I have a very busy day today (Saturday). Our church is planning a big hayride tonight and I’m helping some other ladies with the decorating. We have lots to do to turn the place where we’re having it into a Western Wonderland. I will be gone most of the day, and we’ll most likely be on the “clean up patrol” as well, so it may be too late to write a great post late tonight. I’m writing this early Saturday morning, and in keeping with the Western theme, I thought I’d just share a few pictures of some western looks from a few of my girls. Hopefully I’ll get a few pictures of the hayride/western night to show you. My ipod isn’t the greatest at taking pictures and it will be dark, so I have two strikes against me… I do better with doll pics.
Well, it’s 11:25 and I’ve got a few pictures to add… they aren’t much to speak of, but I’ll share them anyway. We had a wonderful time but I’m pooped. Tomorrow morning is going to come way too soon.
This was the front porch that I helped decorate. We made a bunting (triangle banner strung on jute that you can barely see) out of some western fabric I had and used paper bags for the in between triangles… (There was no sewing involved but I did use scissors and a stapler… does that count for a dolly/sewing post?)
Besides all the food that everyone brought for the picnic, we made homemade chili over an open fire and cooked it on a cast iron tripod.
I would have to say the big hit of the night was the homemade apples we were cooking in a huge copper kettle. I heard it through the grapevine that it took 5 people 5 hours to cut up all the apples… It was cooked over an open flame too and the longer it cooked the better it got. Then someone gave my hubby some $$ and he went and got some ice cream and that upped the YUM factor quite a bit. See that drill… it had an extra long bit on it and was used to stir up the apples…(just for fun…)
Here is a Taiwanese friend enjoying her first homemade applesauce and ice cream. She said it was delicious!
Just for fun and because we had a barn, a little square dancing was done… and everyone seemed to have a really fun time. There was lots of
laughing going on.
We had a HUGE bonfire and when it calmed down a bit we roasted marshmallows.
We wanted to give the International students a taste of Americana… so we had s’mores, made homemade donuts sprinkled with cinnamon and sugar, and sang songs with a guitar. I’m guessing we had 100-125 there…
Okay, so that’s my post… it’s ten minutes till midnight, so I’m heading to bed.
See you tomorrow,
Blessings, Jeanne
I would have loved to have been there.
You did a great job with the pictures.
Thanks for sharing.
Hugs, Rita
Thanks Rita,
Wish you COULD have been here… you’d have loved it!
Blessings, Jeanne
Jeanne, what a wonderful entry on your blog! So autumn-like and you all did a magnificent job on that hayride gathering! I’m sure the students had the best time! Are the students high schoolers or college age?
Oh, those western themed doll clothes! I loved them all and remember when you had them for sale. The skirt and blouse outfit on Saige was so familiar to me, as I had made one similar to that for my daughter when she was in 4th grade. Brought back memories!
It is 4:20 in the morning here and I certainly hope you are in bed by now! Sleep tight!
Thanks Linda,
The students are college age, but we have lots of families too, that have kids all different ages. There was definitely something for everyone, volleyball, square dancing, trampoline jumping, the hayride itself, a tent for s’mores, a tent for fried donuts, the applesauce kettle, plus all the food fixin’s, singing with the guitars, plus lots of groups just chattering away.
I thought I had more western outfits, but I just didn’t have time to search all my archives for them. I know I did one for Molly, but couldn’t find it.
Yes, Linda, I was finally in bed and asleep by 4:20… what where YOU doing up so early?
Just couldn’t stay away from my blog??? just kidding…
Blessings, Jeanne
Me too!!! What a fire! Looks like a wonderful evening!
It was a lot of fun Cindy… but it’s one of those things that you are always glad to have over and done with. Except George has to go back out there today and get all the chairs… ugh!
Not me, it’s nap time for this sister of yours.
Blessings, Jeanne
The detail and colors on the Western-themed clothes is amazing as it is on all your dresses! So creative!!
You are such a busy lady too, always helping others…you are a rare gem.
What fun you all must have had Saturday. There’s nothing like bonfires, hayrides, leaves crunching under your feet and apple anything in October!
Blessings, Paula
Hi Paula,
You’re right… nothing is as fun as a night in Fall… the weather was perfect… I had on short sleeves the whole entire evening and never once got cold. It was a really fun time.
Thanks Paula,
Blessings, Jeanne