My Tattoo

You read that right. I did it.

After I shared the story of Andrew's wedding band tattoo I was super inspired to get one of my own. We thought a wedding band would be a great idea but it never came to fruition. Instead Andrew gifted me three stackable wedding bands (I like change too much for just one band) on my birthday. It was a much better choice for me and I'm really glad we waited.

One day, not long ago, I was struck by the idea of having our wedding vow written in Andrew's handwriting as a tattoo. I knew I wanted it in at least two lines and on my left forearm. I also knew that Anna would need to come with us!

With no planning at all, just some rum and coke the night before and an idea, we did it. Serendipitously.

This is my nervous look. I was, oh I was.

Before you ask me if it hurt:

We found Lee, he is also who did Andrew's wedding band (we LOVE that), and he did a fantastic job for me. He helped talk me though it and answered all of my first timer questions. If you're in the Asheville area, let me know and I'll give you his info. He's phenomenal!

I'm honored to have our wedding vow in my beloved's handwriting forever. It gives me butterflies each time I see it and reminds me of standing in the woods while the rest of the world melted away, holding his hand, and saying these words as a pledge. Words that will last forever.

xo Shannon

Our Woods

We celebrated Easter at the Pink Beds which has been tradition since I was born. It's been a great standing tradition and the only real change is that I help hide the Easter eggs rather than hunt them. We leave that to the next generation.

It's a pretty special spot to us. Not only because it's where our families have always gathered but because part of my wedding was held there! Andrew and I decided to take Daisy to our wedding spot, which is just a few minutes down the road from the Pink Beds.

I have dubbed them "our woods". We had a pretty epic life event happen there and it feels right to call my childhood woods, our woods. They're not just mine anymore and I'm happy to share them with Mr. Horton.

So special!

xo S

Backyard Cooking

This weekend was glorious. I mean it. Glorious. We had gorgeous weather on Saturday and we decided to play in the backyard and that led to our decision to have a cook out. But not just any cook out.

We decided on a backpacking backyard cook out. Chicken on a spit, potatoes in the coals of the fire, asparagus also in the coals, and bread cooked in a dutch oven. I've been really yearning to bake bread so I got my feet wet and baked some in the dutch oven - the best bread I've ever had. Not kidding.

My dad came to hang out too. Andrew and I have never roasted a chicken on a spit before and it was a bit of a learning experience. We actually ended up eating in shifts! We enjoyed the bread first, then the potatoes and asparagus and finally the chicken. Which we had to finish in the oven. It wasn't a total fail but, I plan on attempting it again. I really want to have things like this down pat and then be able to take it on trail. How cool would it be to be waaaay out in the tullies and whip a chicken out of your pack and cook it on a spit along with some delicious side dishes and feast?

Really flipping cool.

So, we'll meet again backpacking meal. And when we do prepare to be cooked well. Again.

xo Shannon

Dresses in the Woods

Yesterday instead of blogging and spending yet another day at home we had an adventure! Girls, you feel me when I say that on the third day of your period you're still feeling kind of crappy and you really just want to stay in bed with the heating pad and some chocolate right? That is how I felt all day yesterday. But, rather than succumbing to my heating pad + bed + chocolate yearnings I put on a dress and lipstick and went out into the wild with Andrew.

Well... okay, it wasn't planned that way exactly. First we went for coffee with our most recent client and had some fun there, visited my dad at work and surprised him with a cup of coffee and let Daisy out. That is when we decided to take to the road.  We have been DYING for some kind of change or adventure or romance lately. We got all three yesterday! We ended up on the far side of our little county and over the TN/NC boarder and that brought us to Big Creek.

Side note: To get there you have to go by a hydroelectric plant (hydroelectric? right? awesome.). It looks like something out of Hogwarts and upon seeing that I knew we were in for a good time.

Andrew has spent a lot of time at Big Creek and I have not. I had never been there and honestly could slap my friends and family for not allowing me the delights of this magical place before now. And then at the same time I could kiss them for it since I was able to experience it with Andrew for the first time.

We pulled up and I really had to pee. You probably don't need to know that or what I'm about to tell you but it's part of the story. So, I had to pee. Andrew taught me how to pee in the woods. Yep, he did. So we ruuuuun to the bath house the park so graciously has on site, only to discover that it's been "winterized". Delightful. Being the woodsy people we are we always have some form of toilet paper in the car. Even if it's a receipt from walmart or something. This time it was an actual roll (huzzah!) so we both peed behind the bath house. Ironic.

After breathing a sigh of relief and laughing about the fact that Andrew was taking my picture squatting we went to explore.

We found some really pretty rocks, perfect for skipping but we decided to keep them for our nature basket at home.

Then Andrew needed to go be a wild mountain man. And by be wild mountain man I mean this:

I wanted to be a wild mountain girl so I was really brave. Sometimes Andrew holds my hand when I'm brave.

And then we just went on appreciating where we were and of course that we were the only people there.

xo Shannon & Andrew

The Night it Snowed

I took yesterday off! From blogging, from Fox & Owl, from... everything really. It was GREAT! I love days like that and of course the refreshed feelings and zeal you have when you come back from a mini-vacay.

To top it all off, it snowed last night! We were all kind of skeptical about it actually happening but, it did! Have I mentioned that snow is one of my favorite things? Here is how we spent some time in the snow...

Even though we didn't get much, the last bits were still holding on for dear life in our hemlock trees! 

Now it's time for a warm cup of coffee and some visiting time with my Papa! By the way - I LOVE that you guys enjoyed our Christmas recap and my Dad flipping the camera off! I was kiiind of afraid that it would offend some of you, friends. I was so excited when everyone just laughed. That is literally how we are. All. The. Time.

Happy Tuesday!

xo Shannon

Thankful For

And the thankfulness continues! Have I mentioned that I kind of love this?

Day 5: Anything involving that man and funnel cakes
Day 6: Finding a little Fall leaf hiding on an old tree stump while hiking
Day 7: Having the ability to make pretty things that I'm proud of for my shop

What are you thankful for today?

xo S