Project Monday - Wedding Projects

(Directions?)

I took on a ton of projects for Critter Spotter & my wedding.  We decided to get married where Critter and his family have gone for Deer Camp since he was a little boy.  All I can say is it was the perfect choice for us.  I worked for months prior to the wedding and here are just a few of the projects I took on.  Our whimsical camping themed Wedding in the Woods turned out even better than I had planned.  My projects were such a fun and memorable part of our day and I had a blast creating them too!  Without them the feel of our day wouldn't have been the same. 

(Photobooth backdrop)

(Photobooth Bride & Groom)

(Directional Signage)

Simple Sunday - True Beauty

(McNary Nat'l Wildlife Refuge)

Everyday we go about our regualr everyday things.  How often do we actually take the time to enjoy some of the natural beauties of our surroundings?  I'd say not nearly enough!  Today I spent some time at the McNary Wildlife Refuge.  I took some family photographs there, which is a location I suggested knowing that the Refuge was naturally beautiful. I knew it would be a perfect photo backdrop.  I honestly took for granted just how beautiful it is and how amazing the fall colors are.  To top it off an early morning rain followed by sunshine surely saturates colors and draws out true beauty of  foilage and brings out natural wildlife right here where I grew up.






(Mallard)



 

(Migrating Geese)

   



(Geese)

 

(Wildlife Refuge)





(Path to the Photo Blind)



 

(Native Bird)



(Birdfeeder)









Before & After

Just a quick little before & after post today.  I always want to help out my grandparents but all of my life they have been the ones to help me.  With them getting older it was so refreshing to finally get the chance to do something for them.  They have lived in the same house since my dad was a year old, some 62+ years.  They recently purchased a condo and sold the little house downtown.  They are working on turning their new home in to a cozy place to be. Today I was able to put my painting skills to good use to show the detail of their arch in the entryway and also to accent their beautiful new front door.  Here is the results, I think it looks fantastic.  Great color choice Gram, the color is called Kona!


(Before)



(After)



Why not paint them?

I bought these little white display shelves about 5 or 6 years ago when I was living in Phoenix.  I had them in my Phoenix bedroom the entire time I lived there.  When I moved back to my house in Washington I ended up putting them in my guest/front bathroom.  I have them hung one above the other on the wall near the sink and one day I lit a candle on the lower one thinking they were far enough apart to do so; I was wrong.  

(Shelves Painted)

For the longest time after the little burn mark/candle incident I just left them.  I didn't know what I would replace them with or what to do with them at that point.  Finally one day it just came to me, why not paint them?  So here is a little project I did last week while Critter was up at Elk Camp (he gets home today, can't wait to see what he thinks of them now.)   See below for the simple steps I took to accomplish this shabby, rustic style look I got that looks even better in my modern rustic styled home than they ever did painted in their original white finish.                                     



(Finished Shelves)

I took the shelves down and then laid out the old shower curtain that I had just replaced with a new one and put them on it in the garage after giving them a light sanding on all of the surfaces.  I purchased a can of flat brown spray paint when I was at Wal-Mart and gave them a full but light coat and let them dry for about 3 hours.  I went back out and sanded the paint off with 240 grit sandpaper until I achieved the weathered/worn look that I was happy with and hung them back on the wall and put the stuff back on them.  Notice I put the candle back in the same place. 





Note to self: don't light candle and let it burn while on shelf.  (Unless of course you are ready to reinvent the look of your decor again.)

What's In A Name?

You may wonder beyond the obvious, why Doe?  Let me tell you.  The picture you see I took on my recent 2010 Deer Camp vacation.  The 'Critter Spotter' and myself go with his family every year to Deer Camp.  We even had our wedding at the family Deer Camp spot just 5 short months ago (more on that in posts to come). 


My father, the Critter Spotter and me were out on a morning drive and as we came around a corner Dad looking uphill and Critter Spotter looking down, I just so happened to come eye to eye straight ahead with this full figured lady.  Me, always having camera in hand on a drive in the woods picked up and snapped away.  Critter laughed and said, "Awe neat, doe eyes meets doe eyes."  He's always said I have doe eyes.  Hello idea for the blog.


So, what is in a name?  To me, I will always think of the well fed doe that looked me in the eye and was content knowing she wasn't going to be our dinner that day.  I can't help but recall the words of the Cree Indian 'One Stab' in the movie Legends of the Fall when he narrates about Tristan, "l don't know why Tristan didn't kill that damn old bear.  They say when a man and an animal have spilled each other's blood, they become one."  Well, we didn't spill each others blood per se, (too manly for us girls) but we had a moment and for that moment we became one; now I am Doe: A Hunter's Wife.

Seasons 2 or 4?

For most of us, we know of 4 seasons, but if you ask my husband there are only 2... Hunting Season and Fishing Season.  If its not Hunting Season its Fishing Season and if its not Fishing Season its Hunting Season.  Hunting Season may be a lot shorter and right now we are smack in the middle of it, but that doesn't make it any less important in my 'Critter Spotter's' eyes.  Hunting Season although shorter seems to be just as important as fishing season and is even more exciting when an animal is actually brought home because that means a freezer full of meat for the rest of the year. 

I call the blog Doe: A Hunter's Wife and it will encompass everything that this Hunter's Wife enjoys about anything.  It may have something to do with hunting or fishing because besides me that is what my husband's life revolves around.  Mostly it will include things that as a hunter's wife, I personally enjoy, do, create, discover or find interesting... and that could be just about anything!

Hang on and enjoy the ride, I look forward to sharing all about the things I find wonderful in the world, regardless of if there are 2 seasons or 4.