Show & Tell

[Diana]

We are preparing to drive next week to Colorado to see our Great Granddaughter, Hayden, for the first time, to coincide with her first birthday.

In 1981 my husband had made her mother, our granddaughter, Kristan, a horse farm model to play with. When she and her family moved across the country, they were unable to take it with them. And it's never been convenient to transport in any of our other visits back and forth. The base is 24" x 36".

So we've had it all this time in our basement. We've decided whatever it takes, we are going to take it with us to Colorado this time so Hayden, can have it when she's a little older.

Since my husband asked me to take photos of it before we give it up, I thought I'd make a montage for him to put in his scrapbook he keeps of photos of all his woodcarving and other projects.

This farm set is wonderful, I hate to part with it. All the hinges in the windows and doors on the barn are handmade. The doors from the box stalls into the paddocks are Dutch doors, the tops and bottoms open separately. The Roof is hinged and comes off to play inside. And every little fence post and split rail were also made by hand!

Anyway, I just thought I'd share this with you all.

http://img145.imageshack.us/img145/2703/barnmontage5iz.th.jpg (http://img145.imageshack.us/my.php?image=barnmontage5iz.jpg)

Diana

[Jodi Frye]

Wow, that is really really amazing....reminds me of when someone brings something to Antiques Roadshow...' A family heirloom passed down through the ages....worth at least $1,500 ' :) The work was obviously driven by love. I hope the little dear takes very good care of it ;)

psssst, not sure I could give it up either...;)

[Mary]

Hi Diana
That is a wonderful gift - they are both very lucky to have this generational gift that is so beautifully crafted! Give him a hug and get one for yourself for doing the collage and giving it up.:)

[kayser]

Wow, that's a wonderful creation to have in your family. The collage you made is great so he can remember it. You'll also get some good pictures of your great granddaughter playing with it!

[kevq]

Diana,
a gift made with love. What a family heirloom!

Kev.

[Wendy]

Hi Diana ...

That is wonderful ... so much time, effort and love must have gone into it. I am sure that when she is older she will treasure it :)

Wendy

[Carbone]

Those are lovely models, your husband is truly very talented and you're both very generous :)

Ray

[NMarti]

Diana,
My husband does a lot of woodworking and I know the amount of work that went into those. What a fabulous gift to share with your great-granddaughter.

[Scraptastickat]

what a wonderful gift. I am certain she will love and cherish it!

[Jan Ruthig]

Diana,

WOW!! What a lot of work!! My husband also does wordwork and would love to make this!! :) Maybe...if we ever have grandchildren...

[Diana]

Hi everyone,

Well, we're back from our trip. We were kind of leary of driving from Michigan to Colorado this time of year but the weather and roads were great with one exception. On the way home we got stuck in Cheyenne, Wyoming for 24 hours as Interstate 90 was closed from Cheyenne to Omaha Nebraska due to heavy drifting snow in Nebraska. But once they got it cleared we (and about a gazillion truckers lined up waiting) got on our way and then the sun came out and for the rest of our trip home the roads were satisfactory.

Kristan, our granddaughter, was glad to see her old toy farm and will keep it nice until Hayden (our great granddaughter) is old enough to play with it. A couple fences got dislodged in transit and Don fixed them after we got there.

We had a wonderful time loving Hayden up and hated to leave her. She is such a sweet baby. She started serious walking (more than just a couple steps) while we were there.

She had her first birthday while we were there and was a little baffled by all the people and presents and wasn't sure what to do with her birthday cupcake at first. We took lots of photos and I'll be getting some new images in my gallery before long.

http://img60.imageshack.us/img60/7575/haydenwalking5mn.th.jpg (http://img60.imageshack.us/my.php?image=haydenwalking5mn.jpg)http://img82.imageshack.us/img82/2889/hayden186xa.th.jpg (http://img82.imageshack.us/my.php?image=hayden186xa.jpg)


I made the little dress she's wearing in this first photo. It's made from a onesie....you just add a little gathered skirt....and I appliqued letters spelling her name on the front...real easy, and fun!

Diana

[kayser]

Diana,

What a cute little girl! I'm glad that you're home safe and sound, and I'm sure your granddaughter and family were so glad to have you visit. My parents are coming to visit for Easter, and we can't wait!

[Robyn]

Diana,
Welcome back from your trip. A GREAT grand-daughter. WOW, I'm impressed. And wasn't it lovely that you were there to see her first steps. She looks gorgeous in her photos, you are obviously very proud of her.
And you're a dressmaker as well......how good is that!

[Wendy]

Hi Diana ...

Oh she is just lovely ... :)

Oh I am impressed with the dress ... it looks so cute !!

Wendy

[jo]

Diana, that farm is a treasure -- and so is Hayden!

[Mary]

Congratulations all around Diana - the baby, the photos, the dress, the trip, the generational gift. What memories you accumulated!!:) :) Glad you are back safe and sound!

[Shari]

Diana, Talented Great-grandfather and Great-grandmother. Nice for you to do and nice for the children to know your thoughtfulness. My father too has great grandchildren and I love it when our whole family is together - all four generations. (Hmmm - I must get over to Bowen Island with my camera!)
Shari

[NMarti]

Diana
What a cutie she is! You must be tickled pink that you were there to see her take those steps. While she may not know and appreciate her gift right now she will in the future. What a wonderful special trip that was for you.

[Jan Ruthig]

Welcome back Diana,

Glad you had a good time with family and that the weather was good other than the I90 episode.:rolleyes: What a little cutie Hayden is!!

[Diana]

Thanks, everyone, for the nice comments. It was a special time and worth the long drive. (I mistyped, it was I-80 that was closed.) Anyway, the family usually flies to get together over that long distance but we wanted to take those things to the kids, so I guess everything worked out with the weather and all. I really missed not checking in with the forum everyday and chatting with you, my friends.

Diana

[kayser]

Diana-

I just saw your collage from your trip. What a great set of pictures and so well put together. I hope you're sending it to your granddaughter!

[Diana]

Well, Thanks, Kay. Yes, I have that collage and another one with six images of Hayden "messing with" her birthday cupcake that I'm going to have professionally printed at 8x10 for the kids. I just put the birthday collage in my gallery, too.

http://www.photoshopelementsuser.com/gallery/view_img.php?id=6305

Diana

[kayser]

OH, Diana, that's a cute one! It brings back memories of my daughter's first birthday. I have similar pictures, along with a picture of a big hunk of cake sitting on the floor (after she slid it off her tray).

[Wendy]

Hi Diana ...

Oh what a lovely layout you have done ... and those photographs are simply delightful :)

Wendy

[Diana]

Thank you, thank you, thank you! I took enough photos that day and all the time we were there, to make sure I had some good ones since it will be a while until we see her again....the joy of digital cameras!

Diana

[CarolLHB]

Diana-what a cutie patootie! The collages are awesome.:)