I savored each package and marveled at each tiny thing! I believe the experience was pure joy!
      I'm so glad you'll be following along with the homestead project - that truly does make it so much more special when we share!
      Stay warm up there! Spring's warmth and renewal promises to come around very soon!

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  9. Welcome home! Looks like you had a great time. I love all the goodies you picked up along the way.
    I see that your fur babies were very happy to see you again!

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    1. Thanks, Sam! I never want to be away from them that long again - I think I see a motor-home in our future. That way, they can come along, too.

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  10. Jodi your travels look like so much fun! You came home with such awesome treasures too :) Can't wait to see what you do with the kit! :D

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